After Lucas's plane landing and reaching the Los Angeles International Airport, Lucas goes to one of the restaurants in the terminal, and he relaxes in Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe.
After eating some American cuisine, Lucas goes to the taxi stands to fetch a taxi to drive him to Cheviot Hills.
After entering the taxi and telling the driver the locations he wanted to go, Lucas curiously looks at the brochures and pamphlets given by LAX near the airport earlier.
To be honest, Lucas has never even been to an American airport or something. So far, he has only traveled locally in his previous life country. In fact, even if he goes to an airport and takes a flight, it's only a local travel within the country and not outside the country at all. He was just a small-time actor in his previous life.
Lucas flips through the brochures first to read while the taxi drives off on the road. While reading, the taxi driver is listening to "The Godfather" soundtrack.
Lucas immediately recognizes the soundtrack as it is so familiar.
Lucas even hums in sync with the soundtrack, remembering the days when he watched "The Godfather" as a kid. He can say that it was such a masterpiece.
He watched the whole film of part 1 without getting bored and then proceeded to watch part 2, a full three hours, without getting bored at all. Lucas was easily bored in his previous life, and if he watched a film that didn't impress or occupy his mind for ten minutes, he would not watch it at all. Instead, he would read some books such as "Song of Ice and Fire" for some time. Yet, even with his mindset, he was able to fully watch part 1 and part 2 of "The Godfather" without getting bored or losing focus. Well, of course, except for part 3, which he couldn't stand to watch. "The Godfather" was a great film, even when it screened in the 1970s. For Lucas, the film aged like wine.
Actually, it was because of "The Godfather" that Lucas became an actor. He was inspired by Al Pacino, who portrayed Michael Corleone. Pacino's portrayal, transitioning from a heroic war hero with a hint of innocence to a cold underworld boss, was admirable.
Lost in thought, Lucas analyzed the great actors in "The Godfather."
He considered Marlon Brando, who played Vito Corleone, the first Godfather and Michael's father. Brando's portrayal shaped the character of the Mafia boss with stiff yet intimidating movements. He adopted a hunched posture and deliberate movements to embody Vito's age and physical weight. Brando's piercing eyes conveyed a range of emotions, from quiet contemplation to veiled menace. Subtle gestures, like stroking his chin or holding a cigarette, emphasized points or conveyed unspoken thoughts. Brando's unique gravelly voice, influenced by his Brooklyn roots and Italian heritage, added authenticity and distinction.
As Lucas reflected on Brando's acting skills, he also admired Al Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corleone. Pacino, a great actor in Lucas's eyes, left a lasting impression, especially with his role in "Scarface."
Thinking of that, Lucas couldn't help but smile. While it might sound presumptuous, Lucas was indeed inspired to become an actor because of crime thriller films, and he dreamed of acting in one.
Besides being inspired by "The Godfather," with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, Lucas also came to know truly great actors such as Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson.
Lucas hoped to stand on the same stage as them and, in fact, had thoughts of even surpassing them one day. It was just his dream, limitless and free to imagine anything he wanted, even if it meant risking his life.
"Great soundtrack there, sir," Lucas smiled, saying to the driver listening to "The Godfather" soundtracks.
"Haha, of course," the burly driver responded with a smile. After a while, he spoke with melancholic eyes, "To be honest with you, listening to these soundtracks helps me feel like I'm driving for an underworld boss..." He glanced at Lucas while saying so.
Lucas, hearing that, looked at the driver in surprise, finding him quite peculiar for thinking that way.
"Does he think he drives for the Godfather? A driver for an underworld boss?" Lucas avoided the taxi driver's stare while pondering, 'Usually, people feel like they're the Godfather listening to that soundtrack, yet this taxi driver thinks he's a driver for some big boss?'
Feeling a bit awkward due to the silence, Lucas remarked, "Usually, people listening to that soundtrack feel like they're a big shot, but you, sir, just think you're a driver for some big shot?"
The taxi driver chuckled at Lucas's words and replied, "Haha, my dream is not so big. I know my limits. My dream is for one day to become a driver for some big shot..." He paused and added, "A big shot like the Godfather."
Lucas smiled wryly, saying, "I see..." Inside, he thought, 'I guess that makes sense...'
Afterward, the burly driver handed a card to Lucas, who took it in confusion. Then the taxi driver said, "This is my contact card. I give them to my passengers, but not casually. I give them to people I think will make it big one day..."
When Lucas heard this, he was a bit surprised and said, "Oh? You think I'll make it big one day?"
The taxi driver responded with a laugh, "Haha, well, just my mind telling me something like that. As long as I see people my mind thinks have potential, I give them my contact cards..."
"Oh? Is it a card to call you when I need a taxi?" Lucas couldn't help but say with a wry and faint smile.
"Of course, but it's not just that." The taxi driver smiled and then added, "I'm giving you my contact card, sir, because if you become big someday, or maybe you're just about to make it big and still on the path to success, please remember my contact card and hire me as your personal driver..."
When Lucas heard this, he didn't know whether to feel happy or not. He felt happy that someone thought he would make it big someday, but at the same time, he felt a strange feeling, like pressure, knowing that someone had high expectations of him. It was the belief that he would make it big when he knew it wouldn't be easy, and perhaps it might never happen at all.
The taxi driver seemed to sense some doubt in Lucas's eyes and said, "Hey, kid. Don't doubt yourself. You will have your day someday. Just believe in the great above and yourself..."
Lucas, hearing this, nodded with a smile. With that, he found the conversation with the taxi driver more comforting.
The taxi driver, named Shawn, has a son and a daughter. He didn't mention his wife but said that he was supporting his son and daughter.
When Lucas asked why his build was quite burly, like a bodybuilder, Shawn explained that he was indeed a bodybuilder in the past. Due to circumstances, he applied for the job of a taxi driver to support his son and daughter.
While talking, the taxi driver reminded Lucas that they were nearing the neighborhood of Cheviot Hills...