Long rehearsals

In the bathroom, the stage was set for the scene where Adam would shave his head. Lucas and Seth, mirrors of concentration, were there, rehearsing the scene with Lucas miming the act of shaving his head.

The production team was fully invested in giving Lucas and Seth ample rehearsal time. The nature of this scene demanded perfection in a single take, leaving no room for do-overs.

Wrapped in a towel, Seth, embodying Kyle, initiated the dialogue with a concerned, "I think you're making a big, big mistake. Please don't do this."

Lucas, channeling Adam, responded, puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

"What if you have some weird Gorbachev bird shit thing on your head?" Seth pressed on.

Lucas, deviating from the script with a twinkle in his eye, retorted, "I thought you liked the idea of your buddy joining the Chrome Dome Club?"

Seth, teetering on the edge of his line and suppressing a laugh, managed, "Liked the idea—," but couldn't hold back a soft chuckle. Nudging Lucas, he quipped, "Really? Chrome Dome Club?"

The jest prompted laughter among the cast and crew, who had been watching the rehearsal intently.

Lucas's playful addition of "Club" to the slang "Chrome Dome," a nickname for the bald, was a humorous twist. It implied Adam was about to become a member of the bald community, using slang to inject a light-hearted vibe into the scene.

"Alright, let's take it from the top and go again," Seth declared, ready to dive back into rehearsal with Lucas.

They dove back into rehearsal, and this time, Seth was ready for Lucas's ad-lib about the "Chrome Dome Club."

"I liked the idea in theory. Now that we're standing here about to do it, I'm a little worried you're going to look like fucking Michael," Seth delivered his lines with a mix of humor and concern.

Lucas, embodying Adam with a grave expression, countered, "Could be worse. I could end up like Britney in 2007. Anyway, just go for it!"

The unexpected lines once again sparked a round of soft chuckles among the crew. Seth, though fully prepared and still in character, protested, "I'm not going to do it!" holding the clipper at bay, reluctant to proceed with shaving Adam's head.

"You said you would!" Lucas, still in Adam's persona, insisted, locking eyes with Seth.

Seth, grappling with Kyle's newfound hesitance, retorted, "I changed my mind - because if it looks bad, you'll blame me every time you see your weird screwed up bald head."

Then, aligning with the script, Lucas seized the clippers from Seth's grasp. He paused, a look of sudden realization crossing his face, "Wait... what do you use these for?" It was as though he'd just pieced together that the clippers weren't solely for haircuts.

"You know my body," Seth replied instantly, unfazed.

Lucas eyed Seth with a mixture of suspicion and disbelief, "When was the last time you cleaned this?"

Without missing a beat, Seth casually wiped the clippers on his shirt, declaring, "Right now..."

Taking the clippers, Lucas proceeded to mimic shaving his head, the act laden with seriousness.

Seth, playing along, covered his eyes as if bracing for a disaster.

The rehearsal flowed on, building up to the climactic moment when both actors would commit to the scene for real.

Just before they were set to film the pivotal scene, Jonathan and Will came over to Lucas and Seth, a hint of concern in their eyes. Jonathan broke the silence, asking, "How do you feel about actually going through with it—shaving your head, I mean?"

Will added softly, "You know, you can still change your mind. We'd completely understand..."

Lucas shook his head, his resolve clear. "No, I'm fully committed to doing this."

Jonathan nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Seth with a half-serious, half-joking warning, "Hey, make sure you don't mess up the scene. We don't have the luxury of retakes."

Seth responded with a light-hearted laugh, "Don't worry. I understand the gravity of the scene. I won't be the reason Lucas's sacrifice goes to waste."

Lucas, catching on to the banter, added, "You better not, or you might find yourself joining the bald club too." The tension eased, replaced by a few chuckles.

Seth joked back, "Well, then I guess I need to up my seriousness."

With the mood lightened, they moved to begin the scene. Lucas's improvisations and ad-libs were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the performance.

Clutching the clippers, Lucas approached the moment with a solemn intensity. In his previous life, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who had portrayed Adam, had genuinely shaved his head for the role, and Lucas was committed to not falling short of that authentic portrayal.

Moreover, Lucas wasn't overly concerned about losing his hair. He knew it would grow back. His focus was on the integrity of the moment, on capturing the raw, transformative experience his character was going through.

Clutching the clippers, poised to shave his head, Lucas became the center of attention, with the crew and cast watching intently, their expressions a mix of anticipation and respect.

None of them had anticipated that the journey of this film project would lead to such a moment—where Lucas, a young actor already carving a niche for himself in Hollywood, would be willing to shave his head. They were all aware of how significant an actor's appearance, particularly their hair, can be in the industry. This was especially true for Lucas, who was still in the early stages of his career. The decision to go through with this scene underscored his dedication and bravery, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.