The Greatest Showman #658 - Reluctantly

Renly noticed something unusual in the air.

Though this was his first meeting with Jay Leno, Renly understood that The Tonight Show was the king of late-night talk shows. The core of the conversation was shaped by Jay, revolving around life anecdotes and humorous jokes, while movie and album promotions were typically relegated to rigid, scripted exchanges. Anything that felt like an advertisement was avoided, and soft advertising was preferred.

But today, Jay's entire conversation seemed to focus on the movie, which was highly unusual. Renly couldn't figure out why. With his limited experience, the two worlds of talk-show interviews and film promotion were still unfamiliar, and something about this felt different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Lost in thought, Renly answered without hesitation, flashing a smile. "Secrets? No secrets, just a montage. Felicity and I were simply looking at blank notebooks and performing. In hindsight, it seems like we both did a good job with our parts."

As he spoke, Renly caught a flash of triumph in Jay's eyes. An ominous feeling crept over him, but by then, it was too late to turn back. What went wrong? Where was the slip?

"Are you sure?" Jay's voice rose, brimming with pride. His eyes bore into Renly with an unsettling intensity.

Suddenly, the room erupted. Screams, cheers, whistles—the studio buzzed with energy, as though the very air had ignited. Seven or eight people stood, shouting with exuberance, and even the photographers and lighting crew leaned forward, captivated.

Renly frowned, sensing something was off. His eyes flicked toward the audience, and then, amidst the clamor, he noticed the sharp, synchronized gazes of the crew. Instinctively, his head turned to the large screen behind him. There, displayed for all to see, was a still image: a notebook opened to two rows of handwriting, the second row eerily familiar—it was Renly's own handwriting.

"God," Renly muttered, raising his right hand to rub his temples. His palm pressed against his face in embarrassment, his lips twitching between amusement and shyness. His cheeks flushed slightly as he glanced at the screen once more, his smile growing brighter but laced with helplessness. He couldn't help but shake his head. This was absurd.

Jay's eyes gleamed with excitement. He slammed the table, gripping his pencil tightly, and raised his arms in triumph. "I caught you!" he cheered, his enthusiasm palpable.

Renly knew exactly what had happened. It had all clicked into place. Jay had known about the notebook's contents, using it to bait Renly into revealing the scene's secret. Jay had been testing him the entire time.

If Renly confessed, Jay could delve into the behind-the-scenes moments, the audience's favorite kind of tidbit. If Renly denied it, Jay could reveal the truth and expose the secret. Either way, Jay was going to come out on top. This was a clever trap, and Renly couldn't help but admire the skill in it.

"Now, this notebook comes from director Derek Doremus," Jay announced, his voice full of pride. "According to him, this contains the conversation between Renly and Felicity during filming. The point is, this wasn't in the script—it was all on-the-spot improvisation by the two actors!"

The crowd erupted again, cheers, laughter, and whistles filling the air. Jay rubbed the back of his hand dramatically. "The point is that this wasn't scripted, this was pure performance!"

The notebook displayed the conversation:

"—I think your smile is cute.

I thought you would kiss me directly. Or are you waiting for me to take the initiative?"

The laughter and noise in the studio grew louder, and even Jay seemed to be enjoying himself. Renly, on the other hand, was quietly putting the pieces together. He'd walked straight into this trap, and now there was no way out. The realization hit him hard.

Jay had already known about the notebook's contents and the secret behind the scene between Renly and Felicity. He had used the notebook to play this game, and Renly had unwittingly fallen for it.

If Renly admitted to it, Jay could go on to discuss the playful, behind-the-scenes moments. If Renly denied it, the truth would be revealed, and the audience would be left with nothing but speculation. Either way, Jay was in control, and Renly had been too cautious to avoid the trap.

"Did you fall in love with Felicity while filming this scene?" Jay asked, leaning forward. It was the question everyone had been waiting for.

Renly paused, his smile never wavering. He knew he couldn't deny it, and more importantly, there was no need to. "Before the audience even realized it," he replied, his voice light, yet full of meaning.

The crowd screamed in response, their excitement palpable. Jay pressed on, "So, you really fell in love with Felicity?"

"In that moment, I really fell in love with Anna," Renly answered, his tone calm but candid.

The studio erupted. The subtle shift in words—Anna instead of Felicity—didn't go unnoticed, and the audience buzzed with curiosity. The line between fiction and reality had blurred.

Renly continued, "When we filmed this scene, our crew rented a friend's house. The soundproofing was terrible, and any noise would disturb the neighbors. So we had to adjust our shooting plan."

He smiled at the memory. "The scene in the notebook reflects Jacob falling in love, and Drake wanted to capture that raw emotion, similar to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. We made it happen."

Jay nodded. "So these lines were improvised on the spot?" he asked, piecing together the story.

"Yeah," Renly confirmed. "Drake thought about keeping those details, but we decided it was better to leave the vibe intact. Who knew? Drake ended up betraying us. We'll have to settle the score when we get back."

The crowd laughed at the playful tone, and Jay grinned, knowing this conversation had turned into one of the most memorable moments of the interview.

"You've got to admit," Jay continued, "this scene should be included in the preview. The viewers who missed this episode will regret it!"

The suggestion to make the scene public sparked another round of laughter, even from Renly himself. Jay couldn't help but continue, "And what about all that media buzz around your supposed affair with Jennifer Lawrence? Was the atmosphere on set awkward?"

Renly immediately picked up on the underlying tone. "I thought only the paparazzi and gossip magazines cared about that love triangle," he replied with a laugh. "I didn't expect you to be so curious."

"I'm not curious," Jay shrugged, "but my audience definitely is."

Renly chuckled. "The paparazzi say the same thing. Supply and demand." He shifted the topic with a wink, "But if it helps the movie's box office, I'll keep quiet. Let the rumors run wild."

The playful banter lightened the mood once more. Jay, satisfied with the exchange, was about to continue when the director's voice came through the headphones: the recording time was almost up.

Jay blinked in surprise. "Already? We're done?"

"As time flies," Jay sighed, flipping through the notes. "There are still so many things left unsaid. But it's been fun. I'll have to get you back on the show sometime."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Do I have to be there next time?" he asked, his tone teasing.

The audience erupted in laughter. "You must!" they shouted, eager for more.

Jay smiled. "You'll be back. That's a guarantee."

With a playful wink, Jay pointed at Renly. "And I'll be watching that movie, just because of that scene."

Renly smiled back as the screen flashed the image of the notebook once more. The entire studio burst into laughter again, even Renly unable to stop himself from grinning.

"Yes, I'll definitely be there!" Jay concluded. "Now, let's give a round of applause to Renly Hall!"