She saw clearly now the options laid out before her: she could keep her mouth shut and take the fellowship; or she could speak up and take her chances, knowing she might never find a buyer for Warrior Bride. Holly and Ted knew how desperately she wanted to release her film, but they didn’t know how sick she was of being invisible, even here in Southern California, where more Koreans lived than anywhere outside of Korea. If she took the fellowship, she could take the film down the 101 to Koreatown, or back home to Telegraph Avenue, or to the multiplex across from Umma and Apa’s store. The thought of showing Warrior Bride to the people who could really tell whether she’d pulled it off both thrilled and terrified Phoebe. What did Ted know about what she’d actually accomplished? And she’d done it in spite of him. With that statement, she knew now that Ted had played a part somehow in keeping her out of Hollywood, however he’d justified it to himself at the time, and now he wanted to cover his tracks. If she kept her mouth shut, no one would ever know. If she kept her mouth shut, Warrior Bride would come out, but it would be a Stabler Studios film. Her work would be his again. He’d taken all the turns in their one for me, one for you pact, and he would take this one, too.

She’d never really had a choice. There was only one option for her.

The cameraman shifted his weight, angling the lens to center on Phoebe.

Hands out of your pockets! she heard Umma order her.

“Phoebe?” Serafina said.

Do something. Fight! Umma said.

Phoebe tucked her hair behind her ear. She was trembling. She put her hand down, out of the shot, and smiled.

“Thank you so much, Serafina. I think it’s so...interesting,” Phoebe began, “that Ted Stabler would choose to speak about Jerry Silver today, of all days.”

She turned to face Ted.

“Despite knowing each other for decades, despite all of their shared history, and despite the fact that these accusations against Jerry have been public for well over a year, Ted said nothing until today. It’s enough to make you wonder, what else isn’t he saying?”

“I have nothing to hide,” Ted said, flashing his uneasy, red-carpet smile. He took Holly’s hand.

“Phoebe, do you think Ted Stabler is hiding something?” Serafina asked, her eyebrows like two scythes attacking each other.

“I know that many women in this industry have been forced to sign nondisclosure agreements as a condition of receiving the reparations they were owed for the harm they endured just trying to do good work. Caitlyn Alvarez for starters. Stabler Studios and Silvertown paid for her silence, and she’s not the only one.”