421-425

Chapter 421: Don't Speak, Kiss Me

 In the afternoon, the crew continued filming the second scene in the small theater.

This scene depicted Burden creating a new magic trick, the "Displacement Technique," after getting injured.

Two cabinets were placed on stage, four or five meters apart. He threw a small ball into the air, walked into one cabinet, and after two seconds, the door of the other cabinet opened, and he walked out, catching the ball.

Angel was shocked and couldn't understand the secret behind it.

Even though the prop master explained that it could be done by finding someone who looked very similar, he didn’t believe it was that simple. Determined to uncover the secret of the Displacement Technique, he tried various methods, ultimately leading him down a dark path.

“This looks like a simple ball, but it’s far from ordinary—it has magic!”

When the camera started rolling, Bale held a small ball and spoke to the audience.

Sitting in the audience, Luca observed Bale's performance. He noticed that Bale had minimal facial expressions—no exaggerated gestures, no over-the-top movements.

Even with so few expressions, it didn’t affect the performance at all. In fact, Bale’s calmness made him seem more composed.

At this point, Luca felt a little confused.

Back in Manhattan Acting Academy, Mr. Ross and Ms. Nia always emphasized using body language and facial expressions to make the performance more engaging.

So, while filming, Luca would often use small gestures, subtle expressions, and body language to amplify emotions and add tension to the performance.

But when expressions become excessive, the performance can feel forced. Should he abandon his usual style and adopt Bale’s more restrained approach?

It didn't seem right.

Bale had a stoic demeanor, and most of the characters he played were cool and composed.

Luca wasn’t that type of actor, and switching to that style would probably end up backfiring.

He thought about consulting Mr. Ross for advice.

"Cut!"

By around five in the afternoon, the day's work had wrapped up.

After dinner, Luca returned to his room, absentmindedly, and called Mr. Ross to ask if there was an issue with the school's teachings.

“What? Are you saying the things we taught you were useless, too basic? Luca, don't forget that when you first came to the school, you were a beginner. You can't expect to fly before you learn to crawl!”

Mr. Ross sounded angry over the phone.

“Mr. Ross, that’s not what I meant.

I just feel there’s a big gap between the school’s teachings and actual performance experience.

Today I heard Christian Bale talk about three levels of acting, and it seems like the school only taught the first step.”

Luca politely explained the concepts of imitation, refining expressions, and simplifying emotions.

“Stop it. What three levels? There’s only one kind of acting—the kind that audiences like and accept. If the audience doesn’t like it, even the best performance is worthless.

Those ‘three levels’ are just different kinds of actors.

Your performance in Honey Sweet Dance was the first kind—simple imitation. In Buried, it was the second kind, using expressions and body language to convey the character's struggles.

The third kind is indeed harder than the other two, but it’s not necessarily on a higher level; it’s just a matter of age.

Older actors usually have fewer expressions because their faces are already marked by years of experience and stories. They don’t need to act bubbly or exaggerated like younger people. And frankly, they couldn’t even if they tried.

If you really want to become a third-type actor quickly, there’s a simple way—just cut a scar on your face! After that, you won’t need to use any expressions at all. The audience will focus on the scar.”

“Uh, no thanks. I’ll keep my face intact,” Luca laughed.

“So you do know that you rely on your looks? That’s your selling point! If you weren’t good-looking, what good would great acting skills be?

A good face is worth more than any award, that’s just the reality. You’ve got a good face, but instead of using it, you’re obsessed with honing your acting skills. That’s the wrong direction.

Go do some research—who are the people always obsessing over acting skills?

I’ll tell you—they’re mostly older, people who can’t rely on looks anymore, people struggling to get roles, or actors who aren’t suited for commercial films.

And you? You’ve got resources, connections, and a great face that fits any kind of role. You’ve had decent box office success with your films.

You’re on the fast track—why are you trying to veer off onto a side road?”

Mr. Ross reprimanded.

Luca rubbed his forehead, “Mr. Ross, does that mean I shouldn’t practice my acting?”

“Of course you should. Good acting is a skill, and having it broadens your opportunities, but it’s not the most important thing.

If you want to become an acting artist, that’s a different story.”

“An artist? No, I’ve never considered that. My goal is to be a big star.”

Luca took a sip of wine.

“Then why are you obsessing over acting skills? Acting is like shooting—practice enough, and your accuracy improves.

Many actors start out not knowing how to act, but after filming a few movies, their skills naturally improve. And stop comparing yourself to older actors. Your biggest asset is your youth, something those veterans can only envy.”

“I understand now.”

Luca exhaled deeply and asked about his career path, “Mr. Ross, I’ve acted in all sorts of genres. Should I stick to one?”

“Why would you? You’re still young. If you don’t try different genres, how will you know which one suits you best?

In Hollywood, actors don’t choose their paths—audiences do.

Take Tom Cruise, for example. He’s perfect for action spy films, which makes it hard for him to transition.

But your case is different.

Last year, Mean Girls was a hit, so I thought you were suited for teen comedies.

Then The Notebook succeeded, so I thought you were good for romance.

Buried was a success, and I thought you were great in thrillers.

Now Match Point is a hit, and I’m not sure which genre you fit best.

Since you’re still young, I’d suggest taking more roles in different films and seeing which genre resonates the most.”

“What if they’re all hits?” Luca joked.

“Well, then you’re a genius!”

“Haha, yes, I am a genius!”

They chatted about personal matters before shifting to business.

Step Up 2 was in development, but the director wasn’t Billy.

Little Miss Sunshine had started negotiations with studios, but offers weren’t high yet. Scott Greenstein planned to take it to the Toronto and Chicago Film Festivals to find partners.

Additionally, The Proposal and the newly acquired script Juno were also in pre-production.

In short, the company was doing well and progressing steadily.

Hearing this, Luca felt reassured and thanked him.

After hanging up the phone, he stretched and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The sky outside was darkening, the streets of the old city fading into the dim twilight, with only a trace of orange lingering in the western sky.

“Beautiful!”

Knock, knock, knock~

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

“One moment!”

Luca threw on a jacket and opened the door. His eyes lit up.

“When did you get here?”

“Don’t talk. Kiss me!”

The woman pushed the door open and rushed into his arms.

(End of the Chapter)

Chapter 422: The Deal with Scarlett

Late at night, the bed bathed in soft, warm light.

Luca leaned against the headboard, lighting a cigarette.

Scarlett lay on his chest, her messy golden hair draped over her shoulders, her skin flushed with a charming glow.

"Did you finish filming Black Dahlia?"

Luca gently stroked her shoulder and asked.

"Yeah, it's done!"

Scarlett lazily hummed, "Two months straight of shooting—I’m exhausted!"

"How many movies did you take on this year?"

"Black Dahlia, The Prestige, and Allen's new movie," Scarlett shifted, looking up at him. "Why didn't you take Allen's new film? The lead is handsome and charming—perfect for you."

"I talked about it with Allen. Match Point, where we both starred, is still in theaters. Then we collaborated again on The Prestige. If we do another movie together right after, the audience might think it's all one big film. That wouldn't be good for the box office."

Allen's new movie, Scoop, was a light-hearted comedy mixing emotions, suspense, and murder. The cast included Hugh Jackman, Scarlett, and Woody Allen himself, who at 72 was still playing a major role—admirable energy for his age.

"How many films did you take on this year?"

Scarlett took a drag from his cigarette, pulling her hand from the blanket.

"Four. I’m only the lead in one of them. In the others, I play supporting roles."

"That’s still impressive—four films in a year! Next year, you’ll definitely go further. You’ve only been in the industry for three years and you're already a B-list actor. You’re rising fast!"

Scarlett kissed his chest with a smile.

Luca chuckled, "It starts fast, but it’ll slow down. As a foreign actor, it's hard to be accepted by the mainstream. The higher I go, the more pressure there is."

"True. You could consider immigrating. If you can’t give up your Brazilian citizenship, you could go for dual nationality. As an American actor, you’ll be more accepted by the audience."

Scarlett traced circles on his chest.

"I've thought about it, but changing nationality doesn’t always help. A lot of foreign actors do well in their home countries, but after immigrating to the U.S., their careers falter."

Before immigrating, his films could count on the support of Brazilian audiences. Production companies valued the Brazilian box office when choosing to work with him.

If he changed citizenship, it might upset his Brazilian fans. Like what happened with Ms. Kate Kelly—when she hinted at the idea of immigrating, it caused an uproar in Brazil.

People were outraged, and some even protested in front of Kelly’s estate.

The media fanned the flames, with some criticizing her while others pleaded for her to stay.

Government officials quickly got involved, offering her numerous incentives—tax exemptions for book sales, honorary titles, financial rewards, government benefits—all in a desperate attempt to keep Brazil’s most influential contemporary author. It even became a political issue.

With all that opposition, the plan had to be shelved for now.

If Luca immigrated, it wouldn’t cause as much of a stir, but he wasn’t planning on it just yet.

"Luca, who do you think will become an A-list actor first—you or me?"

Scarlett smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Emm… That’s a tough question. I’m confident I’ll make it to A-list, and I’m sure you will too. But who’ll get there first? Hard to say."

"How about we make a bet?"

"A bet? What kind of bet?"

"If I make it to A-list first, you’ll spend a whole month with me. If you make it first, I’ll spend a whole month with you. What do you think?"

"This bet seems a bit one-sided. I’m definitely at a disadvantage here," Luca laughed softly.

"How so? If I lose, I’ll do whatever you want for that entire month. Deal?"

Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck, playfully nudging him.

"Alright. Let’s just hope we still feel the same way when the time comes."

"Of course we will! I’ll make sure I become A-list before you, so you’ll have to spend that month with me," Scarlett teased, holding him tightly.

"It’s a nice idea, but I’m definitely going to win."

Luca chuckled.

"No way. It’s much harder for a foreigner like you to make it to A-list. You’re bound to lose."

Scarlett tapped his lips playfully.

"Really? Let’s wait and see!"

Luca stubbed out his cigarette, turned off the light, and pulled her under the covers.

With Scarlett now on set, the main crew members had all arrived, and the production moved into a fast-paced shooting phase. The daily workload increased significantly.

Luca and Christian Bale, as the lead actors, were constantly busy, running from one scene to the next.

Scarlett played Olivia, the magician’s assistant to Luca’s character, Angier.

Olivia was a seductive beauty. With her help, Angier’s knockoff version of the Transported Man illusion became wildly successful, even more so than the original.

But Angier wasn’t satisfied—he believed Borden’s version of the illusion held a deeper secret.

To uncover it, he asked Olivia to become Borden’s assistant, instructing her to use any means necessary to learn Borden’s trick.

Olivia was disappointed but agreed.

"Success isn’t a coincidence; it’s the result of hard work. We should celebrate."

Backstage at the theater, Olivia, dressed in a revealing costume, wrapped her arms around Angier’s neck and kissed him passionately.

But Angier’s mind was elsewhere, and his kiss was half-hearted.

"What’s wrong? Thinking about your wife?"

Olivia noticed something was off and asked.

"No. I just don’t think the trick is good enough," Angier replied, shaking his head.

"Borden can’t compare to us. His performance lacks class," Olivia said.

"But at the end of the show, he doesn’t have to hide under the stage. I want to know his secret."

Angier fixed his gaze on Olivia.

"Why?"

"So I can perfect our illusion and make it even better."

After a brief pause, Angier added, "Olivia, I need you to work for him as his assistant."

"Are you joking?"

"No. I need you to be my spy."

Angier held her shoulders, his tone serious.

"We just succeeded, and now you’re sending me away?"

Olivia protested.

"Think about it, dear Olivia. Our act has already thrilled audiences. If we use the real version of the trick, won’t it be even more popular? It’ll be the greatest illusion ever."

Angier’s excitement grew as he spoke.

"But he knows I’m your assistant."

"Doesn’t matter. He’ll want to use you to learn my secret too."

"Why would he trust me?"

"Tell him the whole truth."

Angier looked deep into her eyes as he spoke.

"Cut!"

Director Nolan called for a short break after the scene. It was clear the take needed another try.

Luca and Scarlett stepped off the set and headed over to the director’s area.

"Luca, Scarlett, overall you did well, but there are a few things to tweak," Nolan said, pulling up the footage and pointing out the issues.

"Just these few spots. Let’s do another take!"

"Got it!"

Luca and Scarlett glanced at each other and returned to the set.

It was their second time working together, and they had developed a solid rapport. As soon as they stepped in front of the camera, they were in character.

"Scene 5, Take 8, second shot—action!"

The cameras rolled again as Luca and Scarlett performed, with Nolan and the assistant directors, producers, and editors watching from behind the monitors.

After three weeks of filming, Luca had really settled into the role of Angier. His acting had become natural, and he was completely immersed in the character.

In the previous take, most of the issues had been with Scarlett. She had only joined the cast a week ago and still carried traces of her last role.

But it wasn’t a big deal—Scarlett’s characters often had a similar type, usually seductive, so she wasn’t far off. Plus, her acting was solid, and she had good chemistry with Luca. Playing Olivia wasn’t too difficult for her.

"Cut!"

After the retake, Nolan carefully reviewed the footage and, satisfied that there were no problems, moved the crew on to the next scene.

The next scene also took place in the theater. After sending Olivia away, Angier brought in a new assistant and continued performing his illusion.

But this time, his magician’s double, Jerry, caused trouble. Seeing the act’s success, the double demanded more money, asking for an outrageous raise.

In the film, this double had to look just like Luca’s character. The role was difficult to cast, so Luca had to step in and play both parts himself. With a bit of makeup, he portrayed both characters—challenging but doable.

"Luca, are you ready?"

"All set!"

  "Scene 6, Take 1, first shot—action!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 423: The Child Isn't Yours

"Sir, thank you for the beer, but what have I done to deserve your invitation?"

On a quiet evening in the old district, the set of The Prestige was in the midst of filming. Tonight, they were reshooting a scene between Luca and Bale.

Luca was playing his second role, Jerry, who is a stand-in for Angier, the magician. Jerry is a down-and-out drunk who meets Borden at a bar.

Borden begins to turn Jerry against Angier.

"You are Master Danton, right?" Borden asks softly.

Master Danton is Angier’s honorary title, but the person in front of Borden is just Angier’s double. Borden deliberately calls him by the wrong name to create tension between the two.

"Shh... Of course, but don’t let anyone else hear. I don’t want to be bothered!" Jerry, the stand-in, gulps down his beer, his eyes glazed with intoxication.

"Alright, I got it! Who are you, by the way?" Jerry asks.

"I’m a magician too, and one of your admirers," Borden says.

"Great, go on."

"I'm not here to pry into the secrets of your teleportation trick, but I used to perform a similar illusion. I also had a stand-in, but things went wrong. I never expected my double to steal all of my glory."

"All of it?" Jerry, the stand-in, murmurs, seemingly deep in thought.

"Don't ever let someone steal your spotlight," Borden advises.

"Thanks... uh, I mean, thank you for the advice!" Jerry raises his beer in acknowledgment.

"Cut!"

"That’s a wrap for this scene!"

Since early September, the crew had been filming for almost a month, and the pace was picking up. From two or three scenes a day at the start, they were now filming four or five. Sometimes, if things went well, they'd even film an extra scene at night.

In this intense shooting schedule, Luca gradually adjusted to the rhythm, and his performance was becoming smoother.

By the fifth week, the crew had reached the turning point of the story.

Luca’s character, Angier, is betrayed by Borden and falls from the stage during a performance, breaking his left leg.

At the same time, Borden strings up Angier’s stand-in, Jerry, on stage with a sign around his neck labeling him a thief. Angier's reputation is destroyed.

Seeking revenge, Angier travels to America to find the great inventor Tesla, who at that time was as famous as Edison, hoping to use Tesla’s inventions to perform new magic.

Tesla, with his mastery of alternating current, invents a powerful machine that can duplicate objects—hats, cats, even people.

Angier is thrilled when he gets the machine and returns to London, reclaiming his position as the top magician in England.

He then begins to take revenge on Borden.

During one of his performances, Angier tricks Borden into witnessing the drowning of one of Angier’s duplicates in a water tank.

Unaware that it’s a duplicate, Borden believes Angier has died.

The police, ignorant of the truth, arrest Borden as the murderer.

"Cut!"

With that scene finished, Luca was helped out of the water tank.

He had spent over an hour in the water for this scene, alternating between struggling to stay afloat and acting out drowning.

After all the effort, he was completely exhausted.

"Luca, here, dry off!"

Tony rushed over with a towel, a blanket, and a cup of hot milk.

"Thanks!"

It was early autumn on the island, and the weather was starting to cool. Luca dried his hair, wrapped himself in the blanket, and sipped the warm milk as he headed to the director’s area.

"Director Nolan, was that take good?"

"It was fine, but we still need a few more shots of you in the water tank, so you’ll be getting back in soon," Nolan said with a smile.

"Alright, you’re the boss. Whatever you say!" Luca shrugged.

"How are you feeling about the performances lately?" Nolan asked, holding a thermos cup.

"Uh, not much, just a bit tired. Outside of filming, I don’t feel like doing anything."

"Ha! That’s exactly how it should be," Nolan laughed. "At the start of filming, you had so much energy. You shot the same scene 22 times and never complained. Now, after just a little work, you’re already feeling it.

"But when you were full of energy, it took ten or more takes to get a scene right. Now, two or three takes and it’s done. Don’t you think that sometimes exhaustion brings out your best?"

Luca frowned, thinking. "That does seem to be the case. Early on, it’s always tough, but later everything goes smoothly. Is that just me?"

"It’s the same for everyone. At the start, both actors and directors are feeling things out. It’s like aiming before you shoot—tedious but necessary," Nolan explained with a smile.

"Yeah, filmmaking always starts hard but gets easier," Bale added, leaning back in his chair. "At the beginning, there are endless ways to play a character or shoot a scene. But as the role becomes more defined, you’re locked into the choices you made earlier. You’re stuck performing in that mold, like dancing with shackles.

"After a while, it gets boring and exhausting, and even if you wanted to change things up, you wouldn’t have the chance."

Luca nodded in agreement. He had felt the same way—like kneading dough at the start, but later, it was just about flattening and shaping it, making everything smoother, but also more pressured.

"Hey, did you guys hear? The papers say Jolie is still filming while pregnant. That’s wild."

"When do you think she and Pitt will get married?"

"Who knows? You can never guess with celebrity marriages."

As Luca sipped his milk, he overheard people talking about Jolie and was surprised.

Jolie’s pregnant?

"Hey, Todd, can I see that paper?"

"No problem, Mr. Kelly!" Todd handed him a stack of newspapers.

"Thanks!"

With all the filming, Luca hadn’t had time to read the news lately.

He flipped through a copy of The News and found a large photo of Jolie in the entertainment section’s headline. She was wearing a gray Louis Vuitton dress, carrying shopping bags, with Pitt by her side.

From the picture, you couldn’t tell she was pregnant, but the headline confirmed it. Jolie had announced she was three months along and was continuing to shoot her new film, The Spy.

In an interview, Jolie mentioned that she was feeling fine despite being three months pregnant, and Pitt expressed his joy, saying he was excited to become a father.

"Three months?" Luca rubbed his temples. That couldn’t be his, could it?

After finishing filming that night, Luca returned to his hotel and decided to send a message.

"Congratulations!" he wrote.

"Thanks!" Jolie replied simply.

A while later, he received an anonymous message on MSN.

"Scared, little troublemaker? Don’t worry, the child isn’t yours—I’m certain of that. Feeling relieved now?"

Luca smiled. Yes, that was a relief.

"A bit disappointed. Are you guys getting married?" he asked.

"No. He and Aniston haven’t sorted out their finances yet, so marriage is still a long way off. Maybe an engagement soon, though."

"Congrats! You’ll be a great mom."

"Haha, I think so too. But you know, if you’re disappointed, we could always have one of our own someday."

". . ."

At that point, Luca had no idea how to respond. Have a child with her? That would be a scandal waiting to explode.

He quickly changed the subject and started talking about other things.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 424: The Child Might Be Yours


*Ring, ring, ring...*


Just as he had fallen asleep, the phone on his bedside table started ringing incessantly.


Yawning, he reached for the phone.


"Luca, what are you doing? Why did you take so long to answer? Are you up to something bad?" 


Luca smirked slightly. "Kate, do you know what time it is in London? It's 11 PM, of course, I'm sleeping."


"Really? Well, it's not even dark here in New York yet," Kate chuckled. "Are you sleeping alone tonight?"


"Who else would be here?"


"Isn't Scarlett with the crew? After you're done filming, don't you two sleep together since there's nothing else to do?"


Kate teased.


Luca rubbed his forehead. "What are you thinking? You think filming is just about hanging out on set all day? 


I wake up at 8 AM every day, get ready for the first scene, take only a two-hour break at noon, and work until 6 in the evening. Sometimes we even work overtime; last night, I didn't get back to the hotel until after 10 PM. I'm shooting four or five scenes a day, I'm exhausted! How could I possibly have the energy for anything else?"


"I know, I know. I just said you sleep together, not that you have to do anything else. 


Why is it that as soon as you hear 'sleep,' your mind goes somewhere else? Is that all you ever think about, Luca? You're so corrupt now!" 


Kate sighed deeply.


Luca covered his face. "Okay, I misunderstood. But since you asked, let me be clear—no, Scarlett's scenes only lasted two weeks. Once she finished, she left, so I’ve been sleeping alone."


"Alright, I was just worried you'd end up giving me another niece or nephew."


"That's not possible. I'm always careful." Luca laughed.


"Is that so? Did you see the news that Julie's pregnant?" Kate asked.


"Yeah, I know about that, but it has nothing to do with me. I asked Julie directly. She’s planning a long-term relationship with Pitt and wouldn't risk anything like that. So stop worrying—it's not your niece or nephew."


Luca chuckled lightly.


"Julie told you that? And you believe her? Didn't you always say that beautiful women lie, and the prettier they are, the better they lie? Isn't Julie beautiful?"


"Uh, this isn’t about looks, Kate. It's about timing. The last time Julie and I went out was mid-July, and she's been pregnant for over three months. The dates don’t add up."


"Mid-July? Did you use protection that time?" 


". . . I think we didn’t!"


That time by the pool, the atmosphere was great, and there just wasn’t time.


"No protection? Well, the timing’s close, give or take a couple of weeks. So it’s possible that the child could be yours. Hospitals can’t always be exact, you know."


Detective Kate continued her analysis.


"No way, Kate. Julie likes to have fun, but she's not reckless. She’s planning to start a family now. She wouldn’t sabotage her relationship like that. She's more careful about this than I am," Luca reasoned.


"And what if she has another motive? What if she wants to use the baby to pressure Pitt into marrying her? Even if there’s a one-in-a-million chance, you can't be too relaxed."


"I get it," Luca sighed. He remembered that Julie would have a child with or without him, so this situation didn’t have much to do with him. But he couldn’t explain that to Kate.


"Kate, stop overthinking. Even if Julie tries to fake something, Pitt won’t fall for it. He’s a sharp guy. 


Let’s just wait a few months until the baby’s born, then we can make more informed guesses. Jumping to conclusions based on a rumor will just stress us out."


"Stress us out? All you do is play around and ignore everything else, and now you’re saying I’m stressing myself out? Hmph! You’re getting more and more reckless. When you get back, I’ll have to teach you how to act like a proper human being again."


Kate sounded very serious.


Luca wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, starting to regret the idea of returning home.


"Kate, what are you doing today? Is the weather nice in New York? How are you feeling?" 


Luca asked cautiously.


"Don’t try to change the subject! You say I’m guessing, so let me tell you something with real proof," Kate said coldly.


"What is it?" Luca asked weakly. Judging by Kate’s tone, it couldn’t be good news.


"I heard from Nina that you’re getting pretty close to some model from China who works at your company."


Luca silently cursed Ed. It had to be Ed spreading rumors again.


"You're talking about Eileen, right? She just moved to the U.S. She’s new here. We've had dinner a few times, and I’ve given her a couple of gifts. That’s all—not particularly close."


"Gifts? So, you're trying to sleep with her?"


"No, I’m not... Fine, maybe a little. But mostly, I just wanted to make friends, especially someone from China. I plan on visiting there someday, and having a local connection isn’t a bad idea."


Luca nodded to himself. That was his intention when helping Eileen at first—nothing inappropriate. His motives were pure.


"Connections?" Kate scoffed. "Isn’t Jenna a local connection? Isn’t Emily one, too? You’ve gotten bold, Luca. You’re even learning how to lie now."


"I’m not lying!" Luca rubbed his forehead. "Kate, I wasn’t lying. I just softened the truth a bit to avoid getting punched by you. I had no intention of hiding anything."


"Whatever. You’re about to make me pass out from anger. When are you coming back?"


"Well..." 


Can I even go back at this point? Would I even survive?


"Speak up!" 


Kate said coolly.


Her tone had suddenly gone cold, almost emotionless.


Hearing that, Luca felt a chill run down his spine.


This meant Kate was really angry. And when she got mad, things would get serious.


Luca figured he should stay in London a little longer, at least until Kate calmed down. Otherwise, the outcome would be disastrous.


"One month." 


Hopefully, Kate would cool off by then.


"Hmm?"


"Okay, fine. One week. My scenes will be done in a week." 


Luca gave in.


"Good. Hurry back. You know I miss you." 


*Click* Kate hung up.


Whew...


Luca put down the phone and slumped back onto the bed.


Talking to Kate was always a rollercoaster ride. Afterward, his forehead was drenched in sweat, his clothes were damp, and his heart was pounding. He was wide awake now.


He got up, took a shower, and lay back down. His mind raced from thoughts of the child to Julie to Kate. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.


As a result, he suffered from insomnia.


And the next day, his lack of focus got him several retakes during filming.


Already exhausted, both physically and mentally, Luca felt overwhelmed. After a few more takes, he was nearly dead from exhaustion.


Thankfully, the project was almost over. There weren’t many scenes left to shoot.


He powered through, barely making it to the final big scene:


The life-or-death showdown between Angel and Burden.


(End of Chapter)




*Chapter 425: Should We Go to the Hospital?*

Angier had staged a fake death and successfully had Borden locked up in prison.

Meanwhile, Angier assumed a new identity and became a nobleman. However, even as a noble, he couldn’t let go of his obsession with discovering the secret of the teleportation illusion.

Through his butler, he contacted Borden in prison and used Borden’s daughter as leverage to force him into revealing the secret. Borden agreed and realized Angier was still alive.

Afterward, Borden performed a trick of his own—his double, Fallon, took his place at the gallows and was executed, allowing Borden to escape prison. He then tracked down Angier and killed him with his own hands.

And that’s where the story ends.

If told in a linear fashion, this movie would be straightforward: it’s about two partners who, after a minor disagreement, part ways. Their conflict escalates through several clashes, leading to a final, deadly confrontation.

But director Nolan isn’t an ordinary filmmaker. He doesn’t play with simple, non-psychological plots.

In this film, Nolan abandons the linear narrative style that doesn’t convey complex behavior well and instead uses a non-linear approach to build a suspenseful mystery. The truth isn’t revealed until the very end, giving the audience a moment of clarity.

Today’s scene reveals the final twist, like the moment in a magic trick where the audience witnesses the miracle.

“Scene 8, Take 1, Action!”

On the set of The Prestige, inside a dimly lit underground warehouse, Angier holds an oil lamp as he inspects the tanks.

Inside the water-filled glass tanks are multiple bodies—each one a replica of Angier, identical in appearance. These clones are killed after each magic performance, with their bodies stored in the tanks or crates. The scene is eerie and disturbing.

Thump, thump, thump!

As Angier examines the tanks, a red rubber ball bounces toward him, rolling to a stop at his feet.

Angier crouches to pick up the ball, and when he looks up, he sees a shadowy figure approaching.

Bang!

A gunshot rings out, and Angier is hit in the chest. He staggers and falls to his knees.

Across from him, Borden removes his hat, silently staring at Angier.

Angier recognizes Borden’s face and gasps, “You’re twins? You’ve been pretending to be your assistant, Fallon? No, that’s impossible!”

“We are both Fallon,” Borden calmly replies. “And we are both Borden.”

Angier is incredulous. “During the magic trick, were you the one who disappeared, or the one on stage?”

“We took turns,” Borden explains with a faint smile. “Sometimes I was on stage, sometimes Fallon was. The key was that we switched identities.”

“I should have guessed,” Angier says in frustration. “Cutter figured it out long ago, but I thought it was too simple, too easy.”

Angier feels deep regret. If he hadn’t overcomplicated things, none of this would have happened.

“No, it wasn’t simple,” Borden counters. “At least not as simple as you think. Sharing a life with someone, constantly swapping identities, isn’t easy.”

When Borden lost two fingers, Fallon had to sever two of his as well, to maintain the illusion. Even Borden’s wife began to suspect something was off and eventually took her own life because of it.

“And what about Olivia? And your wife?” Angier asks.

“We loved differently. I loved my wife, Fallon loved Olivia. We shared half of each other’s lives, and that was enough for us. But it wasn’t enough for them,” Borden pauses. “Now do you see? Only through sacrifice can a great trick be achieved. But you never understood that, did you?”

Angier, panting, responds, “No, I do. I’ve made sacrifices too.”

“You haven’t. You just steal other people’s ideas without effort.”

“No, I gave up everything for magic,” Angier insists. For each performance, he had to kill a clone of himself—essentially killing a version of himself every time. Clutching his chest, he says, “Every time, I had to summon the courage to step into the machine, not knowing if I’d disappear or if I’d reappear on stage… or in some other part of the world.”

“Cut!”

Director Nolan calls for a break.

“Luca,” Nolan addresses the actor playing Angier, “when you get shot, you need to express more pain and struggle while delivering your lines. This scene is tough, so you have to stay in peak condition and deliver it in one go. If you lose momentum, it’ll feel fake.”

Luca nods silently. This scene is particularly challenging—Angier is gravely injured but still has to speak for nearly ten minutes. The dialogue between the two characters contains over fifty lines.

If the performance isn’t convincing, the whole scene will feel false, no matter how well the rest of the movie is done. And if it feels fake, the audience will tear it apart after release.

Determined to push through, Luca wipes the sweat from his face and gets back into character.

Five minutes later, the crew resumes shooting.

Ten minutes later, Nolan calls for another cut, as Luca is visibly exhausted.

Another ten minutes, and they try again.

Fifteen minutes in, Nolan halts the scene for a third time—Luca is too tired to maintain continuity.

After a half-hour break, the crew gives it another shot.

“You want to see my sacrifice? You’ve never seen this place, have you?” Luca kneels on the ground, his face contorted with pain, sweat dripping down, his eyes dull. He rolls his eyes, showing more white than black, as though he could die any moment.

“Look! Look at this place!” Luca’s voice is weak, his throat constricted.

“I don’t care!” Borden replies.

“You crossed to the other side of the world, spent a fortune, did unspeakable things, and ended up with nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Yes, nothing!”

“No, you don’t understand why we do magic,” Luca breathes heavily, “the audience knows the truth. Reality is harsh and bleak. There are no miracles, no magic. But if you can fool them, even for a second, then you… you can show them something very special.”

Luca gazes into the distance, tears welling in his eyes, a slight smile on his lips. “You really don’t know? It’s the look on their faces…”

Suddenly, Luca gasps for breath, his eyes close, and he collapses.

“Cut!”

Nolan checks the footage. “Luca, there are two moments where you lose energy. We’ll need to do it again.”

“Alright.”

Luca nods, sweat pouring off his face. The scene has taken all day, leaving him dizzy and weak, almost feeling heatstroke.

After a ten-minute break, the crew resumes filming, and Luca forces himself back into the scene.

“Cut!”

By 7 PM, the scene finally wraps.

Exhausted, Luca stumbles into the car, saying goodbye to the crew.

“Luca, you don’t look well. Should we go to the hospital?” Tony asks as he joins him in the car.

“I’m fine, just exhausted. I’ll sleep it off.”

Luca closes his eyes and leans back in his seat.

“Alright.”

Tony starts the car and drives them slowly toward the hotel.

When they arrive, Tony calls out, “Luca, we’re here!”

“We’re here?” Luca opens his eyes, his head pounding. He holds his forehead as he forces himself to open the car door.

Thud!

As he steps out, his legs give way, and he hits his head on the car door.

“Luca, are you okay?” Tony rushes over to help him.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Luca waves him off. After kneeling all day for the scene, his legs had gone numb. At first, he hadn’t noticed, but as soon as he rested, the fatigue hit him all at once.

“We’re going to the hospital,” Tony insists, pushing Luca back into the car and driving straight to the nearest hospital.

(End of Chapter)