The set was bustling with activity, filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
After Anson and Kristen's little prank, the entire crew seemed to relax, and the unseen tension dissolved. You could clearly see the previously tense shoulders beginning to unwind, and smiles were spreading throughout the team.
It wasn't until this moment that Kristen finally loosened up from the chaos.
"Thank you," Kristen whispered quietly to Anson.
Anson chuckled, "What's going on? You came in so frazzled, that's not like you at all."
Although Kristen hadn't been late, the disarray when she arrived was unusual for her, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by Anson.
Kristen sighed and waved her hand with a playful grimace. "Don't even ask."
She glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention, then leaned in and lowered her voice, "It's all Jack's fault."
After a quick explanation, Anson understood.
Jack Gyllenhaal and Kristen were dating and in the midst of a passionate romance. Recently, Jack had been filming, and Kristen was about to start her own project. They hadn't had much time together, so they were making the most of every moment before she joined the production.
Kristen was headed to set today, and Jack was about to return to Los Angeles for a break. Not wanting to be apart, Jack insisted on driving Kristen to the set himself, even though she felt it wasn't appropriate or professional. Despite her multiple refusals, Jack's persistence won out.
The idea sounded sweet, but the reality was much more challenging.
In an era before widespread GPS navigation, getting around relied on paper maps, which meant flipping through a large New York City map and navigating street by street. Without a good sense of direction, it could easily become a nightmare.
Jack, who grew up in Los Angeles and knew nothing about the streets of Manhattan or Long Island, soon got lost.
They ended up circling Long Island twice, nearly making it to Queens before finally getting back on track by asking for directions. Kristen was genuinely worried.
She hated being late and disrupting the crew's schedule, feeling it was disrespectful to everyone's hard work. So when she arrived, her apology was heartfelt.
Her playful performance with Anson wasn't just to ease his nerves but also a way to relieve her own tension and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings on the first day of filming.
It was a win-win.
What seemed like a small thing had a surprisingly complicated story behind it.
Noticing Kristen's slightly flushed cheeks, Anson sensed there was more to the story and gently probed, "Did you two have a fight?"
Kristen hesitated, since Anson was Jack's friend, but she was too frustrated to keep it in. If she tried to shoot now, it would definitely be a disaster.
After a moment, Kristen sighed and admitted, "He kept saying it didn't matter. Even if we were late, there wouldn't be any issue since I didn't have scenes today."
"I explained it's not about whether I have scenes. It's about showing respect. I want the crew to know that I'm serious about this project and that I want to be a part of it from day one."
She paused, looking at Anson. "And if I'm late, people will just say I'm acting like a diva."
Like Anson, Kristen faced a similar challenge. Hollywood wouldn't give her special treatment just because she'd been a child star.
But Jack was different.
Coming from a Hollywood family, with connections and wealth, Jack was practically born into the industry. He was used to being pampered and didn't sweat the small stuff.
To Jack, being late wasn't a big deal.
Anson understood both Jack and Kristen.
It was funny—before he turned 25, he was just like Jack: carefree and rebellious, dismissing minor inconveniences. It wasn't until life knocked him down that his rough edges were smoothed out by harsh realities.
Anson looked at Kristen and said, "You should give him a kick."
Such a blunt suggestion?
Kristen couldn't help but laugh. "I get it."
Then she tilted her head, smiling. "I thought you'd defend him."
Anson shrugged earnestly, "When I'm with you, I'll talk bad about Jack. When I'm with Jack, I'll talk bad about you. That's what makes me the best friend ever."
"Haha!" Kristen couldn't help but burst into laughter, her smile fully blossoming.
Finally, Anson continued, "Everyone has their own way of doing things, based on their upbringing and nature. It's what makes us unique but also creates challenges when we're trying to get along."
"This applies to couples, as well as friends."
"We're just dating!" Kristen retorted weakly.
Anson still didn't fully grasp the cultural nuances around dating in the U.S.—
Dating and being in a relationship were considered two separate things. Going on a few dates didn't mean much, and people could even date multiple people without it being a problem.
But being in a relationship was different—cheating was cheating.
The tricky part was figuring out when two people were just dating and when they were actually a couple.
Anson didn't feel like diving into that discussion, so he just added, "It's the same with friends."
Kristen opened her mouth to argue but couldn't find the words.
"It's like the script we're working on. Joel and Clementine have countless differences. The key to their relationship is figuring out how to reconcile those differences and make it work."
Seeing Kristen's look, Anson raised his hands in surrender. "Dating is the same."
Kristen gave Anson an exasperated glance. "So you are taking Jack's side after all."
Anson put on a mock-hurt expression. "Okay, fine. Jack's an idiot."
Kristen instinctively defended him, "He's not that bad!"
Anson shook his head. "Can't win, can I? I try to be nice, but either way, I end up the punching bag."
Watching his over-the-top performance, Kristen couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter. "Oh God, I can't believe people think you're a dream guy!"
Anson didn't miss a beat. "My brother wonders the same thing. You two should meet and have a deep conversation about it."