—"I promise I'll never forget you," —Billy replied, holding Camila Sodi in his arms as she was about to slip out through the back door. The breath they lacked was simply to carry on with grace, to take as much time as possible.
He took all the time he felt he must, a long minute, a long step in which many of his thoughts seemed to anchor themselves. It was the first time he truly saw her, not just another fleeting face, but that didn't matter—he smacked her hips the moment he felt he should, though it meant little to him.
-How can I see you again?-
Billy thought of narrowing his eyes, but instead, he only offered her a smile.
-Darling, I've got so many tours, but it's possible you could have a key to my apartment in New York. That's all I want, as much as I can give—it's time. I've got so many projects, you know, with the label never giving me a moment. It's almost as if I'm drowning in endless debts. —Billy said, hugging her tight. It seemed she had plenty of time to spare, long stretches to herself, while he followed the same steps over and over—beautiful women, married women, but above all, famous women were the ones he craved most in his twisted game of chance.
-I'll come, I'll do everything I can, I promise.-
-As long as we can…-
—When I'm in Mexico, I'll visit you. Give me something to find you by —Billy answered, almost as rushed as a man in love. She wrote down her phone number, and he took it, leaving her with all she deserved.
-Just… good luck. – the girl whispered, completely adrift. He only nodded, refusing any confrontation, giving himself time to breathe. It was a long journey ahead, a span of a month or a year. How long can young love be kept in a heart? The way everything filled the soul, his heartbeat racing a mile a minute, pulse uncontrollable—yet all of it only gave him reason to go on, as long as he wished.
…
Then the thought settled—this role was already covered. It weighed on director Zack Snyder's heart. For some time now, his life had been all about opportunity, and he didn't care how long it took or what time was lost in completing his project. Ever since he began in the world of cinema, life had demanded both patience and power.
—I'm afraid it's an order from above, —answered Mark Caton, the executive producer. So much of what he knew, so much of what he always did, dragged late. His mind lingered, a river of emotions.
-Well, I'll follow through. But the side being discussed is the one we can profit from. They say he has a great body, and he's quite adored by female audiences. As long as we capture a few good shots, his face is pure gold. Rumor has it he's got a few films coming out this year—people are already talking about him, —Zack Snyder said, quick-minded, already trying to shape the boy's posture to earn as much as his cunning deserved.
—I like Gerard Butler, —Giani replied.
-He does well enough, like any other. He's given an incredible performance; we'll take it step by step. But I need strong men. —Zack answered.
For some time now, he'd had a solid rhythm with Frank Miller, drawn to the abstract way he envisioned 300—a story told with fury and brutality, twisting turns that tore at the flesh. 300 was a tale of blood and misery, exaggerated and voracious, from an era where people stood between good and evil.
A frame-by-frame adaptation, each choice made with care so everything came to life, the story twisting and hitting its mark.
Pre-production was a long road—so long it had already taken three or four months. Since June of the previous year, he'd been signed on, and still so much time was left. That was something he never quite understood about films—how much they demanded, how long each project consumed.
-The boy will audition, even if it's all a farce, —answered Mark Caton. Unlike Giani, she leaned on creativity, while Caton remained the official producer, working behind the scenes—handling money, buying shields, hiring companies, doing all he could. It suited him, for his business was functionality.
—Well, I'll push him as far as I can, —Zack replied, surely eager to bring order to the whole script.
His release schedule included The Island for June, King Kong for December 14, 2005, and Harry Potter for November 2005. He had finished filming long ago, but many scenes still needed work, and post-production stretched on endlessly for such projects. Special effects took as long as a drawn-out shot to complete, and countless other scenes had to be made or reshot, though Billy was no longer involved in those—his way of working had moved on.
…
He came back to the United States, as he had to, a long and demanding stretch that felt inevitable. Breathing in the air was like stepping into an avenue of memories, crashing into his heart. The time it took was both necessary and overwhelming.
—It feels so good to be home! —Billy exclaimed, taking it all in with joy.
—You've got a meeting and a tour across the entire United States. Your girlfriend—that pretty blonde you've been yearning for—has been calling almost daily to check on you, —answered Michael Ocklars.
-I want to hit the best restaurants in New York. Though honestly, I'm craving some Buffalo wings with that extra sauce that melts in your mouth, —Billy replied.
Michael nodded.
—I want you to go out, —Billy said.
Michael nodded again, steady and certain. He was sure they'd do something, though he admitted he didn't like the spotlight—it was uncomfortable to stand before cameras. He confessed this to Billy, who seemed lively as ever. The New York party was a fragrance, and Billy wanted to devour the world. Time itself felt polite enough to give him space, if only he breathed and took it.
—I refuse to believe you're afraid. You're going out, end of story, —Billy replied, nearly making Michael roll his eyes.
-Be careful with the party. Billy is, without doubt, a sure bet. Long and memorable. Who could say otherwise, for such a place? —Michael answered, knowing he'd probably forget by tomorrow when he hosted a party to mark Billy's return to New York, certain beautiful women would be at his side.
Now that the party seemed etched in his very name, it was bound to be unforgettable. With his nature and his way of pushing through, nothing could be more fitting than when Jerry finally stepped in.
—You've got a meeting in five hours with a Warner executive, and tomorrow, much to our regret, a new audition you're not part of —he replied with care.