1
00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:31,573
Time stood still as Renaldo

2
00:00:31,614 --> 00:00:34,993
delicately placed
one hand softly on her cheek.

3
00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:37,996
Did he, though?

4
00:00:39,414 --> 00:00:42,083
Time stood still as...

5
00:00:42,917 --> 00:00:45,211
How can time stand still?

6
00:00:47,922 --> 00:00:50,884
Renaldo touched Isolde's cheek.

7
00:00:53,011 --> 00:00:55,680
Time did or did not stand still.

8
00:00:57,599 --> 00:00:59,768
Super writing, Savannah.

9
00:00:59,809 --> 00:01:01,144
Good morning, roomie.

10
00:01:01,227 --> 00:01:03,480
Good morning.
How's it going?

11
00:01:03,563 --> 00:01:06,107
You ready?
I've been up all night

12
00:01:06,191 --> 00:01:09,277
rewriting sections just in case
I need an alternative.

13
00:01:10,278 --> 00:01:11,488
For the whole book?

14
00:01:12,072 --> 00:01:14,824
I just...
I need it to go perfectly.

15
00:01:15,992 --> 00:01:19,579
Claire Donovan has already
read your manuscript, okay?

16
00:01:19,621 --> 00:01:21,831
The editor of romance at Baird Books.

17
00:01:21,915 --> 00:01:24,375
You have a meeting with her.
It's gonna be great.

18
00:01:24,459 --> 00:01:27,295
And she wouldn't set a meeting
if it was bad, right?

19
00:01:27,337 --> 00:01:28,337
Right.

20
00:01:29,172 --> 00:01:31,257
I've been working
on this manuscript

21
00:01:31,299 --> 00:01:33,176
for three years, Lyla.

22
00:01:33,259 --> 00:01:34,844
What if Pendleton Publishing

23
00:01:34,928 --> 00:01:36,572
learns that I'm talking to the competition?

24
00:01:36,596 --> 00:01:41,101
I mean, I need this job,
and I'm good at it.

25
00:01:41,142 --> 00:01:43,019
Will you stop overthinking?

26
00:01:43,103 --> 00:01:45,730
Pendleton would never
publish a romance novel.

27
00:01:45,814 --> 00:01:48,399
If you're serious about
becoming an author,

28
00:01:48,483 --> 00:01:49,901
this is your next step.

29
00:01:54,072 --> 00:01:56,491
See you at work.
Mm-hm. You got this.

30
00:02:06,876 --> 00:02:07,669
Claire.

31
00:02:07,710 --> 00:02:09,087
Hi.
Savannah.

32
00:02:09,170 --> 00:02:10,672
Good to see you.
You, too.

33
00:02:10,755 --> 00:02:13,341
Thank you for making the time
to meet so early.

34
00:02:13,383 --> 00:02:16,594
With our authors visiting
this weekend, I am booked solid.

35
00:02:16,678 --> 00:02:18,972
I get my best editing done
before the day begins,

36
00:02:19,013 --> 00:02:20,515
so this works great.
Great.

37
00:02:20,598 --> 00:02:23,977
So, tell me, how is everything
at Pendleton Publishing?

38
00:02:24,018 --> 00:02:26,020
Still the head of the acquisitions team?

39
00:02:26,062 --> 00:02:27,522
I am. Yes.

40
00:02:27,605 --> 00:02:30,316
Things look a little different
now that we've downsized.

41
00:02:30,358 --> 00:02:32,694
The team consists of just me,

42
00:02:32,777 --> 00:02:34,445
which is why it's taken me so long

43
00:02:34,529 --> 00:02:36,406
to get my manuscript back to you.

44
00:02:37,031 --> 00:02:38,825
You're a good writer, Savannah.

45
00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:41,035
I think you have a voice for romance.

46
00:02:41,077 --> 00:02:43,288
That's... That's amazing. Thank you.

47
00:02:43,371 --> 00:02:45,081
But it isn't ready yet.

48
00:02:45,874 --> 00:02:47,458
Oh. I see.

49
00:02:47,542 --> 00:02:50,545
A few emotional beats work,
but many are missing.

50
00:02:50,628 --> 00:02:52,297
You have chemistry between your leads,

51
00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:54,799
but it starts way too late
and ends too fast.

52
00:02:54,883 --> 00:02:58,261
And your protagonist Isolde, too passive.

53
00:02:58,344 --> 00:03:02,557
Things happen to her instead
of her making her own choices.

54
00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:05,727
Romance readers want to see her
go after what she wants.

55
00:03:05,810 --> 00:03:08,396
And your ending. It needs work.

56
00:03:08,438 --> 00:03:11,524
The big emotional climax feels rushed.

57
00:03:14,569 --> 00:03:16,613
I've rewritten it several times.

58
00:03:16,696 --> 00:03:18,549
If you're serious about ever
getting this published,

59
00:03:18,573 --> 00:03:20,533
read it again thinking about what I said

60
00:03:20,575 --> 00:03:22,535
and make the necessary adjustments.

61
00:03:23,244 --> 00:03:24,746
Okay. I will.

62
00:03:25,413 --> 00:03:27,373
Savannah, I'm retiring soon.

63
00:03:27,415 --> 00:03:30,335
This is my last shot at getting
something in that I believe in.

64
00:03:30,418 --> 00:03:32,253
And I believe in you and this book.

65
00:03:32,337 --> 00:03:34,297
But you have a lot of work
to do to get this ready

66
00:03:34,339 --> 00:03:36,799
for me to present.
How much time do I have?

67
00:03:36,883 --> 00:03:38,676
I'd need a solid revision in two weeks

68
00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,011
to submit to my team.

69
00:03:40,470 --> 00:03:42,680
Okay, I will get it done.

70
00:03:42,764 --> 00:03:44,724
Good. I look forward to reading it.

71
00:03:45,683 --> 00:03:47,227
Oh, that's the office.

72
00:03:47,268 --> 00:03:49,145
Hello? Hey.

73
00:03:50,021 --> 00:03:51,105
Okay.

74
00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:13,878
How'd it go?

75
00:04:13,962 --> 00:04:15,255
Uh, good.

76
00:04:15,296 --> 00:04:18,049
She liked it,
but said it needs a lot of work.

77
00:04:18,132 --> 00:04:21,803
Like a lot, a lot. I have two
weeks to rewrite the entire book

78
00:04:21,886 --> 00:04:24,240
if I want it ready in time for
her to present to her company

79
00:04:24,264 --> 00:04:25,431
before she retires.

80
00:04:25,473 --> 00:04:27,475
That's great news.
How?

81
00:04:27,558 --> 00:04:29,519
I basically have to rewrite
the whole thing.

82
00:04:30,144 --> 00:04:32,313
She's retiring. If she didn't
think you were worth it,

83
00:04:32,355 --> 00:04:34,899
she wouldn't have you try again
and come back.

84
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:44,492
Pendleton Publishing has been
a cornerstone of the nonfiction

85
00:04:44,575 --> 00:04:48,871
and literary fiction markets
for over 50 years.

86
00:04:48,955 --> 00:04:52,959
Here, we actually believe
in the content we produce.

87
00:04:53,001 --> 00:04:56,045
Unlike other publishing houses

88
00:04:56,129 --> 00:05:00,174
lining the grocery store shelves
with commercial fiction,

89
00:05:00,258 --> 00:05:02,510
we work tirelessly

90
00:05:02,593 --> 00:05:04,762
to produce only the most curated

91
00:05:04,846 --> 00:05:08,474
and vetted manuscripts worth printing.

92
00:05:08,516 --> 00:05:11,185
I would like you to give a warm welcome

93
00:05:11,269 --> 00:05:12,770
to a man whose experience

94
00:05:12,854 --> 00:05:15,898
at one of the most successful
publishing houses

95
00:05:15,982 --> 00:05:21,487
will help us to prune in order
to blossom in our future.

96
00:05:22,155 --> 00:05:25,616
Mr. Pendleton,
I'm thrilled to welcome you

97
00:05:25,700 --> 00:05:29,704
as vice president
of Pendleton Publishing.

98
00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:32,999
Good old nepotism at its finest.

99
00:05:34,167 --> 00:05:35,543
I am William Pendleton.

100
00:05:35,626 --> 00:05:37,879
I'm... I'm very excited
to be here with you all.

101
00:05:37,962 --> 00:05:39,297
Uh, I want us to remember

102
00:05:39,380 --> 00:05:41,132
that today is the Author Appreciation Day

103
00:05:41,215 --> 00:05:44,635
and that those authors
represent half of our sales.

104
00:05:44,719 --> 00:05:47,555
But also, please be mindful that
many of our authors are afraid

105
00:05:47,638 --> 00:05:50,391
because many of the publishing
houses are closing, so...

106
00:05:51,934 --> 00:05:53,644
Uh, I'm sorry.

107
00:05:53,728 --> 00:05:55,271
Seriously, Savannah.

108
00:05:55,355 --> 00:05:57,023
Sorry. Excuse me.
Okay.

109
00:05:57,065 --> 00:05:59,317
Nothing to see here. Carry on.

110
00:06:11,162 --> 00:06:12,246
William.

111
00:06:12,288 --> 00:06:13,748
Please continue.

112
00:06:14,415 --> 00:06:18,669
As I was saying,
based on these closures...

113
00:06:18,753 --> 00:06:20,171
He saw. He knows.

114
00:06:20,254 --> 00:06:22,423
There's no way. It was one page.

115
00:06:22,507 --> 00:06:25,051
That's all he needed.
We can wrap this up.

116
00:06:25,093 --> 00:06:26,612
I look forward
to getting to know all of you

117
00:06:26,636 --> 00:06:27,804
over the coming days.

118
00:06:27,887 --> 00:06:29,097
Thank you.

119
00:06:32,058 --> 00:06:34,102
She said pruning.
Pruning means cutting.

120
00:06:34,143 --> 00:06:37,105
Do you think that means that
some of us might be laid off?

121
00:06:37,730 --> 00:06:39,607
The fact that you're asking that question

122
00:06:39,649 --> 00:06:41,943
means you're probably on the list.

123
00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:43,860
List?

124
00:06:44,153 --> 00:06:47,115
There's a list.
Clive, don't worry about it.

125
00:06:47,198 --> 00:06:49,325
Mrs. Pendleton says that
every year. You're fine.

126
00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:53,079
Savannah. Hey.
Hi, Sam.

127
00:06:53,121 --> 00:06:55,289
That was something.

128
00:06:55,373 --> 00:06:57,750
A lot of paper and really poor timing.

129
00:06:57,792 --> 00:06:59,168
Yeah, but everything's okay?

130
00:06:59,252 --> 00:07:01,337
Just an occupational hazard.

131
00:07:01,421 --> 00:07:03,607
Cool. All right. If you need
anything for the author event,

132
00:07:03,631 --> 00:07:04,983
I'll be around today. Just let me know.

133
00:07:05,007 --> 00:07:06,342
Thank you.
All right.

134
00:07:08,761 --> 00:07:10,805
You know he has a crush.

135
00:07:11,472 --> 00:07:14,225
Sam? No, we're just friends.

136
00:07:14,308 --> 00:07:15,308
Mm. Mm-hm.

137
00:07:16,811 --> 00:07:18,354
What if Clive is right?

138
00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:21,649
What if Mrs. Pendleton brought
in her son to cut some of us?

139
00:07:21,732 --> 00:07:24,318
I mean, if there's a list,
I am definitely at the top of it

140
00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,778
after what just happened.

141
00:07:26,237 --> 00:07:27,905
Maybe he didn't get a good look.

142
00:07:27,989 --> 00:07:29,133
Oh, no. He read it, I saw him.

143
00:07:29,157 --> 00:07:31,033
And of all the pages in the book,

144
00:07:31,117 --> 00:07:33,870
"Time stood still as he placed
one hand softly on her cheek

145
00:07:33,953 --> 00:07:35,913
as they sat entwined
beneath the maple tree,

146
00:07:35,997 --> 00:07:37,582
the whisper of the wind gently blowing.

147
00:07:37,665 --> 00:07:39,375
Isolde's sun-kissed blonde hair

148
00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:41,794
"back from her hazel eyes."

149
00:07:41,836 --> 00:07:43,171
Okay, yeah.

150
00:07:43,212 --> 00:07:44,589
He knows.
Mm-hm.

151
00:07:44,672 --> 00:07:46,090
People are already scared.

152
00:07:46,174 --> 00:07:49,093
Don't give them any reason
to notice you.

153
00:07:49,969 --> 00:07:51,721
I don't want to lose my job.

154
00:07:51,804 --> 00:07:53,973
And I don't want to give up
being an author yet either.

155
00:07:54,015 --> 00:07:57,101
I... Maybe I can just...
I'll hide the manuscript

156
00:07:57,185 --> 00:07:59,729
until after the author event tonight

157
00:07:59,812 --> 00:08:04,025
and hope that he just
doesn't remember anything.

158
00:08:04,609 --> 00:08:08,070
Sure, because them entwined
under the maple tree

159
00:08:08,154 --> 00:08:11,782
with whispering wind
is so easily forgettable.

160
00:08:12,533 --> 00:08:14,869
On a positive note, it's memorable.

161
00:08:14,952 --> 00:08:17,121
No. I need him to forget.

162
00:08:17,205 --> 00:08:19,999
How?
By laying low.

163
00:08:26,088 --> 00:08:27,088
Oh.

164
00:08:28,382 --> 00:08:29,382
I'm fine.

165
00:08:30,092 --> 00:08:33,012
Oh, yeah. That'll totally
make him forget you.

166
00:09:10,466 --> 00:09:12,093
I'll be back. Promise.

167
00:09:25,398 --> 00:09:29,110
There she is. Pendleton
Publishing's top-selling author.

168
00:09:29,193 --> 00:09:32,113
Top-selling author.
It's a bit of a stretch.

169
00:09:32,196 --> 00:09:33,322
Not entirely.
Hm?

170
00:09:34,115 --> 00:09:35,992
That book is greatly responsible

171
00:09:36,075 --> 00:09:38,369
for a better than satisfactory year.

172
00:09:38,452 --> 00:09:39,787
And as I'm sure you know,

173
00:09:39,829 --> 00:09:42,290
Pendleton can use
all the help they can get,

174
00:09:42,331 --> 00:09:45,376
even from as unlikely a source
as an influencer.

175
00:09:45,459 --> 00:09:46,586
Of course.

176
00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:52,717
All that said, watching
Giselle fawn over her is a...

177
00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,635
Bit overly dramatic.

178
00:09:55,970 --> 00:09:57,638
Sorry, that was out of line.

179
00:09:57,722 --> 00:10:00,474
No. You're right. That book is essentially

180
00:10:00,558 --> 00:10:03,769
just a collection of social
media captions, is it not?

181
00:10:03,811 --> 00:10:05,313
Yeah, it is.

182
00:10:05,354 --> 00:10:06,354
Hm.

183
00:10:06,856 --> 00:10:08,696
And yet it outsells
everything else we publish.

184
00:10:08,774 --> 00:10:09,942
What does that tell you?

185
00:10:10,443 --> 00:10:13,529
I guess people would rather read
social media captions

186
00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:15,114
than a good book.

187
00:10:15,156 --> 00:10:17,658
Or it could mean people want
something that feels authentic,

188
00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:19,076
something that they relate to.

189
00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,496
But my mother, uh,

190
00:10:22,580 --> 00:10:25,916
she built this company
with a very specific philosophy,

191
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,127
elevated, refined, intellectual.

192
00:10:28,836 --> 00:10:30,671
And I respect that.

193
00:10:31,505 --> 00:10:32,757
But, um...

194
00:10:33,841 --> 00:10:36,677
But you don't agree?

195
00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:39,930
No, I do. I just, I think there's room

196
00:10:40,014 --> 00:10:42,933
for, uh, more than one
kind of story in the world.

197
00:10:46,687 --> 00:10:48,356
Agree to disagree, Ms. Cade?

198
00:10:48,439 --> 00:10:49,439
Oh, I agree.

199
00:10:49,857 --> 00:10:51,984
I'm just surprised to hear you say it.

200
00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:55,738
I mean, publishing houses throw
away untold amounts of money

201
00:10:55,821 --> 00:10:57,490
printing books that nobody wants to read

202
00:10:57,531 --> 00:10:59,200
whilst turning their noses up at things

203
00:10:59,241 --> 00:11:00,493
that people actually want.

204
00:11:00,534 --> 00:11:02,995
I think we can tell good stories

205
00:11:03,037 --> 00:11:06,165
no matter the way we get there.

206
00:11:08,793 --> 00:11:13,214
The, uh, pages that you were
editing in the meeting.

207
00:11:14,465 --> 00:11:15,841
I can explain. I'm sorry.

208
00:11:15,883 --> 00:11:17,593
No, no, I was impressed, actually.

209
00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:20,763
It's bold enough to be multitasking

210
00:11:20,846 --> 00:11:22,890
at one of my mother's meetings.

211
00:11:22,932 --> 00:11:24,975
What exactly were you working on?

212
00:11:25,476 --> 00:11:28,312
I looked like a manuscript.
For my author.

213
00:11:29,188 --> 00:11:32,358
Yeah. Oh, that's actually her. I should go.

214
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:33,484
Excuse me.

215
00:11:36,237 --> 00:11:38,239
Hi. How are you?

216
00:11:38,739 --> 00:11:39,739
Hm.

217
00:11:44,161 --> 00:11:45,913
Hi.
Hi.

218
00:11:46,539 --> 00:11:50,876
Uh, today was a great day.
Why are you not excited?

219
00:11:52,628 --> 00:11:53,671
William knows.

220
00:11:54,797 --> 00:11:58,801
He didn't say it in those exact
words, but he's, you know.

221
00:11:58,884 --> 00:12:00,010
Cute.

222
00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,556
What? No, I mean...

223
00:12:04,014 --> 00:12:08,102
Maybe. He's... He's smart, and
he's mysterious and confident.

224
00:12:08,185 --> 00:12:10,312
Not in a good way.
Right.

225
00:12:10,396 --> 00:12:12,273
Because smart, mysterious
and confident

226
00:12:12,314 --> 00:12:14,108
can all be super sketchy.

227
00:12:14,191 --> 00:12:15,901
You know what I mean.

228
00:12:15,943 --> 00:12:18,863
I can say with the utmost
certainty, I do not.

229
00:12:19,530 --> 00:12:21,574
But I do know that Claire Donovan,

230
00:12:21,615 --> 00:12:25,077
who is about to retire, wants
to read your manuscript again.

231
00:12:25,119 --> 00:12:28,038
Yes. And she needs rewrites
in two weeks.

232
00:12:28,122 --> 00:12:28,998
That's details.

233
00:12:29,081 --> 00:12:30,750
My manuscript.

234
00:12:30,791 --> 00:12:32,001
I left it at work.

235
00:12:32,585 --> 00:12:34,962
I'll be back in an hour.
Go. Okay.

236
00:13:34,271 --> 00:13:36,315
"Your protagonist is too passive.

237
00:13:36,357 --> 00:13:37,900
Why doesn't she take initiative?

238
00:13:37,983 --> 00:13:39,860
That would make it
a much more compelling

239
00:13:39,902 --> 00:13:41,779
and interesting story."

240
00:13:44,365 --> 00:13:45,783
That is ridiculous.

241
00:13:49,286 --> 00:13:51,872
"Nice dialogue here,
but it could use more subtext."

242
00:13:51,914 --> 00:13:53,541
What? "Nice"?

243
00:13:56,418 --> 00:13:58,587
"This metaphor doesn't quite work.

244
00:13:58,671 --> 00:14:00,548
What are you really trying to say?"

245
00:14:09,390 --> 00:14:14,395
"This is good, but you have
an opportunity to be great.

246
00:14:14,478 --> 00:14:16,438
A fellow storyteller."

247
00:14:17,565 --> 00:14:19,483
A fellow storyteller.

248
00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:24,196
Who are you?

249
00:14:29,243 --> 00:14:32,705
"This is good." Good.

250
00:14:33,247 --> 00:14:38,335
"But you have an opportunity
to be great."

251
00:14:40,004 --> 00:14:41,422
Huh.

252
00:14:41,463 --> 00:14:43,173
"A fellow storyteller."

253
00:14:45,509 --> 00:14:47,928
A fellow storyteller.

254
00:14:54,768 --> 00:14:56,103
Oh.

255
00:14:56,186 --> 00:14:56,979
Sam.

256
00:14:57,062 --> 00:14:58,272
You scared me.

257
00:14:58,355 --> 00:14:59,982
Yeah, I could say the same for you.

258
00:15:00,065 --> 00:15:01,358
What are you doing here?

259
00:15:02,151 --> 00:15:03,110
I work here.

260
00:15:03,152 --> 00:15:05,654
Yeah. Yeah.

261
00:15:05,738 --> 00:15:07,197
I just... I mean, it's late.

262
00:15:07,281 --> 00:15:10,117
Oh, yeah. With Mrs. Pendleton's
son working here now,

263
00:15:10,159 --> 00:15:12,620
I thought I should stay late
and clean up some contracts.

264
00:15:12,703 --> 00:15:14,496
You?

265
00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:15,706
Me? What... What about me?

266
00:15:15,789 --> 00:15:17,017
What are you doing here so late?

267
00:15:17,041 --> 00:15:20,336
Oh, I forgot a manuscript.

268
00:15:20,419 --> 00:15:22,421
It's for an author of mine.
Not "mine" mine,

269
00:15:22,463 --> 00:15:24,465
but a friend of mine. I'm just

270
00:15:24,548 --> 00:15:27,468
I'm helping with edits.
Okay.

271
00:15:28,302 --> 00:15:31,138
Hey, have you seen
anyone else here tonight?

272
00:15:31,972 --> 00:15:33,891
No. Just the cleaning crew.

273
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:35,517
Right.

274
00:15:35,601 --> 00:15:36,852
Are you okay?
Yeah.

275
00:15:36,936 --> 00:15:40,356
No, I'm just trying to figure out the...

276
00:15:40,439 --> 00:15:41,982
Book.
Hm?

277
00:15:42,566 --> 00:15:45,444
That you're editing.
Yes. The book.

278
00:15:45,486 --> 00:15:47,988
You know, you've always been
supportive of my writing ideas,

279
00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:50,157
so your friend's really lucky to have you.

280
00:15:50,824 --> 00:15:52,910
See you Monday.
Bye.

281
00:16:04,672 --> 00:16:08,342
Someone found it, and they wrote notes,

282
00:16:08,425 --> 00:16:11,011
as in editorial notes, in the margins.

283
00:16:11,053 --> 00:16:14,556
I mean, that's... That's invasive, right?

284
00:16:15,599 --> 00:16:17,059
"Your protagonist is too passive

285
00:16:17,142 --> 00:16:18,519
right from the beginning."

286
00:16:19,186 --> 00:16:21,355
That's actually really good feedback.

287
00:16:21,855 --> 00:16:24,566
Well, that's not the point.
The point is someone found it,

288
00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:26,410
and now they know
I'm writing a romance book.

289
00:16:26,485 --> 00:16:27,945
Okay.

290
00:16:28,028 --> 00:16:31,156
But whoever they are,
they're being helpful, right?

291
00:16:31,699 --> 00:16:34,868
They wrote nice dialog here.
That's encouraging.

292
00:16:34,910 --> 00:16:36,996
Or it's... It's a trap.

293
00:16:37,037 --> 00:16:39,039
A trap for what?

294
00:16:39,081 --> 00:16:40,374
I don't know.

295
00:16:41,875 --> 00:16:43,436
Maybe they're trying to collect evidence

296
00:16:43,460 --> 00:16:45,295
to bring to Mrs. Pendleton.

297
00:16:45,379 --> 00:16:46,714
Uh...

298
00:16:46,755 --> 00:16:48,924
Okay. Think about it.

299
00:16:49,466 --> 00:16:51,051
Who at Pendleton

300
00:16:51,093 --> 00:16:53,220
would read several chapters
of your manuscript,

301
00:16:53,262 --> 00:16:58,267
then leave what seems to be
very helpful editorial notes

302
00:16:58,350 --> 00:17:00,227
instead of just turning you in?

303
00:17:00,811 --> 00:17:02,855
No one knows about my secret room.

304
00:17:02,896 --> 00:17:04,523
Well, someone does.

305
00:17:10,738 --> 00:17:13,073
Whoever it is has very nice handwriting.

306
00:17:13,115 --> 00:17:14,116
Neat.

307
00:17:14,908 --> 00:17:16,535
Confident.

308
00:17:17,536 --> 00:17:19,413
Could it be Giselle?
No.

309
00:17:19,455 --> 00:17:21,623
Giselle would have
turned me in immediately.

310
00:17:21,707 --> 00:17:24,710
Yeah. What about Clive?

311
00:17:25,377 --> 00:17:27,921
Clive does keep track
of everyone for Mrs. Pendleton,

312
00:17:28,005 --> 00:17:30,340
but I don't know.

313
00:17:31,258 --> 00:17:33,135
Karen in Billing?

314
00:17:34,261 --> 00:17:35,387
Uh... No.
No.

315
00:17:35,429 --> 00:17:37,598
Sam. He was at the office just now.

316
00:17:37,639 --> 00:17:39,099
Sam in Contracts? No.

317
00:17:39,183 --> 00:17:41,393
Yes, yes, he's a frustrated writer.

318
00:17:41,435 --> 00:17:43,520
He happened to work late tonight.

319
00:17:44,104 --> 00:17:46,732
So, add him to the list of suspects.

320
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,571
Okay, well, that leaves William.

321
00:17:52,613 --> 00:17:55,282
I mean, maybe he was
exploring the building

322
00:17:55,365 --> 00:17:58,077
and he found my room.

323
00:17:58,118 --> 00:18:00,162
He used to be an editor, right?

324
00:18:00,245 --> 00:18:03,290
Right. So he would leave notes.
And he saw the page.

325
00:18:03,957 --> 00:18:06,627
No, he's also Mrs. Pendleton's son.

326
00:18:06,710 --> 00:18:07,878
If he found my manuscript,

327
00:18:07,961 --> 00:18:10,547
he definitely would have turned me in.

328
00:18:13,717 --> 00:18:16,470
Whoever it is thinks
very highly of themselves.

329
00:18:17,137 --> 00:18:22,226
I mean, who leaves notes
without being asked for them?

330
00:18:22,309 --> 00:18:24,103
Someone who must like what they read.

331
00:18:42,246 --> 00:18:43,330
First.

332
00:18:44,498 --> 00:18:48,293
Bold of you, whoever you are.

333
00:18:49,086 --> 00:18:50,504
Second.

334
00:18:51,171 --> 00:18:54,299
You have no idea

335
00:18:54,341 --> 00:18:58,804
how long I've been working on this book,

336
00:18:58,846 --> 00:19:00,848
but I will tell you.

337
00:19:03,517 --> 00:19:07,104
Three long years.

338
00:19:08,438 --> 00:19:09,438
Three.

339
00:19:11,650 --> 00:19:18,407
How do I know you have
my best interest at heart?

340
00:19:18,949 --> 00:19:20,033
I don't.

341
00:19:20,742 --> 00:19:22,786
So, forgive me,

342
00:19:23,370 --> 00:19:28,041
but I am not about to throw

343
00:19:28,083 --> 00:19:32,921
three years of hard work down the drain

344
00:19:33,005 --> 00:19:37,885
and just randomly trust whoever you are.

345
00:19:37,926 --> 00:19:42,723
Thank you, but no, thank you.

346
00:19:46,852 --> 00:19:49,855
Oh, rise and shine, sleepyhead.

347
00:19:50,898 --> 00:19:53,025
Oh.

348
00:19:54,151 --> 00:19:55,485
You wrote back?

349
00:19:56,528 --> 00:19:58,238
Uh, yeah. Kind of.

350
00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:02,534
I, uh, I said thank you, but no, thank you.

351
00:20:02,576 --> 00:20:05,245
Uh-huh.
I have no idea who it is.

352
00:20:05,287 --> 00:20:08,749
Ah. Well, they said it was
a fellow storyteller, right?

353
00:20:08,790 --> 00:20:11,001
Yeah, but what does that even mean?

354
00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:12,878
If it's someone at work,

355
00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,255
which we have to assume that it is,

356
00:20:15,339 --> 00:20:17,132
it means that they now know

357
00:20:17,216 --> 00:20:20,135
someone else at work
is writing a romance novel.

358
00:20:21,637 --> 00:20:23,805
At least all they have is my pen name.

359
00:20:24,848 --> 00:20:26,391
So, what happens now?

360
00:20:28,393 --> 00:20:31,230
I guess we wait and see
if they write back.

361
00:20:34,483 --> 00:20:35,609
Hmm.

362
00:21:11,603 --> 00:21:12,854
Your move.

363
00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:24,866
Thank you for coming in early.
Mr. Pendleton.

364
00:21:24,950 --> 00:21:25,993
Please call me William.

365
00:21:26,451 --> 00:21:28,495
Looks like you have
everything under control here.

366
00:21:28,537 --> 00:21:29,621
It looks great.

367
00:21:29,663 --> 00:21:31,832
Oh, this is just what we always do.

368
00:21:32,291 --> 00:21:35,210
If you weren't aware, your
mother's not a fan of change.

369
00:21:36,003 --> 00:21:37,629
Oh, I had no idea.

370
00:21:43,176 --> 00:21:45,345
Uh, how... How was your first day?

371
00:21:45,387 --> 00:21:48,181
Oh, I'm still getting acquainted.

372
00:21:49,182 --> 00:21:50,851
How would you describe it?

373
00:21:52,144 --> 00:21:54,813
Me? How would I describe what?

374
00:21:54,855 --> 00:21:57,858
I want to know what you think.
You've been on the inside.

375
00:21:57,899 --> 00:22:00,277
You've been working here for some time.

376
00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:02,529
I'm trying to understand what works here

377
00:22:02,571 --> 00:22:04,865
and what might no longer serve us.

378
00:22:04,906 --> 00:22:06,116
Okay.

379
00:22:06,199 --> 00:22:09,369
Um, I think that Pendleton Publishing

380
00:22:09,411 --> 00:22:12,539
is a company
that cares about its authors.

381
00:22:12,622 --> 00:22:15,208
Sometimes, maybe to its own detriment.

382
00:22:15,292 --> 00:22:17,044
Oh. How so?

383
00:22:17,502 --> 00:22:21,548
Well, Pendleton doesn't publish
books because they'll sell fast.

384
00:22:21,631 --> 00:22:24,384
We publish them
because they will matter later.

385
00:22:25,385 --> 00:22:27,739
Sometimes you need an exception
to keep the company relevant.

386
00:22:27,763 --> 00:22:30,557
For instance, if there's
a popular reality star

387
00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,559
who wants to write her life story.

388
00:22:32,601 --> 00:22:36,063
So, you agree with our decision
to publish the influencer book?

389
00:22:36,104 --> 00:22:38,065
Yes. I think it was smart

390
00:22:38,106 --> 00:22:40,901
for both financial
and professional reasons.

391
00:22:40,984 --> 00:22:42,194
Your mother has made sure

392
00:22:42,235 --> 00:22:43,820
the exceptions don't become the rule.

393
00:22:43,904 --> 00:22:45,197
And this philosophy

394
00:22:45,238 --> 00:22:47,407
is what has kept Pendleton standing.

395
00:22:47,491 --> 00:22:51,620
Whether it can continue without
expansion remains to be seen.

396
00:22:52,913 --> 00:22:54,766
Maybe that's why you left
the big publishing house

397
00:22:54,790 --> 00:22:55,999
and came here.

398
00:23:00,128 --> 00:23:01,588
What do you think of the employees?

399
00:23:02,214 --> 00:23:06,134
I think most of the workers
here care about the company.

400
00:23:07,260 --> 00:23:10,472
My author is the star of her own show.

401
00:23:10,555 --> 00:23:14,393
She needs more chairs than the
ladies that write about words.

402
00:23:17,938 --> 00:23:19,689
Some care more than others.

403
00:23:19,773 --> 00:23:21,525
Hm.
Look.

404
00:23:21,608 --> 00:23:23,944
About the manuscript
that I dropped in the meeting.

405
00:23:23,985 --> 00:23:25,654
It didn't...
It's totally fine.

406
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:29,074
You might want to be a little
bit more careful in the future.

407
00:23:29,116 --> 00:23:30,826
People don't always appreciate
everything

408
00:23:30,909 --> 00:23:32,285
that comes across their desk.

409
00:23:33,286 --> 00:23:36,289
Discretion matters.
Right.

410
00:23:36,790 --> 00:23:37,999
My author is pulling up.

411
00:23:38,083 --> 00:23:40,460
We should be waiting for her as a team.

412
00:23:40,502 --> 00:23:43,046
Hm. Of course.

413
00:24:23,420 --> 00:24:25,213
"Discretion and honesty matter,

414
00:24:25,297 --> 00:24:28,258
which is why it is best
that I remain anonymous for now.

415
00:24:28,967 --> 00:24:31,178
My first big problem with this book.

416
00:24:31,219 --> 00:24:33,847
You need to let your protagonist choose,

417
00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:35,807
even when that choice costs her.

418
00:24:35,849 --> 00:24:38,351
You don't need to protect her from that.

419
00:24:38,393 --> 00:24:39,895
"Readers won't either."

420
00:24:44,816 --> 00:24:47,068
"What is the moment your leading
lady realizes

421
00:24:47,152 --> 00:24:49,863
staying quiet will cost her
more than speaking up?

422
00:24:50,572 --> 00:24:52,908
You don't have to listen to me,
but if you want this book

423
00:24:52,991 --> 00:24:54,784
to be even remotely successful,

424
00:24:54,868 --> 00:24:58,580
"I suggest taking
my notes into consideration."

425
00:25:09,716 --> 00:25:12,719
I'm not saying

426
00:25:12,802 --> 00:25:17,641
I'm going to implement

427
00:25:17,724 --> 00:25:21,686
any of your notes.

428
00:25:23,772 --> 00:25:25,065
However.

429
00:25:27,776 --> 00:25:31,238
I will think about it.

430
00:25:34,991 --> 00:25:41,248
If, and only if, I decide

431
00:25:41,331 --> 00:25:44,960
they could be helpful,

432
00:25:46,461 --> 00:25:51,174
then I would like to set

433
00:25:51,258 --> 00:25:55,220
a few ground rules.

434
00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:10,360
The notes stay focused on the book.

435
00:26:12,445 --> 00:26:16,533
There is no sharing

436
00:26:16,616 --> 00:26:20,620
beyond the pages.

437
00:26:24,249 --> 00:26:28,003
Honesty is required.

438
00:26:29,921 --> 00:26:34,926
But please be courteous about it.

439
00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:42,767
Hey.

440
00:26:42,809 --> 00:26:43,977
Anything?
Hi.

441
00:26:44,060 --> 00:26:45,061
Yeah. Come in.

442
00:26:46,313 --> 00:26:47,439
I reread the notes.

443
00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:48,690
As much as I hate to admit it,

444
00:26:48,773 --> 00:26:50,483
whoever is writing,

445
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:51,567
they're not terrible.

446
00:26:51,943 --> 00:26:54,738
So, you're gonna use them?
I don't know.

447
00:26:54,821 --> 00:26:57,032
I mean, if I don't like it,
I could always rewrite.

448
00:26:57,657 --> 00:26:59,826
They asked me a question,
and it wasn't about the book,

449
00:26:59,868 --> 00:27:01,661
but it made me think.

450
00:27:05,206 --> 00:27:06,374
I excel at graphic design,

451
00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:08,126
book covers and the occasional code,

452
00:27:08,168 --> 00:27:10,170
not solving mysteries.

453
00:27:10,211 --> 00:27:14,382
Okay. My protagonist, I keep
telling her to take risks,

454
00:27:14,466 --> 00:27:15,818
and then every day, I show up at work

455
00:27:15,842 --> 00:27:16,801
and I do the same thing.

456
00:27:16,843 --> 00:27:18,136
I stay quiet.

457
00:27:18,178 --> 00:27:20,221
It's good for survival and job security.

458
00:27:20,305 --> 00:27:21,848
It's not great for peace of mind.

459
00:27:22,390 --> 00:27:25,560
So, what are you going to do
about everything you just said?

460
00:27:25,644 --> 00:27:29,022
There's a meeting coming up,
and I am head of the department.

461
00:27:29,105 --> 00:27:31,399
You're the only one in the department.

462
00:27:31,483 --> 00:27:34,486
Which means I'm the only one
who can speak up for the books.

463
00:27:34,527 --> 00:27:36,237
They said to find the moment.

464
00:27:36,321 --> 00:27:38,323
I mean, maybe this is the moment.

465
00:27:38,365 --> 00:27:40,241
They, who? What... What moment?

466
00:27:40,325 --> 00:27:41,493
I'll tell you later.

467
00:27:43,870 --> 00:27:47,874
The past year required difficult decisions.

468
00:27:47,957 --> 00:27:50,794
Pendleton publishes
works of lasting value,

469
00:27:50,877 --> 00:27:54,589
and that does not change because
the market gets impatient.

470
00:27:54,673 --> 00:27:57,801
My author wasn't approved
because she fit the list.

471
00:27:57,884 --> 00:28:00,929
She was approved
because she fit the moment.

472
00:28:01,012 --> 00:28:03,848
No advance, minimal overhead.

473
00:28:03,890 --> 00:28:06,893
Well, that moment has passed.

474
00:28:06,935 --> 00:28:09,813
Yes, her book performed better
than I expected

475
00:28:09,896 --> 00:28:11,773
and decently for the market,

476
00:28:11,856 --> 00:28:15,652
but that does not automatically
qualify her for a second book.

477
00:28:16,236 --> 00:28:19,739
Of course not. I...
I wouldn't suggest otherwise.

478
00:28:19,823 --> 00:28:24,869
Good. Because Pendleton
does not build on coincidence.

479
00:28:25,745 --> 00:28:28,832
Which is precisely why
we must be careful.

480
00:28:30,583 --> 00:28:32,043
I agree.

481
00:28:32,085 --> 00:28:35,088
Care to elaborate, Ms. Cade?

482
00:28:35,130 --> 00:28:39,968
I just... I think that protecting the work

483
00:28:40,051 --> 00:28:42,846
also means finding ways to fund it.

484
00:28:43,430 --> 00:28:46,558
One project could carry several others.

485
00:28:46,599 --> 00:28:49,602
I see. And what are you suggesting?

486
00:28:49,644 --> 00:28:52,772
Well, we've already seen that it works

487
00:28:52,814 --> 00:28:54,399
with the influencer book.

488
00:28:54,858 --> 00:28:57,944
Giselle did a great job
editing and promoting her.

489
00:28:58,486 --> 00:29:00,488
I think now we need to find something

490
00:29:00,572 --> 00:29:01,990
that's more aligned with Pendleton,

491
00:29:02,073 --> 00:29:03,575
however, still outside the box.

492
00:29:04,284 --> 00:29:07,954
And who decides which projects
get that privilege?

493
00:29:08,037 --> 00:29:09,956
People who understand the numbers

494
00:29:10,039 --> 00:29:11,767
and the responsibilities
that come with them.

495
00:29:11,791 --> 00:29:14,294
Yeah. I mean, from a contract
standpoint, it definitely works

496
00:29:14,335 --> 00:29:16,129
as long as the exceptions are deliberate.

497
00:29:16,212 --> 00:29:18,631
And how many more of these exceptions

498
00:29:18,673 --> 00:29:20,967
before we're no longer Pendleton?

499
00:29:21,009 --> 00:29:23,070
I think when the exceptions
stop protecting the work,

500
00:29:23,094 --> 00:29:24,971
and they start replacing it.

501
00:29:26,306 --> 00:29:29,934
We'll continue this discussion
at our next meeting.

502
00:29:31,686 --> 00:29:32,937
Clive.

503
00:29:40,487 --> 00:29:43,156
Since you're suddenly full of ideas,

504
00:29:43,698 --> 00:29:45,992
perhaps you could explain
to our best-selling author

505
00:29:46,034 --> 00:29:49,245
why we're not putting her
second book into production.

506
00:29:49,329 --> 00:29:51,915
I would be happy to help you
if you need it.

507
00:29:59,005 --> 00:30:00,799
Way to take control of the meeting.

508
00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,176
That was great.
It did not feel great.

509
00:30:03,259 --> 00:30:05,303
Trust me, it was.

510
00:30:08,848 --> 00:30:10,016
Nicely done, Savannah.

511
00:30:11,184 --> 00:30:13,812
Thank you, Mr... Um, William.

512
00:30:14,479 --> 00:30:17,565
I'm much more
comfortable staying quiet.

513
00:30:18,191 --> 00:30:19,835
Well, there's always
the right time to speak up.

514
00:30:19,859 --> 00:30:21,528
And today was that right time.

515
00:30:23,029 --> 00:30:24,697
Sorry. What did you say?

516
00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:27,617
Uh, just that, you know,

517
00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:30,411
it's nice to speak your piece
every once in a while.

518
00:30:31,704 --> 00:30:33,915
Right. Of course.

519
00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:37,085
Thank you.
Hm.

520
00:30:44,050 --> 00:30:44,884
Hi.

521
00:30:44,926 --> 00:30:46,469
Long day.

522
00:30:46,553 --> 00:30:48,847
Ooh, cookie.
Yeah.

523
00:30:48,888 --> 00:30:50,056
Yeah. It is.

524
00:30:52,725 --> 00:30:55,270
Is there something on my face?
Oh, I'm so embarrassed.

525
00:30:55,353 --> 00:30:59,399
No, no, I was just thinking about earlier.

526
00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:00,440
The meeting.

527
00:31:00,942 --> 00:31:02,262
I still can't believe I spoke up.

528
00:31:02,735 --> 00:31:05,655
I mean, I'm glad I did.
Those moments matter.

529
00:31:05,738 --> 00:31:07,240
Yeah, no, I completely agree.

530
00:31:07,323 --> 00:31:09,242
I don't think enough people act on them.

531
00:31:10,410 --> 00:31:12,161
Do you regret speaking up?

532
00:31:12,245 --> 00:31:14,664
I guess. Sometimes.

533
00:31:15,748 --> 00:31:17,917
But I regret not speaking up more.

534
00:31:18,585 --> 00:31:20,253
Yeah. You're right.

535
00:31:20,712 --> 00:31:22,356
I think Mrs. Pendleton respects
when someone

536
00:31:22,380 --> 00:31:24,674
understands the cost
before they open their mouth.

537
00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:26,759
You think?
I do.

538
00:31:27,385 --> 00:31:31,848
Contracts, they teach you that
everything has consequences.

539
00:31:33,641 --> 00:31:36,102
Anyway, I should probably get back to it.

540
00:31:36,185 --> 00:31:37,520
So, I'll see you.

541
00:32:00,793 --> 00:32:02,879
"I must say, when you wrote
you were going to find

542
00:32:02,962 --> 00:32:05,798
the moment in your own life,
I didn't believe you,

543
00:32:05,882 --> 00:32:07,550
but it sounded like you did speak up,

544
00:32:07,634 --> 00:32:09,469
knowing it could cost you.

545
00:32:09,552 --> 00:32:10,803
Most people wait for certainty,

546
00:32:10,887 --> 00:32:13,681
and you chose clarity and risk instead.

547
00:32:14,223 --> 00:32:15,642
"Well done."

548
00:32:21,022 --> 00:32:23,733
"If I had said this to my
ex-girlfriend when we first met,

549
00:32:23,816 --> 00:32:25,151
she would have walked away.

550
00:32:25,234 --> 00:32:27,987
The entire opening
needs to be rewritten."

551
00:32:28,029 --> 00:32:29,322
What?

552
00:32:29,989 --> 00:32:33,660
"And please pick different names
for your lead characters.

553
00:32:33,701 --> 00:32:35,453
Renaldo sounds like a bullfighter.

554
00:32:35,495 --> 00:32:38,039
Isolde sounds like
she belongs in an opera."

555
00:32:47,715 --> 00:32:48,841
Hi.
Hi.

556
00:32:48,883 --> 00:32:50,760
Okay. I really think it might be Sam.

557
00:32:51,302 --> 00:32:52,470
The timing makes sense.

558
00:32:53,012 --> 00:32:55,807
Remember late last night I saw
him when I found the notes?

559
00:32:55,848 --> 00:32:58,351
Sam. I don't know.

560
00:32:58,393 --> 00:33:00,019
Yeah, yeah. Then today he said

561
00:33:00,061 --> 00:33:02,021
almost exactly what was written down.

562
00:33:02,063 --> 00:33:04,857
And then he did it again
when we were getting coffee.

563
00:33:04,899 --> 00:33:06,609
Why am I sensing a but?

564
00:33:06,693 --> 00:33:08,319
No, no but. I just.

565
00:33:10,780 --> 00:33:12,615
I don't know, I guess I thought

566
00:33:12,699 --> 00:33:19,747
it would be clearer or more romantic.

567
00:33:19,831 --> 00:33:21,416
It makes sense in my head.

568
00:33:21,499 --> 00:33:24,627
It just... It doesn't make sense
anywhere else.

569
00:33:24,711 --> 00:33:26,170
You're a romance writer.

570
00:33:26,212 --> 00:33:28,423
Maybe you built the expectation up

571
00:33:28,506 --> 00:33:32,135
to be some grand gesture of love.

572
00:33:33,052 --> 00:33:35,471
Me, dramatize romance?
Mm-hm.

573
00:33:35,972 --> 00:33:37,056
Yeah.

574
00:33:47,567 --> 00:33:49,110
Savannah.

575
00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:50,737
Come in.

576
00:33:53,489 --> 00:33:55,533
Your mother
hasn't given you an office yet?

577
00:33:57,035 --> 00:33:59,245
Sorry. That was supposed to be funny.

578
00:33:59,287 --> 00:34:00,788
No, it was.

579
00:34:01,497 --> 00:34:03,916
I just... I just really like it in here.

580
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,168
Please sit.

581
00:34:08,046 --> 00:34:10,631
I'd come to work
with her sometimes

582
00:34:10,715 --> 00:34:14,719
and just roam the halls
like it's my kingdom.

583
00:34:15,928 --> 00:34:17,221
I guess it's no surprise

584
00:34:17,263 --> 00:34:19,265
that I ended up in the literary field.

585
00:34:21,017 --> 00:34:22,101
How about you?

586
00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:23,227
Me?

587
00:34:23,936 --> 00:34:27,356
I've always been obsessed with books.

588
00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:29,358
Ever since The Bunny
And The Bear books.

589
00:34:29,442 --> 00:34:30,735
I remember those.

590
00:34:30,777 --> 00:34:33,780
Bunny used to show Bear
how to have fun,

591
00:34:33,821 --> 00:34:36,115
and Bear would teach Bunny
to speak up.

592
00:34:36,157 --> 00:34:38,618
Was that something like that?
Close. Yes.

593
00:34:39,202 --> 00:34:42,246
Honestly, I should reread them.
I could use some inspiration

594
00:34:42,288 --> 00:34:43,831
on speaking up at the moment.

595
00:34:43,915 --> 00:34:46,459
Except with my authors.
They're easy to talk to.

596
00:34:46,542 --> 00:34:49,295
Right. That makes sense.
Authors and their editors

597
00:34:49,337 --> 00:34:51,506
always have a special relationship.

598
00:34:51,589 --> 00:34:54,926
Yeah, regardless
of what the book is about,

599
00:34:54,967 --> 00:34:57,178
authors write from their hearts.

600
00:34:57,261 --> 00:34:58,471
It gets personal.

601
00:34:58,971 --> 00:35:01,224
At least it does if it's good.

602
00:35:01,307 --> 00:35:03,810
Hm.
Can I ask you something?

603
00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:05,560
Please.

604
00:35:06,813 --> 00:35:08,773
When you speak up at a meeting,

605
00:35:09,398 --> 00:35:12,360
potentially with a different
opinion of, say, the boss.

606
00:35:14,821 --> 00:35:17,406
Do you ever regret it afterwards?

607
00:35:17,490 --> 00:35:18,783
Well, sometimes.

608
00:35:19,700 --> 00:35:21,452
But then I remember that,

609
00:35:21,494 --> 00:35:23,996
every time I haven't said what I wanted

610
00:35:24,664 --> 00:35:27,834
well, it's always worked out worse, so.

611
00:35:27,875 --> 00:35:32,964
And you don't say these things
because they're easy, Savannah.

612
00:35:33,631 --> 00:35:37,009
You say them because
they mean something to you,

613
00:35:37,051 --> 00:35:40,138
and that you're prepared
to deal with what happens after.

614
00:35:41,681 --> 00:35:43,850
So, it's not a bad thing?

615
00:35:43,933 --> 00:35:45,643
No, I don't think so.

616
00:35:45,685 --> 00:35:49,230
I think it simply means that it matters.

617
00:35:49,897 --> 00:35:50,940
Thank you.

618
00:35:51,983 --> 00:35:54,143
I'll let you get back to work.
Sorry for bothering you.

619
00:35:54,193 --> 00:35:56,612
Please. Savannah.

620
00:35:58,030 --> 00:35:59,365
Are you free later?

621
00:35:59,907 --> 00:36:01,367
I can be.
Great.

622
00:36:01,409 --> 00:36:03,369
I'd like you to sit in on a meeting.

623
00:36:03,411 --> 00:36:05,705
It's been years since I've dealt
with authors one-on-one.

624
00:36:05,788 --> 00:36:08,457
And I hear you have a particularly

625
00:36:08,541 --> 00:36:11,586
nice way of handling difficult situations.

626
00:36:11,669 --> 00:36:13,379
Plus, I'd like to see you in action.

627
00:36:13,921 --> 00:36:15,214
Uh, sure. Yeah.

628
00:36:15,256 --> 00:36:17,258
Great. I'll see you here at 3.

629
00:36:17,341 --> 00:36:18,676
Yeah.

630
00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:25,725
Hey.

631
00:36:25,766 --> 00:36:26,976
I finished the new book cover.

632
00:36:27,059 --> 00:36:28,144
You want to see it?

633
00:36:28,227 --> 00:36:29,478
Yes. Later.

634
00:36:29,562 --> 00:36:31,230
I'm just prepping for a meeting.

635
00:36:31,272 --> 00:36:33,357
I didn't see one on the schedule.

636
00:36:33,399 --> 00:36:36,068
William asked me to sit in on one of his,

637
00:36:36,152 --> 00:36:37,987
which could be a test.

638
00:36:38,070 --> 00:36:39,506
He can judge me
without it being obvious,

639
00:36:39,530 --> 00:36:41,866
and then he can gather
information to fire me.

640
00:36:42,742 --> 00:36:46,245
Or... He asked you to join

641
00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:48,623
because you're the very best at your job.

642
00:36:49,582 --> 00:36:52,043
If you're right, it means maybe
William saw something in me.

643
00:36:52,084 --> 00:36:55,296
And this could be a good thing,
not a "you're fired" thing.

644
00:36:55,379 --> 00:36:56,881
It could be a very good thing.

645
00:36:56,923 --> 00:36:59,342
Lyla. He's my boss.

646
00:36:59,425 --> 00:37:01,802
I said nothing. You, however...

647
00:37:01,886 --> 00:37:06,557
A meeting is not a thing.
It's work. It's a work thing.

648
00:37:06,599 --> 00:37:08,935
Mm-hm. No one says it's not a thing

649
00:37:08,976 --> 00:37:11,395
unless they feel like
it might actually be a thing.

650
00:37:11,437 --> 00:37:13,814
The notes are a real thing.

651
00:37:13,898 --> 00:37:16,484
And before you say anything,
I still think it's Sam.

652
00:37:16,567 --> 00:37:18,361
I think he's the mystery editor.

653
00:37:18,444 --> 00:37:20,947
He's thoughtful, deliberate,
thinks before he speaks.

654
00:37:20,988 --> 00:37:22,490
That's how you are, too.

655
00:37:22,573 --> 00:37:24,742
You're just getting better
about people hearing you.

656
00:37:25,660 --> 00:37:27,370
I'm a work in progress.

657
00:37:47,306 --> 00:37:50,226
"You opened the door without
knowing what would walk through.

658
00:37:50,309 --> 00:37:51,519
That's the hardest part.

659
00:37:51,602 --> 00:37:54,814
People think courage is loud. It isn't.

660
00:37:54,897 --> 00:37:57,733
It's choosing not to close the door again."

661
00:38:02,196 --> 00:38:03,322
He's right.

662
00:38:05,658 --> 00:38:07,994
This isn't just about the book anymore.

663
00:38:12,540 --> 00:38:15,293
"You don't speak to be heard.
You speak because staying quiet

664
00:38:15,334 --> 00:38:17,878
would cost you
something you care about.

665
00:38:17,962 --> 00:38:19,714
Like your characters,
Jonathan and Riley.

666
00:38:19,797 --> 00:38:21,799
Much better name choices, by the way."

667
00:38:23,759 --> 00:38:26,804
"The aftermath is
where most people get stuck,

668
00:38:26,846 --> 00:38:29,682
second-guessing, rewriting,
convincing themselves

669
00:38:29,765 --> 00:38:31,934
it would have been easier to say nothing.

670
00:38:32,518 --> 00:38:35,563
"It wouldn't have been easier.
Just quieter."

671
00:38:40,026 --> 00:38:44,363
I'm beginning to see that.

672
00:38:46,741 --> 00:38:53,122
Also, thank you for the chair.

673
00:39:02,214 --> 00:39:09,347
As much as I don't want to admit it

674
00:39:12,892 --> 00:39:17,188
your notes are helpful.

675
00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,915
I'm just saying, no one leaves

676
00:39:35,956 --> 00:39:37,416
a big publishing house to come here

677
00:39:37,458 --> 00:39:39,585
unless something went very wrong.

678
00:39:39,668 --> 00:39:42,213
I don't know.
It's his mother's company.

679
00:39:42,254 --> 00:39:45,049
People don't come home
unless they're restructuring.

680
00:39:45,091 --> 00:39:47,551
And restructuring means regrouping.

681
00:39:47,593 --> 00:39:50,554
And that means
something went very wrong.

682
00:39:50,596 --> 00:39:52,932
So, you do think there
are going to be layoffs?

683
00:39:52,973 --> 00:39:58,854
Well, I didn't say that,
but I didn't not say it either.

684
00:39:59,605 --> 00:40:01,941
That's a lot of assumption.
Savannah.

685
00:40:02,024 --> 00:40:06,487
We were just talking about,
you know, layoffs.

686
00:40:07,321 --> 00:40:08,364
I heard.

687
00:40:09,281 --> 00:40:11,992
Accusations like that
only make people more nervous.

688
00:40:12,076 --> 00:40:13,836
From where I'm standing,
we need less of that

689
00:40:13,911 --> 00:40:15,996
and more of an open mind.

690
00:40:17,164 --> 00:40:19,792
Look, everyone is nervous.

691
00:40:20,459 --> 00:40:22,878
But assuming
someone failed somewhere else

692
00:40:22,962 --> 00:40:25,047
isn't the same
as knowing why they're here.

693
00:40:25,881 --> 00:40:27,466
You're very confident for someone

694
00:40:27,508 --> 00:40:30,010
who literally has two strikes against her.

695
00:40:31,762 --> 00:40:34,807
I'm not confident. I'm aware.

696
00:40:34,849 --> 00:40:36,475
And not that it needs explaining,

697
00:40:36,559 --> 00:40:39,145
but William did bring me into
one of his meetings earlier.

698
00:40:39,228 --> 00:40:42,273
He wanted to make sure that
we handled the author correctly.

699
00:40:42,898 --> 00:40:45,484
I mean, if he wanted
to dismantle this company,

700
00:40:45,526 --> 00:40:46,837
he wouldn't be listening to ideas

701
00:40:46,861 --> 00:40:48,320
on how to make it more productive,

702
00:40:48,362 --> 00:40:50,489
and he definitely wouldn't
be asking questions.

703
00:40:50,573 --> 00:40:53,492
Questions are how
people decide what to cut.

704
00:40:53,534 --> 00:40:56,120
They're also how
they decide what to protect.

705
00:40:56,162 --> 00:40:57,496
So, you're not worried?

706
00:40:57,538 --> 00:41:00,875
No. I think his intentions are good.

707
00:41:00,958 --> 00:41:04,170
And I think we should all assume
that until proven otherwise.

708
00:41:05,004 --> 00:41:07,131
Well, I hope you're right.

709
00:41:07,631 --> 00:41:11,760
Otherwise, you might be
the next one looking for a job.

710
00:41:30,654 --> 00:41:33,008
I'm hoping this is progress and
not another dramatic standoff

711
00:41:33,032 --> 00:41:35,576
with your laptop. Those never end well.

712
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:38,120
Progress. Actual real progress.

713
00:41:38,204 --> 00:41:40,664
Really? That's good.

714
00:41:40,706 --> 00:41:43,792
Dare I ask if this has anything
to do with your mystery editor?

715
00:41:43,876 --> 00:41:45,336
Maybe.

716
00:41:46,253 --> 00:41:47,546
Mm.

717
00:41:50,382 --> 00:41:52,426
You changed their names.

718
00:41:52,885 --> 00:41:56,388
I like Jonathan and Riley so much more.

719
00:41:56,472 --> 00:41:57,848
Editor's idea?

720
00:41:57,890 --> 00:42:00,559
Yeah. He said Renaldo
sounded like a bullfighter,

721
00:42:00,643 --> 00:42:03,479
and Isolde sounded like
she belonged in an opera.

722
00:42:03,562 --> 00:42:06,065
I mean, he's not wrong.

723
00:42:06,106 --> 00:42:07,106
He really isn't.

724
00:42:07,149 --> 00:42:08,149
Mm-mm.

725
00:42:08,984 --> 00:42:11,111
And he seems to like
all the other changes so far.

726
00:42:11,195 --> 00:42:13,572
He keeps telling me I need
to stop protecting Riley.

727
00:42:13,656 --> 00:42:15,074
That I'm getting in my own way.

728
00:42:15,157 --> 00:42:16,325
Is he right?

729
00:42:16,408 --> 00:42:19,578
Yes, which is deeply inconvenient.

730
00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:21,413
Claire wants to meet tomorrow

731
00:42:21,455 --> 00:42:23,457
to discuss where I'm at with the rewrite.

732
00:42:24,124 --> 00:42:25,292
That's good.

733
00:42:26,835 --> 00:42:28,629
He said something else. He said

734
00:42:28,712 --> 00:42:30,631
I'm allowed to let Riley
choose the wrong thing.

735
00:42:30,714 --> 00:42:33,551
That's how she figures out who she is.

736
00:42:33,592 --> 00:42:38,764
Oh. He sounds like he's
thought about this a lot.

737
00:42:38,806 --> 00:42:40,391
It's Sam, right?

738
00:42:40,933 --> 00:42:43,769
It seems like it.
It makes the most sense.

739
00:42:43,852 --> 00:42:44,852
Yeah.

740
00:42:45,854 --> 00:42:49,942
Okay. I'll check in with you
again before I go to sleep.

741
00:42:50,025 --> 00:42:54,780
But for what it's worth,
I like Jonathan and Riley.

742
00:42:54,863 --> 00:42:58,200
They kind of remind me
of you and your mystery editor.

743
00:43:03,414 --> 00:43:04,498
Me too.

744
00:43:34,653 --> 00:43:38,115
"Jonathan makes choices. Riley reacts.

745
00:43:38,157 --> 00:43:40,159
That's the difference."

746
00:43:41,118 --> 00:43:43,621
"Jonathan
makes choices. Riley reacts.

747
00:43:43,662 --> 00:43:45,414
That's the difference."

748
00:43:50,002 --> 00:43:51,313
"You're still protecting her."

749
00:43:51,337 --> 00:43:54,506
Not from the world, from herself.

750
00:43:57,926 --> 00:44:00,304
If she doesn't risk being wrong,

751
00:44:00,346 --> 00:44:03,849
"she'll never learn
what she actually wants."

752
00:44:09,021 --> 00:44:14,526
I don't want her

753
00:44:14,568 --> 00:44:17,655
to fail.

754
00:44:21,867 --> 00:44:23,077
"I know what you're thinking,

755
00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:25,454
and I don't want her to fail either.

756
00:44:27,164 --> 00:44:29,750
But avoiding failure isn't
the same as choosing to grow,

757
00:44:29,833 --> 00:44:31,919
"to dare to risk it all."

758
00:44:33,545 --> 00:44:36,131
Wow. That's good. That's...

759
00:44:37,049 --> 00:44:38,634
That's actually pretty good.

760
00:44:49,103 --> 00:44:50,396
Sorry.

761
00:44:50,437 --> 00:44:51,748
No, that was all me. Are you all right?

762
00:44:51,772 --> 00:44:53,649
I'm fine. I was thinking.

763
00:44:53,732 --> 00:44:56,151
Multitasking. Unsuccessfully, it seems.

764
00:44:56,235 --> 00:44:59,071
That kind of dedication is
just the sign of a good editor.

765
00:44:59,113 --> 00:45:01,782
Is it?
At least in my experience. Yes.

766
00:45:02,324 --> 00:45:04,910
Well, for my author's sake,
I hope you're right.

767
00:45:04,993 --> 00:45:06,745
I usually am.
Mm-hm.

768
00:45:06,829 --> 00:45:09,748
So, are you running from
something or to someplace?

769
00:45:09,790 --> 00:45:11,417
Neither. I'm just doing edits.

770
00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:12,710
For your author.

771
00:45:12,751 --> 00:45:14,753
Hm.

772
00:45:14,837 --> 00:45:16,630
Well, they are lucky to have you.

773
00:45:16,714 --> 00:45:17,714
As are we.

774
00:45:18,257 --> 00:45:19,925
I'll see you later.
Yeah.

775
00:45:26,640 --> 00:45:28,976
Clive. Hi.
Hi.

776
00:45:29,059 --> 00:45:30,245
Do you know where the red pens are?

777
00:45:30,269 --> 00:45:31,437
I checked the supply cabinet.

778
00:45:31,478 --> 00:45:33,272
I couldn't find any.
We're out.

779
00:45:33,313 --> 00:45:34,606
I need to order some more.

780
00:45:34,648 --> 00:45:36,942
Which is strange because
Mrs. Pendleton

781
00:45:37,025 --> 00:45:38,819
asked me to order them by the caseload.

782
00:45:38,902 --> 00:45:41,280
They usually last for months.

783
00:45:42,114 --> 00:45:43,758
Where did they go this time?
Don't know.

784
00:45:43,782 --> 00:45:46,744
But someone's been getting
through them pretty fast.

785
00:45:46,785 --> 00:45:47,828
Hm.

786
00:45:48,620 --> 00:45:49,621
Thanks, Clive.

787
00:45:50,164 --> 00:45:53,459
William also asked me
to reorder them this morning.

788
00:45:54,084 --> 00:45:56,253
William. Our boss William?

789
00:45:56,754 --> 00:45:58,630
No, the other one.

790
00:45:58,714 --> 00:46:00,174
Yes, William.

791
00:46:00,257 --> 00:46:02,050
That's his name on the door.

792
00:46:13,812 --> 00:46:16,273
Thank you for meeting me here
on short notice.

793
00:46:16,315 --> 00:46:19,067
My office is being turned
over to my replacement,

794
00:46:19,151 --> 00:46:20,879
and there wasn't
a private room available today.

795
00:46:20,903 --> 00:46:24,615
No problem. I can usually meet
for lunch anytime, anywhere.

796
00:46:24,656 --> 00:46:28,327
I've read your new pages and
the name changes helped so well.

797
00:46:28,368 --> 00:46:29,995
Jonathan and Riley feel grounded.

798
00:46:30,037 --> 00:46:31,872
Solid, immediate improvement.

799
00:46:31,955 --> 00:46:33,916
Great. I'm still revising. There are parts

800
00:46:33,999 --> 00:46:35,542
I'm not quite done wrestling with.

801
00:46:35,626 --> 00:46:39,671
Good. That means you're doing it
right and means you're invested.

802
00:46:39,755 --> 00:46:42,591
The emotional spine is
stronger now as well,

803
00:46:42,674 --> 00:46:44,468
but I want you to go further.

804
00:46:44,510 --> 00:46:47,346
Further how?
Stop protecting her.

805
00:46:47,387 --> 00:46:49,598
Let Riley risk it all for Jonathan.

806
00:46:49,681 --> 00:46:51,517
Let the reader go on the journey with her

807
00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:52,810
in finding her true love.

808
00:46:52,851 --> 00:46:54,895
You need to let her risk everything.

809
00:46:54,978 --> 00:46:59,149
Not because it's dramatic, but
because it's honest and real.

810
00:46:59,191 --> 00:47:00,609
It could cost her everything,

811
00:47:00,692 --> 00:47:03,028
but that is a risk
we want to take with her.

812
00:47:03,612 --> 00:47:06,949
I've actually been thinking
about this a lot recently.

813
00:47:07,032 --> 00:47:09,701
Uh, it's just, it's hard
to put her in jeopardy

814
00:47:09,743 --> 00:47:11,161
after all she's been through.

815
00:47:11,203 --> 00:47:12,287
Of course it is.

816
00:47:12,371 --> 00:47:14,039
And that right there is why it works.

817
00:47:14,540 --> 00:47:16,542
I'd also like you
to come up with a new title.

818
00:47:16,583 --> 00:47:17,876
This book deserves it.

819
00:47:17,960 --> 00:47:21,588
And before you ask me how, you'll know.

820
00:47:21,672 --> 00:47:23,966
One day, you'll just know.

821
00:47:24,716 --> 00:47:26,093
If you say so.

822
00:47:26,176 --> 00:47:28,387
I'm wrapping up at Baird
a few days before I planned.

823
00:47:28,470 --> 00:47:30,597
Can you get me a new draft
a few days sooner?

824
00:47:30,681 --> 00:47:32,975
Yes. Yeah, I can. I will.

825
00:47:33,058 --> 00:47:35,811
No pressure. Actually, full pressure,

826
00:47:35,894 --> 00:47:37,396
but the really good kind.

827
00:47:37,479 --> 00:47:40,858
Thank you, Claire, for
pushing me, for believing in me.

828
00:47:40,899 --> 00:47:42,568
It's my favorite part of the job.

829
00:47:43,694 --> 00:47:46,029
Oh, I have another meeting to run to.

830
00:47:46,071 --> 00:47:47,906
But I'm excited, Savannah, truly.

831
00:47:47,990 --> 00:47:51,326
And if I didn't think you
were worth it, I wouldn't be.

832
00:48:22,774 --> 00:48:23,734
What are you doing?

833
00:48:25,861 --> 00:48:27,171
Because it looked like
you were comparing

834
00:48:27,195 --> 00:48:28,989
the red pen with your manuscript,

835
00:48:29,072 --> 00:48:31,241
which is suspicious.

836
00:48:31,283 --> 00:48:32,492
I'm just trying it out.

837
00:48:32,576 --> 00:48:33,887
Switching it up. Seeing how it looks.

838
00:48:33,911 --> 00:48:35,954
You know, trying
to be more open to change.

839
00:48:36,038 --> 00:48:39,166
I've noticed that. It looks good on you.

840
00:48:39,249 --> 00:48:40,792
Still, though.

841
00:48:41,627 --> 00:48:43,462
What are you doing?

842
00:48:46,632 --> 00:48:51,595
Fine. Clive told me that William
asked him to reorder pens.

843
00:48:51,637 --> 00:48:53,847
Red pens for the office.

844
00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:56,016
Interesting.

845
00:48:56,099 --> 00:48:59,144
But everyone
in our business uses red pens.

846
00:48:59,186 --> 00:49:00,812
Mm-hm.

847
00:49:00,896 --> 00:49:01,980
Lyla.

848
00:49:02,064 --> 00:49:03,649
What? I didn't say anything.

849
00:49:03,690 --> 00:49:06,234
Yeah, not out loud,
but I know what you're implying.

850
00:49:06,318 --> 00:49:10,197
Not implying.
Connecting the dots or pens.

851
00:49:10,280 --> 00:49:11,740
Red ones.

852
00:49:11,823 --> 00:49:13,659
It's Sam. I know it is.

853
00:49:13,742 --> 00:49:15,827
The timing, the way that he talks.

854
00:49:15,911 --> 00:49:17,204
You're right.

855
00:49:17,287 --> 00:49:20,415
But it still might not be a bad idea

856
00:49:20,499 --> 00:49:22,709
to get to know more about our new boss.

857
00:49:23,293 --> 00:49:24,169
William?

858
00:49:24,211 --> 00:49:25,587
Unless we got another new boss

859
00:49:25,671 --> 00:49:27,631
this last week, yes, William.

860
00:49:28,674 --> 00:49:29,841
Why?

861
00:49:29,883 --> 00:49:31,510
He's involving you.

862
00:49:31,593 --> 00:49:34,262
And we still don't know
what his intentions are

863
00:49:34,346 --> 00:49:36,264
with the company yet.

864
00:49:36,348 --> 00:49:38,183
Lastly, we can find out

865
00:49:38,266 --> 00:49:41,853
what color pens
he might or might not use.

866
00:49:42,562 --> 00:49:44,815
He's not interested in me like that.

867
00:49:44,856 --> 00:49:47,442
And he's not the way
that my editor is with me.

868
00:49:47,526 --> 00:49:48,777
Okay.

869
00:49:49,861 --> 00:49:53,198
Well, don't forget, tonight's
the animal shelter fundraiser.

870
00:49:53,240 --> 00:49:54,366
You said you'd help.

871
00:49:54,449 --> 00:49:55,867
Did I?

872
00:49:55,951 --> 00:49:57,369
Well, not in so many words,

873
00:49:57,411 --> 00:50:01,206
but I said you'd help.
So, do it for the puppies.

874
00:50:01,248 --> 00:50:02,666
Anything for the puppies.

875
00:50:29,860 --> 00:50:32,612
"After Riley's story about her first date

876
00:50:32,696 --> 00:50:34,072
and the love of twinkle lights,

877
00:50:34,114 --> 00:50:36,074
I thought you'd like the addition.

878
00:50:39,786 --> 00:50:41,747
I also thought they might ease my notes

879
00:50:41,788 --> 00:50:43,165
you're about to read.

880
00:50:45,375 --> 00:50:47,753
You're allowing your heroine to hesitate,

881
00:50:47,836 --> 00:50:49,421
but she should be acting.

882
00:50:49,463 --> 00:50:51,631
Repeated hesitation becomes avoidance.

883
00:50:51,715 --> 00:50:53,258
"Is that your intention?"

884
00:50:53,300 --> 00:50:55,844
Is that my intention? No.

885
00:50:59,598 --> 00:51:02,392
"Ask yourself what Riley
is afraid will happen

886
00:51:02,434 --> 00:51:05,812
if she actually tells Jonathan
what she wants,

887
00:51:05,896 --> 00:51:07,939
what she truly feels for him."

888
00:51:09,566 --> 00:51:14,362
Well, she's afraid

889
00:51:15,113 --> 00:51:17,365
her words

890
00:51:18,158 --> 00:51:23,246
will push him away.

891
00:51:25,290 --> 00:51:31,213
And she will have

892
00:51:31,296 --> 00:51:35,300
no one to blame

893
00:51:36,134 --> 00:51:38,804
but herself.

894
00:51:41,223 --> 00:51:43,725
That's my honest answer.

895
00:51:49,981 --> 00:51:51,441
"Whatever you wrote in the margins,

896
00:51:51,483 --> 00:51:54,528
let Riley say those words out loud."

897
00:51:59,407 --> 00:52:02,828
So many what ifs.

898
00:52:02,911 --> 00:52:08,375
What if he doesn't feel the same way?

899
00:52:11,670 --> 00:52:15,924
What if their connection

900
00:52:16,007 --> 00:52:18,927
is something

901
00:52:19,010 --> 00:52:24,349
she imagined in her mind?

902
00:52:31,648 --> 00:52:33,316
"I can already tell you my response

903
00:52:33,358 --> 00:52:35,485
without reading what you just wrote.

904
00:52:35,527 --> 00:52:37,338
Have you forgotten
you're the writer of this book,

905
00:52:37,362 --> 00:52:39,156
the writer of your own story?

906
00:52:39,197 --> 00:52:41,158
You can choose any outcome you want

907
00:52:41,199 --> 00:52:45,162
"for your characters and yourself."

908
00:52:50,208 --> 00:52:54,254
Okay. I'm listening.

909
00:53:07,726 --> 00:53:10,437
Here you go.
Thank you. Thanks so much.

910
00:53:16,234 --> 00:53:18,403
Did you invite William?

911
00:53:18,445 --> 00:53:20,739
Why, is he here?
Uh-huh.

912
00:53:20,780 --> 00:53:21,823
Why is he here?

913
00:53:22,324 --> 00:53:25,785
I thought we just covered that.
Because I invited him.

914
00:53:26,494 --> 00:53:29,915
And because he has money.
And the shelter likes money.

915
00:53:31,082 --> 00:53:33,168
William, thanks for coming.

916
00:53:33,251 --> 00:53:34,502
For dogs, anything.

917
00:53:34,586 --> 00:53:35,962
They've all been adopted

918
00:53:36,046 --> 00:53:38,381
except for one senior dog, Baxter.

919
00:53:39,507 --> 00:53:41,509
The suggested donation is at the top.

920
00:53:41,593 --> 00:53:44,304
But artistic freedom is encouraged.

921
00:53:44,387 --> 00:53:47,140
- Right. Artistic, huh?
- Mm-hm.

922
00:53:47,807 --> 00:53:50,310
I didn't think people still carried those.

923
00:53:50,393 --> 00:53:53,104
I do. I just want to impress the dogs.

924
00:53:54,105 --> 00:53:55,273
Dealer's choice.

925
00:54:01,446 --> 00:54:02,822
I hope it's okay.

926
00:54:04,950 --> 00:54:07,953
That is very generous. Thank you.

927
00:54:08,620 --> 00:54:10,622
I'm going to go log this in.

928
00:54:14,876 --> 00:54:15,669
Huh.

929
00:54:15,752 --> 00:54:17,295
You're, uh...

930
00:54:18,296 --> 00:54:19,673
You're good at this.

931
00:54:21,383 --> 00:54:22,801
Helping people.

932
00:54:24,636 --> 00:54:27,389
That's kind of my job.
Maybe.

933
00:54:27,472 --> 00:54:29,349
But, I mean, you're not working now.

934
00:54:30,225 --> 00:54:33,144
I have this feeling that you
would help pretty much anybody.

935
00:54:33,645 --> 00:54:35,647
It's just... That's who you are.

936
00:54:54,499 --> 00:54:55,834
What's the verdict?

937
00:54:55,917 --> 00:54:57,210
Uh, they love him,

938
00:54:57,294 --> 00:54:59,671
but they haven't committed quite yet.

939
00:54:59,754 --> 00:55:00,964
Huh.

940
00:55:01,756 --> 00:55:03,133
Follow my lead, okay?

941
00:55:03,174 --> 00:55:05,719
Hey, honey. It's our boy, Baxter.

942
00:55:05,802 --> 00:55:08,763
Uh, yes, our boy, Baxter.

943
00:55:08,847 --> 00:55:10,767
Yeah, we fostered him with plans
to adopt, but...

944
00:55:10,849 --> 00:55:13,184
We did? We did. Yes. Big plans.

945
00:55:13,268 --> 00:55:15,854
Yeah, but this little lady, she was...

946
00:55:15,895 --> 00:55:16,896
She was allergic, so.

947
00:55:16,980 --> 00:55:18,356
I am allergic.
Mm-hm.

948
00:55:18,440 --> 00:55:19,566
But Baxter here...

949
00:55:19,649 --> 00:55:21,609
Oh, he... He is precious.

950
00:55:21,693 --> 00:55:23,987
You know, these shelter dogs,
they only want love.

951
00:55:24,029 --> 00:55:25,905
But this guy, he will give you more love

952
00:55:25,989 --> 00:55:27,324
than you could possibly ask for.

953
00:55:27,365 --> 00:55:29,534
I mean, look at that face. He's so cute.

954
00:55:29,576 --> 00:55:31,995
You know what? I never know
if she means me or the dog.

955
00:55:32,037 --> 00:55:33,872
You guys are gonna love him.
You know what?

956
00:55:33,913 --> 00:55:35,308
You take that over to Lyla over there.

957
00:55:35,332 --> 00:55:36,708
She'll get you an adoption form.

958
00:55:36,791 --> 00:55:37,876
You're gonna love him.

959
00:55:39,002 --> 00:55:42,630
You know, I think that Baxter
may have found his forever home.

960
00:55:42,714 --> 00:55:45,216
Wow. Mr. Pendleton. Um

961
00:55:45,258 --> 00:55:47,802
I mean, aside from my
unfortunate allergies, that...

962
00:55:48,720 --> 00:55:50,555
That was actually very sweet.

963
00:55:51,014 --> 00:55:52,265
Well, it was a team effort.

964
00:55:52,807 --> 00:55:55,393
Hi. Would you like to apply
to adopt Baxter?

965
00:55:57,562 --> 00:55:59,522
Amazing work. Yeah.

966
00:56:02,525 --> 00:56:04,027
Here you are.

967
00:56:04,069 --> 00:56:05,904
Thank you for staying to help.

968
00:56:05,987 --> 00:56:07,572
Lyla did such a great thing here.

969
00:56:07,655 --> 00:56:09,824
It's the... It's the least I could do.

970
00:56:11,242 --> 00:56:13,328
Can I ask you something?

971
00:56:13,828 --> 00:56:15,747
Sure.

972
00:56:15,789 --> 00:56:18,917
There's been a lot of talk
around Pendleton

973
00:56:18,958 --> 00:56:20,502
about why you came here.

974
00:56:21,086 --> 00:56:23,296
People are saying you left
the big publishing house

975
00:56:23,380 --> 00:56:26,466
because something went wrong.

976
00:56:29,052 --> 00:56:30,428
What do you think?

977
00:56:31,763 --> 00:56:33,848
I think it's no one's business.

978
00:56:37,435 --> 00:56:38,435
Hm.

979
00:56:45,777 --> 00:56:48,488
My father passed away last year.

980
00:56:49,239 --> 00:56:51,950
I remember hearing about that. I'm sorry.

981
00:56:52,033 --> 00:56:54,744
I... I can't imagine how hard that is.

982
00:56:54,786 --> 00:56:56,371
I know it was hard for your mother.

983
00:56:56,454 --> 00:56:58,456
It's all right. I...

984
00:56:58,540 --> 00:57:00,959
My dad started Pendleton with her,

985
00:57:01,543 --> 00:57:04,379
and he was a silent partner, mostly.

986
00:57:05,296 --> 00:57:06,714
When he got sick, I promised him

987
00:57:06,798 --> 00:57:10,218
that I would come home
after the next thing.

988
00:57:11,428 --> 00:57:14,472
And then after the next promotion.

989
00:57:15,140 --> 00:57:16,599
Then the next deal.

990
00:57:19,477 --> 00:57:22,230
It turns out there's always the next thing.

991
00:57:26,317 --> 00:57:28,153
When he died, I.

992
00:57:28,987 --> 00:57:30,655
I realized that I was not proud

993
00:57:30,697 --> 00:57:32,407
of all the things that I had missed.

994
00:57:32,490 --> 00:57:35,660
So, I told myself I would
not let that happen again.

995
00:57:36,494 --> 00:57:39,205
So, that's why you came back?
Yeah.

996
00:57:40,498 --> 00:57:42,500
So, I mean, people can say
what they want.

997
00:57:42,959 --> 00:57:46,796
Those that I care about, they...
They know the truth.

998
00:57:49,007 --> 00:57:50,467
That takes restraint.

999
00:57:50,508 --> 00:57:52,677
Oh.

1000
00:57:52,760 --> 00:57:54,888
Yeah. Or...

1001
00:57:55,722 --> 00:57:57,474
Exhaustion.

1002
00:57:57,515 --> 00:57:59,100
Well, for whatever it's worth,

1003
00:57:59,184 --> 00:58:01,436
I think it's a good thing you came back.

1004
00:58:02,729 --> 00:58:04,731
For Pendleton. It's... It's great.

1005
00:58:04,814 --> 00:58:08,902
I mean, you're one
of the best editors there is.

1006
00:58:09,569 --> 00:58:11,029
I don't know about that.

1007
00:58:11,988 --> 00:58:14,449
It's been so long since I edited anything.

1008
00:58:15,241 --> 00:58:17,785
I don't know if I'd be
any good at it anymore.

1009
00:58:18,870 --> 00:58:20,455
Oh.

1010
00:58:21,372 --> 00:58:23,416
Uh, that was my mother.

1011
00:58:25,126 --> 00:58:28,421
I have to go.
Is everything okay?

1012
00:58:29,422 --> 00:58:30,882
I don't know.

1013
00:58:30,965 --> 00:58:32,800
Good night, Savannah.

1014
00:58:32,884 --> 00:58:33,927
Good night.

1015
00:59:09,212 --> 00:59:11,172
"No, I loved it. You let her say

1016
00:59:11,256 --> 00:59:13,216
everything she'd been feeling
and thinking.

1017
00:59:13,258 --> 00:59:14,801
Well done."

1018
00:59:17,929 --> 00:59:19,264
"Then you pulled back.

1019
00:59:19,347 --> 00:59:22,600
You took away what she had
just said to Jonathan."

1020
00:59:23,893 --> 00:59:24,936
What?

1021
00:59:29,774 --> 00:59:30,817
He's right.

1022
00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:48,042
You're right.

1023
00:59:49,961 --> 00:59:54,465
I got afraid for Riley.

1024
00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:02,890
What if I don't recognize myself

1025
01:00:02,974 --> 01:00:07,395
once I stop holding back?

1026
01:00:09,439 --> 01:00:13,610
Oh, I didn't mean me. I meant Riley.

1027
01:00:31,878 --> 01:00:32,878
Sam.

1028
01:00:33,296 --> 01:00:35,632
I did not realize anyone else
ever went in there.

1029
01:00:36,758 --> 01:00:40,803
Yeah, sometimes I just need
a moment of silence.

1030
01:00:40,845 --> 01:00:42,847
Peace and quiet.
Oh.

1031
01:00:43,306 --> 01:00:46,184
Yeah. I guess that is
the perfect place for that.

1032
01:00:46,267 --> 01:00:47,268
Mm-hm.

1033
01:00:49,896 --> 01:00:51,415
Anyway, I heard the fundraiser went well.

1034
01:00:51,439 --> 01:00:53,441
It did.
Good.

1035
01:00:53,524 --> 01:00:54,901
So, what are you working on?

1036
01:00:54,984 --> 01:00:56,819
Oh, well, believe it or not, contracts

1037
01:00:56,861 --> 01:00:58,363
for Before The Weather Changed.

1038
01:00:58,446 --> 01:01:01,157
It's supposed to be really good,
so hopefully it works out.

1039
01:01:01,199 --> 01:01:03,201
I should let you get to work.

1040
01:01:03,242 --> 01:01:07,205
I should get back to it.
Uh, talk to you later?

1041
01:01:07,246 --> 01:01:08,498
Mm-hm.
All right.

1042
01:01:20,718 --> 01:01:22,988
A matter
has been brought to my attention

1043
01:01:23,012 --> 01:01:26,307
that needs clarification.

1044
01:01:26,391 --> 01:01:29,227
It seems that during work hours,

1045
01:01:29,310 --> 01:01:33,022
Ms. Cade was seen
with a rival publisher.

1046
01:01:33,064 --> 01:01:35,858
I'm not asking if this meeting took place.

1047
01:01:35,900 --> 01:01:39,195
I know it did, from a reliable source.

1048
01:01:39,237 --> 01:01:42,448
And since you now oversee
our editorial staff,

1049
01:01:42,532 --> 01:01:46,911
were you aware of what your
staff is doing behind our backs?

1050
01:01:46,953 --> 01:01:50,915
And, Ms. Cade, would you care
to explain why you met

1051
01:01:50,998 --> 01:01:54,544
with a senior editor from
a competing publishing house?

1052
01:01:54,585 --> 01:01:58,005
Yeah, I... Well

1053
01:01:58,089 --> 01:01:59,382
I asked her to go.

1054
01:02:00,258 --> 01:02:02,301
Why would you do that?

1055
01:02:03,761 --> 01:02:05,596
Claire Shapiro has decades
of experience

1056
01:02:05,680 --> 01:02:08,224
in a market
that we do not currently serve.

1057
01:02:08,266 --> 01:02:11,602
And we do not serve
that market intentionally.

1058
01:02:11,644 --> 01:02:14,397
Sending an editor without disclosure

1059
01:02:14,439 --> 01:02:18,151
is an issue that will require
further discussion.

1060
01:02:18,234 --> 01:02:21,779
Understood.
Could we have a moment, please?

1061
01:02:22,280 --> 01:02:23,781
Mm-hm.

1062
01:02:24,449 --> 01:02:26,284
What exactly was discussed?

1063
01:02:26,367 --> 01:02:27,807
General perspectives. Market shifts.

1064
01:02:27,869 --> 01:02:30,621
Potential authors. Thank you, Savannah.

1065
01:02:32,957 --> 01:02:35,585
You have to understand.
This market is changing.

1066
01:02:52,018 --> 01:02:53,704
William.
You don't have to say anything.

1067
01:02:53,728 --> 01:02:57,648
I do. I do. I do. Thank you
for what you just did in there.

1068
01:02:57,690 --> 01:02:59,209
You were put in an impossible position.

1069
01:02:59,233 --> 01:03:00,818
But you could have let me explain.

1070
01:03:00,902 --> 01:03:02,653
You didn't have to step in like that.

1071
01:03:02,737 --> 01:03:04,097
I didn't think you should have to.

1072
01:03:04,155 --> 01:03:05,531
What you did wasn't reckless.

1073
01:03:05,615 --> 01:03:07,533
It was... It was curious.

1074
01:03:07,617 --> 01:03:09,619
There's a difference.
Still.

1075
01:03:10,286 --> 01:03:12,747
I put you in a really difficult situation.

1076
01:03:12,830 --> 01:03:16,793
I mean, perhaps, but...
But that was my choice.

1077
01:03:18,044 --> 01:03:20,838
Um, Savannah, I just want to be clear.

1078
01:03:20,922 --> 01:03:22,840
What... What happened in there,

1079
01:03:22,924 --> 01:03:26,511
it was about the company.
It was about how I lead,

1080
01:03:26,552 --> 01:03:27,845
and not...

1081
01:03:29,180 --> 01:03:31,015
Not about anything else.

1082
01:03:31,682 --> 01:03:34,101
Of course. Yeah, I understand.

1083
01:03:34,894 --> 01:03:36,729
I'll see you later.

1084
01:03:42,360 --> 01:03:44,570
Mrs. Pendleton called me into her office

1085
01:03:44,654 --> 01:03:46,197
and said that she had proof

1086
01:03:46,239 --> 01:03:48,157
I met with Claire.

1087
01:03:48,199 --> 01:03:50,201
It has to be Giselle, I know it.

1088
01:03:50,243 --> 01:03:52,370
What? How? I mean, what did you say?

1089
01:03:52,411 --> 01:03:54,205
I didn't have a chance to explain.

1090
01:03:54,288 --> 01:03:56,749
William was there as well,
and before I could say anything,

1091
01:03:56,833 --> 01:03:58,751
he just... He spoke up.

1092
01:03:58,835 --> 01:04:01,254
He told his mom that he asked me to go.

1093
01:04:01,337 --> 01:04:03,214
That's a big deal that your boss

1094
01:04:03,256 --> 01:04:05,716
is taking your side over his mother's.

1095
01:04:05,758 --> 01:04:07,468
Yeah.
How did you feel about that?

1096
01:04:08,135 --> 01:04:12,598
Obviously, I am grateful and relieved.

1097
01:04:12,682 --> 01:04:15,226
But I don't know.
Something felt off balance.

1098
01:04:15,268 --> 01:04:17,061
I mean, he...

1099
01:04:17,103 --> 01:04:19,188
He said it was about his
leadership and the company,

1100
01:04:19,230 --> 01:04:20,857
which makes sense.

1101
01:04:20,898 --> 01:04:23,568
It might to him. But does it to you?

1102
01:04:24,819 --> 01:04:25,903
I guess.

1103
01:04:27,405 --> 01:04:31,325
I don't know, it... It felt personal.

1104
01:04:31,409 --> 01:04:34,370
Well, maybe it was.

1105
01:04:34,412 --> 01:04:36,664
But he is the boss.

1106
01:04:36,747 --> 01:04:38,416
Yeah.
Yeah.

1107
01:04:38,499 --> 01:04:40,084
And if we ever thought for a second

1108
01:04:40,167 --> 01:04:42,420
he was the mystery editor,
we can rule him out,

1109
01:04:42,503 --> 01:04:45,548
because he told me that he has
not edited in a very long time.

1110
01:04:45,590 --> 01:04:48,426
So, it's still Sam?
Yeah.

1111
01:04:49,302 --> 01:04:50,303
Hm.

1112
01:04:51,929 --> 01:04:55,182
I read the new pages, which are fire.

1113
01:04:55,266 --> 01:04:59,812
Don't get me wrong, it's still
you in all the ways that I love.

1114
01:04:59,896 --> 01:05:01,647
But these notes that you've been getting

1115
01:05:01,731 --> 01:05:03,441
are bringing out your best.

1116
01:05:03,482 --> 01:05:06,110
I think Claire is going
to love this rewrite.

1117
01:05:06,944 --> 01:05:08,821
Now, if you could just get back to work.

1118
01:05:08,905 --> 01:05:11,991
Because I really need to know
what Jonathan says to Riley

1119
01:05:12,074 --> 01:05:13,784
now that he knows how she feels.

1120
01:05:13,826 --> 01:05:16,287
Okay, I am going to need some caffeine

1121
01:05:16,329 --> 01:05:17,890
if I'm going to stay up writing all night.

1122
01:05:17,914 --> 01:05:20,041
One pot of strong coffee coming right up.

1123
01:05:20,124 --> 01:05:21,292
Thank you.

1124
01:05:32,929 --> 01:05:34,138
Morning.

1125
01:05:34,221 --> 01:05:36,766
Good morning to you. You're here early.

1126
01:05:36,807 --> 01:05:38,684
I could say the same to you.

1127
01:05:39,727 --> 01:05:42,104
I, um... I just wanted
to take care of a few things

1128
01:05:42,146 --> 01:05:43,272
before everyone got in.

1129
01:05:43,314 --> 01:05:44,440
You?

1130
01:05:44,482 --> 01:05:46,150
Yeah. I just like the quiet.

1131
01:05:49,779 --> 01:05:50,988
Did you have a good night?

1132
01:05:51,072 --> 01:05:53,574
Yes. Yeah, it was good and long.

1133
01:05:55,284 --> 01:05:59,997
I'm, uh... I'm actually working
on this passion project of mine.

1134
01:06:01,040 --> 01:06:02,083
Cool.

1135
01:06:03,167 --> 01:06:04,377
That's good.

1136
01:06:06,295 --> 01:06:10,007
Passion projects are good.

1137
01:06:13,052 --> 01:06:15,072
Oh, sorry. Do you want a coffee?
Here. Do you want that one?

1138
01:06:15,096 --> 01:06:16,698
Yeah, that's actually
why I came down here.

1139
01:06:16,722 --> 01:06:18,015
There you go.
Perfect.

1140
01:06:18,057 --> 01:06:19,409
Thank you.

1141
01:06:19,433 --> 01:06:21,268
Oh, you know what? I have to take this.

1142
01:06:21,352 --> 01:06:23,688
Can I talk to you later?
Yeah.

1143
01:06:23,771 --> 01:06:25,898
All right. I'll talk to you later.

1144
01:06:26,607 --> 01:06:27,775
Hey.

1145
01:06:29,610 --> 01:06:31,404
"As far as the notes are concerned,

1146
01:06:31,487 --> 01:06:33,531
I love what you've written and find myself

1147
01:06:33,614 --> 01:06:37,576
rooting for Jonathan and Riley,
much like I would for myself

1148
01:06:37,660 --> 01:06:41,122
should someone like her
ever cross my path."

1149
01:06:45,376 --> 01:06:48,379
"You said what if you
don't recognize yourself

1150
01:06:48,462 --> 01:06:50,464
once you stop holding back?

1151
01:06:51,799 --> 01:06:54,719
Yes, I know you said
you were referring to Riley,

1152
01:06:54,802 --> 01:06:58,764
"but I think we both know there
is much of you in your book."

1153
01:07:07,606 --> 01:07:09,400
"I've been thinking about what you wrote."

1154
01:07:09,442 --> 01:07:12,695
Not just the words,
but the pause before them.

1155
01:07:15,364 --> 01:07:17,491
I think you were asking to be understood.

1156
01:07:17,575 --> 01:07:20,745
So, I ask you, have you ever considered

1157
01:07:20,786 --> 01:07:24,373
"that your Jonathan feels the same way?"

1158
01:07:32,590 --> 01:07:34,133
"I'll leave you with this.

1159
01:07:34,216 --> 01:07:36,302
If you wait, you'll never get the chance

1160
01:07:36,385 --> 01:07:38,179
to be surprised by who you are

1161
01:07:38,262 --> 01:07:40,765
when someone chooses you back."

1162
01:07:48,022 --> 01:07:49,774
Ready?
Hm?

1163
01:07:50,316 --> 01:07:52,443
Ready to leave, as in go home?

1164
01:07:53,611 --> 01:07:55,446
Uh, I'm gonna stay a little later.

1165
01:07:55,488 --> 01:07:57,364
Get caught up on a few things.

1166
01:08:00,743 --> 01:08:04,497
Might this be because you spent
time in your secret room today?

1167
01:08:05,122 --> 01:08:07,625
Maybe.

1168
01:08:07,708 --> 01:08:08,918
Something feels different.

1169
01:08:08,959 --> 01:08:11,670
Not, like, romantic, but...

1170
01:08:13,130 --> 01:08:14,757
Maybe a little.

1171
01:08:14,799 --> 01:08:17,259
I don't know. It feels real.

1172
01:08:19,637 --> 01:08:21,722
I can't keep pretending
it won't matter who it is.

1173
01:08:21,806 --> 01:08:23,724
You want it to matter?

1174
01:08:23,808 --> 01:08:25,476
I think it already does.

1175
01:08:28,813 --> 01:08:31,440
Okay. I'll see you at home.

1176
01:08:52,837 --> 01:08:54,130
Still here?

1177
01:08:54,839 --> 01:08:56,090
Yeah. Heading home soon.

1178
01:08:56,173 --> 01:08:57,716
Long day?

1179
01:08:58,509 --> 01:08:59,510
But a good day.

1180
01:09:00,177 --> 01:09:04,181
Well, then I'm happy for you.

1181
01:09:06,600 --> 01:09:07,893
Um...

1182
01:09:09,228 --> 01:09:10,563
Good night, Savannah.

1183
01:09:11,522 --> 01:09:12,523
Good night.

1184
01:09:13,482 --> 01:09:15,693
I just need to grab something upstairs.

1185
01:09:15,734 --> 01:09:18,654
Of course. I'll see you tomorrow.

1186
01:09:19,655 --> 01:09:20,823
Mm-hm.

1187
01:09:42,720 --> 01:09:43,947
"Not sure when you'll see this,

1188
01:09:43,971 --> 01:09:45,222
but I wanted to make sure

1189
01:09:45,306 --> 01:09:47,516
it was here when you needed it.

1190
01:09:48,559 --> 01:09:49,786
You wrote a stunning confession,

1191
01:09:49,810 --> 01:09:52,062
but then erased its consequences.

1192
01:09:52,104 --> 01:09:54,231
Riley tells Jonathan everything she feels,

1193
01:09:54,273 --> 01:09:56,942
but then you immediately reassured her.

1194
01:09:58,110 --> 01:10:01,906
"You made her risk smaller
to ease the possible pain."

1195
01:10:07,119 --> 01:10:08,579
"If she says those words,

1196
01:10:08,621 --> 01:10:10,623
you have to give her heart
a chance to break.

1197
01:10:10,706 --> 01:10:14,376
Otherwise, it isn't courage.
It's performance.

1198
01:10:17,254 --> 01:10:19,673
If you don't trust the moment to breathe,

1199
01:10:19,757 --> 01:10:23,093
you rush to protect her
from what might happen next.

1200
01:10:23,177 --> 01:10:25,137
Ask yourself why, not as a writer,

1201
01:10:25,221 --> 01:10:29,016
"but as a person who wrote
those words on the page."

1202
01:10:32,770 --> 01:10:34,438
"If Riley is brave enough to say it,

1203
01:10:34,480 --> 01:10:35,731
she has to be brave enough

1204
01:10:35,773 --> 01:10:38,817
to live with the silence
that might follow."

1205
01:10:45,950 --> 01:10:50,412
I think I've been protecting Riley

1206
01:10:50,454 --> 01:10:55,292
because she doesn't trust anyone to stay

1207
01:10:55,334 --> 01:10:58,504
once she tells the truth.

1208
01:11:00,256 --> 01:11:07,263
Writing this, I realize
I've been protecting myself too.

1209
01:11:08,973 --> 01:11:15,896
But you read what I was afraid
to say and haven't turned away.

1210
01:11:16,855 --> 01:11:20,359
I know this book is about
Jonathan and Riley.

1211
01:11:22,027 --> 01:11:23,112
But.

1212
01:11:24,655 --> 01:11:30,744
I think I'm ready to admit
it's about more than the book.

1213
01:11:33,289 --> 01:11:35,457
And I trust you with that.

1214
01:11:38,627 --> 01:11:42,673
As scary as it is to ask this.

1215
01:11:42,715 --> 01:11:48,095
Is this about more than the book
for you, too?

1216
01:11:49,096 --> 01:11:54,643
I don't want to write a story
or live my own life

1217
01:11:54,685 --> 01:11:58,605
where wanting less feels safe.

1218
01:12:16,081 --> 01:12:18,167
I thought I heard the faint
sound of brilliance.

1219
01:12:18,208 --> 01:12:19,460
You're still working?

1220
01:12:20,169 --> 01:12:22,004
I need to finish this last chapter.

1221
01:12:22,546 --> 01:12:25,257
Are you close?
Getting there.

1222
01:12:25,341 --> 01:12:27,301
I stayed late at work tonight,
and I'm glad I did.

1223
01:12:27,384 --> 01:12:29,636
I... I needed to see the notes he left.

1224
01:12:30,179 --> 01:12:34,058
Is it weird that I'm kind of sad
the book's almost done?

1225
01:12:34,558 --> 01:12:35,768
Not even a little.

1226
01:12:36,477 --> 01:12:38,397
What are you gonna do
when there's no more notes?

1227
01:12:38,437 --> 01:12:40,856
Currently weighing options,

1228
01:12:40,898 --> 01:12:42,941
but I have a pretty good idea.

1229
01:12:43,025 --> 01:12:47,112
You know, this rewrite has changed you.

1230
01:12:47,196 --> 01:12:53,243
You seem, I don't know, more
grounded than I've ever seen.

1231
01:12:53,327 --> 01:12:56,038
More sure. And ready.

1232
01:12:56,830 --> 01:12:57,831
I am.

1233
01:12:59,917 --> 01:13:01,794
Okay. Good night.
Good night.

1234
01:13:34,701 --> 01:13:37,955
"You asked if this was about
more than the book. It is."

1235
01:13:37,996 --> 01:13:40,124
You said you trust me,
so I'm going to ask you

1236
01:13:40,207 --> 01:13:41,792
to do something that proves it.

1237
01:13:41,875 --> 01:13:44,044
If this stays here
between the margins and ink,

1238
01:13:44,128 --> 01:13:46,338
then it never mattered
the way you think it does.

1239
01:13:46,422 --> 01:13:48,715
You owed the truth
to Jonathan and Riley,

1240
01:13:48,799 --> 01:13:50,175
and you owe it to yourself.

1241
01:13:50,759 --> 01:13:52,559
If you're ready to stop
writing in the margins

1242
01:13:52,594 --> 01:13:54,471
and take a chance,

1243
01:13:55,222 --> 01:13:56,890
leave the manuscript open to the end

1244
01:13:56,974 --> 01:14:00,102
where Riley risks losing it all for love.

1245
01:14:00,144 --> 01:14:02,938
If it's open, I'll know
you're ready to meet.

1246
01:14:04,106 --> 01:14:05,899
"I'll understand either way."

1247
01:15:02,331 --> 01:15:03,916
Do you need something, Giselle?

1248
01:15:04,500 --> 01:15:06,335
Just surprised you're still here.

1249
01:15:07,628 --> 01:15:08,670
Well, it's a work day.

1250
01:15:08,712 --> 01:15:11,924
Hm. Not what I meant, but okay.

1251
01:15:13,008 --> 01:15:15,969
Seems like someone went
way out of their way for you.

1252
01:15:16,637 --> 01:15:17,721
Good to know.

1253
01:15:18,388 --> 01:15:19,806
Savannah. Oh. I'm sorry.

1254
01:15:19,890 --> 01:15:21,391
No, I was just leaving.

1255
01:15:23,810 --> 01:15:25,729
Perfect timing. Thank you.

1256
01:15:25,771 --> 01:15:28,148
Yeah, I figured you could
use the interruption.

1257
01:15:28,774 --> 01:15:30,418
Now that I'm here,
can I ask you something?

1258
01:15:30,442 --> 01:15:31,902
Of course.

1259
01:15:31,944 --> 01:15:34,321
When you're working
on something that matters,

1260
01:15:34,404 --> 01:15:36,031
how do you know when to stop?

1261
01:15:36,073 --> 01:15:37,616
Like when you've said what you meant.

1262
01:15:38,242 --> 01:15:40,410
Because if you just keep
adjusting the ending,

1263
01:15:40,452 --> 01:15:43,956
you never really find out
what it was trying to say.

1264
01:15:45,707 --> 01:15:47,751
Uh-huh.

1265
01:15:47,793 --> 01:15:50,963
Uh, sometimes you just have to trust

1266
01:15:51,046 --> 01:15:53,632
that what it says is enough.

1267
01:15:55,842 --> 01:15:56,842
Yeah.

1268
01:15:57,386 --> 01:15:58,595
Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry.

1269
01:15:58,679 --> 01:16:00,430
I'm probably overthinking.

1270
01:16:00,472 --> 01:16:02,307
Me, too. I do that, too.

1271
01:16:02,391 --> 01:16:05,185
Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you.

1272
01:16:05,269 --> 01:16:06,311
Of course.

1273
01:16:16,154 --> 01:16:18,657
Hey. Taking over my office?

1274
01:16:18,740 --> 01:16:20,784
Hi. Yeah. I hope you don't mind.

1275
01:16:20,867 --> 01:16:22,327
I had a meeting with an author.

1276
01:16:22,411 --> 01:16:24,580
You're welcome to any room
in Pendleton, Savannah.

1277
01:16:26,456 --> 01:16:29,209
Actually, I was hoping
to catch you before you left.

1278
01:16:30,460 --> 01:16:35,299
How did it... How was...
How did the meeting go?

1279
01:16:35,340 --> 01:16:38,218
Great. We came up with a new title,

1280
01:16:38,302 --> 01:16:40,053
Forgotten Words And Why They Matter.

1281
01:16:40,137 --> 01:16:44,808
Uh, that sounds like something
my mother would really enjoy.

1282
01:16:44,891 --> 01:16:46,184
It really does.

1283
01:16:47,811 --> 01:16:49,688
Is... Is now a good time?

1284
01:16:49,771 --> 01:16:51,648
Yeah. Yeah. I'm... I'm

1285
01:16:51,690 --> 01:16:53,984
I'm meeting someone soon,
but I have a few minutes.

1286
01:16:54,026 --> 01:16:56,486
Okay. Only just because I've been

1287
01:16:56,570 --> 01:16:57,946
I've just been

1288
01:16:57,988 --> 01:17:02,993
I've been thinking a lot
about things recently.

1289
01:17:03,035 --> 01:17:07,080
And I don't want to assume
anything that is not there.

1290
01:17:07,164 --> 01:17:08,332
Okay.

1291
01:17:08,415 --> 01:17:10,250
But also I don't want to pretend

1292
01:17:10,334 --> 01:17:13,420
that something hasn't changed.

1293
01:17:15,505 --> 01:17:20,385
Because for me, it has.

1294
01:17:21,428 --> 01:17:27,351
And I guess I'm just asking
if you think there's any room

1295
01:17:28,018 --> 01:17:30,562
to see where that might lead.

1296
01:17:32,731 --> 01:17:34,232
Um

1297
01:17:34,316 --> 01:17:35,776
William, I...

1298
01:17:36,526 --> 01:17:38,779
For a long time,

1299
01:17:38,862 --> 01:17:42,199
I have stayed quiet because it felt safe.

1300
01:17:43,033 --> 01:17:46,286
It was easier for me
to just believe that's who I am.

1301
01:17:47,829 --> 01:17:50,707
But recently, something changed.

1302
01:17:51,333 --> 01:17:54,044
Someone helped me see
myself differently.

1303
01:17:54,086 --> 01:17:59,341
And we've become involved in a way.

1304
01:18:00,342 --> 01:18:02,803
I don't fully understand yet.

1305
01:18:02,886 --> 01:18:07,099
But what I do know
is, for the first time, I.

1306
01:18:07,766 --> 01:18:09,226
I feel chosen,

1307
01:18:10,102 --> 01:18:14,481
not overlooked, or convenient.

1308
01:18:17,526 --> 01:18:19,236
I've really enjoyed getting to know you

1309
01:18:19,319 --> 01:18:21,363
these last couple of weeks,

1310
01:18:21,405 --> 01:18:23,573
but I do feel like I owe it to myself

1311
01:18:23,615 --> 01:18:25,075
to give him a chance.

1312
01:18:28,704 --> 01:18:33,208
Yeah. It's... I'm... I'm

1313
01:18:33,250 --> 01:18:34,626
I'm glad that you found something.

1314
01:18:34,710 --> 01:18:39,339
And... And... And someone that matters.

1315
01:18:39,965 --> 01:18:42,926
I'm... I'm... I'm so happy for you.

1316
01:18:43,593 --> 01:18:44,678
Thank you.

1317
01:18:46,471 --> 01:18:48,974
Good... Good night, Savannah.
Good night.

1318
01:19:04,114 --> 01:19:07,200
Hey. You didn't wake me up
when you got home.

1319
01:19:07,284 --> 01:19:09,286
It was late. I needed to write.

1320
01:19:09,327 --> 01:19:12,414
So, how did it go
with your mystery editor?

1321
01:19:14,166 --> 01:19:15,625
He didn't show.

1322
01:19:15,667 --> 01:19:17,794
Oh.
Maybe he liked the mystery

1323
01:19:17,836 --> 01:19:20,797
more than the reality.

1324
01:19:20,839 --> 01:19:23,341
I'm so sorry.
It's okay.

1325
01:19:24,092 --> 01:19:26,178
I let Riley take a chance
on love in the book,

1326
01:19:26,261 --> 01:19:27,971
and I guess I wanted the same thing.

1327
01:19:28,013 --> 01:19:30,557
Her ending just turned out
better than mine.

1328
01:19:32,142 --> 01:19:34,644
But you know what?
What?

1329
01:19:34,728 --> 01:19:36,480
It's finished.

1330
01:19:36,521 --> 01:19:38,273
As in "finished" finished?

1331
01:19:38,315 --> 01:19:40,901
Yep. As in really finished.

1332
01:19:40,984 --> 01:19:42,360
Ah! So, what now?

1333
01:19:42,444 --> 01:19:44,362
Now I send it to Claire.

1334
01:19:44,446 --> 01:19:47,282
But not hiding under a pen name.

1335
01:19:47,324 --> 01:19:49,451
As Savannah Cade.
Hm.

1336
01:19:49,493 --> 01:19:51,453
And it's got a new title.
Oh.

1337
01:19:58,794 --> 01:20:00,378
I'm really proud of you.

1338
01:20:00,462 --> 01:20:01,713
Thank you.

1339
01:20:03,507 --> 01:20:06,176
I think I'm gonna leave
a copy for the mystery editor,

1340
01:20:06,259 --> 01:20:07,385
just in case.

1341
01:20:07,469 --> 01:20:09,221
I love everything about this idea,

1342
01:20:09,304 --> 01:20:11,681
but you should change out
of yesterday's clothes first.

1343
01:21:01,898 --> 01:21:05,235
No, I think year over year it's gone up.

1344
01:21:05,735 --> 01:21:08,154
Hey. Uh, can I let you go?
I have someone walking in.

1345
01:21:08,238 --> 01:21:09,318
Yeah. All right. Thank you.

1346
01:21:09,364 --> 01:21:10,824
Do you have a minute?
Yeah.

1347
01:21:10,907 --> 01:21:12,242
No, please. Come on in.

1348
01:21:12,284 --> 01:21:14,327
Sorry. This is a little bit
of a mess, I know.

1349
01:21:15,579 --> 01:21:19,291
I just, I wanted
to let you know I finished it.

1350
01:21:21,585 --> 01:21:22,711
You finished it?

1351
01:21:22,752 --> 01:21:24,129
The book.

1352
01:21:24,212 --> 01:21:25,547
I thought you'd want to know.

1353
01:21:25,589 --> 01:21:27,257
The book.

1354
01:21:27,340 --> 01:21:28,717
Yeah. Oh, yeah.

1355
01:21:28,758 --> 01:21:30,677
That... That is great.

1356
01:21:30,760 --> 01:21:33,597
And about last night,
before you say anything, I

1357
01:21:33,638 --> 01:21:35,074
I do understand why you didn't show up.

1358
01:21:35,098 --> 01:21:37,475
You don't have to explain.
Oh. Thank you.

1359
01:21:37,559 --> 01:21:39,686
Yeah, because we, um...

1360
01:21:41,146 --> 01:21:43,189
Show up where exactly?

1361
01:21:43,273 --> 01:21:46,234
The room. Our room.

1362
01:21:47,319 --> 01:21:49,946
Okay. Uh, Savannah,
I think we might be having

1363
01:21:50,030 --> 01:21:51,156
two different conversations.

1364
01:21:51,239 --> 01:21:52,991
I'm talking about the article

1365
01:21:53,074 --> 01:21:54,451
that I was struggling to finish.

1366
01:21:54,534 --> 01:21:56,620
But you're talking about a book.

1367
01:21:56,703 --> 01:21:59,956
You actually helped me stop
overthinking the ending,

1368
01:21:59,998 --> 01:22:01,708
and I wanted to thank you for that.

1369
01:22:01,791 --> 01:22:03,394
But yeah, I had no idea
you were writing a book.

1370
01:22:03,418 --> 01:22:05,629
That's incredible. Really?

1371
01:22:06,171 --> 01:22:09,799
You didn't know?
No. No, I didn't.

1372
01:22:09,841 --> 01:22:11,927
And now I do feel a little bit foolish

1373
01:22:11,968 --> 01:22:14,095
because I'm stressed
about a contracts article.

1374
01:22:14,137 --> 01:22:17,182
You wrote an entire book?
Right.

1375
01:22:18,141 --> 01:22:19,809
Yeah. Whew.

1376
01:22:19,893 --> 01:22:22,187
Oh, I really thought I messed up
something important.

1377
01:22:23,146 --> 01:22:24,146
Glad I did not.

1378
01:22:25,315 --> 01:22:26,441
You didn't.

1379
01:22:28,401 --> 01:22:29,903
It wasn't you.

1380
01:22:31,112 --> 01:22:32,781
You didn't know.
I didn't know.

1381
01:22:38,286 --> 01:22:39,454
Uh...

1382
01:22:39,496 --> 01:22:41,456
What... What did I not know?

1383
01:22:53,051 --> 01:22:57,389
"To my mystery editor. Thank you."

1384
01:22:57,472 --> 01:22:59,158
You didn't just help me
become a better writer

1385
01:22:59,182 --> 01:23:01,393
by breaking down walls on the page.

1386
01:23:02,185 --> 01:23:04,145
You helped me break
down walls of my own.

1387
01:23:04,771 --> 01:23:08,733
Even though my love story didn't
turn out the way I had hoped,

1388
01:23:10,151 --> 01:23:13,071
I will always be grateful
we met in the margins.

1389
01:23:15,573 --> 01:23:16,783
"Love, Savannah."

1390
01:23:19,953 --> 01:23:21,162
She didn't know.

1391
01:23:25,375 --> 01:23:28,503
It was you.
Yes.

1392
01:23:28,545 --> 01:23:30,130
The notes. The...

1393
01:23:30,213 --> 01:23:33,341
The questions. Everything in this room.

1394
01:23:34,175 --> 01:23:36,678
That was all you.
I thought you knew.

1395
01:23:37,554 --> 01:23:40,890
I tried to tell you more than once.

1396
01:23:40,932 --> 01:23:42,517
I know that now.

1397
01:23:44,060 --> 01:23:46,604
When I told you about feeling chosen.

1398
01:23:48,356 --> 01:23:50,483
I thought you were
choosing someone else.

1399
01:23:51,568 --> 01:23:54,779
No, I was choosing you all along.

1400
01:23:54,863 --> 01:23:57,240
I... I just... I didn't know.

1401
01:24:01,536 --> 01:24:03,288
You left your manuscript.

1402
01:24:04,539 --> 01:24:07,459
I... I thought this was goodbye.

1403
01:24:10,253 --> 01:24:13,840
What love story would end like that?

1404
01:24:23,183 --> 01:24:24,559
Do you trust me?

1405
01:24:25,560 --> 01:24:26,603
Yes.

1406
01:24:28,396 --> 01:24:29,939
You're fired.

1407
01:24:29,981 --> 01:24:30,981
What?

1408
01:24:53,922 --> 01:24:57,926
So, you regret coming out of
your very short retirement?

1409
01:24:57,967 --> 01:24:59,469
Not even a little.

1410
01:24:59,511 --> 01:25:01,221
Turns out building a romance division

1411
01:25:01,304 --> 01:25:04,099
was exactly what
Pendleton Publishing needed.

1412
01:25:04,140 --> 01:25:06,476
And maybe what I needed
for my own last act.

1413
01:25:06,518 --> 01:25:09,813
Thanks to you, we have the most
exciting new voices in romance.

1414
01:25:09,854 --> 01:25:11,940
I might have started
the division for you here,

1415
01:25:11,981 --> 01:25:15,235
but you and I know she had
an exceptional editor in you.

1416
01:25:16,861 --> 01:25:17,987
Thank you.

1417
01:25:19,656 --> 01:25:20,657
Look at you.

1418
01:25:21,157 --> 01:25:22,593
I can't believe it's actually happening.

1419
01:25:22,617 --> 01:25:25,745
I never doubted it or you for a second.

1420
01:25:38,383 --> 01:25:39,509
What was that about?

1421
01:25:39,551 --> 01:25:41,136
That was your mother

1422
01:25:41,177 --> 01:25:43,012
giving me her approval.

1423
01:25:43,054 --> 01:25:44,139
I think.

1424
01:25:45,014 --> 01:25:47,183
So, your first Author Appreciation Day

1425
01:25:47,225 --> 01:25:48,643
as an actual author.

1426
01:25:48,685 --> 01:25:49,602
How do you feel?

1427
01:25:49,686 --> 01:25:51,187
Uh, nervous.

1428
01:25:51,229 --> 01:25:53,439
But the good kind.
Oh, Giselle.

1429
01:25:53,523 --> 01:25:55,191
Could Savannah
have one of those, please?

1430
01:25:56,067 --> 01:25:58,570
Of course.
Thank you, Giselle.

1431
01:26:00,363 --> 01:26:02,240
Was that necessary?

1432
01:26:02,907 --> 01:26:05,702
As your boyfriend, probably not.
But as your editor, absolutely.

1433
01:26:05,743 --> 01:26:08,246
We can't have you parched during
your interviews, now, can we?

1434
01:26:09,038 --> 01:26:09,914
Are you staying?

1435
01:26:09,998 --> 01:26:11,833
Well, you tell me, Ms. Cade.

1436
01:26:11,875 --> 01:26:13,543
If you were writing a love story,

1437
01:26:13,585 --> 01:26:15,587
would you have your love interest

1438
01:26:15,670 --> 01:26:17,380
stay with his leading lady?

1439
01:26:17,422 --> 01:26:18,756
Always.

1440
01:26:21,676 --> 01:26:23,595
I do love the way you write.