Chapter 114: The Pseudo Protagonist

[Chapter 114: The Pseudo Protagonist]

Once Eric settled into the screening room, he exchanged a few words with Connelly about some tabloids that had gone overboard with their sensational articles. Just as the lights dimmed and the film began, his anticipation faded quickly.

Richard Gere played James Dalton, a bar bouncer who had successfully tossed a troublemaker out of a bar. As a result, Frank Tilghman, the owner of a bar in a small town outside Kansas City, took notice of him and invited James to help clean up the increasingly chaotic Double Deuce Bar.

The first twenty minutes of the movie offered nothing captivating -- just bar fights and women striking sultry poses everywhere. From the moment he appeared on screen, Richard Gere wore a stoic expression, navigating through the crowd as if to say, "I'm awesome and you're all insignificant." As an action film, wouldn't it make sense to kick things off with an explosive fight to grab the audience's attention? However, the pretentious writer evidently scoffed at such ideas, opting instead to show the protagonist getting grazed on the arm by a thug's knife only to stitch himself up to portray his uniqueness.

Unfortunately, this scene didn't resonate with the audience. Gere's composure was so steady that it seemed like he was simply sewing fabric rather than stitching a wound. Couldn't he at least muster a grimace of grit? Sadly, there was nothing of the sort. Even as things got bloody, Eric could still hear someone behind him crunching popcorn.

Then, after arriving at the Double Deuce Bar in that small Kansas town, the protagonist still didn't display any skills. After assessing the chaos in the bar, he merely held a small staff meeting to dismiss a few disobedient employees, and just like that, the bar began to flourish. Seriously, even if you're the chosen one, does everything have to go so smoothly?

Finally, the raging business of the Double Deuce Bar caught the attention of the town's bully, Brad Wesley. He sent his goons to lure the protagonist out for a chat, wanting to take over the bar, but of course, James Dalton flatly rejected him.

Then, after eighty minutes of dullness, the film finally hit a climax -- or rather, the director finally remembered this was supposed to be an action flick. After being turned down by James Dalton, Brad Wesley stormed into the Double Deuce Bar with his men, leading to a showdown. Although the director awkwardly infused a few karate shots into this action scene, the overall fighting style was a hodgepodge of brawling. It was only then that Gere finally showcased a "special" move, though admittedly, it wasn't nearly as crisp as the secondary villain. Yet, he managed to lay out the bad guys.

When the bully, Brad Wesley, failed at first, he started wreaking havoc across the town to assert his status as the local tyrant, forcing the protagonist's hand. He first burned down a convenience store belonging to a shopkeeper who dared to oppose him, then flattened a Ford dealership with his powerful four-wheeler, and ultimately turned his attention to James Dalton's mentor and friend. In the final ten minutes, after taking all the abuse he could stand, the hero single-handedly took down Brad Wesley's goons and made his way to Wesley's lair, where he wrestled with Wesley, pinning him down on a sofa.

Just when everyone assumed James Dalton would decisively finish Brad Wesley off, bringing the movie to a close, he surprisingly showed mercy! Seriously, the guy ruined your place and killed your closest friend, and you soften up?

What a messy conflict!

Just as the pseudo-protagonist Richard Gere was about to let Brad Wesley go, as if moved by divine intervention, Wesley, of course, took advantage of the mercy and picked up a revolver.

Gunshots rang out!

Is this how it ends?

Was this a tragedy?

No way!

Just when the pseudo-protagonist found himself in a precarious position, the real protagonists -- a group of small-town residents long oppressed by the bully -- arrived just in time. Armed with shotguns, they took out the villainous Brad Wesley and saved the pseudo-protagonist.

Thus, the two-hour long "action movie" finally wrapped up.

...

As the lights in the screening room still hadn't brightened, Eric caught snippets of the audience's chatter.

"That muscle car was so badass! Hey, Vi, what do you think about us getting one?"

"But we're in Los Angeles, cops wouldn't allow a car like that on the road unless we went back to our farm in Texas."

"Forget it then! I wouldn't go back there for anything. After the old man kicks the bucket, I'll sell the farm and we can get a nice place in Santa Monica."

"If Dad hears you say that, he'd flip out!"

"Hey, Victor, how many songs did you catch?"

"Well, during that blond girl's dance scene, it featured Hoochie Coochie Man -- but we don't even need to remember these; this movie will definitely release a soundtrack soon."

"I just can't wait! The score was wonderful; I plan to buy a bunch of related albums when I get home."

As the lights came up, the noise level in the screening room increased, and Eric could only catch bits and pieces of the comments.

"What a load of crap! I got duped by the paper's hype; I'm canceling my subscription. I shouldn't have come to see it."

"I can't believe Richard Gere would sign on for this trash; he must've lost his mind."

"The fight scenes were like some wannabe street brawl, and he's over here trying to imitate Bruce Lee! Lee could kick a two-meter light bulb into smithereens, whereas Gere couldn't even pull off a decent high kick. That side character was way better!"

"Sure, Gere's performance didn't shine, but I thought the movie was alright. The girls were pretty and the music was solid."

"After seeing all those gorgeous ladies, being so critical just isn't right."

...

"Hey, Eric, let's go," said Jennifer Connelly, seated next to Eric. She noticed he was eavesdropping on the audience discussions.

"Uh, right," Eric snapped back to reality, stood up, and asked, "What'd you think of the movie?"

Jennifer shook her head in disappointment, naturally linking her arm with Eric's while delivering her two-word review: "Too loud."

They whispered to each other as they made their way out of the screening room.

...

Vic, the photographer who was hanging around, waited outside, oblivious to the running time. After more than ninety minutes, he stared at the exit, afraid he might miss Eric and Jennifer Connelly after the film suddenly wrapped.

Finally, as the film neared the two-hour mark, more audience members spilled out of the theater. Vic hoisted his camera, waited a couple of minutes but didn't spot Eric.

"It can't be that I missed them, right?" Vitt muttered in confusion, just as he caught a glimpse of Eric and Jennifer walking out side by side.

In his pursuit of the best shot, Vic couldn't care less and turned on his camera's flash, snapping away.

Click--click--click--

The bright flash went off several times in the theater lobby. Eric, sensing trouble, raised his hand to shield his face, but it was already too late.

Under normal circumstances, the theater's security wouldn't bother a journalist loitering in the lobby; interviews could generate publicity for the cinema. But once he flashed his camera, it might disturb the moviegoers, so as soon as Vic snapped a few photos, two security guards charged at him and escorted him out.

...

Eric gave a puzzled Jennifer Connelly a reassuring glance while scanning the surroundings, then headed toward the reception desk.

"Hello, sir. May I help you? Wait, you're... Wow, it's you -- Eric Williams! I didn't expect you'd come to our theater! I'm Linda, Linda Kraut." The receptionist, Linda, lit up, her freckles on her nose glowing as she offered her hand eagerly to Eric.

Eric pulled his hand back and replied, "Sure, Linda. You probably noticed I ran into some trouble just now. Can you help us slip out through another exit?"

"Of course, Mr. Williams, right this way." Linda nodded vigorously, leading Eric to the back door while chattering away with questions.

"Mr. Williams, is that young lady your new girlfriend? She's beautiful!"

Jennifer Connelly perked up at the question, her expression reflecting both eagerness and concern as she glanced at Eric.

Understanding that there was only one acceptable answer to keep from making Jennifer uncomfortable, Eric nodded without hesitation, saying, "Yes."

"Mr. Williams, when do you start filming? I'm such a fan and will definitely come support you in theaters!"

"That hasn't been locked in yet, but it will be in the summer release window."

"Mr. Williams, which movie are you here to see?"

"..."

If not for her obvious job, Eric would have thought this girl was a paparazzi. From the lobby to the back, in less than two minutes, Linda blasted him with over ten questions. Since Eric needed her help, he tried to respond appropriately to her barrage.

"Here we are," Linda pointed at the security door, sensing they were about to part ways. With newfound courage, she asked, "Mr. Williams, could I get an autograph?"

"Of course," Eric nodded, "but I don't have a pen."

"I do!" Linda pulled out a pen from her chest pocket but then rummaged through her other pockets without finding paper, finally raising her arm and saying, "Mr. Williams, please sign my sleeve!"

"Uh, sure." Eric steadied her arm and quickly signed his name on the fabric of her shirt before pushing open the back door to exit the theater.

*****

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