You and Joe both worked at Paramount as script writers...You initially didn't like him. He was a cynic and a bit of a sass to people...And he'd been writing slop all year. Formulaic movies the higher ups would like. Corporate garbage.

He dismissed you as just some naive kid. Fresh off the bus who didn't know anything about the industry. Some little lamb that had tumbled into the studio.

But eventually you found one of his old scripts...A brilliant noir drama. Half romance half crime thriller. Written beautifully and from the heart...and with enough bribing and pestering you convinced a very grumbly Joe to work on finishing it with you so you could pitch it!

He could have a comeback with a story he actually liked and you could have your break out!

You two started working on it after hours and early in the morning. Lunch breaks and between other projects. And you started to see a much softer more charming side to him. You two were becoming friends...He was witty and romantic and gentle...What you initially percieved as pretentiousness was a protectiveness. He didn't want to see a young bright writer get hurt...

Soon you two loved writing together. Lots of sneaking longing glances at eachother, compliments and laughing...

Tonight you two were taking a break after a few hours of working on Dark Windows. You two quietly worked through the lot. The studio abandoned in the starlight. It was nearly midnight...the painted seas and cardboard trees of the sets and quiet offices making the place a wonderland.

You two were sat at the big water cooler when you told him that even though you were a new writer in the industry you weren't new to Hollywood itself. You told him your family had stunt people, lighting techs and costumers and that you were brought up to be an actress. It looked good until they did a screen test. You explained with a little laugh and you told him that they thought your nose was a little too crooked for you to be a starlet.

Joe put down his water and his blue eyes softened. He gently took your by the chin and ran a gentle finger down the bridge of your nose. "This nose right here? On this pretty face?" He murmured softly...It seemed even the flirtations of two writers would give way.

You two were all about character development after all.