JOE(cold):
“It’s called strategy, Sarah. Sloane is good at manipulating situations. She always has been.”
(Runs a hand along his jaw, irritated.)
“But… Becker won’t last. He’s a flash in the pan. Once the cameras are off, I bet they sleep in separate rooms.”
SARAH:
“They have one room, genius.”
JOE:
“Shut up.”
?? BERNIE & ESTHER
Bernie is sneaking another marshmallow. Esther wipes his mouth with an embroidered handkerchief.
BERNIE(mouth full):
“That boy… the soccer one… I like him. Kid’s got guts.”
ESTHER:
“Bernie, please. Don’t talk with your mouth full. And yes—did you see how he was looking at her? Reminds me of you in ’58, behind the Millers’ barn.”
BERNIE(winking at the camera):
“Good times. Anyway, if those two don’t make a baby by the end of the show, I’m eating this stick.”
?? LUCY & LARS
Lars takes up three-quarters of the frame—massive, flannel sleeves rolled up over arms that look carved from oak. Lucy istiny beside him, tucked under his arm, which rests behind her shoulders in a protective, possessive hold.
LUCY(eyes shining, still breathless):
“Second place! One-sixty BPM! And all I did was whisper a poem and touch his beard. I thought he was bored!”
(She laughs nervously, twisting a braid around her finger.
Lars turns to her slowly. He is not bored. His gaze is dark, intense, locked on her mouth—the look of a starving man eyeing the only meal he wants.)
LARS(low rumble):
“I wasn’t bored, Petal.”
(He tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear with enormous, rough fingertips—shockingly gentle, charged.)
“My heart sped up because you were close. And because I was holding myself back from taking you right there in front of everyone.”
LUCY(coloring violently):
“Oh. Um… Lars… the cameras…”
Lars turns to the lens, impassive. His hand slides from her shoulder to grip her thigh, knuckles whitening.
LARS:
