The cast and key production crew of Taking Care of Business were still deep in planning at Warner Bros. HQ. Every detail, from the cinematography to the emotional beats of the performances, was being scrutinized.
Over time, Lucas was getting accustomed to his co-stars. Among them, Tom Hanks stood out the most—his warm and approachable nature made him easy to talk to.
Tom had his own unique approach to acting. While he wasn't a strict method actor like Daniel Day-Lewis, he still immersed himself in his roles with a refined, personal technique. Lucas had once experimented with the extreme form of method acting, deliberately avoiding the use of his Mind Workshop to challenge himself. But as he gained experience, he realized that the Day-Lewis approach was not only unnecessary but sometimes outright harmful.
Like Tom, Lucas had developed his own personalized method, blending intense preparation with adaptability.
Meanwhile, Olivia DeJonge was also taking notes from Tom. She admired his approach, but more than anyone, it was Lucas who truly impressed her.
She noticed how relaxed he seemed during rehearsals, in contrast to rumors that he was a method actor who stayed in character at all times. He was simply himself—until it was time to perform.
And that's when the real surprise happened.
During rehearsals, when it was time for Lucas to step into character, Olivia watched in awe as he became Elvis—switching seamlessly from his normal self to the young, uncertain musician.
Even Baz Luhrmann, the director, along with Tom Hanks, was taken aback by the transformation.
Lucas embodied the early Elvis, the timid yet ambitious performer, as if he had stepped out of history.
But then, Baz gave his feedback. "That was great. I could see the young Elvis in you. But… I feel like something is missing. Can you try again, this time as the confident Elvis?"
Still lacking?
Olivia and the other cast members exchanged glances. From their perspective, Lucas had already delivered a flawless performance. His ability to immerse himself so naturally was astounding.
But in Baz's eyes, it wasn't enough.
Some of them expected Lucas to push back. After all, he was a two-time Oscar winner, known for 50/50 and Joker (2016)—a performance so legendary that he didn't even attend the Academy Awards when he won.
If anyone had the right to disagree with a director's critique, it was him.
Yet Lucas simply smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I see what you mean. I feel like something's missing too."
The room went quiet. Even Baz didn't expect such humility from someone of Lucas's stature.
Tom Hanks observed him more closely now, reassessing the young actor.
Lucas adjusted his stance, "Alright, here's Elvis when he's found his confidence."
Without hesitation, Lucas immersed himself into the role again, but this time, it was different. His entire demeanor shifted—he radiated that magnetic superstar energy.
"Wise men say only fools rush in~"
He launched into the performance, channeling Elvis's signature charisma.
The cast and crew were captivated. Olivia watched in silent admiration. He wasn't just acting like Elvis—he was embodying him.
Baz stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Lucas was undeniably talented, both as an actor and a singer. But still… something felt off.
And yet, Baz couldn't quite put it into words. "That was incredible. No wonder you're an EGOT winner. I see Elvis in that performance, but… something is still missing."
A pause. He looked at Lucas with a conflicted expression.
"Forgive me—I can't pinpoint exactly what it is. When I first saw you perform Unchained Melody, I knew you had something special. That's why I chose you for Elvis. But now, I want to see more. I don't just want 'Lucas as Elvis'—I want to see Elvis. Do you know what I mean?"
Lucas nodded slowly.
"Yeah. I get it."
He understood the challenge.
He had lived Elvis's life in the Mind Workshop, from 15 years old onwards, reliving the singer's life down to the smallest details.
He had played similar characters before—like in A Star Is Born—and could draw from his own experiences as a superstar.
But something was still missing.
As he sat beside Olivia, deep in thought, a realization struck him.
'I've lived Elvis's life in the Mind Workshop… but I still haven't truly captured his essence.'
Unlike his fictional roles, Elvis wasn't just a character. He was real—a man who had once lived and breathed in this world.
Baz's words rang in his mind.
"I want to see the real Elvis."
Lucas clenched his fists, determined. He wasn't going to mimic Elvis. He was going to find him.
"I don't understand."
Lucas turned at the sound of a voice. It was young Olivia, standing a few feet away, a confused expression on her face.
"Sorry if I interrupted your thoughts, but..." she hesitated, searching for the right words. Finally, she spoke.
"You clearly play both the young Elvis and the adult Elvis really well—his speech, accent, movements, even the way you stare. So... what exactly does the director think is missing?"
Lucas was silent for a moment. Then, he smiled.
"On the surface, it looks like I've captured Elvis perfectly," he admitted. "Whether it's the young dreamer or the superstar. But... I think Baz is right. I feel like something is missing, too."
A new voice joined the conversation.
"Don't you think the director is just expecting too much from you?"
Lucas and Olivia turned. It was Tom Hanks, standing nearby. His voice was calm, but his gaze was probing, testing Lucas's thoughts.
"I agree!" Olivia nodded, her youthful confidence showing. "I think Baz is just holding Lucas to impossible standards! Whatever he thinks is missing must be just... his appearance. With the right makeup, Lucas will look exactly like Elvis!"
Tom smiled at Olivia's naïve remark. She was young—talented, but still learning.
Lucas, however, shook his head.
"No. I don't think he's expecting too much," he said firmly. "Because I feel the same way. My interpretation of Elvis is missing something."
Tom studied Lucas for a moment before finally speaking.
"You'll figure it out," he said, placing a reassuring hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Just have some faith in yourself. After all... you're Lucas Knight."
Lucas gave a small nod as Tom left to talk with the others.
"Faith in myself, huh..." he muttered.
Then—
!!!
Faith...
The word hit him like a spark of inspiration.
Without hesitation, he closed his eyes.
Olivia, watching closely, didn't disturb him. She had been around Lucas long enough to recognize what was happening.
"He's meditating again..." she whispered to herself.
Lucas always told them that when he closed his eyes like this, he was searching for inspiration.
"Did he finally figure something out?" Olivia wondered as she watched him, his face still, eyes shut.
What she didn't know was that Lucas had just entered the Mind Workshop.
Inside, the simulation replayed the life of Elvis.
The 15-year-old Elvis stood before him—the one he had already lived through in the Workshop.
Lucas looked down at his hands. Then, he issued a command.
"Turn Elvis into a 6-year-old, like in the opening of the script."
Silence.
The Mind Workshop didn't respond.
Nothing changed.
Lucas frowned. He tried again.
"Start the simulation at age six."
Still, nothing.
His stomach sank slightly.
There are limits to the Mind Workshop.
It couldn't recreate Elvis before the age of 15.
Lucas exhaled, feeling a rare sense of helplessness.
He needed to see Elvis as a child. He needed to experience the moment when Elvis first found his faith.
Because that faith—his Christian faith—was what shaped him. It was what defined him.
And that was the missing piece.
Lucas tried everything to simulate Elvis as a child.
He adjusted variables, experimented with different commands, and attempted to reset the scenario.
But no matter what he did, the Mind Workshop refused to comply.
It was an incredible cheat—an advantage unlike anything else. Yet, despite all its capabilities, it couldn't rewind the age of a character beyond 15 years old.
At least, not for role preparation.
Lucas frowned, momentarily puzzled by the limitation.
With no other choice, he exited the simulation.
When he opened his eyes, the rehearsal room came back into focus. The cast and crew were scattered around, each engaged in their own preparations.
Across the room, Tom Hanks sat with a book in his hands—a psychological study on character immersion.
Lucas let out a quiet breath, then stood up and walked over to Baz Luhrmann.
"I need something," he said.
Baz looked up, intrigued. So far, Lucas had been flawlessly prepared, never asking for anything to aid his process.
"What is it?"
"A Bible."
Baz raised a brow—not because the request was strange, but because it was the first time Lucas had asked for something.
Lucas had mastered everything about Elvis's voice, movements, and presence without assistance. Even the southern accent coach that had been brought in to train him turned out to be unnecessary—Lucas had nailed it instantly.
The Elvis experts, hired to guide him, were practically useless.
Baz leaned back, crossing his arms. "I didn't expect you to be a devout Christian."
Lucas shook his head. "I'm not."
Baz blinked. "Then… why the Bible?"
"I need to understand Christianity the way Elvis did," Lucas explained. "I'm also thinking of attending a church service, maybe watching a choir performance."
He glanced at Baz.
"Elvis was a devout Christian, even though he was the King of Rock 'n' Roll."
Baz's expression shifted as realization dawned. His lips curled into a small smile.
"Oh... I get it now." He tapped his fingers against the table. "I don't know if it's faith that's missing from your performance… but this? This is genius."
Lucas nodded.
Baz turned to an assistant. "Get him a Bible."
A few minutes later, the crew and cast watched as Lucas sat in his chair, completely engrossed in reading.
No one disturbed him.
Even when the producers walked in, they paused, staring at the Bible in Lucas's hands.
Hollywood wasn't exactly known for its religious devotion.
Seeing one of its biggest stars openly reading Scripture was… unexpected.
A few exchanged glances, as if silently questioning whether Lucas had always been religious.
But before anyone could speculate, Baz spoke up, explaining the reasoning behind Lucas's unusual preparation method.
As soon as they heard it, the producers nodded in understanding.