On set, Julia watches as Teri interviews Emmett before his upcoming filmed massage date with Evelyn. During the interview, Emmett looks directly at Julia and tells Teri that he has found love, describing it as a “terrifying” and “consuming” feeling. Afterward, Emmett is visibly agitated by the show’s pretense.

Sensing his distress, Julia leads him into an empty contestant’s room inside the bunkhouse. To help him relax, she performs oral sex on him. During their encounter, Emmett confirms that he meant what he said in the interview. Julia tells him she knows, which is why she was so eager to be intimate with him. She then leaves so that he can go on his date with Evelyn.

Feeling anxious as the show nears its end, Julia decides to drive into town. At the farm’s gate, she’s blocked by a truck belonging to Carl, who’s trying to get onto the property. To prevent him from entering, Julia quickly parks her car in the driveway and pretends that it has stalled. Carl approaches and insults her, trying to intimidate her into moving.

Suddenly, Tina appears, holding a large hunting rifle. She threatens to shoot Carl’s penis if he doesn’t leave immediately. Intimidated, Carl curses at them and speeds away. Afterward, Tina thanks Julia for stopping Carl and for how she has changed Emmett.

A memo from Teri to Richard reports that Emmett hasn’t been staying at his cottage at night as contractually required. Following Richard’s instructions, a camera was placed, and it has captured footage that all but confirms a breach of contract. Teri also reveals that Catherine appears to be involved in the violation. She attaches incriminating images for Richard’s review.

After finishing a staged dinner with Evelyn, Emmett is summoned to Richard’s trailer. Richard reveals that he knows about Emmett’s secret relationship with Julia by showing him a series of photos of them together. Emmett realizes that one of the photos must have been taken by a hidden camera illegally placed inside his cottage. Richard threatens to ruin Julia’s career if Emmett doesn’t manufacture drama during the final week to make the show more exciting. Emmett leaves the trailer believing that he must end his relationship with Julia to protect her.

Emmett spends a passionate night with Julia at her apartment. The next morning, Theo and Winter arrive early to pick her up for their mother’s birthday celebration. They ‘re shocked to find Emmett there with her. Winter impulsively invites Emmett to join them for the family lunch.

At the winery, Julia’s mother hints that she knows about their secret romance and gives them her blessing. Later that evening, while they’re at a drive-in movie, Theo takes Julia aside and warns her about Emmett’s reputation as a womanizer. The conversation leaves Julia feeling unsettled and plants a seed of doubt in her mind.

After receiving more threatening texts from Richard, Emmett decides that he’s finished with the show. He consults a contract lawyer about the unauthorized camera in his house, believing it may be grounds to void his contract.

He storms into Richard’s trailer to quit and finds him having sex with Evelyn. Evelyn explains that Richard had promised her a Hollywood audition in exchange. Emmett confronts Richard and tells him that he’s quitting. Richard insists that the contract is binding, but Emmett walks out, disgusted and resolved to end his involvement with the show.

After arriving on set, Julia is shown security footage by Ben, the director of photography. The video appears to show Evelyn arriving at Emmett’s cottage the previous night, followed by audio of a man who sounds like Emmett eagerly welcoming her inside for a sexual encounter. Devastated, Julia runs from the production trailer and vomits. She texts Emmett, “How could you?” (389).

Parker finds Julia in distress and takes her to the crawlspace hiding spot to talk and drink bourbon. Parker convinces Julia that the footage is suspicious and was likely fabricated by Richard. Realizing that she was played, Julia feels immense guilt for doubting Emmett.

Emmett arrives on set and reads Julia’s accusatory text. When he can’t find her, Ben shows him the fabricated video of his supposed encounter with Evelyn. Furious, Emmett publicly confronts Richard, announces that he has quit, and declares that any further communication must go through his lawyer. He then spends the rest of the day frantically searching for Julia, checking her condo, the diner, and other local spots. Desperate, he drives to her mother’s house and sees Theo. Recognizing Emmett’s genuine anguish, Theo promises to have Julia call him. Before Emmett leaves, he admits to Theo that he knows Julia is too good for him.

Richard sends Emmett a series of threatening texts, which Emmett ignores. Defeated after his fruitless search for Julia, Emmett returns to his grandparents’ farmhouse. Leon casually informs him that Julia is in the crawlspace drinking with Parker. Emmett rushes to the basement and finds them both drunk and laughing on the floor. Overwhelmed with relief at seeing that she’s safe, Emmett falls to his knees. He crawls over to Julia, and they hold each other, both apologizing and comforting one another after the ordeal. Then, Emmett’s lawyer calls and informs him that his contract with the show is “pretty much unenforceable” (410). He says that he wants to see the security camera for himself and tells Emmett to watch over it.

Back in Emmett’s cottage, Julia tells him they need to talk. Emmett confesses his love for her, admitting that he’s terrified by the depth of his feelings and his fear of losing her. Julia reassures him that being loved by him is a precious gift. She tells him she loves him too and promises that their relationship is real and will last. Relieved and emotional, they hold each other in the kitchen, and Emmett asks if they’re truly going to be okay.

Confined to the cottage while waiting for his lawyer, Emmett texts his family that he and Julia are out of food. Soon after, his siblings Parker and Evan arrive wearing inflatable T. rex and unicorn costumes and deliver pizza, putting on an absurd show for Richard’s hidden cameras. Later, they find a salad on the doormat and look outside to see Tina running naked down the driveway while yelling curses at the cameras. As Julia bursts into laughter, Emmett smiles and says, “Welcome to the Brandt family, Jules” (421).

A final memo from Teri to Richard reports on the abrupt shutdown of Romance Ranch production. Teri notes that the show didn’t run to completion and states that the legal department has ordered the destruction of all footage collected. The memo concludes with Teri expressing that despite the less-than-ideal outcome, it was a pleasure working with Richard.

Nine months later, Romance Ranch has been canceled, and all footage has been destroyed. Richard was forced out of the industry, and Emmett and his family received their full payment from the studio. Julia is now working as an assistant director for a documentary series about bull riders.

It’s the final night of the WBRF championship, and Emmett, in his last ride before retirement, needs a high score to win. He successfully rides the bull, scoring 91.5 and securing the championship title. As the crowd roars, Julia runs into the arena, and Emmett catches her in his arms, kissing her passionately in celebration.

Two years later, on Christmas Day, Emmett and Julia are slow dancing by the fire at the Brandt family farmhouse. The day marks the anniversary of his parents’ death, an occasion he once dreaded but now faces with a sense of peace. Telling Julia that he wants to spend his life with her, Emmett gets down on one knee and proposes with an emerald-cut diamond ring. Julia happily accepts, and they kiss, certain of their future together.