In the restaurant, a four-person table was tucked near the corner, with a man and a woman sitting across from each other.
Facing the entrance sat an elegant woman with chestnut-colored hair cut just past her ears. She wore a black turtleneck sweater, and though her long face lacked the soft curves typically associated with femininity, it carried a crisp, almost masculine smile. Her eyes, lined with faint wrinkles, sparkled with intelligence, and her slender fingers wrapped around a wine glass revealed a subtle elegance through the deep red of the wine.
The woman was speaking softly to the man across from her. He was an older gentleman wearing a dark blue-black shirt, his large frame easily shielding the woman from the view of anyone entering the restaurant. With his back to the entrance, only two-thirds of his bald head and his neatly groomed, graying goatee were visible; his cheek profile remained hidden.
The woman held her wine glass in her right hand and spoke quietly. Both of them laughed softly, their delicate smiles glowing like a gentle spring breeze under the restaurant's dim lighting.
When Hugo and Joseph entered, this scene greeted them. Joseph had already told Hugo that the woman was Nora Ephron, but Hugo still found it surreal. At fifty-one, Nora's elegance and poise made her age nearly invisible. She exuded the aura of a highly capable yet unassuming woman—a rare quality that could not be taught.
Although Nora's achievements did not reach the heights of Kathryn Bigelow, who became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director with The Hurt Locker, Nora had never received an Oscar nomination for directing either. She was nominated only as a screenwriter. Yet, alongside Nancy Meyers, she became a leading figure among female directors in Hollywood, using her delicate, romantic perspective to elevate the "chick flick" genre to unprecedented heights.
Nora's works included When Harry Met Sally…, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Julie & Julia. While not prolific, her career spanned twenty-six years—from 1983 to 2009—giving the romantic comedy genre a significance beyond mere entertainment and cementing it as an irreplaceable category in film history.
The Nora in front of Hugo exemplified all of that skill and presence. She clearly possessed the talent to command such a space.
Joseph lightly tapped Hugo's arm to bring him back to reality, and the two of them walked forward. Nora noticed Hugo first, then gave a signal to the older man—Rob Reiner—across from her. Both stood, expressing their welcome through this simple gesture.
"Hugo, thank you for meeting with me today," Nora said with a warm smile. After introductions and ordering, she began to speak carefully. "I don't know exactly what Rob told you, but from my perspective, you are not my first choice."
Direct, clear, and unhesitant—Nora expressed her stance from the very start. Rob smiled wryly; he clearly knew his friend's personality well. Joseph, on the other hand, was momentarily taken aback. His first instinct was to protest: "But you haven't even given Hugo a chance to speak, have you?"
Realizing his initial impatience, Joseph calmed himself and continued more measuredly, "I think you should at least talk with Hugo and wait until after dinner to make a final decision."
Hugo understood Joseph was acting in his capacity as an agent, so he remained patient. Before meeting Nora, Hugo might have reacted like Joseph—anxious or surprised—but after just a brief glance, Hugo recognized that a woman who had dominated Hollywood's male-centric world for over fifteen years possessed extraordinary skill and tenacity.
For Hugo, Nora agreeing to this dinner was already a form of opportunity. Regardless of whether her acceptance was due to Rob's influence or her own curiosity, and despite her earlier blunt dismissal, this dinner was her way of evaluating Hugo.
"Of course. Let's eat first," Nora said politely to Joseph, smiling. Then she turned slightly, curiosity in her gaze, and asked Hugo, "What do you think?"
"Absolutely," Hugo replied with a smile, "I'm already hungry and hoping my stomach growls won't bother the people at the next table." His tone was gentlemanly yet humorous, drawing a soft laugh from both Nora and Rob.
Joseph still watched Hugo with some concern but had calmed down. Like during A Few Good Men, this dinner was essentially a form of audition. Joseph could advocate for Hugo, but ultimately, winning the role depended on Hugo himself—after all, it was Hugo, not Joseph, who would appear on the big screen.
Nora had clearly not expected Hugo's composure. At just twenty-five, Hugo already exuded a maturity beyond his years, while Joseph, at twenty-eight, was comparatively more anxious. If Nora had known that Hugo had already spent ten years navigating life at the bottom of society, she might not have been as surprised. But she didn't.
"Don't you have any thoughts on what I just said?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow. Rob shook his head slightly, a hint of exasperation. "Nora!" he said, thinking it unnecessary to revisit the topic before the meal was even finished.
Hugo, however, seemed not to hear Rob and smiled confidently at Nora's sharp gaze. "Of course I do. I'm here to fight for this role, not for a free dinner." He paused, then glanced at Rob. "Rob, are you paying for this dinner? Or am I being rude?"
Rob laughed, recognizing the mischievous spark in Hugo's eyes. Memories of filming A Few Good Men reassured him. Joseph, sitting across from Hugo, finally felt a measure of relief seeing Hugo handle the situation with such ease, though he still kept a careful watch on Nora's expression.
Nora's smile broadened just a bit. "This dinner should be on me. After all, it's my work," she said, her words both responding to Hugo's teasing and subtly asserting her authority: the one with the final say here was herself.
Hugo took a deep breath inwardly. He reminded himself that this audition was different from A Few Good Men. What was required here wasn't boldness but calmness and subtlety. He absolutely could not let his nerves get the better of him, or all his efforts would be wasted. Outwardly, he showed no sign of unease and turned his attention to Nora.
"Well, that's a relief," he said, with a hint of childish playfulness. "The dishes I ordered looked a bit expensive." His tone was neither submissive nor confrontational, just lightly teasing, eliciting a quiet amusement. Joseph and Rob, however, both felt a pang of nervousness at his casual audacity.
Hugo continued. "I'm curious—what exactly about me didn't meet your expectations, Nora? I'd like to know so I can improve."
The table went silent. Hugo, as the actor auditioning, had subtly taken control of the conversation, turning the usual dynamic on its head. Such an unorthodox approach naturally made hearts beat faster. Yet his words weren't sharp or accusatory; they were polite, gentlemanly, and curious. That balance kept the atmosphere from turning tense.
"I'd heard from Rob and done a bit of research on this role," Hugo said, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I'm guessing it's partly because I'm too young… and also—well, this is a little embarrassing to say—but partly because I'm too handsome?"
Nora couldn't help it—she burst out laughing. Hugo's smile, playful and charming, had an effortless appeal that made her reaction instinctive.
Hugo grinned and leaned slightly forward. "I'll take your laughter as a positive answer," he said. "In that case, I suppose I should be pleased. Any time someone gives praise, it's a good thing, right?"
He then glanced at Joseph, who initially froze, unsure how to respond. After a brief pause, Joseph hurriedly said, "But if that's the reason you get rejected, then it's not quite so great."
Joseph glanced at Hugo, noting the sparkle of amusement in his eyes. He knew he had read the situation correctly. For once, there was a sense of mutual understanding between them—unlike the chaotic communication during the A Few Good Men audition.
Nora remained silent for a moment, watching Hugo with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. His words, though seemingly casual, revealed a unique blend of maturity, calmness, humor, intelligence, and warmth—qualities she hadn't expected but were precisely what she hoped to see in Sam's character. In other words, Hugo was subtly demonstrating his capability, aiming to leave Nora with a reliable and accurate impression.
Suddenly, the twenty-five-year-old actor before her became interesting to her. She recalled Rob's recommendation: "He'll surprise you."
Adjusting her posture slightly, Nora studied Hugo's outfit with a scrutinizing gaze. "Alright, let's discuss the script. I think… we'll start with what you're wearing today."
Her eyes, no longer gentle, now carried a hint of critique and investigation. Hugo immediately felt the pressure.
"This… what exactly is this? A homeless man?"
....
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