As Nicole Kidman was about to fall, the audience gasped in horror. Many who reacted quickly rushed toward her, but it was clear they wouldn't make it in time.
And at that moment, just as Nicole was certain she was about to take a painful tumble, a large hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.
She felt a soft yet firm grip supporting her, enough to help her regain balance.
After all, Nicole was so thin during the filming of The Hours that she had lost even more weight, leaving her looking nearly emaciated.
Thanks to this force, her forward fall turned into a backward lean, where a strong hand was already waiting.
Surprised, she looked into the young and attractive face before her, her heart racing, unsure if it was from fear or something else.
Eric gently supported her:
"Are you okay, Nicole?"
After a moment of hesitation, Nicole finally realized what had just happened.
"Yes, I'm fine. That was an unexpected situation, but I'm very grateful to you, Eric."
Eric smiled:
"It was just luck. Thanks to the Academy for seating me nearby."
"Go ahead to the stage, everyone's waiting for your speech."
"Thank you!"
Leaving Eric's embrace, Nicole waved her hand to show she was alright and continued her way to the stage.
The cameras captured the entire episode, which would undoubtedly become one of the highlights of the ceremony, boosting the broadcast's ratings.
Reaching the stage, Nicole hugged Denzel Washington before approaching the microphone to give her acceptance speech.
"I'm very excited right now. I didn't expect to win. Let me think... I am endlessly grateful to the entire The Hours team. They asked me not to cry, but honestly, I'm barely holding it together."
The audience burst into applause. Last year, Nicole had been nominated for Moulin Rouge, but lost to Halle Berry for her role in Monster's Ball. Now, she had rightfully earned her award.
"Thank you, David Hare and Michael Cunningham, for the wonderful story. Thank you, Stephen Daldry, for having the courage to cast me in this role. Thank you, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep, for your support and inspiration."
"Thank you to the Academy for this honor. I am truly grateful."
"And finally, I want to say that this is a difficult time. The war is causing pain to many people, taking away their loved ones. Let's all pray for an end to the war and the arrival of peace!"
Her speech about peace drew a wave of applause and resonated with the audience, but Nicole did not leave the stage as expected.
"I know time is running short, but please don't rush me, because I have one more special thank you."
"You all saw how I almost fell and embarrassed myself. At that moment, I thought it would be the worst thing that could happen in such a situation."
"But then a young man appeared, and I want to express my gratitude to him. Let's give a round of applause to Eric Cooper!"
The camera cut back to Eric, who, hearing the applause, couldn't help but break into a wide smile, this time a genuine one.
As Nicole, holding her statuette, came down from the stage, she stopped and hugged him.
"I forgot to thank you earlier, so I'm making up for it now."
Her quiet whisper echoed in his ears, and Eric could catch a glimpse of her intimate secrets.
Unfortunately, this private moment lasted only a few seconds. The newly crowned Oscar winner returned to her seat, leaving Eric with a slight sense of longing.
Now, only two awards remained: Best Director and Best Picture.
To the tune of Indiana Jones, the elegant Harrison Ford took the stage.
"In Hollywood's history, many films have given us rich emotional experiences and deeply impacted society. And behind these films stand directors I deeply respect."
"The nominees for Best Director this year are: Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York, Rob Marshall for Chicago, Stephen Daldry for The Hours, Roman Polanski for The Pianist, and Pedro Almodóvar for Talk to Her."
The screen showed all the nominees. Martin Scorsese looked calm as ever. He had already won the Palme d'Or and the Silver Lion, so even if he greatly desired an Oscar, he kept his composure.
The other three looked tense, some watching the stage intently, others holding their chests in anticipation.
As for Roman Polanski, only a photo of him appeared.
"And the winner is Roman Polanski for The Pianist."
As soon as Harrison Ford finished speaking, the hall erupted into applause. Martin Scorsese, with clear disappointment on his face, pressed his lips together, then began clapping for the winner.
Scorsese's disappointment was evident. The other three directors also didn't hide their emotions.
Harrison continued:
"Congratulations to Roman Polanski on his win. Since he is not present at the ceremony, the Academy will accept the award on his behalf."
As Indiana Jones left the stage, legendary actor Kirk Douglas and his son Michael Douglas entered to present the final, most important award of the evening.
The camera immediately panned to Catherine Zeta-Jones, who had recently won the award for Best Supporting Actress. She had been married to Michael Douglas since 2000 and was expecting a child.
Sadly, their son's future would take a dark turn. Growing up, he would become a drug dealer and addict, casting a shadow over the family's name.
Listening to the slow yet steady voice of Kirk Douglas, Eric remembered his favorite TV show, but unlike that, Kirk was fully coherent and didn't fumble his words.
After a few jokes, father and son moved on to the main moment.
"The nominees for Best Picture are: Gangs of New York, The Hours, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Chicago, and The Pianist."
The camera focused on each film's team, all of them looking tense and full of hope.
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