It's a Love Story

Jane gives Maureen the True Story script. While Maureen reads, Jane recalls her and Dan’s first meeting. Then Ruby appears and ties a string bracelet around Jane’s wrist. Jane promises never to take it off.

Dan and his brothers return from surfing, and Jane and Dan retreat to their room. They hug and kiss and have sex. Afterward, Dan studies Jane’s face and remarks on her beautiful jaw. The conversation turns to their likes and dislikes.

While chatting, Jane realizes she’s in love with Dan. Then she opens up about her past. Although her dad died when she was five, he left her family years prior. At 14, Jane found a letter he’d written, saying that fatherhood was brutal. Her mom never told her this, hoping Jane wouldn’t remember him leaving. She’s always told Jane a romantic story about her and her dad. Jane has known her mom was lying all these years, but she has never said anything to her. She confesses that she feels unlovable and doesn’t deserve care and affection. Dan assures her otherwise.

Jane gets up for a shower. In the bathroom mirror, she studies herself and feels different. Afterward, she and Dan head out to the music festival to find Jack. Over food, they chat about their feelings for each other, joking about their love affair.

When Jack’s show starts, Jane and Dan panic that they haven’t run into him. After he performs, Jane manages to sneak backstage and get an audience with him and Lyle. In a back room, Jane explains who she is and what she wants from Jack. Jack remembers who she is and scoffs at her. Jane tries to remain confident but feels even more upset when Jack insults her character. A defeated Jane flees.

Jane tells herself that coming to Long Island was a waste, and she was lying to herself. She confronts Dan, insisting she’s still the same person she was and that their relationship and True Story aren’t possible. Dan protests, but Jane walks away.

Back at the house, Jane retreats to the bedroom. She lies awake, regretting her involvement with Dan and his family. She ignores Clem’s texts and tries to sleep.

Jane flies back to the West Coast early and travels to her mom’s house. She feels “jealous of [her] mother” when she finds her at home cooking breakfast with Gary (275). She confronts her mother, insisting that her and Gary’s relationship isn’t real. She wishes she could confront her about her dad, too, but feels too upset.

Jane drives home. When Dan texts, Jane tells him she doesn’t want to talk about what happened. Filled with self-loathing, she ends up at Venice Beach. Sitting by the water, she reflects on everything that’s happened between her and Dan. She drives home and discovers Clem waiting for her. The two sit together and talk about everything that’s going on in Jane’s life. Clem insists that Jane needs to let go, open back up to Dan, and reconcile with her mom.

On Monday, Jane heads to the office to meet with Nathan about True Story. She admits that she lied about her connection with Jack and explains that he won’t make the song. Nathan won’t buy the script without Jack but hopes Jane can make True Story if it’s important to her.

Jane sits under her desk and takes deep breaths to calm down. She thinks about her time with the Finnegans and Dan. When Mandy enters, Jane reveals what happened with True Story. Mandy suggests that Jane and Dan might be able to produce it independently and suggests Jane watch Dan’s film Grapevine.

That night, Jane lies in bed watching Grapevine. She texts Dan to say she liked the film, but her message doesn’t go through. A disappointed Jane assumes he blocked her. Clem gets home and sits in bed with Jane. She reminds her to chase after what she wants.

The next day, Jane texts her mom an apology, and they make plans for their movie night. Over the following days, she tries to focus on work but can’t stop thinking about Dan. On Friday, she meets her mom at the movies. Outside the theater afterward, Jane confronts her mom about her dad. Her mom admits that she lied and apologizes. She explains why she “never gave up on love” and why she loves Gary (296). They make amends.

Jane starts wearing jeans to work. Every day at the office, she waits for Dan to appear. One day, she opens her drawer and studies the painting she and Dan made. She reflects on their relationship and his effect on her. Finally, she calls Kay—the True Story writer—and reveals that Clearwater won’t be producing her script. Kay is disappointed but gracious. Then the two talk about love. Kay’s love story moves Jane, and she encourages Jane not to give up on love in her life.

Jane climbs up onto the billboard outside Dan’s apartment. She still hasn’t been able to contact him and hopes he’ll see her and agree to talk. Finally, Dan texts and invites her over. Jane heads to Dan’s apartment. She’s surprised by and excited to be in his space. The two sit down and talk. They express their feelings about what happened and make amends, sharing everything they love about each other. Then they discuss True Story and agree they still want to make it.

Jane and Dan kiss and have sex. Afterward, Jane starts crying. Dan comforts her, and they profess their love.

That evening, Jane invites Dan over. Sitting outside together, they text a selfie to the Finnegans. The family is thrilled they are back together. Then Dan tells Jane she should reveal the truth about her singing role on Pop Rocks to the media, as her non-disclosure agreement (NDA) has expired.

Eighteen months later, Jane and Dan are living together at Jane’s house. They’ve fallen into a routine. Jane’s relationship with her mom has improved, too. Meanwhile, she and Dan have been producing True Story. Since revealing the truth about Pop Rocks, she’s been making decent money from the songs she sang for the show.

Finally, one day, she and Dan report to the set to shoot the ending of True Story. Afterward, they profess their love and kiss. Jane can’t help smiling. On the way home, she sings to Dan as they drive.