Evelyn hides in Celia St. James’s apartment for a week and a half. They sleep side by side but avoid acknowledging their attraction, with accidental touches and quiet longing. Evelyn struggles to label her desire, telling herself it could be platonic while fearing what identifying as queer would mean for her life and image.

One morning, Harry Cameron arrives with a thick envelope: divorce papers from Don Adler. The settlement offers Evelyn the house, her money, and half of Don’s, but requires her silence about their marriage, while Don has no such restriction. Harry explains Don has pushed Ari Sullivan to loan Evelyn out to other studios and set her up for failures, including blocking any Oscar chances, because Don remains a more bankable star in a shrinking theatrical market. The reality stings Evelyn, who realizes her career may be deliberately undermined.

After Celia briefly appears and Harry departs, he and Evelyn reaffirm their bond, promising it will remain “me and you, true blue,” even as the industry turns against her. Alone, Evelyn confronts the likelihood of losing the career foundation she built. She notes that money remains, but more importantly, she recognizes the exhaustion of denying her feelings for Celia.

Evelyn goes to Celia and confesses, “I think that I love you,” then initiates intimacy that Celia welcomes and guides. Their attraction finally realized, they sleep nude together, openly affectionate within the safety of Celia’s apartment. The chapter ends with Evelyn embracing this private truth despite the public and professional consequences gathering outside.