The Greatest Showman #731 - Demons Dance

Andre had known Renly for almost his entire life, and in his memory, there seemed to be nothing Renly couldn't do and no problem he couldn't solve. From Oxford Dragons to Eaton public school, and then to the university where their paths diverged, Renly's story even became a legend after leaving school. His name was always the subject of conversation in high society, where the elite eagerly awaited his missteps, his "jokes," and Hall's own scandals. Even today, 80 miles away on the hunting grounds, the noble class was still talking about Renly's "joke." They could use all the language they wanted to express their ridicule, but they couldn't resist the allure of the topic of "Renly-Hall" – if they truly didn't care or disdained it, they wouldn't have discussed it at all.

But Renly returned to the spotlight with his head held high, accepting every scrutiny calmly and confidently. He felt no shame, no self-doubt, no fear or humility. He came back stronger, not only due to his achievements in film but because of the self-assurance and tranquility that radiated from within.

On the night of the unveiling ceremony, Andre had heard at least six different versions of the events. Each version was unique, yet the admiration and envy underlying each tale were strikingly similar.

Andre had always believed that Renly could solve any problem.

It was just like when they were at Eton College. Renly had gathered a group of twelve friends and, using only wooden boards and ropes, completed a simple lever device. They hoisted a classic car from the roof of the teaching building, shocking the entire school and even making the news.

In 1958, a group of Cambridge students had managed to lift an Austin 7th-generation car to the top of the Senate building, causing a campus-wide uproar. No one knew how they did it. It took almost a week for the crew to disassemble the car, piece by piece, and remove it. It became one of the university's unsolved mysteries.

Renly's prank, however, not only paid tribute to the 1958 pranksters but also revealed the entire process, including engineering schematics, and published it in the school newspaper.

To the school board, it was an affront, but the students admired Renly. The news outlets praised him, and even decades later, the unresolved mystery at Cambridge became a topic of discussion. The school board couldn't punish Renly and, in the end, assigned him the task of organizing books at the library for a month.

Rumor had it that the board was furious, nearly expelling Renly from the school.

It had been that way then, and it was still that way now.

"I thought you were only doing a stage play because it's a good investment," Andre asked casually. In the past six months, he'd been studying in the United States and was exploring the entertainment industry. "Or do you think films hold more potential than stage plays?"

"If it's about investment, that makes sense," Renly answered honestly, the corner of his mouth curling up. "But for me, acting in stage plays is essential to refining my craft. It's not the same as investing. I plan to return to the stage later on, but right now, I'm focusing on filming."

Andre nodded, understanding, "What project was John talking to you about before?"

"Peter Pan."

Renly answered easily as they stepped out of the golf cart, the conversation turning to work. "If you're interested, you can reach out to John. I think he'd be happy to seek more sponsorship. However, after speaking with John, I wasn't too optimistic about the project."

Although John was Renly's teacher, everyone had the right to voice their opinions on art. No special treatment was required.

Andre frowned slightly and said jokingly, "Does John know you're speaking so candidly?"

Renly spread his hands with a calm expression as if to say, Do I look like the type to speak ill behind someone's back? This made both of them chuckle.

As they entered the studio, Renly took on the role of tour guide, introducing Andre to the crew, cast, and special equipment. Within ten minutes, a notification arrived that Andre's class visit gift had arrived. The entire crew then witnessed what could only be described as "Aristocratic English Afternoon Tea."

Seeing the crew's astonishment, Renly apologized to Paul Greengrass. What was meant to be a 30-minute break had now extended, but Paul didn't mind. "It's perfect! I've come to the UK, but I haven't had authentic afternoon tea yet. This is a real treat!"

Not waiting for Renly to respond, Paul pulled him aside. "Also, regarding the next scene, I have some ideas. I want to focus on the eye and facial details, highlighting Cage's reaction to the deaths of his teammates. I need some input on the acting side too..."

Renly stood for a moment, then broke into a laugh. Paul was clearly enjoying the afternoon tea, which only made the conversation better. "How do you want to shoot it? Or, how would you like me to perform?"

Paul grinned widely. He loved Renly's confidence and poise. The best part was that Renly always lived up to his words.

During afternoon tea, the crew slipped into a relaxed, jovial atmosphere. Even without Renly, Andre felt comfortable. A socialite at heart, Andre thrived in crowds, especially with the lively personalities of Donald and Jennifer around.

The energy on set was contagious. When filming resumed, the crew was still grinning from ear to ear, and it seemed impossible for them to regain composure.

Renly, rubbing his temples, feigned frustration. "Andre, you've already toured the set, so you can leave now." His mock annoyance sent the crew into peals of laughter.

Andre raised his hands in innocence. "For God's sake, I didn't do anything. I'm just a well-behaved, competent audience member!" He then found a small bench behind the monitor, sat down with a composed posture, even folding his hands in his lap—though his expression was far from serious.

Renly ignored Andre, focusing instead on preparing for the next scene. This was a serious moment: after a series of accidents, Cage was no longer steady. Having missed his meeting with Rita, he was alone on the training ground, venting his frustration by smashing equipment. Rita saw him, and, rather than scolding him, invited him to train.

The performance itself wasn't difficult, but Renly had to be cautious. In the movie, the training equipment was made of real metal, mimicking alien combat methods. Some props were designed to fly at him like blood droplets, and if he wasn't careful, they could injure him.

To capture realistic effects, the director avoided computer-generated imagery, opting instead for real props. However, these weren't actually metal; they were made from special materials that mimicked the weight and appearance of metal but were as light as cardboard. Even so, pain was still a factor, especially as Cage was meant to dominate these machines, displaying intense power.

Renly's focus was critical.

As the "Action!" call came, Renly honed in on the flying equipment, trying to ignore the distractions. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw something that made him almost lose focus.

Jennifer, who would soon be acting opposite him, was in front, contorting her body as though imitating a hen laying an egg, grimacing in the process.

And she wasn't alone.

Behind her stood Alexander, with Kaya and Rami in the front. Tony was towering behind, and Paul, though restrained, had joined in. Donald was twisting in exaggerated movements, and Will... everyone was mimicking the same strange "hen laying an egg" dance.

Renly nearly choked. The sight was so bizarre that even the term "dancing demons" seemed insufficient to describe it. He couldn't help but laugh, almost losing his concentration entirely.