The storm was brewing.
On the surface, everything seemed normal, as if nothing had happened. But the howling wind continued to shake the entire world, refusing to let it settle down.
Restlessness. Unease. Tension.
It was a brand new experience—shooting a movie that felt like a spy thriller. Yet, this was a common occurrence for most film crews, always fighting off trivial matters and unexpected incidents.
The "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" crew was beginning to feel a subtle sense of turbulence.
However.
Edgar stepped in, calmly and clearly assessing the situation. He offered alternative solutions to various problems, quickly regaining control of the situation. Producers, casting directors, and others resumed their work efficiently.
Even before Kate could make a decision, the crew had already begun to make preparations.
This way, even if unexpected situations arose, they could minimize the damage and keep the production on track.
Fortunately, the suspense didn't last long.
By noon, accompanied by her agent, Kate discreetly went to the hospital for a thorough check-up and received positive news on two fronts:
First, she was 99.99% confirmed to be pregnant.
Second, her health was fine. Kate was in good shape and could continue working if she wished, though she'd need to take extra care of herself.
In the afternoon, Kate had a private conversation with Sam Mendes. The details of the conversation were unknown to anyone, including her agent, who was kept outside the room.
But the outcome was clear—
Kate decided to stay.
She wanted to complete the filming of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." However, due to her pregnancy, her agent had to negotiate with the crew to ensure Kate's health. They needed to draft additional terms for her protection.
For example, when a stunt double might be necessary, how the shooting schedule would be adjusted, and what situations would require Kate's input. They also discussed whether the crew should have a doctor on set, among other things.
The process was tedious and complex.
After some back-and-forth, both sides eventually reached an agreement.
When Edgar called to wake up Anson, it was not yet 6 PM. Outside, New York was already dark. At this time of year, 9 PM and 6 PM looked almost the same.
"Phew, false alarm."
"Kate is staying on."
"But technically, it wasn't a complete false alarm because the scare was real, and the changes are real. The shoot might have some complications going forward."
"I'll need to discuss with the crew to make sure that in protecting Kate's interests, we don't compromise yours. I need to draw some boundaries."
On the other end of the call, Anson wasn't surprised. He was already prepared and was getting ready to head to the set for that day's shoot.
"I know, it's always best to be upfront. If nothing happens, great; but if it does, we need to protect ourselves."
"Captain, keep up the hard work. I'm headed to the train station now."
Rush hour in New York meant one thing: traffic jams.
Edgar sighed, "Anson, you should have Noah drive you to the set. We didn't hire an assistant for him to sit at home doing nothing. If Noah drives, you could at least take a nap in the car."
It was hard to believe—
Anson Wood, currently one of the hottest stars in Hollywood, had been commuting like an ordinary office worker by train between Manhattan and Long Island for the past four days.
It was… unbelievable.
Even now, Edgar could hardly believe it.
On the other end, Anson sounded cheerful, "That's the point."
"Experiencing the real life of a New York commuter, fully immersing myself in Joel's life. Like a walking corpse, hating this life but too scared to break away from it, trapping myself."
"That exhaustion, that helplessness, that weakness—it's all real."
"Hey, Captain, without ever being an office worker, you can't understand the pain of commuting."
"It's only been four days for me. Imagine doing this every day for ten years. Wow. So, when Joel meets Clementine, it's no wonder he feels that spark."
"Captain, I gotta catch the subway. Later!"
Edgar tried to say something, but the line was already dead, leaving him to stare at the phone in exasperation.
Commuting wasn't the issue; but what if Anson was recognized by fans?
That would be a real headache.
Given Anson's current fame, if any passerby identified him, he could be mobbed and might need the police to help him escape.
But… what could Edgar say?
Now, all he could do was hope Anson was right—that in the world of New York trains and subways, everyone was too tired and numb to care about their surroundings. As long as Anson didn't draw attention to himself, he could ride these zombie trains undetected.
Clank. Clank.
Anson's journey went smoothly.
Despite the rush hour, the train from Manhattan to Long Island wasn't too crowded—
At least, compared to the rush hour back in China, it was a breeze.
And Anson was completely disguised as an ordinary office worker, with a scarf and hat that helped him blend into the crowd.
No one noticed him. No one paid attention.
To be fair, no one even realized Anson was there.
He got off the train smoothly and prepared to walk to the set.
"Anson!"
A voice called out, making Anson freeze. His perfect disguise had been blown the moment he stepped off the train? What?
Blinking, Anson followed the voice.
He relaxed when he saw who it was.
"Oh, Kate, you scared me."
Kate Winslet stood up and opened her arms for a hug.
After they embraced, Anson noticed someone trailing behind Kate.
Kate smiled, "I knew you'd still be commuting alone. Aren't you worried someone will knock off your hat in the crowd?"
"Oh, right, I forgot about your height. Unless you run into a basketball player, no one's reaching your hat, huh? Haha."
As she rambled on, Kate followed Anson's gaze and realized what he was looking at.
"This is the compromise I made with Sam."
"He's fine with me working—he respects my career and agrees I shouldn't be stuck at home just because I'm pregnant. It's the 21st century, after all."
"But he insisted that someone be nearby to take care of me, offer advice, and protect me. Just think of him as my babysitter."
Unexpected, but not surprising.
Anson paused, "Who's paying for him?"
Kate: ???
Kate was momentarily stunned, not sure how to respond.
One second. Two seconds—
Then Kate realized Anson had a point. She and Sam weren't married yet; technically, they were still just a couple, so they should keep their finances separate.
"Haha, good question." Kate laughed heartily, "Haha, I'll call Sam and have him open his wallet."
"Thanks for the reminder."