The night after a new article about Evelyn appears, Don questions whether their recent maneuver was wise, and Harry remains unavailable and evasive. Wanting to celebrate, Evelyn invites Celia over. Without a maid in the house, they navigate the kitchen, swap stories about money and family, and toast Evelyn’s self-made rise, contrasting Evelyn’s sparse roots with Celia’s genteel Southern upbringing.

In the living room, Billie Holiday plays as they discuss their stage names. Evelyn confides that she was born Evelyn Herrera; Celia reveals she is Cecelia Jamison. Mutual admiration turns frank as Celia praises Evelyn’s allure and Evelyn returns the compliment. They drink more, attempt to build a fire, and theatrically burn a tabloid, reveling in the small rebellion.

When Evelyn accidentally spills wine on Celia’s white top, she brings Celia to the bedroom to borrow a blouse. There, Celia asks if Evelyn loves Don. Evelyn answers with ambiguity: she once loved him and still desires him, yet also hates him at times and recognizes that his name benefits her. The confession unsettles Celia, exposing the triangle of affection, ambition, and physical pull that defines Evelyn’s marriage.

Celia offers trust—“all of your secrets are safe with me”—and begins to change. Evelyn experiences a profound sense of intimacy grounded in truth and feels a protective, giving impulse toward Celia. As the charged moment intensifies, Don arrives unexpectedly, catching Celia mid-change. He laughs and teases; Evelyn insists nothing is happening, defusing the scene but leaving the deeper stakes concealed. The interruption cements the need for secrecy and signals shifting loyalties that threaten Evelyn’s marriage.