[After two weeks - February 2nd, 2020]

(A/N: Covid passed and the universe survived…?!)

“Fuck, there’s just going to be thirty more minutes and people would fill in one after another. Aren’t you excited?” John asked while looking at Ian, who had his eyes on the blank black huge screen in front of him.

“What do you mean? After so many movies… I’d be just excited for this one, small one?” Ian asked back shocking John.

An awkward silence passed between them, the shocking expression on John’s face remained like that for a while before Ian took his phone and clicked a picture.

“This is going to go viral, and…” He burst out laughing like a madman. “The look on your face—-priceless!”

“You got me! You got me…. Ian, but I’m coming for you. But seriously though, what’s going on in your head?” John asked back.

“I’m excited, nervous, and a lot of things. My last two movies were fucking compared and put down by people below the value it deserves. So I’m hoping that this would make it up for it,” Ian said.

The way that the last two movies even including Home Alone compared to Avatar and were talked about in social media about how the movie isn’t as great as Avatar or how it lacks in the department of VFX.

After an entire series of succession, the fear anyone could bubble up in their gut is a failure. Even a little disappointment in their expectations could often lead to what Ian felt during the trip to France.

Then back from there, he knew and felt how much he grew as a person. Much to his pleasure, he started digging deeper and deeper into theories, skills, and things that he thought he lacked as a director.

Then, after learning not only the scripts but also how many skills and a good eye for directing are important as a director, he was back with Fast and Furious.

The entire process for The Fast and The Furious included putting everything he learned into practice. Putting everything he knew to work.

After weeks of hard work, sweat, and tears (especially from some actors who worked on the set, crying over a single scene) he was satisfied with his work. This was why, this entire first day in a theatre scenario scared him off.

“Fuck, for real though. I have no idea why people thought that Home Alone wasn’t good. It was equally or was better than the first movie,” John sipped on his glass of wine that he had. “Anyhow, I’m pretty sure that this movie is going to be one of the best. And I sure as heck know you’ve your eyes on a prize for this one,” He smiled.

Although this new soul with new thoughts was comparatively new to John, in a way, Ian was the same man John thought he was. Someone who won’t shed a single sweat without wanting something in return—simply, success.

“True, and I can’t agree more. Let’s wait a bit more and see how this goes. Wanna bet?”

“Alright, you bet. I need your car. The black one, the one you bought a week ago. Fuck, she was hot,” John said with a smirk.

John was not someone who a random person would take as a model. He had a huge belly and a face that a kid would get scared of easily. The best option is to take his bare face to a Halloween party and win the best costume. Nevertheless, the way any man could love a good car—he did.

“What? Bro, what are we betting on? Am I saying that my movie wouldn’t be liked by these people?” Ian asked back, horrified.

“Your words not mine,” John replied.

“Alright, I’m going to say that… Fuck, I’d need you to assist in directing my next movie alright? That’s the bet and let’s bet on the reactions?”

John smirked knowing what Ian was planning.

-

“Why are we here? I thought I’d get something spicy for our first anniversary…” A guy whispered to his girl, who had her back pressed against his.

“Yeah, you asked for spicy so here it is babe,” the girl replied and smiled cheekily at him.

“What do you mean? Bro, we’re literally in a line to go inside a movie theater, and that too, on our anniversary. Why on Earth are we together again? I would’ve taken you for a long drive, a romantic dinner, and some good time when we’re back in the apartment. Instead… Perfect.”

The guy talked clearly annoyed by how his girlfriend was acting in the middle of the queue where people were waiting till the main entrance opened. These people were invited to the first show of the movie Fast and the Furious as a marketing strategy.

It was from a little game where they gave away tickets for the people who had collected tickets from any of Ian’s movies. That worked so well that they got so many entries for the competition. Somehow, this girl who the guy is dreading from behind had tried her best to get into the game with seven other friends and finally won a pair of tickets for the movie.

“Either you shut up and follow or leave me here and I watch the movie alone. Here I thought you’d be a man about it,” she said with a scoff.

“Man about what?”

“See, that’s not how you talk to me. Learn my way or no way,” she said and shrugged without giving a fuck about the whining guy.

[...] The movie started a short while after they took their seats. The guy finally gave in and agreed to watch after getting to know it was about street racing and knowing that the director is none other than Ian Renner, the man who made movies that almost anyone with good taste buds could enjoy.

“This is going to be fucking enjoyable,” he whispered in her ear.

“Says you, shut up and watch,” she shook her head while the movie started making everyone go silent.

-

“Bets on screams, and maybe a loud… Thank you, Ian,” Ian whispered to John.

The move was finally in the end, and Ian was trying to put the bet in a more specific place. In simple terms, he wanted to get John’s help with his next movie. Although John left the industry for a long time, he knew that once a director always a director and as Ian’s closest friend, he got the urge to make him work with him at least once.

To make things much easier, the facial expressions along with the reactions from the audience were exactly how he had expected.

“Sure, I’m looking forward to the words from someone, and I so fucking hope that no one yells your name. I want that car,” John whispered and sat back in the chair.

“Buy one. You’ve enough wealth-”

“Wouldn’t be the same. I want to win it,” John smirked.

“Game is on, John.”

The black screen started to light up again, and the next thing that played was the director’s cut.

There was a video of Ian explaining a lot of things related to the movie. In between, there were also funny moments where everyone joined in to get a good laugh.

“So, right this way… We have… 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse.

1993 Mazda RX-7.

1970 Dodge Charger R/T.

1995 Honda Civic Coupe.

1995 Volkswagen Jetta A3.

1996 Nissan 240SX S14.

“Oh, and not to mention…. The 1997 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R.

2001 Honda S2000… 1994 Honda Integra and last but not least on this side, the 2001 Ford F150 Lightning

“What was the question again?” Felix asked from the camera after showing the cars that were behind him. “Oh okay, so according to me… This movie definitely is Loaded with action from start to finish – including drag racing, police chases, car jumping, explosions, and plenty of nitrous. Somehow, I definitely think that you’ve got to watch, if you are, go on spread the word on how good this was!” He replied with a smile.

Once again the script shifted the focus from Felix to Ian, and he started talking along with the stars, Diesel, and Walker.

The movie ended and everyone started clapping and cheering making the corners of Ian’s lips curl in happiness.

“THAT WAS SO GOOOD!”

“Oh wow! GOOD JOB, IAN!”

“Free tickets for such a movie! Hey, what good did I do?!”

“Fuck! This was our anniversary and y’all! The movie made it up for a year of bearing her words!” the guy from the couple yelled and then grunted when he earned a punch in his gut.

“IS THAT IAN RENNER?!”

Two girls who looked at where the light of the theatre focused on, saw Ian Renner with John—Smiling from ear to ear. She screamed and the other girl joined her soon after.

“Alright, let me know when you’re free. We’ll talk about the plot,” Ian smirked and waved to the audience who yelled and kept thanking Ian in excitement.