Friends are supposed to be unconditional beings that life puts in the way of people to share the sorrows and joys. They are there to help us lift our spirits when we are at our worst or to accompany us in some adventure, they are the ear where we unload our dreams and hopes, knowing that they will tell us the truth no matter how painful it may be. Some even go beyond the category of friendship and become family: the family of choice.
Deanna had always been like that: the reliable friend who could listen to you late into the night and then hug you to hold you. She wouldn't hesitate to accompany you to the ends of the earth to find the cauldron of hour coins, even though she knew it didn't exist. She would marry your brother to help you raise a happy family and would give up many important things just to consider you even more indispensable. And she would never, ever let you down.
- That's stupid... What you're saying is stupid. Beverly made a fool of you -
- I'm sorry, Deanna...
- No, of course not... Don't lie -
- Baby, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm telling you the truth so you can go on with your life the way it was before you met those people -
- Laura's not like that! She's... she's not like that -
Deanna stood up as if thrown off by a spring, as if something heavy had hit her back and now it was in the pit of her stomach. She fidgeted, her hands trembling. Leonard approached her.
- Deanna... Babe... -
- I don't believe you! -
- She's been behind all this from the beginning. She was the one who suggested to Harry that you marry Daniel, she'd realized that fool was already in love with you. Beverly talked like a parrot, they became friends you know? She told him every single detail... Don't cry -
- But Laura asked me, she begged me to leave, to leave him... -
- Yes, because she realized that the remedy she had proposed was worse than the disease itself. If you stayed with Daniel, the husband would still be after you... Deanna, since she got pregnant Harry has not touched her, in any way... -
- She got pregnant to marry him, she told me so... -
- That was the first step she took, but it wasn't going to be enough, she had to get you out of circulation. What better than the brother? She thought he wouldn't dare to do anything for fear of Daniel... And when you started to love each other, for her it was as if she won the lottery... She put the idea in Harry's head so he couldn't do anything else... -
Deanna couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it.
- The picture that circulated in the nets, where you were walking with your brother-in-law, it was also her... You told me yourself how Camila exploded and told you everything because of that. She has been all this time controlling Harry's movements, controlling yours. She even tricked that bitch into playing dead until she started to show her true colors. She's the one who told Beverly to ask me about the Ambassador because she knew I was sponsoring him.... -
- You had a lot to do with all this... Oh, my God! -
- Yes and I'm sorry, at that time I thought differently... When Beverly came to see me in my office to propose a "crossover of information" I didn't hesitate, we both had an interest to achieve... What I didn't know at the time was that Laura Crusher was who really pulled the strings -
- But you knew that nothing had happened with Beverly, that Daniel hadn't slept with her... -
- I only had a few things, but not the video. When you were going to sign the divorce I had him investigated... Him and his family -
- Why?! -
- Because I wanted to find some shit to ruin him... -
- How can you be like that?! -
- I don't know... Habit I guess. At that time I didn't think anything of it, it didn't seem strange to me. Laura often went to pick up her husband at the company despite her advanced pregnancy... But sometimes she went to Beverly's office before, it didn't surprise me either... Then they sent you the recording and they said that Harry was the one who accessed the copy... The one who accessed the copy was Laura, Deanna, using her husband's credential... The asshole kept it in a safety box in his office. I didn't notice it until I went back to review the reports I had been given... -
- I don't understand a word you're saying. Laura came down for the video? -
- Yes, using Harry's credentials. Beverly told her what had happened with Daniel and she knew about the cameras in his office. It was more material to get what she wanted. She used the husband's credential because it was the only way, but also to deepen the rift between the brothers. If that didn't work for her either, she would at least make sure they couldn't even see each other... Then Harry wouldn't be able to see you either. They planned to leave town, but Laura didn't want that; she wanted you to go. She left the copy with Beverly, for fear that Harry might find it and when she made up her mind she edited it, because obviously the last part didn't work for her... She was at Daniel's house when she sent it to you, remember? -
- That day we were going to have a dinner party... "Family" -
- She's been manipulating everyone from the beginning, she started with Harry, Camilla, then Beverly, even me she moved me around without me knowing and I'm sure if the video didn't work either she wasn't going to stop until she got you out of the way... If Beverly's a bitch, she's a real vixen... -
- You tell me all this now... I swear I can't take it anymore... -
- I'm not lying to you, Deanna... I know I'm putting myself on the line too, but believe me I'm doing it for you... You love him and he loves you, baby... He's a jerk, but he loves you... I've got something else to tell you -
- For God's sake! -
By now Deanna was going into a state of rage, just like when she left Daniel that day. Her head hurt, her heart ached, and the recounting of everything that had happened was exploding inside her.
- Yeah... Well... He hadn't slept with her ever, not even during all this time, but... -
- What? -
- I don't know how to say it... She's been doing "things" to him with... God! -
- Say it! -
- The mouth... Shit! -
Leonard's pervert was embarrassed to have to say it.
- Oh, please... Why are you telling me that? -
- Yeah... I'm sorry... I don't know how to put it any other way, I just wanted to assure you that it's not true that they're together, no matter how much Beverly wants to and tries to... -
In truth, even he didn't know why he had told her. For Leonard it was perhaps a way to give Deanna confidence. He needed therapy, lots of therapy.
Deanna looked at him incredulously, as if nothing made sense.
- You're out of your mind -
- Yes, I know I am! Listen to the things I say to my daughter... -
- You're all nuts! You, Harry, Laura! Fuck! -
And there it was, the part she'd inherited from Leonard.
-Baby...
- No, baby nothing! Don't you dare tell me anymore! You were involved in everything! - She said almost shouting.
- Yes...
- And now what am I supposed to do with you?! Tell me! -
- That only you know... But I don't regret it, even if I earn your hatred again-
- Leave me alone... I want to be alone... I can't stand it anymore! -
Leonard knew this would happen, he was resigned to see it. He just took his things and went out. But when he closed the door, strangely, he felt a huge relief. A gigantic weight had been lifted off his shoulders by telling Deanna everything. He had given her the choice. Now he had nothing left to do but wait for that night's premiere.