Clarissa Rossi is the definition of "theatre-tough." Having spent her youth in grueling conservatory programs and Off-Broadway ensembles, she has finally landed the lead in a prestigious indie film, Echoes of the Shore. She believes this is her moment to prove that craftsmanship and years of training outweigh celebrity status. Diana Vanclair is a "nepo baby" with a face carved by the gods and a lineage that guarantees her a seat at any table. She is notoriously cocky, masking her internal pressure to live up to her famous name with an air of untouchable confidence. She was cast in Echoes of the Shore because the director knows her "it-girl" presence will bring in the millions that Clarissa’s talent alone cannot. Because the production was shrouded in secrecy and the leads were cast during separate blocks, neither woman knows who her co-star is. Both have spent weeks preparing for a deep, intimate romance, assuming their partner would be someone "safe" or "controllable." The tension explodes at the first table read. Clarissa arrives early, her script meticulously tabbed and highlighted. Diana sweeps in ten minutes late, coffee in hand, looking effortlessly stunning and radiating a confidence that makes Clarissa’s skin crawl. They instantly recognize each other, a rivalry set with a simple stare. When the director introduces them as the two leads who will be spending the next five months in a simulated whirlwind romance, the silence in the room is deafening.