Thank You for Listening(40)
I’m sure it was.?
MOM:
Wish you were here with us Swanling, from Mom.
SEWANEE:
One of these days.
MOM:
You better young lady. Do not make me come get you. I would put a smiley face here but I do not know how to. This is Stu. Bye now. LOL. Stu.
SEWANEE:
Bye!
MOM:
It’s Mom. He thinks LOL means lots of love.
SEWANEE:
Well, LOL back.
MOM:
Miss you, darlingest of daughters.
SEWANEE:
Miss you. So much.?
From: Alice Dunlop
To: Sewanee Chester
Date: February 15, 10:27 AM
Subject: Audies presenting?
Hey hon,
Helping to organize presenters for the Audies and wondering if you’d have any desire to present the Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumously ?) to June French? The public doesn’t have to know your connection, but I think it would be a nice wink wink nod nod for the industry. What do ya think?
Hugs,
Alice
P.S. Have you seen the Facebook groups? Everyone is losing their minds over Casanova, LLC. I’ve never seen anything like it. Brava!
From: Sewanee Chester
To: Alice Dunlop
Date: February 15, 11:06 AM
Subject: RE: Audies presenting?
I would LOVE to. Thank you so much for asking.
And no, haven’t dipped into FB. Will do so now.
From: Sewanee Chester
To: Alice Dunlop
Date: February 15, 11:38 AM
Subject: RE: Audies presenting?
OH. MY. GODDDDDDDD.
SEWANEE:
Hey are you on Facebook?
BROCK:
Hell no.
Why?
SEWANEE:
Fans are loving the first episode. Like, a lot.
BROCK:
Nice.
SEWANEE:
Like, a lot a lot.
I think this might end up being huge.
BROCK:
SEWANEE:
That’s it?
BROCK:
Did you know the real Casanova was a terrible human? Horrible. Actual criminal. Did time. Rapist. Even knocked up his own daughter.
SEWANEE:
“And now, Children, Story Time with Brock McNight”
BROCK:
heh. Sorry. I’m happy for us, I am.
SEWANEE:
You just don’t care?
BROCK:
No, I do, I’m just . . .
IDK.
SEWANEE:
You’re checked out.
Of audio.
Of Romance.
BROCK:
I guess so?
I’m sorry. You deserve a better partner.
SEWANEE:
It’s okay. Really. Like a trophy wife, I will console myself with the piles of money you brought to the marriage.
BROCK:
deal.
*
February 22
SEWANEE:
Question.
BROCK:
Sorry, wrong number, this isn’t Question.
SEWANEE:
groaaaaaaaan
BROCK:
Deepest apologies, that was truly horrid Dad humor.
SEWANEE:
So, not judging, but what do we think of this hero?
BROCK:
. . . ?
SEWANEE:
I’m having trouble deciding if Alessandro’s complicated. Or just an asshole.
BROCK:
He’s an alpha.
SEWANEE:
riiiiight but
BROCK:
He only cares about his art. Relationships are transactional for him.
SEWANEE:
Yes, most. With all the others, but not with her. When she gets what she came for (no pun intended) she’s prepared to honor their agreement. He then treats her terribly (which, okay, typical Romance Hero having his Feels), but why?
BROCK:
IDK
SEWANEE:
Well, how are you going to play it?
BROCK:
What do you mean?
SEWANEE:
Is he really that oblivious to what he wants or is he protecting himself from going after what he wants in case he can’t have it?
BROCK:
What do you mean?
SEWANEE:
I meeeaaan, why is he?
BROCK:
*who?
SEWANEE:
No, why. You can’t just look at who someone is. You have to look at WHY someone is. Surface versus substance. That’s the difference between caricature and character.
BROCK:
I just figured out why you’re a better narrator than me. You’re an actress, aren’t you?
SEWANEE:
Was.
BROCK:
Why’d you stop?
SEWANEE:
Mmmmm story for another time.
BROCK:
I’ll hold you to that.
What do YOU think Alessandro’s “why” is?
SEWANEE:
off the top of my head . . .
I think he’s tired of being seen as this sex god. I think he’s desperate to end the performance, but who is he without it? Who would want him, the real Alessandro, when all the women he has ever known only seem to want the fantasy? All except her. She wanted something no one else saw in him: the person, not the commodity (represented by how she falls in love with his art, i.e. his soul, i.e. his truth).
So I err on the side of he’s not oblivious, he’s scared. Because he’s falling in love with her. So: attraction = fear = self-protection = assholery.