Ellen's jaw practically hit the floor as she stared at Lucas, a speechless expression plastered on her face. The audience erupted in laughter, finding the whole situation hilarious. "So... you're a proud actor?" she finally managed to say, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Lucas leaned back in his seat, a smug grin on his face. "Proud as a peacock, Ellen. I take pride in my acting skills, you know."
"Well, I applaud that," Ellen said, pun intended. She clapped her hands together, and the audience followed suit, led by the director's cue.
Lucas nodded graciously, "Thank you, thank you very much."
Ellen couldn't help but smile. "I've seen your work in movies, you know? Your acting is just as good as your singing and songwriting."
Lucas nodded appreciatively, soaking in the compliment.
Ellen raised an eyebrow, leaning in with interest. "I'm not gonna say I doubt your acting, but... how do you plan on making your acting career as popular as your music? Your songs are everywhere, you're practically an internet sensation! How can your acting in movies and series compete with that?"
Lucas took a moment to consider his response. "Well, I'm confident my acting will get just as much attention. I don't mean to brag, but the films I've been in have done pretty well at the box office, haven't they?"
Ellen couldn't help but chuckle, "Doing well? Because of your songs in the soundtracks?"
The audience joined in on the laughter, and even Lucas couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Well, maybe. I guess both my music and acting careers can benefit from each other."
Ellen shook her head, still smiling. "It's always a two-way street with you, isn't it?" She then announced, "We actually have some clips of Lucas's acting performances right here. Let's see if his acting is as good as he says it is, shall we?"
Lucas grinned, "Bring it on."
Ellen grinned, "Alright, you look pretty confident." She turned to the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's see if Lucas's acting is as good as he says it is. I'll show you some clips from his movies, and feel free to raise your hands if you'd like to share your critiques afterwards."
The large screen behind them shifted from the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" logo to the first movie clip, featuring Lucas as Aron Ralston in "127 Hours". The scene showed him trapped in the narrow canyon, hallucinating.
Lucas's intense performance captivated the audience, who gasped and wiped away tears as the scene played out. Once it ended, another clip from "Like Crazy" began to play, showcasing a heartfelt romantic moment between his character and his co-star. The audience "aww"-ed in unison.
After that, another movie clip starring Lucas appeared on the screen, and then another, each one showcasing a different side of his acting abilities.
Finally, the last clip ended, and the audience erupted into applause.
Ellen joined in the applause. "No matter how many times I've seen these clips, I'm still blown away by your acting, Lucas."
Lucas smiled humbly, "Thank you."
Ellen then turned to the audience, "Well, while I might be impressed, let's hear what some of our audience members think. We have a few volunteers here who raised their hands." She gestured to the audience, and a staff member handed mics to the selected people.
Ellen first looked at the woman, "What's your name, please?"
The woman's face lit up, "My name is Haley, and I'm a huge Lucas fan!"
Ellen nodded, as the audience chuckled. "So, Haley, what did you think of your idol's performance in those clips?"
Haley gushed, "I can only say that it was amazing! He felt like a different person in each movie. Anyone could tell he takes acting seriously and really embodies each character so well!"
Ellen nodded at Haley and then turned to the next audience member. "What about you, what did you think of Lucas's acting?"
The second person in the audience also had nothing but praise for Lucas, and the same went for the third. However, the fourth person, a man, while he praised Lucas's acting, he also offered some constructive criticism on certain scenes. "Overall, though, I really enjoyed your performances," he added.
More audience members shared their honest opinions, most of them praising Lucas's acting, with a few offering constructive feedback.
Once everyone had their turn, the audience applauded once more.
"Wow... It seems like your acting has won over the crowd as well. Impressive," Ellen said, clapping for Lucas.
Lucas smiled, "Thank you."
"Now that we've showcased your acting chops, can we talk about your personal life now?" Ellen asked, and the audience laughed softly.
Lucas chuckled dryly, "I guess so."
Ellen couldn't help but smile, "Speaking of your songs, there's been a video of you singing that's been going viral lately. And in the video, you're serenading none other than the rising starlet, Jennifer Lawrence. There have been rumors flying around that the two of you are dating... Care to comment on that?"
The audience erupted into excited squeals, and Lucas glanced at them, amused.
Lucas sighed, "I'm sorry, but I can't really talk about it without Jennifer's consent."
The audience responded with mock boos and disappointed groans.
Ellen feigned disappointment, and the audience laughed even harder.
"Come on, Lucas! You can't leave us hanging like this! Spill the beans!"
Lucas shrugged, "Sorry, guys, I've gotta respect her privacy."
Ellen sighed dramatically, "Well, I guess we can't pry any further into your personal life, huh?" She then shifted the conversation, "Speaking of that viral video, you sang a new song in it. People are wondering how you manage to churn out so many catchy tunes. Your last viral hit was only weeks ago, and now you have another one. So, I've gotta ask, are you really writing these songs yourself, or are you getting some help from ghostwriters?"
Lucas knew that this question could make or break his reputation. If it came out that he wasn't the one penning his own songs, it would taint his image.
Technically, since the songs he sang didn't exist in this world before he performed them, and no one else had claimed ownership, he could safely say he wrote them.
Lucas smiled, "Well, who else would have written them if not me?"
Ellen raised an eyebrow, "Oh, you're looking pretty confident there." She then asked, "In both the video of you singing for your friend Paul in the bar and the one with Jennifer in Times Square, people are saying you composed those songs on the spot. Is that true?"
Lucas chuckled, "Whoever said that?"
Ellen shrugged, "Your fans!" The audience erupted into laughter.
Lucas shrugged, "I don't know what they're talking about."
Ellen didn't buy it, "Come on now, churning out so many catchy tunes in such a short time, I think it's true."
Lucas looked around the set, and Ellen shrugged at the audience, who laughed along.
Ellen then asked, "I know, how about you compose a song for us on the spot, Lucas?"
Lucas was caught off guard, "Um... why?"
Ellen grinned, "Won't you silence your doubters if you prove that you really write your own songs by composing one for us right here, right now?"
Lucas chuckled, "I swear, Ellen, you just want me to sing, right?"
Ellen and the audience laughed even harder. "Not only that, I also want to hear a new song from Lucas Knight."
Lucas hesitated, but the audience joined in, putting pressure on him.
"Guys, who wants to hear Lucas sing?" Ellen asked.
"Me!" The audience cheered enthusiastically, filled with excitement.
Ellen grinned, "Then let's chant— Lucas, we want to hear you compose a song on the spot!"
The audience, amused by the situation, joined in the chant, and Lucas finally caved.
"Alright, alright, you win."
Ellen and the audience cheered, and then Ellen said, "Well, I'll pick one lucky audience member, and I'll let that person have the power to request an idea for your song. Are you up for it?"
Lucas shrugged, "Do I have a choice?"
Ellen and the audience laughed even harder. Ellen scanned the audience, many of whom had their hands raised, before she settled on one person.
"What's your name?" Ellen asked, pointing to a beautiful red-haired woman in her 20s. A staff member handed the microphone to her.
The woman's excitement was palpable as she spoke into the mic, "My name is Rose."
Ellen nodded, "Well, lovely Rose, it's all up to you now. What kind of song would you like Lucas to compose?"
Rose blushed, "H-hi, Lucas!"
Lucas waved at her with a charming smile.
Ellen couldn't help but tease, "Oh, don't be fooled by his looks, young Rose."
Lucas and the audience laughed along.
After some playful banter, they turned their attention to Rose, whose cheeks were flushed, looked down at her hands in her lap. "I-I actually lost a friend two years ago," she stammered. "Is it... is it possible for you to compose a song for someone who's lost a friend?" The fear in her eyes was palpable.
Ellen and the audience exchanged sympathetic glances.
"You lost a friend?" Ellen asked gently. "Did your friend... leave you or..."
Rose shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, my friend didn't leave me... she... she died."
"Oh, poor soul," Ellen murmured, shaking her head.
Lucas, his expression somber, met Rose's gaze. "Forgive me for asking, but... what was the cause?"
Rose's eyes welled up with tears. "She... she took her own life."
A collective gasp of pity and disbelief swept through the audience.
Lucas sighed, his expression softening. "I'm sorry for your loss, Rose."
Rose shook her head, wiping away a stray tear. "It's... it's fine."
Lucas took a deep breath and strummed a few chords on the guitar that had been handed to him. "Well, since you lost a friend, I'll sing a song for you."
The mood in the room shifted almost immediately, the audience's sadness lifting as they anticipated the performance.
Lucas glanced around the stage. "I'd like to borrow a guitar, please."
The staff, prepared for such requests, quickly appeared with an acoustic guitar, which they handed to Lucas with a sympathetic smile.