Erica stayed on Kit's trail, pushing purposely through the crowds. She following him outside and watched him climb into a waiting limousine. A victorious smile painted her lips, she had him cornered.
Erica stalked down the red carpet, her face like thunder. She ignored the clamour of the press that lined either side and the million pops of flash bulbs; the only thing she could focus on was the man who had hurt her daughters.
When she reached the car she wrenched open the door and climbed in just as it began to pull out.
…
Kendal and Griffin ran out of the theatre just in time to see Erica disappear into the car.
"Oh god." gasped Kendal as the car drove away, "Where would they be going?"
"The after party?" suggested Griffin.
"Damn it, we had better follow them." said Kendal, hurrying to the end the red carpet and sprinting back along the rows of waiting limos, to try and spot their own; not an easy thing to do in heels.
Kendal stopped half way down the street to catch her breath; she couldn't spot their car anywhere, all the limousines looked the same.
Griffin caught up with her and put his hand on the small of her back.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently
"I'm fine." said Kendal, turning back to give him a grateful smile, "But thank you. We just really need to catch up with mom."
She straightened up, looking both ways along the street,
"Where the hell is our car!"
"Look really, how bad can it be?" asked Griffin, trying to reassure her. "She's just going to give him a piece of her mind."
"No, she looked very angry. Let's just say, I hope she doesn't get her hands on anything sharp…"
…
"Erica! Nice to see you." said Kit cheerfully, surprised by her sudden appearance. "Did you enjoy the film?"
"What do you think." said Erica, the chill in her voice dropping the temperature in the car by several degrees.
"Oh." said Kit, finally recognising the anger in her eyes. "It's like that is it."
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean." snorted Erica, her temper flared up. "You lied to me. That film was disgusting, that wasn't my life! That was just an excuse to make a film about rape!"
Kit remained frustratingly calm.
"You may hate to admit it but rape has had a major impact in your life, Erica, and certainly your relationship with your daughter Kendal, which was the true focus of the film. Her origins shaped your relationship with her and you only really made your peace because Bianca was assaulted. You just have to face it, it is the moments like that what makes your life such an amazing story, people look at you today and they have no idea about the horrors you've overcome. I am sorry if this upsets you."
"Upsets me! I couldn't give a damn about myself," growled Erica, "I am upset about what you have done to my girls. Did you even give them a seconds thought! You made me invite them along, with no warning about what they would see. How did you think Bianca felt; having to watch one of the most violent and humiliating moments of her life splashed so graphically across the screen, in glorious Technicolor, for some voyeuristic crowd. Or Kendal to be faced with such a cruel reminder of her unhappy childhood. You didn't think at all about what this would do to them!"
"There was nothing in that film that you didn't write in your own book." said Kit defensively.
"I was going to change my book, I was going to edit those chapters in respect to my children, I just never got the chance."
"That may well be, but the film is made. You have to understand this is an important arc. We are now ready for the second part focusing on your relationship with Bianca; the difficult birth, the anorexia, her coming out and the effect her rape and her losing her child had on your family."
"You really think there will be a second part." said Erica sharply.
"You sold us the rights. You don't have a say. I'm sorry."
Erica sat back in her seat and narrowed her eyes at him, he didn't look sorry, all he seemed to be doing was silently counting the profits in his head. The film was a hit, what effect it had on others didn't concern him. All she was to him was a story, a way to make more cash. Well maybe she should just hit him were it really hurt, his bank account.
"Maybe this isn't the right place to air my concerns." said Erica, the new softness in her voice belaying her underlying anger. "I'm being interviewed on Good Morning America, tomorrow morning, and then the Today Show, maybe I should express my feelings in a more public forum, I'd like to see how well this film does without my endorsement. I also know an excellent lawyer who will be more than happy to sue for breach of contract and defamation of character and anything else that will stick, and I'm sure there's a lot. I could tie you up in red tape for months, if not years."
"You wouldn't dare!" cried Kit.
"Try me." said Erica coolly.
"I don't know what you want from me." moaned Kit in frustration. "The film is made, I can't change it."
"I want an apology. I want you to personally apologise to my girls… and then I want you to give ten per cent of gross profit from this film… no, the profits from all three films, to the Miranda Centre."
"I can't do that. I could maybe make a donation by all means, but…"
"You will make it happen." said Erica, leaving no room for argument. "Ten per cent gross profits. In twenty years' time when someone buys a copy of this film from a Corner Shop bargain bin for ten dollars, I want ten cents of that sale to still be going straight to the Miranda Centre."
"I don't have the power."
"Then find someone who does." said Erica coldly. "You turned the most intimate, humiliating, soul destroying moment in a woman's life into a public spectacle. You seem to have forgotten that this isn't some work of fiction. This has happened to real people, and how you tell this story effects real people as well, my children..." Erica paused, "And my grandchildren..."
Kit shrank back slightly from the intensity of Erica's gaze.
"You are going to give something back to people just like then; people whose safety and happiness have been violently ripped away from them through no fault of their own… and you are going to keep giving, so you will never ever have a chance to forget. Do you understand me!"
…
Griffin and Kendal had almost reached the end of the line of limos with still no sign of their own.
In sheer desperation Griffin ran out into the street to wave down the nearest cab.
After they hurriedly climbed in, Kendal leaned forward to the driver.
"I will give you fifty bucks on top of the fair if you can get us to 'The New York Lounge' in under ten minutes."
"You got it." said the cabby, pulling out into the traffic and putting his foot down.
They got there in five. Kendal gratefully handed over the cash.
"Now we just have to find her." said Kendal, racing towards the main doors of the club, "And hope she hasn't done anything rash."
There was a frustrating wait as the bouncer struggled to find their name on the list, and then Kendal tore into the reception, Griffin at her heels. The venue was packed, and Kendal pulled to a halt at the top of a flight of stairs as more than a few hundred heads turned in her direction thanks to her rather hurried entrance.
Kendal gave an awkward smile and smoothed down the front of her dress.
"I guess it's a little late to suggest we don't make a scene." joked Griffin.
"Just a bit." said Kendal, embarrassed. "Come on."
Kendal took his arm and in attempt to make a rather more sedate impression they walked slowly down the stairs.
"Any sign of mom yet." she asked nervously, "I mean I can't hear any screaming or breaking glass…"
"Not yet." said Griffin from the corner of his mouth, as he smiled graciously at the still staring crowd.
…
They spotted Kit Sterling first, nervously hovering in the corner of the room, a glass of champagne in each hand.
"Mr Sterling." said Kendal, approaching him.
He actually flinched when he recognised her.
"Mrs Hart-Slater, Dr Castillo. So glad you can make it." he stammered, a nervous smile plastered on his face. "And I just want to say I'm sorry, so very sorry if the film upset you or caused you any offence. So very sorry."
"Um, thank you." said Kendal confused by the change in this usually brusque producer. "I was just wondering if you have, by any chance, seen my mother?"
Kit flinched once more.
"Erica." He said, timidly indicating to the opposite side of the room. "She's just over there."
"Okay." said Kendal carefully, giving Griffin a bemused look as she slowly stepping away from the shell-shocked executive.
"Thank you." said Griffin, giving the poor man's shoulder a reassuring pat.
…
Kendal couldn't keep the surprise off of her face when she finally spotted Erica. She was smiling serenely, chatting to an attentive group of executives. It was a total transformation from the ball of fury that had stormed out of the cinema.
Kendal walked cautiously up behind her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder to draw her attention.
"Mom are you alright?" she asked nervously.
"I'm fine." said Erica, her smile turning to concern. "How are you?"
"Well, I was a little worried when you stormed off like that." admitted Kendal. "What did you do to Kit?"
"Oh, him." said Erica, dismissively, "I simply helped him see the error of his ways."
…