Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 197: Amicable

Rooney broke into a bright smile, as if shattering thin ice. The warm spring sunshine poured down, and her youthful, yet slightly dashing demeanor was a refreshing sight. Beneath her composed exterior, there was a hint of youthful restlessness. Her fleeting childlike quality made her appear even more naive than Renly.

"Why wait? We can do it now." Renly's response made Rooney pause, her eyes flickering with light. She stood up excitedly, took a couple of steps, then noticed Renly wasn't following. She stopped, turned back, and waved, "Aren't you coming?"

Rooney had a Nordic coolness about her, maintaining a certain distance in her every move—not enough to be off-putting, but somewhat aloof. Yet, she was a true American, born and raised in New York. When she smiled, the warmth breaking through the ice was stunning.

After speaking, Rooney regretted it. What if he refused? But before she could dwell on it, Renly had already responded.

"Sure." Renly didn't refuse. This was Telluride, after all—a place where all barriers and constraints were broken.

Renly took Rooney's phone and snapped a few photos of her. Nearby, some young people called out, "Do you want us to take a picture of you two?" Renly and Rooney both froze momentarily, then realized they were being addressed. The atmosphere became a bit awkward. They exchanged smiles and waved, "No, thanks."

Rooney suddenly realized how impulsive she had been—they hadn't even exchanged names and were complete strangers. "Rooney Mara."

"Renly Hall." Renly smiled and introduced himself politely.

"Yes, I know who you are." Rooney took back her phone, her tension easing a bit, and she pointed to another direction. "I was planning to see 'Buried,' but the theater was packed." She couldn't help but smile again, a goofy grin revealing her innocence. "My friend saw it in Toronto and highly recommended it. I'm actually waiting for the 2:30 showing, just down the street."

This explained Rooney's intention to relax in the café for a while.

"At least I've seen it." Renly's response made Rooney's smile widen. "Trust me, it's a movie worth watching, though it might be a bit uncomfortable. But compared to '127 Hours,' it's much easier to handle."

Rooney's sister Kate was in "127 Hours," so Renly's comment had a double meaning.

Rooney understood immediately, her smile unrestrained as she laughed softly. "My expectations are high enough already. I hope it doesn't disappoint."

"Renly, Renly." The group of young people nearby had recognized Renly and quickly gathered around. "Your performance was incredible! How did you do it? Everything was just so unbelievable!"

"Acting," Renly replied, causing a momentary confusion before everyone laughed at the obvious answer—the subtle irony and humor in his response clear to all.

"I mean, you're only twenty, right? How did you manage such a profound and realistic performance throughout the entire movie?"

"First, thank you." Renly bowed slightly, accepting the compliment in a gentlemanly manner, prompting more laughter. Rooney couldn't help but smile as well. "Second, it was indeed a challenging role. I didn't think I could handle it, so I chose the most foolish method—I actually experienced the confinement. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but spending eight hours in a coffin was incredibly helpful for shooting a movie about being buried alive."

Before coming to Telluride, Andy Rogers had advised Renly that this was a special occasion where all interactions were equal, and honesty was a prerequisite for dialogue. Therefore, Telluride was the perfect place for Renly to discuss the preparation process for his role—if anyone asked.

"Eight hours?" Rooney exclaimed in astonishment.

Renly shrugged slightly. "A fool's method."

His self-deprecating response elicited another round of laughter. "So, what was it like?" someone else asked.

"I did my best to present it in the movie. That's my job." Renly's casual tone and humor kept everyone laughing. "I hope the audience can answer that question; otherwise, I've failed at my job."

"I could barely stand the hundred minutes of the movie. I can't imagine spending eight hours in a coffin. Didn't you have a panic attack?" someone shouted from the crowd, causing more laughter.

Then someone asked, "Renly, do you think there was an affair between Paul and Pamela?"

This question brought everyone's attention back to Renly, including a slightly confused Rooney. Over the past week, discussions about "Buried" had been numerous, with a particular focus on Paul and Pamela's relationship.

Thinking back, Paul's reaction to the video of Pamela being threatened was overly intense. His interactions with his wife and her friend suggested something more. And Paul's reaction when Pamela was shot was extreme. These details hinted that Paul might have had an affair with Pamela, leading to his dismissal from CRT.

This topic had sparked debates on forums, with some supporting the affair theory while most opposed it, arguing that the movie showed Paul's dedication to his family. Especially in the final moments, Paul's actions, even for a faint hope, demonstrated his love for his family.

At the Toronto screening, this aspect wasn't deeply considered, but now they had the chance to ask Renly directly.

Renly smiled, unhurriedly responding, "Does it matter?"

This unexpected answer made everyone pause, leading someone to retort, "Doesn't it?"

"So, if Paul and Pamela did have an affair, CRT's actions were justified?" Renly responded with a question, causing a few voices in the crowd to impulsively agree before reconsidering and falling silent, leaving a buzzing murmur.

"But!" The crowd still felt uneasy, wanting to argue but unsure how.

Renly calmly looked around before continuing, "If Paul and Pamela had a relationship beyond colleagues, what changes in the movie's facts?"

"His wife..." If Paul cheated, he betrayed his wife and family, but that didn't justify him being buried alive. His son didn't deserve to lose his father.

"The company...?" According to the movie's timeline, CRT only discovered or fabricated evidence to fire Paul after he was trapped, purely to save insurance money. Whether the affair was real or not was irrelevant—they needed an excuse to fire him, either using real evidence or creating it.

As Renly said, the affair was never the point. CRT needed an excuse to dismiss Paul. If true, they had leverage; if not, they'd fabricate it.

"No one said he was right. But that's the point—in the face of national interests and profit, an individual's safety is irrelevant. Paul's right or wrong doesn't affect his fate. But notice how your focus shifted to the affair. What does that say?"

It highlighted how the public, like Paul, focuses on individual issues, easily distracted from the larger picture—making them vulnerable to similar sacrifices.

Rooney's voice, though soft, was clear, "Seventy years ago, Erich Remarque wrote 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' Seventy years later, we still make the same mistakes."

Renly looked at Rooney, impressed. "All Quiet on the Western Front" emphasized that individuals are used, deceived, and sacrificed for national interests, with the public repeatedly falling for it. This aligned perfectly with Renly's earlier point.

"That's why 'Buried' blurred Paul and Pamela's relationship," Renly explained.

"So, Renly, do you think anything happened between Paul and Pamela?" someone in the crowd asked, still curious.

Renly smiled, "I think neither Paul nor Pamela deserved to die, but they both did."