Hey.
Nora!
Karen!
Ya blew me off last night.
Oh, you would've loved the band we saw.
Oh.
I'm not really up for much these days, Karen.
You need to get out of the house.
You're like a shut-in.
Hey, what are you doing right now?
I'm trying to write, but I'm...
stuck.
I guess I just need a little inspiration.
Nora, Mark was three months ago.
Look, I know he broke your heart,
but you need to get back to your romance blog.
You can't keep the Internet fans waiting.
I know.
I am.
Well, I was calling to complain about this missing woman case
- I was assigned, but... - No, no!
I'm here for you.
How is life in the trenches?
The woman's name is Maureen Gallagher.
The paper wants to do a whole series.
It's a crime beat.
If it bleeds, it leads, that whole thing.
Mm-hmm.
Gruesome.
Yeah, most of my articles end up online anyway.
Well, there's nothing wrong with a little online following.
I mean, if it wasn't for my romance blog,
my Cassandra stories would never see the light of day.
Hey, that is not true!
You're gonna land a big book deal,
but right now we're talking about me.
Of course. Continue.
You remember freshman year at BU
me, you, and Scotty, in Bernstein's writing seminar?
He was like, "Forget traditional journalism.
Newspapers are dead!"
- Yeah. - I can tell he was right.
Barbara is driving me crazy.
Sometimes it feels like dating that woman
is like death by a thousand little paper cuts.
No, a thousand is too few.
Nora? Nora?
What? Yeah?
I'm trying to complain about my girlfriend here.
- Are you listening? - Yeah.
Something about paper cuts.
You seem distracted.
My hot neighbor is back again.
Are you watching him from your window again?
No, I'm writing.
Talk about inspiration.
You like him, you do something about it.
I'm coming over Thursday.
Okay, well, bring wine.
Uh, duh.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
Cassandra often watched the stranger from her window.
Strong, handsome, mysterious.
She wondered what it would be like
to know the stranger.
Her thoughts raced.
A red light emanated from within her.
She had forgotten what inspiration felt like.
Might this stranger hold the key?
Could her muse be right next door?
Huh.
Cassandra'd watched him come and go,
often with bright, brilliant, new brunettes in hand.
Cassandra was intrigued.
He lived tucked away in the secret of shadows.
She fantasized about meeting the stranger,
for the red light grew warmer.
The stranger appeared out of the shadows,
enveloping her.
Cassandra held her breath as his hands coasted
over her body.
She wondered how the touch of a stranger
could seem so familiar.
Hi, Scotty.
Morning, sleepyhead.
Did you sleep on the couch again?
- Mmph. - Yes?
You can't just nod. You're on the phone, Nora.
What do you want, Scotty? It's early.
Come meet me. I'm writing an article about breakfast potatoes
and I need you to weigh in.
Hash browns, fritters, tater tots, or home fries.
Tots.
And since this is work, I can expense everything.
Come on, Nora.
What do you say?
I'll meet you in 15 minutes.
- Hey. - Hey.
I'm glad you came out.
Really. I haven't... I haven't seen you in weeks
- and you look great. - Thanks.
I mean, a little tired, but great.
What?
I stayed up all night writing.
- Um... - Huh?
I forgot what it felt like to be inspired.
Hm.
Well, this is why I write about food, not people.
I mean, give me some extra spicy kimchi
or a perfect soufflé, and that's inspiration.
I have this neighbor...
- Yeah? - Who I...
occasionally sometimes...
maybe...
watch... through the window.
I never pegged you for a peeping Tom.
I'm not, like, busting out the telescope.
It's just the angle of the buildings.
I can see into his bedroom.
Kinky.
- No! - Yes.
It's innocent.
- Mostly. - Good for you.
And Mark was, what, six months ago?
Three months ago.
Mark wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail
and surf Cabo and I am a homebody
who needs constant Wi-Fi access.
We weren't really built to last, but...
You were just too different.
Yeah, I know.
But back to this neighbor rebound, like...
No!
It's not that.
It... it's just a little daydreaming...
about his eyes...
and his smile...
- Okay. - And his chest.
I... I get it, Scotty.
I know I tend to have a little bit of a...
overactive imagination,
but since I write romance novels,
I don't think it's such a bad thing.
Nora, I want you to have something.
Someone real in your life.
So do I.
Stupid.
Did you lock yourself out?
Yeah.
I guess...
I guess I left my keys in there
and I don't even have my phone.
Oh. Well...
you can use mine.
I mean, we could call a locksmith.
Oh. Yeah.
Thank you.
I'll... I'll just wait here.
Or you can come in if you want.
All right.
Oh. He said 40 minutes.
For the wait.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
So how long have we been neighbors?
Um... about two years.
Has it been that long?
Mm.
I'm Nora Nichols.
Lucas Wheeler.
- Now we're not strangers anymore. - Right.
Um, you're a... a writer?
Yeah. There is a method to this madness.
And what do you do?
Ah. Photographer.
Yeah. That makes sense.
That's why you're gone all the time.
Yeah.
I get sent to New York a lot on assignment.
Oh.
And what do you shoot in New York?
Fashion?
Sometimes, yeah.
I actually had a client over last night.
We did a test shoot.
Oh.
Client.
Hm.
Your, um...
your boyfriend's not around tonight.
Ex-boyfriend.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to...
No, that's okay.
What's, uh, what's your... your genre?
Romance.
Mostly.
You know, fantasy versus reality.
Oh.
Prefer fantasy.
How do you focus this?
- Let me show you. - Okay. Sorry.
To set up focus, you want it...
- close like that. - Oh, hey!
- Like that. - Sneaky!
And see, that is why I don't want to work in fashion forever.
'Cause it's all about appearances.
That's the opposite of why I love photography.
And so why do you love photography?
'Cause it's a journey.
And you're searching for that...
that one perfect moment.
And then you can capture it forever.
You try to find the real moment
and I try to create it.
I mean, that's... That's what writing is.
You choose the words
so carefully and give the characters emotions
and create this whole world.
Hm.
One real moment.
I search for it and you create it.
- Oh, shit! I... - Oh, shi...
- Oh... - I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
- I'm sorry. - It's okay.
Hey.
- Lucas Wheeler? - Yeah, that's me.
This it?
Change it or for a new set of keys?
I just need one key.
The stranger emerged from the darkness.
His rough, vulnerable power
drew her closer to the red light.
They lingered, sharing a charged moment.
She looked upon his face with new wisdom.
Cassandra was determined to discover something in him
no one had ever seen.
Hey!
- Hey! - Thank you so much for the photo.
Oh, yeah. My pleasure.
- Ooh. - Uh.
Sorry.
It's okay.
Your work is so beautiful.
Well... have a nice day.
- Yeah, you too. - Okay.
Bye, Nora.
Bye.
This time was different for Cassandra.
Her body was alive, burning, satisfied.
She moved forward, confident and in control.
It was in this moment that
Cassandra set her sights on something new
and decided to pursue this inspiration.
Nora, come on.
We had to go 10 minutes ago.
Oh! Sorry about the buzzer.
Oh, it's fine.
You look great!
- You look great! - Whatever.
And your makeup! So beautiful.
And now we're playing the compliment game.
- The car is almost here. - Okay. Sorry.
I'm just still getting myself together.
Scotty was worried you'd bail.
You hate stuff like this.
Oh, well, it's his birthday.
Oh, I didn't get him anything.
Can I share a present with you?
Yeah, sure.
What is... all this?
Okay, I get it.
Good job, Lucas.
Oh! Car is here.
Oh! Um, I'll meet you down there in two minutes.
Okay.
But you're telling Scotty why we're late.
Okay.
- Hey! - Hey.
Are you staying in tonight?
Yeah, I have some work to do.
- I got some photos to develop. - Oh.
The red light!
What?
I would sometimes see a mysterious red light
underneath your door and I always wondered what it was.
- You have a dark room. - I do.
Do you wanna come inside?
See the mysterious red light for yourself?
I have a friend waiting.
A female friend. Karen.
But raincheck though.
Absolutely.
- Okay. - Okay.
- Good night. - Yeah, good night.
Okay, goody-two-shoes,
it's time to spill all about your brand new man candy.
What?
Please tell me you've done something borderline x-rated with this guy.
Um...
I know that look.
It's strictly PG, isn't it?
Am I right?
I insist you go home immediately and you sleep with that guy.
Yo, I'm drunk and I actually agree with her for once.
Well, you gotta have some wild times.
- Wild times? - Yeah.
You've dated Mark all through college and grad school.
It's time for you to make some mistakes.
Yeah.
We need some more shots over here!
- Oh, no. Please don't do that. - Hello?!
Yes!
- Yes! - All right, do three more?
More shots please! Three more shots!
Yes! Yes!
One for the birthday boy
and she's getting laid tonight!
♪ I must confess ♪
♪ I've done you wrong ♪
♪ And now you're tangled ♪
♪ In the web of my song ♪
♪ Love's a gamble ♪
♪ When you feel like I do ♪
♪ Events are bust ♪
Shots!
- Oh. - You're evil!
- Yes! - Nora, toss it back.
It's my birthday, dammit.
What are we doin'?
Uh-huh.
Um, and this is the same girl in these photos?
Yeah.
Some of my best work was with her.
She was your muse?
She inspired you?
She did.
I have to tell you a secret.
Yeah?
I've been watching you...
through my window.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I have a secret too.
I didn't lock myself out last week.
Can I see the dark room?
Yeah.
It's the reason you came over, right?
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
Hm.
Yeah.
So I spend most of my time in here.
Hm.
It seems very involved.
Why not just go digital?
I love the discipline.
The texture and the composition,
exposure...
I'm a tactile person.
Secret stash?
Some of my favorites.
It's my best work in there.
Can I see?
Not yet.
Tell me about your work.
What happens in your...
fantasy writing?
Sex.
Crazy sex.
Lots of it.
♪ I should walk away ♪
♪ But I can't find a reason ♪
♪ Is it pleasure or pain ♪
♪ That gives me this feeling ♪
♪ Feeling ♪
♪ Falling apart at the seams ♪
♪ Unraveled emotions expose all my dreams ♪
♪ Falling apart at the seams ♪
♪ Don't say a word ♪
I had a great time.
She was warmed by the red light.
It undulated through her body...
piercing her skin.
Her mind pulsed with excitement.
To being young, wild, and free.
And everyone getting laid last night.
- Here, here. - Mm.
I can't believe you snuck out.
I didn't sneak out.
I had a flash of inspiration.
Mm, gotta strike while the iron's hot.
- Yeah. - Ooh!
Hot irons. I like that.
Nora!
What has gotten into you?
You were not like this with Mark.
I like the new Nora.
She takes charge.
It's a nice change.
To new Nora!
Okay.
Are you gonna see him again?
I don't know.
I mean, I...
I'm not ready for a real relationship.
I'm also no good at casual sex.
- Hey, nobody is. - Hmph.
But he lives right next door.
I mean, what if it gets weird?
Yeah, but this is, like, every guy's fantasy,
the woman next door who just wants to get laid.
- Yeah. - Uh-huh? Yeah?
But just be honest with what you want.
Nothing too serious.
- A lady in the streets... - But a freak in the sheets!
Oh, yeah!
Hey, does anyone want to be my plus one tonight?
I can't.
I gotta cover a press conference downtown
about that missing woman Maureen Gallagher.
Nora, wanna tag along?
Um, I have plans.
To write.
It's fine.
No, I'll fly solo.
Hm.
No thanks.
Cassandra reclined further against the pillows,
spent, satisfied, but still curious about the stranger...
the stranger now in her bed.
Hey.
♪ Hearts against the wall tonight with you ♪
♪ Time steps backwards ♪
♪ Setting fire to truth ♪
♪ Setting fire ♪
♪ Hearts against the wall again... ♪
The thing is...
I'm not really ready for something...
serious yet.
It's okay.
I'm just trying to, you know, focus on myself right now
and I want to be upfront about that.
I understand.
We don't have to talk about this right now.
♪ Holding on again ♪
♪ Holding on to you again ♪
♪ Holding on again ♪
♪ Holding on to you again ♪
♪ It's a little too late, a little too much ♪
♪ Holding on again ♪
♪ It's a little too late, a little too much ♪
- ♪ Holding on again ♪ - I'm always traveling.
- It feels good just to... - ♪ I said you were ♪
Stop. -♪ Said you were my biggest mistake ♪
♪ Oh, but I still let you in ♪
♪ What a mess we've made ♪
♪ A mess ♪
♪ Hearts against the wall again with you ♪
♪ Oh, but I lost my mind ♪
♪ And I found myself with you ♪
♪ Found myself ♪
Mm.
Didn't you get enough last night?
No.
Plus, this is you right now
with nothing to hide.
Except this pillow.
Aww.
No!
Stop it!
Join me in the shower?
In a minute.
Last one.
- Okay. - Okay.
Nora?
Coming.
How's that friends with benefits situation treating you?
Honestly, it's the greatest.
Consider my wild times had and had well.
So, he's living up to all your fantasies?
And then some.
And I'm finally getting somewhere with this novel.
Maybe I can finally get to move past ebooks and downloads.
And I have this publishing contact.
Margaret Ross, she agreed to take a meeting with me
after she caught wind of my following.
Nearly a million reads and I'm only halfway done.
What? You're, like, Internet famous.
Well, or at least Cassandra is.
I'm so proud of you!
Like...
Yeah, I don't know! It's... it's so easy this time.
The words just come.
It's because you're writing about yourself.
No, I'm not. I'm...
I... I'm just trying to write something honest.
Margaret will see you now.
Miss? Miss Nichols?
Yes, what? Oh, yeah.
Elevator's down the hall and to the left.
Thank you. Thank you.
Frankly, Margaret, I'm tired of seeing
women surprised by their own sexuality.
Somewhere along the way, we convinced ourselves
that female fantasies are more about what men want
than what women want.
We've lost control of our own fantasies,
and it has to change.
I mean, women can be heroic and ruthless
and courageous and kind, and yes, sexual.
We have to stop projecting these dangerous ideals
of being a certain weight and looking a certain way.
I mean, we didn't invent these ideals
and we certainly don't value them,
so why have we agreed to live them?
Hm.
I have been watching your career for a while now, Nora.
You've got quite a decent following,
lots of reads, lots of shares,
and your Cassandra ebooks have had some success.
They have.
But this...
is fresh.
I'm going to need you to pull everything off
your romance blog immediately.
We'll talk to PR, we'll have them put out
some kind of notification to your readers saying that...
Wait, why?
Because I want to publish a Cassandra novel.
And we can't be giving this away online for free
if we want people to buy it.
Margaret, I...
Congratulations, Nora.
This is different from your other work.
Now, we're going to finalize the deal first obviously,
so please talk to your lawyer, but I see big things.
A national book tour,
maybe even some talk show appearances.
Oh!
Margaret, this is fantastic. Thank you.
When can I have a final draft? Two weeks?
We have a gap in our publishing schedule,
so I'm gonna need it by the end of the month.
I see.
I know it's a very tight deadline,
but hey, that's how things go.
I have no doubt I'll be able to meet your deadline.
Good.
Well...
there was one more thing.
There's going to have to be at least one bondage scene.
Oh!
It's very in right now.
I'm proud of you.
Yeah, I'm gonna be...
I'm gonna be writing nonstop until I make my deadline.
You'll make it.
I probably won't have time for anything else.
Well...
I don't want to be a distraction.
So then this is goodbye for a little while.
I understand.
Well, if you get writer's block, you know where I live.
She was swollen with pleasure
from the depths of her belly from the tips of her toes.
His grip tightened upon her flesh
as her nails scored red down his back.
Mm.
Can't sleep, huh?
And then they began thrusting
and throbbing together in agony.
Wow.
Some muse you've got there.
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I do.
All that tie up stuff,
you actually did that with Lucas?
They say write what you know.
And you're, like, being safe, right?
Yeah. Are you giving me a condom PSA right now?
No, no. Not just that.
I mean, you're being safe because you trust him?
Yeah, sure.
You don't even know him.
I do in the biblical sense.
Right?
She's got a point, Nora. I mean, he's your neighbor,
but you don't know anything about his life.
Uh, he's a photographer.
Have you met his friends?
No.
Where did he grow up?
I don't know.
Look, you guys told me to have a no-strings fling
with this guy, now you're being all judgy.
Hey, no. There's no judgment here.
Only mild concern.
- I mean, you're using this guy for inspiration... - I'm not using him.
Yeah, you're using him, but that's okay
as long as he's on the same page.
Look, we're not even seeing each other anymore
'cause I have this deadline and then after that
probably a book tour.
You've got a hickey on your neck.
I had writer's block.
Hey, look, Nora, you know we love you
and you deserve to have your fun.
Just, you know, be careful.
Okay.
Hello?
Hey.
Is everything okay?
Hey.
Yeah.
Last night was amazing.
Yeah, it was.
I miss you, Nora.
I have to go, okay?
Okay. Well, call me later.
Yeah.
Bye.
Uh...
Nora?
I know you're in there.
Lucas.
Hey, Nora.
I got invited to this gallery opening
and some of my work is gonna be there.
Would you join me?
Oh.
I'm working.
Come on.
It's... it's right around the corner.
Lucas, I really can't.
Mm.
'Cause you... you went out with your friends earlier
and you have time for them and you don't have time for me,
so it just feels like you're avoiding me.
No.
I... I mean, I did... I went out earlier,
but not... I'm not avoiding you.
I... I have this deadline
and I see my publisher tomorrow in the morning, so...
Look, maybe if I can get enough work done,
maybe I can meet you.
Yeah?
Yeah.
- Okay. - Okay.
All right, I'll see you soon.
This pacing is all off.
No gallery for me tonight.
Sorry, Lucas.
Oh...
Have anything to say to me?
Oh, how was the show?
How was the show?
Where were you?
I was here.
Working. I told you.
No.
You told me you'd come.
And I was waiting for you.
I am always waiting for you.
Lucas, I... I'm... I don't... I...
I'm sorry. I was working.
I gave up a job.
To be here with you.
I didn't know you did that.
I didn't ask you to do that.
I'd give up anything for you.
Listen, Lucas...
our time together has been great,
but I'm really focused on my writing right now, you know?
And I... I'm sorry.
I don't have time for, like, a real relationship.
I thought that we talked about that.
We have so much fun.
"Fun"?
So...
you had your fun and now it's over.
No. I... I'm...
Is this part of your fantasy?
Where you meet guys, fall in love with them,
and then you get off by treating them like shit?
No.
You came to my room in the middle of the night, yes or no?
- Yes or no? - You know what?
Lucas, I think you should leave.
Okay?
I think you should leave now.
No writer's block tonight?
I thought I was your muse.
You know what?
You're mine too.
I'm not willing to let you go just yet.
Leave.
Now!
You're sure?
Yeah, it was like he was a different person.
He was freaking out, breaking things.
It was really scary.
Hm.
Well, I hate to play devil's advocate,
but you did just dump the guy.
What are you talking about?
You broke his heart
and he went home and tore up his bedroom.
You can't blame the guy because you can actually
see into his bedroom.
You remember back in grad school
when Melissa cut me loose?
I put my fist through a wall and I screamed in the street
and I got drunk every night for, like, a week.
This was different.
It was like he wanted me to see him.
But isn't that your little game?
Like, you guys watch each other through the window?
Maybe he's still playing.
Well, it's not fun anymore.
And I have the biggest meeting of my career tomorrow.
I mean today in five hours.
Well, get some rest.
I'll crash on the couch.
And tomorrow, we'll work out your escape plan, and...
I'll wait till then to say, "I told you so,"
about the whole dating your neighbor thing.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
Come on, Scotty! We'll be late!
I'm comin', I'm comin'.
- Thank you for staying over. - Yeah.
You know, just tell me when you make your pile of sexy money.
I'm not sure the money itself will actually be sexy.
Oh, it will.
Good luck with Margaret.
- You'll do great. - Thanks, Scotty.
- Bye. - I love you.
Ms. Nichols, Margaret will see you now.
Thank you.
Brilliant. Really brilliant.
I love the exploration of that fine line
between obsession and inspiration.
Thank you, Margaret. That means so much.
And Cassandra as the sexual aggressor...
so smart.
I can't wait to see how it ends.
I do need you to incorporate those notes
that I e-mailed you in the next draft,
which I'm gonna have by Friday, right?
Friday.
No problem.
Who knew erotic thriller was really your genre?
Hey, best friend! Great news!
Nora, get down to County Hospital.
What happened?
Dr. Landry...
Karen, how is he?
I... I don't know.
I... I couldn't go anywhere. I couldn't.
Ladies, we need to run some tests.
Visiting hours are over.
Paging Doctor Maria. Doctor Maria...
Oh, my God.
I... I just saw him.
He stayed over last night.
Scotty?
Are you okay?
He'll be okay.
He's Scotty.
Paging Monica Sabrina...
When's the last time you ate anything?
There's a ramen place two blocks over.
Scotty loves that ramen place.
Rest. We'll be back soon.
Come on, let's go.
There's nothing we can do right now.
Oncology...
- Hey! - Hey.
Nora, please! I...
Please, I...
I just want to apologize.
Look, I was way out of line last night, and, um...
I'm sorry.
Can I come in?
I don't think that's such a good idea, Lucas.
I have a lot going on right now
and my friend's in the hospital.
Somebody I know?
I don't think so.
What the hell is this?
Don't you want to open it?
What?
I think you're gonna love it.
How did you get in here, Lucas?
You left the door unlocked.
I feel terrible...
about yesterday.
But I saw this...
and I thought of you.
It's from the '30s.
It still works. Try it.
What is this?
It's from the other day.
When you were with your friend.
You followed me?
Are you mad?
Look, Nora, we had a fight.
But I'm sorry.
You need to forgive me.
This... this is over.
Don't ruin this, Nora.
You know...
I just... I can't right now.
I'm just... I'm tired.
Well, what about your novel?
What?
It's about me.
Right?
No.
It's about a version of you
that doesn't really exist.
I'm just really tired right now, Lucas.
You know?
Okay.
Please go.
Will... will you please just...
- I'm sorry. - I...
Anyway, Scotty's mom said
we should know something by the end of the week.
The doctor seemed pleased. Optimistic even.
- Thank goodness. - Mm.
So what are we gonna do about Lucas?
Nothing.
I ended things definitively.
He's obsessed with you.
He's just the brooding artist type.
I don't think he'd actually ever do anything.
He was in your apartment.
You know you can't stay there.
In my apartment?
I kind of have to.
You should crash here for a couple of nights.
At least until you get your writing done.
I can't do that.
I have my notes and everything there.
Okay.
So, you crash here tonight and you get your stuff tomorrow.
You're just being dramatic.
I'm gonna go get a drink.
- Okay. Grab me a soda. - Okay.
- A local middle school teacher... - Oh, hey!
This is that new report I've been covering!
Back to an ongoing story.
The search for Maureen Gallagher continues
Maureen has been missing for four long weeks,
and though her family has...
You only have diet? Ugh, I hate diet.
Shh! This is the missing woman I told you about.
Maureen is 5'6. She has dark hair and blue eyes
- and two moles on her left cheek. - She looks familiar.
Maureen was a local volunteer...
- Oh, really? - I kind of feel like...
I've seen her face before.
Huh. She kind of looks like you.
If you have any information about Maureen, her whereabouts,
- or her disappearance, - I've probably seen her on TV.
Please contact authorities.
Bye, Karen.
Hi, you've reached Nora Nichols.
Leave a message and I'll call you back.
Hi, Nora. It's Lucas.
I hate to do this over the phone,
but I need to talk to you.
I feel horrible
about what happened the other night, and...
I know we were keeping things casual.
Truth is, I actually had a great time with you
and... and I never thought
I would fall for someone so fast,
but this has gotten too intense.
So, it's over.
I don't want to see you anymore
and I need to break up with you
before things get out of control.
I'm sorry it had to end like this.
Um...
Okay, that's it.
Take care and good luck with the book.
Maybe I'll see you around the building sometime.
This is my place.
Do you have my keys?
- Do you have my keys? - Uh...
Do you have my keys?
- Come inside? - Yes.
Yeah.
Nora?
Are you home?
I'm home.
Do you wanna open the door?
No.
Did you get my message?
Yeah, I did.
Do you want to talk about it?
Not really.
Well, I'm gonna take a job in New York,
so I'm gonna be gone for a while.
Okay.
You know, I was thinking when I came back
we could just start over and we could just be friends.
I'll see you in a few weeks.
To being single.
So let me get this straight.
Your crazy, obsessive stalker
broke up with you?
- Through a voicemail. - Ugh.
And he had a date last night.
Did you...
Mm-mm.
Okay, I watched for a little bit.
All things considered, I think you dodged a bullet.
I still feel like you should move out.
No, he's in New York. He'll be gone for weeks.
All right. Well, I gotta go.
You're not the only one with a deadline.
My Maureen Gallagher piece is due by the end of the day.
Nora?
Why are you acting strange?
I just remembered something.
That photo that I saw on the news,
I've seen it before.
I saw it at Lucas' apartment.
What?
Do you think he could be involved?
Let me do some digging.
We would need evidence. Something to connect the two together.
Hey, get to work.
Let me worry about Maureen and you focus on Cassandra.
I'll be back later tonight.
Bye.
Oh, God.
I made the box.
Nora?
I know you're in here.
Apartment 22. Please hurry.
Remain calm.
Help is on the way.
Thought you'd change your mind.
I called the police.
You broke into my house and then you called the police?
That's bold.
She was your favorite.
Who?
You know who. Maureen.
Maureen.
Maureen Gallagher.
She's been missing for weeks
and you have her picture in your secret little box.
So what?
You think I killed her?
I don't know what to think.
Nora, I know you want to be with me.
I know how long you've been watching me,
how long you've been spying through my windows
watching me get out of the shower
or watching me make my bed
even before Mark was around.
- This is all in your head. - That's not true.
I don't think you're being very honest with yourself.
You did something to Maureen.
Nora, we are meant to be.
Ever since we got together, your writing is so much better
and you're inspiring my photography.
LAPD!
Help! I'm in here!
And you knew he was supposed to be out of town?
This is ridiculous.
I didn't do anything wrong.
You broke into your ex-boyfriend's apartment, ma'am.
He's not my ex-boyfriend.
But you two dated?
Not exactly.
That is Maureen Gallagher
and she's been missing for weeks and he knew her.
Sir?
Maureen was one of my models, yeah.
I've known her for years.
Are you aware she's been reported missing?
Yes, of course.
And why exactly did you want to see
this particular photograph?
He was obsessed with her and I think that he had
something to do with her disappearance.
If you want me to answer any questions...
Fine. Mr. Wheeler, why don't you
come down to the station with us?
- Ms. Nichols? - Yes?
You'll stay in your own apartment from now on.
Sir?
Karen...
Are you okay? What's wrong?
I just had a crazy run-in with Lucas and the police.
The police? Nora!
What happened?
I don't want to talk about it. What'd you find?
I found Maureen Gallagher.
Wait, what?
Maureen eloped with her boyfriend last month
and was found in Riverside today.
Turns out it was a runaway case.
But she was reported missing.
Yeah, well, I guess her parents didn't approve of the guy.
Oh, my God.
Yeah, turns out Lucas is just some broody creep,
not a murderer.
He did know Maureen though.
They did a shoot together last year.
Yeah.
Well, that's the last time that we play Nancy Drew.
- Deal? - Deal.
Do you still wanna come over?
Yeah.
I'll bring pizza and we can discuss your taste in men.
Ha ha.
I can make a salad, but, um, I still have,
like, 30 pages to write.
I'll proofread.
Thank you.
♪ They don't understand why we trying to... ♪
♪ And truth be told ♪
♪ We've been putting ourselves in a heart attack... ♪
Hi, you've reached Nora Nichols.
Leave a me...
♪ We last forever ♪
So this is what it's like when you're watching me.
Did you enjoy watching the other night?
Did I make you jealous?
I want to be with you, Nora.
One more time.
I want to taste you.
You never answer it anyway.
Lucas, this isn't you.
Karen is coming. She'll be here any second.
You always have time for your friends.
Karen...
and Scotty.
Scotty.
Did you...
You've seen how he looks at you.
You could have killed him.
You lied to me.
No, I didn't.
- I read your book. - I didn't.
It's about me.
You used me.
No.
I'm sorry, Lucas.
You think you're cute?
- Thank you. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nora?
Oh, God.
Nora.
You're okay.
Oh, I'm gonna need a car service!
Oh, my God, Nora.
Our numbers are going to be huge!
Gillian Flynn just tweeted out a recommendation.
They're calling it an intimacy thriller.
No more sappy romance novels for you, young lady.
This is the big league.
Your public awaits.
Thank you, Margaret.
Go.
Hi.
I'm Nora.
- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you too.
Who should I make it out to?
- For Christina please. - Okay.
- Thank you! - Thank you so much!
- Thank you!
Look at this line! Your fans are crazy.
Yeah, the price of fame.
Oh, and what would you know about that?
I'm the one who actually paid the price.
Hey, no pouting, Angela Lansbury.
Sign our books.
- Who should I make it out to? - "To Scotty...
whose unbridled sexuality inspired all the love scenes in this book".
- Uh-huh. - Mm.
And for mine, you can just put "To Karen, whom I love and worship".
Of course. Thank you guys for coming.
Oh, we wouldn't have missed it.
- Dinner tonight? - Yes!
- And you're buying. - Ha!
Who do I make it out to?
How about, "One real moment.
I search for it and you create it".
It's my favorite line when they first meet.
In the book.
My friends tease me.
They, uh, they say I look like the guy you describe.
So what do you say?
Do I look like your fantasy guy?