Evelyn attends the Oscars as a Best Actress nominee for Carolina Sunset, arriving on the red carpet with her fiancé, Harry, and wearing a striking black beaded dress. Celia arrives just before the show, radiant in pale blue and on the arm of John Braverman, presenting a polished public façade. Seated near Rex and Joy, Evelyn bristles at the possibility of seeing Celia but lets herself hope for a win, even as she predicts Ruby Reilly will take the award. Harry urges Evelyn to talk to Celia if she wins; Evelyn insists she won’t speak if Celia does.

When Ruby is announced as the winner, Evelyn’s hope collapses. Harry squeezes her hand; Evelyn retreats to the bathroom to cry. Celia follows, initiating a tense, vulnerable exchange about blame, pride, and the cost of secrecy. Celia tests whether Evelyn will risk being seen with her; Evelyn pushes back, demanding Celia acknowledge her part in their breakup. They admit old wounds—Celia’s accusation that Evelyn was ashamed, Evelyn’s insistence she was protecting them—and confess jealousy over other lovers.

Their attraction breaks through the stalemate. They kiss, but two producers’ wives enter, forcing them to separate and mask their encounter. After the women leave, the quiet and the pressure of the moment draw them together again. Their kissing escalates into a clandestine, brief sexual encounter, with Evelyn pushing Celia against the door, both fully aware they could be discovered at any moment.

That shared risk becomes the turning point. Through danger and desire, Evelyn and Celia forgive one another and acknowledge they still love each other. They grasp that they are willing to risk their public images to be together, effectively rekindling their relationship even as the world believes Evelyn is engaged to Harry and Celia is paired with John.