Nicole Kidman, with a mix of yearning and anxiety, adjusted her clothes and hair before pushing open the door to the audition office.
"Hello everyone, I'm Nicole Kidman from Australia, 22 years old..." As she introduced herself, Nicole Kidman unobtrusively sized up one of Hollywood's hottest male stars at the time, Tom Cruise.
At 27, Tom Cruise was indeed flawless, with a handsome face that few women could resist.
Sitting in the chair, Tom Cruise's eyes lit up the moment he saw Nicole Kidman.
"Great, Nicole Kidman, right? Leave your contact details, and we'll call you anytime." After about ten minutes, Tom Cruise, with his dazzling smile, spoke to Nicole Kidman.
"Thank you," Nicole Kidman smiled back at Tom Cruise before leaving the audition room.
"I think she's not bad," after Nicole Kidman left, Tom Cruise smiled at the director, Tony Scott.
"Yes, indeed."
On the other side, after leaving Paramount, Andrew first returned to ITA and then went to the Screen Actors Guild.
After all, besides talent agencies, the Screen Actors Guild also helps recommend jobs, mainly extras.
In the evening, back at his Northridge residence, Andrew continued with his screenwriting endeavors. Scream was a representative teen horror film that mocked its own genre while following horror tropes.
The combination of a psychotic serial killer and young, beautiful women has always been a staple of horror films.
Whether it was the horror movie Scream or the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, Andrew would only complete the first draft and outline the main framework before registering it with the Writers Guild.
Andrew mainly focused on creating concepts and outlining stories, not wanting to spend much time writing.
As for Nicole Kidman, whom Andrew met at Paramount, he knew that Days of Thunder was her big break.
After all, it was because of this film that Tom Cruise noticed her. Although at that time, Tom Cruise's wife was the actress Mimi Rogers, who was six years older than him. Eventually, they divorced, and he married Nicole Kidman.
"I wonder if Nicole Kidman would remember me and give a little help?" Andrew knew that Nicole Kidman was very ambitious, smart, and good at managing her career.
However, Andrew didn't hold much hope, as their interaction was brief. Nicole Kidman probably wouldn't care about someone from the lower echelons of Hollywood.
A few days later, Andrew finally got a job arranged by his talent agency, as a background actor in the movie Dick Tracy. He earned $600 a day for a week, totaling $3,000!
"Okay, I'll report tomorrow," Andrew agreed immediately after getting the details.
Dick Tracy was a film adaptation of the detective comic character, featuring a star-studded cast: Warren Beatty as the director and lead actor, Madonna as the female lead, and supporting roles played by Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman.
Earlier this year at the Oscars, Dustin Hoffman won the Best Actor award for Rain Man.
Dick Tracy was a live-action film developed by Disney's Touchstone Pictures. When Andrew arrived at the set, he was quickly assigned as one of Al Pacino's gang henchmen. He had few lines, mostly just needing to wear a 1930s suit and blend into the background.
Earning $600 a day for eight hours of work was equivalent to $75 an hour. Although Andrew spent most of his time waiting on set, he was happy.
In a week, he'd make $3,000, much more than working at Jeff's restaurant, even with tips. Plus, the crew provided meals!
That afternoon, Andrew was sitting in a chair, waiting, his gaze alternating between the leading actors.
He wasn't familiar with Warren Beatty as the director and lead actor, but he did pay attention to Al Pacino. The Godfather Part III was still in the early stages of planning and was expected to start filming the following year.
"If only I could be in The Godfather Part III..." Andrew shook the thought away, knowing how many people would be vying for that opportunity.
Madonna's role as a sexy singer fit her image well, with her blonde bombshell look making her even more striking. At 31, Madonna was at the peak of her career.
People didn't call Michael Jackson the 'King of Pop' and Madonna the 'Queen of Pop' for nothing!
Andrew's gaze lingered on the extravagantly styled gangster boss Al Pacino. He suddenly remembered that Pacino hadn't yet won an Oscar for Best Actor.
Al Pacino's Oscar award for Best Actor came from Scent of a Woman, a remake of an old Italian movie.
Obviously, Andrew was tempted. Scent of a Woman was both critically and commercially successful.
Andrew felt the pressure to make money quickly, as he hated seeing good projects pass him by.
"Andrew, come over here..." the assistant director called out.
"Okay, I'm coming," Andrew stood up and adjusted his clothes.
In Los Angeles, Long Beach, Nicole Kidman had been waiting for contact from the Days of Thunder crew since her Paramount audition.
It had already been four or five days, and the crew still hadn't contacted her. During the audition, Tom Cruise's captivated gaze was unmistakable.
"Ring... ring..."
"Hello, this is Nicole Kidman," she answered the phone.
"Good afternoon, Miss Kidman. I am Mr. Tom Cruise's assistant. Mr. Cruise wants to meet you at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to discuss the role for Days of Thunder."
"Alright, I'll be there right away, thank you!"
After hanging up, Nicole Kidman jumped up, "YEAH!"
She then quickly got ready, dressing up in a sexy outfit before heading out.
In the taxi, she checked her makeup in a mirror from her bag and suddenly saw a paper with a phone number.
"This is the contact information for Andrew Williams, whom I met at the Paramount audition a few days ago," Nicole Kidman remembered clearly. "He wished me good luck, saying I'd definitely become the lead actress in Days of Thunder."
"Let's just find a French restaurant. I like French cuisine!"
Nicole Kidman felt as if Andrew Williams's well-wishes were still echoing.
As she took out the paper with his number, she thought if she didn't get the role in Days of Thunder, she wouldn't mind getting to know Andrew Williams or even pursuing a closer relationship.
But now, Nicole Kidman didn't need his good luck. She tossed the paper with his phone number out of the car window.
Tom Cruise's gaze during the audition couldn't lie. Which actress wouldn't want to know him right after coming to Hollywood?
Now, Nicole Kidman had only one thought in her mind: getting close to Tom Cruise to quickly rise in Hollywood.
In the afternoon, at Los Angeles International Airport.
"Andrew," Winona Ryder ran over as soon as she saw Andrew after getting off the plane.
"Hey, are you tired? It took almost six hours to fly from Tampa, right?" Andrew hugged Winona Ryder.
"Not tired at all, I took a nap on the plane!"
"Let's go to my place first, rest for a bit, and we can go out for dinner later!" Andrew said as he put Winona Ryder's luggage in the trunk.
"We had the wrap party in Tampa yesterday; you should have come," Winona Ryder said as she kissed Andrew several times on the cheek.
"Haha, what's the big deal?" Andrew said as he patted Winona Ryder on the leg. "Are you going to be busy next?"
Winona Ryder nodded, "There are two movies in negotiation, and I should also be filming a comedy this year, Mermaids, with the singer Cher!"
Andrew wasn't very familiar with Cher, the classic singer from the '40s and '50s.
After a while, when they returned to Andrew's house in Northridge, Winona Ryder proactively embraced and kissed Andrew!
"Hmm, darling, is it just me, or have you gotten a bit bigger?" On the sofa, Andrew lay on Winona Ryder, stroking her chest.
Winona Ryder smiled, "It's still the same as before; we haven't seen each other for just over half a month, so it wouldn't have grown that much!"
"By the way, I got you a gift," Winona Ryder said as she got up and took out a beautifully wrapped small box from her bag. "Look, do you like it?"
Andrew smiled helplessly. Inside it was a Patek Philippe NAUTILUS series watch, with a very exquisite design. "This must be expensive, right?"
Winona Ryder helped Andrew put it on, "You look great wearing it! Not too expensive, just around ten thousand."
Andrew pursed his lips. Currently, all his present funds combined were just over forty thousand dollars, so he couldn't afford to spend ten thousand on a watch! And the two million he gave to Simon are still under investment and will get the results by December 1990.
"By the way, Andrew, has anyone taken an interest in your scripts?" Winona Ryder leaned against Andrew, partially undressed, and asked.
"Ah, no. I have registered three scripts with the Writers Guild," Andrew couldn't understand why nobody had discovered them yet. ITA's promotion ability wasn't impressive at all!
"Three scripts? You finished two more in such a short time?" Winona Ryder sat up straight from Andrew's embrace, not minding the view from her chest.
Andrew smiled, "Rough drafts, unlike American Pie. The two scripts I'm working on now are a teenage horror and a romantic comedy!"
"Wait, let me show them to you..."
While Winona Ryder wasn't very interested in the horror genre, she was amazed after reading Sleepless in Seattle.
Hugging Andrew's neck, "Andrew, this story is so heartwarming and romantic, written so well. Nobody's interested.
Andrew shook his head, "I don't know, maybe it hasn't been recommended yet. After all, it's just been completed recently."
"You are amazing!"
Andrew whispered into Winona Ryder's ear, "You should know best how amazing I am!"
Winona Ryder lightly bit Andrew's neck, "We're talking about scripts now!"
Andrew laughed, "You know the currently screening romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., right?"
"Of course, it's doing well at the box office and has great reviews. What's up?"
Andrew didn't keep any secrets, "The writer of When Harry Met Sally..., Nora Ephron, is a veteran screenwriter. After participating in several film adaptations, she's preparing to direct her first movie."
"My agent has already sent the Sleepless in Seattle script to Nora Ephron. I'm waiting for a response!"
Winona Ryder kissed Andrew on the lips and smiled, "I see."
Andrew continued, "Actually, I already have a complete plan for Sleepless in Seattle. I have ideas for the lead actors, filming locations, and more."
"If Nora Ephron can find a film company to support this, I'm confident we can get this project officially started in no time!"
The slow pace of movie development is mainly due to the time taken in script revisions, from the first draft to the final version, which takes a long time. Then there's the selection of primary actors, schedule adjustments, and so on!
But with Andrew involved, the script finalization time could be significantly reduced, and the same goes for the actors.
As long as there's financial support from a film company, Andrew could ensure this movie can be released by next year!
Winona Ryder nestled in Andrew's arms, "Don't rush; this script is really good. I feel very at ease after reading it. Someone will notice it."
"Alright, it's already dark outside. Let's go out and get something to eat," Andrew said, patting Winona Ryder.
"Andrew, let's go to West Hollywood. I live nearby, and you can come check out my place," Winona Ryder invited Andrew.
Andrew nodded; West Hollywood was much closer to Los Angeles International Airport than Northridge. They should have gone to Winona Ryder's home first when they got back!
In the evening, after Andrew and Winona Ryder visited her two-bedroom apartment, they held hands and went out to find food.
West Hollywood was much more bustling than Northridge. After all, San Fernando Valley couldn't compare to Los Angeles outside the valley.
West Hollywood is lined with bars, nightclubs, and clubs, making it a popular place for many Hollywood stars to seek fun.
At Craig's Restaurant, Winona Ryder dined with Andrew. "This place isn't big, but it's very quiet. I used to come here often to read alone."
Andrew nodded. Indeed, the restaurant was virtually empty now.
After a while, the door opened, and several big men walked in, followed by a couple.
"Nicole, you sit here for a bit. I'm going to the restroom," the couple that walked in were Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
"Okay," Nicole Kidman still had her curly hair but dyed it blonde!
Andrew and Winona Ryder had just looked up. Unlike Winona Ryder's calmness, Andrew was a bit surprised. What a coincidence!
He was surprised that Nicole Kidman was with Tom Cruise so quickly. Tom Cruise was still married!
When Nicole Kidman looked for a seat, she saw the surprised Andrew Williams and immediately walked over with a smile.
Extending her hand, "Long time no see, Andrew!"
"Yes, long time no see, Nicole!" Andrew shook hands with Nicole Kidman. "This is my girlfriend, Winona Ryder!"
"Good evening, Winona..."
"Oh, hello!"