Alice arrives punctually at Margaret’s hot-pink door with wine and flowers, greeted by Jodi, who notes Margaret hates trimmed flowers. Alice gives the flowers to Jodi and keeps the wine for the table, admitting she rarely drinks. Jodi leads Alice to the backyard patio, where Margaret and Hayden are already seated, revealing that the dinner is not one-on-one.

Margaret welcomes Alice warmly; Hayden remains stiff and terse. When offered a drink, Alice asks for coffee, mildly disappointing both Margaret and Jodi. With Jodi gone to prepare coffee, Margaret explains her plan: she cannot rush trust and proposes a monthlong trial with both writers. She will pay both equally, provide a housing stipend, have NDAs signed, meet with each throughout the month, and at the end review their work to select one—or potentially decide not to proceed at all.

Hayden questions the efficiency and the risk of unpaid outcome, and Margaret calmly confirms “that’s the deal.” She also reveals locals know her as Irene, a swap of her initials. Hayden’s brief “All right” signals acceptance. Alice, internally elated and willing to sacrifice for the opportunity, agrees as well. Jodi appears with coffee and a stack of tabbed contracts as Margaret toasts their arrangement.

After lemon meringue pie, Margaret walks them to the front door, confirms they have their paperwork and leftover pie, and asks where they are staying. Both Alice and Hayden are at the Grande Lucia, which Margaret frames as convenient for potential camaraderie. Alice hugs Margaret; Margaret warmly reciprocates, then shakes Hayden’s hand.

Outside, on the moonlit road by their cars, Alice proposes splitting days—first offering Hayden the early-week block, then swapping when he objects—trying to coordinate access to Margaret. Hayden counters that both will need weekday time for other work and to get a full picture of Margaret’s schedule. When Alice asks if he is looking out for her rather than seeking advantage, Hayden dismisses the idea and ends the exchange with, “Trust me, I don’t need an upper hand,” before getting into his car.