2a: Dividing Interests

I understand. I'll talk to Jared. I'm sure we can figure out the best path forward. I'll call you after.

The women move to the exit stairwell and Amanda pulls a decorative stone from the pot of one of the planters. As they exit, Amanda places the stone to prevent the door from latching.

A short time passes and then the women hear the elevator Chime and through the small window on the exit door, they see Julia Cortese walk to the door with a box, bag and couple of coffee cups from "Bask", a high end restaurant known for its brunch fare and high prices. Julia fumbles with some keys and opens the door calling out as she pushes in.

Jared, I brought you some food!

Julia looks surprised and rather stunned as she stands awkwardly blinking, holding the Bask food. She stammers, Daria… What are you doing? As the producer charges through the open door.

Julia blinks in shock looking from Daria to Amanda. I thought we agreed… Julia stops as she holds her hand up to her nose. Oh… Oh God… Julia pushes next to Daria in the entry hall. It is littered with various takeout food containers, many with buzzing flies about them, mixed with empty Vodka bottles, discarded clothing that has stains visible. The heavy stench of excrement hangs in the air, over powering other senses and bringing tears to the women’s eyes.

Directly to Daria’s right is a couple of closets. To her left is an open door showing a utility room with a washer and dryer. A mound of clothes is piled in front of the washer and based on the number of flies, Daria can surmise that is where the excrement smell is coming from.

Julia walks further down the hall and to the right, disappearing from view and calling Jared?! Jared, it’s Julia! I brought Bask… Oh God…

Daria rounds the corner of the hallway and sees the open style kitchen and living room. The kitchen has a large central island that has various bits of half eaten food and garbage strewn across it and spilling onto the floor.

Past the kitchen is the living room, which also holds clothes discarded haphazardly, although none seem to bear the smell of those from the utility room. In the center of the living room is a large glass coffee table surrounded by chairs and a sofa. Prominently present on the coffee table amidst liquor and beer bottles is a mound of cocaine. It has been sectioned off into lines, some of which have obviously been snorted.

Julia stands with her hand over her mouth looking at the cocaine as she mutters. Jared, you idiot… you fucking idiot… 3 years… you fucking idiot…

Julia wipes a tear from her cheek, then rustles in her purse briefly before violently tossing a metal coin into the mound of cocaine.

She turns and walks to a door off the living room with an obvious anger propelling her steps. She opens the door and moves inside. Opposed to the disheveled nature of the rest of the apartment, Jared’s bedroom is immaculate. The bed is crisply made and no clothes or garbage are present on the floor.

Julia moves deeper into the master bath, but quickly returns. He’s not in here… he must be in the editing suite…