August 28, 2025 • 36 mins
Step into the glamorous yet shadowy world of Old Hollywood with Mashair Reads as we dive deep into The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
In this episode, we break down Evelyn’s dazzling career, scandalous relationships, and heartbreaking truths with a storytelling style that’s as captivating as the novel itself.
Whether you’ve read the book or are hearing about it for the first time, expect detailed, cinematic summaries, emotional insights, and thought-provoking discussions that make you feel like you’re right there in Evelyn’s glittering world.
✨ Listen now and experience book discussions like never before — and don’t forget to stream our audiobook episodes and summaries on Spotify, and all major platforms.
📌 Follow Mashair Reads for more in-depth, emotionally rich book talks that make stories come alive.
In this episode, we break down Evelyn’s dazzling career, scandalous relationships, and heartbreaking truths with a storytelling style that’s as captivating as the novel itself.
Whether you’ve read the book or are hearing about it for the first time, expect detailed, cinematic summaries, emotional insights, and thought-provoking discussions that make you feel like you’re right there in Evelyn’s glittering world.
✨ Listen now and experience book discussions like never before — and don’t forget to stream our audiobook episodes and summaries on Spotify, and all major platforms.
📌 Follow Mashair Reads for more in-depth, emotionally rich book talks that make stories come alive.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Disclaimer.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is a summary of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn
Hugo by Taylor Jenkins. Read It is not a substitute
for the original novel and does not contain the full
text or exact phrasing of the author. All characters, plot points,
and themes discussed are based on interpretations of the published work.
Readers are encouraged to consult the original book for a
(00:21):
complete and authentic experience of the story. The interview between
Evelyn and Monique takes a pause for the evening, but
it's clear that Monique's mind is elsewhere. As she checks
her phone, she finds missed calls from her mother, Frankie,
and David. David's voicemail is particularly unsettling. He's at her
apartment trying to reach her. Monique's heart skips a beat
(00:45):
as she processes the message or of what David's intentions
might be. When Monique arrives home, she's confronted by David,
who is clearly eager to fix things between them. He
suggests that their separation was rushed, that living in different
states doesn't have to be an obstacle, and that they
can still make it work. For a moment, Monique is
(01:05):
thrown into a whirlwind of emotions, But then she remembers
the conversation she had with Evelyn about the difference between
heartbreak and the feeling of failure when a marriage ends.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It strikes her like a revelation.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Her marriage is over not because of a broken heart,
but because it simply wasn't right for her anymore. Monique
realizes with surprising clarity that she doesn't want to fight
for something that doesn't bring her happiness. Though she feels
the sting of failure, she recognizes that her love for
David is no longer enough to make her want to
keep trying. What she yearns for now is the kind
(01:43):
of love Evelyn shared with Celia, something deeper, more meaningful,
and without the complications that have weighed her down in
her own relationship. In this moment, Monique makes a choice,
and when David leaves, there's a sense of finality in
the air, an ending to their story. The next morning,
as life continues to move forward, Monique and Evelyn resume
(02:05):
their work. They schedule a photoshoot with Frankie, and Evelyn
assures Monique that they will wrap up their interview in
three days. Just in time, Evelyn and Harry have a
candid conversation about Max's proposal, and the realities of their
situation start to sync in Harry, ever, the understanding and
mature partner, tells Evelyn that if she truly wants to
(02:27):
marry Max, it makes sense for them to get a divorce. However,
he assures her that nothing needs to change between them
and he will always be proud to call her his
wife no matter what the future holds. It's a bittersweet
moment Harry's acceptance of their evolving relationship and is unwavering
love for her even in the face of this monumental shift.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Later, Evelyn talks.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
To Max about his proposal, and his words are charged
with emotion. He confesses that he's loved her for years
and that their connection, both professional and personal, is something
he can't show. He describes their bond as erotic, an intense,
creative chemistry that has always existed between them. Evelyn, though
hesitant at first, feels the pull of this deep connection.
(03:12):
There's something in his words, something in the way he
looks at her that makes her feel.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Seen, desired and cherished. Once again.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
The magnetic attraction between them is undeniable, and before long,
Evelyn and Max find themselves in each other's arms, their
passion culminating in a night together. Evelyn, for the first
time in a while, feels truly wanted. The weight of
her past relationships, her longing for love and affection begins
to lift. In Max, she finds someone who not only
(03:42):
admires her, but desires her in a way that rekindles
a spark inside her that she thought had long since
burned out. As they lie together, Evelyn's heart feels lighter,
as if a part of her has finally found the
peace she's been searching for. She agrees to marry Max,
relieved and content, knowing that this decision is a step
toward embracing a new chapter in her life. Evelyn and
(04:05):
Max tie the knot in the serene and vast desert
of Joshua Tree. The ceremony, set against the stunning natural backdrop,
marks a new beginning for Evelyn, a fresh chapter in
her tumultuous love life. Yet, as the dust settles after
the vows are exchanged, Max begins to talk excitedly about
Evelyn's future in action films. He envisions her conquering this
(04:27):
new domain of fame and fortune, and his words echo
with ambition, but not the kind of affection Evelyn hoped for.
While part of Evelyn feels relieved to be with Max,
especially since she's convinced Celia will never return to her,
a deep, unsettling feeling begins to grow. Evelyn knows that
Max's obsession with her public image is starting to overshadow
(04:49):
the deeper connection they should have. His excitement about her
fame and the potential for their partnership in the spotlight
makes Evelyn realize something she's been trying to ignore. He
isn't in love with her as a person. He's in
love with the idea of her, the glamorous, iconic figure
the world adores. The following morning, as they bored their plane,
(05:11):
Max can't stop talking about the press photos of them together,
obsessing over how perfect they look and how their marriage
will be seen by the public. His relentless focus on
their image as a couple, rather than the actual bond
they share, breaks Evelyn's heart. She feels the weight of
the realization Max isn't seeing her. He's seeing a version
(05:32):
of her that exists only for the world, not the
woman she truly is. Beneath the glamour. In a moment
of clarity and heartbreak, Evelyn tells Max exactly what's on
her mind. You're in love with the idea of me,
she says, and those words hang in the air between them,
laden with the truth she's been avoiding. Evelyn finds herself
at a crossroads, believing that her time in Hollywood is
(05:55):
drawing to a close. The industry's obsession with youth has
started to edge her out, and she feels the weight
of age pressing on her career. The allure of the glitzy,
glamorous world of the Academy Awards no longer excites her. Instead,
she yearns for a simpler life, one where she can
stay home with Harry and Connor, away from the spotlight,
(06:16):
surrounded by the warmth of those who truly know her.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
But just when Evelyn thinks.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
She's closed that chapter of her life, a familiar, bittersweet
moment stirs something deep within her. Celia, now an accomplished
actress in her own right, wins an Oscar for her
role as Lady Macbeth. In her acceptance speech, Celia makes
a subtle but poignant reference to the time when Evelyn
kissed the TV screen and chipped her twoth years ago
(06:42):
while watching Celia in her breakout role. This small yet
meaningful allusion to a moment they once shared touches Evelyn's
heart in a way she wasn't expecting. It's as if
Celia is reaching across the years of silence, acknowledging the
bond they once had. Moved by the gesture, Evelyn decides
to write Celia a letter congratulating her on the win.
(07:05):
This sparks a fragile reconnection between them, and they begin
to correspond, each letter filled with the weight of unspoken history.
In her letters, Celia opens up, apologizing for the years
of silence and admitting that she still thinks about Evelyn often,
despite the decade of distance between them. For Evelyn, hearing
Celia's words feels like a bomb to a wound she
(07:27):
thought had healed long ago. However, as the correspondence deepens,
Evelyn shares something vulnerable with Celia. She tells her that
her marriage to Max isn't just a publicity stunt, It's
real and she's truly in love with him. This honesty,
perhaps too raw for Celia, causes her to withdraw. Celia
stops responding and the silence that follows is even more
(07:50):
deafening than the years of no contact before a moment
of emotional clarity and resolve unfolds for Evelyn. After years
of silence and confusion, Evelyn finally reaches out to Celia,
and for the first time in ages, they talk openly.
No longer hiding their feelings, Evelyn confesses something she's kept
locked away for so long. She doesn't love Max, and
(08:12):
she's ready to walk away from the life she's built
in Hollywood, leaving the spotlight behind all for the chance
to be with Celia. The weight of those words seems
to lift something heavy inside her. It's a bold declaration
of the truth she's been denying for too long. Celia,
on the other end of the line, listens, and though
the years have passed, her response is immediate. She agrees
(08:34):
to meet Evelyn for dinner. There's no hesitation. It's as
if they've picked up where they left off, picking through
the layers of time and distance to find each other
once again. With the meeting set, Evelyn makes plans to
fly to Los Angeles, a sense of anticipation building in
her chest. But before she can leave, Max discovers the
(08:56):
letters between Evelyn and Celia, letters that speak of a
love that Max can never fully understand. Furious and threatened
by the possibility of losing her, Max reacts with anger,
Fae threatening to expose Evelyn's past, her bisexuality, and the
affair with Celia to the public. But Evelyn, having spent
so many years health to appease others, is done living
(09:18):
in fear of someone else's judgment. She makes her decision clear.
She's leaving him, no matter the consequences. With a sense
of finality, Evelyn bords the plane, determined she's leaving behind
a life that has always been about public image and fame,
that and stepping towards something far more meaningful, even if
it means going against everything she's known. As she heads
(09:41):
to meet Celia, she finally acknowledges the truth she's always
known deep in her heart. Celia is the love of
her life, the one she's always wanted, always needed, and
now she's going to claim it, no matter the cost.
The long awaited reunion between Evelyn and Celia finally happens,
but it's far from a simple fairy tale reconciliation. At dinner,
(10:03):
surrounded by the quiet tension of their shared past and
the weight of all the things left unsaid. Evelyn pours
her heart out. She insists she's ready to leave everything behind,
her fame, her carefully constructed life, and even her daughter
to be with Celia. But Celia hesitates, reminding Evelyn of
the price she might have to pay. Coming out as
(10:24):
gay could mean losing Connor, who might not understand or
accept this part of her. The fear of what could
be lost looms heavy, and Evelyn's frustration grows as she
feels like she's being asked to choose between love and motherhood.
But then the conversation takes a heartbreaking turn. Celia, with
a quiet vulnerability, admits that she's dying. The weight of
(10:46):
this revelation is enough to silence Evelyn's protests. Celia has
emphysema and only about a decade left to live. The
news shakes Evelyn to her core, and she breaks down
in tears. In that moment, Celia asks her a pain question.
Could Evelyn truly bear the idea of being with her
knowing that eventually she would lose her again forever? Evelyn,
(11:08):
her heart torn, says that she can't handle it, but
that she wants to take the risk anyway. They both
know the consequences, but the pull of their love is
stronger than their fears. After spending the night together, the
morning brings more plans, but not the kind Evelyn expects. Celia,
ever pragmatic, has devised a scheme that will allow them
(11:29):
to be together in a world that won't accept their love.
She proposes they move to Spain, away from the prying
eyes of Hollywood and society, to live out Celia's remaining
years on the beach. But Celia has a strategic idea
to protect their love and secure Evelyn's future. She suggests
that Evelyn pretend to have an affair with a much
(11:49):
younger man, someone someone more than twenty years younger than her,
to fuel the tabloids and distract from the truth. This
would discredit Max's claims about Evelyn's sexuality, making its seem
like his jealousy of the younger man is the real issue.
In a twist of fate and cunning, Celia also plans
for Evelyn to marry her brother Robert, so that when
(12:11):
Celia dies, everything she owns will pass on to Evelyn.
The complexity of Celia's plan is genius and Evelyn can't
help but be impressed by the length Celia is willing
to go to ensure their future together. The sense of
home they both seek after years of separation and turmoil
finally feels possible. As the two women embark on this
(12:32):
new chapter, it's clear that the love between them has
never truly faded. It's just been waiting for the right
moment to bloom again. The story takes a sharp turn
as Evelyn navigates the complexities of family, love, and loss.
The idea of moving to Spain, a place that Celia
hopes will offer them peace in her final years, is
(12:53):
met with resistance from Harry. He's hesitant to disrupt Connor's
life now that she's a teenager, and doesn't want to
leave behind his work in Los Angeles. This decision reflects
the growing distance between mother and daughter as Connor starts
pulling away from Evelyn. Despite Evelyn's longing to connect, she
finds solace in being with Celia, where the weight of
(13:14):
her past love and current reality seems more comforting than
her strained relationship with her daughter. Amid this emotional turmoil,
Harry opens up to Evelyn about something unexpected he's met
someone new. After years of feeling like he couldn't love
again after John's death, Harry has found a new romantic interest.
(13:34):
He expresses a wish that Celia marry the man he's
seeing so that they can all live together in Los
Angeles with Connor. Evelyn, though somewhat shocked, is happy for Harry,
understanding how hard it must have been must have been
from him to open up to love again. In this
quiet moment of vulnerability, Evelyn reveals to Harry that she's
done with acting. She's ready to leave behind the spotlight,
(13:57):
and this admission deepens the bond between the two. Fry
sigh as they share a heartfelt expression of love for
one another. However, the chapter takes a tragic turn when
Evelyn stumbles upon a car crash. Harry and another man
are inside, both injured and bleeding. With her usual resourcefulness,
Evelyn and her driver, Nick, managed to pull Harry from
(14:19):
the wreckage, but as Evelyn attempts to revive him, the
harsh reality sets in. She can smell the alcohol on
Harry's breath, and Nick informs her that the other man,
the one Harry was with, is already dead. In a
panic to protect Harry and shield her family from the fallout.
Evelyn makes a desperate decision. She instructs Nick to move
(14:40):
the dead man into the driver's seat to make it
appear as though he was at fault. This is her
way of protecting Harry from a manslaughter charge and sparing
her family from public humiliation. She rushes Harry to the hospital,
but it's too late. Harry dies from his injuries, leaving
Evelyn devastated by the loss of her dear feet. But
(15:01):
even in the face of such tragedy, Evelyn's pragmatic side
comes to the forefront. She offers Nick, who has dreams
of becoming an actor, the chance to trade his silence
for a shot at fame. Evelyn faces the mounting consequences
of her choices. With Connor's spiraling further into trouble, Evelyn
realizes that she needs to take drastic action to shield
(15:22):
both herself and her daughter from the ever present glare
of the public eye. Feeling the weight of the situation,
Celia proposes a fresh start. Aldi's a quiet town in Spain,
far from the spotlight that has defined Evelyn's.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Life for so long.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Celia asks if Evelyn is ready to step away from
fame entirely to live a life where she won't be
known by anyone. Evelyn, exhausted and yearning for peace, eagerly
embraces the idea. She can't wait to disappear into the
anonymity that Spain promises. When Evelyn sits down to talk
with Connor, the weight of the conversation hangs heavy. She
(15:59):
tries to explain her decision to retire from acting and
move on from her past life. She reveals her relationship
with Celia, a love that has been hidden for so long,
and her plan to marry Robert, but only for legal
and public reasons.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
The truth of the situation is.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Complicated, and Evelyn hopes that Connor will understand, but the
conversation takes a heartbreaking turn. Connor, consumed by her grief
and anger, shuts down emotionally. She doesn't want to hear
about her mother's plans, nor does she seem to care.
All she wants is to be left alone, retreating further
into her own pain. As she sits across from Monique,
(16:36):
her eyes glisten with unshead tears, a rare vulnerability breaking
through the glamorous, light poised facade she has carefully maintained
for so many years. The emotions stirred by recounting her
tumultuous journey are clearly overwhelming, and yet Evelyn doesn't let
herself fully collapse under the weight of them. Monique, moved
(16:57):
by the raw honesty in Evelyn's words, expresses admire for
how Evelyn has faced her past with such courage. She
tells Evelyn how much she admires her, But Evelyn, ever
guarded and self aware, immediately cuts Monique off. She doesn't
want pity or admiration, not now, not for the woman
she has become. She warns Monique not to say she
(17:18):
admires her, and with a heavy heart, she adds that
by tomorrow, Monique will likely see Evelyn for who she
truly is. It's as if she's preparing Monique for a
deeper truth, one that will peel away the layers of
the narrative Evelyn has so carefully constructed, revealing the complexities
and perhaps the flaws that lie underneath. Evelyn knows the
(17:38):
weight of the truth, and she seems almost resigned to
the idea that, once it's fully exposed, the world may
never look at her the same way again. In the
tranquil surroundings of Spain. Connor begins to emerge from the
depths of her grief, finding solace in the steady presence
of Robert. With her daughter slowly finding her footing, Evelyn
(17:59):
is granted more time with Celia than she's had in years.
This shift in their lives creates space for their bond
to grow deeper. As the days unfold, Evelyn reconnects with
parts of herself long buried. She starts speaking Spanish again,
a language that feels like a bridge to the past,
an echo of a life she once knew, filled with
(18:19):
forgotten pieces of herself. There's a sense of personal recovery,
as if Evelyn is finally stitching together the fragments of
who she used to be, the person she set aside
in the pursuit of fame, love, and survival. But even
as Evelyn heals, Celia's illness casts a shadow over their
time together. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Celia expresses
(18:41):
regret for the years they lost while estranged. There's a
quiet sadness in her voice as she reflects on the
time that slipped away between them, time that could have
been spent together unburdened by past mistakes. In a deeply
personal and intimate moment, Evelyn and Celia create their own
version of a wedding, with no guests, no grand ceremony,
(19:02):
just the two of them. Evelyn officiates, and they use
a simple hairtie as a wedding ring. It's a quiet
yet powerful ritual of commitment and love, one that transcends
the formalities of what the world might expect. In this
private space, Celia promises that she will never stop loving Evelyn,
and Evelyn in turn, knowledges that none of her other marriages,
(19:23):
no matter how grand or important, could ever compare to
the bond they share. The sincerity of their vows, exchanged
in the stillness of their bedroom, moves Evelyn deeply, a
reminder that love in its truest form doesn't require anything
beyond the two people who share it. A decade of
peace and shared love between Evelyn and Celia in Spain
(19:45):
comes to a heartbreaking end. After spending years together away
from the public eye and in the quiet solace of
their shared home, Celia succumbs to her illness. She dies
in Evelyn's arms in their bed, a place that had
once been a sanctuary.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
For fis their love.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
The loss is devastating for Evelyn. This is not just
the death of a partner, but of the love of
her life, the woman with whom she had built everything,
only to have it ripped away in the cruelest of ways.
In that final moment, Evelyn is left with an overwhelming emptiness,
the kind that only the death of a soulmate can bring.
The woman who had been her anchor, her strength, and
(20:23):
her heart, is gone, leaving behind nothing but the echoes
of memories, whispered promises, and shared years of a love
that had been both a treasure and a tragedy. Following
Celia's passing, the world mourns the loss of the beloved
screen queen Celia Saint James. A two thousand article from
Nauma speaking out.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
This reflects on her.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Remarkable career, tracing her rise from a young actress to
an iconic figure of Hollywood. The obituary is filled with
admiration for her work and life, noting the lasting impact
she had on the film industry. It also details the
arrangement for her estate, which will be managed by her
brother Robert and Evelyn, two people who had been integral
(21:05):
to her life In different ways. Though Celia has passed,
her legacy endures and her memory will live on through
those who loved her, especially Evelyn, whose heart will forever
carry the weight of losing her. After the ceremony, she
visits Harry's grave, seeking solace in a place where the
past feels close and the memories of her dear friend
(21:26):
and ex husband linger. Alone in the cemetery, Evelyn breaks down,
sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of her loss is too much
to bear. She is overwhelmed by the loss of Celia,
the woman who had been her constant for so many years.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
As she stands.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
There, raw and vulnerable, the paparazzi, ever watchful, capture the moment.
They snap a picture of Evelyn in her grief and
turn it into a sensational story, painting her sorrow as
a public spectacle. The headline reads about Evelyn's broken heart
over the death of her ex husband Harry, and once
again the media twists the truth to fit their own narrative. Evelyn,
(22:04):
with a bitter sense of clarity, reflects on how the
press never truly understands her. They only see what they
want to see, interpreting her emotions through the lens of
their own biases and preconceived stories. In this moment of
deep personal loss, Evelyn realizes that the world will never
truly know the truth of her heart how deeply she
(22:24):
is mourning Celia, not Harry. But the story the media
will tell is always the one they want to hear,
not the one that reflects the reality of her pain.
Evelyn faces another devastating loss. Robert, Celia's brother and her
close friend, has passed away. At his funeral, Connor, now
an adult, delivers the eulogy, a poignant moment that highlights
(22:46):
the passage of time and the weight of the people
Evelyn has lost over the years. As the ceremony unfolds,
Evelyn reflects on the loneliness that has crept into her life.
Despite all the fame and glamour that wants to find her,
the aca absence of loved ones has left a lingering emptiness.
Evelyn acknowledges how difficult it is to live alone, and
(23:07):
in an attempt to fill the void, she has brought
grace into her life. She finds joy and spoiling. Grace
perhaps has a way to care for someone, to find
a sense of connection again after losing so much. Evelyn
had once been content with solitude, comfortable in her own company. However,
everything changed when Connor, her daughter, passed away from breast
(23:28):
cancer the previous year. Her grief is raw, and since
then the panic she feels has never fully subsided. The
sense of loss, the fear of being alone, now constantly
haunts her. Evelyn continues to speak directly to Monique, her
words raw and filled with a kind of finality. She
urges Monique to tell her entire story, not just the glamorous,
(23:50):
constructed version of Evelyn that the world has known, but
the truth beneath the surface. For years, Evelyn had chased fame,
thinking it would fulfill her, but she can confesses that
what she truly sought was something far more elusive.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Family.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
The persona that the public adored, the famous actress, the
multiple marriages, the dazzling life was all a facade, an
image she crafted for the world. But beneath it all,
she longed for something more authentic. Evelyn yearns for the
simple yet profound connections she lost.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Over the years.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
The warmth of being with her daughter, the love of
her partner, the closeness of a best friend, and the
comfort of a mother's embrace. These were the things she
truly desired, and in the end, they were what mattered most.
Evelyn then looks deeply into Monique's eyes, her voice unwavering
as she emphasizes that, given the chance, she would make
(24:43):
the same choices over and over again if it meant
protecting her family. Despite the turmoil, the sacrifices, and the pain,
her actions were always driven by love and a desperate
need to shield those she cared about from harm. Then,
with a heavy silence hanging between them, Evelyn reveals a
truth that strikes Monique to her core. The man who
(25:04):
had died in the car crash with Harry was none
other than Monique's father, James Grant. The revelation is like
a thunderclap, rattling Monique to her very soul. It explains
the mysterious, lingering questions from the past, the secrecy that
had always clouded her understanding of her father's death. For years,
(25:25):
Monique had lived with the belief that the circumstances surrounding
her father's death were simply an accident. But now Evelyn's
confession casts an entirely new light on everything. Monique is
overwhelmed by a wave of fury that she can barely contain.
The truth that Evelyn has just revealed that her father,
James Grant, had died in that car crash alongside Harry
(25:47):
shatters everything Monique thought she knew about her father's death.
For her entire life, she had carried the burden of
believing that her father was to blame for his own demise,
that he had been drunk and reckless. Wow faced with
the knowledge that Evelyn had framed him for his own death,
Monique is consumed with rage. She feels betrayed, not just
by Evelyn, but by the woman who had stolen away
(26:10):
the honor of her father's legacy. With the anger boiling over,
Monique lashes out verbally, confronting Evelyn with brutal words. She
pins Evelyn to the couch, her words sharp as daggers.
She tells her that she's glad Evelyn is alone, that
everyone she ever loved has passed away. The intensity of
Monique's grief and anger comes through as she accuses Evelyn
(26:31):
of manipulating her, of using her for her own gain
without regard for the devastation it would cause. In response,
Evelyn hands Monique a letter its pages stained with blood,
an object heavy with history and emotion. Monique, still seething,
demands that Evelyn leaves so that she can read it
in solitude. As Monique reads the letter, her anger begins
(26:55):
to morph into a more complex understanding of the man
she had once called her father. The letter is from
James Grant to Harry, revealing an unexpected truth. James admits
that despite his deep love for Harry, he cannot go
with him to Europe. His love for his wife and
daughter is too great and he cannot bear the thought
of leaving them or causing them pain. The letter becomes
(27:17):
a painful catalyst for Monique's emotional unraveling. The discovery that
her father had been in love with another man, that
he had kept this secret from everyone, forces Monique to
confront the reality of her father's hidden life, a life
full of love and longing that she had never known.
The letter not only changes Monique's understanding of the man
(27:39):
she thought she knew, but also forces her to reckon
with her own identity and the hidden truths in her
family's history. Even as Monique holds the biography Evelyn has
given her, the weight of the revelations about her father's
death hangs heavily in the air. She tells Evelyn point
blank that offering her the biogos is not enough to
(28:01):
make up for what Evelyn did to her father. Monique
calls Evelyn out, accusing her of being self centered, of
using the biography as a way to ease her own
guilt rather than as a genuine act of reparation. The
bitterness in Monique's voice is unmistakable. The betrayal she feels
is deep. Evelyn, unfazed, points out that Monique stands to
(28:23):
gain a great deal from the book. She suggests that
if Monique doesn't want it, they can simply burn all
the notes and interview recordings together and offer that Monique declines.
Her response is cold and filled with disdain as she declares,
I hate you, the words sting, but Evelyn isn't shaken.
She calmly tells Monique that hate is an uncomplicated emotion.
(28:43):
It's clear, it's raw, and it doesn't leave room for ambiguity.
With a sense of quiet resolution, Evelyn explains that the
letter she gave Monique was her way of showing how
deeply her father had loved her. Evelyn's intention was not
only to offer a final piece of clarity about his life,
but also to help Monique understand that, despite the complexity
(29:05):
of his life and secrets, James Grant's love for his
daughter was unwavering. Monique, still struggling with the weight of everything,
demands to know when the book can be released. The
answer Evelyn gives is unexpected and sobering. She tells Monique
that she has breast cancer and that she doesn't have
much time left. Evelyn's confession adds a layer of finality
(29:29):
to the conversation, one that leaves Monique with more than
just the weight of betrayal and grief. Now she's faced
with the reality of Evelyn's mortality. The woman who has
shaped so much of Monique's life, for better or for worse,
is running out of time.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Later, as Monique.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Walks through the door of her home, she is immediately
struck by a small but significant gesture from David. The
coffee table, which had been a point of contention between them,
is back in its rightful place. Alongside it, a note
from David admits that taking it was petty, a small
but telling acknowledgment of the tension that had plagued their relationship.
(30:09):
This simple act serves as a reminder of the lingering
emotions between them, but it also marks a turning point
in Monique's emotional journey. As Monique stands there, the weight
of her recent experiences.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Settles on her.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
She reflects on everything that has happened since Evelyn came
into her life. Her marriage, which she once believed was solid,
had fallen apart. Her career, on the other hand, had soared,
the promotion she never thought possible, the opportunity to write
a best selling biography, all of it had come to
her because of Evelyn. It's a bittersweet realization for Monique that,
(30:45):
despite the betrayal, the pain, and the tangled history, Evelyn's
influence had fundamentally changed the course of her life. Without Evelyn,
none of this would have been possible, and Monique cannot
help but feel a mix of gratitude and conflict. In
this moment, Monique grapples with the idea that her greatest
achievements were made possible by the woman who had caused
(31:06):
her so much pain. The line between resentment and appreciation blurs,
and she stands at a crossroads, trying to reconcile the
person she was before meeting Evelyn with the person she
is now. Monique arrives at Evelyn's home for a vivant photoshoot,
a setting where Evelyn, as always, shines effortlessly. It's clear
(31:27):
that Evelyn is completely at ease in the spotlight. Her
presence commands it, and she exudes a natural charisma that
draws the eye. But it's not just the cameras that
are focused on her. Monique watches with a mix of
admiration and sorrow. She's aware, perhaps more than ever, of
how deeply she's been captivated by Evelyn, not just as
(31:48):
a subject for her book, but as a person. Evelyn,
ever gracious, insists that she and Monique take a few
photos together. Evelyn is radiant in an emerald green gown,
an image of beauty in confidence, while Monique stands beside
her in jean's and a blazer, feeling almost out of place.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Yet as they.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Stand there, Evelyn's smile, warm and genuine, strikes Monique deeply.
The connection between them, complicated as it is, is undeniable,
and in that brief moment, Monique can't help but feel
once again the pull of Evelyn's magnetic energy. But as
the photoshoot ends and Monique prepares to leave, Evelyn says
something that catches her off guard. She tells Monique that
(32:28):
she thinks she has a bright future ahead. It seems
like a simple compliment, but to Monique it carries a
weight that only becomes clear as she processes Evelyn's words.
A sinking feeling settles in her stomach, and she realizes
that Evelyn is saying goodbye not just as an old friend,
but in a far more permanent sense. Evelyn's words, though kind,
(32:50):
are a subtle admission that something darker looms. Evelyn is
planning to end her life. The realization hits Monique like
a punch to the gut. Later on, Monique is caught
in a tug of war between her responsibilities and her emotions.
As she heads to the airport to meet her mother.
She debates whether she should rush to Evelyn's side and
(33:11):
try to stop her from going through with her plan
to end her life.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
But deep down, Monique knows.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
This is what Evelyn wants, that it's a decision Evelyn
has carefully thought through. Part of the reason Evelyn shows
Monique for the biography was because of the empathy Monique
showed in her previous writing on doctor assisted suicide, Evelyn
counted on her to understand why it's so important for
her to die on her own terms with dignity. When
(33:38):
Monique finally sees her mother at the airport, the dam breaks.
She's overwhelmed with emotion and can't help but cry. In
that moment of vulnerability, she opens up to her mother
about her own personal turmoil, the divorce she's going through,
and the deeper questions about her family's history that are
weighing on her. She asks her mother about her marriage
(34:00):
to Monique's father, and her mother reflects on their relationship.
Though it wasn't filled with fiery passion, they had a
great companionship and loved each other's company. Monique, listening to
her mother's words, is struck by how much she's grappling
with in her own life, particularly the dilemma of whether
or not she should include her father's story in Evelyn's biography.
(34:23):
Should she protect her mother's legacy or tell the truth
as Evelyn has done. These questions loom large as Monique
tries to find her own path forward. Back at Monique's apartment,
they watch Evelyn's film All for us. As the movie plays,
Monique reflects on the journey she's been on with Evelyn
and realizes something crucial that someday she will forgive Evelyn.
(34:48):
The complexity of their relationship, filled with love, betrayal, and secrets,
will one day be put to rest in her heart.
The story shifts in tone as Monique reflects on the
aftermath of Evelyn's death. A twenty seventeen obituary in The
New York Tribune reports Evelyn's passing, calling it an accidental overdose,
though it is also noted that she had been in
(35:09):
the early stages of breast cancer. The article recaps her
illustrious career, her tumultuous marriages, and her charity work. It
ends with a poignant quote from Evelyn speaking about her
desire to leave the world a little better for those
who come after her. Finally, we return to Monique's own writing.
In a twenty seventeen Vavant article titled Evelyn and Me,
(35:32):
Monique admits the complexity of her feelings for Evelyn. She
can't deny the admiration, the anger, and the understanding that
coexist in her heart. In her article, Monique reveals a
profound truth that Evelyn herself had shared that Celia, not
any of Evelyn's husbands, was the love.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Of her life.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
The article ends with the announcement of the title of
the biography, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Monique writes
that despite the many husbands Evelyn had had, what the
world will really want to know, what they'll care about
the most is Evelyn's love story with her wife Celia,
that she realizes is the heart of Evelyn's true story.
(36:12):
This brings us to the end of the story. What
have you learned? What questions linger in your mind after this?
Would you forgive Evelyn? Do you believe the compensation she
gave to be enough to silence you if you were
in Monique's shoes? What should Evelyn have done to provide
a better compensation? Is it justifiable for someone to go
through any and every length to achieve your goals like
(36:34):
Evelyn did.
Disclaimer.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is a summary of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn
Hugo by Taylor Jenkins. Read It is not a substitute
for the original novel and does not contain the full
text or exact phrasing of the author. All characters, plot points,
and themes discussed are based on interpretations of the published work.
Readers are encouraged to consult the original book for a
(00:21):
complete and authentic experience of the story. The interview between
Evelyn and Monique takes a pause for the evening, but
it's clear that Monique's mind is elsewhere. As she checks
her phone, she finds missed calls from her mother, Frankie,
and David. David's voicemail is particularly unsettling. He's at her
apartment trying to reach her. Monique's heart skips a beat
(00:45):
as she processes the message or of what David's intentions
might be. When Monique arrives home, she's confronted by David,
who is clearly eager to fix things between them. He
suggests that their separation was rushed, that living in different
states doesn't have to be an obstacle, and that they
can still make it work. For a moment, Monique is
(01:05):
thrown into a whirlwind of emotions, But then she remembers
the conversation she had with Evelyn about the difference between
heartbreak and the feeling of failure when a marriage ends.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It strikes her like a revelation.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Her marriage is over not because of a broken heart,
but because it simply wasn't right for her anymore. Monique
realizes with surprising clarity that she doesn't want to fight
for something that doesn't bring her happiness. Though she feels
the sting of failure, she recognizes that her love for
David is no longer enough to make her want to
keep trying. What she yearns for now is the kind
(01:43):
of love Evelyn shared with Celia, something deeper, more meaningful,
and without the complications that have weighed her down in
her own relationship. In this moment, Monique makes a choice,
and when David leaves, there's a sense of finality in
the air, an ending to their story. The next morning,
as life continues to move forward, Monique and Evelyn resume
(02:05):
their work. They schedule a photoshoot with Frankie, and Evelyn
assures Monique that they will wrap up their interview in
three days. Just in time, Evelyn and Harry have a
candid conversation about Max's proposal, and the realities of their
situation start to sync in Harry, ever, the understanding and
mature partner, tells Evelyn that if she truly wants to
(02:27):
marry Max, it makes sense for them to get a divorce. However,
he assures her that nothing needs to change between them
and he will always be proud to call her his
wife no matter what the future holds. It's a bittersweet
moment Harry's acceptance of their evolving relationship and is unwavering
love for her even in the face of this monumental shift.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Later, Evelyn talks.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
To Max about his proposal, and his words are charged
with emotion. He confesses that he's loved her for years
and that their connection, both professional and personal, is something
he can't show. He describes their bond as erotic, an intense,
creative chemistry that has always existed between them. Evelyn, though
hesitant at first, feels the pull of this deep connection.
(03:12):
There's something in his words, something in the way he
looks at her that makes her feel.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Seen, desired and cherished. Once again.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
The magnetic attraction between them is undeniable, and before long,
Evelyn and Max find themselves in each other's arms, their
passion culminating in a night together. Evelyn, for the first
time in a while, feels truly wanted. The weight of
her past relationships, her longing for love and affection begins
to lift. In Max, she finds someone who not only
(03:42):
admires her, but desires her in a way that rekindles
a spark inside her that she thought had long since
burned out. As they lie together, Evelyn's heart feels lighter,
as if a part of her has finally found the
peace she's been searching for. She agrees to marry Max,
relieved and content, knowing that this decision is a step
toward embracing a new chapter in her life. Evelyn and
(04:05):
Max tie the knot in the serene and vast desert
of Joshua Tree. The ceremony, set against the stunning natural backdrop,
marks a new beginning for Evelyn, a fresh chapter in
her tumultuous love life. Yet, as the dust settles after
the vows are exchanged, Max begins to talk excitedly about
Evelyn's future in action films. He envisions her conquering this
(04:27):
new domain of fame and fortune, and his words echo
with ambition, but not the kind of affection Evelyn hoped for.
While part of Evelyn feels relieved to be with Max,
especially since she's convinced Celia will never return to her,
a deep, unsettling feeling begins to grow. Evelyn knows that
Max's obsession with her public image is starting to overshadow
(04:49):
the deeper connection they should have. His excitement about her
fame and the potential for their partnership in the spotlight
makes Evelyn realize something she's been trying to ignore. He
isn't in love with her as a person. He's in
love with the idea of her, the glamorous, iconic figure
the world adores. The following morning, as they bored their plane,
(05:11):
Max can't stop talking about the press photos of them together,
obsessing over how perfect they look and how their marriage
will be seen by the public. His relentless focus on
their image as a couple, rather than the actual bond
they share, breaks Evelyn's heart. She feels the weight of
the realization Max isn't seeing her. He's seeing a version
(05:32):
of her that exists only for the world, not the
woman she truly is. Beneath the glamour. In a moment
of clarity and heartbreak, Evelyn tells Max exactly what's on
her mind. You're in love with the idea of me,
she says, and those words hang in the air between them,
laden with the truth she's been avoiding. Evelyn finds herself
at a crossroads, believing that her time in Hollywood is
(05:55):
drawing to a close. The industry's obsession with youth has
started to edge her out, and she feels the weight
of age pressing on her career. The allure of the glitzy,
glamorous world of the Academy Awards no longer excites her. Instead,
she yearns for a simpler life, one where she can
stay home with Harry and Connor, away from the spotlight,
(06:16):
surrounded by the warmth of those who truly know her.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
But just when Evelyn thinks.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
She's closed that chapter of her life, a familiar, bittersweet
moment stirs something deep within her. Celia, now an accomplished
actress in her own right, wins an Oscar for her
role as Lady Macbeth. In her acceptance speech, Celia makes
a subtle but poignant reference to the time when Evelyn
kissed the TV screen and chipped her twoth years ago
(06:42):
while watching Celia in her breakout role. This small yet
meaningful allusion to a moment they once shared touches Evelyn's
heart in a way she wasn't expecting. It's as if
Celia is reaching across the years of silence, acknowledging the
bond they once had. Moved by the gesture, Evelyn decides
to write Celia a letter congratulating her on the win.
(07:05):
This sparks a fragile reconnection between them, and they begin
to correspond, each letter filled with the weight of unspoken history.
In her letters, Celia opens up, apologizing for the years
of silence and admitting that she still thinks about Evelyn often,
despite the decade of distance between them. For Evelyn, hearing
Celia's words feels like a bomb to a wound she
(07:27):
thought had healed long ago. However, as the correspondence deepens,
Evelyn shares something vulnerable with Celia. She tells her that
her marriage to Max isn't just a publicity stunt, It's
real and she's truly in love with him. This honesty,
perhaps too raw for Celia, causes her to withdraw. Celia
stops responding and the silence that follows is even more
(07:50):
deafening than the years of no contact before a moment
of emotional clarity and resolve unfolds for Evelyn. After years
of silence and confusion, Evelyn finally reaches out to Celia,
and for the first time in ages, they talk openly.
No longer hiding their feelings, Evelyn confesses something she's kept
locked away for so long. She doesn't love Max, and
(08:12):
she's ready to walk away from the life she's built
in Hollywood, leaving the spotlight behind all for the chance
to be with Celia. The weight of those words seems
to lift something heavy inside her. It's a bold declaration
of the truth she's been denying for too long. Celia,
on the other end of the line, listens, and though
the years have passed, her response is immediate. She agrees
(08:34):
to meet Evelyn for dinner. There's no hesitation. It's as
if they've picked up where they left off, picking through
the layers of time and distance to find each other
once again. With the meeting set, Evelyn makes plans to
fly to Los Angeles, a sense of anticipation building in
her chest. But before she can leave, Max discovers the
(08:56):
letters between Evelyn and Celia, letters that speak of a
love that Max can never fully understand. Furious and threatened
by the possibility of losing her, Max reacts with anger,
Fae threatening to expose Evelyn's past, her bisexuality, and the
affair with Celia to the public. But Evelyn, having spent
so many years health to appease others, is done living
(09:18):
in fear of someone else's judgment. She makes her decision clear.
She's leaving him, no matter the consequences. With a sense
of finality, Evelyn bords the plane, determined she's leaving behind
a life that has always been about public image and fame,
that and stepping towards something far more meaningful, even if
it means going against everything she's known. As she heads
(09:41):
to meet Celia, she finally acknowledges the truth she's always
known deep in her heart. Celia is the love of
her life, the one she's always wanted, always needed, and
now she's going to claim it, no matter the cost.
The long awaited reunion between Evelyn and Celia finally happens,
but it's far from a simple fairy tale reconciliation. At dinner,
(10:03):
surrounded by the quiet tension of their shared past and
the weight of all the things left unsaid. Evelyn pours
her heart out. She insists she's ready to leave everything behind,
her fame, her carefully constructed life, and even her daughter
to be with Celia. But Celia hesitates, reminding Evelyn of
the price she might have to pay. Coming out as
(10:24):
gay could mean losing Connor, who might not understand or
accept this part of her. The fear of what could
be lost looms heavy, and Evelyn's frustration grows as she
feels like she's being asked to choose between love and motherhood.
But then the conversation takes a heartbreaking turn. Celia, with
a quiet vulnerability, admits that she's dying. The weight of
(10:46):
this revelation is enough to silence Evelyn's protests. Celia has
emphysema and only about a decade left to live. The
news shakes Evelyn to her core, and she breaks down
in tears. In that moment, Celia asks her a pain question.
Could Evelyn truly bear the idea of being with her
knowing that eventually she would lose her again forever? Evelyn,
(11:08):
her heart torn, says that she can't handle it, but
that she wants to take the risk anyway. They both
know the consequences, but the pull of their love is
stronger than their fears. After spending the night together, the
morning brings more plans, but not the kind Evelyn expects. Celia,
ever pragmatic, has devised a scheme that will allow them
(11:29):
to be together in a world that won't accept their love.
She proposes they move to Spain, away from the prying
eyes of Hollywood and society, to live out Celia's remaining
years on the beach. But Celia has a strategic idea
to protect their love and secure Evelyn's future. She suggests
that Evelyn pretend to have an affair with a much
(11:49):
younger man, someone someone more than twenty years younger than her,
to fuel the tabloids and distract from the truth. This
would discredit Max's claims about Evelyn's sexuality, making its seem
like his jealousy of the younger man is the real issue.
In a twist of fate and cunning, Celia also plans
for Evelyn to marry her brother Robert, so that when
(12:11):
Celia dies, everything she owns will pass on to Evelyn.
The complexity of Celia's plan is genius and Evelyn can't
help but be impressed by the length Celia is willing
to go to ensure their future together. The sense of
home they both seek after years of separation and turmoil
finally feels possible. As the two women embark on this
(12:32):
new chapter, it's clear that the love between them has
never truly faded. It's just been waiting for the right
moment to bloom again. The story takes a sharp turn
as Evelyn navigates the complexities of family, love, and loss.
The idea of moving to Spain, a place that Celia
hopes will offer them peace in her final years, is
(12:53):
met with resistance from Harry. He's hesitant to disrupt Connor's
life now that she's a teenager, and doesn't want to
leave behind his work in Los Angeles. This decision reflects
the growing distance between mother and daughter as Connor starts
pulling away from Evelyn. Despite Evelyn's longing to connect, she
finds solace in being with Celia, where the weight of
(13:14):
her past love and current reality seems more comforting than
her strained relationship with her daughter. Amid this emotional turmoil,
Harry opens up to Evelyn about something unexpected he's met
someone new. After years of feeling like he couldn't love
again after John's death, Harry has found a new romantic interest.
(13:34):
He expresses a wish that Celia marry the man he's
seeing so that they can all live together in Los
Angeles with Connor. Evelyn, though somewhat shocked, is happy for Harry,
understanding how hard it must have been must have been
from him to open up to love again. In this
quiet moment of vulnerability, Evelyn reveals to Harry that she's
done with acting. She's ready to leave behind the spotlight,
(13:57):
and this admission deepens the bond between the two. Fry
sigh as they share a heartfelt expression of love for
one another. However, the chapter takes a tragic turn when
Evelyn stumbles upon a car crash. Harry and another man
are inside, both injured and bleeding. With her usual resourcefulness,
Evelyn and her driver, Nick, managed to pull Harry from
(14:19):
the wreckage, but as Evelyn attempts to revive him, the
harsh reality sets in. She can smell the alcohol on
Harry's breath, and Nick informs her that the other man,
the one Harry was with, is already dead. In a
panic to protect Harry and shield her family from the fallout.
Evelyn makes a desperate decision. She instructs Nick to move
(14:40):
the dead man into the driver's seat to make it
appear as though he was at fault. This is her
way of protecting Harry from a manslaughter charge and sparing
her family from public humiliation. She rushes Harry to the hospital,
but it's too late. Harry dies from his injuries, leaving
Evelyn devastated by the loss of her dear feet. But
(15:01):
even in the face of such tragedy, Evelyn's pragmatic side
comes to the forefront. She offers Nick, who has dreams
of becoming an actor, the chance to trade his silence
for a shot at fame. Evelyn faces the mounting consequences
of her choices. With Connor's spiraling further into trouble, Evelyn
realizes that she needs to take drastic action to shield
(15:22):
both herself and her daughter from the ever present glare
of the public eye. Feeling the weight of the situation,
Celia proposes a fresh start. Aldi's a quiet town in Spain,
far from the spotlight that has defined Evelyn's.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Life for so long.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Celia asks if Evelyn is ready to step away from
fame entirely to live a life where she won't be
known by anyone. Evelyn, exhausted and yearning for peace, eagerly
embraces the idea. She can't wait to disappear into the
anonymity that Spain promises. When Evelyn sits down to talk
with Connor, the weight of the conversation hangs heavy. She
(15:59):
tries to explain her decision to retire from acting and
move on from her past life. She reveals her relationship
with Celia, a love that has been hidden for so long,
and her plan to marry Robert, but only for legal
and public reasons.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
The truth of the situation is.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Complicated, and Evelyn hopes that Connor will understand, but the
conversation takes a heartbreaking turn. Connor, consumed by her grief
and anger, shuts down emotionally. She doesn't want to hear
about her mother's plans, nor does she seem to care.
All she wants is to be left alone, retreating further
into her own pain. As she sits across from Monique,
(16:36):
her eyes glisten with unshead tears, a rare vulnerability breaking
through the glamorous, light poised facade she has carefully maintained
for so many years. The emotions stirred by recounting her
tumultuous journey are clearly overwhelming, and yet Evelyn doesn't let
herself fully collapse under the weight of them. Monique, moved
(16:57):
by the raw honesty in Evelyn's words, expresses admire for
how Evelyn has faced her past with such courage. She
tells Evelyn how much she admires her, But Evelyn, ever
guarded and self aware, immediately cuts Monique off. She doesn't
want pity or admiration, not now, not for the woman
she has become. She warns Monique not to say she
(17:18):
admires her, and with a heavy heart, she adds that
by tomorrow, Monique will likely see Evelyn for who she
truly is. It's as if she's preparing Monique for a
deeper truth, one that will peel away the layers of
the narrative Evelyn has so carefully constructed, revealing the complexities
and perhaps the flaws that lie underneath. Evelyn knows the
(17:38):
weight of the truth, and she seems almost resigned to
the idea that, once it's fully exposed, the world may
never look at her the same way again. In the
tranquil surroundings of Spain. Connor begins to emerge from the
depths of her grief, finding solace in the steady presence
of Robert. With her daughter slowly finding her footing, Evelyn
(17:59):
is granted more time with Celia than she's had in years.
This shift in their lives creates space for their bond
to grow deeper. As the days unfold, Evelyn reconnects with
parts of herself long buried. She starts speaking Spanish again,
a language that feels like a bridge to the past,
an echo of a life she once knew, filled with
(18:19):
forgotten pieces of herself. There's a sense of personal recovery,
as if Evelyn is finally stitching together the fragments of
who she used to be, the person she set aside
in the pursuit of fame, love, and survival. But even
as Evelyn heals, Celia's illness casts a shadow over their
time together. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Celia expresses
(18:41):
regret for the years they lost while estranged. There's a
quiet sadness in her voice as she reflects on the
time that slipped away between them, time that could have
been spent together unburdened by past mistakes. In a deeply
personal and intimate moment, Evelyn and Celia create their own
version of a wedding, with no guests, no grand ceremony,
(19:02):
just the two of them. Evelyn officiates, and they use
a simple hairtie as a wedding ring. It's a quiet
yet powerful ritual of commitment and love, one that transcends
the formalities of what the world might expect. In this
private space, Celia promises that she will never stop loving Evelyn,
and Evelyn in turn, knowledges that none of her other marriages,
(19:23):
no matter how grand or important, could ever compare to
the bond they share. The sincerity of their vows, exchanged
in the stillness of their bedroom, moves Evelyn deeply, a
reminder that love in its truest form doesn't require anything
beyond the two people who share it. A decade of
peace and shared love between Evelyn and Celia in Spain
(19:45):
comes to a heartbreaking end. After spending years together away
from the public eye and in the quiet solace of
their shared home, Celia succumbs to her illness. She dies
in Evelyn's arms in their bed, a place that had
once been a sanctuary.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
For fis their love.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
The loss is devastating for Evelyn. This is not just
the death of a partner, but of the love of
her life, the woman with whom she had built everything,
only to have it ripped away in the cruelest of ways.
In that final moment, Evelyn is left with an overwhelming emptiness,
the kind that only the death of a soulmate can bring.
The woman who had been her anchor, her strength, and
(20:23):
her heart, is gone, leaving behind nothing but the echoes
of memories, whispered promises, and shared years of a love
that had been both a treasure and a tragedy. Following
Celia's passing, the world mourns the loss of the beloved
screen queen Celia Saint James. A two thousand article from
Nauma speaking out.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
This reflects on her.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Remarkable career, tracing her rise from a young actress to
an iconic figure of Hollywood. The obituary is filled with
admiration for her work and life, noting the lasting impact
she had on the film industry. It also details the
arrangement for her estate, which will be managed by her
brother Robert and Evelyn, two people who had been integral
(21:05):
to her life In different ways. Though Celia has passed,
her legacy endures and her memory will live on through
those who loved her, especially Evelyn, whose heart will forever
carry the weight of losing her. After the ceremony, she
visits Harry's grave, seeking solace in a place where the
past feels close and the memories of her dear friend
(21:26):
and ex husband linger. Alone in the cemetery, Evelyn breaks down,
sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of her loss is too much
to bear. She is overwhelmed by the loss of Celia,
the woman who had been her constant for so many years.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
As she stands.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
There, raw and vulnerable, the paparazzi, ever watchful, capture the moment.
They snap a picture of Evelyn in her grief and
turn it into a sensational story, painting her sorrow as
a public spectacle. The headline reads about Evelyn's broken heart
over the death of her ex husband Harry, and once
again the media twists the truth to fit their own narrative. Evelyn,
(22:04):
with a bitter sense of clarity, reflects on how the
press never truly understands her. They only see what they
want to see, interpreting her emotions through the lens of
their own biases and preconceived stories. In this moment of
deep personal loss, Evelyn realizes that the world will never
truly know the truth of her heart how deeply she
(22:24):
is mourning Celia, not Harry. But the story the media
will tell is always the one they want to hear,
not the one that reflects the reality of her pain.
Evelyn faces another devastating loss. Robert, Celia's brother and her
close friend, has passed away. At his funeral, Connor, now
an adult, delivers the eulogy, a poignant moment that highlights
(22:46):
the passage of time and the weight of the people
Evelyn has lost over the years. As the ceremony unfolds,
Evelyn reflects on the loneliness that has crept into her life.
Despite all the fame and glamour that wants to find her,
the aca absence of loved ones has left a lingering emptiness.
Evelyn acknowledges how difficult it is to live alone, and
(23:07):
in an attempt to fill the void, she has brought
grace into her life. She finds joy and spoiling. Grace
perhaps has a way to care for someone, to find
a sense of connection again after losing so much. Evelyn
had once been content with solitude, comfortable in her own company. However,
everything changed when Connor, her daughter, passed away from breast
(23:28):
cancer the previous year. Her grief is raw, and since
then the panic she feels has never fully subsided. The
sense of loss, the fear of being alone, now constantly
haunts her. Evelyn continues to speak directly to Monique, her
words raw and filled with a kind of finality. She
urges Monique to tell her entire story, not just the glamorous,
(23:50):
constructed version of Evelyn that the world has known, but
the truth beneath the surface. For years, Evelyn had chased fame,
thinking it would fulfill her, but she can confesses that
what she truly sought was something far more elusive.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Family.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
The persona that the public adored, the famous actress, the
multiple marriages, the dazzling life was all a facade, an
image she crafted for the world. But beneath it all,
she longed for something more authentic. Evelyn yearns for the
simple yet profound connections she lost.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Over the years.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
The warmth of being with her daughter, the love of
her partner, the closeness of a best friend, and the
comfort of a mother's embrace. These were the things she
truly desired, and in the end, they were what mattered most.
Evelyn then looks deeply into Monique's eyes, her voice unwavering
as she emphasizes that, given the chance, she would make
(24:43):
the same choices over and over again if it meant
protecting her family. Despite the turmoil, the sacrifices, and the pain,
her actions were always driven by love and a desperate
need to shield those she cared about from harm. Then,
with a heavy silence hanging between them, Evelyn reveals a
truth that strikes Monique to her core. The man who
(25:04):
had died in the car crash with Harry was none
other than Monique's father, James Grant. The revelation is like
a thunderclap, rattling Monique to her very soul. It explains
the mysterious, lingering questions from the past, the secrecy that
had always clouded her understanding of her father's death. For years,
(25:25):
Monique had lived with the belief that the circumstances surrounding
her father's death were simply an accident. But now Evelyn's
confession casts an entirely new light on everything. Monique is
overwhelmed by a wave of fury that she can barely contain.
The truth that Evelyn has just revealed that her father,
James Grant, had died in that car crash alongside Harry
(25:47):
shatters everything Monique thought she knew about her father's death.
For her entire life, she had carried the burden of
believing that her father was to blame for his own demise,
that he had been drunk and reckless. Wow faced with
the knowledge that Evelyn had framed him for his own death,
Monique is consumed with rage. She feels betrayed, not just
by Evelyn, but by the woman who had stolen away
(26:10):
the honor of her father's legacy. With the anger boiling over,
Monique lashes out verbally, confronting Evelyn with brutal words. She
pins Evelyn to the couch, her words sharp as daggers.
She tells her that she's glad Evelyn is alone, that
everyone she ever loved has passed away. The intensity of
Monique's grief and anger comes through as she accuses Evelyn
(26:31):
of manipulating her, of using her for her own gain
without regard for the devastation it would cause. In response,
Evelyn hands Monique a letter its pages stained with blood,
an object heavy with history and emotion. Monique, still seething,
demands that Evelyn leaves so that she can read it
in solitude. As Monique reads the letter, her anger begins
(26:55):
to morph into a more complex understanding of the man
she had once called her father. The letter is from
James Grant to Harry, revealing an unexpected truth. James admits
that despite his deep love for Harry, he cannot go
with him to Europe. His love for his wife and
daughter is too great and he cannot bear the thought
of leaving them or causing them pain. The letter becomes
(27:17):
a painful catalyst for Monique's emotional unraveling. The discovery that
her father had been in love with another man, that
he had kept this secret from everyone, forces Monique to
confront the reality of her father's hidden life, a life
full of love and longing that she had never known.
The letter not only changes Monique's understanding of the man
(27:39):
she thought she knew, but also forces her to reckon
with her own identity and the hidden truths in her
family's history. Even as Monique holds the biography Evelyn has
given her, the weight of the revelations about her father's
death hangs heavily in the air. She tells Evelyn point
blank that offering her the biogos is not enough to
(28:01):
make up for what Evelyn did to her father. Monique
calls Evelyn out, accusing her of being self centered, of
using the biography as a way to ease her own
guilt rather than as a genuine act of reparation. The
bitterness in Monique's voice is unmistakable. The betrayal she feels
is deep. Evelyn, unfazed, points out that Monique stands to
(28:23):
gain a great deal from the book. She suggests that
if Monique doesn't want it, they can simply burn all
the notes and interview recordings together and offer that Monique declines.
Her response is cold and filled with disdain as she declares,
I hate you, the words sting, but Evelyn isn't shaken.
She calmly tells Monique that hate is an uncomplicated emotion.
(28:43):
It's clear, it's raw, and it doesn't leave room for ambiguity.
With a sense of quiet resolution, Evelyn explains that the
letter she gave Monique was her way of showing how
deeply her father had loved her. Evelyn's intention was not
only to offer a final piece of clarity about his life,
but also to help Monique understand that, despite the complexity
(29:05):
of his life and secrets, James Grant's love for his
daughter was unwavering. Monique, still struggling with the weight of everything,
demands to know when the book can be released. The
answer Evelyn gives is unexpected and sobering. She tells Monique
that she has breast cancer and that she doesn't have
much time left. Evelyn's confession adds a layer of finality
(29:29):
to the conversation, one that leaves Monique with more than
just the weight of betrayal and grief. Now she's faced
with the reality of Evelyn's mortality. The woman who has
shaped so much of Monique's life, for better or for worse,
is running out of time.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Later, as Monique.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Walks through the door of her home, she is immediately
struck by a small but significant gesture from David. The
coffee table, which had been a point of contention between them,
is back in its rightful place. Alongside it, a note
from David admits that taking it was petty, a small
but telling acknowledgment of the tension that had plagued their relationship.
(30:09):
This simple act serves as a reminder of the lingering
emotions between them, but it also marks a turning point
in Monique's emotional journey. As Monique stands there, the weight
of her recent experiences.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Settles on her.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
She reflects on everything that has happened since Evelyn came
into her life. Her marriage, which she once believed was solid,
had fallen apart. Her career, on the other hand, had soared,
the promotion she never thought possible, the opportunity to write
a best selling biography, all of it had come to
her because of Evelyn. It's a bittersweet realization for Monique that,
(30:45):
despite the betrayal, the pain, and the tangled history, Evelyn's
influence had fundamentally changed the course of her life. Without Evelyn,
none of this would have been possible, and Monique cannot
help but feel a mix of gratitude and conflict. In
this moment, Monique grapples with the idea that her greatest
achievements were made possible by the woman who had caused
(31:06):
her so much pain. The line between resentment and appreciation blurs,
and she stands at a crossroads, trying to reconcile the
person she was before meeting Evelyn with the person she
is now. Monique arrives at Evelyn's home for a vivant photoshoot,
a setting where Evelyn, as always, shines effortlessly. It's clear
(31:27):
that Evelyn is completely at ease in the spotlight. Her
presence commands it, and she exudes a natural charisma that
draws the eye. But it's not just the cameras that
are focused on her. Monique watches with a mix of
admiration and sorrow. She's aware, perhaps more than ever, of
how deeply she's been captivated by Evelyn, not just as
(31:48):
a subject for her book, but as a person. Evelyn,
ever gracious, insists that she and Monique take a few
photos together. Evelyn is radiant in an emerald green gown,
an image of beauty in confidence, while Monique stands beside
her in jean's and a blazer, feeling almost out of place.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Yet as they.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Stand there, Evelyn's smile, warm and genuine, strikes Monique deeply.
The connection between them, complicated as it is, is undeniable,
and in that brief moment, Monique can't help but feel
once again the pull of Evelyn's magnetic energy. But as
the photoshoot ends and Monique prepares to leave, Evelyn says
something that catches her off guard. She tells Monique that
(32:28):
she thinks she has a bright future ahead. It seems
like a simple compliment, but to Monique it carries a
weight that only becomes clear as she processes Evelyn's words.
A sinking feeling settles in her stomach, and she realizes
that Evelyn is saying goodbye not just as an old friend,
but in a far more permanent sense. Evelyn's words, though kind,
(32:50):
are a subtle admission that something darker looms. Evelyn is
planning to end her life. The realization hits Monique like
a punch to the gut. Later on, Monique is caught
in a tug of war between her responsibilities and her emotions.
As she heads to the airport to meet her mother.
She debates whether she should rush to Evelyn's side and
(33:11):
try to stop her from going through with her plan
to end her life.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
But deep down, Monique knows.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
This is what Evelyn wants, that it's a decision Evelyn
has carefully thought through. Part of the reason Evelyn shows
Monique for the biography was because of the empathy Monique
showed in her previous writing on doctor assisted suicide, Evelyn
counted on her to understand why it's so important for
her to die on her own terms with dignity. When
(33:38):
Monique finally sees her mother at the airport, the dam breaks.
She's overwhelmed with emotion and can't help but cry. In
that moment of vulnerability, she opens up to her mother
about her own personal turmoil, the divorce she's going through,
and the deeper questions about her family's history that are
weighing on her. She asks her mother about her marriage
(34:00):
to Monique's father, and her mother reflects on their relationship.
Though it wasn't filled with fiery passion, they had a
great companionship and loved each other's company. Monique, listening to
her mother's words, is struck by how much she's grappling
with in her own life, particularly the dilemma of whether
or not she should include her father's story in Evelyn's biography.
(34:23):
Should she protect her mother's legacy or tell the truth
as Evelyn has done. These questions loom large as Monique
tries to find her own path forward. Back at Monique's apartment,
they watch Evelyn's film All for us. As the movie plays,
Monique reflects on the journey she's been on with Evelyn
and realizes something crucial that someday she will forgive Evelyn.
(34:48):
The complexity of their relationship, filled with love, betrayal, and secrets,
will one day be put to rest in her heart.
The story shifts in tone as Monique reflects on the
aftermath of Evelyn's death. A twenty seventeen obituary in The
New York Tribune reports Evelyn's passing, calling it an accidental overdose,
though it is also noted that she had been in
(35:09):
the early stages of breast cancer. The article recaps her
illustrious career, her tumultuous marriages, and her charity work. It
ends with a poignant quote from Evelyn speaking about her
desire to leave the world a little better for those
who come after her. Finally, we return to Monique's own writing.
In a twenty seventeen Vavant article titled Evelyn and Me,
(35:32):
Monique admits the complexity of her feelings for Evelyn. She
can't deny the admiration, the anger, and the understanding that
coexist in her heart. In her article, Monique reveals a
profound truth that Evelyn herself had shared that Celia, not
any of Evelyn's husbands, was the love.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Of her life.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
The article ends with the announcement of the title of
the biography, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Monique writes
that despite the many husbands Evelyn had had, what the
world will really want to know, what they'll care about
the most is Evelyn's love story with her wife Celia,
that she realizes is the heart of Evelyn's true story.
(36:12):
This brings us to the end of the story. What
have you learned? What questions linger in your mind after this?
Would you forgive Evelyn? Do you believe the compensation she
gave to be enough to silence you if you were
in Monique's shoes? What should Evelyn have done to provide
a better compensation? Is it justifiable for someone to go
through any and every length to achieve your goals like
(36:34):
Evelyn did.
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