The Beauty

I love you, Mama.

Aw. I love you too, darling.

- -

My boys.

It's good to see you've downgraded your substance dabbling.

Come on, Pop. Take a hit.

I'll just end up ruminating about all the shell corps I've set up

-to hide all our cash. -

-Bermuda, Cayman, Zurich, Delaware. - Delaware.

Wow. Delaware.

Well, come on, Dad.

Now that we're on pace to triple the wealth of Gates, Elon Musk, and Zuck,

it's time to… …let loose a little bit.

We're celebrating!

Nah. No, no, I will stick with a glass of the Pappy.

No, come on, that's not all that we're celebrating, right?

No. Uh, Dad,

we have something for you in the grand salon.

I know that we have swung and missed so many times in our life,

but we have been listening to you with a level of clarity

that we have never had before,

and that is because of you.

Listen.

I am really excited.

I think that… …we delivered a big one.

Something that brings us together as a family, I think.

Okay. Where's your mother?

-Well… -Should she come?

Dad, fuck, just go.

-Salon? -It's at the grand salon, yes.

You know where it is, down and to the left.

You're gonna love it.

Oh.

Yeah… No, I, uh…

I don't mess around anymore, so you'll have to leave.

Scoot.

From the time they were born,

you instilled in them the importance of fulfilling your wishes above all else.

All their lives, they searched, attempted, and failed.

Until now, it seems.

Franny?

Don't act so fucking surprised, you smug idiot.

No, I-I-I… I had no idea.

I-I swear.

They knew exactly what you wanted,

and they did what was necessary to make it happen.

I admit I'm not…

upset.

You're…

You're so… you're so fucking hot.

Mmm.

Th-They were… They were right.

We're bound together like never before.

How… How can you not be th-the slightest bit thrilled?

I mean, you have to admit, you feel amazing.

I feel like a prisoner trapped inside a body that is not mine.

Everything that I had worked for, everything that I had earned,

my scars, my stretch marks…

the age I owned,

taken from me.

I know this is a lot to handle.

And I am gonna have a serious talking-to with the boys.

But know this…

I love you.

Y…

You are the only one.

Always have been.

And very soon,

you will understand just how much you've been given.

I understand just fine, Byron.

Do you remember when we got this?

Hon, I'm gonna be honest, these things have always been more your department.

Eighteenth century, French antique.

For surviving our 12th anniversary.

Yes.

Turn-of-the-century Italian chandelier from 1916.

Their value…

their beauty comes from their age.

I get it.

- -I was a goddamn work of art.

And the one thing you never bothered to notice is that some people are perfect,

just as they are.

I was hoping you'd get rid of that piece for decades.

That was my favorite piece, believe it or not.

A flea market find…

three months before we met.

If I could go back and talk to that girl…

now, that would be a gift.

Franny! No. No! Franny.

Help!

No. No. Franny.

Help! Somebody Help!

Franny! Franny!

-Hey. - Hi.

-Wow, you came. -

Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it for the world.

I love it. Last one bailed last minute with cold feet.

Um, can I get you, like, a coffee or something?

I don't really like coffee.

Yeah, me neither.

Okay, fine, I'm nervous.

I get it. I get it. I am too.

You? Why?

Look who I'm sitting across from.

I… I haven't been this way very long,

uh, and I'm still getting used to

a girl like you even talking to me at all.

Like me?

Bella, you would not be sitting there if you saw me before.

Stop. No offense, but I've never been able to be all that picky.

Hopefully, picky enough to walk right by me.

I… I was a mess. I was 345 pounds at my heaviest.

I was depressed and addicted to anything and everything considered edible.

Wow.

Yeah. Yeah, it was bad.

So bad that a couple of years ago, I had a gastric bypass

along with some skin removal.

Fucking brutal complications.

I had nerve damage in my legs. I could barely even walk without help.

And at my size back then, it was my only option, you know?

I spent a lifetime trying everything under the sun hoping to win that battle.

Diets, lifted weights, fucking fat camp.

God, tell me about it. Teas and powders and supplements.

And then after the bypass, I did the weight loss drugs.

Only lost 15 pounds.

And then I got pancreatitis from it, so I had to stop,

and then that wasn't an option.

I was desperate, and I would've done literally anything.

This was the easiest choice I ever made.

Did you go to one of those pop-ups I've been seeing?

Uh, yeah, yeah, not cheap.

I, uh, I did the payment plan, but still needed to max out three credit cards.

Is that why you're doing this? To pay it off?

I mean, yes, but…

I also know how I felt when I got the chance at a new life.

And when I learned there was more than one way to get it…

I wanted to help give other people that same feeling.

Oh, did…

did you think I was giving you an injection?

Uh, I mean… …I-I don't know. I…

A version of The Beauty can also be spread via bodily fluids.

-Sex? - Yes.

Oh. I'm-I'm sorry, is that… is that not okay?

Um. No. I… I mean, I just…

I… I didn't really think about it.

Okay.

It's just, um…

I-I should probably tell you.

I've never done that before.

Oh. You're a virgin?

-Well, don't say it like that. -No, I'm…

I told you, guys aren't exactly chasing me around.

No, no, I'm just surprised.

Well, it's not exactly how I imagined it.

But, uh, it will be worth it.

Um… Um…

I have…

Oh, hey, just, uh, keep that for now, okay? Not here.

Okay, I just want you to know that it's all here.

Yeah.

-It wasn't easy to get. -

You pawned stuff?

Am I proud of that?

No.

Will it be worth it?

Yes.

You know, you don't have to do this.

What do you mean?

I don't know, in high school, things just feel so intensified,

and the world is bigger than that.

I just want you to be happy and feel amazing about yourself.

For the right reasons.

Weird question, can I get pregnant from this?

No. Excellent question. And no. No, you can't.

The onset of infection kills any potential fertilization process.

I learned that in the concierge clinic. I should also add…

Full panel tested as of last week.

And, um, as you know, this is kinda, like, a new thing, so technically, there's--

-Risk of side effects. Yeah. -Yeah.

And I-I know I'll need boosters and stuff.

- Yes. -I… I know, and I don't care.

Can I tell you something?

Okay.

To make sure the… the dose that I'm giving you is strong, is good,

I, uh… I snuck a second dose at the clinic this morning.

Injected myself in the break room.

Is that safe? You… You did two doses?

Yeah, only two weeks apart.

And? No reaction?

- I mean, it did hurt. -

- - Got kinda dizzy, but…

when I woke up, everything was fine.

And I felt supercharged… …stronger than ever.

Look, Bella, I… I wanted to make sure that my customers get a dose,