The Ruse

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INT. HART HOUSE — ROGER’S STUDY — EVENING

Roger stands at the tall window, a glass of bourbon untouched in his hand.

Below, on the back terrace, ELLE sits with KEITH. She says something — Keith tips his head back and LAUGHS. Elle laughs too. Easy. Unguarded. It is the first time we have seen her look like that.

Roger watches from the shadows of the glass. His jaw tightens.

The study door opens. GENEVA enters, glowing from the kitchen, still reading a recipe card.

GENEVA

Roger doesn’t turn from the window.

ROGER

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

Roger finally turns.

ROGER

GENEVA

The words land. Roger sets his glass down harder than he means to.

ROGER

A beat. Geneva recognizes the exit ramp for what it is. She takes it — for now.

GENEVA

Roger crosses to the door. Stops. Doesn’t look at her.

ROGER

Geneva blinks. Then something softens in her face — a light she hasn’t worn in years.

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

She crosses to him. Low, warm, almost playful.

GENEVA

Roger holds her gaze for a moment. Then, evenly:

ROGER

The light goes out of Geneva’s face like a switched-off bulb.

She steps back. Straightens. Rebuilds herself, piece by piece, the way she does in front of staff and cameras.

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

She walks to the window. Looks down at the terrace — at Elle and Keith laughing in the gold evening light. Her voice is quieter now, and more dangerous for it.

GENEVA

Roger says nothing.

GENEVA

Roger collects his glass. Moves past her toward the door.

ROGER

He leaves.

Geneva stays at the window a long moment. Below, Elle laughs at something Keith says — and Geneva watches her daughter be happy with a stranger, in a family that is falling apart in every room she isn’t standing in.

END OF EPISODE. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR EPISODE 9.