Press Conference

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HART HOUSE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS — ATLANTA — MORNING

Camera shutters hammer the glass-walled atrium. Reporters crowd behind a velvet rope beneath the gold Hart House monogram. At the podium, GENEVA “GIGI” HART stands poised in ivory. Her smile trembles, but it holds.

ROGER HART stands one pace behind his wife. Stern. Immaculate. His hands remain clasped as if he is waiting for a difficult meeting to end.

GENEVA

The room goes still.

GENEVA

Geneva grips the podium. Joy breaks through the careful composure.

GENEVA

The press erupts. Questions fly. Geneva turns toward Roger, inviting him closer. He steps to the second microphone but does not touch her outstretched hand.

REPORTER

ROGER

His answer chills the room. Geneva looks at him, wounded, then faces the cameras again.

REPORTER

GENEVA

Roger shifts beside her.

GENEVA

REPORTER

Roger’s jaw tightens.

ROGER

GENEVA

She glances at Roger. The unfinished sentence says more than the finished one could.

REPORTER

GENEVA

REPORTER

Geneva’s smile fades.

GENEVA

ROGER

Roger leaves the podium. Geneva watches him go before turning back into the flashbulbs, alone.

EXT. HART HOUSE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS — PARKING GARAGE — SAME TIME

A black Hart House sedan waits in a private bay beneath the building.

Inside, ELLE HART sits in the back seat. Eighteen years old. Watchful. Unreadable. She has not entered the building and has not faced the cameras. KEITH TURNER sits behind the wheel, giving her silence instead of questions.

Even through concrete and tinted glass, the distant press conference can be heard.

Elle watches the private elevator doors, waiting for Roger and Geneva to return.

ELLE

KEITH

Elle settles back against the seat, hiding whatever the answer costs her. Keith checks the elevator in the rearview mirror but does not turn around.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

END OF EPISODE. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR EPISODE 2.