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EXT. HART MANOR — AFTERNOON

A black Hart House sedan glides through iron gates and up a long drive shaded by old magnolias. Beyond them rises HART MANOR — limestone, glass, and impossible elegance overlooking the Atlanta skyline.

In the back seat, ELLE HART stares through the window. For once, her guarded face gives something away.

ELLE

Beside her, GENEVA “GIGI” HART laughs softly. It is the first uncareful sound she has made all day.

GENEVA

Elle looks at her. The wonder disappears as quickly as it came.

INT. HART MANOR — GRAND FOYER — MOMENTS LATER

The front doors open onto polished marble, a sweeping staircase, and museum-worthy art beneath a crystal chandelier. Staff members stand in a quiet receiving line.

Elle steps inside slowly. KEITH TURNER follows at a respectful distance, carrying the only bag she brought with her.

GENEVA

A beat.

GENEVA

Warm greetings ripple through the foyer. Elle says nothing. Her eyes travel from the chandelier to a towering arrangement of white roses, then to a family portrait above the fireplace: Roger and Geneva, younger and smiling, before grief hollowed out the space between them.

ROGER HART enters from his study, still on a business call.

ROGER

He ends the call and looks at Elle.

ROGER

ELLE

Geneva’s smile falters at the formality.

GENEVA

ROGER

He gives Elle a restrained nod.

ROGER

Roger disappears into his study. The heavy doors close behind him.

Geneva reaches for Elle’s hand, but Elle turns toward the staircase before their fingers meet.

INT. ELLE’S BEDROOM — MOMENTS LATER

The room is breathtaking: silk walls in soft blush, a carved canopy bed, fresh peonies, shelves of first editions, and a dressing room filled with clothes in Elle’s size. French doors open onto a private terrace.

Elle stands in the center of it all, overwhelmed.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

The truth lands between them. Geneva’s eyes shine. Elle looks away.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

Elle studies the room again.

ELLE

GENEVA

ELLE

Geneva is startled by the question.

GENEVA

Across the room, Keith lowers his eyes.

GENEVA

ELLE

Geneva absorbs the rejection and forces a warm smile.

GENEVA

She opens her handbag and removes a thick envelope of cash.

GENEVA

Elle looks at the envelope, then at Geneva.

ELLE

GENEVA

Elle takes it carefully.

GENEVA

For the first time since entering the manor, Elle looks relieved.

ELLE

EXT. HART MANOR — MINUTES LATER

Keith opens the rear passenger door. Elle stops beside it.

ELLE

KEITH

He opens the passenger door instead. Elle climbs in. Keith circles to the driver’s side.

From an upstairs window, Geneva watches them. Behind her, unseen, Roger stands in the doorway with a drink he has not touched.

INT. HART SECURITY SUV — CONTINUOUS

The doors close. The tinted glass seals Elle and Keith away from the manor.

Keith starts the engine but does not put the car in gear.

His professional expression falls away.

Elle stares up at the vast house through the windshield. Her hands begin to shake around the envelope of cash.

Keith turns toward her.

KEITH

Elle looks at him, suddenly eighteen and very young.

ELLE

END OF EPISODE. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR EPISODE 3.