Invited to see Mick Riva at the Hollywood Bowl, Evelyn chooses to go for fun and to be seen, strategically courting tabloid attention. She attends with Celia and Harry, using Harry as a protective buffer against suspicion. The trio sits near industry acquaintances, bantering about Mick’s appeal while trying to enjoy a normal night in public.

As the crowd erupts for Mick’s performance, Evelyn relaxes into the moment. In a fleeting lapse, she grabs Celia’s hand, forgetting where she is and who might be watching. Celia is surprised, and Harry notices the gesture, underscoring the risk they constantly navigate in public.

A nearby woman sees the handhold, whispers to her husband, and both look at Evelyn with thinly veiled disgust. Realizing she’s been seen, Evelyn panics and tries to redirect attention, cheering and performing enthusiasm to smother the budding rumor before it spreads. Her immediate goal is containment: to halt the “telephone” of gossip before it gains traction.

The plan backfires. Evelyn’s exaggerated cheering draws Mick’s eye, and he calls out to her from the stage, effectively spotlighting her in front of the crowd. The moment amplifies the scrutiny around Evelyn and Celia, turning a private slip into a public focus and setting up potential consequences for their secrecy and careers.