Page 41 of Director's Cut

My stomach flips.

“It’s really fucking good. You never know if a writer will be able to sustain the plotline, but it would make a killer movie, and the studio’s on deck for volume four too. With the buzz GR2 is getting, I don’t think it’ll be a hard sell to the studio.” She smiles. “And Aurora and Lacey are, like, fucking in this one. They can’t write it out. Oh, and our second AC dropped out for GR2. I was gonna ask Luna since it films over the summer.”

Right.

Sourness rises in my throat as I look through the panels. I haven’t really thought about what my plan to leave Hollywood would look like logistically. Not taking on random people’s projects is one thing, but Goodbye, Richard! is Mason’s baby. And it looks like this baby’s going to grow up over the course of one or two more movies. Maybe even more beyond that. Can I quit a franchise I’m starring in? We haven’t contracted beyond GR2, but the idea of not signing on to the next one makes my skin crawl. And now Mason’s talking about involving Luna? Isn’t it bad enough that I’m failing Luna with Oakley? I can’t let her down with this too. Plus, these films feature an on-screen sapphic couple. To have representation like that in a major franchise is a dream. A dream I never considered I’d have to miss out on.

Which means I’ve very grateful when a waiter brings in the sake. I take my first gulp a little too fast as I thank Mason for the copy.

“Charlie,” Mason says, “go ask your reps about cons, okay? It’s the quickest way to make a few bucks. Actors swear by it.”

“What would I be doing?” Charlie asks. “A sad-person panel?”

“No, a righteous anger, fanbase-will-sustain-your-residuals panel,” Mason replies. “Plus, you get press.”

Charlie takes a long slug of sake. “I’d rather just look forward.”

Mason shakes her head. “Okay, tiger. I’m just saying we can’t all be relying on Oakley.” She turns to me. “And you. You were nice to Leonard Ballard at HBO, right?”

I nod.

I tend to be nice to every producer I meet. “Yeah, Charlie says the detective show script he sent me is really good.”

“He is a rare gem. He uplifts underrepresented voices.” She swirls her drink. “And he’s ours. He’s on board to back GR3 and he said he’d let me do what I need to do with it. So I’m not saying you have to take that show, but it would really help us if Leonard had multiple projects invested with you.”

I think about it. It’s a limited series, which would mean only one new shooting commitment. “Uh, yeah, I’ll give it a read this weekend and talk to Trish.”

When I look over at Charlie, he’s doesn’t exactly look happy. In fact, he’s trying to hide a lot of his face in a menu. “Wait a minute…does the script suck?”

“No, it’s great,” Charlie says. “It just…films in France early next year.”

France.

I take a deep breath as inconspicuously as I can. I know Leonard won’t take it personally. Actresses have reasons they can’t join projects all the time. But I— With Mason’s relationship with him on the line, I don’t know if I can take the gamble. Or…if I can take the gamble without strategizing with Trish first. Trish, who’s been gunning for me to get at least one Emmy nomination ever since I started with her. Who respects my nudity wishes and gave me opportunities outside the standard Hollywood fare…like working with Maeve in the first place. Who’s been so patient with everything going on with USC. There’s no way Trish and my team will just accept that I want to turn down this major TV role because I don’t want to be away from a woman I kissed once. Not with my blockbuster franchise on the line.

Yet I can’t imagine a world where I kiss Maeve and then have to tell her I’ll be in France for five months after our semester ends. It was just a kiss, but the spark in me is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Plus, the HBO show is false hope. There’s a tiny buzz inside me eager to read the script now, but I push it down. Even if it’s great, it doesn’t mean my career is suddenly going to get better, that people will treat me differently. Shows, especially great sapphic shows, get canceled alarmingly fast. If I took it, I’d be resigning myself to going on another trip around the merry-go-round not even three months after I vowed to get off for good.

“Well, shit, have fun,” Mason says.

There has to be a way to get out of this.

Luna shows up at Nobu at 9:00 p.m., just when she said she would, arriving in her cute little crew-regulated cameraperson outfit, her makeup smudged from what I assume is her eye-rubbing tick. I know she sent me a picture of her hair when she cut it, but it’s my first time seeing the bisexual bob she got a few months ago in person. Despite how tired she looks, her happiness is palpable. It’s great to see her.

“So how’s life behind the camera?” Charlie asks as he sips his wine.

For a moment, Luna just stares at him. I catch her attention, enough to get her to shake her head and say, “We’ve met in person before, right?”

Now Charlie looks to me. I shrug.

“I think we must’ve.” He holds out his hand. “If not, Charlie. Thanks for helping me look beautiful and tragic on Oakley.”

She blushes. “Luna.” More staring. “I still can’t believe you were Val’s friend and it never came up when Oakley was filming,” Luna replies. “Romy has been obsessed with Star Trek for, like, years.”

Charlie gives a polite smile. “Where is she?”

Luna’s eyes brighten. “They—Romy’s using she/they now—are actually in San Fran preparing to open her new play. It’s a two-city tour, which is so amazing. I’m so proud of them.” She shrugs. “And Wyatt’s on a date.”

Mason snorts. “Like the best way to date isn’t to bring your date to a free dinner at Nobu with a bunch of celebrities.”

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