Chapter 16

Summary

• The main character, possibly named Evelyn, is upset about an article published about her in 'Sub Rosa,' a magazine.
• Harry, possibly a studio executive at Sunset Studios, explains that the magazine is no longer concerned with the truth, but with whatever information will sell the most copies.
• Celia, a fellow actress and friend, tries to downplay the severity of the article. She recently shot a movie with the main character, 'Little Women', and they've been predicting nominations for both of them.
• The main character and Celia were part of the traditional Hollywood system, but Celia has been introducing the main character to elements of "New Hollywood."
• The main character fears that the Sub Rosa article will damage her public image, and by extension, her husband Don's, if she's seen as a woman who puts herself first.
• The main character hatches a plan to stage a miscarriage, hoping that the public will pity her and her husband instead of judging them.
• Don disagrees with the plan until Harry convinces him it may work. They proceed and the main character later pretends to cry when a scripted phone call informs her of the "miscarriage".
• Don fires Paula, their housemaid who they believe leaked information to Sub Rosa, hoping that she will spread the news of the miscarriage to the tabloids.