Page 56 of Hollywood, Ending

The Junket

Kai

1

“They’re the stars of the new film Andy Warhol Never Gets Old starring Matthew Malone as Andy Warhol.”

“The Matthew Malone?”

“Yes, Mel, the Matthew Malone, and I know you love him. Welcome to Indiana Mornings, Kai Laramie and Juniper Castillo.”

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Smile. I’m inside some conference room at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City staring down the barrel of a camera. We’re live, via satellite, in Indianapolis. I can’t see the set, or the anchors of Indiana Mornings. I can only hear their voices. “Good morning,” Juniper says. She sounds cheery for someone I know was up till three in the morning worrying about the junket.

“I have to ask you about Matthew Malone.”

“The best,” I say.

“The absolute best,” Juniper echoes.

Remember Ellen’s prep. Matthew is genuine, funny, and wise. He really transformed himself for this role. He’s such a brilliant actor. I know you all know him from the MCU, but we can’t wait for you to meet him as Andy Warhol.

“I understand this is based on a true story. Juniper, you play a young journalist?”

“A VERY young journalist, I’d say, Chris.”

Juniper laughs ever so slightly.

My armpits are sweating. Why am I even scared? It’s only Indiana Mornings.

“Yes,” Juniper says, “I’m a journalist following Andy Warhol in what turns out to be the final months of his life, and Kai plays one of his interns.”

“Kai, you’re actually from right here in Indianapolis.”

“That’s right, Mel. I grew up watching your show.” That’s a lie, but a good one.

“And while here you were abused by a teacher. You’ve been very public about this difficult chapter in your life.”

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Ellen told me this would happen now that everything’s been out for over a week and I posted to Instagram acknowledging the abuse to “get out in front of it.” They will say You’ve been very public about your abuse, because that gives them permission to talk about it. They’re not being vultures, because you’ve been very public about it. She taught you how to pivot. So you pivot.

“It was a really difficult time in my life, but I poured all that—and everything else I’ve experienced—into this movie, Andy Warhol Never Gets Old.”

“Well,” Mel says. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“Thanks so much, Mel,” Juniper answers. “It’s a movie that really makes you believe in the power of art, and the power of love.”

“Sounds like my kind of movie,” Chris says. “Plus, it’s got the Matthew Malone.”

“Swoon,” says Mel. “Well, thanks so much for joining us, Kai Laramie and Juniper Castillo. Andy Warhol Never Gets Old opens October fourth in theaters everywhere.”

“Go Jaguars!” I say. My high school mascot.

“And we’re out,” says a voice in our ears. Then Katie comes in: “Juniper, I could feel you wince a little when you said the movie makes you believe in the power of love.”

“Yeah, well, it’s aggressively cheesy.”