Rodrigo was indeed extremely excited.
Undoubtedly, Ryan Reynolds was his top choice to play Paul Conroy in his heart. In fact, after watching "The Nines", he had been wanting to collaborate with Ryan. He always believed that Ryan's acting possessed a unique quality. It wasn't the explosive type but had its own understanding and traits. When he took on the script for "Buried", his first thought was: Ryan.
This desire was undeniably strong. So, even though he knew that Ryan's career was rapidly ascending and the likelihood of him taking on "Buried" was very low, he still extended the invitation.
Unexpectedly, Ryan not only responded to his invitation but appeared in person in front of him. This unexpected pleasant surprise hit his heart hard, leaving him caught off guard. "Mr. Reynolds, how... how did you... how did you end up here?"
"Collaboration!" Ryan dropped yet another surprising bomb, leaving Rodrigo dizzy. "Please call me Ryan. Mr. Reynolds is my father." Ryan displayed his wit and humor, wearing his signature smile.
"Sorry for interrupting your conversation," Renly's timely voice intervened, breaking up the conversation that Ryan and Rodrigo hadn't had a chance to delve deeper into. "I just thought that to avoid disturbing your work afterward, it's better for me to leave now."
The words were reasonable and faultless, yet Renly successfully redirected the attention back to himself. Not only Rodrigo, but even Ryan and Scarlett's gazes turned to him.
Rodrigo's mind cleared up slightly. Ryan's sudden appearance was too unexpected, completely disrupting his thoughts. However, seeing Renly now, he came back to his senses. A touch of hesitation appeared in his eyes, "Leaving now?"
Rodrigo was in a state of confusion for a moment.
On one hand, Ryan was the collaboration partner he had longed for, and also his unquestionable first choice. Ryan's presence right now was just perfect beyond belief. Moreover, Ryan was already on the verge of entering the upper echelons of the second-tier actors. With his participation, the future distribution rights and promotional efforts for "Buried" would become much simpler.
But on the other hand, Renly's performance just now had shaken his world. Whether it was his delicate yet explosively powerful performance, pushing the dramatic conflict to its extreme, or his immersive portrayal with the unadorned demeanor of a twenty-year-old, he had elevated the story. Undoubtedly, Renly was the actor every director dreamed of having.
Initially, Rodrigo had lost hope of Ryan appearing, and Renly's stunning performance became his best choice. But now, Ryan's appearance aligned with his initial plan. Going from having no choice to having too many, the blissful dilemma left Rodrigo somewhat bewildered.
"My audition part is temporarily on hold, right?" Renly's gentlemanly and composed smile.
He knew that Ryan's appearance would be a critical turning point. If he stubbornly stayed, it might change the situation. In that case, he could audaciously continue to watch from the sidelines. However, it was obviously futile. So, instead of resisting, he decided to give Ryan a chance to shine, a chance to converse, and then bide his time on the side.
He also knew that compared to Ryan, his only advantage lay in his skill. He had absolute confidence in his performance, but in other aspects, he was overshadowed. Luckily, "Buried" was an independent project, and rather than focusing solely on profit like big companies, Rodrigo preferred to consider it from the perspective of the work. This was his only chance.
"I hope my performance just now was outstanding enough, or else I wouldn't have any more capital to show off," Renly handed over the script, half-jokingly implying that his skill was the only condition he could contend with against Ryan.
Indeed, Rodrigo flashed an awkward smile and accepted the script. "Impeccable," he sighed and shook his head in admiration, "Honestly, I don't know how I could be any better."
"That's something the actor should worry about, isn't it?" Renly's confidence and humor successfully brought a wide smile to Rodrigo's face.
Although the previous performance had been stunning, strangely enough, Rodrigo was willing to believe in Renly, to believe that Renly could deliver an even more brilliant performance, that he could unearth more. Rodrigo believed that Renly had not yet reached his limits.
"Who are you?" Ryan could sense the harmonious atmosphere, and his gaze shifted back and forth between Rodrigo and Renly. Unable to hold back, he rudely asked, his slightly furrowed brows revealing his genuine emotions.
"Sorry," Renly turned his head, beginning with an apology, which caught Ryan off guard. "I forgot to introduce myself." Renly politely extended his right hand. "Renly Hall, an actor. I'm here today for the audition as well."
"Who?" Ryan's brows furrowed even more, his mind filled with question marks. After a thorough search, he couldn't associate the name with any relevant actor. Clearly, the other person was a nobody. His hands were still in his pockets.
Renly gently lifted his right hand that was hanging in the air and didn't mind Ryan's disregard. A self-deprecating smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Mr. Reynolds hasn't seen or heard of many actors, I'm sure, right?" The jest was sharp yet not too cutting. Ryan's expression turned slightly unsightly.
Scarlett, who stood nearby, couldn't help but smile. Due to her height advantage, she could clearly see the playfulness in the man's eyes. His poised tone held a cool arrogance, not sharp but distant. It collided like a wall of air, almost like bumping into an invisible barrier. It left people in disarray yet unable to grasp the situation. That's how Ryan felt at the moment.
"Mr. Reynolds came all the way from Los Angeles to New York in person, obviously not for idle chat. Well then, I won't disturb your audition," Renly's gentle voice carried a faint smile. His elegant and smooth British accent added a touch of sophistication, yet the underlying mockery in his words was undeniable.
Scarlett couldn't hold back this time and let out a chuckle. Renly's words were clearly a mockery of Ryan's earlier attempts at persuasion: even if he had come all the way from Los Angeles to New York, so what? What truly determined an actor's ability wasn't sweet talk, but absolute skill. Rather than lingering here to make small talk and show off, it was better to get to the point.
This punch hit Ryan's stomach hard. Even Scarlett could hear a muffled groan of discomfort from him, especially after each "Mr. Reynolds" that carried politeness and courtesy, yet dripped with sarcasm.
Noticing her husband's fiery gaze, Scarlett whispered, "Sorry." Then she raised her hand to cover her mouth, stifling her giggles and returning to her usual demeanor. Even though she was just a bystander today, laughing at her husband along with an outsider didn't feel quite right.
"Regarding our unfinished audition, I'll wait outside and we can continue later," Renly's choice of words was quite clever. To be precise, their audition indeed wasn't over. They hadn't further discussed their performances or their collaboration. So, Renly offered Rodrigo an out, while also keeping a backdoor open for himself. "Well then..."
Renly nodded to Rodrigo, Ryan, and Scarlett respectively, then without any hesitation, he briskly walked forward, ready to leave.
However, Ryan and Scarlett blocked his path. Renly stopped and smiled at Scarlett. Scarlett had initially thought the man would take this opportunity to say a few more words, but unexpectedly, he turned to the side and made a gesture to continue forward. Instinctively, Scarlett made way for him, and he quickly walked past.
This made Scarlett unconsciously lift her head and steal a glance at the man. Unexpectedly, he met her gaze without any sign of panic. His eyes, like a serene forest and lake, flowed with a trace of amusement. Then, there was only his back left.
Scarlett raised an eyebrow slightly, then withdrew her gaze. However, the atmosphere turned somewhat heavy. Ryan and Rodrigo remained silent. "Ahem." Scarlett cleared her throat and tugged at Ryan's arm. "Honey, you were so excitedly talking about this script at home, utterly engrossed. So why aren't you saying anything now? Is it because you're overwhelmed by the director's enthusiasm?"
With this simple statement, Scarlett successfully brought Ryan's attention back. "Yes... yes!" Ryan covered his unease with mundane words. "I can hardly wait!"
Rodrigo's surprise gradually settled in his heart. Renly's demeanor just now was so drastically different from his portrayal of Paul!
This was Rodrigo's first meeting with Renly. He hadn't watched "The Pacific" and had no concept of Renly's acting style or personal character. Throughout the previous audition process, Renly's style had remained consistent. His rough and assertive demeanor resonated strongly with the color of "Paul Conroy". Rodrigo almost thought Renly was playing himself. However, the delicate control and deep exploration during the performance had proven this notion wrong.
But this short conversation just now presented an entirely different Renly. All sharp edges were reined in, yet he maintained control over the tempo. Although it seemed non-confrontational on the surface, an unshakable determination lay beneath. This was entirely different from Paul; one could even say they were polar opposites.
In other words, everything in the previous audition was an act?
Upon realizing this, Rodrigo was utterly shaken, bewildered by the blurred line between reality and illusion. If possible, he wanted to continue conversing with Renly, even if just through casual chatter. His curiosity was almost overwhelming.
However, the remnants of his rationality prompted Rodrigo to refocus his attention on Ryan before him. "Is that so?" This was his first choice. Remember, this was his original first choice!