The Greatest Showman #993 – Best Friend Time

Looking at the excited Bill, Renly couldn't help but laugh. He turned his head and caught sight of Paul and Meadow, both of whom were grinning. Paul spread his hands as if to say, "I think this is normal, just enjoy it." Renly felt even more dumbfounded.

Technically, Bill was only nine months younger than Renly, yet here he was, gushing about his admiration with the kind of reverence one might reserve for a legend. It was a bit strange — though Renly's mental age could accept all this without a hitch, Paul seemed to find it utterly amusing.

"Bill, are you sure your brother and your father won't mind when you say this?" Renly finally broke the silence, chuckling.

Bill shook his head vigorously, his expression serious. "Of course not! You're the best! I just have to know, how do you do it? The rope can be cut, but how do you keep your performance so restrained, while still maintaining its power?"

The professional question made Renly pause for a moment. The smile at the corner of his mouth faltered before spreading wider. "It's all about the script and the lines, the character and the emotions. In the end, it's a matter of basic skills."

"For most actors, performance is all about 'acting,' so they focus on presenting 'acting' and releasing emotions. But real performance lies in 'realizing.' It's about making the character feel true to the script and the director's intentions. If the character needs to release emotions, let them; if they need calm, then let it be calm."

Though tired, Renly spoke seriously, but it was clear that tonight wasn't the best time for academic discussion. After Richard de Ville, then the two seasoned actors, and Alfonso Cuaron, Renly was starting to feel a bit worn out.

"Let's take a simple example," Renly continued. "Many actors have what seems like a 'paralyzed' face, but why do some actors get lambasted while others receive praise? It's not about the facial expressions. It's about the emotions that come from within. Some actors might seem 'empty,' but others use that stillness to show deep emotional layers — sadness, numbness, loss, despair. A 'paralyzed' face isn't the point; it's the performance that matters."

Bill fell into deep thought after Renly's words. Just then, another voice broke in from the corner. "So, you mean, we should focus on our emotions?"

Renly turned to see Tom Holland, who had been hiding behind Bill's tall figure. Tom had been sitting quietly, waiting for the right moment to jump into the conversation.

"Tom," Renly laughed, "No, I mean, we need to read the script and understand the character. We have to realize the character's inner life, not just show up and start acting."

Tom looked eager to continue, but Renly held up a hand. "Alright, professional discussion ends here. I need to get some rest. If you want to talk more, feel free to visit me in Notting Hill on Sunday for some afternoon tea."

"Really?" Tom's eyes widened in excitement. "Is that okay?"

Bill, still stunned by the offer, could hardly believe it. "Uh... Are you sure? Is it okay?"

Renly smiled and gave him a reassuring pat on the arm. "Of course. Alexander and I are friends, and I think we're friends too, right? You're more than welcome to come by."

Bill's eyes widened, and with a clenched fist, he whispered to himself, "Yeah."

Meadow, still bouncing with excitement, leaned forward. "Renly, Renly!" she called out, eyes sparkling.

Renly smiled. "As far as I'm concerned, it's fine, but you might want to ask your dad first. He might not agree."

Paul protested loudly. "Hey, don't blame me for this one! Of course, no problem. Meadow, do whatever you want."

"Where's the tattoo?" Renly teased, glancing at Paul. Paul froze, looking at Renly with a death glare.

Renly raised his hands in surrender. "I mean, when you're an adult, you can make your own choices, but it's better not to act impulsively when you're young. We all make decisions we regret."

Meadow caught Renly's gaze and suppressed a smile. "But isn't that what youth is about? Making choices, regretting them, and then living recklessly with them?"

Renly shrugged. "Yeah, if you insist." He noticed Paul glaring at him and raised his hands quickly. "Hey, I'm not a spiritual mentor, so don't ask me for advice. I just want to go home and get some rest. Aren't you all leaving? It's already one in the morning. I need to get up early tomorrow."

With that, Renly began packing up. Paul sighed and helped him clean up, turning off the lights and closing the door as everyone made their way toward the side exit.

"Ryan was supposed to come, but he got stuck at work," Paul mentioned as they walked, casually bringing up Ryan Gosling.

Renly chuckled. "Yeah, he called me to complain about it, but I just hung up on him."

Paul raised an eyebrow, confused. "You hung up on him?"

Renly nodded seriously. "If he were a real friend, he would've quit his job and come here, just like you. Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Chastain booked flights for next week. They're flying to London just to see the show. God, Scarlett and Jessica are just ordinary friends."

Paul squinted at Renly suspiciously. "Are you kidding me?"

Renly raised his eyebrows but remained silent. Meadow, from beside them, shouted, "Of course Renly's joking!" and everyone burst into laughter. Paul scratched his head, laughing along.

"Yesterday, I was talking to Donald on Facebook. He said he couldn't make it. Has he contacted you?" Paul asked.

Renly nodded. "Yeah, his TV show's wrapping up, but he'll come over later. Jennifer can't make it for now. Oh, and Kaya's coming tomorrow. You should reach out to her. She was here on premiere night but didn't have a seat. She just stopped by backstage to say hello and left."

Paul nodded, thoughtful. "So, is Scarlett for real?"

Renly grinned, enjoying the gossip. But he didn't answer, just looked at Paul with a mischievous smile. Paul raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. No need to torture me. I just wanted to know if there's anything going on with you and Jennifer. I'm not curious, really. Not at all."

Renly turned to Meadow, smiling. "Meadow, did you know your dad's so gossipy?"

Before Meadow could respond, Paul raised his hand and quickly tried to cover her ears. "Hey, Renly, stop it, let me keep a little dignity, okay?"

The group pushed open the back door, the cold London wind hitting them like a slap. They instinctively huddled into their coats to protect themselves from the unexpected chill.

It was hard to believe it was almost June, and the night in London was still bitterly cold. The group of young people, like baby birds waiting for food, looked at Renly expectantly.

Renly raised his hands, signaling them to calm down. "Alright, enough with the small talk for now. Let's get moving." Despite the fatigue, Renly felt at ease after spending time with Paul, even if just for a little while. But now, it was time to focus on what was ahead.

He turned to his friends. "You guys go ahead. Don't worry about me. Bill, Tom, you two know how to get home, right? The subway's tricky at this hour..."

Tom looked around, confused. "What about my manager?"

Renly sighed. "Don't worry. Nathan will escort you back."

Tom still looked concerned. "But what about you?"

Renly smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. We'll all go home together."

Paul laughed and waved it off. "Alright, alright. Let's go. Let Renly finish up and get some rest."

The group, laughing and chatting, made their way toward the street, and Renly waved them off, his attention still on the crowd of young fans who had gathered around. "Are you sure it's okay? It's getting colder. Be careful not to catch a cold," Renly called to them as they dispersed.