Princess Cyd Page #2

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disagree with.

Right, but that's why

you have come to your

brilliant writer friend Miranda.

- For her ideas.

- I have indeed.

- Just so we're clear.

- And we are.

Um...

So you're starting with this

beautiful study momentum

at the top of part two with DeAndre

and the trail of the journalist.

This is the smoothest most

energized passage in this book.

And then you do

earn in chapter 12,

this breathing space,

this nice patient

lull that relaxes

and speaks to us.

But once the journalist,

I don't know what his name is...

- Earnest.

- Once he throws himself off the bridge,

leaving DeAndre alone,

I think

that's when the book is telling

you, you need to move.

Just move, move, move.

So the philosophical tangents

in parts two and part three,

they probably just need to go.

That's my biggest...

I know, I ca... I can't believe

that I'm saying that.

Who are you and

what have you done with Miranda?

Right?

- Hi!

- Hi.

- Uh, I think I'm lost.

- Where're you trying to be?

- Raven something...

- Ravenswood?

Yes, but there's something else.

Gardens.

Uh, yeah, yeah, that's it.

East of the bridge. You're

actually in the right road.

Just head straight west

a few blocks.

It should start

to look familiar.

Okay, thanks. Thanks.

I didn't say the ending

wasn't justified. I just said

it doesn't currently work.

Because of the tangents?

Possibly but it's also possible that

it doesn't work despite the tangents.

Good lord.

I... Hey!

Hey, sorry.

I can go back outside.

No, no, no, no, no.

We were just having a discourse.

Uh, Cyd,

this is my friend Anthony.

- Hi.

- Hiya, Cyd.

Anthony is an old

writer friend of mine.

"Old writer friend,"

how flattering.

Old Pulitzer Prize nominated

writer friend of mine, how's that?

Anthony is

a well-respected journalist,

writer of non-fiction

and now he's writing a novel,

That's what we were discussing.

Now he has to go talk about

the election on television.

- Cool!

- I'd rather be doing anything else.

Um, I'm gonna go take a shower.

I smell bad.

Okay, there are towels right

outside the door on the shelf.

- Nice to meet you, Cyd.

- Yeah, nice to meet you too.

- See you Friday?

- Uh?

Oh! The soiree?

I haven't even told you about that yet.

All in good time. Yeah.

I'm out. Thanks for this.

It's really good, Anthony.

Anyway, my thoughts are my thoughts.

It's your book.

I know.

- How's Brandon?

- Oh, he's fine. He's fine.

He's with his mom this week.

Take him to his first Cub's

game for his 15th birthday

- but he doesn't know it yet.

- Aw! He'll love that.

I think so.

- See you Friday.

- Bye.

Wow.

So what's the deal

with your friend?

The deal?

Uh, well...

Anthony and I went to the

University of Chicago years ago

when we were grad students.

Then we became fast friends.

So, no romance?

What? Oh, my God! No, no.

Why, why do you ask?

Just curious. He seemed nice.

He is and a brilliant mind.

He's handsome.

He is. You should see his son.

This beautiful boy.

He's gonna...

swoop up all the ladies...

one day or the man or both.

Anyway, he's married,

um, technically.

What about you?

Do you have a boyfriend?

- Yeah, kinda.

- Kinda?

Mmm, wonderful.

Anything else

I can get you ladies?

No! I think this is fine.

- Thank you, Sarah.

- My pleasure, Ms. Ruth. Enjoy.

Thanks.

She's wonderful. She's so sweet.

- So much food.

- I know.

Are you sure you don't want

something other than just water?

- Oh, yeah. I'm fine, thanks.

- Good for you.

So did you come here

a lot growing up?

Oh, yeah.

We came at least once a week.

Your mom and I would get

pretty sick of it.

- But, uh... now I love it.

- Cool.

- So, uh... so the boy?

- What? Oh.

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, we've

been hanging out for a while.

- His name's Josh.

- Josh.

He's fun.

- Is he cute?

- Yeah, he's pretty hot.

He's a good time.

Well, that's great. That's...

I'm so sorry to interrupt. Oh,

I see you just got your food.

Would you mind

signing this book?

I ran all the way home

to get it.

- Oh!

- We love you.

- Oh, sure. What's your name?

- Jennifer.

Do you live in the neighborhood?

Yeah, this is one

of our favorite places.

I don't want to take much of your

time but I just want you to know

how much I admire your work.

Oh, thank you. That means so much to me.

Thank you.

- Here you go.

- Thank you.

- Have a great night.

- You, too. Thank you so much.

- That's never not weird.

- It's pretty cool.

So I finished two-thirds

of the essay.

I finished...

uh, for some of them,

I mean, I just revised because they

were in magazines or whatever.

But, to be honest...

I already miss fiction.

It's just... It's so different.

You know?

On the one hand, you're just...

trying to lay out the material

as elegantly as possible

but then, on the other hand,

you're actually making...

the thing and I... I suppose that's

not actually accurate but I just...

Cyd?

Cyd!

Hey. I found one of your books.

Which one?

Valley of Their Shadows!

Borrow it.

- Good night, Cyd.

- Night.

- I'm really glad you're here.

- Yeah, me too.

- I'm not boring you, am I?

- No, no. It's fun.

- Okay, good night.

- Night.

Helen...

Cassandra...

Margaret...

Alice...

Cyd...

Miranda...

- Hey.

- Hi, love.

There's some juice

and some muffins downstairs

if you want and some coffee too.

Thanks. Uh, I was actually gonna lay

out in the backyard if that's okay.

Um... Yeah. Absolutely.

Cool. Could you put some

sunscreen on me?

- Sure, of course.

- Thanks.

- Did you sleep well?

- Yeah, that bed's super comfy.

It is, isn't it?

That was mine, growing up.

- Really?

- Uh-huh.

Your mom's wasn't

quite as comfy but...

she... wanted to take it

with her anyway.

Think it ended up

in your old house.

So is this where

you write all your books?

It is. Yeah.

Okay. I think I got ya.

Is that good?

- Yeah. Thanks.

- Yeah.

Do you ever wish you moved away?

Like... tried other cities?

No.

Thanks.

Once upon a time...

You don't have to stop listening.

I was, um,

just getting some fresh air.

You mind?

No. you want to lay out with me?

Oh, no. Thank you. I, uh, I don't

even think I own a bathing suit.

- For real?

- Yeah, I don't...

Yeah. No.

I read some of your stories.

- You did?

- The short ones.

Oh, God. That was forever ago.

- What'd you think?

- I liked them.

- They didn't seem that old.

- Oh, good. That's the idea.

All the characters kinda seem

stuck in their own head.

Well, that's part of the interior

nature of the form but I can...

And they're either single, or

divorced, or drifting away...

Well, Tess's happily married.

- And Joan is dating...

- I mean most of them.

Hah.

You write a lot about religion.

Like, religious people.

Yeah, yeah, I guess I do.

Like, there's that one woman who's

a nun or whatever and then...

there's the one

about the preacher's wife

- and then...

- Don't forget the witch.

Yeah, yeah, I was gonna say

the one about the witch.

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