Nicolas will be filming a TV spot in a few days & arranges a liaison with Mary afterwards.

Somehow, they end up alone together by the punchbowl. It seems like a blissfully private moment, but there are eyes everywhere, Nico reminds himself. "Let's go," Mary says, "Now's our chance."

Nicolas doesn't even think about refusing her when she hustles him into the utility room. He's seen people get this way over drugs, just unable to stop themselves, and he's starting to think maybe it's time he stopped this like he finally quit smoking cigarettes. The difficulty is always moving from thinking about quitting to actually doing it...

When her movie is finished, or when she meets another Italian with a stronger accent or perhaps better looking, then she will be quitting him whether he's ready or not.

It's incredibly stupid of him to be doing this, Nicolas realizes suddenly. Their abscence could easily be noticed, anyone could have seen them come in here & who knows who will see them come out, possibly even his brother.

But he's in this far, and Nicolas can't bring himself to cut this interlude short.

NEXT