ALWAYS THERE, Eddie Roundtree (Eddie Loving)

06| SHE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN

TATUM HELD A VIVID RECOLLECTION of the day they unloaded their equipment from the worn-out van, carrying instruments and amplifiers into Filthy McNastys. Setting up amidst the relatively sparse crowd, the bar, though modest, served as a fitting venue for their performance.

However, this routine was not a one-time affair; it became an enduring cycle. The pattern unfolded in smaller venues, each time scaling up the intensity of their performance. Over eight or nine months at McNastys, their audience remained scarce, yet it was during these gigs that the band truly bonded. Camila faithfully occupied the front row, documenting their journey on film. The only setback was that they weren't getting paid.

Billy and Tatum had reached a point where their disagreements no longer led to bickering; they had grown accustomed to their differing opinions, and Billy respected Tatum's perspective, albeit deep down, he still harbored the belief that the band was his.

Graham's former crush on Tatum had thankfully dissipated, with Eddie now occupying that space in Graham's affections. Graham's newfound interest lay with Karen. Camila and Billy found themselves tiptoeing around each other, navigating their interactions with caution. Warren and Karen seemed to merely coexist without any significant dynamics between them.

Meanwhile, Eddie found himself grappling with emotions akin to those Graham experienced in his teenage years whenever he looked at Tatum. However, Eddie's lack of perceptiveness prevented him from recognizing the signals Tatum had been subtly sending since their first encounter. Despite this, Tatum felt a sense of safety with Eddie; she believed they could engage in candid conversations without the need for pretense. Whether they were performing on stage, immersed in the euphoria of their music, or simply lounging on Tatum's bed, chatting and sharing a smoke, their moments together were simultaneously tumultuous and fulfilling.

With each performance, the audience became increasingly familiar with the band's lyrics.

Whether the band was out celebrating or at home, Camila would diligently make calls to various influential individuals in L.A. However, more often than not, her efforts were in vain. Calls went unanswered, or the conversations were abruptly terminated mid-sentence.

CAMILA: We all felt homesick, of course, and it was really hard on us but I think it was hardest on Tatum.

GRAHAM: We figured she wouldn't want to talk about it, but we never asked.

TATUM: No letter, no phone call, no visit.

As the months slipped away, Tatum found herself in her room, gazing at the ceiling, grappling with a persistent sense of wrongdoing. She questioned why her family remained unresponsive to her numerous phone calls, letters, and various attempts at communication. Anxiously, she even wrote identical letters, fearing they might be lost in the mail or that her father would dispose of them before her mother had a chance to read them.

Approaching the one-year mark since the band's departure from Pittsburgh, the lack of communication from her family weighed heavily on Tatum's mind. She couldn't help but wonder about the individual struggles within the band—Eddie coping with the loss of his brother, Warren's potential loneliness, Karen missing her former band, Graham and Billy's concerns for their mother left behind, and Camila's potential longing for her own family.

Tatum appeared visibly lonely, exuding a lack of energy that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the band. Eddie, eager to ease her loneliness, struggled with uncertainty on how to make things better. His attempts often left him flustered, and he would blush in her presence. Engaging in playful banter with her, he steered clear of serious conversations, fearing that delving into such matters might push her away.