“Oui! Oui!” I smiled and nodded.

Jean-Marc shrugged his shoulders and raised an eyebrow.

“Dinner for you and your friends at Spago?” Nicole asked.

Jean-Marc’s eyes lit up. “Spago? Wolfgang Puck?”

“Oui, Compliments de Jackie. Tomorrow I’ll call Swanky and we set up another shoot. Avec d’autres vêtements.” Nicole pointed to the ripped dress.

Jean-Marc laughed, then reached through the window, took Nicole’s hand, and kissed it. “Vous êtes une bonne amie.”

“Yes, I am” Nicole agreed.

“Au revoir.” I waved as he drove away. I turned to Nicole, “What’s French for ‘you’re hired?’”

CLOSE UP: JACKIE’S HAND HOLDING A LETTER

Dear Jacqueline,

I hope you get this letter. I know it’s been a long time since we talked, and I just wanted to say a few things. Sorry I didn’t see your last movie, the space one that everyone is talking about. I saw you in People magazine and I thought you were real cute. Almost as cute as your boyfriend (ha-ha).

Here is what I need to say, and I hope you don’t mind. I wonder if you could spare some money. I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t desperate. I don’t know whether you know this or not, but your father’s checks to me finished last spring as per our agreement, and Elliot hasn’t paid support since Mirabelle moved in with him. You are the only person I can turn to. I am trying to get a job, but jobs are scarce and even the waitress jobs are hard to come by or they go to younger girls. Oh, and by the way, I’m not with Bea anymore. Also, I don’t sell you know what anymore. Now you’re caught up.

Please write back soon about the money. I hope you are not too mad at me for asking. I hope I never have to ask you again.

Love,

Your Mom

P.S. Mirabelle still wears your leather jacket whenever it gets cold enough. It fits her now.

INT. MEDICAL OFFICE

BEVERLY HILLS

DAY

Dr. Koblin examined the welts on my chest and arms. The hives ran along the sides of my face and into my scalp. I started First Degree in a week, and there was no way I could shoot in this condition.

“What should I take?” I asked, panicked.

“Have you tried Calamine lotion?”

“I don’t think that’s gonna help here, Doc,” I said a bit patronizingly. I stifled an impulse to tousle his gray hair. “I need something a bit stronger, y’know. For stress.”

“Hmmm. Anything unusual happen recently that you can recall?”

“Well, as I said, I’m starting a picture.”

“Anything else?”

“Not really.”

“Not really?”

“I mean, no.”