Chapter 44: Enquiry #2 – Giving the Target One Last Chance
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This chapter reveals the fate of Leonid Kosta and the method Doria Maye uses to complete his deletion. If you have not finished the novel, proceed with caution.
Summary
Doria Maye, disguised as a blonde hitchhiker named Toby Jones, engineers a meeting with Leonid Kosta on the highway near his retreat. Kosta picks her up and brings her to Ledge House, where he attempts to seduce her under the pretense of a screen test. Toby negotiates a real test booking, then reveals her true identity by removing her wig and breast pads. She gives Kosta a final chance to admit she deserves the role of Ember Morgan. Instead, Kosta insults her with the single word “Oink,” and reaches for the phone. Doria strikes him with the base of an Oscar statuette, killing him instantly. The chapter culminates Enquiry #2: Have you given your target every last chance to redeem themselves?
Key Events
- Doria, disguised as Toby Jones, hitchhikes near the Surf Crest Motor Lodge wearing a striped top that mirrors the cover of Ember Morgan Comes Home.
- Leonid Kosta stops his sports car and offers her a ride; she accepts and they drive to his cliffside retreat, Ledge House.
- At the house, Kosta mixes stingers and tries to charm her, but Doria maintains a persona of tough vulnerability.
- She insists on a screen test booking before any intimacy; Kosta calls his secretary Martha and arranges a test for Monday at four.
- After the call, Kosta undresses; Doria removes her wig and padding, revealing herself as the actress who had auditioned for the role of Ember.
- She asks him to admit she should portray Ember, giving him a final chance to redeem himself.
- Kosta says “Oink” and turns to call for a taxi; Doria kills him with the Oscar base.
Character Development
Doria Maye
Doria demonstrates extraordinary acting skill, sustaining the Toby Jones persona even in private. Her internal rage is controlled until she gives Kosta a clear opportunity to change course. The chapter reveals her ability to perform vulnerability and desire while holding contempt beneath the surface. Her willingness to bare her real self—physically and emotionally—shows a desperate hope that Kosta might see her as a person and artist, not just an object.
Leonid Kosta
Kosta embodies predatory industry power. He objectifies every woman he meets, sees the role of starlet as interchangeable, and believes his studio position gives him unlimited access. His single dismissive word “Oink” confirms he values Doria no more than livestock. He never learns her real name or history; he never treats her as human.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Final Chance
The chapter’s governing enquiry forces Doria to test Kosta’s capacity for decency. She literally lays herself bare—proving she is the perfect actress for Ember—and asks him to acknowledge her talent. His refusal to grant even that small redemption seals his fate.
Performance and Identity
Doria’s disguise mirrors the novel’s cover of Ember Morgan Comes Home. She performs Toby Jones so convincingly that Kosta considers casting a stranger. The scene blurs the line between real and performed self; Doria’s identity becomes a costume she can shed.
The Oscar as Weapon
The Academy Award statuette symbolizes Hollywood recognition and artistic validation. Using it as a murder weapon subverts its meaning: the trophy is hollow (gold-plated), easily wielded, and its “award for best short subject” ironically reflects Kosta’s short-sightedness.
Male Gaze and Exploitation
Kosta’s actions, from the pickup to the bedroom, demonstrate the systemic exploitation of aspiring actresses. Doria’s monologue about being judged only by her looks highlights the dehumanization she and others endure.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 44 is the thematic and dramatic climax of Doria Maye’s storyline. It validates the McMasters principle that a target must be given every opportunity to reform. Doria’s method—using her own talent and body as bait—shows how the school’s philosophy adapts to gendered power structures. The chapter also cements the novel’s critique of Hollywood predation while delivering the gratifying comeuppance Kosta earns through his final act of contempt.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What is Enquiry #2 and how does Doria implement it in this chapter?
Enquiry #2 asks: Have you given your target every last chance to redeem themselves? Doria implements it by revealing her true identity to Kosta after securing the screen test. She asks him directly to admit she should play Ember, leaving the door open for him to acknowledge her talent and humanity. He refuses, and she proceeds with the deletion.
2. How does the setting of Ledge House contribute to the scene’s tension?
Ledge House is isolated, perched above the Pacific, with dim lighting and large windows. The romantic dusk light veils Kosta’s features and creates an intimate atmosphere, but Doria uses the same darkness to hide her preparations. The isolation ensures no witnesses and no escape for Kosta.
3. Why does Doria make Kosta call for the screen test before she reveals herself?
She needs evidence that he is genuinely offering her a professional opportunity, not just a seduction. The call to his secretary Martha establishes the test on the studio calendar. After she reveals herself, she can still hope he will honor the arrangement. When he insults her instead, she knows his promise was a lie.