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第23部分（第2页）

“This　is　it？”　Vanessa　asked　Hollis　dubiously　on　Friday　morning。　They　were　standing　outside　one　of　the　tall；　glass…box；　personality…less　skyscrapers　near　Grand　Central　for　their　meeting　with　the　executives　of　Streetscape；　a　small　indie　studio。　…Hollis　was　taken　by　the　idea　of　making　a　movie　out　of　Vanessa’s　life；　and　had　immediately　set　up　a　meeting　with　some　people　he　knew。　Vanessa　was　excited；　but　suddenly　a　little　nervous。　She’d　imagined　the　Streetscape　offices　would　be　in　Dumbo　or　SoHo　or　some　other　artsy　neighborhood；　not　a　random　Midtown　office　building。

Hollis　nodded　as　he　gestured　for　her　to　go　first　through　the　varnished　chrome　revolving　door。　The　lobby　floor　and　walls　were　black　marble；　and　men　and　women　in　crisp　business　suits　were　hurrying　back　and　forth　like　worker　ants。　If　Vanessa　had　known　she　was　visiting　a　corporation；　she’d　have　worn　something　other　than　jeans；　a　black；　vaguely　Western　button…down　shirt　she’d　found　at　Beacon’s　Closet；　and　a　pair　of　Chloé　flats　that　Blair　had　left　behind　in　high　school。

Hollis　squeezed　her　hand　reassuringly　and　pulled　her　into　the　elevator。　It　whooshed　up　to　the　nineteenth　floor。　“We’ll　have　fun；”　Hollis　promised；　readjusting　his　fedora；　which　had　now　bee　his　trademark。

Hollis　pushed　open　the　glass　door　that　led　to　the　reception　area。　A　petite　blond　girl　in　a　black　dress　glanced　up。　She　looked　like　a　banker。　Vanessa　smiled；　reminding　herself　not　to　be　so　judgmental。

“Andra；　great　to　see　you！”　Hollis　said　warmly。　The　banker　got　up　from　behind　the　desk　and　hugged　him。

“It’s　been　too　long！”　She　smiled；　her　eyes　flicking　up　his　tall；　lean　form。　“You　look　good。”

“Hi。”　Vanessa　said　pointedly　to　the　girl。　Was　she　flirting　with　her　boyfriend？　While　Vanessa　was　right　there？

Aw；　can’t　we　all　just　get　along？

“Oh；　hi！　You　must　be　Vanessa；”　Andra　said　warmly。　“Hollis　told　me　so　much　about　you；　I　feel　like　I　know　you！”　she　cooed。　Vanessa　smiled　despite　herself。　It　was　nice　that　Hollis　was　talking　about　her　when　she　wasn’t　around。

“Anyway；　I’ll　let　everyone　know　you’re　here；”　Andra　said；　sitting　back　down　at　the　desk　and　picking　up　a　receiver。　“Stacy；　they’re　here！”　she　yelled　into　the　phone。　When　no　one　answered　she　padded　down　the　carpeted　hallway　to　tell　them。

“You’ll　be　great；　champ；”　Hollis　said；　squeezing　Vanessa’s　shoulder　as　he　led　her　to　one　of　the　low…slung　couches　set　up　along　one　cream　wall。

“Thanks；”　she　whispered。　She　usually　prided　herself　on　being　ultraindependent；　but　right　now；　she　was　glad　Hollis　was　right　by　her　side。　He　did　this　kind　of　thing　all　the　time；　but　of　course　Vanessa　was　nervous。　This　was　her　chance。　And　so　what　if　it　was　a　little　more　corporate　than　she　expected？　After　all；　this　wasn’t　some　student　film　produced　by　a　purple…haired；　multipierced　grad　student。　This　was　Streetscape；　an　actual　production　pany。

Just　then；　a　skinny　guy　with　an　asymmetrical　haircut　emerged　from　a　labyrinthine　hallway。

“Hollis！”　He　hug…patted　her　boyfriend。

“Zach；　what’s　up；　man？”　Hollis　said　enthusiastically。　“This　is　my　girlfriend；　Vanessa。　She’s　an　amazing　filmmaker。　I　can’t　wait　to　see　what　happens　when　she　and　Stacy　get　together　in　one　room。　Vanessa；　this　is　Zach；　Stacy’s　assistant。”

“Hi　Vanessa。”　Zach　smiled。　Vanessa　grinned　back。　This　was　more　like　it。　Zach　looked　like　the　guys　in　her　film　class：　smart；　a　little　pretentious；　and　fiercely　devoted　to　making　movies。　Vanessa　understood　these　people。　They　were　her　people。　“So；　you　guys　ready　to　e　on　back？”　Zach　asked　rhetorically　as　he　walked　at　breakneck　speed　through　the　hallways　and　toward　an　empty　glass…walled　conference　room。　Vanessa　glanced　at　the　large　production　stills　framed　on　the　walls　and　recognized　one　from　Between　the　B　and　the　A。　It　was　a　scene　where　Blake；　the　main　character；　stands　forlornly　on　the　roof　of　his　East　Village　apartment　plex；　looking　out　at　the　buildings　surrounding　him　and　feeling　so　small　and　insecure　and　unsure　of　himself。　Vanessa　squeezed　Hollis’s　hand。　She　wanted　to　scream　to　everyone　that　that　was　her　boyfriend’s　brilliance；　immortalized　on　the　walls。

“Hollis；　darling；　where　have　you　been　all　my　life？”　A　six…foot…tall　woman　wearing　towering　five…inch　purple　Manolos　and　a　gauzy　blue　Diane　von　Furstenberg　wrap　dress　strode　in。　Her　body　was　skeletal；　but　her　chest　was　huge；　and　her　hair　fell　almost　down　to　her　butt。　She　looked　like　a　transvestite。

Stacy　Brower　was　the　creative　exec　known　for　championing　the　weird；　the　obscure；　or　the　ignored。　Stacy　had　discovered　Between　the　B　and　the　A　after　she’d　met　Hollis　at　an　NYU　film　student　thesis　screening　event　and　had　wholeheartedly　championed　it　straight　to　Sundance。　She　was　the　perfect　creative　exec　to　hear　Vanessa’s　pitch。

“Hi；　I’m　Vanessa　Abrams；”　Vanessa　began；　hastily　standing　up　and　sticking　out　her　hand。　But　instead　of　taking　it；　Stacy　breezed　past　her　and　sat　down　in　one　of　the　large　Eames　chairs　in　the　corner；　folding　up　her　legs　underneath　her　so　she　looked　like　a　praying　mantis。　Vanessa　sat　back　down。

“I’m　really　interested　in　this　pitch。　Sounds　amazing。　So；　let’s　hear　more　about　it；”　Stacy　said；　sounding　bored。　Next　to　her；　Zach　pulled　out　a　thin　Mac　Air　and　gazed　at　Hollis　and　Vanessa；　his　hands　poised　above　the　keyboard。

Hollis　squeezed　Vanessa’s　hand　underneath　the　glass　table。　Vanessa　smiled　at　Stacy　and　took　a　deep　breath　before　launching　into　the　pitch　she’d　rehearsed　so　many　times。　“Well；　it’s　about　a　girl　who　moves　from　a　Vermont　farm　to　Brooklyn　to　go　to　an　all…girl　private　school。　She　lives　with　her　tattooed；　musician　sister　and　has　some　friends　who　are　obscenely　wealthy；　whom　she　uses　as　subjects　for　film　projects。　But；　mostly；　it’s　about　growing　up　and　finding　yourself　in　the　weirdest；　most　wonderful　city　in　the　world；”　Vanessa　finished　bravely；　sneaking　a　glance　at　Stacy。　Stacy’s　gaze　was　fixed　out　the　window。　“That　city　being　New　York；”　Vanessa　added；　her　voice　scratchy。

Stacy　still　didn’t　say　anything。　Vanessa　followed　her　gaze　and　saw　a　suited　man　in　one　of　the　offices　in　the　building　across　the　street；　tossing　his　stapler　up　and　down　in　the　air　and　catching　it。　“I　could　watch　that　all　day。　So　Zen。　He　thinks　no　one　can　see　him　because　his　office　door　is　closed。　The　fucker；”　Stacy　cackled。　She　turned　her　chair　back　to　the　table　and　steepled　her　violet…colored　fingernails　together。

“Girl　growing　up；　finding　herself；”　Stacy　said；　almost　to　herself。　“I　like　it。　But　what　if　it　was　a　boy？”　Stacy　mused。　“You　know；　I’m　going　to　call　Geoff　in。　He’s　doing　a　lot　of　work　on　projects　with　the　eighteen…to…thirty…five　male　demo　in　mind。　I　think　he’d　like　to　discuss　this。”　Stacy　smiled　as　Zach　scurried　up　and　out　the　door。

“I’m　sorry；　but　you　want　the　main　character　to　be　a　boy？”　Vanessa　asked；　trying　not　to　sound　horrified。

“Excuse　me？”　Stacy　asked；　arching　one　blond　eyebrow　at　Vanessa　in　curiosity。　Just　then；　Zach　returned；　trailed　by　a　five…foot…tall　man　wearing　a　lilac　button…down；　tight　black　jeans；　and　cowboy　boots。

“Hello！”　the　man　said　in　a　high…pitched　voice。　“Hollis；　baby；　you　look　amazing。　So；　let’s　talk。　Stacy　said　you　needed　some　insight　into　the　male　mind？”　he　asked；　winking　showily　and　not　bothering　to　introduce　himself　to　Vanessa　before　he　plopped　down　next　to　her。

Vanessa　gazed　at　Geoff　in　horror。　She　didn’t　care　about　pleasing　a　demo。　She　wanted　to　make　a　film。

“So；　here’s　my　pitch；”　Geoff　said；　flapping　his　arms　in　excitement。　“Eighteen…year…old　boy。　He　lives　in　Australia　or；　you　know；　that　country　with　the　hobbits…　New　Zealand？　And　he　has　to　move　to　a　city？”　Stacy　nodded　enthusiastically。

“No！”　Vanessa　broke　in。　Suddenly；　all　eyes　turned　to　her。

“Of　course；　you’re　right；”　Stacy　locked　eyes　with　Vanessa　and　smiled。　It　was　the　first　time　Stacy　had　directly　interacted　with　her。　Vanessa　smiled　back；　relieved。　So　Stacy　was　a　little　eccentric；　but　she　got　it。

“Of　course　it　can’t　be　set　Down　Under；”　Stacy　said　definitively；　as　if　she　were　the　one　rejecting　the　idea。　“Ever　since　Australia　hit　the　shitter；　the　antipodes　are　fucking　career　suicide。”　Stacy　shuddered。　“But　I　like　your　thinking；　Geoff。　I　love　the　idea　of　doing　location；　a　different　culture。　People　like　that。　Good　date　movie；　good　press。　So　what　if　the　Maori　boy　moves　to　Iceland　and　that’s　how　we　open　the　film。　It’s　perfect。　It’s　diverse；　it’s　edgy；　it’s　Slumdog　Millionaire　meets　Kids。　Hollis；　you’re　a　genius。”　Stacy　clapped　her　hands　in　excitement。

Vanessa　squeezed　Hollis’s　hand　tightly。　She　expected　him　to　roll　his　stormy　gray　eyes　and　tell　them　to　fuck　themselves。　But　instead；　he　was　nodding　as　if　he　was　agreeing。　What　the　fuck？　Vanessa　ya