A couple of weeks after Mr. Roper had fired her, Phoebe's faith that everything would somehow turn out right was justified by a phone call from her sister, Ursula. They met at a diner, where Ursula offered to buy Phoebe a meal.
Ursula explained, "Phoebe, I found some acting work for both of us. It's ten thousand dollars each for one night's work, Phoebe! It will be a hard night's work, but where else can you make that kind of money?"
"Ursula, this is perfect! I could really use the money. But, you're the actress in the family, not me."
Ursula said, "Phoebe, this is a special kind of acting called cinema verite. Have you ever heard of it? It means 'real movies,' and they film it in a special way. For our scene, they set up cameras in a room, and we actors act out the scene as it's really happening. It's the most realistic that a movie can get!"
"Wow! That sounds so cool, Ursula. What do we have to do?"
Ursula cleared her throat, "Well, I told you it would be hard work. It's partially a nude scene and partially a sex scene. But, it's just one night, and ten thousand dollars!"
Phoebe had been having sex for free, and this seemed like a prestigious job. Plus, she would be working alongside her sister. She said, "I'll do it!"
Ursula, said, "The scene will be shot on Wednesday, the sixteenth. We have to get all dolled up for it."
Phoebe asked, "Is ten days long enough for us to learn our lines?"
Ursula said, "That's the beauty of cinema verite, Phoebe. It's totally natural, so you just say whatever lines somebody would say in that situation."
"Cool!"
The day of Phoebe's film debut, she and Ursula worked on their makeup and costumes. They dressed as schoolgirls, with pleated plaid skirts, white blouses, white socks and black shoes. They put their long, blonde hair into pigtails, and applied heavy makeup. Ursula explained, "When you're being filmed, you have to have dramatic makeup. We're playing two young women who are attacked by a group of men, probably eight or ten. They capture us, strip off our clothes, and rape us."
"Ooh, that sounds disgusting!"
Ursula said, "It is disgusting. That's why this is such a breakthrough role for us. The people watching the film need to see how horrible this is. This is an important film, Phoebe, that could help save a lot of young girls, and probably win prizes at film festivals."
A big black car came for Phoebe and Ursula. It took them through the tunnel to New Jersey, and out into the country. There was a farmhouse with a few cars parked outside. A man in a suit opened the car door for the girls, and led them into the house. Another man, who Ursula said she had worked for, met them in a small room. He looked them up and down, and said, "Perfect! You two are perfect! Urs, did you tell Phoebe what we're doing?
"Yes, Jeff. We play two girls who get attacked and raped by a group of men. It has to be totally realistic, so the men are going to strip us, probably, and have sex with us."
Jeff smiled, "Exactly! Wait here, girls, we'll shoot the scene soon." Jeff went to a large room in the house that had cameras placed in the corners of the ceiling. There were a few pieces of white furniture in the room, and a thick, shaggy, white carpet. Jeff had been hired to provide entertainment for a group of Chinese businessmen.
The men would be realizing a common fantasy. They would gang rape two exotic schoolgirls. The film would be their souvenir of the event. There was a vast amount of money riding on the success of their visit to the U.S., and therefore on the success of this night. The ten men wore conservative suits, and stood around talking, some of them sitting on the furniture.
In another room, Jeff told Phoebe and Ursula, "We're starting now. Get into character. You are now schoolgirls about to be raped. Just don't scratch or bite the other actors!" They were led into the room. The businessmen were excited to see the girls. Ursula and Phoebe were taller than all but one or two of the men. Their long blonde hair and blue eyes were treasured rarities in China.