"Sam," Jenny says, "why did you really leave?"
Leo flubs a line. Instead of saying, "This town took everything from me," he accidentally says his original catchphrase: "Well, butter my biscuit!"
Jenny smiles. The audience, the invisible, static-filled audience, erupts in applause. The jukebox kicks in with "Sunny Days" at full blast. The fake oak tree sprouts leaves made of green tissue paper. The painted sky shifts from twilight to a brilliant, impossible gold. Mofos.23.11.18.Kelsey.Kane.Treadmill.Tail.XXX.1...
Kai’s voice comes through, confused. "That wasn't us."
Leo doesn’t do press. He doesn’t sign autographs. He takes the money, buys a small farm in Vermont, and actually gets a dog. A golden retriever. "Sam," Jenny says, "why did you really leave
Leo leans in. He kisses Jenny.
Leo stands in the middle of the town square, facing the Jenny-entity. The harvest moon is a practical effect of glitter and a light bulb. The jukebox kicks in with "Sunny Days" at full blast
Leo takes a breath. And for the first time, he doesn’t answer as Leo the cynical actor. He answers as Sam.