Christmas at the Hayes farm in Eagle Lake was a bustling, joyous affair this year. The house overflowed with family and friends, a warm counterpoint to the cool Texas December outside. Nancy and her husband Edward were there with their daughter Janet, along with Nancy's parents. Edward's parents, Carla and Tom Jones, had also made the trip. Martha's parents added to the mix, blending warmly with John Hayes's guests – three of his old Navy SEAL buddies, swapping stories and laughter. John Hayes himself seemed more relaxed on his home turf, with Martha expertly managing the large gathering, and baby Sofia, the undisputed center of attention whenever she wasn't napping, gurgling happily. For Alex, whose own mother's parents had passed away young and whose father was an orphan, these sprawling family gatherings curated by Martha and John felt boisterous, welcoming, and deeply needed.
As the eighteen people gathered around the long, laden dinner table for Christmas Eve supper, the conversation flowed easily, covering everything from farm life to Navy stories to the latest holiday toys. Inevitably, the topic turned to Alex and his exploding film career.
"So, Alex," asked one of his father's SEAL buddies, a sturdy man named Frank, "what's next on the docket for you? Got another blockbuster lined up after this latest one?" He winked. "Have to admit, didn't picture myself watching high school movies," he added jokingly, "but my daughter, Katie? She dragged me to see 10 Things, said she wouldn't miss an Alex Hayes movie for the world. Huge fan. She desperately wanted to come meet you, but her mom took her to the grandparents' place today. I'm joining them tomorrow."
Alex smiled. "Glad she liked it. Well, next year, Risky Business will be coming out." He paused, then added with a mischievous look towards Frank, "Might want to screen that one first before you let Katie see it, though."
Frank looked puzzled. "Why's that?"
"Well," Alex said casually, "there's some nudity. Quite a bit, actually."
Frank flushed slightly, muttering an embarrassed "Ah, right, okay then," as a ripple of amusement went around the table.
Changing the subject slightly, Edward's father, Tom Jones, leaned forward curiously. "Alex, I've always wondered, purely from a technical standpoint, you understand... how does one film those, ah, intimate love scenes? Must be rather awkward, I imagine?"
Alex took a bite of roast lamb before answering, seemingly unfazed. "You want to know the secret to filming a passionate love scene, Tom?" he asked, chewing thoughtfully. "Try being passionate with about twenty crew members – sound guys, lighting grips, cameramen, the director – all standing five feet away, watching your every move." He shrugged. "Mostly, it's just incredibly uncomfortable."
A wave of laughter filled the room, breaking any lingering awkwardness.
"But what's the next actual project you're working on?" Martha asked, steering the conversation back.
"I just signed on for a film called Footloose," Alex replied. "But it's still in the very early stages. They're working on casting, locations... I'm the only one officially attached right now, so it'll be a while before it starts shooting."
"Ah, but you're forgetting the other one, Alex," Nancy interjected smoothly from down the table. "The one you're doing before that. With John Hughes again?"
"Really? With the director from 10 Things?" Martha asked, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, I enjoyed that one so much!"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, it's another project with John." He hesitated slightly. "Honestly, though, my role in this one is... well, it's more of an eye-candy part," he admitted with a self-deprecating smile. "The story is really about a girl, navigating the days leading up to her sixteenth birthday. I just play the popular senior guy she has a crush on."
"So did you collaborate on this screenplay with Hughes as well? Like you guided the writer on the last one?" John asked his son.
"No, not really," Alex clarified. "I read the script, loved it. I made a couple of minor suggestions – changing some dialogue that felt off for the character, tweaking one scene I wasn't comfortable with – but that's it. This one is pure John Hughes."
A ripple of confusion went around the large table. Why would Alex Hayes, arguably the biggest young star in the world, take a seemingly smaller role?
Nancy fielded the unspoken question. "Alex read the script and simply thought it was a fantastic movie," she explained calmly. "He loved the story, loved the characters. He just wanted to be part of it, regardless of the size of his role."
Nods of understanding went around the table; it seemed like a refreshingly grounded decision. Until Janet, never shy, piped up, "So, if it's a smaller part, how much are you getting paid for it?"
All eyes turned back to Alex. He took a sip of his cola. "Well, the filming should only take about two weeks for my character. And I'm actually not getting paid an upfront salary for it." He let that sink in before adding, "Instead, I have a deal for three percent of the domestic box office gross."
Silence fell for a moment as people processed this unusual arrangement. Frank, the SEAL buddy, asked hesitantly, "Three percent... what does that actually mean, money-wise?"
Nancy fielded this one again, her agent instincts kicking in. "Well, it depends entirely on how well the film performs," she explained clearly. "But just as an example, if the movie were to cross, say, fifty million dollars domestically – which is certainly possible for a John Hughes film after 10 Things' success – then Alex's three percent share would be one point five million dollars."
A collective intake of breath could be heard around the table. Everyone, except Nancy's family and Alex's family, stared at Alex in astonishment. They all knew he was successful, making good money, but the casual mention of potentially earning over a million dollars for two weeks' work on a supporting role was staggering. A nineteen-year-old kid making that kind of money... it was almost incomprehensible.
Breaking the stunned silence, Martha asked, "What's the movie called, dear?"
Alex smiled, taking another sip of his cola. "Sixteen Candles."