She continued, her confidence in the process renewed, “ I also didn’t count on being away so much, Bette, steadily losing contact with you, with our home.  And I guess I couldn’t handle it, just finding myself drift away.”

“Quite simply: I missed you. Missed our life. Missed how we communicated subtly.  How we shared our thoughts, and enjoyed simple pleasures.  I guess I missed … our world.  This secret, wonderful world that we had started to build, and share.  Not only did I miss you, I missed who I was, too, when I was with you.”

Tina had been trying to hold back, but let slip a few tears.  Her lips trembled, hands shook.

“And Scott….well, Scott was there, all the time.  Remember that film I inherited in November?  I think  on your end, it was right around the time you were brought in to follow up on the Wakefield investment, which you had a big argument with George about… and you were flying all over Europe for? Anyway, right around that period,” Bette nodded her head, yes, I remember.

“There was enormous pressure on me from Film Features to turn that film around, and in a short amount of time. One senior guy put it to me bluntly, when I was explaining yet another delay, “Look, Tina, I heard you were a problem-solver, a whiz at squeezing the best out of a lousy situation, and turning the impossible to the possible.  So don’t come back here until you get this done.  You’re a problem-solver, right?  Problem solve!”

Tina described falling back on what she knew, which was LA, and talking to various contacts in LA about what appropriate director they knew of who could be enticed to jump right in on this film, and somehow help Tina complete the film.  She talked about finally finding Scott, who was recommended by many people, after tracking down, and begging ten other directors, who refused to take the assignment.  Tina had flown to New Orleans, where Scott was wrapping up a film, to try to convince him. She had made several attempts to convince him, both on the set, and over dinner that he had invited her to.  He finally agreed, and got onboard; and once onboard, he began to steadily take over the problematic film Tina had inherited.