Original subtitles

- Hi, honey. How is it going?

Hey, Mom.

Do you think the sunflowers should be

spread across throughout,

or sort of gathered in the center?

- Well, given that they're sunflowers,

I think front and center.

Let them command the attention they deserve.

Yes. That's it!

I'm gonna finish this in a minute.

I've just gotta write something down

- really quick. - Oh, okay! I'll finish up.

Okay.

"She commanded attention...

in every room she--"

Hello!

Lisa, hi!

So nice to see you. What can I get started for you?

Well, yes.

I'm actually looking for someone.

Might you happen to know where I could find

"the" Ms. Sophie Wood,

accomplished author extraordinaire?

Hmm, I'll uh...

Let me go check on that for you.

(comical music

- Oh, yes, I'm Sophie Wood,

multi-hyphenate florist slash author.

A pleasure.

Sweetie.

I remember when you were just a little girl

sweeping up rose petals.

Now look at you!

Lisa!

Is Sophie taking care of you?

- Just popped in to shower her with praise.

Well, good.

She's her own worst critic.

- It was actually published by Tails of Ink.

You know that indie publishing house

- just down the street? - Well,

aren't they lucky to have such talent?

I'm not even exaggerating

when I tell you I could not put it down.

In fact, I'm grabbing this extra copy

for my book swap.

The more readers, the better, right?

- Thank you so much. That means a lot.

And please, enjoy, on the house.

Oh, that's so sweet!

Aw.

And...

this is on the house, just for you.

Have a good one, ladies.

And congrats again, doll. Amazing work.

Thanks, Lisa.

- So, the bestseller list comes out today.

- Since when do you keep track of that?

- Since I had my own horse in the race.

- Well, I think I have to win a few more races

before I make it to the derby.

Number three!

Wait, what?

Number three!

Look, right here in black and white!

This... this can't be real!

You did it!

- What?! Oh my gosh, this is huge!

Oh, it's Janice.

Oh, take it, take it!

Hi, Janice.

Yeah, I'm just seeing it now.

Yes, I can come in, I can come in right now.

Sure. Okay, yeah, I'll see you soon.

Bye.

Can you believe it?

Honestly,

I'm struggling with the fact that I'm even awake right now.

- I mean, of course, it shouldn't be a surprise,

based on your talent alone.

You wrote an absolutely incredible story.

But 20 years in this industry

and I've never seen a splash like this

for an indie author, let alone a first timer!

- Which is exactly why I'm convinced

my alarm is gonna go off any second.

Well, don't wake up just yet.

Guess who I got a call from this morning.

I don't know, Santa Claus?

Better, Meredith McEvans.

- No! From Grapevine Publishing?

That's the one.

She's eyeing you for a three-book deal.

Oh my gosh, this is...

Career altering?

Life changing?

Every writer's wildest dream!

Yeah.

Morning.

Good morning, Emma.

Daniel, you're early today.

- Yeah, I'm actually meeting Janice Kilner this morning.

Secretly switching agents?

Scandalous! Tell me everything.

- Ha! No, no juicy scandals, unfortunately.

Just doing Janice a favor after she helped set up

that initial meeting for the web series.

- Oh, right! How's that going?

It's...

going.

It's a work in progress but we'll get there.

- Oh, I'm sure it'll be great. - Thanks.

So, for the book tour,

we have you in Boston, Chicago, LA.

- Kind of a... coast to coast action.

- Yes, and the kickoff for the tour

will be an event here in the city,

sponsored by Pen and Paper Bookstore.

It'll be a media only interview, hosted by Olivia Winters.

Wait, the Olivia Winters?

I grew up watching her show with my mom.

- Yeah, the queen of late night is a big fan of your book.

- Wow! Okay, no more news for today.

My brain is about to... poof!

Oh great,

Meredith McEvans just got back to me.

She'll be in the audience that evening

and wants to take you out to dinner after

to discuss the book deal.

Perfect!

Perfect.

- Come in! - Morning, Janice.

- Oh, Daniel, welcome. Grab a seat.

- You must be Sophie. Daniel Burke.

Looking forward to working together.

- Sophie Wood. Nice to meet you.

Uh, Sophie and I

were just going through the details of her book tour

and I was about to get to your role in all this.

Just in time! Nice.

- Okay, you know, I'm actually surprised

you two haven't met yet.

Daniel's another client of the agency

and he's working on a web series

with uh, Revel Lifestyles, if you've heard of them?

Oh yeah!

Yeah, I've watched a lot of that content.

Um, congrats.

- Thanks. And congratulations on the book.

- Amazing news. - Thank you.

So, Sophie, for book tours,

we always hire a public-speaking coach

to help authors prepare.

And since Daniel is a thought leader on the subject,

and a client of the agency,

I figured he'd be a natural fit to help with the book tour.

- Oh, that won't be necessary. Honestly.

I'm totally good to go. Consider my bags packed.

No offense and...

and thank you for the offer.

Yeah, no problem.

Are you sure, Sophie?

Speaking prep is pretty standard.

My clients always rave about how helpful it is.

Oh, I'm sure it is, um...

- And Daniel's been working hard on his web series scripts,

so I was thinking

maybe in return for his help with the coaching,

you could help him with some editing.

- Oh, actually, the scripts, they're--

- Oh yeah! I'll totally help with the editing.

- Anytime. - No. Thank you.

But uh, yeah,

my friend is reviewing them for me.

He's a real stickler for grammar and...

words.

Well, it's just about 1:00

so I'd better go check to see if the reporters are here.

Oh, great.

Yeah, I should head back to the flower shop.

On Wednesdays we ice the orchids so--

- Actually, they're here to see you, Sophie.

- Sorry? - Yes.

I called a mini press conference

as soon as we got the news this morning.

Great!

That sounds fantastic.

And Daniel,

I'd still love you to observe.

- Sure! It'd be great to see one of these press conferences

in case you ever need my help for any other clients.

Great!

So, these are reporters

from some of the top-lit magazines,

here to get the scoop on your book.

Everyone, Sophie. Sophie, everyone.

Hi, there.

- All right, if everyone can take a seat,

we can get started.

- Thank you all so much for taking the time to stop by.

I think I speak for both Sophie and myself

when I say that we are just blown away

by the massive early success of Walking on Air.

Though rare for a new author,

I can't say I'm too surprised.

Ever since the first time I read her work,

I knew that Sophie had a gift.

But enough from me.

Sophie, I'll let you go ahead and introduce yourself.

Uh... hi, everyone.

I'm Sophie.

Oh, whoops.

Um, Sophie... Wood.

Sophie Wood. I'm the... uh...

author of the novel.

- Uh, maybe you can start by telling us a bit

about your writing process.

Yeah! Uh, right.

Um, yeah, I've never really...

...done this before.

Uh, so to start, I um...

I... I talk to my characters.

Not in the mirror. That would be weird.

Uh, I, uh...

like to talk to my character on the, um...

- Page? - The page.

I like to talk to my character on the page.

- You know, I've noticed while working with Sophie

that her talent lies in her ability to be diligent.

Without letting the rigidity of deadlines

or deliverables squash her creativity.

Sophie is an everyday writer

Who will produce draft after draft...

Sorry, I'm just gonna grab...

Okay, there. Okay.

Well, uh, thank you all for coming.

I'll uh, see you at the media gala

in a few weeks.

Thank you.

- I'm sorry for springing that on you.

- No, no, I'm sorry I didn't bring my A-game.

Not a problem.

But can we uh, reconvene tomorrow?

I wanna chat a bit more about the book tour

since it uh... it is coming up fast.

- Absolutely. Same time?

If you can, yes.

- Great. - See you soon.

Yeah.

What was that?

- Hey, Mom. - Hmm!

- When was the last time you watered the ferns?

Ooh! Last week, sometime...

Something like that, I think.

- Okay, they actually weren't due for a watering

until this week so I'm gonna make a note

for another watering in two weeks. Okay?

These ones are very fussy and they looked a bit drowned.

Okay. Well,

the plants can wait until tomorrow

to be fussed over.

Why don't you call it quits

and bask in the glory of your big day?

Oh, look! Look, look!

Great Reads Magazine!

- Wow. - Yeah.

That was fast.

Oh, your father would be so happy.

He always knew his little girl

would make it someday.

I have a funny feeling

he pulled a couple strings for me up there.

I'm gonna get a hard copy of this tomorrow

- and frame it. - Oh, nice!

Maybe you can put it over my sixth grade school photo.

Oh! Oh, look!

There are reader reviews at the bottom of this article.

"My favorite book of the year."

Oh, this one has every color of heart emoji at the end of it.

- I love that you know what emojis are.

Oh yeah, I text.

So, what do you think?

- Uh, yeah. Yeah, I mean,

it's obvious you've done a lot of work on this.

And um, I'm not trying to be harsh in any way,

but uh, these episodes seem a little...

Dry?

Yeah, I felt that while I was writing them.

- Right? They're just like, missing the...

the sparkle that makes you good at what you do.

- Oh, Tom, you think I sparkle, man?

- Not in these scripts, you don't.

- Yeah, okay. Point taken.

- No, but seriously, man, I mean,

I know how challenging the writing process can be,

and if I could write these things for you, I would.

But you're the expert

they're paying the big bucks for.

- And I'm just the young and dashingly handsome producer

trying to get his own career off the ground.

Well, questionable.

Okay, but hear me out for a second.

This whole series

is based on public speaking, right?

And I believe

that the real sparkle behind any great speaker

is the ability to embrace spontaneity.

- Okay. - So...

What if we just send them an outline

of all the key points I plan to touch on,

and then just tell them that part of my process

is simply being in the moment when the camera's on?

Okay, believe me,

I would love to save us both that kind of time.

And sure, you can embrace spontaneity all you want

once we get into filming.

- Great. - But...

Revel specifically asked us for full episode scripts

before we can even move into production.

See if I can squeeze in another pass

in the next week, if I can fit it in.

The deadline's Friday.

Remember?

Yikes.

- Friday snuck up fast. - Yeah.

It's right after Thursday.

I'm sorry, Janice.

I know I messed up yesterday but--

- No need to apologize. To start,

let's just zoom out a bit and agree

that no one really likes public speaking.

Okay?

No offense.

- None taken. I know full well

that enjoying it is a little bizarre.

I actually enjoy it, too.

Look, I was off yesterday. Okay, I know that.

But it was a fluke and it won't happen again.

I promise.

- You have a lot riding on this interview, Sophie.

And if yesterday was intimidating,

just imagine being in the hot seat

with Olivia Winters.

- Janice, I can assure you--

- That's exactly what I need, assurance.

It's my job to set you up for success

and I can't just sit back and let you miss out

on this book deal with Grapevine.

I don't say that to scare you,

but these big publishers wanna work with writers

who are not only talented, but also capable

of upholding a certain public prestige

that goes along with their brand.

And if Meredith McEvans decides

to pull the plug on the deal

because she feels you aren't ready,

it'll be really hard for us to bounce back.

I totally understand

but I think I'm fully capable of--

I know you are capable,

but in order to prevent any jitters

from getting in the way, I'm going to insist

that you work with Daniel to prepare.

Just think of it as...

taking out an insurance policy on your dream career.

- I was thinking maybe we can go for a business lunch.

Talk through the coaching, see where you're at?

Sure.

A business lunch.

That's a great idea.

Sophie, hi!

Hey!

Sorry about that, I didn't see you at first.

I thought I would just, uh...

- run a quick errand. - All good.

Thank you for meeting with me.

I'm excited to dive into the coaching with you.

- Yeah! Listen, Daniel,

I don't wanna underplay your qualifications.

I looked you up, by the way.

I hope that's not weird.

- As long as it isn't weird if I looked you up, too.

- The fact that it's not weird makes it weird, you know?

- Ha! Sign of the times, for sure.

But I have to say,

I was really impressed by your work.

I'm sure it works wonders for people who...

- who need it. - Yeah, well, that's the goal.

Yeah. I just, um...

I just don't think I'm one of those people!

You know,

and I don't wanna take time from your busy schedule.

And your scripts!

I'm still available for edits if you need me.

- Yeah, thanks. Maybe down the line.

Sure thing.

Anyway, um... I know we just met,

but do I really seem like that shy of a person to you?

No, not at all.

But effective public speaking doesn't always hinge

on whether a person is shy or not.

I mean, there have been plenty of outgoing people

throughout history

that have been terrible public speakers.

Even presidents.

So, how about this?

I could do a quick assessment right here,

see where you're at, and if I agree

that you don't need the coaching,

then I'll tell Janice

you have my official stamp of approval.

Hmm. Deal.

Cool.

Gonna walk us through a quick visualization.

- Shoot! I left my crystals at home.

- It'll only work if you take it seriously.

You did say you wanted to be off the hook, didn't you?

Okay.

All right.

We'll start by having you exhale,

close your eyes, place your hands on my palms.

Okay.

We'll use the interview as the example in this scenario.

Picture yourself at Pen and Paper Bookstore.

There's Olivia Winters getting ready

to introduce you to a full audience.

You look out and there's Meredith McEvans

taking a seat in the middle row.

- No, no, no, no. Nope.

I'm terrified, okay?

I despise public speaking.

Hey, let me help you.

I use a skill-based, five-step method.

The interview's in 10 days, right?

Don't remind me.

- The coaching won't take too long.

If you give it a try and decide it's not for you,

we'll part ways. No hard feelings.

- Well, if you help me pull this thing off,

you might just be an expert in magic

by the time we're done.

Hey, hey. Welcome.

- I didn't know this place was here.

- It's beautiful. - Isn't it?

My friend Tom and I use it as a workspace all the time.

And it's entirely donation based

and maintained by the artists that use it.

- Very cool. - Hmm.

And um,

why exactly am I wearing athletic gear?

Please tell me we're not running.

- Don't worry, running is not on the docket.

- Good. I used to run every day in college

but these days, I prefer a brisk walk.

Yeah, I saw that,

two-time track champion at Knowles College.

- How did you know--

Right.

Well, it was actually cross-country

and I came in third both years, but I like your spin on it.

- Well, your time as a runner might actually help you

with what we're working on today.

Step one in the coaching program is breath work.

Did you know

that if you can control your breath,

you can actually trick your nervous system

into calmness?

- I did not. - Hmm.

Makes sense.

Public speaking and forgetting how to breathe

seem to go hand in hand for me.

- You are not alone. It's very common.

Oh, wow!

This is lovely.

- Hey, brother, how's it's going?

All right.

Yoga.

I've been meaning to get into yoga.

So, if I pull a hammy on the first try,

you're gonna have to carry me down

- four flights of stairs. - The risk is low,

but I've got your back either way.

Okay, we're gonna start with some warm-ups.

Big breath in.

And melt all the way down.

Come on.

- What? - You look like

one of those inflatable tube men

at a car dealership.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- Ever noticed that tube man seems

like a pretty carefree guy?

He's not out there worrying about what anyone else thinks.

- He sure isn't. - Right?

Let him inspire you. Commit to your inner tube man.

The singular most important thing you can do

when trying to control your breath

is to breathe from your diaphragm.

- Hmm, I've heard some of my favorite pop stars

talk about that.

- Funny, I had you pegged as more of a jazz fan.

Because I'm a novelist?

Yeah,

which is a pretty bad case of stereotyping

when I say it out loud.

- You're probably into house music?

Because I have a lot of energy

and essentially make a living as a glorified hype man?

Wow.

Well, I'll have you know, yeah, that's exactly right.

Yeah. Unce, unce, unce, unce.

Okay, DJ Daniel,

are you gonna teach me how to breathe

or have I lost you to your inner dance floor?

- Wait for it. Here comes the beat drop.

Boom!

All right, so one hand on your chest,

the other on your stomach,

and exhale fully

and then simply let the air re-enter your body.

It should feel like you have a balloon

inflating underneath your ribs.

In through your nose, and out.

In through your nose...

...and out.

- So, if I practice real hard, what's the likelihood

that I end up like one of these popstars?

- Well, I don't know, let's hear a few notes.

Yes.

I walked right into that one, didn't I?

You sure did.

And out.

Oh, my mom needs me

to cover at the flower shop for a few hours.

- Can we pick back up tomorrow? - Hmm.

- Sorry, she's not always so good with schedules.

- No worries, we're just about done for today.

Why don't I walk you?

We can wrap up quickly at the shop.

I have to head that direction anyway.

You don't mind?

- Nope. I love a brisk walk myself.

- There you go. Nice to see you.

Thank you.

Hey, Mom!

- This is Daniel, the one I was telling you about.

- Yes, Daniel. - Hi.

- I'm Evelyn. Nice to meet you.

And I'm so sorry to interrupt your session

but I completely forgot about an appointment

- I have this afternoon. - No trouble at all.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Evelyn.

Yeah, yeah. And uh...

Oh, thanks so much, Sophie,

and I'll see ya later tonight,

- Yeah, funny how you forgot about your appointment

but you didn't forget about pasta night, huh?

Uh, priorities, priorities!

Your mom seems awesome.

Must've been a lot of fun growing up.

Oh yeah, never a dull moment.

So, step two is memorization.

And it comes with some homework.

- Romeo and Juliet? - Mm-hmm.

- These two are nothing but trouble.

- Whenever you have to speak in front of an audience,

it can always be helpful to memorize some sort of text,

a safety net to fall back on when the nerves take over.

- So, if I freak out in front of Olivia and Meredith,

I'm supposed to start reciting a Shakespearian monologue?

- I would pay big bucks to see that, but no.

The monologue will be for step five, the trial run.

In a few days,

you'll recite the monologue in front of a group of friends,

incorporating all the new skills you've learned.

This story stresses me out.

Not a big romantic?

- I have no problem with romance.

I just don't believe that love should be as hard

as it's made out to be in stories.

- Hmm, I get that. But then again,

love can be pretty hard in real life.

- Well, not if you keep your head on straight.

- Yeah, but who's ever kept their head on straight

- when they've fallen in love? - Me.

I've never totally lost my head for someone.

Is it possible

you've never actually been in love?

Hello.

Let me know if you need any help with anything.

Okay, Mr. Speech and Debate Co-Captain

- Oh, wow. You did a deep dive, huh?

- I'm thorough. - Now,

before we even get to the trial run,

we have to tackle step three, facing your fears.

Okay.

We could do that or we could, I don't know...

- not do that. - Oh, all right.

So, I'm gonna have you write down

some of your other fears

and I'm gonna set a 20 second timer

so that you can go with your gut instinct

- and not overthink it. - Okay, but what if--

- Go. - Oh, okay. Um...

And time!

Lemme see.

Interesting.

Yeah, we can definitely knock off

a few of these tomorrow.

- You in? - Do I have a choice?

- Oh, you always have a choice to be chicken.

- You did not just chicken me! - Oh, I did.

- You let me know the time and place

- and I'll be there. - You got it.

- How'd it go with the master of the stage today?

- Seemed like a nice guy. - Yeah.

- Well, he's uh... a character. - Hmm?

- I still think it might be a waste of time,

but he did share with me a couple tips

- to keep in my back pocket. - Well, that's great!

Here, let me taste this.

What do you think?

You measured everything, right?

- Yes! I followed the recipe exactly.

- Yeah, well, this recipe is more of a suggestion

than a rule, right?

I mean, little dash of this,

a pinch of that.

Just go with the flow.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Hi.

- Did you really have to pick the tallest building

in the neighborhood?

Couldn't we have started with something smaller?

Like, climb a tree or check out the fire escape

of a two-story building?

Or see a movie that takes place on a plane?

Well, I do have to admit,

I did have a double motive for picking this place.

My dad actually brought me here for the first time

when I was a kid.

I come back once a year

to get a picture from the top for him.

Aw. Where does he live?

- He's upstate, but he's a city guy at heart.

Just doesn't make it out this way

as much as he'd like to anymore.

- Well, if I have to do it for Dad,

I guess I have to do it for Dad.

Chickens first.

Hey!

My legs are Jello. My legs are Jello.

- Um... - Come on.

- I mean, I feel brave, we can go now.

- You've got this. Come on,

we're just gonna head over to the ledge,

check out the view, take a picture,

and then, we're gonna head back down, right?

Okay, I can't look down.

I can't look until we get there,

- so just make I don't-- - Okay.

Almost there, you got it.

- ...bump into anything. - You got this, come on.

All right, all right, almost there.

Okay, and the last few steps are all you.

- Oh, come on! - Okay, almost there!

- What? - You got it, come on.

There you go.

I'm gonna count it down, and when you look up,

you're gonna see the city

like you've never seen it before, I promise.

Okay, go, go, go.

All right, three, two, one.

What?

- This is like a totally different city from here.

It's incredible, right?

I think that's my...

I think that's my first apartment

over there.

My roommate was so sweet, but so messy.

- My high school was just past that intersection.

There was a pizza shop and a bakery

right across from each other.

Best smelling corner in the city.

- Oh yeah, I recognize that area.

My dad's auto shop was there.

- Oh yeah, I know that place. Does he still work there?

Oh, no.

He passed away when I was nine.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

- Thanks. He was the best.

It's getting windy up here.

Um, I should take that picture of you.

Yes!

Okay.

Got it. These look great!

- One more for good luck? - Yeah!

No, come in.

Okay.

- Oh, all right, all right, your good side.

Ready?

Got it.

- Good? - Yeah.

Would you like to go back down to the ground?

- Yes, please. - Let's go.

Great.

I can't. You do it.

- Come on, buddy, you'll be fine.

Just hit send.

- Do you really think the changes helped?

- You know what? I do. I mean,

I'm sure we'll get some notes back

but that's to be expected. We can handle notes.

You're right.

And a deadline's a deadline, right?

- There's not much else we can do.

Okay, here we go.

Done.

Atta boy.

And now, we wait.

And now we wait.

Just hurry up and wait.

So...

Now that you've conquered your fear of heights,

would you water the plants on the top shelf up there?

Very clever segue,

but I actually have to leave in a minute

to go meet Daniel at the park.

What's on the docket for you two today?

Another fear challenge.

I just don't know the details yet.

Of all the fears I listed,

I didn't think you were gonna be able

to get your hands on rollerblades so quickly.

- Seems like skating is really making a comeback.

A few of the bike rental shops in the city

have expanded their horizons into skate rentals.

- Goes hand in hand with the 90s fashion.

Yeah.

- Speaking of the 90s - Mm-hmm.

- ...that was probably the last time

I put on a pair of these bad boys.

Ooh, me too.

Your horror story first and then mine?

- Well, I used to be pretty good

until I took a huge fall and had to get knee surgery.

- I can spare you the show and tell unless--

No! I'm good.

Are you squeamish?

Uh, maybe a little squeamish.

A little just don't wanna jinx it.

Fair. Your turn.

Oh, join me up here

and I will tell you a story of young heartbreak

that would make Romeo and Juliet look like child's play.

I bet it all started

when you lost your head for a girl.

Big time.

It was the sixth grade

and I was madly in love with my girlfriend,

Colleen Shine.

- Let met guess, her smile could light up a room.

You know it.

We dated for three months,

which means we talked like once a month

during lunch period.

- See, that's why I waited to have my first boyfriend

until I was a grown, mature, eighth grader.

We talked every day.

If you count passing notes in class as talking.

- So, it was the end of the year field trip,

and we were at Skate Town, this big roller rink in Jersey.

Lights come down, disco ball starts to spin,

and my favorite R&B song comes on.

- Uh-oh. I think I know where this is going.

Yeah.

I look over at Colleen

and she's slow skating with Steve Sherman.

No! Not Steve Sherman!

- Steve Sherman. - Hmm.

I was so crushed

I never hit the rink again after that.

You win.

Your emotional scar

is much more gnarly than my surgery scar.

Whoa!

- Are you good? - I'm good. I'm good.

Oh, so, how did it end with pen pal boy?

- Well, he said he wanted to take things off the page

- and meet face to face. - Ooh!

- I didn't feel ready so I dumped him.

With a haiku.

Sheesh!

Ruthless with the pen, even as a youth!

- You know, that wasn't that bad.

I might have to stick with it for the cardio.

- Yeah, that was a lot more fun than I remember.

- So, what next, matching tattoos?

Couple fears conquered.

We even had time to stop and reward ourselves.

Cheers to that.

If we break now

we can head back to the loft space

and run through step four.

Which is?

Body language.

The goal here is to use your physicality

to send a signal of confidence,

not only to the audience, but to your own brain.

Make eye contact,

especially if you know someone in the audience.

You could even make eye contact with Meredith,

- if you're feeling brave. - Okay, baby steps.

Let's see. Give it a try.

That's it.

Chin up, shoulders back.

That... that is certainly shoulders back and chin up.

Okay, are you taking this seriously?

- Do you want to learn? - Yes, obviously.

- All right. I'm gonna come show you.

- I know how to walk. - I can see that.

Come on. Ready?

- Okay. - So,

feet, shoulders, chin,

then we walk.

That's the one.

And as corny as it might sound,

smile.

There it is.

Don't tell me, don't tell me.

"Should I fall, let it be with grace and...

grace and..."

Levity.

- "Levity of spirit." Shoot, okay.

- Let's start again. - Yeah, but...

But you were almost done!

Can't we just pick it up from here?

- No, I have to get it right. I have to get it perfect.

I'm no improvisor when the heat is on.

- Won't you have to improvise the answers

during the interview? I mean,

you don't always know

what questions they're going to ask.

Regardless, I'm not there yet.

The point is to get this monologue

memorized and down pat

so I can work on the other skills

- I've learned with Daniel. - Do you think

you might be giving this silly fear of yours

- a little too much power? - Mom,

I get what you're saying but it doesn't feel so silly

when I'm up there in fight or flight mode.

- No. No, I know. I don't mean to downplay it,

it's just that...

I think if you just went into it freely,

without all this build up,

you might find some levity of spirit.

I wish I could.

You can head home if you're tired

but I'm gonna stay here and get this perfect.

- You really are your father's daughter,

aren't you?

Yeah, I've always said, the two of you were sent

to teach me a thing or two about diligence.

So...

From the top!

Okay.

Should I fall,

let it be with grace and levity of spirit.

There you go.

Thank you guys for coming.

I'm a little nervous but it's gonna be fine.

- Hey. Sorry for the delay.

Tom was supposed to be here

with the speaker and mic already.

- Oh no! I guess we should reschedule.

How about uh, never?

- No? - No.

- Hey, guys! - Okay.

- There he is! - Ah, great!

Sorry I'm late.

Hi, you must be Sophie.

I'm Tom, Daniel's friend,

and personal tech department.

- I paid him to add in the friend bit.

- Well, it's nice to meet you, Tom.

Definitely.

- Thanks for coming through, man.

Feel free to stick around and help us

fill in this little crowd we've got here.

- Will do. Let me just get all set up

and I'll be back out here.

Okay.

Okay, testing, testing.

Oh, ooh.

Whoops, sorry about that everyone

but that's why we test. Ha, ha.

Testing, testing, testing.

Sounds great!

Whenever you're ready.

- All yours. - Okay.

Okay.

Testing...

I can't.

I can't, I can't.

I'm sorry. I...

Hey, folks,

just wanted to let everyone know about the food trucks

that you'll find if you walk down that way.

Yep, just keep walking that way

for New York's best food on wheels.

Not here, over there.

Sorry, man. Thanks.

Thank you.

Just doesn't make any sense.

Last time, I couldn't stop babbling,

and this time...

I forget how to speak entirely.

How am I supposed to fix the problem

if my reaction's different every time?

- Look, I know you have it in you, okay?

You worked through the coaching steps

just as well, if not better,

than some of my strongest clients.

And? I still failed!

Why don't we try again later?

Oh, no. I'm spent.

- I get that. - No, you don't!

I'm sorry?

No, I'm sorry,

I didn't mean to snap, I just...

there's no way

that you could possibly understand

what I'm going through

because you've always been a natural.

- Public speaking has always come naturally to me,

sure, but I've got my own fear.

A big one for me, actually...

writing.

Yeah...

I know.

What, you do?

I recognize that look in your eyes

every time someone mentions your scripts.

Some might even call it the chicken stare.

- So, you caught me, huh? - I sure did.

- Seriously though, let me know

when you get those notes back on your scripts.

I'd love to return the favor and help out.

And I promise to be as patient with you

as you have been with me.

Thank you. Really.

And I will definitely take you up on that

when I hear back.

Cool.

But getting back to you,

I think we can try a few more creative ways

to tackle this fear that's still blocking you.

If you'll keep me on, that is.

you're not jumping ship now.

- Good. Wouldn't want to.

To facing our fears.

Let's go.

- I know exactly when everything went downhill.

Fourth grade science fair

and it was my turn to present my diorama.

Oh, I forgot about those!

You make 'em out of shoeboxes, right?

Yep.

Mine was a deciduous forest scene.

I used the trimmings from the plants at my mom's shop

to make the trees.

It had been about a month since my dad passed

and I guess I was determined to prove to everyone

that I was back to being a normal kid,

- whatever that meant. - Sure.

That's a lot for you to be going through at such a young age.

- So, there I was at the front of the room,

ready to go,

and all of a sudden, my mind went blank.

I started getting really hot

and the walls seemed like they were closing in on me,

and the next thing I know, I'm...

sobbing uncontrollably

and the teachers had to rush me to the bathroom.

- No! Poor little Sophie. - Exactly!

That's the part that still sticks with me.

Those teachers looking at me with such deep pity.

I felt pathetic.

And now that I say it out loud, maybe that's the fear.

It's not so much the act of speaking in front of everyone

but the idea that I could be perceived as weak.

Yeah, that's deep.

Well, the good news?

You could never look weak, 'cause you're not.

You're talented, articulate,

self-assured, beautiful.

Beautiful, huh?

Sorry, uh, I mean, you--

Hey, Janice.

Which podcast is that again?

Um... sure!

Yeah, I think I can make that work.

Okay, great.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Thanks, Janice.

I'm gonna be

on the Tailored to the Page podcast

tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Help!

- Is that the one where they try and imagine

what fashion designers

the characters in the books are wearing?

That's one segment, yes.

My protagonist is a tightrope walker.

I don't know any famous leotard designers!

Is that even a thing?

- This is actually the perfect warmup.

You get to work on your interview skills

without actually having a crowd. Less pressure.

Aren't you proud of me?

Look at me,

living life on the edge, all the way up here.

- All the way... it's the fourth floor.

- Still counts! I'm facing my fears.

Actually, you know what?

There's one more fear I wanna try to conquer

before the podcast. Wasn't on your list.

- Then how do you know it's a fear?

- Thought I'd have a curveball challenge

handy the other day, so...

I contacted a local expert in all things Sophie.

Who?

- Tom? - Hey.

- Not who I was referring to but...

Hey, Tom.

- Uh, sorry to interrupt but um...

can I steal you for a bit to talk about the project?

Something sort of just um, came up.

Uh yeah, definitely.

Hey, if you're free later,

can I meet you at the flower shop?

Oh, Mom's the expert.

Of course. Uh yeah,

I'll be at the flower shop this evening

- to help her close up. - Perfect.

- See you then. - Sounds good.

- Nice to see you, Tom. - Likewise.

Take care, Sophie.

- Revel hated the script, didn't they?

- Let's just say they didn't land well, at all.

I'm really sorry, Tom.

I didn't think we were this far off the mark.

- I know! Me either. Luckily,

they're gonna give us another shot.

All we gotta do is go in there

and give them something totally fresh.

- Yeah, yeah, great, let's...

- Let's do it. - All right, great.

Let's get started with uh...

trying to focus on nailing down

a brand new concept for the pilot episode.

- That's a good idea. Yeah, if we could sell them

on whatever new direction that we're heading in,

then we can build from there.

Definitely.

Brand new concept.

- Hey! What about Sophie?

- Yeah, she actually offered to help with the edits,

which will be great.

- No, no, no, no, I mean I think she would be

a really great case study to focus on

- for the pilot episode. - Ah, honestly,

- I don't know about that, Tom. - Hear me out, buddy.

Okay, Revel said they wanted something more tangible,

- less hypothetical, right? - Yeah, but--

- I think Sophie's real-life story

about overcoming her own stage fright

could be really inspiring. Plus, she's a rising name.

So, by the time the series comes out,

audiences will already be familiar with her.

It's kind of a win-win on the publicity front.

Yeah, but...

if we were gonna use her as a subject in an episode,

I would have wanted to ask at the start of the coaching.

All right? Asking midway through feels...

shifty.

And I don't want her thinking

that I have some ulterior motive for helping her.

No, no, no, I get that.

But you do take notes on all your clients, right?

And I assume you have some notes on Sophie?

Yes, for my own use.

Okay, how about this?

We play around with sketching out

an episode about Sophie

based on the notes you already have.

And then, if she nails the interview

and you think it's appropriate,

we can pitch the concept to her at that point.

Fine. But...

if she isn't absolutely thrilled with how this interview goes,

we scrap this idea and we're back to square one.

- Totally, we scrap it. But for now,

let's just see what notes you already have

and maybe we can get a rough draft going.

It's worth a shot.

Producers.

- Really? - Hmm?

- You told him I'm afraid of small spaces?

- Well, I admit, it was a bit selfish on my part

but um... well, look.

The closet is due for a reorganization

and I just thought it could be

maybe your last project in the shop

before you become rich and famous.

- All right, let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

- Yeah, well, just speaking it into existence.

Mwah!

- Oh, and um, if you two get locked in there,

just be sure to scream real loud.

Not helping.

See? I'm perfectly fine.

Wait, what if we get... trapped?

- Well, we could either walk out...

...or we can scream for Evelyn, which would be my vote.

Please don't get her going.

Here we go.

Just like everything else,

start with the breath.

Instead of focusing on the science of the space,

try focusing on what's inside the space,

sweet aromas, beautiful flowers.

- You ready? - For?

Ahem, this thing on?

Welcome to the inside floristry podcast.

I'm your host, Daniel Burke.

And today, I'm joined by a very special guest,

best-selling author, aspiring daredevil,

and master florist, Sophie Wood!

How's it going, Sophie?

- Well, I'm currently cooped up in a closet

with a man who's imagining things,

but other than that, I'm hanging in there.

- Little imagination never hurt anyone.

In fact, our listeners

are gonna use their imaginations right now.

For those of you who can't see me...

...which is everyone,

I am currently selecting a bunch of flowers

and forming a small bouquet.

In a moment,

Sophie is gonna tell us a little bit

about each flower,

and she's gonna rate my bouquet on a scale of one to ten.

- Here you are, my lady. - Oh! Why thank you, kind sir,

they're absolutely lovely.

Oh, sorry kids,

a customer just called with a last-minute order.

Oh, Daniel, you're tall,

would you mind reaching up into the corner

- and getting that planter for me? - Sure thing.

Sorry.

- There. - Lovely, thank you.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

The bouquet?

Yeah, I'd give it a solid eight out of ten.

Not bad for a rookie.

- Well, I'll give you a 15 out of 10

for enduring a whole five minutes

with a podcaster in a cramped space.

All you gotta do tomorrow is wake up and repeat.

- It'll be a piece of cake. - You know what?

- Maybe you're right. - There you go!

Right on, baby!

Oh, here you go.

This'll ensure you both get a decent night's sleep.

Just put it under your pillow.

- Will do, thank you. - Mm-hmm.

- I'll see you tomorrow around 8:45?

- Yeah, I'll be there at 8:30 but no rush.

And uh, text me if you want coffee.

- It's a pleasure seeing you, Evelyn.

- You too, hun. See you soon.

- Well, it looks like the two of you

are getting along very well.

Yeah, he's been um...

He's been great, actually.

I just hope it all works out.

You know, the tour, and the interview and...

everything.

Well,

I have a funny feeling it'll all work out just fine.

That came fast.

Uh, I'll be right back, Mom.

Daniel!

- Hey! Did I forget something?

- No, but I ordered this for you and it just came in.

- For me? - Yes.

This is one of my favorite writing journals.

It has a daily prompt on each page

and it's what I always use

whenever I'm going through writer's block.

It helps get the creative juices flowing.

- "Which is more romantic, sunrise or sunset, and why?"

Well, I guess I'd have to say sunset.

- Oh, no, no, gotta write it down.

Right.

I guess I'll have to noodle on this one

when I get home then.

Thank you, Sophie. This was really thoughtful.

It's the least I could do.

- Get home say, okay? - You too.

Good night.

Okay.

Morning.

- Sorry, sorry. - You scared me!

- I didn't wanna disturb your reading.

- Don't worry, I'll get you back

one of these days when you least expect it.

I'm sure you will.

So, how are you feeling? Ready?

I'm good. I think.

You're good, I know.

- Sophie! Oh, it is so nice to meet you.

- Georgia, it's a pleasure. - Please, call me Gigi.

- This is my friend, Daniel. - Hi.

- Daniel, nice to meet you. - Likewise.

- All right, right this way. - Okay.

- All right, so we're gonna have you over here.

Okay.

- Thank you so much for coming in last minute.

- Oh, of course. Big fan of the show.

- Oh, I'm a big fan of the book! Seriously,

I finished it all in one day.

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

- That's amazing. - It was!

Seriously, such a treat.

Ooh, I almost forgot about

our lightning round questions for later.

Uh, lightning round?

I don't remember that being part

of the segment of the episodes I studied.

- I mean, listened to. - Oh, well, you're gonna be

the very first guest we try this with.

The producers just thought it would be a really fun way

- to wrap up the show. - Oh, um,

is there any sort of hint as...

as to the type of questions in this lightning round?

Well, that would be cheating

but um, I promise you, they're all really fun.

So just don't even worry about it.

Yeah, I'm sure.

- Okay, so in just a couple moments here,

we will be good to go.

All righty. You ready?

Yeah, yeah.

- Oh my gosh, do you need some water?

- I should have asked. - Oh, no, no, no, I'm okay.

- Thank you. - Trust me, hydration is key.

You would not believe

how much these mics will pick up on a scratchy voice.

- Thank you. - Scratchy voice, head cold.

I swear, the more recording I do,

the more I feel

like these mics are just a window to the soul.

Uh, wow, that's uh...

- So, when I press this button here,

the recording will start. Are you ready?

Ready.

- Hello, all you bookworm fashionistas.

I am Georgia Marks

and this is Tailored to the Page.

Our guest today is an icon in the making.

Not only is her very first novel,

Walking on Air, an instant bestseller,

but you will also have to believe me

when I tell you, her style is immaculate.

Welcome, Sophie Wood

and thank you for bringing your book

and your look today.

- Hi. Thanks for... thanks for having me.

- Okay, so we will get to talking about

your incredible novel in just a moment,

but first, I must know,

where did you get this jacket?

It is so sleek!

All of you listeners, don't worry,

- I will post a photo on my IG. - Ha.

Uh, I got it um...

I think I got it online, actually.

Um...

Are you okay?

Can we stop?

Is everything okay?

- Oh yeah. Um...

Sorry, I'm actually...

I think I actually might be coming down with something.

- Oh no! - Yeah,

I woke up today feeling a little blah!

But I wanted to power through, um,

but I don't wanna leave you with a bad recording.

Is there any chance I could reschedule

- once I'm feeling better? - Of course.

Don't even worry about it. Let me grab you a ginger ale.

- Ooh! Okay. - Okay.

- Thank you. - Here you go.

All right. I-I... will walk you out, um...

That was quick.

Feel better soon, Sophie.

I will have our producers

reach out to your people again next week

to see about a redo, if that sounds good?

Sounds great.

Uh, thank you so much for understanding.

Um... sorry again for all the trouble.

Oh please, don't apologize.

- Seriously, just rest up. - Right.

- If I-- - No.

- What happened? - I'll tell you later.

- So, I'm guessing you're not actually--

No, I'm not actually sick.

But that microphone up there saw directly into my soul,

- and it wasn't pretty. - Huh?

Can we go back to the loft?

Maybe you can try to hypnotize me.

Whatever we can do to fix my brain

in the next 48 hours.

My expert advice?

Write this off as a bump in the road.

And try and relax

- for the next few days. - Good one.

- Okay, I know, you're still gonna practice

and stew over it up until the big event,

so...

how 'bout we pencil in a mandatory dinner break?

Tonight, for a little rest and recovery.

Coach's orders.

- Guess I do need to eat at some point.

Let me guess.

"Dear Diary, Daniel's running late

and I can't wait to tease him about it."

It's more like, "Dear Diary,

remind me to ask Daniel if he knows any body doubles

that can stand in for me at the interview."

- Ooh, we have tried a lot of creative techniques,

but that would definitely push us

in a bold, new direction.

Thank you.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

So?

What are you really writing in there?

- Just some notes for my next novel.

Already on to the next one.

Manifesting that three-book deal.

- Yeah. The truth is,

I'd still be working on my next novel

even if I knew I'd never get paid again.

Why do you write?

Well, for one thing,

I love the comfort of knowing that a book has

a solid beginning, middle, and end.

Whereas real life,

a bit more unpredictable.

Very true, indeed.

- Right? One moment,

you're quietly drawing up plots and characters

between flower orders,

and the next, you're going on tour.

But I think more than anything,

writing is like breathing to me.

Like, it allows me to tap into this power that...

doesn't exist for me in the real world.

- That's exactly how I feel on stage.

Like, tuned all the way in, or something.

Yes!

And I think I wanna pay it forward.

There were certain books and stories

that stitched me back together

when I was going through some of my darkest hours and...

...the thought of being able to touch

even just one person in that same way

is what keeps me going.

- Well, consider me one touched reader among many.

- You read my book? - I did.

I did. Full disclosure,

I started it with the goal of trying

to get some clues into your psyche.

And what'd you think?

What's the verdict?

- The only concrete conclusion that I could come up with,

the world needs your voice and your story, Sophie.

- Aw. That's very sweet.

- No, no, I'm not saying that to be sweet.

What I read in your book

are the words of someone who believes in hope,

bravery, and tenacity.

And wouldn't it be a shame for that same person

to let anything stun her into silence?

Much less a little stage fright.

- I'm aware of the brutal irony, yes.

- Why don't you try thinking of this book tour

as just another way to share your words with the world?

Because what you have to say matters, Sophie.

And nothing can take that from you.

Thank you.

You certainly had a day for the books,

I'll give you that.

That is so true.

- Oh, I love this song! - Such a classic.

Shall we?

- Wow, pulling out all the big moves.

- Feeling inspired, what can I say?

Thank you, Daniel,

for everything.

And thank you

for taking the chance in trusting me.

- Well, I can't really take all the credit for that.

Janice did have to force me into it.

And I'm glad she did.

This song, on the other hand,

I'm not so sure about.

Then, we're gonna have to agree to disagree on that one, hmm?

- I like that move. What was that?

- Oh, yes, yes, this is my specialty.

- That? Oh yeah? - Mm-hmm.

- That's your signature move? - That's the clutch one.

- Okay, my ride should be here in two minutes.

I meant to ask you,

have you heard back on those scripts yet?

- Yeah, we are back at square one, unfortunately.

Oh no, I'm so sorry.

Well, why don't you send me what you have now

and I'll see if I can help

come up with some fresh story ideas?

- Yeah, I was thinking I'd send you a few examples

after your interview was out of the way.

- Oh no, just go ahead and send them tonight.

I mean, I'll be up practicing anyway

and I'm sure distraction

will come in handy at some point.

What about getting some rest?

Who needs rest?

Oh. That's me.

It's just around the corner there.

- Oh, uh here, here, you uh, you take this.

- What are you gonna do? - I will be fine.

- Are you sure? - I will be fine, I'm sure.

- Yeah, yeah. - Well, thank you.

- All right. Sophie, go to bed.

Yeah, yeah, I will.

That's a great question, Olivia.

Uh, no, don't... don't say that.

Just... answer the question.

Start over.

Well, of course,

I've always dreamt of this kind of response,

and I...

You know...

Don't go anywhere.

Sophie?

It's Daniel.

I come bearing coffees and a good luck gift.

- Um, now's not really a good time.

Oh, you okay?

I thought we were meeting at the loft

at our usual times.

Did you just wake up?

Guilty as charged!

Anything else you wanna take note of?

Is everything okay?

So, tell me,

what's your final hypothesis?

Will I get through the interview tomorrow

or will the most complex case you've ever encountered

end in total disaster?

- Hey, Sophie, I-- - Didn't mean to send me

the episode you were writing about me behind my back?

Yeah, I figured.

It is not what it looks like.

We just thought that we could work--

- I didn't even want your help to begin with

and yet, somehow, here we are.

Was this your plan the whole time?

To treat me like some sort of lab rat?

- No. No, it's not that at all.

Okay? Tom, just thought that we--

- You know what the worst part of it is?

I was actually starting to believe

that maybe I could do it.

Maybe I could just go out there

and forget what anyone thinks.

- You can and you will. Look, I promise

- that I can explain-- - I'm sorry, I...

I just don't have time for this right now.

- Wait! Sophie, wait! I can explain.

Um...

I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow

but your services will no longer be needed.

I guess you'll have to find a new muse.

Fine, but if I can leave you

with just one last piece of advice.

I've had my fill on advice.

Thanks.

Step out of your own way.

Might be surprised by what you find.

Homemade lunch has arrived!

Or... oh!

Should I say brunch?

- A girl spends one day in her pjs

- and everyone gets on her case. - Hey, hey,

I didn't say it wasn't a cute look, did I?

How's it going, honey?

- Just about as well as it looks.

- Hmm. Looks like maybe it's time to tap out

and go with the flow.

- Mom, I keep telling you-- - I know it's a cliché.

It's not that it's cliché,

it's that it doesn't work for me the way it works for you.

I didn't inherit your carefree gene.

Believe me, I wish I did.

- Right, so then your life could just be

as easy breezy as mine is?

Okay, no. No, I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it.

I know your life hasn't been easy for you.

- Not at all. - Hmm.

Well,

I know sometimes even if you do go with the flow,

it doesn't mean you'll never hit choppy waters.

- Oh, I'll definitely be filing today under choppy.

First, I blow up at Daniel.

Next, I'm being testy with you.

Not my best work.

- Why? What happened with Daniel?

- Turns out he's writing an episode about me

for his web series. And apparently,

I'm the most complex client he's ever encountered.

Can you believe that?

Well... well, actually, yeah.

- What? - Well, look,

the guy spent days cooking up

unique and okay, sometimes strange ways,

to help you overcome a major fear

that's holding you back.

So yeah, I'd say that's pretty--

- Complex. - Mm-hmm.

- Fine, but he could have at least told me about it first

or asked for my permission to be in the episode.

- Why so sneaky? - Yeah, that is odd.

Did he say why he never told you?

No, and we didn't get to that.

Or I guess,

- I didn't let him get to that. - Huh.

Well, maybe your paths will cross again

after this storm subsides and...

Then you can get to the bottom

of what his true intentions were.

- Maybe. - Hmm.

But no matter what happens in the future,

just trust yourself.

Okay?

You know why?

Why?

- Because the flow rewards those

who are tough enough to hang in there,

even in the toughest currents.

So, do yourself a favor

and get a grip, will ya?

I'm trying.

Ah, mwah.

Okay, decision time.

Should we take a taxi, walk,

or the train to Nate's party?

- Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna go.

And...

I am sorry to spring this on you now

but that Sophie episode is officially off the table.

No! No, no, no.

Okay... what happened?

- Still trying to figure that one out.

You finally asked her out and she turned you down?

Man, I really wish you'd waited until after we found out

- about the episode. - What? No!

Why would you think I was gonna ask her out?

- Hmm, where would I get a wild idea like that from?

- Okay, it may have crossed my mind a time or two,

but our professional relationship

has been my top priority since day one.

- Oh yeah, of course. Totally.

- Not that it matters now, anyway.

I'm pretty sure she hates me.

Yeah, I don't know about that.

- Okay, hate might be a strong word.

- Yes, you forgot your hot plate,

and yes, I washed it.

I thought you were my mom.

Ah, well,

I do hope to be as cool as her one day.

- Yeah. For the record,

I'm going to bed soon, so.

- Yeah, no, no, I won't be long, I just...

really still wanted to give you this.

Thanks.

- And to tell you that I'm sorry.

Look, I was never gonna produce anything

without getting your permission.

Tom and I were just brainstorming some ideas

and we thought that your story,

or even exaggerated version of your story,

could be a really interesting one to tell.

I bet it would.

- I should have told you as soon as it came up

but it was so close to your interview,

I didn't wanna psych you out.

But... plan obviously backfired.

Just a little bit.

But um...

...thank you for this. Um...

...really. I uh...

I should really take your advice and get some rest.

Long day tomorrow.

- Obviously. - Absolutely.

Uh, good luck tomorrow, Sophie.

Thank you.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Oh, okay. Get a grip, won't you?

Okay.

Shoulders back, up, hands loose.

Okay.

Ha, okay.

Hate to interrupt.

Janice!

Hi.

What am I interrupting?

It looks fun!

- Oh, I was just doing the tube man, uh...

just something silly to calm the nerves.

- Daniel taught me, actually. - Oh yes, isn't he wonderful?

- He is. He really is.

- I'm sure you're ready to knock this thing

out of the park.

- As ready as I'll ever be. - Great.

Well, I'm gonna check in with the media partners.

You come find me if you need me?

Yeah.

Sounds good. Oh, uh, wait.

Um, is Olivia here yet?

I would really love to meet her before we start.

Yeah, so here's the thing,

Olivia's big on meeting guests for the first time

during the interview.

Uh cool, great, yeah.

- Something about it feeling more fresh that way.

Right. Yeah!

Totally. Totally fine.

Great.

Yeah.

Totally fine to meet my childhood icon

in front of an audience. Yeah.

Okay.

- Uh, may I sit beside you, please?

Oh, thanks.

Ah, the book!

Good evening,

can you hear me in the back there?

Well, thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

I am thrilled to be here to discuss Walking on Air.

Everyone please give a warm welcome

to Sophie Wood.

Such a treat to meet you.

- Thanks. - Well,

let's get right into it, shall we?

Yes!

Oh, sorry.

Oh, no worries.

So, Sophie,

tell us how you heard the good news

about your bestseller.

Uh, better?

Okay.

So yeah,

I woke up in the morning, obviously.

Um, and I read it in the paper.

We still get the paper at my mom's flower shop.

It's my day job.

And uh, so yeah, that's... that's where I was.

well that's a good segue

- to my next question. - It is?

Yes.

They say, "Write what you know."

So, my question is,

are you a pro on the tightrope when you're not writing,

and if so, can you demonstrate for us after this?

Wow!

Uh, a curveball and a challenge.

Um, well, I hate to disappoint you

but I'm actually terrified of heights.

But I did visit a very tall building this week

so um, I just might be getting closer to giving it a try.

Don't ask me to join you.

I am a big fan of gravity.

Tell us about Sasha, your protagonist.

Where did the inspiration for her character come from?

- Right, so my process is very much about research,

and when I first read

about the first female tightrope walker

to ever, um...

...to ever uh...

Sorry, yes. The main character was inspired

by a real-life circus artist,

but as far as her inner dialogue,

her perseverance, her drive,

her unwavering belief

to do whatever she set her mind to,

all of that was inspired by my mom,

Evelyn.

- She raised me as a single mom in the city

with very few resources after we lost my dad.

And as a child, I remember thinking

that some kind of luck or magic was at play.

Somehow we always got by.

Somehow we still managed to laugh

and smell the roses.

Somehow we healed.

But much like tightrope walking,

there's nothing magical about it.

She got us both through by taking one step at a time,

balancing both strength and softness,

never once letting us fall.

Is Mom here?

- Oh yes, uh, she's right there, actually.

Let's give Mom a round of applause.

- It was so great to have you on the show.

Oh, thanks again.

I cannot believe this whole time

you thought of me as a svelte and nimble acrobat.

- Even the bravest of daredevils have nothing on you.

- Oh, well, you hung on tight up there.

Can I cut in here?

Oh, yes!

- Meredith McEvans from Grapevine.

So nice to meet you!

Ms. McEvans, it's an honor.

- Thank you for coming. - Oh, of course!

I just talked to Janice and confirmed our dinner,

if that still works?

Would love to discuss what's next for you.

- Yes! Can't wait to chat.

Great.

Wow! Whew!

Amazing job up there, Sophie!

- Thank you so much. - Oh! I mean,

I knew you'd get through it, but that was beyond.

The chemistry with Olivia, unreal.

- You think? - Oh, it was fantastic.

And the book deal's all but signed.

Don't be surprised

if Meredith draws up the contract

over appetizers.

Wow.

- And thanks again for letting me

connect you with Daniel.

- Oh, thank you for the recommendation.

I think it's safe to say it definitely helped.

Oh, definitely.

I couldn't get over his face

when he was watching you up there just now.

He looked so happy for you.

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

Is he still here?

Right over there.

- Hey. - You did it!

Did I?

- You were incredible. 20 out of 10.

- Listen, I'm sorry I didn't hear you out yesterday.

- I was scared. - Nah,

I shouldn't have started anything

without your permission.

I was just... inspired.

Let's make the episode.

Together.

- Are you sure? Really,

it's fine if we just keep everything between us.

I thought you said

I had a story to share with the world?

Wouldn't be very honest

if I held back the messy parts, would it?

I can't argue there.

Good.

Looking forward to our next project.

I wonder what other fears we'll conquer along the way.

- You know, there's actually something I've been...

a little scared to do for a while now.

No need to be shy.

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