Chapter 5: The Train Ticket

"Hey, man, you're finally awake. Someone stole your backpack," a voice said from the seat next to him.

Link withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked down at his lap, his heart sinking.

Before falling asleep, he'd been worried someone might steal his bag, so he'd held it tightly against his chest. Now, his arms were empty.

Had the videotape been stolen?

Due to limited funds, he had made only two copies of Buried Alive during post-production.

One copy had been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival, but after the event ended, it was unclear where the staff had placed it.

The second copy had been with him. If it had been stolen, all hope was gone.

Cold sweat formed on Link’s forehead.

"Did you lose something valuable, man? The thieves were two Black guys with knives. You should report it to the conductor," the passenger next to him suggested.

Link was about to find the conductor when he instinctively reached into his shirt pocket and felt a rectangular package. He let out a sigh of relief.

Considering how common theft was on American trains, he'd taken precautions before sleeping.

He had tucked the videotape inside his inner shirt near his chest and hidden his wallet over his stomach, using the backpack as a cover.

As for the backpack itself, it contained only a few toiletries, three unwashed pairs of underwear, and half a roll of toilet paper from a motel.

Just as he was about to thank the passenger, the conductor arrived to check tickets.

On American trains, tickets aren’t required when boarding or disembarking, but conductors check them during the journey, and those without tickets are asked to leave.

Link approached the conductor angrily and explained that his belongings, including his train ticket from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, had been stolen by "two Black guys." He asked the conductor for assistance in retrieving his items.

He found the neighboring passenger to vouch for him, and a few other witnesses confirmed the incident.

Link introduced himself as a director returning from the Sundance Film Festival, sharing how this theft had made his trip unpleasant.

After hearing the full story, the conductor issued Link a replacement ticket tag and promised that the train staff would do their best to recover his stolen belongings.

Grateful, Link thanked the conductor politely.

"Hey, man, want a beer? Let's drink to your bad luck," the passenger next to him offered, holding out a can of Budweiser.

"Thanks, man! And thanks for warning me earlier."

Link took the beer and smiled.

The young man across from him looked about twenty, with short, light-brown hair and average features. He bore a surprising resemblance to the future movie star Matt Damon.

Seated next to him was a taller, more handsome guy in a gray hoodie and blue jeans, whose expression was calm and indifferent.

Whether Link was discussing the theft or explaining things to the conductor, the guy’s expression didn’t change, nor did he show any interest in speaking.

This quiet guy looked like none other than Matt Damon’s best friend, Ben Affleck — the future lead of Pearl Harbor.

When these two sat together, it was as if they were either doing a celebrity impersonation act or were the real deal.

"So, you're a director? You just said you were coming back from Sundance?" Matt Damon asked, eyeing Link as if trying to determine his credibility.

At first glance, Link didn't seem particularly unusual.

He wore a long black puffer jacket and blue jeans. His clothes were wrinkled, the jeans hadn’t been washed in who knows how long, and there were visible stains on the faded cuffs. His once-white sneakers had yellowed, and the shoelaces were grimy.

He certainly had the disheveled look common among directors.

However, he was far too young, handsome, and somewhat naïve-looking — and clearly not wealthy.

In the entertainment industry, people with wealth or connections usually became directors, while struggling individuals only managed to snag bit roles as extras.

"Yeah, I’m a director. Last year, I made a film called Buried Alive. It’s about a man trapped inside a wooden box buried in a sandpit. He calls the police for help, but they can’t locate him, so he has to figure out how to save himself."

Link briefly explained the film’s plot.

"Wow, that sounds interesting! I like it," Matt Damon said, swinging his leg and tapping his knee with his fingers.

"Thanks. There were a lot of great indie films at this year's Sundance, though. Alexander Rockwell’s In the Soup, Anthony Drazan’s Zebrahead, and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs were all incredible. My movie didn’t win any awards, but it got some pretty good reviews."

Link took a few sips of beer. He hadn’t eaten anything since morning, and his wallet was completely empty. For now, beer was all he had to fill his stomach.

"Sounds great! Did you get a distribution deal yet? When’s it coming out? I’d love to see it," Matt Damon asked.

"Some distributors have approached me, but their offers were lower than I expected. I’ll negotiate more once I’m back in LA. If things go well, it should be released next month."

Link spoke quietly, hiding his lips behind the beer can.

"Hope you have a big hit."

"Thanks!"

They clinked cans. Link then asked where Matt Damon and his friend were from, where they were headed, and what their names were.

It turned out they were indeed Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

Both were childhood friends from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Matt Damon had gotten into Harvard two years earlier but had recently dropped out. He and Ben had come to Hollywood to chase their acting dreams.

A few days ago, while passing through Las Vegas, Ben had suggested gambling a bit — only to lose everything they had.

Matt pointed at Ben and joked that he wasn’t usually this quiet but had just lost all their money and was in a bad mood.

Link laughed, saying he'd just been robbed too. He proposed a toast to their shared misfortune.

"Mr. Link, is this your backpack?"

The conductor returned, holding a gray-black backpack covered in dust. It was the very bag Link had lost.

"Thank God! Yes, that’s mine! Thank you so much!"

Link excitedly took the bag.

"You're welcome. Check to see if anything’s still missing — we can keep searching if needed," the conductor said.

Link rummaged through the bag. Nothing important was missing, though there was now a note that read:

"Damn broke fool. Why hug a bag full of trash so tight?"  

Link thanked the conductor and claimed he had only lost a bag of chips, his train ticket, and a portable music player.

The conductor expressed regret and promised to mail anything they found to Link’s address.

(End of Chapter)