- Belle attends her book launch disguised as a waitress but leaves early to meet American client Jesse, whilst Ben is mistaken for the author by a lady named Camilla,who beds him before realising her mistake. Belle's publisher Duncan is so taken by sales that he asks her to prepare a follow-up though Stephanie, Belle's agent,is less impressed by her depiction in the book.—don @ minifie-1
- The season starts with Belle finishing up a long night's work and strutting down a hotel hallway in a slinky evening dress to the service elevator as her voice over talks about being versatile. A flip of the hair, a quick edit and Belle is transformed -- into a waitress. Who taunts the viewer for not having forseen this unexpected turn.
She serves drinks at a fancy function. A well-dressed gent compliments her on her disguise and she sidles up to Ben holding her drink tray. And then the well-dressed gent takes the stage and explains that the evening is a book launch, for Belle's book, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl." She beams with anonymous, nervous pride until it's time for her stand-in to do a reading. Out trots a tramped up blonde with fake knockers who, Belle says, only perpetuates the stereotype.
At home, Bambi scans the book hoping for a mention of herself. Belle's former madam Stephanie reads the line calling her a "terrible old tart" who takes 40 percent of her fees.
Belle is mortified by the horrible over the top reading which garners a smattering of applause. She heads to the attached bar where two women are discussing the book, saying that Belle doesn't even exist and is just a clever marketing campaign. Her trampy stand-in sits down next to her and, assessing her outfit, reassures her she used to be a waitress and Belle won't be forever. Harrumph.
Belle gets a text from Jesse, asking if she's free. One of her favorite clients, a real gentleman. She leaves. Ben chats up a woman from the publishing agency, bragging that his friend wrote the book. She thinks he's the one who wrote it.
Back at her flat, Belle gets ready for her evening with Jesse.
At Ben's place the PR woman is all over him, asking him to talk like he writes. He attempts some sexy talk and tosses the woman clumsily on the bed.
Cut to Belle actually being sexy with her date Jesse. She seems to be having a fantastic time "working" while Ben's evening falls apart, first when he can't rise to the occasion and then worse when the woman busts him for not actually knowing what's in the book. He senses it's time to leave.
Back at Belle's, she asks Jesse if he's going to keep her in suspense all night. He acts like he's forgotten, then hands her a fancy bag. She whips out the present, a cheesy foam Statue of Liberty crown. She proclaims it better than the King Kong snow globe. He can tell something's on her mind and she confesses that she's feeling overwhelmed. She asks Jesse if he ever feels like he's bitten off more than he can chew. He says yes, and in that situation you have to either spit it out, or swallow it down, solutions Belle can relate to.
Belle visits her editor Duncan. Even though no one in the office knows her identity but him, she walks through feeling like everyone knows she's a hooker. The editor hands her her first rave review and then asks when he can have the second book. He wants it to go even deeper, really "plunder her soul." Then she addresses the viewer, saying if she's going to write a second book, she's going to have to do some "serious whoring."
Bambi meets with the madam to make her payments. The madam is still smarting from the description of her profession in Belle's book.
Belle meets with a straight-laced client, hoping for good material. He turns out to be boring and one note in the sack and ends up babbling on about phobias for hours while he methodically goes at her. Could just as well be whittling a chair leg, she thinks by herself.
Belle meets with her editor having turned the experience, he says, into something funny. He shows her how the book is doing -- smashing.
Belle, Bambi and Ben admire a book display - hers - on the street. Belle busts Ben for not having read it, telling him he's "Jeremy" in the book. Belle tells Bambi who she is in the book - Laetitia - and Bambi's delighted.
Back at Belle's flat they're celebrating when there's a ring at Belle's buzzer. It's her sister Jackie, sobbing that her husband is having an affair. She needs to stay there. Belle looks at us: "Prostitute, author, sister. S---."
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