34 Progress and the crew's shocked (Bonus)

AN:

I apologize for the oversight in the previous chapter. I failed to mention the 1.8% of $5 million if the movie reaches $35 million. Moreover, if the movie's earnings surpass $50 million, Lucas is entitled to an extra 1% of the box office revenue exceeding the $50 million threshold, in addition to the 1.8% base bonus. For example, if the movie earns $52 million, the actor would receive 1.8% of $22 million (the amount exceeding $50 million), totaling $420,000, along with any base bonus.

--------

Lucas was gradually getting used to the room. He noticed that there are hidden cameras around the corner but ignored them.

The production probably will monitor him through the room.

The room was locked, but Lucas had necessary foods inside, along with a bathroom and a small kitchen beside it.

Lucas looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, and he could see the changes in his body.

The reason for the physical training was for Lucas to be at least similar to the physical build of Aron Ralston.

To be honest, Lucas wasn't sure if isolating himself in a room for a few days could help at all.

Despite that uncertainty, he could freely use his Mind Workshop in this room, and so far, he has experienced improvement.

Now, he'll enter the Mind Workshop once more.

Closing his eyes and immersing himself, Lucas entered his Mind Workshop, and his mental body remained in the narrow canyon, his right arm still pinned by the boulder.

Lucas now assumed the character of Aron.

Aron had already spent three days in the narrow canyon.

The passage of time for him being stuck in the narrow canyon within his Mind Workshop was still two days, even though in reality, a month and a half had passed. This is because, as mentioned earlier, Lucas can only enter the Mind Workshop several times a day. Yet, the mental body in his Mind Workshop remained trapped in the narrow canyon, and time within the Mind Workshop would pause when Lucas was not present.

As Lucas entered the Mind Workshop, time in that mental space resumed. Although he had just entered, it felt as if he had been enduring the hardships of the narrow canyon as Aron Ralston for a few days. Not to mention, Lucas would momentarily forget his memories outside, although he still retained awareness of his identity. This functionality of the Mind Workshop helped Lucas immerse himself further in the character of Aron Ralston.

Due to the realistic pain and setting, Lucas — embodying Aron — found himself contemplating various thoughts. His mind wandered, his eyes blankly staring at the rock. The depth of his gaze seemed to ask, "Will I ever escape from this place?"

The scorching sun had drained the moisture from his lips, transforming his throat into sandpaper.

Time, once a galloping stallion, had slowed to a sluggish donkey, with each creaking second feeling like an eternity in the stone tomb. Then, akin to a cartoon coyote pursuing a tantalizing mirage, hallucinations set in.

First, a giggle, high-pitched and tinny, danced on the edges of his hearing like a runaway balloon.

He blinked, squinting at the canyon wall, anticipating a dust devil or a desert hawk. Instead, a vision unfolded straight from his childhood Saturday mornings.

Two oversized feet in red platform boots emerged from behind a boulder, followed by baggy green pants held up by a comically large belt. Then, the unmistakable head appeared – shaggy brown fur, oversized teeth, and a dopey grin split right down the middle. Scooby Doo, in all his cartoon glory, had strolled into his dehydrated delirium.

"Like, rooby-dooby-roo, Aron!" Scooby's voice echoed, muffled by rock and sweat. "What's the scooby-dooby-deal with bein' trapped in a canyon, dude?"

Parched and delirious, Aron could only manage a dry croak. Scooby, thankfully unfazed, trotted closer, dragging a comically oversized magnifying glass behind him.

"Zoinks!" Scooby exclaimed, examining Aron's arm with exaggerated shock. "Like, that looks worse than the time Shaggy swallowed that whole box of Scooby Snacks!"

Aron managed a chuckle, the first spark of laughter in days. The absurdity of it all – a talking cartoon dog in a real-life nightmare – was somehow comforting.

Suddenly, a figure draped in a purple sheet materialized beside Scooby. Shaggy Rogers, lanky and perpetually nervous, peered at Aron with wide, bloodshot eyes.

"Zoinks, Scoob," Shaggy whispered, his voice a conspiratorial tremor. "Like, maybe he found the old man's hidden treasure!"

Scooby's eyes lit up like light bulbs. "Treasure, you say? Like, gold doubloons and ruby necklaces?"

"Uh, guys," Aron croaked, "there's no treasure. Just a boulder and me."

But his protests were drowned out by Scooby's enthusiastic sniffing. The dog scampered around the canyon, nose twitching in overdrive, while Shaggy kept a nervous lookout for unseen dangers.

***

While Lucas's consciousness was in the Mind Workshop, he wore a foolish smile in the real world.

The camera captured everything, including Lucas saying out loud, "Uh, guys... There's no treasure. Just a boulder and me."

Those monitoring Lucas sensed something was amiss because they could clearly see him taking a nap while sitting, yet he displayed peculiar behaviors.

A specialist exclaimed, "Is Mr. Knight really alright?"

Danny and Donna exchanged glances, and Danny reassured, "He was just immersing himself in the role. There's nothing strange about it."

Initially, Danny wasn't concerned, thinking Lucas was merely immersing himself. However, as time passed, Lucas seemed to be hallucinating with his eyes closed during what appeared to be napping sessions throughout the day. This behavior continued and became more pronounced.

Even Danny and Donna were gradually getting confused. They could see that Lucas wasn't simply immersing himself in the character; they genuinely felt that Lucas was truly hallucinating.

When Danny and the others observed Lucas with his eyes closed, seemingly napping yet displaying a pained expression, they were shocked not just because of that.

While Lucas had his eyes closed, it seemed like he was in a deep sleep, dreaming. His left hand appeared to be holding an imaginary knife, and in the motion of seemingly amputating his right arm, Lucas's pained expression, groans, and even loud shrieks alarmed the production team.

Some crew members were worried and asked themselves, "Is he really just acting?"

Even if they weren't experienced in the industry, they could feel Lucas's pain in his groans and shrieks, sensing that it wasn't something easily faked.

Especially Lucas's expression, coupled with his pained look; his closed eyes were tearing up, and tears continued to flow down like a river.

The crew couldn't help but feel a chill.

They were even pondering whether Lucas Knight could be the second Daniel Day Lewis.

... ... ...

Seven days later, Lucas finally emerged from the room.

The specialist asked him, "How do you feel?"

Lucas simply replied, "I'm doing fine." He drank water from the bottle and added, "I think I can portray Aron Ralston now."

Upon hearing that, the specialists discussed the role with Lucas before he met with the casting director, Donna, who oversaw Lucas's mock-up scenes.

Director Danny observed the monitor as Lucas, now sporting a weathered face from isolation and likely exhausted from immersing himself in the role, performed.

Danny sighed. He had witnessed Lucas's dedication to the role, and the team's choice was justified, yet he also felt compassion for the young actor. Such is the life of an actor.

Nevertheless, Danny pledged to give his best in directing the film, ensuring Lucas's efforts were apparent on screen.

Initially, Danny had planned for his directing in "127 Hours" to overshadow the actor, but with Lucas in the lead role, that perspective had shifted.