Background Video 2 - Of Mona and Men

It was the next day and a bit after breakfast. You thought it would be an excellent time to speak to Paige, thinking she had cooled off a bit.

“Paige, can we talk?” You try to say to Paige, who was in one corner of the villa by herself.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Paige says as she turns her head away, her sunglasses hiding her eyes, and her arms were crossed.

“Listen, I’ve always been upfront with you as best I can. I told you I liked Jenna and well… the worst thing happened on that boat, and I regret it, but I won’t say lie and say I didn’t want it to happen,” You try to explain in a blunt and stupid way you would beat yourself over later.

You could practically hear her fist tighten to that and her teeth grinding.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to this anymore. I just remember I had somewhere I had to be,” Paige says, smiling. “Hey, Tom! Can we talk pretty boy?”

Paige waves at Tom and practically skips towards him and holds his arm. Tom smiles, and the two go off to their own corner together to have a conversation as you stare dumbfoundedly at that.

A note flashed in your vision.

You have two data items:

• Background Video 2 (Unlock for 5 points)
• Revelation Video 3 (Unlock for 5 points)

I don't need fucking videos. I need a diamond ring or words to make Paige forgive me.

Seeing no other options, you unlock the videos and are left with 75 Affection Points after deductions. You sit in the spot Paige left, the seat still warm, and click on Background Video 2.

The video starts in a small office. A CCTV overhead shot on a side wall shows Mona entering and handing over her mugshot and portfolio to a rather overweight balding man with unruly facial hair. The man smiles almost sadistically and tosses the mugshots and portfolio aside and gets up and shakes Mona’s hand.

Mona sits down, nervous, and starts speaking.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Winston.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Mona. My, you are a lovely little thing, aren’t you?” Mr. Winston said in a creepy uncle kind of way.

“Umm… why thank you, Mr. Winston.” Mona looked uncomfortable.

“Please call me Howard. Have you been in much, dear? Like TV shows or movies? You are quite a pretty girl, so I would have thought I saw you somewhere already,” Mr. Winston said.

“I just finished up theatre school. Right now, I’m just knocking on all the doors to try to get my big break,” Mona says.

“It’s a tough industry. Very tough. I like what I see from you though,”

“You have seen my audition tapes?”

“Oh, yes. You are quite talented. I don’t make this offer very often, Mona, but would you like to come see me for a private audition? I have some time later,” Mr. Winston said, smiling smugly.

“Umm… where may I ask is the audition?” Mona asks.

“It’s the Palisade Hotel. I can give you the room number if you want. It should start around nine? Does that sound good to you, Mona?” Mr. Winston added nonchalantly as if he's scheduling a dentist appointment.

“At night? Is it just going to be you there?” Mona starts looking worried.

“Yes, I think it’s better to see if an actress has what it takes in these private sessions. So how about it, Mona? Should I book you for tonight at nine?” Mr. Winston asked.

“I’m sorry… I don’t quite feel comfortable with that...”

“I’m sorry too. I get it. Some people just don’t want it bad enough, I guess. It was very nice meeting you, Ms. Bridgewater,” Howard Winston said and got up and held out a hand.

Mona was smiling through gritted teeth as she got up and shook the man’s hand. She walked away discontented and disgusted.

Another shot later shows her walking to the secretary’s desk at Mr. Winston’s office, using the PURELL bottle stationed on it and rubbing her hands frantically with the hand sanitizer, all the while looking furious.

The video fades to black there.

It was strange that Mona, who seemed to be very sexually suggestive in the villa, balked at the chance at advancing her career with sexual favors. She was crazy, so you had no idea what to think about her and what she was thinking about. You guess it was over until another scene starts playing.

It was filmed in a run-down apartment building’s living room.

An older man with a mustache and pot belly was standing talking to Mona. They looked like they were having a heated conversation.

“You sold it to a pawn shop?!” Mona exclaimed.

“Listen, missy, we needed the cash to pay this month’s rent. She was my wife, and it’s my property to do with as I wanted.”

“Mom said it would be mine. You had no right to sell it!” Mona had tears in her eyes now.

“Didn’t she leave you some money already to go to that stupid acting school or whatever? What happened to that? You sure ain’t acting in any movies or TV Mona.”

“Dad, it’s not something that happens overnight, alright! That’s not even the point. Doesn’t mom mean anything to you? How can you just trade it in for a couple of bills?”

“If you want it back go to Dillinger’s pawn shop and buy it yourself. Some of us have to pay the bills around here. Or are you offering? Oh? Guess not.” The older man said.

The video cuts there. You waited for more but nothing else.

It was just a sob story, but it didn’t excuse anything Mona did you told yourself. Did the AMA expect you to feel sorry for her?

Sighing, you played the next video, Revelation Video 3.