The Greatest Showman #1510 - Division of Labor and Cooperation

"Renly, would you like to play the role of Cooper?" Christopher asked suddenly.

Renly was caught off guard. He paused for a moment, then laughed. "I thought you still needed time to think this through."

Christopher didn't mind Renly's amused tone. No gratitude, no flattery—just a smile from him. "I'm a little surprised myself. But... if you like it, why hesitate?"

"I trust my intuition when it comes to choosing actors," Christopher continued, his voice calm. "There's always a subtle connection between an actor and a character, and that connection is crucial to my work." He paused for a moment, as if weighing his next words. "I did have some concerns about your age, and even now, I'm wondering if casting you as Cooper will require adjustments for the other actors... but..."

Renly nodded, stepping in to finish his thought. "But you're willing to take the risk."

Christopher didn't hesitate. "Yes, I'm willing to take that risk." He then shifted gears. "But the most risky part of every project isn't the actors, though. It's the story and script—there's also the unpredictable nature of visual effects, which need to appear as realistic as possible. That means the entire crew has to be on their toes, prepared for anything."

There was a fine line between arrogance and confidence in his words, but Renly didn't mind. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "But this time, if you choose to work with me, I think you should take some risks," Renly said, his voice carrying a deeper meaning.

Christopher, a bit confused, assumed it was still about age. "Indeed, age is a factor we'll have to consider, but we'll find a solution. A good actor can portray everything from youth to old age, the film industry has reached that level of maturity."

Renly smiled faintly and shook his head. "No, I meant the salary."

He asked bluntly, without hesitation. Though he didn't usually focus on these matters, Renly had promised Andy not to compromise on remuneration this time. So, he asked openly and honestly.

Christopher froze. His surprise was evident as he stared at Renly. At first, he thought Renly was joking, but seeing the genuine smile on Renly's face, he realized this was no joke—it was business.

"Uh... of course. Sure," Christopher stammered, clearly flustered. He straightened up and continued, "This is definitely an important aspect to discuss. Commercial films require these kinds of talks, and both the director and actors need to address it. No problem, we'll take our time to negotiate."

Though his words rambled, they lacked any real substance. Renly, having heard from Andy about Christopher and Emma's unique working relationship, wasn't surprised. Christopher and Emma had been working together for over a decade, and their collaboration was one of clear roles—Emma handled negotiations, while Christopher focused on everything related to the film's production.

"Wait here for a moment," Christopher finally said, flustered. Without further discussion, he left, his abrupt departure leaving the conversation hanging.

Renly wasn't bothered. He leaned back, sipping his coffee slowly. Outside the movie world, the sound of the rain became clearer, soft and melodic, like a violin's nocturne playing in the background.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a pair of eyes watching him intently. He turned to find Flora, hiding behind the screen door, her face pressed against the glass. She exaggerated her expression, her eyes wide in playful curiosity.

When Flora saw Renly looking, she made a dramatic grimace. It reminded Renly of Jack Nicholson in The Shining, but with a child's innocence.

Renly couldn't resist and made a similar face in return.

Flora burst into laughter, clearly delighted. The two began a "grimace battle," exchanging exaggerated faces, completely absorbed in their little game.

"Flora!" Emma called from behind, a gentle hand on her daughter's back. "Mom needs to speak with this gentleman. Can you wait for a moment? How about you go play Lego with your brothers?"

Flora hesitated but finally nodded, moving reluctantly to stand beside her siblings. Roy, sensing an opportunity, grabbed Flora's hand and led her away, though not without a curious glance toward Renly.

Renly returned to his calm demeanor, focusing on the coffee cup in his hands.

"Sorry about that," Emma said with a chuckle, taking a seat once Flora had left. "It's a bit chaotic at home with the kids on summer break. We're all just waiting for school to start in September. Can you imagine?"

Renly smiled warmly. "No problem at all. It's actually a pleasure to be here. I wouldn't want to disrupt your vacation, though. That would be my mistake."

Emma waved off his concern. "No, no! Honestly, I feel it's Chris who's being rude. We should've invited you properly for dinner, not in the early morning. That's not great hospitality, is it?"

Renly laughed. "Dinner might be a bit too formal. You might not get to see the kids' playful side. The world of children is pure, carefree—a nostalgic part of summer."

Emma raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I didn't know you were someone who liked children."

Renly smiled. "Just like Chris," he responded, causing Emma to chuckle.

The two shared a quiet understanding. Emma, always the efficient one, quickly switched gears. She was back to business. Christopher and she had discussed the situation in brief, and Emma now needed to step in.

Christopher had already given the green light that Renly was the right fit for the role, but the issue of remuneration remained.

Renly? Pay?

Emma blinked, caught off guard. The question had caught her by surprise, but it was clear that Renly wasn't playing games. He was serious about his terms.

This would be an interesting negotiation.