Hollywood: From Razzie to Legend

Moving day wasn't hard for Hugo. Even with both his and Joseph's luggage, it only took one trip to move everything. But with only a single mattress belonging to Hugo in the new place and not even a clothes hanger the truly troublesome part would be buying basic household items.

"I thought you'd keep renting with me it'd be more convenient for work?" Hugo had assumed Joseph rented the three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment with the intent to continue sharing, since Joseph's situation was even worse than his own Hugo knew exactly how low his commission was.

But to Hugo's surprise, Joseph wasn't moving in with him. He rented the other three-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor above Hugo's place, which left Hugo puzzled. "Or are you planning to move in with a girlfriend?" Hugo suddenly asked, considering that possibility.

Joseph laughed wryly. "It's not like that. Kal's in trouble right now you know no one at the company is helping him. He can't afford next month's rent. Since I'm moving, he's coming too. He can barely pay the first two months. If it's not enough, I'll cover it and let him pay me back later."

Since the apartment was unfurnished, rent was $1,500 per month. Split three ways, that's $500 each. But on Hugo's floor, there were only two residents yet, so he'll temporarily pay $750 until the third roommate arrives. Joseph filled all three rooms upstairs, easing kal's burden.

Kal El Hugo remembered seeing him at the company doing nothing. Hugo sighed. Kal wasn't lazy; he was a capable agent who just hadn't found his break yet. He didn't want to be idle either; he wanted opportunities.

That reminded Hugo of Charlize. He hadn't called her these past days: eight calls, all unanswered. Perhaps no fate, so no need to force it. After all, this is Hollywood. He liked Charlize, but only as a crush there wasn't enough time to develop real feelings.

If Charlize signed with Kal, that would be good for both. Hugo thought this simply as a friend.

"And when renting out this place, the landlord specified roommates must be actors," Joseph added not surprising. In Los Angeles, there are plenty of actors, but also people in other professions. Actors have unstable schedules. If they lived with 9-to-5 workers, it could cause friction. Actors living together reduces trouble good for harmony, good for the landlord.

That's why Joseph didn't live with Hugo; he moved upstairs. The distance is close, and work won't be a problem.

Hugo glanced at the first door on the left; it stood ajar but he hadn't seen anyone. "Maybe he's either working or at an audition. I've been here twice now and haven't met him." Hugo hadn't yet met his future roommate; he didn't even know what he looked like hard to judge from just a pair of gorilla boxing shorts.

"Well, eventually we'll meet…" Hugo said, carrying his suitcase toward that room. After just two steps, a dizzy wave hit. Hugo staggered, dropped the suitcase, and started to gag.

Joseph, pulling his own suitcase behind him, heard it drop, turned, and saw Hugo doubled over. He rushed over, helped Hugo to the sofa, and looked at him with concern.

Joseph realized it was another withdrawal symptom attack. During Scent of a Woman, Hugo experienced four withdrawal episodes three at night in his room, and one at the film set, which halted production. Fortunately, time away from drugs had lessened the reactions, and that on-set incident wasn't too severe. The crew quickly adapted and he recovered.

Joseph respected Hugo for handling withdrawal—showing clear resolve to stay clean. Withdrawal weakened over time; after two months, Hugo had gone over a week symptom-free. Yet here it was again.

Joseph reminded himself that withdrawal can last a minimum of three months, with severe cases lasting six. Hugo still had a long journey ahead.

Hugo endured stomach cramps and cold sweats, slowly recovering. This attack wasn't as intense—just needed rest. He leaned weakly against the sofa, exhaled slowly, determined: no matter how hard it got, he wouldn't relapse.

Joseph nodded silently at Hugo's sweat-covered forehead. He stood, poured a glass of water, then decided warm water would be better. Searching the kitchen, he found an electric kettle, cleaned it, filled it, and set it on the stove.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Joseph couldn't help but shout from the kitchen.

Hugo sat in the living room and chuckled softly, fatigue hinted in the corners of his mouth. Hearing Joseph's voice echoed back at him was odd—but it made the new place feel real. "I've come this far. What's one more?" He'd pushed through worse and even during Scent of a Woman, he persevered.

Hearing Hugo's weak but sunny voice, Joseph stood in the kitchen watching the flames licking the bottom of the kettle, then let out a long breath.

"Hey, man, you made it." A stranger's voice came from the living room tired yet full of energy, the slightly high-pitched tone even carried a hint of excitement. "Oh my God, you're Hugo Lancaster! The landlord didn't tell me that the person renting the place was you!"

Joseph walked out from the kitchen and saw a young man bouncing excitedly next to the sofa, while Hugo remained slumped weakly on the couch, watching the young man as if he were watching a circus performance. The young man had a lean build—perhaps not quite six feet tall but at least five foot ten (1.78 meters). His features were very defined but slightly rounded, and along with his flowing curly hair, he gave off a certain French nonchalance, though not in a conventionally handsome way.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…" The young man couldn't contain his excitement—his rapid breathing even made one wonder if he might faint at any moment. It was the kind of reaction only a fan meeting their idol could logically explain; otherwise, it might've looked like a confrontation between love rivals. "Jesus, my new roommate is Hugo Lancaster. This is just unbelievable, oh God!"

"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Alexander, right?" Hugo sensed that the situation was getting a bit out of hand, so he frowned slightly, lips curling into a faint smile as he raised his voice to ask. He had learned from the landlord that his new roommate was named Alexander Lorraine, a twenty-year-old young man.

"Please call me Alex, please!" Alexander clasped his hands together, still wearing a dazed, overwhelmed expression. Hugo could even see glistening tears in his eyes, which left him rather confused was something wrong?

Joseph quickly stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Joseph, Hugo's agent."

Alex nodded vigorously, his tear-filled eyes nearly spilling over. "This is just so amazing, so amazing." He looked at Hugo with that misty-eyed gaze, full of emotion. "Dear Hugo, I really, really love your work. I've watched everything you've ever acted in—Diner, Dune, Dead Poets Society, Hudson Hawk… I truly admire your acting. I think you're a natural-born actor. In every movie, you've delivered outstanding performances. Believe me, I mean it. Even in Hudson Hawk, you were amazing. If it weren't for the awful script and the awful director, that film would've been a hit."

So that was it Hugo had actually run into a hardcore fan, which was quite a surprise. First of all, the fan was a guy; second, he was an actor; and third, he was Hugo's new roommate. The whole situation was rather intriguing.

"Even Quicksilver?" Joseph asked in disbelief.

"Yes, even Quicksilver! And The Chocolate War," Alex replied without hesitation, which truly surprised Joseph.

Joseph looked at Hugo and pressed his lips together, nodding slightly as if to say: Yep, he's a real fan.

Hugo felt it too, because even he wasn't sure what all his past self had acted in, yet Alex could list them one by one. That was no small feat especially his confidence in Hudson Hawk. That level of admiration said a lot.

"Uh, what should I say? If only you were a film critic?" Hugo's slightly rising tone was filled with uncertainty, but the teasing lilt made both Joseph and Alex chuckle.

Alex also seemed to realize how over-the-top he had been. He quickly shook his head. "Oh, Hugo, I like girls, don't worry. "

"Hahahaha…" This time, Hugo laughed heartily from the heart.

...

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