She’s also here by herself. I figured someone as big as Eve Cassidy would bring a publicist. Unless something else is going on.
“It’s nice to see you,” Penny says, moving her chair to let Eve in. “I’m so glad you came. I know this is all last-minute.”
Outside, a camera flashes, a lone paparazzo taking pictures. Other customers glance over every few seconds and whisper to each other. If Eve Cassidy doesn’t seem to mind, I guess we shouldn’t, either.
“Of course,” Eve says. She sits completely straight, hands folded on the table between us. “I respect what you’re trying to do and would love to talk with you. Julia told me about your project at brunch the other day. I think it’s a really valiant effort you two are making.”
She makes eye contact, switching between the two of us as she speaks. I can’t look away when her eyes lock on mine. It’s like she’s captured everyone. Maybe that’s how she has commanded so many screens. I reach into my bag for my recorder.
“But, sadly, I won’t be able to participate.”
I freeze, eyes darting over to Penny. She’s still holding her fork and blinks a thousand times a minute.
“Oh.” I clear my throat. “I know it must be really difficult. If it makes you feel better, though, you wouldn’t be alone. Penny and I would support you as much as possible, and Julia is already on the record—”
“But I’m not Julia.” Her voice isn’t loud but is definitely firm. “I can’t do this. I can’t talk about these things and share specifics with the entire world.”
“Will you say he harassed you?” Penny asks, faster than I can. “I mean, you don’t have to go into details. It’s just having your support that’s really important.”
The laughing couple a few tables away has gone silent. For a second, I wonder if they’re listening. Would it have been better to do this somewhere else?
“I’ll support you from the sidelines,” Eve says. She smiles, but the expression doesn’t reach her eyes. “But, Penny, as much as I want to, I really can’t. Just talking to Julia about it tore me up. It’s been three years and I still can’t reckon with it.”
She clears her throat. My eyes sting. I shouldn’t be getting emotional. This didn’t happen to me. It happened to someone else, and I don’t want to make this about how I feel. Penny reaches out for her hand. Eve grips it.
“I’m really glad you’re doing this.” She shakes her head, pressing her eyes closed. “Ever since they started running commercials for that documentary, it’s gotten worse.”
God, the documentary. The more I find out about this guy, the more the documentary burns me up.
“I know,” Penny says. “I haven’t been watching TV. The commercials…it’s too much.”
“He definitely knows how to curate his image,” Eve says. “You should’ve seen my contract.”
“Oh God,” Penny says. “I—I can’t believe so many people are helping him cover it up.”
“Wait,” I say. “What was in the contract?”
“A very intense nondisclosure agreement,” Eve says. “Actors sign away their right to mention anything that happens on set or during production. If they do, Lennox will definitely sue for everything they have.”
On the surface, it sounds like a famous director being particular about the way his sets are run. But knowing what I do, I think it sounds sinister.
I ask, “That doesn’t make any of the actors suspicious?”
“Maybe a little,” Penny says. “But it’s Lennox. Everyone wants to work with him. No one’s gonna give up that chance just because of an NDA.”
“But…” I shake my head, pushing away my bowl. “Do they know? About the allegations?”
“If they don’t before they sign on, I’m sure they do after,” Eve says. “Just think about it. If you see that clause in your contract, you’re going to have some questions. But even then, I’m not sure it’s possible to work with him without knowing. It’s one of the biggest open secrets in Hollywood. Everyone knows about it.”
It doesn’t make any sense. How could so many people know and not say anything? Not do anything? How could actors hear about this and decide to keep working with him? What about the members of the crew? Costume designers? Craft service? Is this a massive conspiracy? It’s hard to fathom how many people know and haven’t tried to stop it.
Does Marius know?
“But why hasn’t anyone said anything?” I snap. “It’s just—I don’t understand. How can they just stand by and watch it happen? Or know that it happens? There are other directors. Ones who don’t do this. I can’t— I don’t—”
“We know,” Penny says. “But imagine what you’re up against if you speak out. I’m sure people want to do something. They’re just scared.”
She puts a hand on my knee, but it doesn’t do anything to make me feel better. The fact that she’s trying to comfort me when this happened to her just makes me feel even more useless.
“It’s an ugly machine,” Eve says, locking eyes with me again. “And I’m sure you’ll face resistance by fighting against it. But I promise I’ll help as much as I can. I just can’t talk about what happened to me. Not if I want to maintain any sense of self.”
She smiles again. It makes me want to cry. It makes me want to kill someone. If a woman from one of the most powerful families in Hollywood can’t confront this guy, who can?
@JosieTheJournalist: really wish i were in bed right about now
The entire cast is supposed to go to a cocktail party at this fancy hotel today, but I’ve been spending all afternoon thinking of ways to get out of it. I could say that I suddenly caught the flu. Or that I don’t want to be around alcohol because I’m
