The Greatest Showman #729 – Big-Name Visitor

A month had flown by in the blink of an eye. "Me Against Cancer" was set to premiere this week, while the "Edge of Tomorrow" crew had been filming non-stop. Renly would be flying back to New York for the premiere and then returning to continue filming. "My Cancer Fighting Me," an independent film, had finally been released by Summit Entertainment. Summit positioned it as a fresh, literary piece akin to "500 Days of Summer" and "Little Miss Sunshine." They opted for a comprehensive, large-scale release with limited publicity expenses. It wouldn't be promoted like a typical blockbuster; instead, it would rely on word-of-mouth for success. Summit Entertainment planned to leverage Renly's reputation and the buzz around the "crazy-in-love" romance angle, hoping the movie would perform well during the awards season without spending too much on marketing. If the movie failed, the low promotional costs meant they had little to lose.

Renly's involvement mainly required attending the premiere and participating in interviews. Once the promotional activities were complete, he could return to the UK to continue filming. If possible, Renly hoped the "Edge of Tomorrow" crew could join him in New York for the premiere—not for promotional purposes, but as a way to celebrate their past collaboration and solidify their camaraderie. Renly extended a cordial invitation, though the final decision rested with the director and producer. After all, taking the entire crew off for four days to attend the premiere was no small matter.

However, Donald immediately dismissed the idea of seeking approval from the director and producer. Instead, he eagerly turned to Rami and Paul, asking, "What do you think I should wear to the premiere? It's my first time at one, and if I dress like a geek, will the reporters keep snapping photos? Or will nobody care about me at all?"

With Donald's excitement palpable, Alexander whispered, "If you're willing to go shirtless, it'll definitely make an impression."

Without missing a beat, Renly turned to Alexander, shaking his head in mock disappointment, as if he were scolding him, "Really? Are you trying to trick Donald? If you're going for it, at least suggest a high-cut bikini like 'Borat'." The 2006 satirical comedy featured the iconic look of the main character in a classic pair of high-cut swimming trunks.

The room erupted in laughter, and everyone seemed to join in, with Alexander laughing first, followed by the others. Donald, who was usually the trickster of the "Waste Wood Alliance," was taken aback by this turn of events. He stared at Renly, visibly shocked. "You know what? I might actually do it. I'll steal the spotlight at the premiere, and you'll be left crying to your mom."

Donald's mischievousness seemed almost plausible—after all, as a comedian, his limits were always beyond anyone's imagination. Renly gave him an encouraging fist pump. "Please, go ahead," he said, trying to hide his amusement.

Donald grinned wickedly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "And when I do, you know I'll rub up against your thighs. You won't be able to run away," he teased, making an exaggerated thrusting gesture.

This sent Kaya and Jennifer into a fit of giggles and shrieks of "Donald!" as they slapped him repeatedly. Soon, Donald found himself the target of a group "fight," covering his head and fleeing in embarrassment.

After the laughter subsided, Abby Mills, standing nearby, smiled. She had hesitated to interrupt such a joyful moment. When Renly noticed her, he walked over and asked, "What's going on?"

Abby hesitated before replying, "Renly, you have a visitor outside. Nathan is receiving them, but he wasn't sure if it's someone you know…" She trailed off, unsure whether she should continue.

Renly raised an eyebrow, signaling for her to proceed. Abby explained, "It's Nicole Brown. Do you remember her?"

Renly nodded. Nicole Brown, the general manager of the photography base, wasn't a high-ranking official but had significant influence. Her close ties with Barry Mayer, the CEO of Warner Bros., meant she had considerable pull within the industry. Nicole had even secured the permit to shoot at Heathrow. Abby continued, "The visitor is with Nicole herself. We thought we'd invite him in, but he insisted on waiting outside so as not to disturb your work."

Renly thought for a moment. He guessed that if Nicole was with the visitor, it could be someone important, perhaps even a celebrity. As he stood up to acknowledge Abby's message, he joked, "Seems like my reputation is getting worse, huh?"

Abby chuckled nervously, relaxing a bit as she teased, "Well, maybe you'll treat us to dinner tonight to make up for it? Fish and chips, or do you need to go all-out with three Michelin stars?"

Renly grinned. "Fish and chips sound perfect," he responded with a wink. The lighthearted banter helped relieve the tension, and their mood lightened as they walked out of the studio.

They made their way to the visitor room, where Renly could hear a familiar voice—low and slightly sarcastic, though trying to exude charm. Renly smiled, recognizing the owner of the voice immediately. He entered the room to find Andre Hamilton sitting on the left-hand sofa, with Nicole Brown beside him. Andre, the youngest son of the Duke of Hamilton, had a reputation that ensured his every move garnered attention.

Nicole, a woman in her late 40s, exuded confidence in her black-and-white suit, still managing to capture the attention of everyone in the room with her grace and beauty. As Renly entered, Andre continued speaking as though he hadn't noticed him, while Nicole seemed surprised but refrained from interrupting.

Renly sat opposite them, crossing his legs nonchalantly. Andre didn't miss the chance to make a remark. "Did I arrive at the wrong time?" he asked, smirking.

Nicole glanced at Renly, her expression changing slightly, but Renly responded calmly, "You should have made an appointment first and brought a gift. That's the proper etiquette when visiting a set. But if you want to go all out, I can always teach you proper manners so you don't get a bad reputation."

Andre rolled his eyes, obviously caught off guard. He surrendered with a mock gesture. "Okay, then. Should I leave now?"

Renly, with a mischievous grin, replied, "Well, if you're not leaving, don't speak. I'm really quite serious."

The playful back-and-forth made Andre laugh softly, shaking his head. Meanwhile, Abby and Nicole were left in quiet confusion, trying to make sense of the interaction.

Renly stood up and gestured for Andre to follow him. "Come on, I'll show you the set. I know you've always been curious about it when you were in Hollywood."

As Renly led Andre out, he paused, turned around, and smiled at Abby and Nicole. "Thanks, Abby; Nicole, sorry for the inconvenience," he said with a polite nod. The two left the room, and Renly continued on with his tour.