Just as Andrew was about to reach for his glass again, the door to the pub swung open, letting in a gust of late afternoon air and a wave of light. A girl walked in, apron around her waist, hair pulled back in a casual ponytail, carrying a tray of empty glasses from outside.
Andrew turned, half-listening to Jeff ramble on about the time he once served a half-drunk Bruce Willis, when his gaze landed on her.
His breath caught.
Jennifer Aniston.
She looked younger than he remembered from the screen—softer around the cheeks, still untouched by fame or camera angles. She gave Jeff a smile and dropped off the tray behind the counter.
"Hey, Jeff. Sorry I'm late. Traffic was hell."
"It's fine, Jen," Jeff replied with a shrug. "You got the evening shift."
Jennifer turned toward the counter and finally noticed Andrew sitting there.
"Oh," she said, caught off guard. "Didn't know we had a new customer."
Jeff grinned. "Andrew, meet Jen. Jen, this is Andrew—he's new in town, says he's an actor."
"An actor?" she echoed, amused but not unkind. "Well, you're in the right place. We're crawling with them."
Andrew offered a hand. "Andrew Williams. Recently graduated. Still figuring things out."
She shook it. "Jennifer. Or Jen. Or just 'hey, waitress.' Whatever works."
He smiled. "You're not just a waitress."
She raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"No," he said simply. "You're going to be a star."
She laughed, not mockingly, but the way people do when they hear something completely ridiculous. "Okay, that's a new one. Want another drink, psychic man?"
"Sure," he said, handing her the glass.
As she walked away, Andrew leaned back in his seat, heart beating a little faster than before. Not because of nerves or alcohol, but because of what he had just seen.
Jennifer Aniston.
The Jennifer Aniston.
Still unknown, still struggling—but standing right there in front of him, wiping down the counter with a dishrag.
History was already unfolding.
And he was right in the middle of it.
---
Later, after another drink and a burger that was better than it had any right to be, Andrew stayed at the bar. Jeff had taken to him, chatting about the L.A. scene, and Jennifer moved in and out, handling tables and pausing to banter whenever she passed.
"So what kind of stuff are you looking to do?" she asked during a lull, leaning her elbows on the bar.
"Acting. Writing, too. Maybe Production too someday," Andrew replied. "You?"
Jennifer scoffed. "Trying to get an agent. Mostly just running between auditions and shifts here."
"You'll get there."
"You say that like you know something I don't."
Andrew met her eyes. "Maybe I do."
She tilted her head, studying him with a half-smile. "You're weird. But in a fun way."
Jeff chuckled from the back. "He's not wrong, Jen. You got something. Hell, maybe you both do. Just don't let this city eat you alive first."
Andrew grinned. "That's the plan."
He left the pub just after sunset, the air cooling down as he stepped outside. L.A. shimmered in that strange, beautiful way—half magic, half illusion. He walked with a bounce in his step, not because of the alcohol, but because of the possibilities.
Jennifer Aniston was still a waitress.
Edward Scissorhands was still casting.
Pixar was a tiny and owned by steve jobs
Everything was up for grabs.
Just as he was thinking about how strange it had been seeing a young Jennifer Aniston serving drinks, the phone rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. He reached for the receiver, his heart suddenly pounding. Something told him this was important.
"Hello?" he answered, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Hi, is this Andrew Williams?" came a professional but somewhat rushed voice on the other end.
"Yes, speaking."
"Great! My name is Lisa, and I'm calling from the production team of *Edward Scissorhands*. We received your submission for the open casting call. Are you available for a callback tomorrow at 10 a.m.?"
A grin spread across Andrew's face, though he tried to remain calm. "Yes, absolutely. I'll be there."
"Fantastic. You'll need to come by Century City is located in West LA, near Beverly Hills. Just ask for me at the front desk, and I'll bring you to the casting director."
"Got it. Thank you, Lisa. I really appreciate this opportunity."
"No problem! Looking forward to meeting you. Good luck!"
The line clicked off, leaving Andrew in stunned silence. He stared at the phone for a moment, letting the excitement sink in. This was it. The first domino was about to fall. He'd be in the same room as Tim Burton.
As soon as he hung up, his mind started whirring, accessing the *mind library*—his vast, encyclopedic knowledge of the future. In this timeline, Tim Burton was already making waves, but in Andrew's original 2024, Burton would go on to become a legendary filmmaker, known for his dark, gothic aesthetic and wildly imaginative stories.
"Tim Burton…" Andrew muttered to himself, his mind diving deep into Burton's filmography.
By 2024, Burton had become an icon, renowned for classics like Beetlejuice(1988), Batman(1989), and Edward Scissorhands(1990). But his career wouldn't stop there. Burton would go on to direct Batman Returns(1992), cementing his status as a visionary director in the superhero genre. The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993), though produced by him, would become a cult favorite, forever entwined with his name. His future hits would include Ed Wood(1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005), each one a testament to his unique storytelling.
And then there was Alice in Wonderland (2010), a massive box-office hit that would mark a turning point in Hollywood's use of CGI and special effects, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide. Burton's influence on pop culture would be monumental—his films creating legions of devoted fans who adored his macabre yet whimsical style.
"He's a visionary," Andrew whispered. "A true auteur."
In 1989, Tim Burton was still at the beginning of his meteoric rise, and Edward Scissorhands would be the film that solidified his signature style. Getting involved in this project, even in a small way, was a huge opportunity.
But Andrew knew what was coming next. He had knowledge of future trends, the rise of digital media, the internet, and even social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube that would change Hollywood forever. He could shape this world—shape Burton's world—even if it was just a little nudge.
Pulling out a notepad, Andrew started scribbling ideas. He'd play his part in Edward Scissorhands, but more importantly, he had a plan—one that would make him indispensable to people like Tim Burton and others who would soon dominate the industry.
Tomorrow would be the first step. Hollywood didn't know it yet, but the game was about to change.
And Andrew Williams was ready.
The next morning, Andrew dressed carefully in front of the mirror. "Looking like this, there's no reason I can't at least land a bit part, right?"
He then drove his Ford Taurus towards Los Angeles. Century City is located in West LA, near Beverly Hills.
On Reseda Boulevard, Andrew suddenly saw Jennifer Aniston, whom he had just met the previous night, waiting at a bus stop.
"Hi, Jennifer, where are you headed?" Andrew stopped the car and asked.
"Oh, I'm going to Culver City!" Jennifer Aniston explained.
"Hop in, I'm heading to Century City. Culver City isn't far from there. Let's go," Andrew said, opening the door.
"Okay," Jennifer Aniston thought for a moment and then sat in the passenger seat, "Thank you, Andrew!"
Andrew started the car, "No problem, it's on the way. We'll get there once we pass through the Santa Monica mountains along the 405 freeway."
"By the way, are you also going to Century City for a job?" Jennifer Aniston laughed, "Jeff said you passed out from UCLA!"
"Yeah, I'm going to audition for a small role in a romance movie," Andrew chuckled, "Are you also auditioning?"
"Yes, I'm often on my way to auditions," Jennifer Aniston, who came from a family in the performing arts, said. Her father was a TV actor, and her mother was a photographer and model.
"Are you from California too?" Andrew asked.
"I was born in California, but moved to New York with my parents when I was little. Then my parents divorced, and my mother opposed me entering the entertainment industry. After graduating from drama school, I came to Los Angeles on my own..."
Jennifer Aniston was 20 years old, the same age as Andrew. After graduating from high school drama school, she came to Los Angeles two years ago.
"Do you have an agent now?" Andrew certainly didn't.
Jennifer Aniston shook her head, "I don't have any acting experience. My acting career hasn't taken off yet. I'm working while looking for audition opportunities!"
"Oh, I see," Andrew nodded, "I just left school to start my career!"
Jennifer Aniston smiled, "Jeff said he wants you to replace me as a waiter."
"Haha, Jeff doesn't have much faith in me. I'm actually writing a script now," Andrew smiled, "I'm more interested in film production and screenwriting than acting!"
"Then why are you pursuing acting now?"
"Oh, because it pays well and it's easier to meet people in the industry," Andrew said, glancing at Jennifer Aniston in the passenger seat, "Work hard. When I make my own movie, I'll invite you to be the lead actress!"
Jennifer Aniston nodded, her smile never fading, "You'd better hurry up. I feel like nothing lasts long for me now."
"Don't worry..."
After more than half an hour, Andrew's car arrived in Century City. "Andrew, I can walk from here. It's not far."
"No, let me drop you off," Andrew insisted and continued driving. In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the Columbia TriStar headquarters in Culver City.
"Thank you, Andrew!" Jennifer Aniston genuinely thanked him.
"Good luck," Andrew fist-bumped Jennifer Aniston.
"You too," Jennifer Aniston winked at Andrew, "Future leading man!"
With that, Jennifer Aniston got out of the car and headed straight to her audition location.
Andrew returned to Century City and found the Twentieth Century Fox location for his "Edward Scissorhands" audition.
The leads for "Edward Scissorhands" were already set. The male lead was Johnny Depp, who rose to fame from his TV show "21 Jump Street", as for the female lead, it was Winona Ryder, the 18-year-old star of the recently released comedy "Heathers"!
Andrew was auditioning for the supporting male role in "Edward Scissorhands", who is the spoiled boyfriend of the female lead.
After registration, Andrew was led by a staff member to a corridor. "Sit and wait!"
"Thank you," Andrew said, noticing over 30 people, both men and women, there already, and it wasn't even 8:30 AM yet.
It seemed like the female supporting roles were also being auditioned. Andrew's build and looks were good, but apart from drawing some women's glances, he didn't cause much of a stir.
He found a seat and started thinking about the role he was auditioning for. The part wasn't big but it was something, though the character wasn't very outstanding. In fact, it was even less memorable than the female lead's brother, but that was a child actor's role!
However, the moment Andrew entered, he caught the attention of a middle-aged woman.
Tracy Jacobs, an agent at ICM, had signed Johnny Depp last year because of "21 Jump Street", preparing to push him towards film work.
For the lead role in "Edward Scissorhands", they had initially considered actors like Gary Oldman, Tom Cruise, and Robert Downey Jr., so securing the role for Johnny Depp was quite a feat!
Tracy Jacobs called her assistant, "Get me the info on that good-looking guy over there..."
The assistant followed her direction and saw Andrew Williams deep in thought.