The filming of "50/50" continued at the coffee shop, where Kyle initiated a conversation about sex, probing Adam about his intimate life with Rachael.
"You haven't had sex in three weeks!?" Kyle exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise as he looked at Adam.
"Why do you make it sound like such a big deal?" Adam responded, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"I'm just worried about you as a friend, okay?" Kyle replied, attempting to justify his curiosity. "But seriously, three weeks? How do you survive without... sex?"
"Well, she had a yeast infection, and besides, I can manage," Adam deadpanned, maintaining his serious expression.
Seth, portraying Kyle, was momentarily taken aback by Lucas's delivery of Adam's lines. "I can manage," Adam deadpanned, Seth found it unexpectedly amusing, momentarily forgetting his own lines.
"Cut!" Jonathan exclaimed, casting a concerned glance at Seth. "Seth, everything alright?"
Seth gave a reassuring nod to the director, then turned his attention to Lucas. "No worries, just thrown off by this guy's lines here," he explained, gesturing towards Lucas.
"Didn't think my adlib could throw you off your script," Lucas quipped, shooting Seth a playful grin as he readied himself for the scene to restart.
"This guy can throw out lines without breaking a sweat. Really tough," Seth thought to himself as he observed Lucas. With a deep breath, he too prepared to jump back into the scene.
Before they resumed, Jonathan addressed Lucas with the mic. "Lucas, your adlib with Seth was fantastic. Let's keep it as it is. And Seth, I'm confident you can roll with Lucas's adlib."
Lucas and Seth exchanged nods of understanding as they geared up to continue the scene. With added comedic elements, Adam and Kyle delved into a discussion about their sex lives, adding a lighthearted touch to the conversation.
Their banter carried on as Adam and Kyle headed off to work, the scene flowing seamlessly with the added improvisation.
---
As the shooting approached the pivotal moment of the scene where Adam discovers he has cancer, they gathered in the doctor's office. Before filming commenced, Lucas found himself in conversation with Will and Seth.
"I understand this is a comedy-drama, but I feel like in this scene, where Adam learns he has cancer, it should be pretty dramatic, right?" Seth mused to Lucas. "I've never been in that situation, but Will would probably have a better insight than me."
Will chimed in, sharing his own experience. "Honestly, when I first found out, it was like a punch to the gut," he began, recounting his own emotions. "But regardless, Lucas, you don't have to feel too pressured. While this is a comedy-drama, the scene can definitely lean towards the dramatic. You just need to find the right balance."
The cast and crew gave Lucas some space, understanding the weight of the upcoming scene. They knew it was one of the most complex and challenging moments in the film.
Lucas remained silent for a moment, taking in their words. Despite the support and guidance, he couldn't shake off the weight of the scene. Even with the assistance of the "Mind Workshop," he knew that ultimately, it was up to him to deliver the performance.
"So far, I've really been digging your take on the character," Will remarked, giving Lucas a pat on the shoulder. "You're adding some intriguing depth to Adam, especially in those scenes where he's with his buddy Kyle."
Leaning in, Will shared a bit of insight into his own personality. "I'll be honest with you, even though I based the character on myself—kind of introverted, always having a million thoughts running through my head—I'm actually pretty loud and outgoing with my close friends."
Lucas grinned at the feedback, appreciating the validation. "Thanks, Will. I'm glad you're liking it."
"And Lucas, you really nailed those moments where Adam and Kyle banter," Seth chimed in, offering his own perspective. "You might not realize it, but Will's got a knack for throwing in these awkward and unfunny jokes sometimes, just like your take with Adam does."
Lucas chuckled in response, appreciating Seth's attempt to lighten the mood, as he knew Seth was subtly poking fun at his own ad-libbed lines.
After a brief pause, the scene was about to commence with Andrew Airlie, the actor portraying the doctor, Jonathan's reminder echoing in the air. "Alright, stand by. Scene 52 is about to roll, shot 3."
At the director's cue, the set fell into a hushed anticipation, everyone poised and ready. Then, without further ado, filming began as Lucas, portraying Adam, entered Dr. Ross's office.
Dr. Ross greeted Adam with a terse "Hi" as Adam settled into his seat.
Then, Dr. Ross studied Adam's charts intently, pulling out a dictaphone to record his findings. "Patient has been complaining of back pain, and night sweats. Blood tests and urine analysis are normal. MRI suggests a massive intradural malignant schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma extending into psoas muscle with nerve root compression syndrome and bone erosion."
As Adam continued to listen, his confusion became increasingly evident in his eyes. He rubbed them in an attempt to clear his vision, then waved his hand towards Dr. Ross, who was engrossed in reading Adam's charts and speaking into the dictaphone. "Growth extends from the L2 to L5. Will send patient for biopsy to confirm," Dr. Ross continued, oblivious to Adam's growing unease.
Unable to contain his worry and nervousness any longer, Adam interrupted with a voice tinged with anxiety. "Wait, wait. Are you speaking the same language as me right now?"
Lucas's improvised line caught Andrew, portraying Dr. Ross, off guard, and the cast and crew watching the scene unfold on the monitor couldn't help but let out a soft laughter at the unexpected moment.
The cast and crew found Lucas's improvised lines humorous, especially considering the complexity of the doctor's previous dialogue that left everyone scratching their heads.
"What?" Andrew, portraying Dr. Ross, responded with a bewildered expression, clearly taken aback by Lucas's unexpected remark.
"I mean, were you speaking English just now?" Adam inquired, his body language betraying his nervousness about the doctor's report on his health. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Adam attempted to inject a bit of humor to ease the tension and express his genuine confusion.
Andrew, struggling to keep up with Lucas's ad-lib and improvisation, faltered in his response. Recognizing the disconnect, Jonathan, the director, decided to cut the scene and reshoot it to ensure a smoother flow.