Sebastian (2024)

[bunniefuu]

So, tell me about yourself.

What would you like to know?

Well, I don't know.

Just the basics.

Where are you from?

What do you do in life?

Besides.

Well, my name's Sebastian.

I'm 24.

From Edinburgh.

Oh.

I thought I heard an accent.

You okay?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Are you sure?

f*ck!

Oh, yeah, yeah.

So, tell me about yourself.

What would you like to know?

Oh, I don't know.

Just the basics.

I must admit, I was a bit worried when

you wouldn't send a face pic, but... Very handsome.

You're quite new to this.

Max, how is the Marlowean

review coming along?

You'll have it by Friday.

Let's just say sophomore slump

is a kind way of putting it.

For LLF, they've just

announced Alina Cassaro.

I would love to.

There's been some indication she might give

an interview, but we've all heard that before.

As for Easton Ellis,

His people just

confirmed this morning.

I think this one's for you.

But didn't I ask first?

Actually,

I think Max beat you to it.

But in any case, I do think it best

that q*eer writers cover q*eer authors.

I mean, shouldn't anyone be

able to write about anything?

That's a very

cis-hetero response.

What does cis

have to do with it?

I thought that priority here was

quality reporting, not optics.

It's not about optics.

It's about sensibility.

Sensitivity.

Just do me the favor and run

those questions by me, Max.

I trust that you know what to ask, but I need

to see them because we may lead with it.

They're not that apparent to me.

I really tend not to write

about my life at all.

People point to the story in the informers called In

the Islands, which is about a father who takes his son to one.

Seriously, it's like a religious

experience in one.

Reading it, I really feel

I can change as a person.

Sorry, I know I sound like a tart, but... You know,

she's only given one interview in, like, eight years.

I don't know how a publisher

lets you get away with it.

I think the mystique's

part of it.

Like, you actually have to read any of her work

to understand anything about her.

She'll be out today.

Wow.

So f*cking cool.

I just don't think

it stands out.

It's so unpolished.

What?

No.

It's exactly that rawness

that makes it work so well.

I mean, the way you capture the intimacy between the lovers

and, you know, then how it suddenly turns to distance.

Yeah.

Collapsing those two time frames together

like that in one moment is fantastic.

I mean, yeah, it's atmospheric, sure,

but is it really saying anything?

Max, not everything needs

to be some grand statement.

You know, if it's well observed,

if it's truthful.

This comes from the heart.

And that's why it works.

I really don't think this could have been

written by someone who hadn't lived it.

I can't just be stuck writing short stories and reviewing

other people's work for the rest of my life, Amna.

Do you know how old Brett Easton Ellis

was when he published his first novel?

Zadie Smith?

We're already late.

Hi.

Come on in.

Okay.

You're a great kisser.

Thanks.

Sorry, it's a bit messy in here.

The cleaner is coming tomorrow.

Just got back from New York.

This morning.

Oh, nice.

Business or pleasure?

Business, unfortunately.

Always business.

Do you want a drink?

Yeah, I'd love one.

Wine?

Whatever you're having is great.

Okay, good.

You've got a beautiful place.

Thank you.

It's just for work days.

Weekends are spent in Kent.

With the family, you know.

Oh yeah.

Don't make me come.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Do you always have sex like that?

Did you like it?

You know the answer.

Do you know?

Most of the people

on that website are just awful.

Have you had bad experiences?

Disappointments.

It's so rare to find

someone like you on there.

I mean, you know, people lie

about their age or height or d*ck size.

It's all exaggeration.

Some of them aren't even g*y.

You can't get

a heart with a man.

It's so nice that not

everyone is deceptive.

Sebastian stood there

by the window over London,

looking at both the city and

himself with a new perspective.

As Daniel casually mentioned his family,

he felt suddenly complicit in a cliche,

acting out another role

but one he hadn't cast himself in.

Daniel's hands found him and

pulled out his skin and flesh

as hungrily as a mouth

seeking water in the desert.

He didn't just want, he needed.

This was the relief he had

from his family, his job, his other life.

Sebastian in that moment felt that he was

living more authentically than Daniel.

That's good.

Did you speak to actual

prostit*tes for your research then?

I think Gloria

means sex workers.

Yeah, no, absolutely.

I mean, what initially drew me to the topic

was this piece I did for Wall Magazine last year

on students who escort.

I don't know, I guess I was struck by how

casually some of them talked about the work.

They weren't really

ashamed of it at all.

They saw very

little stigma in it anymore.

And some of them had such a sense

of professionalism, you know,

in the way that they set

themselves up as entrepreneurs

or marketed themselves online.

There was almost

this sense of pride.

Anyway, I couldn't stop thinking

about some of the people that I interviewed

and just felt like I had

to write about it.

I thought it was

all OnlyFans now.

Yeah,

a lot of people do that too.

But...

Screen will never replace touch.

It's an easier way

to earn though.

I think to cultivate an audience

that'll make you any significant

money takes a lot of work.

But you don't actually physically

need to interact with anyone.

I think some people do

just really enjoy sex, though.

They might not want videos

of themselves online forever.

I know someone that used to do it

when they were young, of course.

They didn't mind it.

And I asked her, honestly, whether

she didn't find some of the men repulsive.

For her, it wasn't about them,

the clients.

It was about her.

You know, that's just the idea that I'm

like Patrick Bateman or something,

because I described a woman-hating

man, that I am that man,

as well as just

a little bit of a punk.

The book that would have

the most problem was the first one,

because everyone assumed

it was so autobiographical.

My family's really nothing

like the family in that book.

So that was the one that I thought might

have been hardest for you and Dad to take,

because it was, to an outsider,

it would seem the most autobiographical.

I don't think the content

didn't upset me.

I mean, the fact that it was such a tremendous

hit and affected you so much at such an early age,

had much more impact on me than the content

of what you had written.

You know, listen, as a writer, I guess

I tend to be a bit of a sociologist.

And I guess I tend to be drawn toward things

that are happening in the culture and incorporate.

I know it's superficial, but you are

a young, not unattractive guy,

and I don't think you should

be afraid to use that.

It's just... I'm not really

big on social media.

I find it to be a bit

of a distraction.

I don't want anything complicated, just

a couple of quality posts every week.

I'm afraid nobody gets to say

they're above it these days.

And what about the novel?

Did you get a chance

to look at the pages?

I have to say, I wasn't thrilled when

you said you were writing about sex work.

I'm sure you're aware there's

no shortage of treatises on the topic.

But... I think it is alive.

Really intimate.

And you might have found

a fresh perspective on it.

I do realise it is a sort of stock

character of q*eer literature,

but I don't know, this new generation of sex

workers who are all using technology,

The digital hustler.

Yeah, something like that.

Unfortunately,

I can't offer you an advance,

but it would be fantastic if,

after the stories,

we can get your debut novel

published already next year.

How soon do you think

you could get me a full draft?

- A couple of months.

- Oh, really? That soon?

Don't want to rush it.

Yeah.

I've still got to do

more research, haven't I?

Interviews.

Yeah, I understand.

Sorry.

Did you have

any notes on the pages?

Yes.

There was one bigger thing

I've been wondering about.

Have you thought about setting

it in the first person?

You know, almost like a memoir.

A pseudo-memoir.

It is not something I'd

really thought about.

I mean, it might not work.

I just think there's

something in there.

Get the door.

This calls for celebration.

It's just a couple

chapters so far.

Max, it's gonna be amazing.

I have faith in you.

Hey.

Thought we met.

Don't think so.

Where did you go to uni?

You look so familiar.

Er, UCL.

But I finished a while ago.

What's your name?

Er, Max.

I'm Max.

Are you sure?

Hey, let me just grab my jacket.

I'll come for a smoke.

Actually,

I'm going to have to go.

I just remembered

I've got a deadline.

Oh.

Brian, of course.

It's not that.

Well,

it was very nice to meet you.

So I read your new pages.

I think the character is really intriguing

and your prose is vivid as ever,

but I just wonder if

it gets a little repetitive.

This series of the same kinds of encounters

with generally always older men.

I'm just wondering what it might look like to see

him in a slightly different situation,

only to give it a bit more variety and maybe

to explore how he might react to new context.

Also, I was just a little thrown

by the bit about Sebastian's

intermittent feelings of shame

and the, how did you put it?

Shame about shame,

which definitely makes sense.

But it's just that I thought you said you were

struck by how little shame your interviews felt.

I'll send you my new

chapters tonight.

Anxious to get your thoughts

before this mission.

Hey, Sebastian.

Hi.

Glad you could make it.

Come on through.

We got some friends over,

hope you don't mind.

Oh, handsome.

What's your name, handsome?

Come on in. Can I fix you a drink?

We have vodka, gin,

wine, I think this...

Or would you prefer a shot?

Actually, I think I'm gonna go.

No, no, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Stay, please.

You didn't tell me

it was a group thing.

I don't do that.

Why not?

Please, stay.

I'll make you worth your while if

that's what you're worried about.

It's late.

We'll have fun.

I promise.

Oh, you didn't want it?

No, you've put more in yours.

Oh, okay.

I don't see why.

And after you drink slowly,

So,

where did you come from tonight?

Just from home.

And where's home?

East.

Phone, please.

You can get it back

when you leave.

We all put our phones

away when we party.

How's yours?

Just so everyone can relax.

It's to protect us all.

Yeah, you know,

from any sneaky pornographies.

Well, or rather, it's because

I'm a lovely host here.

Wouldn't want to be pictured

with the likes of you, Jacopo.

Hey, whoa, whoa, careful.

Come on.

Turn it off if you want.

I'm not going to do anything.

I'm just going

to put it in a drawer.

Want some?

What is it?

Methadone.

You noticed the difference?

I was going to say, I mean

the other one wasn't bad but...

Max, is everything okay? You

weren't in the meeting today.

I need your piece ASAP

and your questions for Brett.

Are you not coming in at all today? Give

me a call when you get this, please.

So tell us,

where did you come from tonight?

It's a good one, huh?

Yeah.

I think they enjoyed that.

You're new to this, aren't you?

So have you, um...

... been here before?

Yeah, I've been over a couple

of times, you know.

I like to get trashed

once a month or so.

Who are they?

Like, what do they do?

They're both lawyers,

hence the phones.

I have no idea what kind,

but they can afford to be generous.

Where did they find you?

Dreamy guys.

Yeah, I can see

why you picked him.

We should collab, you know?

Only if that.

I don't think I want to be that,

uh, public.

You two sit well, though.

Do you think so?

Yeah.

You've got that wholesome

boy next door thing going on.

But it's all filth underneath.

Why don't you think about it?

What I do find interesting now is that there

is this kind of anti-sex thing going on

in a way in terms of a lot

of the reviews in America

where they complained about how

much sex was in the book,

which surprised me because

I don't hear that much.

- Morning.

- Hey.

- Max, good to see you.

- Hi.

- Meeting's in five.

- Yeah, thanks.

Amna is doing

the Rachel Cusk interview.

Faisal has the design biennale.

Max.

I've got Brett.

Change of plans.

You're going to Ecotec

today for the app launch.

But I'm interviewing Brett.

No,

James is taking care of Brett.

But Max is like an expert.

He was here on Friday for the LLF

meeting and has prepared for it.

But that's not even our section.

What do you think makes the existence

of this magazine possible?

Do you think literature

pays for itself?

And please, hurry

up with the Slimani review.

It should have gone up by now.

I know it's f*cked up, but why

didn't you come in on Friday?

I told you.

I hooked up with someone and

I fell asleep at their place.

You know, I really could have

used your feedback on my pages.

f*ck.

I'm sorry.

I'll look at them tonight.

I promise.

I've already submitted it.

The deadline was yesterday.

So all you'll be doing

is swiping left or right,

which I'm sure

you can all manage.

This time, the best part is that

you won't even have to take

an awkward stranger out for a drink.

Now, we have spots in our software

where you can share ideas,

brainstorm, make parking lots

for your research and development.

So,

this is Max from Wall Magazine.

- Joan, our head developer.

- Pleasure to meet you, Max.

- Hi.

- Shall we sit down over here?

Yeah.

Where do we begin?

Has anybody demonstrated

to you how the app works?

Yeah, they have, yeah.

Well, I can tell

you more about the development process,

or how we came about a user

interface, or the design.

Actually,

I think I've got enough.

Oh, no, no, no.

You're really going to want

to talk to Joan about this.

I mean, she pretty

much spearheaded the whole project.

It's not necessary.

The presentation covered

everything pretty well.

I'm going to have to be off.

Thank you so much.

No, no, no.

I'm sorry.

We're not done here.

Joan needs to be

a part of this piece.

So,

did you find your way here okay?

Yeah, no problems.

I know it can be a little unintuitive

from the station.

Where did you say

you live again?

In Hackney.

Oh, right, yes.

Hackney's really come up,

hasn't it?

Wasn't that long ago, no one wanted to go

near the place, let alone live there.

I remember when it was just

gangs and drug dealers and...

Can I offer you a drink?

I've opened some Primitivo.

I'm grateful to have had

my career when I did.

Starting out in the 70s

was an absolute joy.

Tertiary education was free.

Pursuit of knowledge was

regarded as an end in itself.

Speaking with post-doctorates now,

the situation seems just dire.

I don't know how they managed to cope

with all that uncertainty and debt.

You're studying, aren't you?

I thought your profile

mentioned...

Yeah, I'm doing my masters

at the moment.

Oh, what in?

French literature.

Well, that's wonderful.

I used to lecture

in comparative literature.

Do you know what you're

going to do your thesis on yet?

Yeah, I think so.

But I don't want

to bore you with that.

Oh, you couldn't.

I live for that stuff.

I haven't... Sorry.

Could we just keep

talking for now?

Are you sure?

Please.

I just want to get to know

you a little better first.

There's no rush.

I hope you're all as excited

and as honoured as I am

to welcome onto the stage tonight an author

whose decades-spanning body of work

has not only left an indelible mark

on 20th, and 21st century literature,

but someone who I can also

say has had a profound influence

on the way many writers

of my generation, myself included,

have come to view the role

of the writer in society.

Please join me in welcoming

onto the stage

the winner of both the Goncourt

and Booker prizes,

the author of the devastatingly brilliant

Blackwater, her 18th novel, Alina Cassaro.

I mean,

you were f*cking incredible.

That question

about the influence of...

Oh, no, no, no, no.

I don't want to talk to her.

After she rejected my manuscript,

it's so embarrassing.

Max.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Amna... Is it?

Yes.

Absolutely brilliant

job on that Q&A.

Oh, thank you.

Yeah, you really managed

to drill down deeply.

Thanks.

I've got to ask,

how did you handle that?

Oh, well, um,

I interviewed her for Wall

and then she just asked me

to interview her here.

Um, Max, I've got a couple of people

indoors I'd really love you to meet.

If you can spare

him for a moment.

Yeah, be my guest.

Amna, why don't

you come by the office?

We can have a chat about whatever you're

working on at the moment.

Oh, uh, yeah, that'd be great.

I'm always on the lookout

for a fresh voice like yours.

Brilliant.

Ready?

Just so you're aware, Joy is

on the panel for the Pallari Prize.

OK?

Oh, God, it sounds so long.

Hi.

Can I please introduce Max?

He's one of our latest

discoveries.

- Ian.

- Hi.

- Charmed.

- Nice to meet you.

- Ian runs the London Review.

- Oh, wow.

Being far too generous,

I merely oversee it nowadays.

I leave the daily business to,

well, to the younger generation.

And Joy is

with the Arts Council.

Hello.

- Lovely to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

So, what are you working on,

Max?

Well, a couple

of things at the moment.

We're really proud to be publishing

some of Max's short stories.

He's already had

one in Granter a few months ago,

and another has been nominated

for the Bridport Prize.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much.

And currently he's working hard

on quite a tantalizing novel

that we're hoping

to publish next year.

All going well.

No doubt we'll be covering

you on our pages soon.

Certainly one for the radar.

You look awfully young

for getting published.

How old are you, Max?

I'm 25.

Well, affectionate.

So what's your novel about?

It's about a student who...

Who...

It's about sex work

in the digital age.

Max is exploring it as perhaps just another job

amongst many other jobs in the gig economy.

I just remembered

that I've left something.

I'm so sorry,

I'm going to have to excuse myself.

Sorry.

Thanks.

Hi mum.

I'm good.

How are you?

Oh, you're already in bed?

Alright, yeah, that's fine.

I can call tomorrow.

No, nothing's the matter.

Don't worry.

Yeah.

Okay.

Good night.

Love you.

Yeah, it like had almost

a dystopian vibe to it.

Yeah.

Well,

I thought it was very honest.

So thank you for that, Joel.

Okay, let's move on to Max.

What do you have for us today?

Although no one seemed to have been able

to detect the signs leading up to it,

they were all afterwards in mournful

apprehension that they had been there.

Everywhere, undetected

like an odorless poisonous gas.

The morning had been routine.

Another identical link in a chain

of silvery summer days at Dunbar.

There we go, guys.

Cheers.

I liked your poem.

Yeah?

Yeah.

It captured that sense

of urban loneliness really well.

Did it resonate with you?

I doubt those feelings are entirely

foreign to anyone who's single in London.

What happened to,

what was his name, Sebastian?

I don't know, I just...

I felt like that story

wasn't going anywhere in there.

I didn't know where to take it next.

I wanted to hear more.

Do you like that?

Yeah, I do.

Do you want me to come?

Yeah, yeah, f*ck me.

It's all right.

That's not porno.

Did you and Dad get around to watching

that show I told you about?

We started it but I had

to turn it off after 15 minutes.

I don't know why every program

me nowadays has to be like that.

It's just so vulgar.

Oh Mum,

you should have stuck with it.

Do you have

anything for the wash?

No.

You know, I read your story.

Thought it was very beautiful.

Which one do you mean?

His Breath.

The one in the magazine.

How did you... I do know how

to use the internet, you know.

I thought it was very touching.

But...

It made me worry about you.

But it's fiction, Mum.

But it has to come

from somewhere, doesn't it?

I just worry about you being

by yourself in London.

I have friends.

Has there been

anybody else since?

You never talk

about these things.

No, because I've honestly

got to focus on work right now.

You know, I should be

staff at the magazine soon.

They've got a new

position coming up.

Do you have to write

about such personal things?

You know, you do have

the right to keep some things.

Just for yourself, you know?

Hey, I've sent you the version

with the latest edits.

We've picked the images

and they're in the proof now.

I'll just get started

with the Hosman review next.

Max, come here.

I've got some not

great news for you.

Our editorial board, now

that we have a new staff editor,

You mean James?

They are looking to shift

their emphasis away from freelancers.

So unfortunately, the pieces that we discuss for next

month, they're all going to be done in-house.

Right.

So is there anything

for me to do?

I'm afraid not.

Sorry, but wasn't my piece one of the most read

last month and the month before that too?

Max, I get the feeling that our magazine

hasn't exactly been your top priority of late,

so I wouldn't want us

to keep you

away from whatever it is

that you'd rather be doing.

I'm sorry this didn't work out.

You know, I get the sense

that she can't handle

having anyone

with any other prospects on the team.

Like, anyone with anything

other than a shitty collection

of poetry to their name.

You could ask Stephen if

they've got anything at Glamour.

I know it's not exactly Granter,

but... it's money.

I mean, do you really think that'd

go down well with my publisher?

Glamour isn't exactly compatible

with being a serious writer, is it?

Yeah.

You know what, I think

you should use a pseudonym.

No one need know after all it's

by the Max Williamson.

I've got to focus

on my fiction anyway.

And live on what?

It's not like you've got

an advance or anything.

What did you see tonight?

It was The Goat by Edward Albee.

Oh, yeah.

Are you familiar?

No, I've not had

a chance to see it yet.

I'd like to, though.

But as I sat there,

I couldn't help thinking that

for all its ingenuity and brilliant

allusion to Greek tragedy,

the play just didn't move me.

Whereas with Tennessee Williams,

well,

I saw yet another production

of The Glass Menagerie last week.

Seeing their work almost

back-to-back forces you to compare.

Is this a... a Sheila?

A very lucky find

back in the day.

I like all of your pictures.

Well, I've managed to collect

a few things over the years.

Really,

it's a wealthier person's hobby.

No, no.

You've got a beautiful home.

It's a bit big for one, but...

I've decided to stay.

So, you write as well, then?

Or are you more of an aficionado,

like me?

I'm studying.

I told you that.

I wasn't sure I'd see you again.

I mean, I had quite

a shock myself that night.

I've been offline for a bit.

I noticed.

I hope not on my account.

And it goes without saying

that this is between us.

Nothing leaves this room,

this house.

So don't worry.

To be honest, I was a little surprised

to hear from you again.

That night that I was here,

I'm sorry.

No, no need to apologize.

I was on edge myself.

Too tense.

I'm pretty much of a novice.

In case you didn't realize.

So,

is it poetry or prose you write?

I still do occasional

work editing textbooks.

I still get invited

to these things.

I'm only asking out

of genuine interest, you know?

I do write.

Mainly just short stories.

Anything I can read?

Not so fast.

I need to get to know

you a little better first.

Touch.

You remind me of someone 30

years ago when he was your age.

It's something about the way

you laugh,

the tenor of your voice.

Chin up a little bit.

Okay, no, not so sultry.

So thoughtful, not sexy.

This is serious subjects

you're writing about, yeah?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's it.

Oh, that's stunning.

I love this one.

Can we get a couple more just

very close up on the face?

Yeah.

Max, what's your Insta?

It's at Maxim's, but I've not really

got many followers or anything.

We're going to fix that.

We'll do a big feature

on our Instagram.

And once this comes out, your face is

going to be on the top of everyone's feed.

Les Nuits Fauves...

Oh, that certainly sparked

debate in my seminars.

I know some people view him

as immoral or selfish, unlikable.

But I think it's a beautiful

account of a kind of joy.

Even in the face of death,

against the tyranny of A*DS and h*m*.

I think there's great beauty

in his refusal to give up on life.

His continued desire to taste

everything until the very end.

What?

Can I ask you a question?

Why is it that you do this?

I mean, I don't imagine there

are many boys on that website

who are published in Granter

or nominated for literary prizes.

Are you saying

that I shouldn't be here?

No.

Not at all.

You know, there's not

much money in writing fiction.

Or writing full stop.

No, I don't imagine there is.

But is it really just

about the money for you?

No.

It's not that simple.

We met in California.

In the early 90s.

I still wasn't out.

The only time I plucked up courage

to meet anyone was on work trips.

And that, too, became a frightening

business because of A*DS.

Yeah, of course.

So how did you meet?

I had the afternoon off from my conference

and had gone to spend it at the Getty Villa.

Oh,

it really is a marvelous place.

You should go if

you haven't been.

I was looking at this sculpture,

the Victorious Youth,

lost in admiration,

when suddenly I heard,

"Cute a*s, isn't it?"

Turning around,

I saw David for the first time,

smiling his cheeky smile,

so handsome.

We got into conversation.

Went for lunch, had drinks.

An unforgettable

night in my hotel.

Three days later, I flew back

to London and David came with me.

Never left.

Until one day, 29 years later,

he was taken away.

It'll be three years next month.

A stroke.

He went as suddenly

as he had appeared.

Our time is almost over.

I'd like to stay.

Well, you know I'd love that,

but really I can't afford...

Not him.

Me.

I've seen the proofs

from the Evening Standard piece.

- Really good shots, don't you think?

- Yeah, they're great.

I'm going to see if we can

get one for the dust jacket.

Interview's good, too.

I love that thing that you said.

What was it?

I carve out my existence

in the world using words.

They are the footsteps

that I leave in my wake.

- Beautiful.

- Yeah.

It's not too lyrical.

No.

No, it's just what we needed.

Fingers crossed it'll get

the review it deserves.

It shouldn't be a problem.

Larry's doing it.

I think you'll have a real

appreciation for your style.

- So have you read the draft?

- Yes.

Ben's had a look at it too.

And I'm going to be honest

with you because we want to get this out

as soon as possible after the short stories

while you're still fresh in everybody's mind.

This whole new thread with...

Oh, what's the character's name?

The older gentleman.

Jonathan.

I'm not sure about it.

But it's the heart.

Don't you think it's somehow

too romantic, in a way?

Is Sebastian, who has been,

so consumed by sex until now,

really suddenly about to become

all Harold and Maud with this guy?

Yeah, but I'm trying to show

that he's moved beyond that initial,

more superficial interest in sex work

to this deeper appreciation of its meaning.

I can see that's

what you're trying to do.

But you've spent so much time now

on this one relationship, I fear it's losing focus.

Don't get me wrong,

it started off brilliantly.

Really exciting stuff.

I'd just like you to continue

in that vein.

It's just, I really feel like I'm

discovering something deeper here.

I mean, these exchanges

between escorts and their clients,

they're actually really important

in connecting generations of g*y men that,

I mean, might have not had

much to do with each other.

And thus they're transmitting

q*eer history and culture and...

I mean, that's something

I want to talk about.

But that's not what we discussed

originally, is it?

You veered from your proposal.

An authentic portrait

of contemporary sex work,

the reality of what life

is like for these...

But it's grounded in reality.

It's all based on research.

From my interviews.

I'm sorry, I... I just don't

think our audiences will like it.

You need to bring

something more to it, Max.

Find a way to raise the stakes.

I don't want it to be just

another tragic sex worker story.

I don't want to do that at all.

And nobody is

asking you to do that.

Look, we already know that you've

mastered the short story.

But this is a novel.

You have to remember that.

It is a different beast entirely.

As it is,

I'm afraid it's not working.

If I were you, I'd listen to the people

who've done this a hundred times before

and are giving you

this opportunity.

Yeah, but I don't think

that she actually gets it.

It's like they're drawn to totally different

aspects of it, to this more superficial version.

Sure, but it really doesn't matter how amazing

your version of it is if no one gets to read it.

Thanks.

There's something

I really think we should see

the week after next

that's coming on.

The inside pocket

of your jacket.

I'll see you again

next Thursday.

Next week might be a bit tricky.

I've got a lot of work

on at the moment with the writing.

Of course.

But I'll let you know that.

Whenever it suits.

It's really good to see you.

Mr. Larson,

nice to see you again.

So they all know you're here.

Yeah.

I like to come here

whenever I'm in town and...

Yeah, I love their food,

though I always seem to

have the same meal.

But never the same company.

No.

Well, if I find something

I like, I want to have it again.

So what are your family

doing this weekend?

Just, uh... keeping

themselves company, I suppose.

Have they ever been to Brussels?

Well... I don't think

they're very interested.

Would you like some more wine?

Yes, please.

- Thank you.

- Perhaps another bottle?

Why not?

Sorry, I'm not feeling too well.

I think I had a bit

too much to drink.

Go get some water then.

I'm tired.

It's okay.

Can we just wait until morning?

Do I have to remind

you who's paying for this?

Can you at least get a condom?

Please.

Max?

Max?

Are you okay?

Thank you very much.

Can you at least get a condom?

What the f*ck is this?

f*ck.

And in that moment Sebastian realized that to try

to fight back would have been fruitless or dangerous even.

That is not what happened.

What the f*ck is this?

It's just for myself,

it's nothing.

I should have known.

Never trust a wh*re.

I'm sorry,

just give me my laptop.

Get out.

I'm sorry, it's nothing.

No, please, get out.

Give me my laptop back.

Get the f*ck out of here.

Please,

can I just have my laptop back?

Get the f*ck out of here.

Just give me my laptop.

Get out!

Okay, well, give me my stuff.

Give me your stuff.

Out.

Now.

Do you have my wallet?

I need it.

Daniel!

I left my wallet.

I need to get in the...

Good afternoon, Mr. Larson.

I'm sorry to disturb you.

I have a young man in front

of me who asked me the access to your room.

He's looking for his wallet and

he says his name is Sebastian.

Do you know him?

No?

No, he's lying.

Okay, thank you very much.

I'm so sorry to have

disturbed you.

Thank you, bye.

I'm sorry,

there's nothing more I can do.

But that's not true.

He's lying.

Your colleagues have

literally seen me here before.

I'm sorry.

If you're not going to book a room, I will

have to ask you to leave the hotel, sir.

Are you kidding?

This is f*cking ridiculous.

- I'm so sorry.

- I've been here before.

Please, sir, calm down.

I'm sorry.

I cannot do anything else.

Call him again.

I can't do that.

I'm sorry.

Oh.

Hi, Mum.

Hi, Max.

Why are you not picking up?

I've been trying

to get through to you.

I was just in the cinema.

Why am I getting

a strange dialing tone?

Where are you?

I'm in Brussels with Amna.

In Brussels?

Sorry, I didn't get

the chance to tell you.

It was so last minute.

I've now got a deal on Eurostar tickets,

so... She took me here for the weekend.

A late birthday present.

Oh, that was really nice of her.

Listen, your dad and

I were just calling to say

that we had read that piece

in the Evening Standard.

You came across really,

really well.

I am so proud of you, Max.

Yeah.

It's great.

You spoke so beautifully.

Bye.

Bye, darling.

Okay.

Hey, this is Amna.

Sorry I can't pick up right now,

but please leave a message

and I'll get back to you

as soon as I can. Thanks.

Hello?

Sebastian?

Are you there?

Is everything alright?

I've always been rather fond

of the name, Jonathan.

I'm going to tell my publisher

that I'm scrapping the whole project.

They never even liked

that section anyway.

Do you not hate me

for using you like that?

No, I don't.

You need to carry on

and finish it.

What I would hate you for

is not publishing it.

And if I can help in any way,

and heaven forbid,

be an inspiration to you,

I couldn't be more thrilled.

It's good.

There are fresh towels

in the bathroom.

It's really nice to meet you,

Max.

You too.

Have a good rest of the day.

I'm very excited

about our conversation.

Your book is one of my favourites

of this year.

Thank you.

I'll begin by introducing

and welcoming everyone,

and then if you just

want to follow out after me

and get a seat

with once I introduce you.

Yeah.

Did you get a chance

to look at the questions?

I did, yeah.

And did they all seem OK?

I mean, if there's anything you don't

feel comfortable discussing,

or if anything feels

too personal, please tell me.

You can ask me anything.

LAPORT INC.