"Jah-mes, I am disappointed. I tell you, I am sitting in this office because now I have a lot more on my plate as I have asked for, yet you bring nothing to eat. There is nothing to show on Runway for you . Your brand."

"My apologies, Miranda - "

"I am not interested in excuses, Jah-mes. When I called your office - which as you must now know, I simply do not have the time to schlep over to your studio for every little fitting - it was Jacqueline who insisted she be here. Yet I find I am not in the mood to hear her voice. I seek answers, not misdirection."

"Jacqueline is - "

"She is talking for you, and so I cut her out, and I am talking with you, in my office, behind closed doors as though you are Mr Ravitz, which you are not. You are a designer , you are not Oscar de la Renta, you are international but you are not solid . You have the reach, but your designs do not currently meet Runway 's standards, and so you will find Barney's and Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue selling less of your product. You know the revenue must come from the States, if not from abroad which will not increase accordingly."

"Miranda, I am keen to show you the designs that I think - "

"And yet, when you sent me the lookbook, it is pitiful! Jah-mes, simply because you are now international, does not mean your current fodder will do any good. You must adapt to the times. You were not international when you launched. Now they expect more. Look at me! Do you think I just sit here, command Runway , and hope the other publications under Elias-Clark pull together?"

"... no, Miranda. You're right."

"You're damn well I'm right. I did not get promoted simply to be a sharper eye on every other editor-in-chief's work who functions in this company. I am not being paid more money simply to be another voice in an editorial meeting. I am responsible for more than just Runway now, Jah-mes. And I will tell you now - I expect you to go away and find me a design that works. We will conduct future business by phone, and by Jacqueline, who better find something substantive to say, because her talking for you, in such quips that are nonsense, cannot prolong me . Our readers will forget about you, Jah-mes, if you cannot deliver . And deliver you must, just as I must, just as Jacqueline must for you , I suppose. Or the financing of your brand by Massimo can only be considered by him a disappointment . I hope you did not forget that you need my approval before anyone else's, Jah-mes."

"No - no, Miranda. Of course not."

"Good. That's all."

"... goodbye, Miranda. Thank you - "

"Emily? I require Pellegrino. Emily… you! Who are you ?"

"Um, I'm Charla, Miranda - "

"I care very little about that . Why is there a small gathering outside my doors?"

"Um, it was just Serena talking to Emily, Miranda."

"I see. Do I employ my staff to chit-chat like little girls? Is there not enough work to do?"

"I'm fully prepared, Miranda. Ask away."

"Well, how generous of you. Tell Serena to do the job I hired her for, and Emily to exclude Jah-mes Holt's lookbook. I will not be seen in any of his clothes if they happen to make it for the runway."

"Of course, Miranda."

"And get me Pellegrino!"

"Yes, Miranda… "

"I'm waiting!"

"Here you are, Miranda."

"Charla!"

"Yes, Miranda?"

"What is Pah-ris?"

"Paris, Miranda?"

" Yes . I heard it come out of Emily's mouth."

"Um, well, she's probably just excited to go to Paris with you at the end of the year."

"You are a liar, Charla. Tell me what they said."

"Um, Miranda, you're putting me in a difficult situation… "

"Do I look like I have time to be chatting with you ?"

"Miranda, I accidentally overheard. It's not my business, it's Serena's - "

"Ah! Then we come to the point at last. What business could Serena possibly have in Pah-ris, Charla?"

"I couldn't say… "

"Charla, I am questioning your commitment to the job. I tell you, I am questioning your future at Runway , and at any other publication here , or anywhere , and so you will tell me. Such a refusal on your side could not merit something less than substantial."

"Miranda - it's Serena. She's leaving for Paris."

"On vacation?"

"N-no, Miranda."

"Connect me with Briget, Charla. Do it now . And fetch Serena."

"... yes, Miranda."

"Briget? Is that you?"

"Oh, Miranda. It's been busy over here. Can you hear me?"

"Of course I can hear you, I'm not deaf. I did not call to chit-chat, Briget."

"I rather hoped you had, Miranda. You know I appreciate your advice. I'm afraid I'm trying to get everything up to your standard… "

"Briget, that is impossible. You will see me when I am in Pah-ris. Whenever I flew over in the past six years, only then did French Runway seem to display any competence when I visited. It is always when I left that I heard the most disturbing things."

"I hope to put to bed any rumours, Miranda. I'd really like to make French Runway succeed."

"You are my protege, Briget. I want you to know, that you will succeed. Despite an appalling prediction for family, you otherwise have the nous , if not the drive, to succeed."

"... well, uh, thank you, Miranda."

"Ah. I must go. Soon I will receive these nonsense updates on these other publications, and must begin the removal of several articles and ideas in them , to stop the bleeding."

"I don't know how you do it, Miranda. Runway - and all the others - "

"It has to be done, Briget. We both think alike in that. You are now where I was when I became editor-in-chief of Runway over there. It is only disappointing that Jacqueline has done little with my efforts."

"Miranda?"

"That's all. Charla! Did I or did I not ask for Serena?"

"Um, she's in the ladies', Miranda."

"That seems to be a common excuse at every publication, Charla. Ah! Serena."

"H-i-i-i, Miranda. So sorry - "

" I'm not interested in excuses, Serena. Did you think I brought you here to chit-chat?"

"N-e-v-er, Miranda. Not at all."

"Good. What have you brought me?"

"U-h, from the run through?"

" Yes , Serena, the run-through . I made my point clear. Have you not yet found other choices to show me? Must we have no clothing in the magazine but for what Jeffy dredges up? What will Jocelyn vet before it gets to me? It has come to me, Serena, and I am cutting across to say to you now, where is it?"

"W-e-l-l, I haven't found an alternative look yet - "

"This is nonsense, Serena. I give you precise instructions, I give you an hour, and you come to me with nothing. I specifically told you then and as I asked Charla to remind you just now , to come to me with the finished couture. Is the Closet empty? Do designers no longer submit their work, their lookbooks? Are our photographers out snapping pictures of pigeons atop filthy gargoyles on those ugly buildings down the street?"

"N-o, Miranda."

"I find I am disappointed, Serena. I was hoping to put in a good word with Briget, who is looking for a girl at French Runway ."

"S-h-e is?"

"Who wouldn't be, after the state Jacqueline left it in?"

"U-m… "

"I need you to prove yourself, Serena. Prove you can still contribute to US Runway , before I send you over to her ."