"... I would have to think about it. No, you've been very kind, Thakoon, in showing me your studio and your work. I do believe it can work. It's just - it's tempting, but - oh, excuse me, my cab's arrived at Elias-Clark. I wish you all the best. You can always call Runway and ask for Nigel if anything's awry. I'm always around."

"You gotta cash fare?"

"... here you go, and keep the change. What a place! Elias-Clark still standing. It still beats my heart to when I first came here. And there's Eduardo, making Charla dance and sing. She's carrying all of her newspapers, tray of Starbucks and dry cleaning, of course. And he buzzes me through. Like I'm someone who matters. But these days, I'm feeling less and less of it - oh, hold the elevator, please! Thank you.

"... and all around me, the girls at Runway , and some of them will stay, and some of them will go. If I let my mind wander, I can imagine what I would be doing as James Holt International's president right now. Surely less than Jacqueline, who really knows her way around. But more, I'm sure, for James . I knew he had a struggle with shaping his clothing for the international brand. He knew I would help motivate him towards his goal. He will be defeated by a purely commercial view of his line. He needs me. Of course, that's all under the bridge. He must move on… I must move on. It's not that as though… ah, here's Runway - there's Sophy up ahead, guarding those glass doors and - and - Serena?"

"H-o-w could you!"

"Serena, you're making a scene - "

"I told you that in confidence! And she fired me!"

"What?"

"Y-o-u heard! I told Emily and you , and it wasn't Emily!"

"Serena, I swear. I didn't tell Miranda anything about Paris."

"O-h, bullshit. You know, it's true what they say about the fashion industry. It's backstabbing and trampling on others to get ahead. Of course, I knew that, but now it actually impacts me ? And her . She called me into her office for some, how you say, dog and pony show, and then she gets rid of me! She used me for one last thrust of my best work and gets rid of me! Me !"

"Serena, if I can be of any help - "

"O-h, shut up. Like I need your help. She was going to put in a word for me with Briget, or so I thought . I called Briget and her assistant said she's too busy, and to pass on that the position had already been filled. Filled! When we had an understanding, if not a contract - but Briget is honorable, was honorable, or so I thought. I have friends over in Paris from when I visited who I must now say, go find another roommate! I must go to Bergman and work out, how exactly can I survive, when she has blacklisted me in fashion and publishing!"

"Serena - "

"G-o to hell."

"... good afternoon, Sophy. Is it as bad as they say?"

"I wouldn't want to gossip, Nigel - it's been rough around here - and we're down a fashion editor, if you know anyone?"

"It seems a lot of people are leaving lately, Sophy. I'd better go see Miranda. Ah! Emily. I just saw Charla downstairs, if you're wondering - "

"No. Actually I wasn't."

"Listen - "

"I won't hear it. Miranda Priestly's office?"

"Nigel? Is that you?"

"Yes, Miranda, I've just come back."

"Come into my office and close my doors. Did you hear about that moron Serene?"

"I - did see her walk out, yes."

"Appalling manners. I ask her to bring me a decent run through twice and she gives me nothing."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with her wanting to work in Paris, would it?"

"Nigel, I do not uhn-der-stand you. I hired her. I mentored her, because she seemed to have some competence. It turns out not."

"Miranda, I'm not sure you mentored her… "

"Oh, please. You know perfectly well I mentor all my staff. What has gotten into you? Are you still fresh about that James Holt job? Are we going to be on rotten terms forever?"

"Miranda, you should know, I've found an up and coming designer named Thakoon."

"And? His creations are certainly fit for the Gap , if nowhere else. Oh, yes. I have my spies. Don't you think I know what goes on around here?"

"Well - Miranda. I've decided to help him with his brand. Miranda?"

"You're leaving. Runway?"

"I would have, for James Holt's company, regardless. This is for a smaller outfit, so to speak. You cannot be surprised."

"I ah-m surprised, Nigel. It was only by chance that James Holt, who must need all the experience he can get in launching his brand internationally, that he must pick the better qualified applicant. Why settle for a lesser fashion designer? Were your designs always on betraying me?"

"Miranda, you know that's not the case at all."

"I damn well better do. I expected more of you, Nigel. You are entrusted here, with a position that, as you can see, that large man from Vogue had to leave on account of not actually doing anything useful . I've told Irv of your use to Runway , and he is not unaware that you feel sidelined by Jacqueline taking your position."

"You've spoken to Irv?"

"Yes. I told him to speak to you. Nothing I could say - but you had already set your mind against me. James Holt did not know that Jacqueline was already planning to leave French Runway , and that if he had known, he must choose her. Even if you and him share some kind of nonsense bond. Nigel, you do not make business with friends. You make business . Now tell me, for this conversation is growing dull. What do you need to remain at Runway ?"

"Nothing, Miranda. I find, after Serena - it is Serena, by the way - after Serena's departure, there is a bad taste in my mouth. And the salad bar on Greens will not change that, an increase in salary or responsibilities will not. I find, much as James now is doing, I fear to admit, that I too am losing my spark. And I must pursue other projects."

" That's all . Emily! Open my doors."

"Yes, Miranda?"

"Where is my Starbucks? Charla?"

"... right here, Miranda - "

"This is cold. Fetch me another. And clear out Nigel's desk. He is terminated, effectively immediately. Isn't that right, Nigel?

"... I bid you good day. With all the meaning I can muster in those last few words in this hallowed place."

"Out!"

"Come, Charla. I will accompany you to the elevator, seeing as only one of us will return ."

"Nigel, I am so sorry."

"Don't be, child. That is the way - oh, thank you, no, I'll hold the door and you go through - please grab the elevator - that is the way this business is . Ah, at least we have the elevator to ourselves."

"Nigel, in the company of us two - god, I'm shaking from adrenaline and fear - Nigel, it was me."

"Excuse me?"

"I overheard Serena telling Emily she couldn't wait to go to Paris. And from what else I caught, I understood that it was that she meant to leave Runway."

"You told Miranda this?"

"... yes."

"Did she bully it out of you?"

"No. I told her. I told her because - "

"It's alright, child. You will rise high in this game. I have been here for almost a decade, starting during Miranda's predecessor."

"What was she like?"

"She was not Miranda. Mr Ravitz, or so I understood, was concerned that though the expenditures were low , the profits were not . And he saw what Miranda was doing in Paris. He did to Miranda's predecessor, what Miranda has just recently thwarted with Jacqueline. And the cycle will continue, Charla. You see, we are all staying for some advantage. And if we don't receive it, we will leave. And if we cannot leave, we are in a holding pattern. And that's what I was in. But now I see I can leave. The assistant before you - well, the one who lasted almost a year - she helped me understand that. It is only now that, tempered with the wisdom of my old years - oh, but I am old, child - I can now take action. I am too old to be belittled for a good seat on the runway. It is just clothing , and I am an old man. Here we are at the ground floor."

"I must rush to get her Starbucks. I'll call you, Nigel."

"Oh, child. No, you won't. Ah, taxi, please."

"Whar ya goin'?"

"... is the address. Thank you. Do you mind if I use my cell phone?"

"Thissus New York, suh."

"... hello, Thakoon? Nigel - I've decided to take the plunge. I say that with a heavy heart for I once said that, and you must know… hmm? You don't know? Well, it's a long story, and I shall tell it to you in time. Oh, you're about to go into a meeting? Well, I'll - join you? Where? It is rather last minute… in this traffic. But I am keen to see - yes. I'll try and meet you there on time, in this traffic. Driver?"

"Yuh?"

"Take me to the One World Trade Center, please."

"This here meter's tickin'. It's on you , suh."

"... thank you. Here's your - yes, those are real bills. Same as any - oh, and there's a gutter rat. Well, I've seen plenty of those, and doubtless now many think of me as one. Ah! Thakoon! I've caught you in time."

" Nigel ! So glad to see you. I was afraid you wouldn't come."

"Not at all. I've never been here before - you can imagine now, my current position."

" Oh yes. Let me - oh please, you go - I've been here before but you can see, my hands are sha-king. Have you met her before?"

"In passing, but not properly."

" Oh my god. I mean - and this is our floor - but you must at least know - Grace?"

"Ah. Thakoon - and Nigel. I didn't expect to see you here. But I'll let you see Anna. I caught Jacqueline in here the other day and I'm afraid I whittled her down to nothing, that stick. If only I could eat nothing like everyone else, ha-ha! I must rush to a shoot."

" Did you see her?"

"Grace? Yes, I was just talking to her… "

" She's such a great designer - editor - photographer. I'm not quite sure what she is. But she brings out the magic. You see - just as we make our way through these corridors, ouch, that hanger always gets me… I was a bit hesitant - "

"Oh, I know, Thakoon. You told me when first you offered the role."

" I just figured, you were due, if not to James Holt, to be snapped up, and from my country - my people - I wanted to take a chance . I'm here, I'm in the States, I thought, why not go for it? I had the same attitude when I applied for Harper's Bazaar, then decided to study fashion, then brought my designs to Anna. I thought, why not ask this bigshot fashion legend, even if he works at Runway ? What's the worst that could happen? And then I heard, someone whispered, gossiped, really - "

"It happens."

" - and so I thought, you might be interested. Oh, here we are. Um, is she ready?"

"... you can go on through."

" Hi … Anna. This is Nigel, he's joined me at my brand."

"These are the sketches?"

" I don't know how you want me to lay them out for you… "

"And this is for the GAP project?"

" That's correct."

"... and this one. Yes. That about covers it."

" Thank you, Anna, for your time."

"Nigel?"

"... I'll be waiting at the elevator, Nigel."

"Thank you, Thakoon. Glad to meet you, Anna."

"You and Thakoon are… ?"

"Business partners. Officially."

"Then we will be seeing a lot more of each other."

"Thakoon did tell me, when we first met, he has always liked Vogue ."

"You must come to the party at which Thakoon is invited, and me. I don't stay at those things long but you will meet some people."

"Oh, I'm sure I already know a lot of them. It is a lot of the same crowd."

"Fashion is about moving forward, Nigel. Speaking of, I have an appointment."

"Of course. Good to meet you. These corridors are quite… but, ah, thank you for holding the door for an old man like me. Well, she didn't laugh. I suppose that's permanent here , too. Thakoon?"

" Oh my god. What did she say?"

"I'm sorry to say she only had small talk with me, and did not disclose anything to me that I might communicate to you , as an intermediary."

" My hands are still sha-king. Let's take this elevator. Oh my god, Nigel, I cannot tell you how grateful I am. This is more than what it means for my brand. You know, I was a bit worried."

"You've told me. And I know you're a fan of Vogue over Runway ."

" It's not that… it's just, Vogue only recently lost Andre. And I was worried Anna might have asked you to join… "

"Thakoon. I am a man of my word. I told you I would join your brand. I would not turn the other way and join Vogue when I have given my word to you ."

" That means a lot, Nigel."

"Once upon a time, I will tell you, I would have. It was only when it was done to me, that in this old body, I learned about the principles I liked to preach - it turned out I was not living them. You came at the right time, Thakoon. I would have been overwhelmed as president of James Holt International. I only really wanted to guide James through the process. I only wanted to be a mentor. I see now I can help you - and when the time comes, to help you select a president. I see now, that was not my calling."

" But , Nigel - if not being a editor-at-large of a publication, or president of a fashion company, what will you do? If I succeed, will you remain on with me?"

" When you succeed, Thakoon, not if . But I will stay as long as I am needed. And who knows? There are plenty of struggling designers. I must mentor, Thakoon. You must help those who will help themselves. It will save you a lot of disappointment… ah, and here's our exit. This lobby does not look that much different, at all, from Runway . And the treadmill that has always been an upward incline, can now comfortably be on an even playing field. Here is the sunlight, glittering on all the buildings, Thakoon. It is a sign, and a lure, and a promise, of all that is hope, and all that can be hoped to be achieved in, as Eduardo and Charla sang it best: New York, New York … "