"Joseph, I want to ask you a very serious question." Hugo halted his steps and frowned as he looked toward Joseph.
Joseph, seeing the seriousness in Hugo's eyes, nodded slightly. Only then did Hugo continue, "Did I steal George's girlfriend? Or, did I ever have some kind of conflict with one of his relatives?"
Hugo asked such a ridiculous question with such seriousness that Joseph's previously expressionless face couldn't help but twitch slightly. "No, you don't know him. You've never interacted before." After saying that, Joseph thought for a second and then added, "As far as I know, that's the case. If there are things you didn't tell me, I wouldn't know."
Joseph and Hugo were nothing more than work associates—barely even friends. But since Hugo had been kicked out of Tracey's house and moved into Joseph's shabby place, their relationship had improved quite a bit.
Hugo pursed his lips slightly and pointed to his temple, "Then I'm pretty sure something in here didn't fully develop."
"He's jealous," Joseph said simply. Although Hugo had made history at the Razzies, the media attention he was getting was something many up-and-coming actors envied. Despite being named Worst Actor, Hugo still managed to stay in the spotlight and appear in newspapers and magazines—something all aspiring actors dreamed of.
To new actors, it was all about getting opportunities and exposure—by any means necessary. If sleeping with an editor-in-chief meant landing a magazine cover, there would be countless newcomers lining up to take off their clothes.
Hugo paused for a few seconds to think, then gave a faint smile. "If they really want it, I don't mind switching places." Even though Hugo said this with a smile, there was a bitter undertone in his voice—like the rising steam from a hot afternoon coffee.
If given the choice, Hugo would rather have crossed over as a nobody like George or William—maybe the struggle would be easier. In fact, if there really was a choice, Hugo would rather not have crossed over at all. He was beginning to miss his bandmates from "Death Or Glory."
Joseph noticed something unusual in Hugo's tone but didn't understand it. From his point of view, Hugo was in this situation entirely because of his own actions. "Desparate Hour," "The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane," and "Hudson Hawk"—though Hugo had reviewed and approved them at the time—the real decision-maker was Tracey. In other words, Hugo himself had made those choices. So Joseph could only interpret Hugo's words as regret over his past decisions. Nothing else made sense.
Hugo's mind wandered for only a brief moment before he snapped back and looked at the increasingly crowded surroundings. "There sure are a lot of people auditioning today." In this sea of people, whether it was George, William, or even Hugo himself they were just tiny, insignificant specks. "So, when's my audition?"
Hugo brought the topic back to the key issue, and Joseph's focus shifted too. "There's a reception room up ahead. We can go over now and wait inside."
Because of the unique nature of the role of Charlie in Scent of a Woman, the production team had chosen to hold an open casting call. They were hoping to find someone who truly fit the character's vibe—even without acting experience. As a result, a large number of young newcomers had shown up. Still, quite a few young second- or third-tier actors with actual experience—like Hugo—also came, because getting the chance to act opposite Al Pacino wasn't something that came every day.
Compared to the rookies, Hugo had the edge of having an agent—an undeniable advantage. At the very least, he didn't have to wait endlessly in line and could enter the reception room early for priority auditioning.
Calling it a "reception room" was a stretch—it was just a makeshift booth formed by three plywood walls. The open front offered a clear view of the bustling activity inside the soundstage. When Hugo walked in and sat on the sofa, he actually felt like he was stepping onto a stage like an actor performing a skit or musical. Those people outside? His audience. Thank goodness there weren't any spotlights; otherwise, he wouldn't even know what to say.
There were fewer than ten people sitting inside the reception room—probably the first group scheduled to audition. Hugo nodded politely at the others. Though all their faces were unfamiliar, who knew if he might've seen them before crossing over? In the entertainment world, it was always better to make a friend than a foe.
Hugo's gaze finally rested on the young man seated to his right. The boy had long golden hair, delicate eyebrows, ocean-blue eyes, rosy lips, playful freckles, and slender shoulders he looked just like a pretty, red-lipped schoolboy. He was practically a living version of the clever and mischievous teenager from Growing Pains. Although the youth still carried the air of innocence, with a lingering sweetness between his brows, Hugo was absolutely sure he wasn't mistaken then this was Leonardo DiCaprio.
The future heartthrob who would become a global icon thanks to Titanic was now just an 18-year-old teenager. He had already gained some popularity with his role in Growing Pains and was now looking to break into film. Clearly, Leonardo had come to audition for Scent of a Woman too. Though his vibe was more "high schooler" than "college student," and his age didn't quite match the role, wasn't that the whole point of auditions? To find the best fit from among all kinds of actors?
Hugo was well aware of how dumb he must look right now. After encountering Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron, he had told himself over and over: next time you see a top-tier celebrity, don't act like some crazed fangirl. But even so, standing face to face with Leonardo, Hugo couldn't help the wave of absurdity crashing through his heart.
Just imagine the leading man from Titanic and Inception, whom he had watched countless times was now right in front of him. It was too surreal. If it were the heroine from Avatar, Hugo probably wouldn't feel a thing—her makeup was way too thick to recognize her anyway. But this was Leonardo DiCaprio. The absurdity of it all hit too hard.
Just a moment ago, Hugo had been thinking how much he missed his bandmates from "Death Or Glory" and wished he hadn't crossed over. But now, he found himself marveling at how unpredictable and fascinating life could be.
At this thought, Hugo couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile—not just because of his own ridiculous behavior, but because of how wildly unbelievable all of this was. Even after more than a week in this new life, the strangeness of it still hadn't worn off.
"What's up?" Leonardo looked up and saw the self-deprecating smile on Hugo's face. He couldn't help but curl the corner of his own mouth up to the right. "Is there something wrong with me?"
"Oh, no." Hugo's smile blossomed as he waved his hand lightly. He couldn't possibly say, "Hey, I've watched your 'Titanic' and 'Inception' countless times." So instead, he said, "I was just thinking, today's competition is really fierce. It won't be easy to win this role."
"No kidding. So many people came—it's insane." Leonardo turned his gaze toward the surging crowd outside the reception room and agreed. But judging from his brows, there wasn't much worry, rather a youthful excitement and confidence brimmed from his expression. "I just hope the audition ends quickly so I can leave here sooner." After speaking, Leonardo rolled his eyes dramatically to show his impatience.
Compared to the middle-aged Leonardo that Hugo was familiar with, the young man in front of him was clearly a lot more energetic. These animated expressions made Hugo feel a real sense of delight.
"Didn't expect to see you here. I thought you wouldn't accept anything unless it's a leading role." Leonardo was very direct in expressing his opinion without considering Hugo's feelings. But his tone was sincere, without a trace of mockery, making it sound more like friendly teasing.
Hugo shrugged. "Can't even afford the rent. I had to compromise, right?" That ambiguous joke made Leonardo burst out in hearty laughter.
Then Leonardo extended his right hand. "Leonardo DiCaprio. Nice to meet you."
"I know—'Growing Pains.'" Hugo also extended his right hand, and the two gripped each other's hands tightly, both showing radiant smiles. "Hugo Lancaster."
"Yeah, 'Hudson Hawk' and the Razzie Awards." Leonardo didn't shy away at all, stating it directly. His lively tone even carried a hint of teasing, which made Hugo burst into laughter too. "You know, my name comes from Leonardo da Vinci. What about yours?"
"'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'—my mother's favorite novel." He was referring to Victor Hugo's famous work. It was a name his parents had agreed on after long discussion. As for how the name Hugo Lancaster came to be, he had no idea. "I have to be grateful my name isn't Quasimodo." That was the name of the hunchbacked bell-ringer in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and clearly, Hugo was joking here.
Leonardo couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Then what if my name was Mona Lisa?" At that, the two of them couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed until they were clutching their stomachs.
Perhaps they were laughing a bit too hard, because a voice came from the side: "Shhh! Please keep it down—I'm reading the script!"
That made both Hugo and Leonardo quickly press their lips together. But just then, a round of applause and loud laughter erupted from outside the reception room, even echoing into the soundstage. Clearly, this open reception room couldn't silence the ruckus of the entire set. In an instant, Hugo saw the face of the man who had just spoken darken visibly. "Pfft..." Hugo and Leonardo exchanged glances and laughed again—but this time, they remembered to cover their mouths.
...
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