The Greatest Showman #1221: Take off Your Guard

This is a side of Renly that Paul has never seen.

There's no elegance, no calm composure, no indifference or maturity. What stands before him is the sunny temperament of a big-hearted boy, the kind of person who leaps into an emerald lake under the midsummer sun. As the water crashes around him, the noise and chaos of the world seem to fade away, replaced by the pure coolness of summer. The air itself feels fresh and invigorating.

Laughter sparkles in Renly's eyes, slowly illuminating his face and the world around him. Even the wind seems lighter, carrying the joy of the moment and spreading colorful joy everywhere.

The children around them have nothing fancy. There are no smartphones, no luxurious pools, no flashy cars, no air conditioning, no snacks, or new clothes. They only have simple foam surfboards. And yet, in this moment, they are the happiest kids in the world, living their childhood with reckless abandon.

Paul can't help but smile.

"Look, look! There's a giant octopus! Watch out!" Renly's voice rings out, and before Paul can fully understand, the children scatter in all directions. They clench their tiny fists, ready to fight back. Paul, realizing he's the "octopus," starts waving his arms and shouting, "Ouch!"

A fleeting thought crosses his mind: How does an octopus cry?

But it's gone before he can dwell on it. Instead, he opens his arms and begins swooping toward the children. Laughter erupts as they all run away, their bright faces alight with joy. The golden dust in the air catches the sunlight, creating a dazzling, rainbow-like glow.

Just a minute ago, Paul was lost in this unfamiliar town. The heat had drenched him in sweat, and confusion clouded his mind. But now, he's at the center of this joyful chaos, the most popular "octopus" in the square. The children surround him, shouting, "Octopus! Octopus!" as they playfully punch him with their tiny fists. The energy is infectious.

Renly laughs freely, without restraint. His laughter bursts from him, unfiltered and full of life, echoing through the square.

"Shark! Let's attack the shark together! We must unite!" Paul exclaims, rallying the children to surround Renly. But Renly doesn't resist. He stands there, letting himself be overtaken, giving in to the children's playful attack as though he's truly been defeated by the "shark."

The exaggerated acting is almost too much—so over the top, it could have come from a child's playful imitation. If critics or reporters had seen Renly's "Shark Death" performance, they might have cringed in embarrassment. But to Paul, it's simply hilarious.

The chaos quiets as mothers' calls echo down the alleys. "Miguel! Angel! Time for lunch!" The children scatter, running in all directions at the sound of their names, eager to respond to the call of food.

One child stops and turns to Renly. "Sir, can we keep practicing surf this afternoon?"

The question halts the children. Their eager eyes turn toward Renly, who's packing up the foam boards. Without looking back, he calls, "I need a nap. Meet me at the pier at three o'clock. Don't wake me up early, or I'll send you to deal with the sharks this afternoon!"

"See you this afternoon, sir!" The children cheer, excitedly running off into the alleys, their voices fading into the distance. The square falls silent.

Paul looks around, still catching his breath. The foam boards scattered on the ground are a reminder of the fun they just had. Renly, meanwhile, is already cleaning up. Paul, still a bit confused, bends down to help, stacking the boards by the door of a dilapidated store on the east side of the square. The gate is khaki-colored, pieced together with wooden boards that seem like they could fall apart with a gust of wind.

Renly leans in and calls, "Antonio, do I need to head into town?"

An old voice answers from inside, "Bring a climbing rope. Also, check in at the liquor store—ask when our shipment is coming. I've called the guy twice, but his voicemail's full. If you block him, just pull the goods back."

"No problem!" Renly responds cheerfully, turning to Paul as he walks away.

Confused but eager to follow, Paul hurries after him. As they walk, Paul notices a sign above the door: "Antonio's Tango." It's the destination Renly had mentioned earlier.

"Renly, do you need a car? I rented one from Miami," Paul asks.

"No need," Renly answers briskly. "Antonio's old pickup is outside. Let's take that." He picks up his pace, a spring in his step. "You're here at the right time. The kids need help with their next surfing practice. We're picking up some surfboards for fifteen kids in town today."

Paul follows, still unsure of everything, but he can feel that Renly seems to have dropped his usual guard. For the first time, Renly seems more real than ever.

Paul can't help but think back to their filming days on Edge of Tomorrow. Renly, the "Big Devil of Mischief," always full of youthful energy, with a heart that never seemed to age. And today, in this moment, that same spirit is shining through.

"Are those kids all your students?" Paul asks, diverting the topic to the lively faces.

Renly laughs. "No, not really. They were just passing time, and I gave them another option. For their parents, it doesn't make a difference. But for the kids, it's a chance to find another way to release their energy, instead of getting involved in petty theft or the dark side of town."

There's a quiet strength in Renly's words, tinged with an understanding of the struggles these children face.

This is a remote town in southern Florida, a dilapidated fishing village. With no resources and a dangerous coastline full of reefs, the fishermen abandoned their work years ago. Now, the town survives through illegal activities—drugs, smuggling, human trafficking. The American Dream is just a bubble for most of the people here, who find themselves at the bottom of society, struggling to survive.

The children Renly works with are mostly from illegal immigrant families—Cuban, Mexican, and Colombian. Their parents work dangerous, illegal jobs, leaving the kids to wander the streets, often caught up in the dark side of the town.

Renly can't save them. He can't change their lives, but he can offer them a different path. His small surfing class is a way to help them channel their energy, and along with it, he teaches them simple literacy. It's been only ten days, and the results are still far from clear. But at least more children are showing up, eager to learn.