Taylor Jenkins Reid
Summary from SuperSummary
1. Frankie calls Monique into her office and tells her that Evelyn Hugo, a movie star from the 1960s, is ready to be interviewed about her life—and she has requested Monique. Though intimidated and confused, Monique is excited about the opportunity to make a name for herself. Monique, a biracial woman, admits that one of the reasons she took the job at the New York magazine Vivant is because her boss Frankie is a black woman.
2. Monique researches Evelyn and learns about her seven marriages, her tumultuous career, and the scandals and glamor surrounding both. She is absorbed by Evelyn, a welcome distraction from her very recent separation from her husband, David.
3. Monique is greeted by Evelyn’s assistant, Grace, at Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment. Grace eases Monique’s anxiety about meeting Evelyn, who she describes as a kind and generous employer. When Evelyn descends the staircase, Monique finds herself breathless; Evelyn, at 70, is graceful and ageless. Evelyn invites Monique into the living room and quickly reveals that she invited Monique “under false pretenses” (21); she has no intention of giving an interview to Vivant. Instead, Evelyn wants Monique to write a tell-all book about Evelyn’s life. Stunned and perplexed, Monique spills her cup of coffee across the white carpet. When Grace comes in to clean up the mess, Evelyn insists that they finish this discussion over lunch. At a nearby restaurant, Evelyn reveals that this book will convey the full truth of her life, will be entirely Monique’s to author and profit from, and will be released once Evelyn is dead. Irritated by Monique’s increased confusion, Evelyn clarifies that she is not “confessing any sins” (25), that she doesn’t regret any choice she’s made, and just wants to tell the world the truth about herself. Despite the financial and professional success that Evelyn’s biographer promises, Monique is unsure; she could lose her job at Vivant for poaching a story from them. Mostly, she wonders why Evelyn, one of the most successful and beloved actresses in history, would trust her life story to an unknown journalist. At the end of their meeting, Monique decides her ambitions are stronger than her fears and accepts Evelyn’s offer.
4. Back at Evelyn’s home, Monique considers calling Frankie. She’s nervous and unsure of whether to lie or be honest and risk losing her job. For guidance, she thinks of her father, who would breathe with her when she was scared or overwhelmed. When Monique speaks with Frankie, she is intentionally vague, claiming that Evelyn is being unforthcoming about what this piece will look like. Monique meets Evelyn in her study and nervously says that she is “not a biographer” (35); Evelyn describes how she took every opportunity to escape poverty, no matter what that opportunity was. Monique accepts the advice and approaches the conversation as a biographer, deciding the book will answer the question overwhelmingly surrounding the starlet: “Who was the love of Evelyn’s life?” (36). Monique assumed it was Harry, who Evelyn had spent decades and had a daughter with, but Evelyn clarifies that Harry was her best friend and loved her unconditionally but was not the love of her life. Evelyn decides she’s not ready to answer that question just yet, so she asks Monique to come back on Monday.
5. On Monday morning, Monique meets Evelyn in her study. Evelyn is ready—everyone she loved is dead and the truth can’t harm them any longer.
6. Evelyn grew up in Hell’s Kitchen with her Cuban mother and father. At 11, Evelyn lost her mother and was left with her abusive father. She quickly began to develop that summer, and men watched her every move. At 13, the teenage cashier at the corner store kisses Evelyn. She tries to fight him off, but he holds her tightly. She learns then that she “could do it for free” or for “free candy” (43). Over the next few months, Evelyn took everything she wanted from the store, and she saw the cashier once a week. Her greatest dream was to escape Hell’s Kitchen, so she decided to use her sexuality to accomplish that. At 14, she meets Ernie Diaz who is rumored to know someone at MGM. She seduces him, trading her virginity for “a ride to Hollywood” (44). They get married soon afterwards, despite Evelyn being only 15, and move to Los Angeles. Evelyn spends her days waitressing at a restaurant for “movie people” (45). Four months later, she meets Harry. Two weeks after that, she has a contract with Sunset Studios. In 1954, Evelyn makes her first cameo in a movie but struggles to land the starring role she desires. When she asks Harry for the leading role in an upcoming film, he turns her down: She’s Cuban, dark-haired, and bronze-skinned; the studio won’t cast a woman of color. Resolved to “win the war,” Evelyn meets with 48-year-old executive Ari, who enjoys “orally pleasing underage girls” (49). Soon after that, Evelyn’s career begins to take off; Harry promises her the role of Jo in Little Women, they dye her hair blonde, and they remake her into Evelyn Hugo. She divorces Ernie. In the present, she has no regrets; though she broke Ernie’s heart, she would have done anything to escape Hell’s Kitchen.
7. Their session for the day is cut short by Evelyn’s dinner plans. When Monique gets home, she answers a call from her mother who surprises Monique with the news that she’s coming to visit in two weeks, right when she should be done with Evelyn’s interview. Though the visit doesn’t excite Monique, she looks forward to seeing her mother, who can’t keep from asking about Evelyn. Monique doesn’t offer much besides expressing her suspicions about her subject. She detects “another layer” to Evelyn’s motivations.
8. Though Little Women is continually pushed off, Evelyn lands a few hit comedies. To build upon her momentum, Harry arranges public dates with popular actors for her. She is unenthusiastic about them until Don Adler. They hit it off immediately, both equally enamored by the other, and begin dating. Hindsight teaches Evelyn that Don’s infatuation with her diminished once they were married.
9. Evelyn is “absolutely smitten” with Don (65). She drives Harry mad with talk about him, only getting her to stop bringing up Don by discussing her career. He doesn’t think Little Women would be right for her career just now. Harry emphasizes that Evelyn should “make a real go of it with Don” (68) because it would boost both of their careers. Soon after that, Don arrives to pick up Evelyn on the way to his premier. He has an engagement ring with him: He plans to propose on the red carpet and wants to make sure she will say yes. An hour later, Evelyn accepts his proposal. After pulling away from Don’s embrace, she sees Harry wink at her.
10. Evelyn and Don marry and Evelyn is ecstatic to be “the most famous bride in the world” (72). Harry wonders if she’ll truly be happy, but Evelyn assures him that she is with Don, though she is curious why Harry never hit on her. Harry is gay, though he doesn’t articulate that exactly, but Evelyn knows. They decide to be best friends just as Don pulls her away to dance, telling her how much he loves her body and her talent. Two months into their marriage, he begins hitting her.
11. Six weeks into their marriage, Evelyn and Don shoot a movie together in Puerto Vallarta. The first few weeks of their marriage were “blissful,” but when his last movie—his first attempt at a Western—does poorly, Don becomes explosive and obsessed. He wants Evelyn to take his name and start having babies, but Evelyn is adamant that she is not doing either of those—they’d negatively affect her career. He hits her while they’re in their trailer on set. When the director’s assistant knocks on the door, wanting them to come to set, Evelyn covers for Don; she tells him to leave, collects herself, and claims “lady troubles” (78). When she opens the door to the assistant, she knows there is no way to hide the bright red mark across her cheek. When the assistant asks if Evelyn fell, Evelyn—present day—wonders if she was saving Evelyn the indignity of lying, or if she was encouraging her “keep quiet” (79). Regardless, the two women cover the mark with copious amounts of makeup and Evelyn makes it to set. When Don asks for her forgiveness, Evelyn tells herself that it was just a mistake and accepts his apology.
12. Evelyn recounts the escalation of Don’s abuse; any time she sticks up for herself against his verbal abuse or he is nursing his own wounds, he is violent. Soon Evelyn distracts herself when she learns that Little Women is finally being made and she will be Jo. Her elation is punctured by learning that rising star Celia St. James will play Beth. Celia is a better actress and Evelyn worries she’ll be overshadowed by Celia’s performance. In the middle of their conversation, Harry sees the bruise under her eye hidden beneath layers of makeup. He is angry, but Evelyn won’t accept any help from Harry other than him making her shine in Little Women. She knows she can’t leave Don because it will ruin her career, but also because she still loves him.
13. On the first morning of filming Little Women Don brings Evelyn breakfast in bed. When she gets out of the shower to find their maid, Paula, cleaning up after her, Evelyn reveals that she knew Paula never found her messy or careless matter charming. She doesn’t mind this so much, but Evelyn does struggle to hide the bruises from Paula, so she often ushers her away. A week before this morning, Don had pushed Evelyn down the stairs. As Evelyn was getting changed that day, Paula comes in abruptly and sees the purple marks across her ribs. Now, Evelyn angrily wonders why Paula didn’t sell the story of “Don Adler beating his wife” (86) instead of going after her. On set, Ruby, one of Evelyn’s costars, and Evelyn are united against Celia. When Celia approaches them to express her anxiety over the role, they respond coolly and remind her the Beth is the “most likable role” (87) and shoo-in for nominations. To this, Celia wonders why Evelyn wouldn’t take it if that were true. Just as Evelyn replies that she’s too old to play Beth, she realizes she’d “played right into [Celia’s] hands” (87). From then on, Evelyn can’t help but like Celia.
14. Evelyn decides to end their session for the day there and informs Monique that her editor is hoping to arrange a photo shoot. Monique realizes that she must tell Frankie soon that she’ll never get that cover. When Monique gets home, she finds a package from her mother: her father’s photo albums. She tears into them immediately, marveling at the photos from the sets he worked on: “[A] year before he died, [Monique’s father] took a two-month job in Vancouver” (89), and she was heartbroken to part from him for so long. To ease her pain, he told her that doing work that gave his life meaning. Two years later, he died suddenly, but Monique also held those words close to her heart. When she discovered her love for writing, she knew she had to follow her father’s footsteps and pursue her passion. Those words determined her entire life: she became a journalist, she met David while working, and met Evelyn. She also reveals that her full name is Elizabeth Monique Grant, but when her dad died, her mother and she knew that she should take the name he chose for her. Monique had always felt “like two halves” because of her biracial identity, but when her father died, she simply felt “incomplete” (91). While looking at a picture of the three of them at the back of the album, Monique realizes how whole she is because of them.
15. Before filming, Evelyn expresses to Don her concerns over how talented Celia is. He offers to have the studio to pull her out, but Evelyn declines, admitting that she likes her. The next day, Celia asks Evelyn to join her for a milkshake, but after they are in the car and Celia reveals that they’re heading to Schwab’s—a popular haunt of Hollywood people—Evelyn knows she is being taken advantage of. Celia wants to be seen with the most popular actress. Evelyn directs her to a lesser known diner and Celia is deflated. Evelyn isn’t angry with Celia for her attempt, but urges Celia to become better at using people. Celia, though humbled by Evelyn putting her in her place, recovers herself quickly to assert that she is the better actress—which is why Don and Evelyn tried to get her off the film. Evelyn is surprised that Celia knows this, but is not ashamed. To make their friendship beneficial, Celia proposes that she’ll help Evelyn become a better actress if Evelyn helps her “become a star” (97). Evelyn agrees and Celia admits that she really likes Evelyn and hopes they’ll become real friends.
16. An article comes out describing Evelyn as “cold” and unwilling to have children with Don. It condemns her for focusing on her career and going out with Celia, while claiming that Don waits at home “yearning for a child” (99). At the studio, Evelyn, Harry, and Celia meet to address the crisis. Evelyn has grown to really enjoy Celia’s company and finds herself rooting for her new friend’s success as much as her own. Evelyn realizes that it was Paula who sold the story and Harry offers to fire her immediately, but Evelyn has a different plan: she’s going to fake a miscarriage. She arranges for a doctor to call her later that night, knowing Paula will eavesdrop on the line. When Evelyn is given the “news,” she sobs. An hour later, Don fired Paula meanly, hoping she’d have more reason to go to the press. A few days later, a new article is published asking the public to pray for Don and Evelyn in their moment of grief.
17. After the article, Evelyn invites Celia over to celebrate. They open up to one another, sharing their family histories and real names. Soon, Celia is expressing her admiration for Evelyn’s beauty, and Evelyn finds herself “flushed” by it; she’d never heard a woman talk about her the way men did. After their second bottle, Evelyn accidentally spills red wine all over Celia’s white blouse. They rush to Evelyn’s bedroom so Celia can change, and Celia asks if Evelyn loves Don. Evelyn admits that she doesn’t know. Celia promises to keep Evelyn’s secrets safe, and Evelyn realizes that she shares an intimacy with Celia that she’s never had with anyone else: truth. As Celia changes into Evelyn’s blouse, Evelyn can’t help but stare at the line of freckles along her hip.
18. Before the premiere of Little Women, Celia resists being forced to take a plus one, but Evelyn insists that she can’t go alone. When Don arrives, Evelyn admits that, though he looked good, she “was tiring of him” (116). In their seats, Evelyn looks over to seen Celia’s date making her laugh and can’t help but think that she who put diamonds on Celia, she got her a front-page picture, and she knew about the freckles on her hip. The movie begins and Evelyn knows immediately that Celia is the star. Instead of feeling embittered against her friend, she feels proud. When Evelyn reaches across the men to grab Celia’s hand, she knows Don will “find an excuse to hit [her] later” (119). At the after party, Don ditches Evelyn and Evelyn searches for Celia. Instead, she finds Ruby, who pulls her into a closet and that Celia is a lesbian and people gossip about their relationship. She also tells Evelyn that Don is upstairs “getting a blow job from some harpy” (121). Evelyn just wants to find Celia.
19. Evelyn stops the interview to gather herself. Monique readies herself to ask something she’s suspected for a long time, and she realizes how nervous Evelyn is. Monique repeats the thesis question of the biography: “Who was the love of your life?” (123). After some further urging, Evelyn admits that it was Celia. Monique thinks this biography is for Evelyn to come out as a gay woman, but Evelyn heatedly corrects Monique; she’d been in love with Don, she is bisexual. Monique corrects herself and apologizes and Evelyn quickly forgives her for ignoring half of her identity. When Monique wonders how Evelyn realized she was attracted to Celia—a conclusion difficult to come to at that time—Evelyn says she must have always sensed it but didn’t understand it. Yet, when Ruby told her the news about both Celia and Don, she was equally jealous of both. She hadn’t realized that wanting to be around Celia all of the time, caring more about her happiness than her own, and thinking about the freckles on her hip had meant she loved her until that moment.
20. Before Evelyn can gather herself, Celia comes in. Evelyn reveals what Ruby told her about Celia and kisses her. Suddenly, Celia breaks away and leaves. After a breath, Evelyn leaves to find Don. Eventually, she opens a door and sees him tucking in his shirt while a woman puts her shoes on. As she runs out, Don follows her to explain, but she loses him and finds Harry. Harry takes Evelyn to his house, “scared of what Don would do to” her (130). On the way, she tells him about Don’s infidelity and tentatively describes herself as “like” Harry. The next day, when Harry drives Evelyn back to her home, Don is gone; he left her before she could leave him. Instead, Celia is there. After Harry leaves, Evelyn takes Celia’s hand and leads her inside. As Celia tries to explain herself, Evelyn interrupts her, assuring her that “there’s nothing wrong with” her (132). Evelyn reveals that she no longer loves Don because Celia is the only person she thinks about.
21. Evelyn and Celia live “chastely” together the next week at Celia’s apartment. Though they don’t kiss again, Evelyn finds herself wanting to touch her again. She allows herself to indulge in fantasies of Celia, suspecting it to go away on its own eventually. Then one evening, Harry delivers Evelyn and Don’s divorce papers he filed on grounds of abandonment. Evelyn will get the house and half of his money on the condition that she doesn’t tell anyone about what happened during their marriage. She also learns that Sunset is dropping her on Don’s demand after loaning her out to bad movies to ruin her career. Realizing she has lost everything (except money), Evelyn also realizes that she has something very important: Celia. She no longer cares what it means to love her, so she finds her and tells her as much. From then on, they are no longer ashamed of their feelings for each other.
22. Monique comments aloud that Evelyn’s situation is different from her “own impending divorce” (140) because she had Celia. Monique wonders how Evelyn can be so cynical towards loss, but Evelyn clarifies: “Heartbreak is loss. Divorce is a piece of paper” (141). Monique realizes that she had never thought of it like that. Frankie calls Monique as she walks home and Monique realizes that she must make a choice about what to tell her editor. Before she answers, she understands that she deserves to get what she wants. When Monique tells Frankie the truth about Evelyn’s plan, Frankie is insulted and shocked. Monique agrees to convince Evelyn to go through with the cover, but on the condition that she’s promoted to writer at large. Reluctantly, Frankie agrees.
23. The next day, Monique demands that Evelyn does a cover for Vivant or she won’t write the biography. When Evelyn agrees Monique realizes how far Evelyn is willing to go to keep her—and that frightens her.
24. By the 1960 Oscar’s, Evelyn was dropped from her studio and had no prospects, while Don’s stardom only rose. Celia is nominated and pouts that she can’t take Evelyn, who assures her and Harry that she’d rather be home anyway. During the show, Evelyn has a few drinks and realizes how false the image of Hollywood is, though she still can’t help yearning for it. When Celia is announced to have won for Little Women, Evelyn cheers and cries. Celia gives her speech, thanking Evelyn at the very end, causing Evelyn to hastily kiss the TV and chip a tooth. After both of Evelyn’s recent movies fail, she focuses on domesticity. After seeing Breathless, she decides to go to Paris.
25. Evelyn goes to France and meets director Max Girard. He offers her a part on the condition that she can be topless in the film. She accepts and offers another alternative: She’ll be topless, but the camera will pan slowly down and the scene will end right before it reaches her nipples. It works and Evelyn becomes an “international sensation” (160).
26. Three articles come out within a month of each other: Singer Mick Riva proclaims he wants to marry Evelyn, Evelyn lands the titular role in Anna Karenina, and Don marries Evelyn’s former costar Ruby, Evelyn is invited to Mick’s performance and takes Celia and Harry. She enjoys herself so much that she forgets who and where she is and holds Celia’s hand. A woman in the crowd sees. A few days later, speculations on the true nature of their relationship surface.
27. To stop the rumors, Evelyn plans to go on a public date with Mick, but Celia resents the idea. Celia would rather come out, hoping the world will accept them, but Evelyn is adamant that they would be ostracized—or even arrested. Mostly, though, Evelyn is not ready to give up the stardom she just got back; Celia, though, would “give it all up” (170) to be with her. Eventually, Celia agrees to the plan.
28. Evelyn tricks Mick into eloping with her by challenging him to go to Las Vegas. She pretends to be drunk and unable to resist him, emphasizing that she cannot have sex before marriage. After they’ve married, Evelyn endures sex with him. The next morning, when he tries to initiate again with her, she intentionally becomes unenthusiastic. She succeeds in making herself unappealing—Mick voices his regrets about the previous night and asks for an annulment. As he ducks out of the room, Evelyn performs rage and heartbreak, knowing he will tell the whole world about this encounter with Evelyn Hugo.
29. Evelyn’s plan works and the tabloids stop reporting on her and Celia and begin talking about Evelyn’s most recent “failed” marriage. This buys the women some time, but when Evelyn realizes she’s pregnant, Celia is only just realizing that Evelyn slept with Mick. The discovery breaks her, and Celia packs her bags. Evelyn calls Harry and he takes her to Mexico for an abortion. He comforts and nurses her, even staying with her at her house for the next few days. Evelyn realizes that Harry is her family and, because of that, she’ll be okay.
30. Monique wonders if Evelyn regrets not chasing after Celia and, annoyed, Evelyn describes how profound her grief is: “She’s gone forever […] I am kicking myself for every single second I chose [fame] over loving her proudly” (192). Monique receives a text from David, who wants to speak about things “happening too fast” (192). To distract herself from him, Monique asks Evelyn about her next husband, Rex North. Evelyn explains that both she and Harry needed Anna Karenina to do well because they were producing for the first time. So, Evelyn married her leading man.
31. Evelyn and Rex marry to boost excitement for the movie. They agree to have separate and private lives as long as they maintain the façade of a marriage. After Celia left, Evelyn hired a maid from El Salvador, Luisa. Evelyn took a liking to her after hearing Luisa speak Spanish to her mother on the phone. She’d called Evelyn crazy, to which Evelyn surprised her by replying. When Luisa tells Evelyn that she doesn’t look Cuban, Evelyn is offended: “How dare she try to take my own identity away from me” (198). Though, Evelyn soon realizes that she’d denied her heritage for stardom. Evelyn admires Luisa’s pride in being who she is and grows to cherish her. The press reports that Rex and Evelyn have married two weeks before Anna Karenina, which is a hit. They also report Celia’s marriage to quarterback John Braverman.
32. Evelyn and Rex attend the Academy Awards and lose. When they arrive home and retire to their separate bedrooms, Evelyn is overwhelmed by how lonely her marriage is. She and Rex are great companions, but she feels unloved and misses Celia. Rex comes in to seduce her and she almost lets him—she can’t deny her attraction to him, but doesn’t want to complicate their relationship. The next day, Harry tells Evelyn that Paramount wants to buy the next three films Rex and her do, meaning Rex and Evelyn will stay married longer than they planned and that Evelyn will be the highest paid actress in Hollywood.
33. Rex and Evelyn stay married for the next few years and make high grossing films. The third film follows a couple who are both having affairs. Rex, though, falls in love and is expecting a baby with a woman he wants to marry. Evelyn is happy for him, but realizes that this complicates their plan. She designs to make it seem as though they are both having affairs—just like in their movie. Harry agrees to pretend to have an affair with Evelyn, but warns her that he’s been seeing John Braverman, Celia’s husband. Realizing that Celia’s marriage is fake, Evelyn wants to seek her out again, but she suppresses the urge. Instead, Evelyn calls Ruby—who has now left Don and is angry that Evelyn never warned her about Don’s abuse—and arranges for her former friend to send paparazzi where they will find Harry and Evelyn in a compromising position.
34. Evelyn and Harry meet on a secluded road to orchestrate their being caught in the act. Beforehand, Harry recommends that they turn their affair into a marriage. He wants to have a child one day and believes Evelyn would make a great partner even if they must live separate romantic lives. She agrees, thinking that she and Celia and John and Harry could be happy. Harry and Evelyn are caught and their picture coves papers the next week. Her film with Rex breaks records for “the longest stay in theaters” (221).
35. Monique returns home past 3am from her time with Evelyn and falls asleep quickly. When she is woken up a few hours later by a call from her mom, Monique tells her that Frankie agreed to a promotion and Evelyn agreed to a cover story. Monique feels empowered, but has no idea that when Evelyn finishes her story, she’ll learn “what this has all been about” (223) and hate her.
36. Harry and Evelyn attend the next Academy Awards, now engaged. Evelyn is nominated, but so is Celia. When she sees her ex for the first time in 5 years, she is “breathless” (226). When Evelyn loses to Ruby, she goes to the bathroom to cry. Celia finds her there. They both express blame and regret for how things ended and soon find themselves in each other’s arms. They make love against the door, knowing anyone could catch them. By doing so, they repair their relationship by recognizing what they were both “willing to risk” (231).
37. Harry and Evelyn marry, buy a Manhattan apartment next to John and Celia’s, and the four live happily as “four beards” (233). Then the Stonewall riots happen and Evelyn is heartbroken to realize that people are willing to die for what she hides. The four were open about their political opinions and advocating for the civil rights movement, but felt uncertain about what it would mean to support the queer community. Instead, they donate money. Celia and Evelyn live together very happily, but their relationship is still plagued by the same issues; Celia is hurt by Evelyn’s need to hide her sexuality and insecure about her past with men, while Evelyn feels Celia doesn’t understand the reality of their situation and senses Celia’s resentment towards her bisexuality. Celia could be very cruel—when Evelyn won’t call herself a lesbian, Celia implies that Evelyn has no talent, only “a nice pair of tits” (238).
38. Monique asks if Evelyn ever responded to Celia’s momentary cruelty, but Evelyn never saw the point; but the words always stuck with her. She knew her beauty would fade and worried that it was all she had of value.
39. A day after Evelyn’s 36th birthday, Harry proposes that they have a baby. Though Evelyn suspects it will hurt her career, she knows she’s ready and wants one. They both want a biological child but need to consult with their partners first.
40. Evelyn speaks with Celia about wanting to have a baby with Harry. Harry and Evelyn will raise the baby, and John and Celia can be as involved as they’d like to be. Celia, who never wanted children, feels insecure because she can’t give a baby to Evelyn. Evelyn assures Celia that she loves her and is completely fulfilled by her. After some thought, Celia agrees, and Evelyn is elated.
41. Evelyn and Harry’s daughter, Connor, is born and the two spend the first few months enjoying her. Celia does two movies and John goes with her, giving the new parents some time alone with their child. During that time, they fall into the routine of husband and wife, and become closer and more deeply in (platonic) love than ever before. One day, Harry calls Evelyn one of his soulmates and she agrees. When Celia and John return, their routine is slightly unsettled. Celia quickly asserts her role as Evelyn’s partner and the four fall into a new routine—loving their partners and coming together to love Connor. Celia pushes Evelyn to return to acting, urging her to take a role with Max Girard. It’s a bombshell role, which Celia believes Evelyn needs to combat the stigma of motherhood. Evelyn wants that, but also realizes that Celia wants “to be with a bombshell” (251). Evelyn calls Max and he is eager to work with her again, but there is one problem: the role is opposite Don Adler.
42. Monique wonders why Evelyn would do a film with her abuser and Evelyn describes the complexity of her emotions for him; she had loved him, hated him, but now pitied him, though had not forgiven him. His career had suffered and she’d heard he began drinking. She decides to meet with her ex before the film.
43. For the first time in 15 years, Evelyn and Don meet at a deli. He apologizes immediately, recognizes the harm he’d done, and swears he’s working on his sobriety and anger. Evelyn does not offer forgiveness, but realizes that she no longer fears or hates him.
44. For Harry’s 45th birthday, they all picnic in Central park. Evelyn remembers it as the last time they were happy as a family.
45. Don and Evelyn shoot a movie about an addict and the woman who loves him. Max proposes a love scene, hoping to emphasize why Evelyn’s character loves Don’s, why their connection is so powerful. To do so, he wants them to perform a love scene that shows Evelyn’s character orgasm. It hadn’t been done in American film and would certainly stir controversy. Evelyn loves the idea, remembering how empowered she felt when she realizes sex could be pleasurable for her and hopes to give that to other women. She agrees to do it, but knows she should have discussed it with Celia. Instead, Evelyn avoids telling her. After filming the love scene, Evelyn feels ashamed for having betrayed Celia. She lies by telling Celia Max just proposed the idea to her, hoping Celia will agree to it. Though Celia understands why the love scene will improve the film and why Evelyn wants to do it, she is not comfortable with Evelyn portraying sex with her ex-husband. Celia is hysterical with guilt; she promises to work on every one of Evelyn’s next roles with her to make up for denying her this. This breaks Evelyn and she admits she’s already done the scene. Evelyn sobs and pleads, but Celia leaves, no longer to live with her “heart half-broken all the time” (267). Weeks later, John receives divorce papers from Celia and Evelyn knows they represent the end of their relationship. She goes to Celia’s LA hotel and begs to be taken back, but Celia is unyielding.
46. Don wins an Oscar for his role while Evelyn is snubbed. Evelyn is stills angry to this day; she lost Celia for that movie and spent the next few years slut shamed for the love scene while Don and Max were praised. Evelyn admits that she’d ruined her relationship by loving Celia in private and using her body publicly to further her career. When Monique counters that Evelyn is too tough on herself, Evelyn warns her that when the interview is over, Monique most of all will change her mind.
47. In 1980, John dies of a heart attack. Harry is devastated, so Evelyn steps in to care for him. He begins drinking heavily. Evelyn worries that his palpable grief will stir rumors, but knows better than to push him. Celia attends the funeral, but Evelyn refuses to use this opportunity to speak with Celia. When Connor recognizes her as Beth from Little Women, Evelyn realizes that their family of five is gone.
48. Evelyn and Harry make another one of Max’s movies together with Evelyn as the lead role, earning her her first Oscar. During her speech, she ambiguously thanks Celia to show that she still loves her.
49. After the show, Evelyn and Max get hamburgers together. Standing in line, people begin to recognize Evelyn and crowd around her. Max throws her over his shoulder and rescues her from the mob forming. Once in the limo with their food, Max confesses his love. He kisses her and she feels charged with desire, which she hasn’t felt since Celia left. The next day, Max sends roses and reiterates his love, hoping they will marry.
50. Evelyn decides to end their session there and Monique heads home. When she reaches her apartment, she finds David waiting for her. He tells her they made a mistake and should try to work it out. Monique disagrees. She thinks of Evelyn and her pain after her divorce not being heartbreak, but failure and realizes she feels the same. She no longer loves David and suspects he doesn’t love her. David leaves, for good, and Monique sleeps well that night.
51. Evelyn tells Harry about Max’s proposal and he is supportive. He believes she deserves to be in love and promises that nothing will change between. With Harry’s blessing, Evelyn speaks with Max about the sincerity of his proposal. He describes his love for her and the creative inspiration he derives from her. Hearing his words ignites passion in Evelyn. They make love and she accepts him.
52. Evelyn and Max have an intimate ceremony in the desert and spend the next few days in a cabin. Max quickly becomes agitated and bored, so they return home to New York. As Max becomes excited about the press coverage of their wedding, Evelyn thinks of Rita Hayworth’s “Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me” (297). Months later, Evelyn realizes that Max fell in love with Evelyn Hugo, not the real her. She’s heartbroken to realize that another one of her marriages is meaningless.
53. In 1988, Celia wins another Oscar. Evelyn watches from home with Harry and Connor while Max attends the show alone (he’d been angry that she refused to go). As Celia accepts the award, she warns “anyone tempted to kiss the TV” (300) to not chip a tooth. Knowing Celia means her, Evelyn writes to her. They exchange a few letters, admit their blameworthiness, and express the feelings they still have for one another. Evelyn hopes to meet, but Celia is pained to learn that Max is not like Harry or Rex.
54. Evelyn calls Celia to admit that she still loves her. She’s willing to come out and give up her career. Celia has reservations, but agrees to meet. The next day, Evelyn leaves for the airport, but turns back because she wants to have Celia’s letters with her. However, Max has found the letters and confronts Evelyn. In doing so, he admits to his own infidelity and calls her a “dyke” (306). Evelyn is leaving Max, to his surprise, and confesses her love for Celia unabashedly. He threatens to out her, but she doesn’t care. Evelyn collects her letters and leaves, heading towards the love of her life.
55. Celia and Evelyn meet and Evelyn expresses her hopes that they can reunite. She soon becomes frustrated, though, by Celia’s hesitation. Celia’s biggest concern, however, is time. She’s dying and only has a decade left, so she wants to spend it in Spain with Evelyn and their remaining family. Evelyn is in shock, but wants to be with Celia even if it means losing her for good. They reconcile and begin a course of action. This time, Celia takes charge: she’ll combat Max’s outing of them with rumors of Evelyn having an affair with a younger congressman and they, Connor, Harry, and Celia’s brother Robert will move to Spain. Celia wants Evelyn to marry Robert to protect Evelyn from losing Connor.
56. Harry doesn’t want to retire and move to Spain. A few weeks later, he suggests that they move to LA and Celia marries a new man Harry has met. Evelyn is done with acting—she’s finally accomplished everything she set out to do and just wants to be with family. Later, Evelyn asks her driver to stop by Harry’s place on her to the airport. As they near his house, Evelyn sees a car wrapped around a tree. Harry is slumped over the steering wheel, a strange man limp in the passenger seat. They pull Harry out and Evelyn holds him close to her, begging him to stay alive. Suddenly, she realizes that he wasn’t driving his car and has an idea; they pull the other man into the driver’s seat and take Harry to the hospital. Evelyn fears that Harry was driving drunk and worries he’ll go to jail if he survives. She buys the driver’s discretion by agreeing to kickstart his acting career and sends him home. Evelyn lays in the hospital bed with Harry until he dies, devastated. Once in her hotel room, she howls with grief for the “only man [she’d] ever loved with any lasting meaning” (331).
57. After the death of her father, Connor, 14, copes with drugs, partying, and sex. Evelyn realizes that she must take her out of town and get her into therapy. Celia and her decide on Spain, far enough for Connor to heal privately. After making the arrangements, Evelyn approaches Connor gently with the plan. She also tells her daughter about Celia and why she needs to marry Robert.
58. Evelyn pauses to wipe her eyes and Monique expresses her admiration for her subject, but Evelyn doesn’t want any praise from Monique.
59. Evelyn marries Celia’s brother and they all move to Spain. Slowly, Connor comes “back to life” (344) and grows very close to Robert. When she gets into Stanford, Evelyn realizes she made the right decision for her daughter. Evelyn finally lives the life she always dreamed of, spending every day with Celia and even begins speaking Spanish again. They regret the time they’ve lost as Celia’s health worsens. One night, Evelyn suggests that they marry—they cannot legally, but they make the same vows. From then on, Evelyn refers to Celia as her wife.
60. Six years later, Celia dies in Evelyn’s arms. After her body is taken, Evelyn falls to the ground, Robert beside her, and sobs for losing her “soul mate” (351) for the last time.
61. Celia is buried near Harry. Watching her wife being lowered into the ground, Evelyn is overcome and must step away. She finds Harry’s grave, seeking comfort only he could offer. Weeks later, Connor sends Evelyn a magazine clipping of Evelyn crying at Harry’s grave—the press thinks she’s there to mourn her ex-husband. Evelyn is frustrated by how wrong the press has always been. This is the moment she realizes she must tell her truth with a book.
62. Evelyn remains married to Robert until his death. They move back to Manhattan, work with charities, and spend time with Connor. After Robert’s death, Connor stays with Evelyn. She urges her to leave, and when she does, Evelyn realizes how very alone she is, so she hires Grace. At 39, Connor is diagnosed with breast cancer. Evelyn spends every moment supporting and caring for her until Connor dies 18 months later. From then on, Evelyn feels “the devastating luxury of panic” (357) always.
63. Evelyn’s story ends after the death of everyone she’s ever loved. She only wants Monique to emphasize how meaningful they were and how meaningless everything else was. She wants Monique to argue that Evelyn Hugo never existed, but she now says good-bye.
64. Monique comforts Evelyn, assuring her that most people would feel the same as she and make the same decisions. Abruptly, Evelyn rises and hands Monique a crumpled piece of paper. She tells her interviewer that the man she left in the car was a black man named James Grant.
65. Monique is furious to learn that the truth behind her father’s death was taken from her. She and her mother were told he’d driven drunk and died, and his legacy in their eyes was “tarnished.” She hates Evelyn, suddenly afraid of what she might do to her. However, Evelyn urges her to read the paper because it is a note from Monique’s father to Harry; he was ending his affair with Harry for the sake of his family. Monique finally understands that her father was in love with a man.
66. When Monique assumes that Evelyn only requested her make amends, Evelyn argues that she’d found her right-to-die piece and knew she could tell a complicated story intelligently and empathetically. Evelyn knows that she cannot make up for what she’s done and lets Monique decide what to do with her story. Though Monique hates her, she still wants to write the book. Evelyn reveals that she has breast cancer, so Monique can release the book soon.
67. When Monique gets home, she finds the coffee table that David took. On it, is a letter from David apologizing for taking it and thanking her for being strong enough to end their marriage. Monique realizes that without Evelyn, she would have never ended her marriage, stood up to her boss, be writing a best seller, or learned about the “true depths of [her] father’s devotion” (370).
68. At Evelyn’s photoshoot, Monique is overwhelmed by how commanding Evelyn’s presence is in front of the camera. She finds herself captivated despite her hate. After the photoshoot, Monique says good bye to Grace. Evelyn had surprised her assistant with a vacation that leaves immediately. Monique suddenly understands what Evelyn’s plan is: “she wants to die now” (375). Monique keeps her suspicions to herself as Evelyn gives a heartfelt goodbye.
69. Monique heads to meet her mother and wonders if she should stop Evelyn from taking her own life. Two trains pass and she doesn’t get on, frozen by her moral dilemma. Finally, a third train approaches and Monique moves forward; Evelyn deserves to die with dignity. When she sees her mother, Monique cries in her arms. Now, she wonders if she should tell her mother the truth. She asks about their marriage, and her mother is truthful: It wasn’t passionate, but it was profoundly intimate. Monique decides to not tell her—at least not yet. She doesn’t know yet if she’ll tell the whole truth about her father’s death in Evelyn’s biography, she just knows that she’ll do what’s best for her mother. At age 79, Evelyn dies from an accidental overdose in her home. In June, Monique releases an excerpt from her book. In it, she describes Evelyn’s search for truth and, most importantly, informs the world about Evelyn’s wife, Celia.