Lying to Be Perfect Page #7

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You are better. And you know what?

You should create the life you deserve.

That's exactly what she'd say.

Yeah, no joke.

Tell her.

What?

She is Belinda.

That's impossible.

You're Belinda?

I'm Belinda.

But how?

It's really complicated. I mean...

well, I started by submitting my

columns electronically to Lori.

Do you mean all the

advice I got from Belinda...

...the advice that I changed my life for,

the Cinderella pact, that was all a lie?

No. No! I-I believed every word.

It just... it seemed like

you would listen to it more.

when it came from someone like Belinda.

I just want what's best for you.

And to regain my power and

be the person I am inside.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

That was part of the pact, and

we were supposed to be honest.

We would always be

honest with one another...

...and you were lying from the start.

You never believed any

of this could be real.

That's not true. I

hoped it would be. I did.

Losing weight has given me

the confidence to stand up.

...for myself and be

honest about my feelings.

You have no idea how much you hurt me.

Well, I don't want to

deal with this right now.

I can't.

I'll go.

Nola, hi. Sorry about

leaving a message. Again.

Since I haven't heard from you...

...you are either, "a" on a road trip with

Otis and too busy to check your messages...

...or "b" in the finals of an

international croquet tournament...

...and unaware you have messages, or... "c"

avoiding me and hoping I stop calling.

I vote for "a" or "b",

because "c" makes me sad.

Yes, hello, is charlotte there?

This is her client, Belinda Apple.

Could you let her know that I need her

to call me as soon as possible, please?

Thank you.

Charlotte?

Yes?

I'm Nola Devlin, Belinda Apple's editor.

Where is she?

Actually, you're looking right at her.

I'm Belinda Apple.

Of course you are, darling. There's a

little bit of "Belinda" in all of us.

No, charlotte.

I'm your client. I'm Belinda Apple.

But you're so not-british,

or stylish. No... No offense.

I thought you'd be younger, but then...

...maturity is just experience

wrapped in wrinkles, isn't it?

Oh, my god. You really are Belinda.

Correction... I've been pretending to be

her, and I've hurt the people I love the most.

My whole life is a

monumental trainwreck.

I'm probably going to

get fired, go to jail...

...and never work as a journalist again, and

I was just wondering if you could help me.

Oh, lord, let's get you a drink.

Wow, you have got yourself

into quite the quandary.

I know, and I can't

fake it anymore. I can't.

You can fake a lot of things, but you cannot fake

talent, whether you call yourself Belinda or Nina...

Nola.

Whatever. You are a writer. Believe

in that. Women love your column.

I have the fan mail to prove it.

Fan mail is not going

to keep me out of jail.

Okay, then. Okay, then.

You do have some

options. One:
do nothing.

Let the chips fall where they may.

Two:
write a letter of resignation,

quit before the whole thing falls apart.

But your legal problems won't go away.

Or three:
show up, tell the truth, and

watch the whole thing implode in person.

It's perfect.

Well, not the imploding

part, of course, but.

why shouldn't you go to that party?

Um, here's a clue:

I'm not Belinda Apple.

Not yet. But with a litte work...

I think you could bring her to life.

You're crazy.

Yeah, "crazy" is sometimes

the basis of genius.

Go as Belinda.

You keep your secret, I keep my

commission. It's a win-win situation.

Nobody is ever going to

believe that I'm Belinda Apple.

Think about it.

Nola?

Hmm? Chip! Alex... whoever you are.

What are you doing here?

Um, I was supposed to meet

Belinda Apple's literary agent.

...but I just got a message

saying she had to cancel.

Have you eaten dinner?

Haven't eaten lunch

and... This is dinner. Mm!

Wow. It looks like your

Cinderella diet's a little extreme.

"Cinderella pact"

Right.

And you have no idea how extreme.

It kinda messes with

your head, you know?

I don't, but I know you

need some food, real food...

...and since it looks like

you've lost even more weight...

I think you could

afford to eat something.

Thank you.

Sorry I lied.

Okay, listen. You lie,

I lie, everybody lies.

We all tell little lies, and big

lies, and middle-of-the-road lies.

We're not to be trusted.

Cheaters never prosper. Or is it

liars? Gosh, I can never remember.

Go home... Alex Stanson.

I don't want to go home.

You're a nice guy.

You're a really, really nice

guy. You're too nice for me.

That's not true.

You don't know the real Nola Devlin,

the inner-workings, the heart and soul.

Here's what I do know. Nola

Devlin is funny, smart, pretty.

See? Too nice.

I like who I am with you.

I'm not who you think I am. I

mean, I am, I am, but I'm not.

Don't we all feel that way?

Oh, listen, I'm serious. There is no...

Very nice.

Did I just say that out loud?

No.

Oh, sorry.

Wait.

I:

- I'm not like other girls you've been with, so I just wanted you to...

Thank god.

No, it's just that... See. My body is...

Beautiful.

You have a beautiful body.

Let's never leave here, ever.

Oh, god. Let me guess.

Taiwan for six weeks.

No. Actually L.A. For a shareholder's meeting,

and then back here friday for the book launch.

Alex, about the book launch...

What if Belinda doesn't show? I

mean, she can be really unreliable.

Well, if she doesn't show she'll

be letting down a lot of people.

I'm sure it would be

disappointing for you...

...since you're as much a part

of the book as Belinda is.

- Look, Alex, I...

- Nola...

I think I'm falling in love with you.

Chip? A-Alex?

- Hey.

- Hi.

Good morning.

I have to catch my

flight. Go back to sleep.

I'll see you at the book launch.

All right.

Get some rest.

Okay.

Bye.

Wait.

There is no Belinda Apple,

and I'm a big fat liar.

Hey, Nola! whatcha doing?

Hey, joy, have you seen Lori?

She's getting her dress

fitted for the party.

Oh, but, hey, if you see her...

...can you tell her that Belinda's agent sent over

a ton of fan mail from her office last night?

Fan mail?

Well, it is in the mailroom.

Thanks, joy.

Dear Belinda, you saved

my life! I was 216...

Dear Belinda, thank you,

thank you, thank you.

Belinda, you are my guardian angel.

You inspired me to follow my dreams.

Dear Miss Apple, if it weren't for you,

I wouldn't be here writing this letter.

Hey, Nance.

Hey. You ready for tomorrow?

What's tomorrow?

Oh, it's end-game.

The day we go back to the Willoughby

cafe and witness some serious grovelling?

Right. Right. God.

My dress is gone.

Your goal dress?

Have you heard from Deb?

No.

Alex Stanson said he loves me.

I don't know what to do.

I have this invitation here for

Nola to Belinda Apple's book launch.

This is a letter from a woman in Duluth.

...telling Belinda that she saved her life.

Alex wants me, Nola, to go

to the book launch with him.

This woman needs Belinda to show up.

I can't be both people at the same time.

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