For a while before the Oscars, I’d been intercepting mail delivery at the gate so he wouldn’t see the scripts I was sent. Now, I was extra guarded. I didn’t want anything to affect our latent romance, especially with Brett between pictures. If there were even a hint of my success, he would almost certainly crawl out of our conjugal bed and back into his hole. Brett felt sorry for me now that I’d lost and fucking me was his way of cheering me up, therefore I would stay in need of cheering. I hid scripts in the trunk of my car and called Penny from my cell phone to discuss them. I pled with her to find Brett a vehicle that would showcase him as she had done for me. He knew I was receiving scripts, but when he asked if I’d read anything interesting, I would shake my head and lament the lack of good roles for women. And it was true that I hadn’t read anything spectacular yet, but a few offers had come my way that I would have accepted if it hadn’t meant sacrificing my love life.

One Monday morning, a messenger slipped past the gate and came to the front door.

“Who’s the script from?” Brett asked after I sent the kid on his way.

“Penny.”

“I know that. I’m not an idiot.”

“Well, lemme see.” I tore open the manila envelope and scanned the cover letter.

“Oh!” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice. “It’s an offer for the new Reiner film.”

I loved Reiner and was dying to work with him. Penny knew this and must have sent the messenger herself which explained how he know the gate code.

“Well, then, you ought to do it.” Brett’s jaw tightened. I didn’t need a weather report to see the dark clouds gathering. He went to the couch. His thick, black brows knit together.

“Reiner’s overrated,” Brett said, turning his face into the pillows. Thunder, lightning, downpour.

“Well, he did make that awful picture with Bruce Willis,” I said finally.

Brett looked up from the pillows. The clouds parted. He chuckled, then he took me in his arms and the sun streamed down.

I knew the parameters. One move too far in any direction and I’d be back out in the rain.

We melted into each other and as Brett undid the zipper on my skirt. I let the Reiner script fall to the floor.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM

NIGHT

DAY 52