How It All Goes Down
Astrid and Michael — Singapore
- Rather than staying the night at Tyersall as she would normally do, Astrid rushes home with Cassian to see if Michael is there.
- She resolves to get confirmation. She won't be a victim. She feels like she should have seen it coming, what with him being "irresistible" and all (2.5.2).
- Flashback to Singapore, 2004, when Astrid first lays eyes on Michael…in a Speedo at a charity fashion show. He's the most handsome man she's seen.
- They meet again at a friend's birthday party.
- When she introduces herself and says she can put him in touch with professional modeling agencies, his buddies tell him she's coming on to him and he should ask her out.
- Next we see Michael and Astrid on their first date. He's flabbergasted she's even there with him.
- Though they had little in common, he was drawn to her, especially how unexpectedly unpretentious she was.
- They play billiards, he can't stop looking at her, and he says goodbye thinking he'll never see her again.
- While she's in bed, Astrid can't stop thinking about what a terrible date it was and how unsophisticated Michael was. But, she can't get past the fact that he's "the most perfect specimen of masculinity she had ever seen" (2.5.34).
- She calls him and hangs up when he answers.
- He calls her back and she pretends it was an accident. He tells her he's checking into a hotel.
- She asks for the room number.
- Back to present day 2010, Astrid is speeding home, envisioning catching Michael with his "tramp" (2.5.42).
- Thinking of Oliver's observation, she wonders if Michael has another son.
- Distracted, she doesn't see a truck in her way. She swerves, windshield shatters, and she loses consciousness at the foot of a tree.