Chapter 72: The Real Winner

[Chapter 72: The Real Winner]

The awards ceremony continued and aside from the influx of a few more nominations for the two films associated with him, the list of winners didn't change at all.

As in the original timeline, the Best Actress in a Drama category still presented a three-way tie. Michael Douglas, the guest responsible for delivering the award, hesitated for more than ten seconds before announcing the winner after gazing at the envelope. He thought there might have been a mix-up and that the nominees' list had accidentally made it into the envelope.

It wasn't until Douglas received a discreet nudge from the event staff that he confidently announced, "The Best Actress in a Drama is: Jodie Foster for The Accused."

Only a smattering of applause broke out from the audience, prompting Michael to quicken his pace: "Also Sigourney Weaver for Gorillas in the Mist and Shirley MacLaine for Madame Sousatzka."

With the exception of Eric, who had already anticipated the outcome, everyone else seemed momentarily struck dumb. There was a brief pause before someone started clapping, leading to a thunderous ovation that echoed throughout the International Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel.

As the applause rolled on, the three hesitant leading ladies approached the podium, where they all verified the list in Michael Douglas's hand before they finally felt at ease.

After receiving the trophy, Jodie Foster and Sigourney Weaver graciously allowed the eldest among them, Shirley MacLaine, to take the lead in giving an acceptance speech.

Shirley MacLaine, a perennial figure in Hollywood, was fifty-five years old. She made her debut in the 1950s and reached her peak in the 60s and 70s, having already secured Oscars, Golden Globes, and top honors from both the Venice Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival. The fact that she had never snagged the Best Actress award at Cannes remained a significant regret for her. Curiously, despite a string of nominations and wins at other events, MacLaine had never been nominated for Cannes.

With a smile, she stepped up to the microphone holding her trophy, eloquently starting her remarks: "This really is an unexpected result..."

Following the Best Actress category, the winners for Best Actor and Best Picture came as no surprise to most. Rain Man undoubtedly took home the two most significant awards in the drama category. This film, which had banked on both accolades and discussions about autism, was likely to see a box office rebound soon.

Unlike the original timeline, however, Rain Man had only garnered just over $40 million after five weeks of release, particularly in the lucrative Christmas-to-New Year window.

Rain Man, despite never dazzling at the box office, managed to capture the weekly box office crown only once during its long twenty-five-week run, spending much of the time scraping by.

Fortunately, during the lengthy "harvest," Rain Man didn't find itself up against any blockbuster competitors or unexpected success stories. The star power of Tom Cruise, along with his continual collection of minor awards around the globe, ultimately saw Rain Man topping $170 million at the box office.

Now, however, that scenario wasn't likely to repeat. Rain Man faced fierce competition from the still-strong Home Alone and 17 Again from the get-go, leading to lower ticket sales. Achieving a six-month run was improbable under these circumstances, especially with Eric's Pretty Woman looming on the horizon.

Likewise, other films released during the holiday season were expected to see a significant drop in box office numbers compared to 1988's top ten. Titles like Twins and Midnight Run, along with the Best Comedy winner of the night, Working Girl, were all set to fall short.

After all, there were only so many ticket buyers to go around. The holiday gross for the last two months of 1988 amounted to around $600 million, with Home Alone and 17 Again taking over $200 million -- over one-third of the total. The outlook for other films' box office results was quite grim.

Once Barry Levinson, the director of Rain Man, stepped up to accept the award for Best Drama, the three-hour live broadcast of the Golden Globes formally concluded. All the stars present let out a collective sigh of relief, stretching their stiff bodies from sitting too long as they began to exit the auditorium. Of course, they weren't headed straight home. Numerous parties hosted by major film studios awaited them in other banquet halls at the Hilton.

...

As Eric and Drew prepared to leave, Penny Marshall approached them. "Hey, Eric! Fox is having a party on the third floor. Are you coming?"

"Thanks for the invite, Penny, but I'm afraid I can't make it," Eric replied, shaking his head.

Penny Marshall studied Eric's expression and noted, "Eric, you're not bummed out because you didn't win, are you? You're only eighteen! There will be plenty more opportunities. Look at me; I'm leaving empty-handed tonight too."

Eric certainly didn't feel disheartened; the ultimate goal of these awards events was financial gain. One glance at the Best Picture nominees confirmed that both films were still in theaters. Truth be told, Home Alone was the biggest winner that year at the box office.

"Not at all, Penny. It's just that I have to get up early tomorrow. Pretty Woman's release schedule is tight, and I need to make the most of my time."

Penny resignedly hugged Eric goodbye. "We'll catch up later. You're so young -- why are you working so hard? I heard you've been burning the midnight oil lately."

Eric returned her hug. "If I don't push myself while I'm young, when am I supposed to?"

"Wow, you sound just like a middle-aged person who's been through the wringer. Where do you get all those feelings from?"

Eric smiled without responding, saying his goodbyes to Tom Hanks and the others before leaving the Hilton with a reluctant Drew.

...

Once they hit the road, Eric glanced at the sulking Drew in the passenger seat and said cheerily, "Alright, kiddo, no pouting! You didn't pack an extra outfit. If you get your dress dirty at the party, we'll have to pay full price for a replacement."

Drew scrunched her little nose in playful annoyance and mimicked Penny Marshall's tone, "Wow, you sound just like a tight-fisted middle-aged man! I wonder what you're doing with all that money you're making."

"Now that you mention it," Eric said, raising an eyebrow, "I received the bill for that credit card I gave you the other day. I didn't realize you could spend so much. Looks like I'll have to ask Kepler to take you for a drug test tomorrow. If you let me down..."

Drew showed no sign of concern as she leaned closer, her eyes shining with mischief. "Eric, what are you going to do? Lock me in the basement without clothes or food? With whips, dripping wax, a wooden horse...? Wow, I didn't know you were so wicked, and I'm not even an adult yet."

"..."

"Okay, okay, I'll confess! Before Christmas, when you were gone, I invited a few classmates over for a party, and I may have gone a bit overboard with my spending."

Eric slightly relaxed his expression but still asked, "Do you really need that much for one party?"

"That's all your fault," she replied with a newfound assertiveness. "You and Aniston had that beautiful street shoot that got me jealous, so I impulsively had a case of '53 Petrus sent over."

Petrus from '53 -- a whole case of it!

Eric felt the urge to give this irresponsible girl a proper tongue-lashing just like she had suggested earlier.

He unconsciously licked his dry lips. "Did you... finish it all?"

Drew blinked her striking green eyes and nodded. "Uh-huh."

"At least it wasn't... the money was not for... drugs," Eric took a deep breath and finally found some point of 'relief.' "Good news, good news."

...

Wilshire Hotel Restaurant.

The scene featuring Edward playing the piano in the restaurant unfolded late at night. After negotiations between the crew and the hotel, they temporarily replaced the thick curtains that blocked out all light, allowing the lighting technician to create a true night-time ambiance.

"Actors in position, action."

...

In a wide shot, several disinterested waitstaff loitered in the restaurant, organizing their things, smoking, and whispering among themselves.

Edward paid no mind to whether they listened to his playing. He leaned heavily over the piano, his lips pursed, emanating a strong sense of weariness and disillusionment.

The rapid notes echoed the turmoil in Edward's heart.

...

Eric watched Al's performance intently through the monitor. His own music education was novice at best, so he couldn't assess Al Pacino's skill level, but he sensed that Al's solo was smooth, with the camera effectively capturing the emotion.

He glanced at his musical supervisor, Howard Norton, who was called in specifically to guide this shoot. If Al's playing fell short, Howard would handle the scoring. Judging by Howard's frequent nods, it seemed Al's piano solo satisfied him.

As time progressed, Vivian, dressed in a bathrobe, quietly approached Edward from behind, just as Edward's piano piece was reaching its conclusion. Vivian wore a smile, listening intently with her arms crossed.

"Cut! Very well done!" Eric called out, unable to resist bursting into applause, which was then echoed by a few scattered claps throughout the room.

*****

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