The Greatest Showman #1232 – Presenters

This is the first meeting between Renly and Annie.

Renly tucked his hands behind his back politely, offering a faint smile. "Hold tight, and don't worry about the thief."

Wei Wei's tone was playful, almost teasing, yet lacking any sharp aggression. It was more like light banter—an expression only those who have stood at the pinnacle of success but still found themselves consumed by doubts could truly understand. The deeper meaning and confusion behind this casual remark subtly forged a silent connection between the two.

Annie's eyes flickered momentarily before she lowered her gaze, pulling out a small smile. When she looked up again, there was a warmth and sincerity in her eyes that she didn't try to hide. Her excitement and joy were evident, even causing a slight tremble in her shoulders. "In front of those who've been through it, I no longer need to pretend." She said calmly, a playful glint in her voice as she winked.

She then raised the small golden statuette in her hand and tightened her grip, her fingers pale from the pressure. "Don't worry, I'll treasure it well," she promised, her lips curling into a soft, radiant smile. This was the first time she truly allowed herself to express the joy and satisfaction she felt after winning the award.

In 2005, Brokeback Mountain took the world by storm, shaking the Oscar landscape and marking a turning point in the portrayal of LGBTQ+ stories in film.

At the time, the four main actors—Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway—received widespread praise from critics. Yet, despite their acclaim, it was Annie who was often overshadowed. She was the one left behind, with little recognition throughout the awards season. The other three stars garnered numerous nominations, but Annie seemed to be forgotten.

The sting of being overlooked is one that only she could truly comprehend. She began doubting herself, questioning whether she was even a good actress, let alone a qualified one. Maybe this wasn't the right path for her. But step by step, she eventually carved out her own way in the industry.

Annie gestured with the golden statuette in her hand. "Good luck tonight," she wished Renly, her voice filled with genuine warmth.

Renly raised an eyebrow and gave a self-deprecating smile. "Then, I might need all the luck I can get." After all, Daniel Day-Lewis was the clear frontrunner.

The lighthearted remark eased the tension, and they exchanged one final nod before Annie exited the room, and Renly entered.

The atmosphere soon became busy as staff members approached Renly, confirming his award speech. If there was one, they would help him polish it; if not, they would provide guidance on the award process. Throughout this, people intermittently passed by, offering brief greetings, but Renly didn't have the time or energy to socialize. He could only acknowledge them with a nod.

Once all preparations were complete, Renly stood in the waiting room for a few minutes before the staff ushered him to the side stage.

The side stage was narrow and dimly lit, with only a soft cream-yellow desk lamp casting a faint glow, limiting the visibility. To the left was a large conference table, cluttered with golden trophies still waiting to be engraved. Most had already been claimed, with only a dozen or so remaining—indicating that the ceremony was nearing its end.

A staff member stood beside the table, headset on, communicating with the director. She glanced back at Renly and spoke in a low voice, "Renly Hall, please take your place." The staff member who had guided Renly nodded and responded, "Ready."

A makeup artist on Renly's right gently tapped his arm. "Hello, I'm a makeup artist. Would you like a final touch-up?"

In such a cramped space, it was easy to sweat in the heat. For actresses, touch-ups were often necessary; for male actors, it was unwise to step on stage with a shiny face, so the committee had arranged makeup staff for such occasions.

Renly laughed softly, unsure at first. The makeup artist raised her right hand, subtly switching on and off a small flashlight, indicating she had a portable tool for touch-ups—even in the dark. "Clever," Renly remarked with a chuckle.

The makeup artist smiled but still asked, "Touch-ups?"

Renly waved his hand, smiling gently. "No, thank you."

The artist stepped aside, motioning for Renly to proceed. "Be careful; there are a lot of wires here."

As she spoke, she stumbled slightly. Renly instinctively reached out, steadying her. "Thank you for the warning," he said with a smile. The makeup artist's cheeks flushed slightly, and despite her professional experience, she couldn't help but look away from Renly's gaze, feeling embarrassed. Fortunately, the dim lighting helped mask her discomfort.

Once the makeup artist was steady, Renly released her arm, nodded politely, and continued forward. Ahead of him, by the wine-colored curtain, stood two auditors, a man and a woman, both looking elegant and poised.

The man was absorbed in his phone, glancing up at the stage occasionally, while the woman, with a smile, introduced herself. "Good evening, I'm Martha Ruiz from WWC."

"Good evening," Renly greeted, nodding.

Martha handed Renly the golden envelope. "This is the Best Actress award envelope."

Renly raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Martha's face froze, clearly confused. "What did you say?"

Renly chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just a little nervous, worried about making a mistake. This is the Best Actress envelope, right?"

Martha looked at him, bewildered, as though she were seeing a different side of Renly, one not typical of the Hollywood elite. She had expected something different, perhaps, given his reputation. But Renly's humor caught her off guard.

"Yes," she replied, trying to mask her surprise, "That's the one. Good luck."

As she walked away, Renly's smile deepened.

This brief exchange reminded Renly of the infamous mix-up at the 2017 Oscars, when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner instead of Moonlight. This colossal error was caused by the two auditors now in front of him: Martha Ruiz and Brian Cullinan.

Every year, PricewaterhouseCoopers oversees the vote counting, with eight auditors participating. The two auditors who know the results are responsible for delivering the award envelopes during the ceremony. In 2017, Martha and Brian, distracted by their phones, inadvertently handed the wrong envelope to the presenters, leading to one of the most infamous moments in Oscar history.

Renly, reflecting on the incident, couldn't help but wonder if such a mistake would ever occur again. Would the course of history be changed, or was it destined to repeat itself?

As his thoughts lingered on the past, the acceptance speech on stage concluded.