you do not need to be there.” “What does Boute-en-Train mean?” I tried to say it the way he said it, but it came out overprocessed, and I vowed not to try again. Don’t do things youre not good at. “It means the life of the party. That is you.” “A party girl?” “Like someone who is the heart of life.” “And my character?” “She is the kind of woman every man falls in love with. It was originally written for a French woman, but I have just decided tonight that if you will do it, I will fire her.” “That’s not nice.” “She’s not you.” I smiled, surprised at both his charm and his eagerness. “It is about two men who are petty thieves, and they are on the run to Switzerland when they are distracted by an incredible woman they meet on the way. The three of them go for an adventure in the mountains. I have been sitting here with my pages, trying to decide if this woman can be American. And I think she can. I think it’s more interesting that way. It is a stroke of luck. To meet you at this time. So you will do it?” “Let me sleep on it,” I said. I knew I was going to take the part. It was the only part I could get. But you never get anywhere good by seeming amenable. “Yes,” Max said. “Of course. You have done nudity before, yes?” “No,” I said. “I think you should be topless. In the film.” If I was going to be asked to show my breasts, wouldn’t it be for a French film? And if the French were going to ask anyone, shouldn’t it be me? I knew what got me famous the first time. I knew what it could do a second time. “Why don’t we discuss it tomorrow?” I said. “Let’s talk tomorrow morning,” he said. “Because this other actress I have, she will show her breasts, Evelyn.”