Molly (the) Minx

Molly (the) Minx

Jennifer Serenity Prajadhikop, alias Molly Minx, (eventually) alias Serenity, is not quite the enigma she seems to want to be.   From the very beginning, it is clear that she wants to be taken seriously, and will do what it takes to become a star.  Molly Minx knows that she could be a star, with the prodding of the right lonely A&R man.  Our very first mention of her (“She wasn't a beauty, and her pitch was imperfect, but she had presence.”) is indicative of her drive despite imperfections.  The first time our protagonist, her ideal lonely A&R man, Tabachnik, interacts with her, she is a very charming businesswoman, sitting up very straight as if she wanted to impress someone (hint hint) and all smiles.  She is almost presenting herself, as if she were a product to be sold to Tabachnik.

To examine her actions in another very poignant part of the story would present an even more compelling argument.  SadJoe, a former flame of Molly’s, comes to LA to attempt to win back the affections of the singer.  However, Molly doesn’t seem to care about this grand display of love, and merely informs him that “ It doesn’t matter.  My name is Serenity now.”  The very last thing she tells this man whom she has convinced to believe in her for so long is “Go home, Joe.” She doesn’t refer to him by his childhood nickname because she doesn't care about that past anymore.  She has found her future, and because SadJoe isn't a part of it, Molly doesn't care about SadJoe.  

Now, one could argue that Tabachnik had changed her into this fame hungry (for lack of a better word) minx, and that argument is certainly valid.  One could argue that Molly was happy exactly where she was, and that Tabachnik lured her into this brave new world of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll.  However, that just doesn't sound like the Molly who seems to want to sleep with Tabachnik.  This may sound pretty normal, but upon further consideration, why would Molly actually want to sleep with Tabachnik?  Even the man himself is surprised when Molly is so forward.  There is only one thing that the A&R man can offer Molly, and that is a gateway into the world of platinum selling albums and money, above all. We can be pretty much assured that as soon as Molly finds someone higher up who wants to make Molly an even bigger star, Tabachnik will be left in the dust.  

Finally (and this really takes some reading into), Molly the pro swindler that Tabachnik wishes he was.  The passage “Third-rate swindlers were doomed to serve as rubes for second-rate swindlers - unless they were lucky enough to get conned by a true pro” is just the plainest example of foreshadowing I’ve ever seen.  Tabachnick’s method for dealing with the “negotiations” with the Australian seem very clean cut: make the man think he has some control over the situation, and then snatch it all away.  Molly does the exact same thing to Tabachnik very soon after.  She makes him want her by using her body, and then she plays hard to get, making him assure her of how talented and wonderful she is before she'd even consider coming to L.A.  Molly Minx is the master conwoman that Tabachnik reveres before he even knows it.