Page 35 of Fan Favorite

But there was something else. Something more.

Connection.

One glance at the wild-eyed girls on the risers and Peter knew that this was undoubtedly true. Sure, it was generally understood that you don’t kiss the suitor at the key ceremony—it wasdisrespectful to the process. But Peter could see it wasn’t just that. The women were seeing exactly what he was seeing, and they were terrified. The natural order of things had been upended, and almost instantly, the girls had dissolved into hysterics. They’d screamed and sobbed. Kimberlee, one of the ones who was eliminated, even collapsed, at which point Jessa rushed in the on-set medical team and they’d gotten great shots of Kimberlee breathing into an oxygen mask while the other girls clutched each other in horror.

In reality TV, the hardest thing to produce was authenticity. Which was why producers constantly lied to the contestants and manipulated them and tricked them into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under them once again. So when Edie and Bennett had finally pulled apart, her cheeks flushed pink and Bennett smiling in a way Peter had never seen him smile, sort of unguarded and goofy—Peter knew then, with absolute certainty, that they did in fact have a show, possibly even a great fucking show, one that Carole Steele and millions of people would love. Peter could see the entire season—the most dramatic season ever—laid out right in front of him. All he had to do was push the pieces forward.

So why wasn’t he happy?

TAKE 5 PRODUCTIONS

THE KEY

EPISODE 4 TEASER [DRAFT FOR EP APPROVAL]

TAPE #202

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00:00:00 OPENING SEQUENCE

ADAM FOX: Tonight onThe Key…

A MOTORCYCLE FLIES DIRECTLY AT THE CAMERA.

ADAM FOX: Bennett’s on the road to love. But with so many amazing women, who holds the key to his heart?

THE MOTORCYCLE PULLS UP IN FRONT OF THE MANSION. BENNETT REMOVES HIS HELMET, SHAKES OUT HIS HAIR.

ADAM FOX: Will it be Zo? The ballerina with an insatiable zest for life?

ZO MOUNTS THE BIKE. SHE WAVES AT THE GIRLS AS THEY RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET.

ADAM FOX: Or will it be Aspen, the NBA cheerleader from Texas who’s never been in love?

BENNETT AND ASPEN LOUNGE ON A YACHT DRINKING CHAMPAGNE.

BENNETT: What’s your favorite color?

ASPEN: What’s yours?

BENNETT: I asked you first.

ASPEN: I asked you second!

BENNETT: Blue.

ASPEN: Mine too!

BENNETT: No way! What’s your favorite food?

ASPEN: What’s yours?

BENNETT: My mom’s lasagna.

ASPEN: Mine too!

BENNETT: No way!

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