Chapter 355: Let Me Hold You a Little Longer

[Chapter 355: Let Me Hold You a Little Longer]

Jennifer Connelly knew the joke about men taking women to watch horror movies, so she shot a glance at him, and asked, "Is there a copy of Ghost? I heard that movie is really good, but I haven't had the chance to see it in theaters. If you have it, let's check it out. Oh, and I also heard that the song in the movie is really nice."

"Sure, I just happened to bring a copy back," Eric replied, stepping forward to quickly find a copy of Ghost. After setting it up on the film projector and dimming the theater lights, he settled back onto the sofa with the lady beside him.

...

The special copy lacked any studio logos at the start. The screen opened with a long shot, accompanied by music akin to the original horror film score, crafting a suspenseful atmosphere for over a minute. Seeing this intro, ninety-nine percent of the audience would likely think the story was going to unfold in that eerie old house.

As the suspense reached its peak, there came a loud crash as the wall was broken through, creating a sudden shift in atmosphere that made it feel as if one had leaped from hell to earth.

Eric made no alterations to this opening sequence. It was undeniable that any movie which had once performed box office miracles possessed something unique about it. Ghost's opening was particularly captivating, and although viewers at the end often complained that this tear-jerking love story wasted such an incredible opening, there was no doubt it grabbed the audience's attention firmly in that minute. It would have been hard for such a film not to succeed.

In the first few minutes, the plot seemed rather simple, mainly revolving around Sam, Molly, and Carl's conversations. However, from their dialogue, it became clear what type of personalities each character had.

Sam was an ambitious investment banking manager, Molly a romantic artist, and Carl, a bit of a materialist, immediately thought about making money when he saw the vast space behind the wall. He openly expressed his envy for the Lamborghini parked roadside, stating he would own such a luxury car one day. These brief shots sketched Carl's intense desire for wealth, laying the groundwork for his ensuing madness, a common subtle foreshadowing device in films. Many of those seemingly pointless shots would reveal their hints after the audience reflected on the film.

While Eric couldn't help but scrutinize the film through a director's lens, Jennifer Connelly, who leaned quietly against him, was primarily focused on Bridget Fonda. She often found herself imagining how she would perform in some of the scenes if they were hers. After nearly ten minutes, however, she felt Bridget's performance lacked anything particularly special, wondering if she herself could have interpreted the role of Molly even better.

With these thoughts, Jennifer sneaked a glance at Eric, who was engrossed in the screen. Compared to a year ago, when they last met, she realized she had completely lost track of this man's thoughts. Just like Ghost's lead character, why wouldn't he want to give her a try?

The plot finally reached its first climax on a sleepless night. With the tune of Oh, My Love, stunning visuals, and the passionate performances of the leads drew Connelly into the movie, easing some of her small anxieties.

After Sam discovered inconsistencies in some accounts and changed his password, it led to his demise. As a ghost, Sam didn't go to heaven but lingered on earth, faithfully watching over Molly. Compared to Patrick Swayze in the original, Nicolas Cage portrayed Sam with much more nuance, perfectly capturing the feelings of confusion, anxiety, and longing after he became a spirit.

Whoopi Goldberg's appearance added a warm color to this sad story. Her typical chatter, which could easily annoy, instead created a sense of comfort.

Eventually, Sam unraveled the mystery behind his murder, and after some twists, he finally proved to Molly that he was still present in the living world. The moment they embraced again, The Righteous Brothers' voice seemed to pierce their hearts. Eric noticed tears shimmering in the corners of Jennifer's eyes as he tightened his embrace around her.

...

"I really hope they don't end up together," the lady whispered into Eric's shoulder after the movie ended, no longer fussing over the female lead but instead submerged in a gentle sadness.

Eric was moved by the film's storyline as well. Hearing her words, he gently replied, "There will always be regrets. It's the imperfection of beauty that lingers in our memory."

In the dim movie theater, they sat in silence for a moment, locking eyes before quickly leaning in for a kiss.

After a while, as they separated and exchanged glances, Connelly suddenly smiled, "It feels like I've returned to reality."

"Welcome back," Eric replied with a grin, fully understanding the meaning behind her words. "Want to watch it again?"

Connelly shook her head, "No need. I've memorized all the plot points. I must say, you really shot a lovely film."

"Thank you for the compliment," Eric said as he stood up to remove the Ghost reel from the projector, looking at Connelly, "So what should we watch next?"

"Home Alone 2 -- I've seen the first one, and it seemed more geared toward kids. I think the second one might be more suitable for both adults and kids," Connelly considered for a moment before responding to Eric.

Eric nodded, searching for the reel of Home Alone 2 while explaining, "This sequel was intended to tap into the adult market, and the future third and fourth films will likely do the same."

...

Morning sunlight streamed into the bedroom as Eric woke up, looking down at Connelly curled up like a cat in his arms.

Feeling Eric's movement, Jennifer Connelly quickly stirred awake.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he greeted.

"Morning," she replied lazily, glancing at Eric and saying, "Should we get up?"

"Let me hold you a while longer," Eric whispered.

*****

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