Two Plans

"Ugh, my aching bones..."

Late at night, Jack Nicholson collapsed onto his bed after wrapping a grueling shoot.

"Someone get me some water..."

His plea for help echoed emptily through the quiet house. There was no one else inside. He had recently kicked out his short-term girlfriend, and his housekeeper had fled, unable to tolerate his notoriously nitpicky personality. Yet, because of that, he had finally reclaimed his quiet freedom. Or so he thought as he grunted, dragging himself out of bed to fetch a glass of water from the first floor.

A glass of cold water finally cleared his head.

"Whew."

It was a bit of a hassle, but as you get older, living alone is the absolute best. The occasional sudden pang of loneliness could easily be soothed with a little alcohol and a bit of time. Or, if needed, he could just find someone compatible to fall head over heels for, and then part ways when it was over.

"This is where money and fame really come in handy."

He didn't have to go through the tedious, poker-like process of proving himself; his filmography and his fleet of supercars served as his ultimate trump cards.

Jack chuckled, recalling what he had said to Sion during the filming of Sion Lee Takes You Out. Turning around, he picked up a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen island and poured himself a generous glass.

At some point in this solitary lifestyle, a thought had taken root in his mind: Isn't this enough?

He had made more than enough money, and he had fully proven himself in Hollywood. From the very beginning, Jack had viewed this job more as a means of survival than an artistic calling. Now, he felt it wouldn't be so bad to slow down and be extremely selective with his projects.

Besides, that's just what happens when you reach this age. The fiery passion of youth fades, replaced by a desire to protect what you've earned rather than conquer new frontiers. And yet...

Tom, you magnificent bastard.

Trying to drag a man who was practically half-retired back onto the silver screen.

Jack suddenly pictured Sion from the days of Fragments of You. Back when the boy had boldly questioned him, Jack had felt the young actor wasn't even in the same league. Yet, in what felt like just a few short years, Sion had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠risen to a level where he could stand before him as a true co-star—at least, depending on the role.

While Jack found it incredibly admirable, he couldn't help but worry. He feared the kid might become too jaded, too deeply stained by this industry, just like he had.

But his conclusion remained simple, as it always did.

No matter how much money they throw at me, I won't do it unless it's a masterpiece. Even if his co-star was Sion Lee.

"...Dammit."

He had intended to savor his whiskey sip by sip, but before long, Jack muttered a curse and picked up the telephone.

Ring... Ring... Ring...

He dialed a familiar number from memory. Soon, someone answered.

Jack waited with a grumpy expression. Through the receiver, the distant calls of "Tom?" "Tooom!" faded away. Naturally picturing Nicole Kidman walking over to find Tom Cruise mid-workout, Jack waited, tapping his foot impatiently.

Soon, a breathless voice picked up.

If a guy like Tom Cruise suddenly decided to drop by, Jack half-expected him to crash-land a light aircraft in his yard. He absolutely did not want that.

"Alright! Well, this movie... it's incredibly moving."

"Cut the fluff. Just the facts."

"The title is Echoes of a Family. It's about a father ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and son rebuilding their relationship."

Despite Jack's blatant rushing, Tom didn't care and explained the premise at his own energetic pace. After listening to the explanation for a while, Jack's eyes narrowed, and he found himself responding:

"Send over the full script, the production spec sheet, and the contract immediately. I'll review it with my agency right away."

It felt as though his scattered thoughts had suddenly snapped into perfect alignment.

August arrived, and Sion Lee Takes You Out generated another explosive wave of reactions. It was inevitable, considering the guests were Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise—two stars who rarely made public appearances outside of film promotions.

"Whoa, those two with Sion?"

"Isn't this basically a gathering of Hollywood's absolute elite?"

"Sion Lee might be the junior here, but he doesn't look out of place at all."

Reflecting the public's high expectations (and Jack Nicholson's own grumbling demands), the broadcast was edited to be as "cool" as possible.

After the opening sequence, Sion Lee, dressed in a sharp suit and sunglasses, looked back at the camera like a character straight out of Reservoir Dogs and shouted:

Of course, they conveniently edited out the part where Jack Nicholson cried and swore he wouldn't jump.

Just seeing the three of them in jumpsuits, laughing like schoolboys, was a sight to behold.

"Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Sion Lee..."

"At this rate, isn't this basically the lineage of the Kings of Hollywood?"

Next, the three of them sat in camping chairs against a vast, breathtaking landscape for an interview. A proper three-shot. Yet, viewers didn't find Sion Lee's presence between the two legendary actors awkward at all. In fact, he fit right in.

"He's truly become a man."

Olga Asimov smiled softly as she watched the broadcast. She believed hosting this variety show would be a massive turning point in Sion's career. He already had his own franchise films, and the mainstream media was gradually recognizing him as the face and leading man of the new generation.

"The show's format itself is incredibly fresh."

Instead of a standard sit-down talk show, it was a variety program that highlighted each guest's unique personality. Skydiving, off-road driving, followed by a round of golf and a drink at a bar. The scenes transitioned dynamically, and the conversations grew deeper.

As countless viewers lost themselves in Sion Lee Takes You Out...

"Whew."

Sion sat on a sofa, letting the broadcast play in the background as he monitored it.

They were in the executive office of CK Agency. Charlie Kang, who had been watching the show with constant admiration, spoke up.

"Why the sigh?"

"I'm just staring at a delicious feast, trying to figure out the best way to eat it so everyone talks about it." Sion chuckled, speaking with absolute confidence. "I think next year is going to be my year."

1999. A time when the dread of the Y2K bug was beginning to grip the world. It was a year filled with apocalyptic anxieties, from Nostradamus's prophecies of humanity's demise to the belief that computers would collectively crash the moment the clock struck 2000.

As the first digit of the year prepared to shift from 1 to 2, people felt a deep existential dread about the turn of the millennium... though, of course, Sion already knew exactly what would happen.

Nothing much, really.

But if he could exploit this atmosphere, he fully intended to do so.

This December, he would star in Tom Cruise's proposed film, Echoes of a Family, and make a run for the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

And finally, in October... Fight Club.

Through these films, he wanted to push his career to an absolute peak. He had a strong feeling he could pull it off.

"Three movies. That's definitely going to be a brutal schedule."

"This is just the beginning, Charlie. Sion Lee is finally taking the reins of Hollywood."

"Just don't overdo it."

"Is that the head of my agency speaking, or my father figure?"

"...You brat."

Charlie narrowed his eyes but didn't deny it. Sion smiled, feeling deeply reassured by the presence of someone who would always stand by his side and support him no matter what he did. Since he had accepted the offers and found each project uniquely intriguing, he had no intention of half-assing them.

If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right.

Sion picked up the script for Echoes of a Family, the first film scheduled for production.

Echoes of a Family was a quintessential Oscar-bait film. It was a deep exploration of a personal human narrative, designed to deliver a profound emotional impact through top-tier acting and directing.

"It's a classic 'squeeze some tears out of the audience' kind of movie," Jack Nicholson remarked dryly. "But looking at the script, it's not bad. It looks like it'll be a fun project."

"I decided to join because I'm looking forward to calling Jack 'Dad,'" Sion chimed in.

"Dammit, don't you dare call me that in real life. I don't want a son like you."

"Yes, Father."

"...You miserable brat," Jack grumbled.

Just then, someone walked into the conference room.

"Hello! Hope everyone's doing great!"

This time, it was Tom Cruise—not as an actor, but as the film's producer. His entrance instantly brightened the room. It was hard to imagine such an energetic man producing a somber, realistic drama like Echoes of a Family, but once production began, he would likely just be a producer in name. For Sion, as long as the film's content and concept were strong enough to contend for an Oscar, it didn't matter.

"Filming will run from late August to early October. I heard it's already snowing in Duluth."

"So we'll be bouncing between Duluth and California... I assume you want to emphasize the contrast?"

"Oh, exactly! That's the vision. We're also aiming for a sense of nostalgia. The big city versus the countryside, the son versus the father, the present versus ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the past. Our goal is to create a masterpiece that bridges two generations."

Tom, who had championed this project early on, looked visibly moved, his eyes glistening.

"And I'm absolutely thrilled that Sion and Jack agreed to star in this project. The moment I read the script, I knew you two were perfect for these roles."

"In what sense?"

"Because there are a lot of arguments."

"We might actually get physical. In real life, too... Dammit, don't kill me, kid."

"Tom, you'd better make sure our insurance policy is ironclad. I feel like I might actually cause an accident while filming with 'Father' here."

Sion's joke, delivered in a tone that showed he was already slipping into character, made everyone burst into laughter. Jack let out a bitter chuckle.

"I guess I really am getting old. To think I'd be playing such a 'weak' role."

Bob in Echoes of a Family was a character who symbolized the past, much like a fading echo. Rather than driving the plot actively, he served as the catalyst that forced the protagonist, Dan, to take action.

"But that's exactly why I liked it. Well, I wouldn't have taken it if my co-star wasn't this kid."

Jack trusted Sion, whom he had watched grow, and was ready to pass the torch to him. That was why he had accepted a role he had never played before—a man suffering from dementia.

"Let's do this, Sion. The Golden Globes and the Oscars. Don't embarrass me by losing them with some half-assed acting."

"Haha! You can do it! Let's go get them, Sion!"

Sion looked at Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, who placed their absolute trust in him, and nodded.

"I'll show you what I can do."

And he thought to himself: This movie might just have a profound impact on Jack Nicholson's personal life as well.