The Greatest Showman #1514 – Pending

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sound of Big Ben's hourly chimes echoed across the Thames, its familiar bells capturing the essence of London's long, storied history. In that moment, life seemed to pause, inviting a rare moment of peace—a chance to reflect in the quietude of the bell's toll. Even if only for a few seconds, it was a chance to savor tranquility, however brief.

Yet, in the bustling metropolis of London, where people are constantly on the move, such moments are fleeting. Few have the luxury to stop and take them in. It's not until a certain moment in the day—when everything halts unexpectedly—that one can see the ordinary aspects of life in a new light.

Both Renly and Emma fell silent, absorbed in the bell's chime.

It began at nine, and now, three hours later, it was already noon.

In the midst of their conversation, Renly hadn't noticed the passage of time. Three hours had flown by in what felt like an instant. The only visible change was that the coffee on the table had been replaced by a fresh pot.

I must say, among Hollywood's elite, Christopher Nolan and his wife are quite the outliers. They maintain a grounded lifestyle, one that's notably different from the high-octane lives of the Kardashians or the Imams. Their children live a relatively simple, even humble life.

Of course, these represent different approaches to parenting and living. There's no competition or judgment—just a matter of personal choice and what fits best.

When the bell finally stopped ringing, neither Renly nor Emma reacted with surprise. It was as though pausing to listen to it was perfectly normal for them.

"For Chris, it's been part of his life since he was a child," Emma said, smiling. "So even without a phone or a watch, he doesn't feel too out of touch with the world."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Then he must feel quite out of place in Los Angeles. Not only is there no Big Ben, but the city is also full of modern distractions."

Emma laughed lightly, instantly understanding, "He's not that old-fashioned! If he were, the visual effects in his movies wouldn't be as impressive as they are. He's just... old school."

"Ah, of course. So, what's his opinion on IMAX?" Renly asked with genuine curiosity.

IMAX is one of the most advanced cinematic technologies today, offering a remarkable visual experience. Christopher Nolan is one of the most passionate advocates for it in Hollywood. During The Dark Knight, he used IMAX for thirty minutes of the film's footage.

Obviously, IMAX and "old school" are opposites, and the humor in Renly's words was evident. Emma spread her hands in mock surrender before offering an invitation, "Well, it's nearly lunchtime now. Would you care to join us?"

Lunchtime typically begins around one o'clock, but with the conversation stretching beyond noon, it was a transitional moment—one where guests might stay longer or begin to leave. Emma, though, had chosen to invite Renly to stay longer, though she felt it might be a bit awkward. After all, inviting a hereditary noble for a casual meal felt a little too informal, and the fridge might not have enough ingredients.

"Thanks for the offer," Renly said with a smile, "but unfortunately, I've already committed to another lunch. I've overstayed my welcome here, it seems. I can only hope this won't be our last conversation, and that this isn't the last time I get to visit. But I do appreciate the coffee and the warm hospitality."

"Really? What a pity," Emma replied, genuinely regretful. "On the other hand, I'm a bit relieved. I was just worried about whether there would be enough food in the fridge. It's a little late to run into the city now, and I'd feel bad if it were too simple."

With a playful tone, Emma seemed more relaxed than when they first met, no longer weighed down by the tension of their earlier discussion. Though she still remained cautious, the conversation had become far more comfortable.

"As far as I know, the Queen doesn't serve lunch every day," Renly said, keeping a straight face.

Emma paused for a moment, then laughed. "You're right about that."

Both stood up and moved away from the backyard porch.

"Are you leaving now?" Emma asked.

Renly nodded, his tone light. "London's traffic may not be as terrible as New York's, but it's still a headache. I need to leave now to make sure I don't miss my lunch appointment. And not to mention, getting the children ready is never an easy task. I should have left myself more time."

Emma couldn't help but laugh, rubbing her forehead in mock frustration.

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the direction of the living room. Flora, Emma and Christopher's youngest child, dashed over, her wide eyes filled with curiosity as she glanced at Renly. Without a word, she turned and ran up the stairs, disappearing from sight.

Renly's surprised gaze followed Flora, and Emma shrugged, laughing. "I have no idea what just happened. Phew, the world of children is so different than what I imagined. Even though she's our fourth, I still have no idea what's going on. She's still figuring it out."

"When we lose our childlike innocence, do we ever get it back?" Renly said lightly. "In truth, things are rarely as simple as we think, but they're never as complicated as we fear. Have you ever heard of Maurice Sendak? He wrote children's books with illustrations, showing the world through a child's eyes. I think there's something inspiring in his work."

"Maurice Sendak?" Emma looked intrigued.

"Yes, his work was adapted into a 2009 film, Where the Wild Things Are, directed by Spike Jonze." Renly offered a thoughtful introduction.

Emma nodded, processing the information. "It's clear you have a fondness for children."

"They hold onto the things we lose—youth, innocence, curiosity, and joy. That's why I think Peter Pan didn't want to grow up. It wasn't about clinging to the happiness of childhood, but escaping the harshness of adulthood. Sometimes, though, it's hard to tell the difference."

As they continued speaking, their steps led them to the door, where Christopher appeared.

"Roy, Oliver, Manus, come over and say goodbye to the guest!" Emma called out.

Renly, unbothered, smiled and waited, watching as the three boys appeared before him. After brief goodbyes, Oliver and Manus turned and ran off, leaving Roy, slightly flustered, to chase after them. Their laughter echoed down the hall.

Emma and Christopher seemed more reserved, but Renly chuckled, "I think Cooper might miss moments like this—some of the more chaotic, yet joyful aspects of family life."

Renly shrugged into his coat, grabbed his umbrella, and pushed open the door. He exited, leaving the Nolan couple behind.

"What did his last comment mean?" Emma asked, looking at her husband in confusion.

Christopher exhaled softly. "It was about the Interstellar project. I need to give Jonathan a call."

"Is he a good screenwriter?" Emma asked, genuinely surprised.

"No, not really," Christopher replied bluntly. "He's a terrible screenwriter, and most of his ideas don't help. But he's a brilliant actor. I don't know what's going to come out of this, but I need to talk to Jonathan."

He turned and walked toward his study.

Emma remained by the door, lost in thought, reflecting on the morning's conversation.

There was still so much uncertainty: Would Renly be part of Interstellar? Which studio should back the film? How would the production and post-production roles be divided? And, most importantly, would Renly's salary proposal be accepted?

Emma's thoughts also drifted to Thomas Tull and his involvement in other projects like Jurassic Park and Degree and Passion. Much like Interstellar, the situation was uncertain, with power struggles continuing to shape the future.

But despite all the unanswered questions, Emma couldn't help but wonder about the filming process for Interstellar once Renly joined the crew.

Perhaps this was the allure of Renly?

As the drizzle continued, Emma closed the door, turning to find Roy standing nearby.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Roy hesitated before asking, "...Is the gentleman an actor?"

The Nolan children weren't isolated from the world. They watched movies, but Renly's films—either artistic indie projects or adrenaline-filled blockbusters—weren't quite to their taste. Not even Roy, let alone Christopher or Emma, had seen any of them.

Emma nodded, confirming, "Yes, he's an actor. Why?"

Roy didn't respond directly. Instead, he asked, "So, will he be in Dad's next movie?"

Emma smiled and nodded, "That's the plan."

Roy thought for a moment before nodding as well. He didn't say anything else, turned around, and walked away.

Emma stood there, a bit puzzled, wondering if she'd missed something.