Mary's smile was bright and radiant, sweet and pure.
She kindly and warmly pointed toward the direction of the coffee table next to the sofa, indicating there was a pen there.
However, Joel didn't immediately turn his head but glanced at Mary one more time.
This smile was different from any previous expression; it appeared so clear and bright, without any impurities, instantly dragging his thoughts back to his school days—a time of simplicity, without interests or games, just pure and straightforward.
It felt familiar.
Their gazes briefly met in the air.
It wasn't ambiguous or lingering, yet there was a strange sense of déjà vu, as if they had known each other in another life.
But, in the end, it was just an illusion.
Joel only paused for a moment, just a brief second, then he withdrew his gaze. He found a spot on the sofa, huddled his shoulders, pulled his legs together, and curled up in the corner, trying his best to make his presence disappear.
Mary noticed the entire scene.
She was slightly taken aback, her smile lingering at the corners of her mouth without any particular emotion, then she too looked away and busied herself once again.
Perfect! Brilliant! Wonderful!
One exchange of glances, subtly revealing a feeling of timelessness, but it stopped just at the right moment, not offering any more possibilities. A brief contact, quickly broken off, like a wave that had just begun to rise before being smoothed out.
Everything was perfect, it couldn't have been better.
Michel almost wanted to scream with excitement—
This was exactly what he had been dreaming of.
Although it was a bit mischievous, Michel didn't want to ruin the integrity of the film; otherwise, he wouldn't have hesitated to ask Charlie for his opinion. He knew himself that this unnecessary detail wasn't professional.
And now, it not only satisfied Michel's playful little idea of inserting an Easter egg but also maintained the quality of the film.
Michel couldn't be happier!
"Cut."
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Michel habitually waited a moment to avoid breaking the actors' immersion, allowing them to stay in the atmosphere of the scene for a bit longer.
Then, on the monitor, you could see—
Mary was busy, continuing to stick names and addresses on the manila envelopes. But amidst her busy movements, there was a brief pause in her actions and her gaze.
She didn't look up, just stayed in the moment, her eyes focused on the envelope, her focus slightly scattered, as if lost in thought.
It lasted only a millisecond.
In that brief moment, Mary resumed her busy work.
No change in expression, no extra movements, just a brief pause, but you could see the thoughts churning, as if she was trying to recall a memory, but in the end, she failed.
So.
She didn't dwell on it, throwing those scattered thoughts out of her mind, concentrating on her work.
That pause alone made the entire scene more complete.
In a way, this wasn't just an Easter egg for Peter Parker and Mary Jane or Joel and Mary's interaction. It was a setup for the next scene—
It was clear that Mary seemed to sense fragments of memories floating in her mind. It wasn't just a common moment of déjà vu in life; there was something more.
But Mary hadn't figured it out yet and hadn't linked it to the "Memory Clinic." Like missing something obvious, she ignored her own state.
Then, there was nothing more. Perhaps this is what people experience in everyday life—the moments of déjà vu we've all had before.
Easter egg, foreshadowing, and details.
Everything was there, not only satisfying Michel's mischievous streak but also making the film's narrative more seamless and complete. Both characters and plot were enriched.
"Cut!"
Michel couldn't hold back any longer, excitement and joy bursting forth as he stood up, cheering like a volcano erupting.
At this moment, no words of praise were necessary.
Applause!
Michel raised his hands above his head, generously giving a round of applause to the two actors, clapping joyfully, excitedly, and ecstatically—
Kristen was outstanding, exceptionally outstanding. A little more would have been overdone, a little less wouldn't have hit the mark. The structure and outline of the character were clear and complete, absolutely deserving of applause.
And Anson didn't steal the spotlight, contentedly playing the supporting role, staying true to the character without drawing attention away, yet subtly adding depth to Joel with every small gesture.
Most importantly, they nailed it in one take.
One take captured all the details and emotions, even with the early "action" and delayed "cut," perfectly blending the on-screen and off-screen emotions.
Not just the actors, the entire crew could enjoy working under such conditions.
Words paled in comparison.
Michel led the applause, his smile beaming without reservation.
The crew, however, looked puzzled, glancing at the director with confusion:
Excuse me, were Kristen and Anson trying to present a reunion between Mary Jane and Peter Parker after breaking the fourth wall?
Some appreciated this kind of playful approach, others didn't. You could tell from the crew's reactions. But seeing the director's joy, smiles began to spread across their faces too—whether amused, confused, or just happy. Regardless, the atmosphere remained harmonious.
Kristen, still seated, let out a long breath, finally relaxing, glancing at Anson who had stood up and stretched not far away.
They exchanged a glance, but this time, unlike in the film—
It was pure understanding.
Kristen gave Anson a thumbs-up, thanking him in her own way for guiding her. She knew that although the scene seemed simple and relaxed, without Anson's guidance and response, her performance wouldn't have felt so effortless.
Anson spread his hands, as if basking in a wave of praise, graciously accepting Kristen's thanks.
His posture made Kristen burst out laughing, clapping her hands.
As expected, the filming went smoothly.
The most crucial and core part was the actors' deep understanding of their roles, the plot, and the atmosphere. They established a framework and outline for their characters according to their abilities, ensuring they could always find the right entry point into their roles.
For Michel, this was most important.
Because the script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was complex and intricate, they had to shoot out of sequence. One scene could be filled with affection, while the next might be heartbreaking. Moreover, Charlie's script wasn't fully completed, so both the actors and the crew had to figure things out as they went along.
This made the filming process especially fragmented.
If the actors didn't have a clear and thorough understanding of their characters and the plot, they might get confused mid-shoot, not even knowing what they were acting out. For the crew, that would have been a disaster.
But now?
With actors like Anson and Kate leading the way, everyone knew their place, and even with the shuffled timeline and storyline, it didn't matter—it was a huge help.
The chemistry and interaction between the actors were a pleasant surprise. Not only were the young actors in sync, but veterans like Tom Wilkinson were also humble and accommodating. None of the anticipated issues arose; the set was filled with laughter, lighthearted and relaxed.
Because of this, even when facing some setbacks, the crew could quickly adjust, helping each other out to ensure the shoot went smoothly.
Amid the tight shooting schedule, it was actually New York's unpredictable weather that caused the most trouble, something they hadn't anticipated.