Two Plans (1)
Following the skydiving, next up was a highly perilous off-road drive.
"Yaaaa-hoooooo!"
"..."
Inside the violently rattling vehicle, Sion Lee felt utterly incapable of matching the energy of the man behind the wheel.
Tom Cruise. Even in real life, he was a pure dopamine addict.
"You... you crazy motherfucker...! You son of a bitch...!"
"Jack, we're filming."
On the other hand, Jack Nicholson, who was sitting next to him, kept cursing at Tom. Frustrated and suffocating, he tried to rip off his helmet. But because a bad bump could easily snap his neck, Sion constantly had to hold him back.
"Shut up, Sion! You're in on this too, aren't you?!"
"Haha, I wish."
"Are we having fun yet?! Let's see how fast this baby can go!"
"Somebody turn that bastard back to how he was before he joined fucking Scientology!"
Jack cursing, Tom speeding up, and Sion simply letting his body sway with the motion. The trio's wild drive continued for quite some time.
Normally, the shoot with Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise was supposed to transition into a scene where all three of them, looking completely disheveled, sat on tree stumps and chatted. However...
"Fuck this. I'm done for the day."
The shoot came to an abrupt end as Jack, pushed to the absolute brink of fainting, walked out on them.
"..."
"..."
Tom laughed awkwardly as he watched the older actor storm off, his legs visibly trembling.
"Man, did I push the sixty-year-old too hard?"
"Well, considering he didn't kill you before he left, I'd say he showed incredible restraint."
"Pwahaha! I seriously love your cynical humor, Sion!"
Tom, covered in mud, clapped a hand onto Sion's shoulder.
"So, you're doing a movie with me, right?"
"What kind of movie is it anyway?"
"I've actually got two options lined up. Just one is boring. You need the fun of choosing. I'll break them down for you one by one."
"First, let's go get Jack."
"What?"
Tom's eyes widened. The crew watching from behind the camera had the exact same reaction.
Jack Nicholson had just stormed off to his hotel in a fit of rage. Today's shoot was supposed to be over.
Sion's claim that he would bring back the legendary Hollywood veteran seemed absurd, but he calmly turned to the director.
"Change the schedule, PD. Let's move tomorrow's restaurant and bar shoot to tonight."
"I... I don't know if that's possible."
"If they can't make it happen, tell them Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Sion Lee are all pulling out."
Sion bit his tongue before he could add that the old man's temper had gotten worse lately because his prostate was acting up. Even if Jack wasn't right in front of him, he shouldn't casually diss a living legend of Hollywood who had built his own monument of success.
"Uh, Sion? Even as a joke, saying that about Jack is a bit..."
"...Oh? Did I say that out loud?"
"You did. Loud and clear."
Tom, facing Sion's brand of madness, looked bewildered for the first time. But he soon chuckled.
"Well, the first proposal definitely suits you."
"...What proposal is it?"
"It's a bit of a strange project. Based on a novel. What was it... Right, a bunch of guys beating the crap out of each other. They're casting the lead right now and having a hard time, so I was thinking of recommending you. The title is pretty simple, just like the plot."
Tom Cruise then uttered the name of the film.
"Fight Club."
It was a movie that flopped upon its initial release.
At a nearby luxury hotel, in front of a suite.
Sion stood before the door and knocked.
Knock, knock-knock, knock, knock.
"Do you wanna build a snowman?"
"Fuck off!"
"Okay, bye..."
Sion turned to leave, then banged on the door again.
"Oh, come on, old man! Stop being dramatic and get out here! I moved tomorrow's restaurant and bar shoot to tonight!"
"I told you to fuck off! I'm resting! I plan on watching porn until tomorrow morning!"
"Well, at least you've still got plenty of energy... Ah, right."
Sion sighed and made an offer.
Knock, knock-knock, knock, knock.
"Macallan 25."
The door swung open.
"Are you buying?"
"A whole bottle."
A premium whisky that easily went for $100 a glass. Jack Nicholson, who had just returned from the depths of hell after being hit by the runaway fire truck that was Tom Cruise, felt his icy expression melt away.
Sion stepped inside before Jack could change his mind, thinking coldly:
Hehe, I'll just charge it to the production budget.
After all, MTV was the one desperate for a good broadcast.
"Hmph... I must be getting soft in my old age. Since you're showing such sincerity, I'll continue the shoot. But keep this in mind: I am not doing whatever crazy stunt that bastard Tom Cruise suggests tomorrow."
"Yes, yes. Of course, whatever you say."
"...Why do I feel like you're patronizing me? You want me to cancel this show?"
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"What now?"
"Why do you act?"
"Hmm... That is a remarkably primitive question."
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He ignored the no-smoking sign in the room.
"Because it's a beautiful calling bestowed upon me by God. Fanning the passionate flames within me to bring joy and inspiration to people is a truly delightful and happy thing. I want to do it for the rest of my life."
"...?"
Sion stared at Jack as if looking at a gorilla solving calculus while wearing glasses. Feeling his gaze, Jack laughed heartily.
"Is that the kind of answer you wanted?"
"No. I want your answer, Jack."
"I just ended up here because I kept doing it. It pays a shitload of money and makes it easy to get laid. Who the hell would say no to that?"
"Classic Jack."
"Sure, acting is fun. But only for a moment. A very brief moment. In the end, you get sick of work. No matter what it is. What remains for a person is just fleeting pleasure—at least for someone like me. Some people might find a grand meaning in life or search for something worthy, like having kids. But that hasn't been me. So, that's how I view this job. I just did it because I did it. I'm not like you kids who are riding high these days."
Acting is a severely overrated profession. Jack Nicholson explained it that way.
"People love us, hate us, so we strut around like we're hot shit. 'The art of acting is so grand.' But what do we actually do? Do we know how to shoot a camera, write a script, or control any of it? We're nothing special, just riding the wave of manufactured fame. It's all just an illusion created by modern capitalist media anyway. So look at it as a job. Just a shitty job that pays incredibly well."
"Will I end up like that one day too?"
"You say that like you aren't already."
"Of course not. I still have so many mountains left to climb."
Sion was now in a position where he could choose his projects to some extent. Beyond just chasing paychecks, choosing what he wanted to do as an actor had become a viable option.
I should definitely do Fight Club.
Through his conversation with Jack, Sion resolved not to let any opportunity slip by.
"Live a long life, old man. I want you to be around to see the moment I finally surpass you."
"Kahaha! What a truly disgusting blessing! Hey, you only say that because you're in your twenties and your hormones are pumping. Wait till you get to my age. Drinking at home, spacing out all day, and getting a good night's sleep when the time comes is the absolute best."
Though he spoke like that, Jack was secretly looking forward to it. The moment this kid would eventually surpass him.
At the dinner that followed.
"Jack, carbs are the enemy of the body."
"..."
"Have some more potatoes, Jack."
"Tell them to bring more cream."
The atmosphere turned awkward again.
Sion, who had gone through the trouble of coaxing Jack back to the set, couldn't understand why Tom Cruise had suggested this combination in the first place.
He's like a typical protagonist, eyes sparkling, only saying the right things.
To be honest, to Sion and Jack, who were closer to "children of the dark" both as actors and individuals, the "the world is righteous and happy!" beam radiating from Tom Cruise was highly overwhelming.
Actually, when you think about the cult behind this guy's clear-eyed madness... he might be the real villain here.
Since freedom of religion is constitutionally protected in America, even Sion found it hard to comment on Tom Cruise's Scientology.
At least his life isn't completely ruined by it like Michael's was.
Though the atmosphere was a bit awkward, thanks to the "quality" of the guests, they naturally drifted into talking about acting and their careers.
The dinner was quite good, and they immediately moved up to the hotel bar on the top floor to open the Macallan 25.
"Oh, ohh...! This sweet aroma!"
"Alcohol destroys brain cells, Jack."
"Shall we destroy them together?"
"Chaos and destruction, one glass each!"
Sion and Jack began enjoying the whisky, while Tom Cruise only drank water. But since the cameras were rolling, they kept talking.
Tom Cruise spoke about his current hiatus:
"Right now, I'm focusing on self-reflection."
"Oh, really? I'm just resting comfortably on a pile of cash."
Jack Nicholson offered a completely opposite answer. Neither of them had filmed a new project since '96 and '97 respectively. Finding that common ground, the talk naturally flowed in that direction.
Meanwhile, they started getting tipsy.
The two looked back on their careers, laughing and chatting lightly, and Sion, who was with them, also received various questions and answered them comfortably.
"I actually really like Sion's early works."
"Heh, that one where he went, 'Hello? My sun-like shining darling'?"
"Oh, please. Give me a break."
Sion waved his hand in dismissal, facing his inescapable past.
"Why? It was pretty good. Everyone's early works are like that."
"I loved all of them!"
"...Of course you did, Tom."
Despite the blatant sarcasm, Tom just laughed it off with a "Haha!"
"So, kid. You asked an interesting question earlier."
Jack asked, swirling his glass of whisky.
"Why do we act? Tom, what do you think?"
"It's a calling. A destiny we must carry out with pride."
"...Well, that's fucking majestic."
"...It's even scarier because I know you actually mean it."
"Hahaha! I'm always honest! So what do you two think?"
"I told you earlier. Money is king. ...Well, if we're going to talk about this, it's going to get a bit deep."
Enjoying the rare talk about acting, Jack signaled the PD with his signature intense gaze.
The PD, thinking they had enough footage anyway, readily said, "We'll wrap up the shoot here for today!"
As the cameras turned off and the crew began packing up, Jack continued what he wanted to say.
"So, kid. I assume there's a reason you asked that."
"Oh, wait. Is it because of that? Fight Club?"
"Fight Club?"
"It's one of the two movies I wanted to pitch to Sion. The conditions Director David Fincher set were simple: someone who can start filming immediately, has a face the audience already knows, but is willing to be completely ruined. As the 'Broken Prince,' Sion is definitely someone who can pull off this role. Sion even told me before dinner that he'd do it. ...To be honest, this was supposed to be a throwaway card."
"What is that?"
Tom briefly explained Fight Club to the curious Jack. Even though the movie hadn't even come out yet, Jack was horrified by the description. He looked at Sion with concern.
"...Wait, you're not actually planning on starring in such a stupid movie, are you, kid?"
"Come on, it might sound a bit much when you put it like that, but I think it could be pretty good."
Sion shrugged, playing it off.
Honestly, he had to. At this time, and even after its release, the evaluation of Fight Club was nothing more or less than a "controversial film." Many critics panned it harshly, and the audience reception was extremely polarized. Because of that, it also failed at the box office.
...Of course, as time passes, that evaluation completely flips.
And since it was a movie Sion personally loved, he was highly intrigued.
Tom spoke in a slightly flustered voice to the unfazed Sion.
"Listen to the second proposal before you decide. This one is planned to be filmed with a Hollywood legend."
"Don't tell me that's me?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Jack, it's an opportunity to shoot with the new king of Hollywood."
"...What? Don't tell me the only reason you picked me for this show was for this?"
"Hahaha, there were too many party crashers at the last party."
And that proposal also sounded quite interesting.
"Jack Nicholson and me? What are we even filming? A story about two crazy guys robbing a bank?"
"No, quite the opposite of your images. I want to propose a project based on a father and son. And this... we're going to produce it with the Oscars in mind."
"...Excuse me?"
"Best Actor. I think the current Sion Lee has a real shot at it."
Sion knew exactly what that meant, and his eyebrow twitched.
Targeting the Oscars?
In Hollywood, projects are often produced from the very beginning with the goal of winning awards. It was structurally very common. And actors viewed these kinds of projects as opportunities to prove their acting chops.
Especially if it's with Jack, it sounds pretty exciting.
But considering Fight Club, he wondered if he could pull off both.
"What's the schedule for that one?"
"Filming in the fall, aiming for a release early next year."
"And Fight Club?"
"Well, I'd have to talk to them to know for sure... but they'll probably be filming around the same time."
Fight Club, the controversial film destined to be re-evaluated in the near future? Or an original Oscar-bait project co-starring Jack Nicholson?
Both proposals were the kind of work that would come to him as an established actor, rather than big studio blockbusters. And either way, Sion saw them as opportunities.
Well, it's not that complicated.
But the answer Sion came up with was simple, and he delivered it just as casually.
"Let's just do both."
"...Huh?"
"You didn't say I had to choose only one. Unlike you guys, I'm still hungry."
He hadn't become an action icon like Tom Cruise, nor had he won an Academy Award for Best Actor like Jack Nicholson. Unlike them, who were now taking a breather, living as they pleased, and looking elsewhere, Sion felt he couldn't let either project slip through his fingers.
"So I'll do both. Let's stir up some trouble, just like I always do. Isn't that why I'm able to sit here and talk with you guys at my age anyway?"
Seeing Sion's confident expression, Tom Cruise smiled with intrigue.
"Oho... I didn't expect you to play it like this."
And Jack Nicholson, who was listening on the side, chimed in.
"Hey, am I already locked in for this? You arrogant little bastard. Pour me another glass."
Even the notoriously ill-tempered legend tended to soften up in front of a "kid" he actually liked.