"Pay attention, lovelies, or you won't keep up with these women." "Jane, our intrepid writer, did a story about a congresswoman and discovered that everything is political..." " Are you writing about me?" " I swear..." "And politics makes for strange but sexy bedfellows." "Kat's all virtual reality, which at times is preferable to her real reality, but not all the time." "Hello." "_" "And Sutton cheated on Lauren with Oliver." "Fashion department." "Uh, Lauren Park's office." "And got busted." "Bumpy." "But it's time for me to move on." "But okay for the women of the bold type." "_" "_" "_" "_" " Where's your room?" " The door." "_" "_" "Tell me what you want." "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "I feel invigorated." "Do you feel invigorated?" "Not really." "Oh, you're amazing." "Oh, thank you." "Post-orgasm coffee for Jane, and that is a sleep-deprived coffee for Sutton." "What... you already told her?" "Please... she texted me, like, while it was happening." "Listen, now that you're having really good sex, it's probably worth mentioning that the walls are very thin." " Wait, how did it happen?" " I don't know." "I just..." "I got out of my head, and, oh, he said, "Tell me what you want."" " Ooh." " Is he Batman?" "Shh." "She's getting to the good part." "Go ahead, honey." "Um..." "I broke a lamp." "You broke several lamps." "Is "lamps" a euphemism?" "'Cause I'm gonna need a lot more details." "Closet?" " I only have five minutes until Lauren gets here." " _" "Jacqueline wants to see me immediately." "Oh, my God." "Do you think she knows?" "She probably heard you." "_" "Jacqueline, you wanted to see me?" "Uh, yes, Jane, come on in and sit down." "Do you know about The Writers' Room downtown?" "They do small seminars on writing and journalism, and they're having one tonight on political reporting, and you are going." "Uh, you want me to take a writing class?" "Let me clarify." "You have been invited to be on the panel." "It's called "Rising Political Voices Under 30."" " Wow." " Your congresswoman piece made some noise." "Congratulations." "You need to get this to them right away, and they need a bio and a photo." "And Jane, let's not use that selfie as your headshot." "Of course." "I'm gonna be there tonight." "This is amazing." "Jacqueline, thank you so much." "Jane, I have full confidence in you..." "I know you'll do great." "I'll do my best." "Oh, and I'm sending Alex, as well." "He'll do a write-up on you for the digital site." "Okay." "Thank you." "Mm-hmm." "Oh, yes." "So..." " What do you need?" " You to go to the board." "I want to launch a new vertical:" "politics." "Both sides of the aisle, daily updates." "Wow, that's a lot more than we usually do." "It is, but I took a look at the numbers, and our political pieces are gaining a lot of traction." "Is this you being ahead of the curve again?" "No." "I'm behind it for once." "Young women want to be politically engaged, so let's engage them." "All right." "I'll float it to the board." "Great." "Adena." "Kat." " It's good to see you." " Yeah, you too." "Is this okay?" "I feel bad interrupting you at work." "No, it's fine." "It sounds important." "It is." "Um..." "Can we talk privately?" "Yeah, you want to go get some coffee or something?" "Mm?" "I feel a little nervous about what I need to ask you." "Ask me anything." "I've decided to try and extend my work visa." "Oh." "That's awesome." "I feel like I'm not done here yet." "Coco has to go back to France for a job, but I want to stay." "Anyway, the process is a nightmare." "They need all these documents and character references, and I was hoping you could write me one." "Yeah... yeah, absolutely, I'd be honored." "Really?" " Yeah." " That's such a relief." "I know it's a lot of work." "No, I mean, it's only 140 characters, right?" "Thank you." "I really think a letter from "Scarlet" will help." "Right." "Yeah, from "Scarlet."" "I seriously thought for a second that Adena was coming here to tell me she had feelings for me, and now I'm writing a letter of recommendation." "Hmm." "Oh, hey, finally." "Details, please." "Um, table the details." "I need your help picking out an outfit for my headshot." "But why do you need a headshot?" "Because I am appearing on a panel:" "young reporters with influential voices." " No way, that's awesome." " I know." "I'm really excited about it, and Jacqueline actually seemed impressed." "Okay, that is great, babe, but you are killing me." "You just had your first orgasm." "Come on." "I can come back." "Actually, no, I can't." "Uh, Sutton..." "Oh, Lauren needs me?" "Actually, Oliver needs you." "He wants to see you right away." "Oh, my God." "It's totally about the fashion job, right?" ""Scarlet."" " Oliver?" " Busy." " You asked to see me." " Oh, right." "Sorry." "Come in." "I've been working without an assistant, which is why you're here." "There are a few other candidates, so may the odds be ever in your favor." "I'm asking all the applicants to create a mood board." "I want you to use fashion to tell me who you are." "Okay." "I can do that." "Sutton, make me feel something." "Absolutely." "Thank you for considering me." "You should thank Lauren." "I don't think I've ever heard her gush about someone before." "It was kind of alarming." "Anyway, she brought me two names, actually... yours and someone else, but the other girl has zero fashion experience, not even a summer job at the mall." "I mean, who doesn't work at the mall at some point?" "Anyway, I love that you went to FIT." " Oh, um, I..." " Obviously, I have multiple candidates to consider." "You know, I have favors and such, but you have an inside track." "Um, Oliver, the thing is, actually, I..." "Sorry, I have to go talk to Jacqueline... bye." "Bye." "You think, Sutton, the other girl that Lauren recommended..." "The one that went to the Fashion Institute of Technology." "Okay, we know what FIT means." "Well, then you also know I didn't go there." "Oh, this is bad." "This is good." "Ooh, that's cute." "I could wear that to the panel." "See?" "You're good at this." "You should just tell him the truth." "Wait, why?" "So he can take her out of the running?" "No, this is not her fault." " Are you saying I should lie?" " No." "I'm saying you should, you know, take advantage of the circumstances." "Yeah, but he's gonna find out eventually." "How?" "How is he gonna find out?" "He could ask to see her diploma." "Seriously?" "I never even picked up my diploma." "For all I know, I didn't graduate." "Oh, God, what if I never graduated college?" "That's probably why you have that recurring anxiety dream." "Yeah, the one where I'm the last one on campus," "I'm two credits short, and they have all those little..." "Oh, my God, can we please not analyze Kat's dreams right now?" "Totally, yeah." "Let me guess: juice run." " Yep." " Does she ever eat solid foods?" "I'm gonna die on this desk." "Listen, all you got to do is just, you know, impress him with your mood thing." "No, Jane's right." "I have to tell him." "I mean, I have to tell him." "Right?" " Yes." " No." " So... there's three panelists?" " Yes." "Three other panelists, all political writers, and it's called "Young Reporters with Influential Voices."" "Ooh." "Can you give me a big smile, please?" "Actually, I want to do a few where I look a little more serious." "Do I look like an influential voice?" "I'm sorry." "Will you excuse me for a second?" " Hi." " Hi." "What are you doing here?" "Is this for an article?" "Actually, don't answer that." "I don't want to know why you're looking at lotion." "There's a rumor you guys have a spa hidden somewhere in here." "I wanted to check it out." " Is there?" " Mm." "I had fun last night." "Seems like maybe you had fun too?" "I did." "Good, 'cause, I mean, you have admitted in the past to faking the fun you were having." "I had fun." "I had fun twice, actually." "Okay then." "So is that why you came here?" "To fact check how much fun I had?" "Mm-hmm, and to invite you over tonight." "What do you think?" "I wish I could, but actually, I'm speaking on this panel at The Writers' Room." "You're on that "influential voices" panel?" "Yeah, I am." "Well, damn, Sloan." "I'll come watch." "You want to come to my panel?" "Is that not cool?" "Isn't it, you know, open to the public?" "Oh, no, yes, of course it is." "Then I'll see you there." "Uh, do you mind if I..." "Oh, it's all yours." "Okay." "Cool." "Okay, so, according to this," "I have to speak to Adena's unique skills." "Okay, see, now it makes sense why she wants me to do it." ""And submit on official letterhead."" "Sorry, not seeing the significance here." "God, it is a dark day when I'm the most legit person in someone's life." "Or she really cares about the way that you see her." "You know, I cannot get a read on her." "It's a crazy idea, but you could ask her how she feels." "Or, better yet, use the letter as an excuse to hang out." "Sutton Brady, are you asking me to lie?" " No, definitely not." " Eh?" "But I am telling you to use the situation to your advantage." "Tell her that you want to get the letter right, but that you have questions, and then while you're asking those questions, say how you feel." "You know, that's actually not a bad idea." "Mm." "And this looks really good, by the way." "Hi, Richard." "Come in." "So, I reached out to some of the big movers on the board, and... you know what?" "I'm gonna stand while you're walking." "Oh, no, you're fine." "What's up?" "You know how much respect they all have for you, right?" "Yes..." ""Scarlet" is the biggest magazine we have." "They're worried about rocking the boat." "Maybe they should think we're the biggest magazine they have because we rock the boat." "I get it, but alienating even a portion of the core readership right now is a big risk." "And it's a risk worth taking." "I also think that they should trust me." "What are you doing tonight?" "Oh, I don't know." "I was thinking..." "Jane Sloan, our youngest writer, is on a panel about politics in the woke generation." "We're going." "I look forward to it." "After you." "Oliver's considering me for the fashion assistant job." " That's amazing." " I know, but he..." " Wait, what did you just say?" " I said he wants somebody who went to fashion school." "He would be lucky to have you." "So was he going before he knew you were on the panel?" "Nope." "I feel like this moves you out of casual sex territory." "No." "No!" "It's pinstripe guy." "So?" " Now I feel like we should go." " Uh, yeah." "I have enough pressure with Jacqueline going." "Did you know that Richard's going?" "Why?" "Jacqueline wants to expand the magazine's political coverage." "She wants to show him how woke we are." "Mm." "Okay." "Oh, my God." "This isn't funny." "The magazine's political future is in my hands, and the guy who gave me my first orgasm is gonna be sitting in the front row." "What am I gonna do?" "Calm down." "Ordinarily, I'd say picture the audience naked, but since that means pinstripe," "Jacqueline, and Richard..." "Don't... don't make her picture my boyfriend naked." "Yeah, that's gross." "Not like he's gross." "I'm sure he is..." "Okay, we're good." "Okay, here's to Jane and her panel." "You're gonna be great, kid." "Yeah, no pressure." "I really appreciate you taking this letter so seriously." "I'm touched." "Yeah, of course." "Just, you know, I figured it'd be easier if we just talk in person, you know..." "No, it's perfect." "I'm not much of a phone person, and it's a beautiful night." "Yeah." "So should we get a drink, or...?" "Right, you don't drink." "See?" "I'm learning more about you already." " But I do eat." " Oh, well, that's good." "Uh, let's grab a bite." "I'll Yelp something." "Uh..." "Kat, why don't we just walk, and if we see something that looks good, we can stop?" "Right." "Makes sense." "Very smart." "Oh, my God." "Sutton, Oliver told me that Lauren recommended you." "I had no idea that you also went to FIT." "Oh, yeah, it's... small world, right?" "How did I not know that?" "I bet we know so many of the same people." "I know." "I don't know." "No, I was pretty focused." "I didn't really hang out much." "Did you ever have Design with Peterson?" "Yeah, he was..." "Crazy, right?" "Always in a weird hat." "Hat." "The weird hats." "Totally." "Ugh." "Love that guy." " Really?" " Hmm." "He made me cry at least three times." "I thought everyone hated him." "Well, it was like a love-hate relationship, you know?" "I don't, but if you can handle Peterson, you'll do fine with Oliver." "Good luck." "Thanks." "Oh, my God." "Welcome to The Writers' Room." "As you can see, we have a stellar panel of impressive and highly acclaimed journalists for you." "First up, Darren Molina from the "Boston Blaze."" "Darren is most known for his frontline war reporting where he blew the lid off of military misspending, which resulted in policy changes all the way up to the Pentagon." "Welcome, Darren." "Next, Peabody Award winner, renowned writer for "The Economist,"" "Miss Lydia Brooks." "Next to her, Sean Carpenter, who in addition to his acclaimed White House reporting is also getting ready to release his first book on digital political activism." "Welcome to you, Sean." "And finally, from "Scarlet" magazine, political fashion commentator Jane Sloan." "So why don't we start with you, Jane?" "Why are you here tonight?" "In other words, why is it important for us to have this conversation?" "Oh, um..." "I'm so glad you asked that question, because the answer could not be more simple." "Young people want to be engaged, and right now, there's a lot to be afraid of, and when you're scared, you need voices that you can trust, and so it's up to us to be those voices." "I actually think that's overly simple." "We're in an age where the ephemeral nature of the Internet creates the need to be first and loudest, so trust is actually secondary." " Okay." " Wha..." "I'm confiscating this." "All right." "Point taken." "But you know, work might call, so..." "Oh, this late?" "Yeah." "Watch." "Listen." "Be in the moment." "All right." "It's not just about reporting anymore." "People want to connect and share an experience, so there's..." "Right, even if that means..." "Hang on." "Just let me finish." "I devoted an entire chapter in my book to this topic, and my research has led me to some really unexpected conclusions." "People are arguing because it lets them feel engaged, and that's what people want right now..." "to feel engaged." "Well, I think we'll end our conversation on that note, and I'd like to thank all my panelists for being here tonight." "Thank you." "I should have been more assertive." "I shouldn't have let him talk over me." "Come on, that's not your fault." "Yeah, I had a board member and my boss here to watch me not say anything." "Look, I'm sure you did better than you think." "Yeah." "Thanks." "Okay, admit it:" "it's nice to like something without having to "like" it." "I know." "Wait... oh." "What?" "So you get to have your phone, but I don't get to have mine?" "It's my mom." "She's calling from overseas." "Allo." "Allo, Mama." "Why don't you speak English, bitch?" "What did you just say?" "I said I think your towel head friend here should speak English or go back where she came from." "Oh..." "Okay, come on, Kat." "He's not worth it, come on." "No, no, apologize to my friend right now." "Okay." "Don't touch me, you dirty little towel head." " Hey." " Aah!" "What the hell?" "You crazy?" "Do we have a problem here, sir?" "Yeah, yeah, we have a problem." "She just assaulted me." "Oh, come on." "That is total B.S., no." "He just pushed my friend." "Adena, tell them what happened." "She punched me." "That's what happened." "Adena?" "Ma'am, I need you to step into the car." "Look, I can get my friend, and she can tell you what happened, okay?" "Just..." " Ma'am." " Hey." " Ma'am." " Excuse me, don't touch me." "Get your hands off me." "Adena!" ""Scarlet" magazine." "Hey, Kat." "No, they're not in yet." "One phone call?" "Kat?" "Are you okay?" "Do you need anything?" "I'm fine." "Really, I just... a little embarrassed that my boss had to bail me out of jail, but... fine." "Thank you for coming." "You're welcome." "He just... you know, he hated her so much for no reason, and..." "I don't know what happened." "I just reacted." "Good morning, Oliver." "Morning." "I heard that you're considering new assistants." "You made a pick yet?" "Not yet." "There are a couple of internal candidates." "Lauren recommended her assistant." "Oh, Sutton Brady." "I did an informational interview with her the other day." "I was really impressed." "I know that she doesn't have a fashion degree, but she's really smart, has been with the company a long time, and I think it'd be great if we ended up giving her a shot." " Noted." " Good." "Hey, just finished that article about you." "Is it two lines?" "Because that's all I got in." "Wow, you're being really hard on yourself." "The livestream got great viewership, and what you did say was smart and insightful." "I don't even know why is was there." "I shouldn't share a stage with Lydia Brooks." "She won a Peabody Award." "Nobody even knows who Jane Sloan is." "Jane Sloan is just getting started." "There's a reason you were onstage last night." "People want to hear your voice." "I sent you a draft." "Let me know what you think." "So... this is it?" "This is it." "I can really see the FIT influence." "You can?" "Sutton, I'm gonna ask you a question." "Did you really go to FIT?" "Um, no." "And I know that I should have said something as soon as..." "But you didn't." "In fact, your opening move in our relationship was to lie to me." "I know, I don't know why..." "Neither do I, Sutton." "Thank you." "So, jail, and Jacqueline picked you up?" "Yes." "Are we done processing?" "Not even close." "Why didn't you call us?" "'Cause Adena took my phone, and..." ""Scarlet" is literally the only number I know." "Wait, Adena took your phone?" "Yeah." "She wanted us to be in the moment together." "Obviously not enough to stick around and help me explain what happened to the cops." "Sorry, Kat." "You're invited to join me at Findos tonight, where I will most certainly be drowning my sorrows in alcohol." "Oh, babe, I feel so bad about that." "No, it was my choice to lie to Oliver." "Yeah, but it was my suggestion." "It was my choice." "How did Oliver find out?" "I don't know, but he did, and now he thinks I'm the kind of person whose first move is to lie." "Well, we know that's not who you are." "Yeah, we know you better than anybody." "Better than Oliver." "Yeah." "Thanks, munchkins, but I don't think that's gonna matter." "Kat, Adena El-Amin is here for you." "Okay." "Well, this should be fun." "I'm very happy you're okay." "I was worried about you." "Really?" "You were worried about me?" "Is that why you bolted?" " Kat..." " No." "No, you left me alone, and I actually ended up spending the night in jail." "I-I didn't have much of a choice." "Everyone has a choice." "No." "That is where you're wrong." "You have a choice, but I'm a Muslim lesbian living in today's America." "My choices are very limited." "Okay, so what?" "What, do we just stand back and let them win?" "It's obvious that we... we just come from completely different worlds." "Here is your phone back." "I'm really very sorry." "Lauren Park's office." "Hey, just wanted to say hi." "I'm so happy to hear your voice." "I'm having a terrible day." "Talk to me." " I'm not getting the job." " What do you mean?" "An hour ago, you were the frontrunner." "What do you mean?" "How would you know I was the frontrunner?" "I ran into Oliver." "And you talked about me?" "Yeah, I wanted to put in a good word." "Don't worry... totally professional." "I just wanted to help." "Oh, my God." "How could you do that?" "That means I really am screwing up." "No." "What are you talking about?" " All I told him was..." " Whatever, it doesn't matter." "I'm not getting the job." "Okay, Sutton, back up." "What happened with the job?" "He thought that I went to FIT." "It was a miscommunication." "No." "I mentioned that you didn't have fashion school experience." "You said..." "Sutton, I am so sorry." "No, it's my fault." "And I'm going to deal with this myself." "Uh, hi." "Hello." "I just wanted to thank you, and to let you know that the guy is not going to press charges." "Well, that's a relief." "Yeah." "And how's Adena doing?" "She's good." "Yeah, she's fine." "Hmm." "Doesn't sound fine." "You know, I just can't believe she left me there." "She says she didn't have a choice, but everyone has a choice." "Well, maybe she felt like she didn't." "You said that she wanted to extend her visa." "Getting arrested could have complicated that." "I mean, we were in the right." "I wish that's all that mattered." "But unfortunately, being right is not always enough." "Do you think..." "Do you think she could have been deported?" "Oh, I think that's a real possibility." "Uh, thank you again." "You're welcome." "Hey." "Hey." "What are you doing?" "I was so close, Jane." "I finally found something that I really want, and something that I'm actually good at." "And you were right." "I can do this." "If I'm gonna go down, I'm gonna go down swinging." "So..." "I have to show Oliver who I really am." "Okay." "But what is all of this?" "Well, that's obviously my prom dress." " Oh, obviously." " You know?" "And here is the U2 tank top that I was wearing when my mom told me that she couldn't afford to send me to college." " Did you bedazzle it yourself?" " Yeah." "And this is my high school diary." "Oh, it's the letter from your dad." "Yeah." "I just feel like if I'm gonna lose this job, it's gonna be me who loses this job, you know?" "Not some fake FIT girl." "What?" "I didn't go to FIT." "I'm sorry." "I should have told you." "I went to Penn State, and I lived at home, 'cause it was the only thing I could afford." "I have no fashion background at all." "I never even worked in a mall." "But I've devoured fashion magazines since I was a kid, and I have impeccable taste." "I want this more than I've wanted anything in my entire life, and I would work my ass off for you." "Here's everything else you need to know about me." "Richard, I want to discuss the political vertical." "Well, I'm sorry, Jacqueline, it's just not a battle you can win." "Because it's not a battle I'm gonna fight." "I was recently reminded of exactly who our readers are, and they are passionate, they're excited, they're involved, and they don't ask for permission, so neither am I." " Jacqueline..." " Tell the boys upstairs that "Scarlet" magazine is going to launch a political vertical." "The first piece is gonna be a personal account by Kat Edison." "They're gonna love it." "Sutton, can I speak to you for a moment?" ""If you can't do it with feeling, don't."" "Who said that?" "Patsy Cline." "Impressive." "You know where I was when I heard her sing for the first time?" "The back of my daddy's pickup truck." "I'll deny it to anyone who asks, so don't even think of calling "Page Six"... but underneath these designer clothes," "I'm small town Oklahoma." "No fancy fashion degree." "No Ivy League college." "Really?" "You hide it so well." "Hmm." "Maybe a little too well." "I didn't realize that until I saw your mood board." "You moved me." "It's real, Sutton." "Real is good." "Real is what makes you who you are." "So... what are you saying, exactly?" "You get one lie, and you spent yours." "Now I need you to do something for me." "Go tell Lauren I pushed her assistant." "Uh, Jacqueline..." "I'm really sorry about the panel." "Why?" "Well, 'cause I didn't really say much." "Well, it doesn't matter how much you say." "And what you did say really resonated with people." "Have you checked your Twitter recently?" " Lydia Brooks quoted me?" " _" " Come with me." " Oh, my God." " Lydia Brooks quoted me." " That's great." "This is about me now." "Come on." "All right, what is it?" "Hey, sorry." "Keep doing what you're doing." "Wait, are you okay?" "Yeah, you're making me nervous." "This is weird." "Okay." "I got the job." "I told you you'd get it!" "Yeah!" " Hi." " Hi." "You feeling better?" "Yeah." "I am." "Good." "Then maybe you're ready to use that influential voice for something else, like to... tell me what you want." "What?" "You sound like Batman when you do that." "That's a good thing." "Isn't it?" "Yeah." "It's a good thing." "Kat?" "I owe you an apology." "You were right." "We are from different worlds." "And..." "I really want you to stay in mine." "So I wrote you a letter." "Way more than 140 characters." "I wrote about how uniquely talented you are and how valuable your art is, because that's what Immigration needs to hear." "That's perfect." "But what I really wanted to say... was... was just how amazing you are." "You're courageous and thoughtful and honest, and you're the only person I've ever met who, you know, completely throws me off my game." "And..." "I..." "I think I really like you."