How do you get closer to someone you've just met? There might be many ways, but having shared interests and talking about topics she's passionate about is undoubtedly a good idea.
"Yes, I started learning dance when I was three years old and performed in a troupe. Even now, I often participate in community theater productions. During holidays, I still go to drama camps," Natalie said, her eyes shining as she unconsciously lifted her little chin while talking about her performance experiences. Ryan had subtly steered the conversation in that direction.
"Which do you prefer—dance or acting?" Ryan asked.
"Acting!" Natalie answered without hesitation, then shot back, "Ryan, are you interested in acting too?"
Ryan shrugged but didn't answer immediately. They were sitting in a corner of the living room, while on the other sofa, Nicole was chatting with the Hirsch couple. Watching these people, who had no connection in his previous life, gather together was actually quite interesting.
"Hey, Ryan, I asked you a question!" Natalie wrinkled her nose in annoyance.
To be honest, this guy who was just a year older than her was quite interesting. He was far more mature than the kids at school or in the neighborhood—almost like a little adult. He always knew just what to say in their conversations and often brought up topics that interested her.
There was just one flaw: he seemed to have trouble focusing and would often zone out.
"Huh?" Ryan scratched his head. "What?"
"Are you interested in acting?" Natalie ground her teeth and raised her pointed chin proudly. "You don't look like someone with acting experience."
"You can tell that just by looking?" Ryan rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Of course!" Natalie seemed determined to contradict him.
"Actually, I'm in the middle of shooting a movie. Why else would I come all the way from Los Angeles to the East Coast?" Ryan said nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal.
"Movie? Filming?" Natalie's eyes widened, then filled with suspicion. "Come on, Ryan, I'm not stupid. You can't fool me."
"It's true. If you don't believe me, ask Nicole." Ryan pointed to the center of the living room. "Recognize her? That's Nicole Kidman, a famous Australian actress. The currently released Far and Away stars her. You can call the theater and check if you want."
Natalie, of course, wasn't that bored, but hearing Ryan speak with such confidence made her believe it—at least seventy percent. Still, she wasn't willing to admit defeat. After all, everyone who had seen her act said she was a genius. Being outshone by a peer? No way. "Don't tell me you're just in it because of Nicole and play some tiny part without a single line?"
"Oh, Nat, that's harsh," Ryan said, pretending to be wounded.
"Hmph~"
Ryan and Nicole didn't stay long. They left before dinner. Even though he and Natalie had exchanged many jabs, the conversation was enjoyable. Unintentionally, Natalie ended up telling him quite a lot. Just as he'd seen in his past life, this girl, because of her intelligence and early maturity, wasn't well-liked by her peers and had few friends.
With just a small effort, Ryan got her home phone number and mailing address, and made it clear that since they hadn't settled the debate on artistic matters today, he would write her a letter once he returned to Los Angeles—to defeat her in writing.
At this age, kids are extremely competitive. Naturally, Natalie wasn't willing to back down. She said she'd write back and give him a piece of her mind.
It was the first time Nicole had seen Ryan get along so well with someone his age. She was quite happy. Although she'd never mentioned it, she had been a bit worried that Ryan's lack of peer interaction would negatively affect his development. As for this girl Natalie—Nicole had been watching her too. She was indeed very intelligent.
Could it be that smart kids only get along with other smart kids? That thought crossed Nicole's mind unconsciously after they returned to Philadelphia.
This trip to New York had allowed Ryan to shove the things that had resurfaced in his mind during filming—things long buried in the darkest depths of his heart—back where they belonged.
After meeting Natalie and talking to her once more before leaving New York, Ryan began working hard to shake off that disturbing state where he could no longer tell dreams from reality. Since he now truly existed in this world, why obsess over a past life? If he kept going down that road, he might end up with a split personality or even become a mental patient.
By mid-November, the film entered its final stages. Ryan followed the crew from streets to churches, sometimes playing a problem student, and even performed a scene from King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone on stage.
Thanks to more than a month of experience, Ryan's performance had become more stable. His struggle with getting out of character had improved significantly. At least he no longer needed Nicole to help him snap out of it. His perfect portrayal earned praise from both David Fincher and Al Pacino.
"David, you can't possibly still complain about the actors I picked, right?"
During a break in filming, Harvey Weinstein chatted with David Fincher. The chubby producer still remembered Fincher's earlier complaints—that the actress was too pretty and seemed like a vase, and the boy, whom he'd never seen before, might become a disaster for the film.
"But I still say Nicole Kidman is too beautiful. Of course, her acting is just as stunning as her appearance. As for Ryan, I have to ask you, Harvey—where did you find this kid? I'm convinced that after this movie is released, everyone will compare him to Jodie Foster!"
David Fincher let out a deep breath. He suddenly felt that this film might become his signature work—perhaps a gift from Lady Luck herself.
Harvey patted Fincher on the arm and walked away. During this period, he had read all the books Ryan had published. Though filled with childlike charm, they were undeniably excellent. To be more accurate, they should be classified as all-ages fiction. More importantly, they were perfect for film adaptations.
He even suspected that the boy had already planned out what he wanted to do when he wrote those stories.
This was a gold mine! No—an island full of hidden treasure!
Ryan stretched out in a big yawn. For an average child, going through such a long, tedious filming process would have left them drained and yawning constantly.
He was tired too, but he could clearly feel that his seemingly frail body was much stronger than it looked.
There were even a few late-night shoots that went past midnight, but after just one night's sleep, he would bounce back full of energy the next day.
In fact, this resilience had already become evident in recent years—otherwise, how else could he have the stamina to "borrow" and produce so many works?
"...She wanted me to tell you, she went to see you dance!" said the boy from the driver's seat, his voice full of emotion and slightly hoarse.
"Grandma said you two had a fight once when you were young, just before a dance performance…"
As the boy spoke, his mother slowly covered her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears before she couldn't hold back and began to sob.
The boy looked at her. "Her answer was… every single day!"
Watching his mother cry, he asked, "What did you ask her back then?"
Still sobbing, she tried to contain her emotions, placing both hands on her chest. "I… I asked if I had ever made her proud!"
The boy's lips trembled. Maybe he was talking to his mom—or maybe he was talking to Nicole. Neither of them could hold back any longer. The two embraced tightly, love and emotion filling every corner of the car.
"Great!" David Fincher clenched his fist, then absentmindedly rubbed his tingling nose. Suddenly, he felt he should call his parents after filming wrapped up.
He wasn't the only one moved—others on set were just as emotional. Some even wiped away tears quietly. The scene had been so perfect and touching that no one applauded afterward—the siblings were still embracing.
"Nicole!" Ryan hugged the woman who had given him so much love with all his strength. "I love you! You're the best person in the world to me!"
"I love you too, Ryan!" Nicole rubbed the back of his head hard, messing up his light brown hair into a bird's nest, yet she still didn't want to let go.
This was the final scene for Ryan and Nicole. Though the movie still had a little filming left, they could finally leave Philadelphia and return to Los Angeles.
They had to—St. John's Elementary had already called several times, saying Ryan had been absent too long. If he didn't return before December, he'd have to repeat the grade. Even now, there was still a test waiting for him.
Of course, Ryan didn't take that seriously. At his age, such tests were child's play.
That evening, the crew threw a small farewell party for them. Compared to the slightly aloof Nicole Kidman, Ryan was more popular on set. Although he'd caused some trouble now and then and loved to pull pranks, almost everyone had come to like him.
Especially Al Pacino—despite being the most frequently pranked by Ryan, he had the closest bond with the boy. When Ryan left, he even gave him a purple amethyst lucky charm.