Lying to Be Perfect (2010) - full transcript

We are all Cinderella.

No matter what our size.

Within each one of us
there is a unique beauty and grace.

Finding that beauty, however, isn't easy.

See, Cinderella had to first recognize
that her problem wasn't her evil stepmother.

Her problem was that it was easier
to hide out, cleaning the house

than it was to go out
and find happiness.

She needed a fairy godmother

to empower her with the kind
of self confidence it takes

to reject the insecurity brought
on by unrealistic, overachieving,

airbrushed, anorexic
princess images in the media.



It took some very large
ovaries for Cinderella

to make a change
to trade in her scrub brush

for a fabulous pair
of dancing shoes.

But boy, was it worth it.

I'm gonna be so late.

No! I'm so late! Not today!

You okay?

Yeah. It's Pumpkin, my car...
Broke down. Thank you.

You named your car "Pumpkin"?

Yeah, she's a 65 Mustang restored.
You know, kind of a

pumpkin-into-a-coach
kind of thing.

I'm at Shine. Do you work here?

It's just part-time. You?

Yeah. Until I get fired
for being late to a meeting!



Thank you!

Joy, I'm late.

The meeting's already started.
Lori's having a stroke.

Oh, my God.

Nice of you to join us
this morning.

Lori, my car died and...

So, Nancy, tell me.
Can they sue us?

People can sue for anything.
It's my job to stop them.

But let's be careful,
the names we throw around

when we write an article
about "celebrity cougars".

She should be flattered.
Okay, people, other ideas.

Forty is the new twenty.

Foisty foreplay tips.

Feel great naked workout.

Nola!

We were talking
about ideas for November.

Yeah.

Come up with something that ties Belinda
Apple's book and her November column?

What book?

For those among you
who couldn't bother

to get here on time, Nola Devlin,
I'll repeat myself.

Stanson Publishing which
owns Shine and therefore me,

wants to publish a book
of Belinda Apple's columns.

"Apple gets to the core",
sort of a best-of self help book.

Belinda never mentioned
a book to me.

You edit her column.
You're not her best friend.

I will be writing
the foreword to the book.

You?

You have a problem with that?

No. I just thought
since I edit her column I...

And this matters to me
because...

Precisely.

I'll need the next column myself.

And for God sakes,
clean yourself up.

You should totally be writing
that intro. You know...

You know Belinda better than
anyone and you're an amazing writer.

Thanks.

It's okay. It's really
exciting about the book.

Yeah, for Belinda.

Devlin!

Lunch? Saturday?
You, me and Deb?

I need everything you have
on Belinda Apple.

Her life growing up in England,
education, childhood photos,

articles she wrote for
"Go Fab" magazine before.

Well, I don't have any of that.

Idea. Wait! Call her!

Right. Or I could do a sort of

rough draft of the foreword
for you and then you...

I'm sure your knickers are in a knot
about this but look at you.

No offense but you're
sugar-encrusted nobody.

Do you really think Stanson

wants you to write the foreword
to a book by its biggest star?

- No?
- No. "No" is right.

Then get me what I need.

Go!

Sorry to hear about your car.

That's okay.

But Chip, the new computer guy
is working today and he lives near you

so he could give you
a ride home if you want.

Chip, like "computer chip"?

Anyway, shall I get him to meet you
in the parking lot at six?

Sure. Yes. Thank you.
That would be great.

Okay -Okay

Oh, yeah. It's all limo
rides for you, isn't it?

Me, I get to take a ride home
with the geek squad.

He is computer chip? Oh!

Hey, Hi!

You probably don't recognize me standing
upright but this really is my better side.

I'm Nola Devlin.
You are computer Chip, right?

Is that a joke?

Apparently not a very good one.
Thank you for waiting for me.

Joy told me you live
near me on the north-end

so I really appreciate...
the ride.

You did offer
to give a ride, didn't you?

Well, I'd be happy
to give you a ride.

Oh, yes.

You edit Belinda Apple's column.

Yeah.

So, did you end up getting fired?

No, not yet. But I am sure
that that's in the works.

Bad day?

When I was in the 6th grade a boy
asked me to a Halloween party.

I went as a cheeseburger because
that's the only costume that fit.

Well. When I got there I found out
that you were supposed to be dressed

as what you wanted
to be when you grew up.

Yeah. Today was worse.
I don't wanna talk about it.

And my car, the one that died...

My dad bought me that car
for my 16th birthday.

You know, I mean...
That car took me to college.

I was to the Jersey Shore in that car. That
cat took me to Boston to see Cold Play.

I made out with Ronnie Spilman
in that car.

That car defines me.

Defined you. Past tense.

Hey, look. You know, change is good.

Old car dies.
New car could be better.

What about a... Porsche.

That is my back-up fantasy car.

Back-up fantasy?

Well, my fantasy-fantasy car
s a powder-blue 55 Thunderbird.

I mean, if I had to break the bank,
that would be my sledgehammer.

Now you're talking.

Now I'm dellucinating.
Can't afford that car on my salary.

Don't let work get in the way of your dream.
I speak from my experience.

I am all about the dream and
so not about the job.

Girls like me
don't drive cars like that.

- Says who?
- My low self-esteem.

Well, maybe it's time for you
to grow up,

take charge of your life
and be all that you can be.

Oh, okay.

It's the advice
my father gives me.

But hey, listen, if the whole
dream thing doesn't work for you,

you can always do as he tells me
and demand change.

This one. Right here.

- Right there?
- Yeah.

Thank you for the ride.
It was very nice of you.

Can I offer you anything for gas?

No. I'm cool.

All right.

It's probably none of my business but...

I think your father is wrong. I don't
think you can demand change from people.

I think you have to... inspire it.
You know?

Yeah.

All right.
Let's see what we got.

You ready?

Dear Belinda.
This is my life. Or non-life.

I am a plus-sized woman
in her thirties

with a cat in a pastel
colored apartment.

Could I be any more of a stereotype?

I'm under-appreciated at work.

And the only physical contact
I get is from my cat.

Am I hopeless?
Can I get out of this rut?

Or should I just buy another cat?

Signed "Lifeless in Los Angeles".

All right, Belinda. What do you got?

Dear Lifeless,

Your cat must be tired of the pity party
you've been throwing yourself everyday.

Maybe if you didn't put yourself down
so much you wouldn't be so pathetic.

You want a life? Get one.

Grant yourself a wish to change,
then stop complaining and do something.

Yeah, I did something.

What?

Hi, Lori.

Lori,

you know how you said Shine
needs to distinguish itself

by adding an advice columnist
to address issues facing women today?

I said I wanted a columnist
to answer all the dimwits

who ask embarrassing questions
about their sex lives.

Well, I answered
your sample questions

for the advice columnist in what
I believe is a biting and edgy way.

Oh, you're serious.

I wanna write...

So, write.

here. Lori, I wanna write here.

Listen, I've been an assistant editor for
over a year. And before I came to Shine I wrote

articles for my college paper.
Good stuff. I can do this.

It's good to dream big.

Thank you.

Being a columnist is a very important,
very public position.

It's the face of the magazine.

Right.

You're not a face.

You are just a big girl
with a big dream.

Nice try, though.

She wants a face.
I'll give her a face.

Bing!

I'm hot.

Hi, Lori.

What's wrong with Belinda?

What do you mean?

I can't get her on the phone
to discuss the book.

If she doesn't call me back I'm
going to have to fly to London tomorrow.

Is that really necessary?

This book is a huge deal. It will launch
a new division for the company.

They're dumping a load of
money into promoting it.

Book tour, TV, Oprah...
Belinda will be everywhere.

In person?

That's why they call them
"personal appearances".

I'm gonna try to conference her in.
Hold on.

No, wait!

- What's that?
- Nothing.

Hello!

Belinda... Belinda, finally.
Hi. It's Lori and Nola.

Hello, Lori. Hello Nola.
I'm actually just headed...

At two in the morning?

Yes... in. Just headed in.

- Nola?
- Yeah!

Do you wanna tell her
about our promotional plans?

Is this about the book?

Yes, it is, actually, Belinda.
They want you to come out here.

Well, that's impossible.
I'm in London.

So, it's a good thing
we have planes.

Yes, isn't it?
You know, I don't think I can make it.

You don't even know when it is.

- Oh, when is it?
- End of October.

Definitely can't make it.

Yeah, she's going to... Africa.

How do you know?

Yes! Africa!

Nola and I have been planning
this trip for ages. It's for a charity...

for children.

Did I mention this is launching
a whole new book division?

Goodness! Gracious me! It's two o'clock
in the morning here. I've got to go to bed.

You two work it out.
I'll talk to you later. Bye!

- Nola, are you still there?
- Yeah, hey.

Do you think I give a rat's ass about
her vacation plans?

You better make sure
she's here by October 30th.

Or?

Or you're fired.
You recommended her.

I don't care
if she's boosted circulation 50%.

If she blows this for me
I will destroy her.

And you.

Have a good night!

I'm screwed.

Could we get that table by the window?
That's our favorite spot.

Oh, I'm really sorry.
That table's reserved.

Oh, really! I didn't know that
you could reserve tables.

We can now.
We're under new management.

Chester... is it?

Well, this is Nola Devlin.
She edits Belinda Apple's column

which I'm sure everyone
in America has read.

It's just that, you know, the first Saturday
of every month we sit at that table.

And this Saturday it's reserved.

Oh, God, here we go.

You wouldn't, by any chance,
not be giving us that table

because we are
on the zaftig side. Would you?

I don't know what you mean.

Because we're fat.

Would you like to order?

Yes. We'd like
the table by the window.

Ladies, if you're not happy with the service here
there are a number of other restaurants in Princeton.

Zaftig? What are we?
Russian peasant women?

This is fat discrimination.

Sorry!

I wish I had a magic wand so
I could instantly make us thin.

Like Cinderella. Except instead of a
ball gown we'd get hip bones and a waist.

Sorry, my magic wand
is in the repair shop.

Maybe it's time
for a fairy godmother.

Don't do it. Don't pull her out.

Belinda Apple represents
the woman I would be if I could

reclaim my power and
get out on my own way.

We all need to do that.

If Belinda is so great
at giving advice

then how come Nola works
for her and she's still such a mess?

Hey!

Honey, you're a fantastic writer
but you're editing someone else's work.

You're a wonderful woman but
there are no men in your life.

And that pizza delivery guy...
not Prince Charming.

Come on now, listen.

Dear fabulous Belinda,

I'm tired of being overweight,
bla bla bla,

I've dieted my whole life,
and now I'm almost 250 pounds.

What should I do?

Two fifty! Wow! She should
stop weighting herself.

Dear sexy underneath it all.

I will let you in on my deepest,
darkest secret.

I used to be desperately overweight.
Finally I couldn't stand it any more.

I had to take control of my life.
Was it hard? Yes. How did I do it?

By reclaiming my power,
getting out on my own way,

by finding a symbol to remind myself
of the person I knew I was inside

and by being honest with myself.

There's no way
that woman was ever fat.

Let's say we follow
Belinda's example and just do it.

No, I can't, you guys. I have
way too much on my plate right now.

You're just scared of change.

I like my life.
I have a good job,

a husband who loves me with whom I
have sex once a month. Why should I change?

But, are you happy?

I mean, completely, utterly,
every moment happy.

I'm not. I mean...

Paul loves me
but I don't love me.

Every spring we take the kids
to Paul's parents in Seattle.

Kids want to go some place warm
but we don't because they know

I would never step foot
on a beach on a bathing suit.

I just wanna be with my family
doing normal family things.

Oh, come on, don't cry.

Let's do it. Let's do
what Belinda said

and let's become the women
we know we are inside.

You really believe in her, don't you?

Don't you?

Don't you want the person inside
of you to finally emerge?

That's a complicated question.

We've all been on diet.

But this time we'll do it together.

We're there for one another.
Totally honest and no one's off the hook.

On one condition.

In four months we go back
to the Willoughby Cafe,

we get that table
by the window and

we shame Chester until
he is groveling at our feet.

Done.

One, we meet September 5th
to humiliate Chester.

Supporting each other no matter
where and no matter what.

We can work out together
every other day.

To start.

Work out and diet. No secret stashes.
Nola, you know what I'm talking about.

And we need our symbols to remind us
of who we're gonna be.

Mine is red. When I was thin,
I wore color. Now I just...

well, I wear Eileen Fischer
versions of a burka.

Nancy wants bold proud red and I...
wanna wear bikini on the beach.

Nola?

I don't know.
Can I think about it?

All right. Nola's goal TBD.

We have weekly weigh-ins
with our weight-loss pact.

Can we call it something else?

Well, since Belinda is our fairy godmother
how about "the Cinderella pact"?

A toast! To change.

To friendship.

To the Cinderella pact.

Belinda would be so proud of it.

I hope so. I really do.

I can't go in there.

"Can't" is not part
of our vocabulary, okay?

Together we have strength.

We give each other confidence.

Honey, listen, nobody said
this was gonna be easy, right? We can...

We should hire a personal trainer.
Work out on our own terms.

Great idea! What do you think of that?

Okay.

Nola? Hey, you work out here too?

No.

No, because we already
worked out actually.

It was really intense.
We had a good one, right?

This is my friend Nancy and
this is my friend Deb.

This is Chip. He gave a ride
when Pumpkin died.

Really!

I'm gonna go in. It was nice
meeting you, guys. Good to see you.

Yeah!

Oh, my God. I'm such a looser.

He is adorable!

Deb, don't get any ideas.
He is too adorable for me.

Oh, come on. He would be lucky
to have you, wouldn't he?

Absolutely.

Cinderella pact.

Well, that was exhausting.
I felt the burn.

Me too. I think I pulled
something back there.

Oh, great first day, ladies.

Keep it coming. Let's go. Punch.

Final stretch, Deb.
How you doing?

- Hangin' in.
- All right.

Push it. Let's go.

Keep it tight, keep it tight.

Okay, 45 seconds.

Come on, Deb. Let's go!

Oh, my God!
What do you guys eat for breakfast?

Oh, Deb, they're waiting!
Let's go Deb!

Go, Deb!

Yeah!

That's it. That's my goal.

Oh, Nola, it's...

Perfect.

Cinderella would be proud.

- Hello!
- Belinda,

it's Charlotte, your agent,
who you never call back.

Hi, Charlotte.
How are you, darling?

I'm sorry to call you so late.

But we really do need
to talk about this book.

I've been getting calls from
a Lori Digrigio at Stanson.

Over twenty, to be exact.

She really needs to
schedule personal appearances

and a promotional tour
to launch this book.

It's part of your contract.
They really need some dates.

Do you know what?
I will check my calendar

and I will get back to you
with many options, okay?

No, no, Belinda.
It would be really helpful

if we could do this right now
while I got you on the phone...

This is... Charlotte, I have to call
you back. It's a terrible line! Bye! Bad line!

Oh! No!

Mr. Tuchman, everything's under control!
I just burned my dinner again!

Hi!

What happened?

I'm sorry. I set off the smoke alarm
again. It happens all the time.

Don't worry about a thing. There.

What's up?

I brought over something
I want you to watch.

Okay.

Gastric bypass.
Miracle answer or helpful tool.

Once you get past the black stools
and the possible death thing

it's actually pretty okay.

Deb, you can't be serious
about having this surgery.

Mr. Tuchman, everything's
under control. See? It stopped.

Don't hang up. It's Chip.

Chip? How did you get this number?

The company directory.

Oh, did I leave something
in your truck?

No, I was actually
in your neighborhood

and was wandering if
you wanna meet for a drink.

Meet for a drink? Meet tonight?

Yes! Yes!

Could you hold on
for a second, please?

I wanna talk to you
about this surgery.

I'm not having it tomorrow.
Are you nuts?

Stomach surgery DVD
or amazingly hunky guy?

All right. I got it.

Yeah, I think I could
probably make it.

Where are you?

Brown's? In half hour?

Tell him you'll be there.

Half hour. I'll be there.

All right. Bye.

Oh, my God.

Don't just stand there.
Let's get you dressed. Come on.

Half an hour! What am I?
Wonder Woman? Look at me!

But you've got four hands!
Come on!

Nola...

Hi!

I kind of feel really overdressed

Excuse me. The lady will have...

A white wine spritzer.

Thank you. Right over here.

Wow. It is a good thing I changed.
I was gonna wear the exact same outfit.

- You look nice.
- Thank you.

So, did you buy a new car yet?

I rented one. A Volvo.

- Very safe choice.
- Yeah.

But safe is not all
it's cracked up to be.

Sometimes you need to step
outside your comfort zone

and take risks to be successful.

Okay.

Another one-sided conversation
I've been having with my father for years.

So, what's his definition of success?

Someone who is hard-working,
responsible and focused.

So, you're lazy,
reckless and unfocused?

That's the old me.
Apparently I was avoiding success.

It sounds to me like you might've
been avoiding failure.

Not a bad life strategy, you know.
You never try, you never fail.

Probably. A very astute observation.

Yes, well...

I'm very insightful and intuitive.
It's a gift and a curse.

- Really?
- Yeah.

What am I thinking right now?

You're thinking that you
don't wanna tell me

all your secrets 'cause it'll
make you seem vulnerable.

You're right.

Never talk about my personal life.

I'm gonna do something
for you here, okay?

I'm gonna tell you one
embarrassing thing about me

so that we can be equally
vulnerable.

That's only fair.

I'm a criminal.

I downloaded a movie illegally
off the Internet before it came out on DVD.

So, you're in the run
from the law.

Yes, you're aiding
and abetting a criminal.

Damn.

What?

That woman's just walked out
of the ladies' room.

She's sort of an old girlfriend.
Things ended badly.

Ended badly like "she went to yoga and never came
back" badly or "she boiled your pet rabbit" badly.

Go with me on this.

Well, hello. I thought you died.

Not dead. Just traveling,
busy with work and...

This is my girlfriend, Nola.

Nola?

Nola... Devlin. Hi!
I'm his girlfriend.

You are beyond pathetic.

You stopped calling me
because you're dating this fat lady?

No, I stopped calling you
because we broke up six months ago.

We're over.

We're not over until she sings.

You know what?

Hey!

Classy, Ange. Thanks.

Nola, wait up!

No, no, no!

I'm so sorry.
Angie is a total psycho. I...

Please, can I at least walk you home?

No, obviously I can take care of myself.

What if I just walk
six steps behind you?

Then if I get mugged
you can step in and save me.

I'm an idiot, okay? I got caught off-guard.
I had no idea that she'd be there.

I never should've used you
like that. I'm sorry.

You know, you should be sorry.

Don't you get it?

Girls like me are easy targets
for girls like that, you know?

You should have never put me
in that position.

It was humiliating for me. And
believe me, my life is humiliating enough.

You have every right to be angry.
But I would never humiliate you.

I just wanna know one thing!
Why did you call me tonight?

To meet for a drink.

No. You could have called
a hundred girls just like that.

Why did you called ME?

I don't know. I...

I feel comfortable with you,
I thought we could be friends.

You have a really interesting way
of making new friends, you know?

I screwed up.

Come on, you've never done
something stupid you regret?

Never.

Do I really need to remind you of the
cheeseburger costume debacle?

I'm really truly sorry about tonight.

No, it's okay.

Friends?

Sure. Friends.

Okay.

So, what are your Saturdays like?

Oh, well. Saturdays I...
I train with Oscar de la Hoya. Why?

Well, I wanted the chance to thank you
for protecting me against Angie.

I'm working in a new project
in L.A. for six weeks.

June 13th. Pick you up at noon?

Sure. Yeah. Noon.

- Six weeks?
- Six weeks.

Bye -Bye

Who am I kidding?

Hot, sexy guy does not want
ordinary zaftig me.

He wants someone like you.

Hey, girls, check this out.

These jeans that you see me
wearing today?

Found them in the back of my closet.

Last time I wore them I was 18.
I tried them on and they fit!

When is your date with Chip?

We... we're friends.
It's not a date.

Oh, but it could be.

Yeah. He's way out of my league.

Why? Because you're smart and
you're funny, and...

Hello! You gonna help me out here?

The lap-band is an inflatable
device placed around the stomach

creating a small pouch.
They don't remove any

of the digestive system
and it's easy to reverse.

This is way better for me
than a gastric...

Thank you.

than a gastric bypass.

Well, at least they're not going
to reroute your intestines.

However the procedure is not without risks.
One in 2500 patients die?

I already have
high blood pressure.

I'm at risk
for diabetes and heart disease.

It's been almost a month
since we started the pact.

And you and Nola
have lost weight.

I gained.

I want... need this.

Of course, you do.
And we're your best friends.

We're here for you
no matter what.

Good.

Cause I already have it scheduled
and you guys better be there.

I got your message.
What's going on?

Richard Stanson called.

He wants to launch
the book at September.

September?
What happened to late October?

They want the book out
before fall.

And it gets better.

Shine is hosting a launch party
for Belinda September 5th

and she's not even
returning my e-mails

I talked to the editor at "Go Fab" magazine
and she never even worked there.

This could be like Jayson Blair
and the New Times all over again.

You're overreacting.
I doubt that...

What the hell is going on?
It's like she doesn't even exist.

She exists!

You talked to her on the telephone.
She is very shy and the book tour...

I mean, she hates
doing personal appearances.

I don't care.

Belinda's contract specifically
includes promotional tie-ins.

If she doesn't understand that
then she'll have plenty of time

to reread the contract
she's violated

in a little retreat called
the Beacon Correctional Facility.

Now find her.

Go.

I'm thinking of using.

Don't do it.

Whatever happened
that'll be okay, eventually.

I'm not so sure about that.

What's wrong?

Can I ask you a legal hypothetical?

All right. Let's say
there is a person. A singer.

- What kind of singer?
- I don't know. A country singer.

- I like country.
- Oh, okay, good. So...

Let's say this country singer
she's supposed to do a concert

but she doesn't show up.

I'm assuming that concert people
would probably sue her but

what if she doesn't have any money?
Does she go to jail?

- What, like debtor's prison?
- Yeah.

Yeah. If Dickens were still alive.

These days they'd figure out something
else. She'd do another concert for free.

Wow. What's going on?

Nothing. I just...
I'm doing research for Belinda.

Right. No wonder you're eating.

What does that suppose to mean?

You do all the work,
she takes the credit.

Not true.

Oh, come on. You've always been
the one to take the broken cookie.

Because you don't think you deserve
the good one. It's like you...

you stand in the shadows
while other people shine.

I get it. It's easier to sabotage
yourself stuffing your face

than it is to just put yourself
out there and risk failure.

You know, broken or whole
a cookie never rejects you.

When you're ready you'll stand up.
You'll take center stage.

But until then you need to
find comfort without food.

Dear desperate in Duluth,
do not give up on yourself.

You are worth a million times more
than that cheating husband of yours.

Your life isn't over because he is gone.

It is just beginning
because you are free.

Free from the lying,
the deceit, the pain...

You, my friend,
can be anything you want now.

On my honor I will try to do my best
to love my country and God

and obey all the rules
set out in the handbook.

I always feel better
after I pray.

That was the "Brownie Promise".

It's still sacred and I have
the badges to prove it.

I think the Valium is working.

Honey they're going to
come get you soon.

Thanks for being here, guys.
It means a lot.

Where else would we be?

Paul should be here.

You know what?
You're changing. You know?

And some people
are afraid of change.

What's Paul think?
I'll lose a few pounds and

George Clooney'll want to take me
and the kids to Italy to ride Vespas?

Seriously no, right?

Listen: you can't let Paul
dictate what you want.

You have to stand up for yourself.

I am so going to do that,

once my stomach has been reduced
to the size of a dill pickle.

I can't believe Paul's not here. Honestly,
I mean, he's just... He's clueless.

So are a lot of men.

Ron's a man. He's not.

Yeah. But Ron's different.

Mm-mm. You're different.
You stand up for yourself.

Not always.

Yeah. Right.

Okay. I'm gonna admit something here.

I think that...
Belinda Apple may be right.

I kinda feel like
our Cinderella pact is working.

You know that I wasn't always like this.
I mean. I used to have a waist and...

Then I started working at Stanson and
there wasn't a day that Ted Fines

wouldn't stare at my chest or...

accidentally grab my ass.

I was like the ultimate doormat

You never told me that.

That's embarrassing.

Here I am representing employees
against sexual harassment

while I'm taking it myself.

So you put on weight.

Well, the bigger I got
the less Ted hassled me.

You know, I've lost 21 pounds
and I should be happy.

But what if I keep loosing weight
and the harassment starts again?

It won't. You won't let it.

Hey, sweety, we're here.

Am I thinner?

Definitely!

Excellent.

I snagged this from
the fashion closet upstairs.

Very nice.
It'll look great with you eyes.

It's not for me.
It's for you date... with Chip.

Again, not a date.
A friend thing.

Whatever. You can still look nice.
Your clothes are swimming on you now

but you boobs, they still look great.
And this tent look is getting old.

My boobs look great?

Totally. Chip will be very impressed.
You know, in a friendly way.

Hi!

Hey, you ready?
I have a surprise.

My purse, my keys...

What?

You look different.

Good different or bad different.

Definitely...
definitely good different.

Okay, let's see this surprise.

Yeah, come on.

Right over here.

Oh, my god!

Yeah, well I do a lot of work
for the dealership

so they said we could
take it for a test drive.

You brought this for me to ride?

Yeah. I wanted to apologize...
again.

You could've bought me
a houseplant.

Come on. Let's take
this baby for a ride.

I can't

Why not?

She's so beautiful... I...
I can't drive this car.

Well, there is some element of risk
in living your dreams.

Hold on.

You're no longer Volvo-safe.
You are sports car fearless.

Thank you.

Yes! There is something just
so wrong about ketchup on a hot dog.

You sure you don't want anything?

No, I'm good. It's...

I'm kind of doing this Cinderella
pact with my friends.

We're trying to eat healthy,
lose a little weight.

- Well, you look great.
- Oh, thank you.

Okay. That makes it official.
This is the most fun I've ever had

without trans-fats being involved.

Fast cars, compliments,
what could be better?

Yeah, you can't beat
fast cars for fun

and I've definitely had my fill in
my danger-seeking irresponsible youth.

Oh!

What?

No, nothing.

All right. It's just...
You have a relationship

with a Porsche dealership, right?
You've had a lot of fast cars.

And not that it's not a
wonderful profession but

I didn't realize you could make
so much money fixing people's computers.

My... family has money, not me.

You know, and I've been slacking
for a few years but I'm trying to change.

Oh, yeah?
How's that working out for you?

Well, you know,
one step forward, two steps back.

Croquet!

- You play?
- Oh, no, not anymore.

That was part of
my danger-seeking, irresponsible youth.

I don't just play. I... I dominate.

Really?

Mm-mm

Mm

Well, I guess we're...
going to have to see about that.

It's the last point in the match and Nola
appears to be crumbling under the pressure.

Stop stalling!

Losing to a girl would be
humiliating for the cool guy.

She should remember that he
found her her back-up fantasy car.

True. He should know

that if she let's him win it's only
cause she took pity on him.

What is that?

What?

No!

Yes! He wins!

- No!
- Yes! I did!

- You cheated!
- No, I did not.

- He cheated!
- No.

- You guys saw that!
- I did not.

Cheat!

- Thank you, guys.
- Thanks, guys.

- That was fun.
- Yeah.

- So...
- So...

What's it like working for Belinda Apple?

Uh... exciting, frustrating.

Sometimes I feel like
she's taken over my life.

Sounds demanding.

More like all-consuming.

Do you ever feel like you're...
living in Belinda's shadow?

You know, like no one
would ever take you seriously

if she weren't
the name ahead of yours.

Yeah, all the time.

How'd you know?

Well, you have Belinda.
I have my father.

We're both treading water
at the same end of the pool.

Except I don't know how to swim.

Yeah, I found people will
generally tell who they are

the first three minutes you know them.
You just have to listen.

Well, I don't think Angie told me she
was a complete nut-job when we first met.

Sometimes you have to close you eyes
and listen between the lines.

Um, here.

Oh, thank you.

Thanks. So, thank you for
a wonderful, wonderful day.

No, thank you.

Hey, so, listen. I'm going
out of town again for work

but maybe when I get back
we can get together. Dinner?

Oh, god. No need. You know,
you're totally forgiven

for Angie's behavior.
You're off the hook.

Well, this next date would have
nothing to do with Angie.

- Date?
- August 31st?

Oh, wow. You really like to plan
in advance, don't you?

What are you doing Thanksgiving
two years from now?

All right. Well...

Hey, you bowl?

No.

Good. We'll go bowling.

That way I can reclaim
my manhood. You in?

Sure.

All right.

Now Corporate has decided they want
Belinda to write the intro to the book.

Call her in Botswana
or wherever the hell she is.

I need it next week.

I don't think Belinda wants
to be part of the book's publication.

Excuse me?

No, it's just she's only been writing
for the magazine seven months.

Maybe she thinks it's too early.

The publishing world is in serious trouble.
Magazines are folding every day.

Shine was on line-support before
Belinda started her column.

Ad-revs are up
and Mr. Stanson likes her.

If she doesn't show up to support the book
at the launch party he will be furious.

He could kill the magazine. You got it?

Go.

Hi. You're obviously the food lady.
Can I leave these with you?

Why am I obviously the food lady?
Is it because I'm not size two? Hm?

All right.
Let me tell you something, Sherlock.

Real women, they don't look like the women
you see on TV or magazine covers, okay?

So go ahead. You tell me.

Why must I obviously be
the food lady?

Because your...
your desk says you are.

Right. Sorry.

All right. I'm going to head home a little
early tonight, everybody. I kind of...

Yeah, 'cause, you know, the last ride
to Crazytown leaves, and I got shotgun.

Oh! Oh, my god!

What?

The size 18 is too big!

Oh! Okay, wait. Here, I'm going to...

bring you some other sizes.
Maybe these will fit.

- Thanks.
- Okay.

Why can't Paul be excited about this?

The more weight I lose,
the angrier he gets.

I begged him to go to counseling,
but he refused.

That's no right, Deb.

What do you think Belinda would
tell me to do?

Well, I think she'd say that you
deserve to be loved unconditionally,

and if you're not
you should consider your options.

I know, right? It's a 14.

You know the last time I was a size 14?
High school.

Oh, my god, Deb, you're so thin.

Oh, I'm not that thin.

Oh, I've lost 37 pounds.

37 pounds? Oh, my god. I'm just...
I'm so proud of you.

Oh, I couldn't have done it without you
and Nancy and Belinda.

The Cinderella Pact rocks.

Now we need to find you something
fantastic to wear on your date.

No, no, no. I'm good.

I've got something in the back
of my closet. I can pull it out...

Okay, your brain needs
to catch up with your body.

Yeah, you need some
clothes that actually fit you.

All right. We are not
back-of-closet girls anymore.

Deb, I...

You need a new dress.
Good. Here, try.

Go.

You know what? Why...

Eh, eh, eh. Do it for me. Go.

I don't need...

I don't want to hear it,
I want to see it.

Dear stuck in a rut:
A date is nothing to freak out over.

Wear something that says "I am
confident and prepared for anything"

Makeup should enhance, not camouflage
your own unique qualities.

And most importantly, be yourself.

You don't want to be with anyone
who doesn't see the real you.

- Hey.
- Hi.

Hi. Come on in.

Hey, you look great.
I mean, you know, not that, you know,

you didn't look great before,
but you were... more...

more...

No, I...

There's not really a graceful way
out of this, is there?

This is uncharted territory.
Come on. Can I...

offer you something to drink?

I have diet root beer,
diet cola, diet ice tea, wine...

- I'll take the wine.
- Okay, great.

But only if it is diet.

Uh, make... make yourself at home.

So... how long since
I've seen you, anyway?

So, that was either totally
inappropriate and awkward, or...

Or it was really spontaneous and
and nice. I mean, it was nice for me.

- It was nice, wasn't it?
- Very.

- And not at all awkward.
- No. Not at all.

- Not like this conversation.
- Right.

- Drink?
- Oh, yeah. I'd love one.

Great.

I can't seem to...

- May I?
- Yes. Please.

- Can you excuse me...
- Oh, yeah.

I'll be right back.

Nola Devlin, girl gone wild.

Okay, don't freak out.

Nance, what's wrong?

I'm working and my computer crashed.

Oh, well, Nancy, I know that's a real
bummer, and I'm sorry, but I gotta...

Yeah, but they sent Chip over to fix it.
He's standing in front of me right now,

and believe me, he is so not
the hot guy from the gym.

No, Chip is standing in my living room
right now. He just kissed me.

Whoever kissed you
isn't Chip, the computer guy.

Well, then, who the hell
is standing in my living room?

Who are you?

I know you're not Chip.

Oh, god. Listen...

No, no, no. Are you even in tech support?

No.

Oh, god, please tell me
you're not a serial killer.

I'm not a serial killer.

Look, you can put down the candlestick.

Who are you?

Alex Stanson.

As in Stanson Publishing "Alex Stanson"?

That would be my father, Alex senior.

So... Why did you let me
think you were computer Chip?

That day that you got
in my truck thinking I was Chip,

I had just come
from a meeting with my father.

My relationship with him is
strained at best.

And you totally turned
that day around for me.

You were unguarded, gutsy, funny,
and you were interested in me.

I didn't want to ruin it
by telling you who I was.

I tell people who I am
and they just start acting differently.

Plus, I'm kind of in this
new phase of my life.

Your "fat girl" phase?

My "trying to be
a better person" phase.

I have one last shot to prove
my worth in the family business.

You see, I quit five years ago,
and now that I've come back,

my father put me in charge
of a new book division.

My idea.

Our first book...

is a collection
of Belinda Apple's columns.

I'm so achingly aware of that,
and this has just become a nightmare.

You knew I edited her columns.

Yeah.

Please go.

Look, Nola...

You used me.

That is not true.

Yes, okay, in the beginning,
I maybe I saw an opportunity

to learn more about Belinda,
but then that changed,

and I wanted
to learn more about you.

Belinda works for you.

I work for you. Your family...

This doesn't work. Okay?
It doesn't work.

You have...
please don't say anything else.

Just... just go.

Alex Stanson Jr., the only heir
to the Stanson empire,

which includes magazines, newspapers,
extensive real estate holdings,

has turned being a trust fund
playboy into an art.

He goes through women
like other men go through socks.

Devlin?

Yeah.

Do you know what this is?

Belinda Apple's
contract for her book.

Do you know what
should be right there?

Her signature.

The book launch party is in less than a week.
Legal is going crazy.

I sent someone from our London office
to the address Belinda gave us,

but all she found was a post office box
with some fan mail addressed to Belinda.

I need proof of life.

What, like Belinda's severed ear
wrapped in today's newspaper?

No. Like a personal
appearance on September 5th.

If she doesn't show,
that will be my proof.

I will go talk to Legal
after lunch, okay?

Hey, Nancy, are we still meeting
at the track after work? I...

I really need to talk.

Nance!

Oh! thank god!

I guess that you don't want
to talk about the last night,

and I'm glad that
you're still alive, but

who the hell was
the guy in your apartment?

All right, it turns out that
the most perfect guy I've ever met

is the guy publishing
Belinda Apple's new book

Alex Stanson junior.

Your "Chip" is Alex Stanson?
No way.

Yes. yes, yes. yes way.

Wow.

Oh, god. there's more.

I really liked him, a lot.

And the awful part is
I think he really liked me.

Well, why are you talking
about this in the past-tense?

Because there can be no future-tense.
There can't be any tense.

Listen, I...

I need to tell you
something, okay?

What?

I'm Belinda Apple.

What? That's impossible.

You know, nine months ago,
Lori wanted an advice columnist,

she wouldn't give me a shot
because I didn't look the part?

All right, well,
I came up with a plan, and...

I created "Belinda Apple".

That's not a plan,
that's insanity.

Yeah.

- Who's the woman on the billboards?
- Me, with a little Photoshop.

Does anyone else know about this?

No! It wasn't supposed to go this far.

I mean, she wasn't supposed
to become famous.

I just... I was gonna write as Belinda
for a little while to prove that I

could do it, and then I was gonna
go into Lori's office and tell her

that she shouldn't judge
people on their jeans size,

she should be judging them
on their qualifications.

Yeah, I really wish that you had.
I mean...

You deserve that job,
fat or thin.

You need to believe
that you deserve it.

Yeah.

Nancy, listen.

I'm so sorry
I didn't tell you sooner.

Look, putting aside the fact that
one of my best friends couldn't...

wouldn't tell me about something
this important, putting that aside,

do you have any idea what kind
of a professional crap-storm

you've just rained down on me?

I'm so sorry.

Look, if I don't say something,
and this comes out,

I could be fired for knowing about it
and doing nothing.

So what are you going to do?

Nothing.

I know you.

I love you.

And you will do the right thing.

Yeah.

You know, one good thing
has come out of all of this.

What?

The Cinderella pact.
You look amazing.

Yeah, I've lost
another five pounds.

How am I going to get out
of this in one piece?

Lori's coming apart
at the seams.

I mean, she's got this contract she wants
Belinda to sign. You know? she's crazy!

And I can't keep
stalling her for very much longer.

Come on.
We're gonna figure this out.

It's Deb.

- Where?
- Shh.

Hey, Deb.

Hey. Deb, where are you?

- If anything, scotch makes you happy.
- Hey, guys! this is Josh.

Josh, these are the friends
I was telling you about.

Do you want a drink?

No. No, I think we're good.

I thought you weren't supposed
to drink after your surgery?

Who are you, her mother?

No, Josh. Her best friend.

Come on.

Do you mind telling us
what you think you're doing?

I was just having some fun.
Is that a crime?

Okay, "fun" is a pedicure.
"Fun" is a great day at the beach.

A fast car is "fun",

not knocking back manhattans
with some random businessman.

You're married!

I know. I've been settling my whole life.
I don't want to settle anymore.

You know, it's terrifying,

but for the first time ever,
I feel like I have choices.

And isn't that why
I went through the surgery?

Do you know what I did today?

I went to an assembly
at my son's school.

I was so happy being there,
just a mom sitting in the audience,

not some fat woman
everyone was staring at.

Paul never showed.

Do you know why I married him?

Because I was scared
no one else would have me.

Do you know what's worse?
He knew that!

He doesn't love me,
he just wants to control me.

Are you gonna leave him?

I don't know.

What would Belinda say?

Yeah. what would Belinda say?

I think she'd tell you that you deserve better than
trolling in bars for attention from strange men.

You are better.
And you know what?

You should create
the life you deserve.

That's exactly what she'd say.

Yeah, no joke.

Tell her.

What?

She is Belinda.

That's impossible.

You're Belinda?

I'm Belinda.

But how?

It's really complicated.
I mean...

Well, I started by submitting
my columns electronically to Lori...

Do you mean all the advice
I got from Belinda,

the advice that I changed my life for,
the Cinderella pact, that was all a lie?

No. No! I believed every word.

It just... it seemed like you
would listen to it more

when it came
from someone like Belinda.

I just want what's best for you.

And to regain my power
and be the person I am inside.

Yes! yes! yes!

That was part of the pact,
and we were supposed to be honest

We would always be honest
with one another.

And you were lying
from the start.

You never believed
any of this could be real.

That's not true.
I hoped it would be. I did.

Losing weight
has given me the confidence

to stand up for myself
and be honest about my feelings.

You have no idea
how much you've hurt me.

Well, I don't want to deal
with this right now.

I can't.

I'll go.

Nola, hi. Sorry about
leaving a message. Again.

Since I haven't heard from you,

you are either, "a" on a road trip with
Otis and too busy to check your messages,

or "b" in the finals of an international croquet
tournament and unaware you have messages,

or "c" avoiding me
and hoping I stop calling.

I vote for "a" or "b",
because "c" makes me sad.

Yes, hello, is Charlotte there?

This is her client, Belinda Apple.

Could you let her know that I need her
to call me as soon as possible, please?

Thank you.

Charlotte?

Yes?

I'm Nola Devlin, Belinda Apple's editor.

Where is she?

Actually, you're looking right at her.

I'm Belinda Apple.

Of course you are, darling.
There's a little bit of "Belinda" in all of us.

No, Charlotte.

I'm your client.
I'm Belinda Apple.

But you're so not-British, or stylish.
No offense.

I thought you'd be younger, but then

maturity is just experience
wrapped in wrinkles, isn't it?

Oh, my god.
You really are Belinda.

Correction: I've been pretending to be her,
and I've hurt the people I love the most.

My whole life is
a monumental train wreck.

I'm probably gonna get fired, go to jail,
and never work as a journalist again,

and I was just wondering
if you could help me.

Oh, lord, let's get you a drink.

Wow, you have got yourself
into quite the quandary.

I know, and I can't fake it anymore.
I can't.

You can fake a lot of things,
but you cannot fake talent,

- whether you call yourself Belinda or Nina...
- Nola.

Whatever. You are a writer.
Believe in that. Women love your column.

I have the fan mail to prove it.

Fan mail is not going
to keep me out of jail.

Okay then. Okay then.

You do have some options.
One: do nothing.

Let the chips fall where they may.

Two: write a letter of resignation,
quit before the whole thing falls apart.

But your legal problems
won't go away.

Or three: show up, tell the truth,
and watch the whole thing implode in person.

It's perfect.

Well, not the imploding part,
of course, but

why shouldn't you go
to that party?

Um, here's a clue:
I'm not Belinda Apple.

Not yet. But with a little work

I think
you could bring her to life.

You're crazy.

Yeah, "crazy" is sometimes
the basis of genius.

Go as Belinda.

You keep your secret, I keep my commission,
that's a win-win situation.

Nobody is ever going to believe
that I'm Belinda Apple.

Think about it.

Nola?

Chip! Alex... whoever you are.

What are you doing here?

Um, I was supposed to meet
Belinda Apple's literary agent

but I just got a message
saying she had to cancel.

Have you eaten dinner?

Haven't eaten lunch
and this is dinner.

Wow. It looks like your Cinderella
diet's a little extreme.

- Cinderella pact.
- Right.

And you have no idea how extreme.

It kinda messes
with your head, you know?

I don't, but I know
you need some food, real food,

and since it looks like
you've lost even more weight,

I think you could afford
to eat something.

Thank you.

Sorry I lied.

Okay, listen. you lie, I lie,
everybody lies.

We all tell little lies, and big lies,
and middle-of-the-road lies.

We're not to be trusted.

Cheaters never prosper. Or is it liars?
Gosh, I can never remember.

Go home, Alex Stanson.

I don't want to go home.

You're a nice guy.

You're a really, really nice guy.
You're too nice for me.

That's not true.

You don't know the real Nola Devlin,
the inner-workings, the heart and soul.

Well, here's what I do know:

Nola Devlin is
funny, smart, pretty.

See? Too nice.

I like who I am with you.

I'm not who you think I am.
I mean, I am, I am, but I'm not.

Don't we all feel that way?

Oh, listen, I'm serious.
There is no...

Very nice.

Did I just say that out loud?

No.

Oh, sorry.

Wait.

I am not like other girls
you've been with.

Thank god.

No, it's just that...
See, my body is...

Beautiful.

You have a beautiful body.

Let's never leave here, ever.

Oh, god. Let me guess.
Taiwan for six weeks.

No. Actually L.A.
for a shareholder's meeting,

and then back here Friday
for the book launch.

Alex, about the book launch...

What if Belinda doesn't show?
I mean, she can be really unreliable.

Well, if she doesn't show
she'll be letting down a lot of people.

I'm sure it would be
disappointing for you,

since you're as much a part
of the book as Belinda is.

- Look, Alex, I...
- Nola,

I think I'm falling in love with you.

Chip? Alex?

- Hey.
- Hi.

Good morning.

I have to catch my flight.
Go back to sleep.

I'll see you at the book launch.

All right.

- Get some rest.
- Okay.

Bye.

Wait.

There is no Belinda Apple,
and I'm a big fat liar.

Hey, Nola! whatcha doing?

Hey, Joy, have you seen Lori?

She's getting her dress
fitted for the party.

Oh, but, hey, if you see her,
can you tell her that Belinda's agent

sent over a ton of fan mail
from her office last night?

Fan mail?

Well, it is in the mail room.

Thanks, Joy.

Dear Belinda,
you saved my life! I was 216...

Dear Belinda, thank you,
thank you, thank you.

You gave me the courage
to stand up for myself...

Belinda, you are my guardian angel.
You inspired me to follow my dreams...

Dear Miss Apple, if it weren't for you,
I wouldn't be here writing this letter.

Hey, Nance.

Hey. You ready for tomorrow?

What's tomorrow?

Oh, it's end-game.

The day we go back to the Willoughby Cafe
and witness some serious grovelling?

Right. Right. God.

My dress is gone.

Your goal dress?

Have you heard from Deb?

No.

Alex Stanson said he loves me.

I don't know what to do.

I have this invitation here for Nola
to Belinda Apple's book launch.

This is a letter from a woman in Duluth

telling Belinda that she saved her life.

Alex wants me, Nola,
to go to the book launch with him.

This woman needs Belinda to show up.

I can't be both people at the same time.

Rewind. He said he loves you?

Yeah.

Wow.

And it's killing me.

I just... should have listened!
You were right.

You know, why did I make
all this stuff up?

I should have just believed in myself enough to
tell Lori the truth from the beginning, and...

That is disgusting.

Well, a little simplistic maybe, but...

For years, I have been hiding myself
under a homemade fat suit

so you wouldn't treat me
like a sex object,

and then I started shrinking
my body and building my self-esteem.

I even started to think
"maybe Ted's not so bad",

"Maybe I was just imagining things"

but there is no way that
I imagined your hand on her ass.

A kid so fresh out of law school that
she still has the bar tapes memorized.

You're fired.

I don't think so.

When I put together the
sexual harassment suit I have planned,

you'll be the one
holding the pink slip.

- Did that feel as good as it looked?
- Oh, so much better.

This doesn't feel right without Deb.

She's... she'll come around.
She's just... she's got a lot going on right now.

Ladies, table for two?

Remember us?

Oh, no. I'm so sorry.

We were here four months ago.

You wouldn't seat us
at the table by the window.

I'm sorry. I don't remember.

We were a little bit...
larger then.

Yeah, we were fat.

You said it was reserved.

You were paranoid
about people walking by,

thinking this is restaurant
where fat, pathetic women eat.

So, you got all that from me telling you that that
table was reserved, and I'm the one who's paranoid?

We'll take the table by the window.

I'm sorry. It's occupied.

Do you mean we've been holding a grudge
for four months for nothing?

Oh, but don't we look fabulous?

I mean, the Cinderella pact worked.

Yeah, then why are you still wearing black?
Where's your red?

Deb, Deb, Deb. It's about
discovering the women we are inside.

Let me tell ya, Ron is loving
the woman I am on the inside.

Well, girls, I'm afraid
my bikini dream is over.

- It was a tad too ambitious for me.
- No!

No, but I'm looking forward to
dealing with reality in a tankini.

You guys, I'm so happy that the
Cinderella pact worked for both of you,

but I don't think it worked for me. See...

I have no idea who I am or
what I'm supposed to do here.

You know, like, the book launch
is tomorrow night, and if I don't go,

I'm going to betray all of those women who
poured their hearts out to me,

and I don't want to hurt them

the way you were hurt when you
found out Belinda Apple didn't exist.

And Alex? I'm in love with him,
and he's gonna hate me.

I should have told him.

I should be telling him right now,
and I don't know how to.

Belinda has to go to that party.

Belinda doesn't exist.

It's your wisdom, your wit, your insight.
You're the one every one's listening to.

You're the one who gave me
the courage to start a new life.

As hard as it is, I have to leave Paul.
But it's okay. It's good, even.

And do you think that I could have
stood up to Ted without you or Belinda?

She's been there all along. You've just been looking
on the outside when you should've been looking in.

So, no more broken cookies.
No more standing in the shadows.

It's time you took center stage. Okay?

Okay.

Nola? Before we get started...

It wasn't gone.

We bought it for you
a couple of days ago.

Somehow we knew
that you'd need it.

And these.

Oh, m--!

And this. Your fantasy car.

You are Cinderella!

Here it is.

Oh, my goodness.
I'm so nervous, you guys.

Let's cover you up a little.

Oh, that's perfect

Beautiful.

- Ready?
- Yeah, I'm ready.

- Here we go.
- Up.

Belinda! Belinda!

Belinda?

She's really looking forward to meeting you.

Is she ready?
I'd really like to see her.

I will... I will do that. thank you.

- Alex, right? hi! I'm Deb.
- Hi. Yeah.

- Friend of Nola's. Gym.
- Right, the gym.

ladies and gentlemen, tonight
we are here to introduce to you

Stanson publishing's new book
"Apple gets to the core"

a compilation of columns by Shine magazine's
renowned advice columnist, Belinda Apple.

It is now my great honor to
introduce to you Belinda Apple!

it's so nice to finally meet...

oh, my god!

Oh, thank you all for
the very warm welcome.

I'm so happy that
Stanson books is publishing my book.

My book...

It is my book.

I can't do this.

I thought I could but I...
I can't.

A year ago

I was an overweight copy editor

who couldn't get a break.

There were people
who told me that

I was just a big girl
with a big dream, and...

somehow, I let myself believe that.

So I created Belinda Apple, someone
I thought I could never be.

Pretty, beautiful, confident, thin...

Someone with all the answers.

I used Belinda to protect myself
from rejection and failure.

I'm so sorry that I lied

to all of the women who have been
so honest with me, with Belinda.

I have to be honest with you.

There is no Belinda Apple,
there's just me, Nola Devlin.

But here's the thing-- inside,
me and Belinda, we're the same person.

It just took me till tonight to figure it out.

To all the beautiful women
that brought me here tonight,

just know that you're your own
fairy godmothers, so,

keep dreaming your dreams
and creating your magic

and writing your own happy endings.

That's all.

Great party!

Oh, they loved you!

They love Nola Devlin
as much as they love Belinda Apple!

Yeah!

- Have you guys seen Alex?
- Sorry, honey.

You know, I thought for sure
he was gonna forgive you.

Oh, maybe he'll change his mind.

Maybe.

All right, I think
I'm going to head home.

Oh.

You guys, have fun.

Well, you know what happens
to Cinderella at midnight.

No!

Wait!

Wait, please! Wait!

Wait!

Wait, stop, sir! Please, stop!

Just perfect.

You lose something?

Yeah.

Yeah. My shoe.

May I?

Midnight.

Isn't that some kind of
defining moment for Cinderella?

Well, it's the moment where she
turns back into her true self and...

hopes that Prince Charming will see
through the disguise and forgive her and...

But just...
one last question for Belinda.

Yeah?

Well, there's this girl...

Ah, well, see?
there's always a girl.

What's the problem?

A few days ago,
I poured my heart out to her

and told her I thought
I was falling in love with her.

Have you changed your mind?

No.

I told her how I feel.

But she hasn't told me how she feels.

Well, that's not a problem

cause I happen to know
she loves you right back.

Whoo-hoo!