The Greatest Showman - #687 - Clear Mind

Paul sat quietly in the passenger seat, a feeling of loneliness evident on his face.

At first, Renly assumed Paul was merely experiencing a typical reaction after drinking, but then Paul unexpectedly spoke up, "Valentino set a trap and wanted me to walk right into it, right? All because of Fan."

Paul wasn't naive. He wasn't quick to label everyone a bad person, but he had an innate belief that there were more good people in the world than bad. More friends than enemies. This belief in others was precious, rare, but sadly, not everyone knew how to appreciate it.

Renly sensed the loneliness and disappointment in Paul's words, which reminded him of his own early experiences with Chris Hemsworth.

But Renly knew Paul didn't need pity or comfort. What he needed was time and support. So instead of offering empty words of solace, Renly smiled and said, "I'm still waiting for your thanks."

Paul was taken aback by the response but quickly realized the truth: if it weren't for Renly, he would have been the one lying beside the pool, vomiting in the dark. If it weren't for Renly, the events in Michael's office today would still be weighing heavily on his mind. Life was always a balance of loss and gain, and Paul needed to learn to cherish what he had. His mind was clearer now.

He smiled, nodded, and said sincerely, "Thank you."

However, the smile quickly faded. Paul took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Neil was ready to agree to Andy's request, but Fan refused. Fan threatened Michael and Neil—if they joined the crew, he would quit."

Renly raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful.

Paul asked, "What? You saw that coming?"

Renly smiled slightly and said, "I wouldn't say I saw it coming, but I'm not surprised. Fan is smart. Universal doesn't need to choose between him and me. This isn't Schrödinger's cat. Fan may not be the brightest, but he knows how to leverage his position for the best outcome."

"So, what now?" Paul asked, using "we," not "you."

Renly shrugged nonchalantly, "That's why I came to audition today."

Paul paused, the realization hitting him. "Jeff Robinoff!" he exclaimed. Jeff was the head of Warner Bros.' production department, one of the top leaders in the industry, and Warner Bros. had been the most successful film company of the last decade. If anyone could outmaneuver Universal, it was Jeff.

Recalling Renly's busy schedule at the party, Paul's eyes widened in surprise. "Good news?" He caught Renly's smile and quickly added, "Tell me! What project is this?"

Renly grinned. "Sci-fi action, 100 million-dollar budget, male lead, and a script that's on the blacklist."

The description alone made Paul whistle in admiration. "This has to be bigger than Luke Hobbs," he said, piecing it all together.

When everyone thought Renly was committed to the Fast & Furious series, when Michael Fordrey and Vin Diesel still thought they held the power to push him out, Renly had already positioned himself for bigger things. Compared to that franchise, this new opportunity was far more promising.

If you asked any Hollywood actor—one could either stick to a supporting role in a sequel or seize the chance to be the absolute protagonist in a fresh new project. More than 99% would choose the latter.

Paul couldn't help but imagine the shockwaves this news would cause within the Fast & Furious crew. It both amused and saddened him. His emotions were a mix of helplessness and irony. "Honestly, even if Fan and Michael both agreed, you weren't planning to join the sequel, were you?"

Renly shook his head, smiling earnestly. "I'll be in it. I'm serious. But I have one request. Can I race in the sequel? You know, in the fifth film, I was only involved in the fighting. Fan handled the racing. It really felt like a missed opportunity."

Paul laughed at the joke and nodded in agreement.

What Paul didn't know was that Michael and Vin had never intended to compromise. Just like last year when they refused to meet Dwayne Johnson's salary demands.

After their laughter died down, Paul felt a wave of melancholy. He was now almost certain Renly wouldn't return for the sequel. For a moment, he didn't want to act anymore. He didn't want to compete with Fan, didn't want to deal with the drama behind the scenes. He just wanted peace.

Renly's voice cut through his thoughts. "No."

Paul looked up in confusion, and Renly continued with a smile, "I said, no. You should stay and keep acting."

Paul blinked, then laughed sheepishly. "Did I say that out loud?"

Renly nodded. "Yeah, you said, 'I don't want to act anymore.'"

Paul chuckled. "But... you should stay." Renly repeated, "This isn't Vin Diesel's series. It's not just yours. It's Van's, Jordana's, Gayle's, everyone's series. The success of these films is because of all of you—your combined effort."

It was true. The success of Iron Man was because of Robert Downey Jr., and Pirates of the Caribbean was because of Johnny Depp. But Fast and Furious wasn't the success of a single individual; it was a team effort.

"And didn't we talk about this in New York? You love the series. You love the rush of racing," Renly added with a smile. "You should stay. If someone tried to kick me out of Aloof or refused me for Crazy in Love, I'd fight to the end, and so should you."

Paul's lips curled into a smile, and he could feel his spirits lifting. Alcohol had finally begun to take its toll, leaving him feeling light-headed, as if walking on clouds. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, I think you're right."

Renly smiled. "Besides, you wouldn't want to see Fast & Furious turn into Vin Diesel's show. Have you seen Extreme or Interstellar?"

Paul chuckled. "Have you seen them?"

Renly grinned, as if revealing a guilty secret. "Oops," he said, making Paul laugh even harder.

Paul tilted his head back, eyes still closed, and sighed. "They'll regret it. Not because I'm your friend, but as a viewer, losing Luke Hobbs in the sequel... that's a huge mistake."

"This is Hollywood. It won't stop just because one person leaves," Renly replied, the words casual at first, but as he looked at Paul, they trailed off. The Fast & Furious franchise didn't end with the seventh movie. There was already an eighth, and there would be a trilogy after that. Hollywood had a way of keeping things going, no matter who was in or out.

Paul's confusion deepened, but Renly simply shook his head. "I mean, whether it's me or Fan, Universal will keep making money, and the franchise will continue."

Like the Jurassic Park films, where the lead actors changed with each installment, or the X-Men franchise, where characters were resurrected and timelines rewound—Hollywood would keep moving forward.

"Our opportunities will keep coming. If you miss one, another will follow," Renly continued. "This afternoon, Jeff and I discussed a project that's pretty exciting. The script isn't finalized, but there are a few interesting roles, not lead parts, but members of the team. Once the director picks a lead, we'll discuss the roles. But..."

"Interesting," Paul said, smiling knowingly. "I get it. This is a solid offer."

In Hollywood, it was rare for a star to take a step back from leading roles to supporting ones. That usually signified a career decline. But sometimes, friendship or a director's call made all the difference. Paul's last supporting role had been five years ago, in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.

"Friendship. I haven't done that before," Paul said with a chuckle. "I'll get Lucas to call and ask."

As Paul's words faded, he closed his eyes again, the alcohol finally overwhelming him. He sank into a peaceful slumber. Renly debated whether to let him rest in the car or take him home.

Before Renly could decide, a phone rang, breaking the silence. It wasn't his phone.

Paul groggily reached into his pocket and answered, "This is Paul." Then, his expression shifted, and he straightened up, his head bumping against the ceiling as he tried to process what he had just heard. "Uh, yeah, I'll be right there."