It had been a very pleasant dinner. Most of the conversation had been between Hugo and Nora, but Rob and Joseph hadn't been idle—they chimed in occasionally, keeping the atmosphere light and enjoyable. After finishing their main courses, Nora even ordered dessert, and the meal didn't conclude until half-past ten.
Once Hugo settled into the spacious, comfortable passenger seat of the Renault Espace, Joseph drove steadily out of the parking lot, heading home. After switching to this larger vehicle, the ride felt noticeably smoother and more comfortable. Joseph clearly adored this car; he made it a point to drive it almost every day, even on days when Hugo had no engagements.
Tonight, however, Joseph wasn't in the mood to enjoy driving. The tension he'd been carrying all evening had finally begun to ease. "Wow, Hugo, you really took a risk tonight. Any little mistake could have ruined the dinner atmosphere. Rob must have been awkward too, right?"
Hugo, mentally exhausted, nodded inwardly. During the first half of dinner, he had been on high alert, constantly playing a role as though he were always acting. It was a glimpse into the difficulty spies must endure, living every moment under another identity—a silent, exhausting strain.
This entire performance had been another kind of test for Hugo. He had to imagine how a widower like Sam would respond to situations that didn't exist in the script. It wasn't just about understanding the character on a deeper level; it was about self-hypnosis, immersing himself fully in the acting state. Although he had moments where he slipped back into being "Hugo Lancaster," overall he had performed very well.
This was why Hugo felt so mentally drained. Such conversations were truly exhausting.
"If you don't try, you've already lost before you start," Hugo said, leaning back against the seat, enjoying the soft leather cushioning and letting both his body and mind relax. "Every script, every role has countless choices. In Hollywood, there are hundreds of thousands of actors—no one is irreplaceable."
This was the reality of Hollywood, and society at large. No one is irreplaceable; you must earn your place through effort, or life will quickly overwhelm you.
Although Nora hadn't made a decision tonight, Joseph could sense that Hugo's efforts had already shifted her perspective. That was a monumental change—turning impossibility into possibility—and made the future worth looking forward to.
Joseph suddenly felt the heavy weight of responsibility on his shoulders. As a agent, all he could do was secure auditions for Hugo and maintain good relations with the production team, using his negotiation skills to get Hugo the best possible deals. Beyond that, there wasn't much he could do. But seeing Hugo work so hard, Joseph felt he should do more—because Hugo deserved it.
Neither spoke for the rest of the ride. The new Renault Espace glided smoothly along the streets of Los Angeles, the night stretching outside the windows, filling the car with a serene sense of calm and safety. By the time they arrived home, Hugo had already fallen asleep. He was genuinely exhausted.
Joseph didn't wake him immediately. He sat quietly in the car for about twenty minutes, waiting for Hugo to stir. Once Hugo slowly opened his eyes, Joseph said, "If you're tired, go upstairs, wash up, and get some rest."
Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Hugo murmured a reply and dragged himself out of the car. Once upstairs, he quickly washed up and collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep.
Hugo slept straight through until the next morning. The house was still empty—Charlize and Alex hadn't returned—but Hugo was refreshed. Acting was primarily a mental exercise, not a physical one. After a night of good sleep, he showered, feeling alert, and then surveyed the empty fridge, contemplating breakfast.
When Joseph arrived on the third floor, he found Hugo standing in front of the fridge, breathing heavily. "Forgot to go grocery shopping?" he asked.
Hugo shrugged. He had been alone the past few days and hadn't stocked up much. "We'll go this afternoon. There are still two boxes of cereal in the cupboard." He closed the fridge and turned to see Joseph in workout clothes, dripping with sweat. Hugo laughed. "Uh… you have a date tonight?"
"No, I'm just starting to work out," Joseph panted. He wouldn't admit that he had slept poorly last night due to stress, woke up early, and decided to greet the coming year of 1993 with a fresh routine. Working out was a good start—and also a way to lose weight.
Hugo laughed heartily. "You're serious? Don't joke with me."
Joseph had always been on the heavier side, and the past six months had only accentuated it. At six-foot-two (1.88 m) and around 220 pounds (100 kg), he had gained rather than lost weight due to a busy schedule and stress. Hugo, as an actor, couldn't allow his body to fluctuate wildly unless required for a role. Even if he wasn't an action star like Arnold Schwarzenegger, maintaining a healthy physique was necessary, especially since both A Few Good Men and Scent of a Woman required him to stay in shape. After his past struggles with drug use, Hugo had been committed to exercise to maintain his health.
Joseph had tried working out with Hugo once—though it was more like running for half an hour before bed—but gave up after two days, declaring, "I'm not an actor."
So seeing Joseph start exercising again today, Hugo couldn't help but laugh. But noticing the gloom on Joseph's face, he quickly restrained himself. "At least it's a good start. I've said before, staying under 180 pounds is healthy for you. Now that you're willing to put in the effort, that's even better."
Western diets were notoriously high in calories and full of junk food, which explained why many Westerners tended to have larger physiques. In the 21st century, childhood obesity had surged, drawing serious attention from health experts. In Hugo's view, changing eating habits might be difficult, but maintaining basic exercise to stay healthy was absolutely essential.
Joseph noticed Hugo's half-smile and knew there was an unspoken thought behind it: "How long will this last?" He shot Hugo a mock glare, then grabbed the newspaper he'd been holding and walked to the dining table. "Here, this is today's Los Angeles Times. Some good news in here."
Hugo didn't immediately look at the paper. Instead, he said, "How about this—next time I go for a run, you come along? At least you'll have company. Maybe you'll stick with it longer."
Joseph remembered how Hugo, even on days without filming, ran every day and did basic workouts with unwavering consistency. It was impressive, but also a little intimidating. He hesitated. "No, I can't keep up with your pace or your distance."
Hugo's smile returned, a playful glint in his eyes. "You can adjust it to your own level, or ask a professional. You know I'm not a personal trainer."
Joseph knew Hugo had seen right through his hesitation. His cheeks warmed as he muttered, a little annoyed, "Fine. I'll work out with you. Having someone to keep each other accountable isn't so bad." He even craned his neck toward Hugo to show his resolve.
Since he had decided to greet the new year with a fresh start, a little pressure and motivation wouldn't hurt. Besides, Hugo would likely be busy in January, and their workouts wouldn't be as frequent anyway. Thinking this, Joseph felt a bit reassured.
Hugo, unsurprised by Joseph's response, nodded with a faint smile. "Alright, then. Let's start tonight. Or… do you want to start tomorrow, since you already ran this morning?"
"Tonight!" Joseph nearly rolled his eyes, but said it firmly. Over the past months, he had grown much more comfortable around Hugo. Compared to January, when he'd been more reserved and serious, Joseph now felt noticeably more "lively."
Hugo nodded approvingly, clearly pleased. But to Joseph, Hugo's expression somehow felt awkward, and he quickly averted his gaze.
Deciding not to tease Joseph further, Hugo picked up the Los Angeles Times from the table. "So, what's the news? You said there's good news?"
"Oh, right. The Golden Globe nominations are out." Joseph quickly refocused and said to Hugo.