Anson didn't hide his concern, firing off question after question, trying to find any clue from Jack's expression to answer his doubts.
This time, Jack seemed briefly stunned, not quite understanding Anson's worry. After a moment of hesitation, he responded, waving his hands with a big smile, "No, no, everything's fine. I'm okay."
"Well, not totally fine. During Christmas, my mom's old habit kicked in again. She felt soft-hearted, said holidays are the loneliest, and she couldn't resist calling that man. God!"
"But that man was too drunk to even answer the phone. Otherwise, who knows what would've happened. Thankfully, Mom was worried I'd find out, so she snuck out to use a payphone. If I hadn't noticed her shoes were all covered in snow, I wouldn't have even known she went out. But at least this way, that man couldn't call back."
Halfway through, Jack took a deep breath.
Even though his words were simple, you could sense the turbulent emotions behind them. Clearly, things weren't that simple. Even though they had escaped New York, the shadow of violence still loomed over them, always threatening to upend their lives.
Jack's young, fragile shoulders were almost at their breaking point.
But.
Before Anson could speak, Jack smiled again and waved his hand. "Don't worry, everything's fine now. No need to stress."
Then, he changed the subject.
"I came to San Francisco because my class is on a holiday trip. We're all here for three days and two nights. I've always wanted to see the outside world, so I worked part-time to save up the money and signed up."
"This is my first class trip."
As he spoke, joy began to radiate from his face. At that moment, Jack's youth and innocence were evident, the way a high schooler should be.
Yet, beneath his words, you could still detect the strength and courage of a boy taking charge of his life.
Anson tilted his chin slightly, a trace of doubt in his eyes. "So, why are you guys out here so late at night?"
"To see a movie," Jack answered without hesitation, the words spilling out.
After a pause, Jack looked embarrassed. "We were planning to see a midnight show, because we heard the midnight shows here…"
He mumbled something but couldn't bring himself to finish.
Midnight shows are a world of their own. Some theaters, to attract audiences, get creative, turning them into playgrounds for niche movie fans with themes like horror, sci-fi, gore, and more, all shining in the cover of night.
But what really made them famous was their original and most straightforward meaning:
Restrictions.
In other words, movies that minors aren't allowed to watch.
Back in the 80s, midnight shows were all the rage. Underage viewers would sneak into theaters during the ticket-seller's sleepy moments, eager to peek into the adult world, making it a thrill-seeking adventure.
Sadly, after the 2000s, chain theaters became more dominant, squeezing independent theaters out of business. Operating midnight shows became too expensive. Add to that the rise of VHS rentals and internet downloads, and the tradition of midnight shows slowly faded into history.
In small cities like Portland, unless there's a summer blockbuster premiere, midnight shows have become rare. After 10 p.m., the city falls asleep under the night sky. What little nightlife there is exists in bars, and theaters are no longer the go-to place for young people.
However, in a big city like San Francisco, where nightlife thrives, some theaters still keep the tradition alive.
Seeing Jack's slightly awkward and shy expression, Anson didn't need any more explanation.
Anson tilted his chin again. "An adventure?"
Jack grabbed onto the lifeline, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, an adventure."
"Haha," Anson couldn't help but laugh out loud. "So, you already saw one movie, and now you're waiting for the midnight show? What's playing tonight?"
Jack mumbled something under his breath, not loud enough to be heard.
Seeing Jack like this was rare. It was clear: he was still just a kid.
A smile tugged at Anson's lips, but he held it back, not wanting to embarrass Jack further. Instead, he sincerely offered, "Do you need me to help buy tickets?"
For midnight shows, most films have strict age ratings, making it hard for minors to purchase tickets—
Which is why it's an adventure.
First, you have to figure out how to get in.
Second, even if you manage to sit inside, there's a chance someone will patrol during the movie, grabbing underage viewers by the collar and throwing them out, so you can't let your guard down.
Naturally, being able to watch a midnight show and stick it out till the end instantly boosts your status among friends.
Jack jerked his head up, almost about to nod, but stopped himself just in time. "No, better not."
As if suddenly remembering something, his cheeks flushed, and his ears turned bright red.
That look, clear as day, said it all.
Anson did his best to suppress his smile, trying not to expose the teenager's little secret—
Even though he still looked like a college student on the outside, Anson's soul was already mature enough to know that giving teenagers some space was the right thing to do.
So.
Anson spread his hands. "Whatever the case, I hope your adventure goes well."
Just then.
There was a noise behind them. Anson looked back and stood up from the bench to check:
Lucas had returned, carrying a bunch of stuff.
Without turning around, Anson said to Jack, "Oh, my brother's here. Hold on, I'll introduce you guys."
"Hey, Lucas, need any help?"
Popcorn. Soda. And two bags of chips.
Clearly, Lucas hadn't forgotten Anson's favorite, using chips to bribe him like a kid.
But it worked. A smile crept back onto Anson's face. "Lucas, I swear I won't tell Mom."
Lucas rolled his eyes at Anson and stayed silent.
Anson picked up a bag of chips, ready to tear it open, while Lucas, seeing his hands full and realizing the "young master" in front of him had no intention of helping, sighed in resignation.
Anson didn't forget Jack. "Lucas, this is Jack, a friend I made while filming Catch Me If You Can in New York—"
Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
Back then, Anson had met Jack while filming Catch Me If You Can in New York, and now Jack was here at the theater to watch Catch Me If You Can, forming a perfect circle.
Lucas looked at Anson, puzzled. "Where's your friend?"
Anson: ?
His smile froze as he turned around to look behind him. There was no one. Jack was gone.
Anson glanced over to the other side of the bench. It was empty, no sign of anyone.
What's going on?
Anson was just as confused. "Did his friends call him away? Or…"
Maybe he's shy. Doesn't want to make new friends.
It reminded him of last time on the Elephant set, when Jack didn't want to socialize with the crew.
The words were on the tip of his tongue but swallowed back. After scanning the area again and confirming there was no sign of Jack or any other students, Anson looked back at Lucas.
"Sorry, you're just too scary. You scared off my friend."
Lucas: … Whatever makes you happy.