Beautiful Ugly

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use.

Forty-year-old Grady Green calls his wife Abby Goldman to see when she’ll be home. He’s eager for her to arrive in time for the call from his literary agency. Abby assures him that she’s close and has their celebratory fish and chips with her. They hang up and Grady waits anxiously for his agent Kitty Goldman’s call. He’s been a writer for years and hopes his most recent publication has made him a New York Times bestselling author.

Kitty calls before Abby gets home and announces the hoped-for news. Although thrilled, Grady feels disappointed that Abby missed the announcement. He loves her more than anything but feels alone. He pours himself a drink and calls her with the news. She congratulates him and professes her love for the first time in a while.

Suddenly, her tone changes. She tells Grady there is a body in the road. Grady warns her not to get out of the car, but she does so anyway, leaving the call connected inside her car. Grady listens as someone enters the car and starts breathing into the phone.