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Page 17
ignore that one line of dialogue and read on. She had to know the screenplay backwards and forwards. How else could she determine tomorrow, when she toured the town, where the script's scenes could be shot?
Her insides suddenly plummeted as the aircraft began to descend. She had to hurry. Pittsburgh must be near.
It was a new town to her, one she'd never before visited. A rarity. But it wouldn't end her quest, not this city that was the butt of so many jokes: dirty, ugly, full of idle steel mills and strong unions that sometimes created havoc for film companies. But, surprisingly, one where a lot of movies were being made these days. Perhaps even the one whose script was in her lap.
If it was ever shot. Which she doubted.
She opened the cover of the screenplay and began reading on page three. The letters on the page blurred. Mariah forced herself to read, word by word.
That didn't work. She tried thumbing through the pages to learn which characters had the most dialogue. It would help, at least, to know who the protagonists were.
Although the young woman Matilda appeared in nearly every scene, from what Mariah could tell, the story wasn't hers. Or Porter's. His name hardly appeared again.
Instead, the script focused on a man. His name was Thorn. Mariah read his description: a robust and moody woodsman, an ex-soldier who had never given up the fight.
"Folks, this is the captain speaking." The words broke into her thoughts. "Due to heavy air traffic, there'll he a delay in landing in Pittsburgh. We'll circle the city once or twice. Meantime" He described the weather below: warm, sunny, cloudless. A perfect late-summer day.
With a sigh, Mariah looked out her windowand sucked in her breath.
Below her was the most beautiful city she had ever seen.
It sat at the apex of a promontory formed by two rivers. Skyscrapers stretched toward the jet. The tallest was dark and boxy, others were gray or beige. Many were detailed with stepped sides or pointed roofs. One appeared to be a crystal castle, another a steepled cathedral. Among the tall

 
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