Finishing his shift, Ray headed to an internet cafe. He was searching for film schools. Looking through newspapers had yielded a few results, but he still hoped to find something better. Ray was a bookworm; he had no experience with computers, but he wasn't an idiot—so he figured it out quickly.
While searching for information about film schools, he came across some news: one of the best film schools in Los Angeles was holding a competition. You had to shoot a short film and send it to the committee. If participants showed enough talent, they could be invited for fully free tuition. This applied not only to actors but also to other professions in the field.
After reading the news carefully, Ray concluded that winning this competition was Lily's best chance to start a career in film.
Having made his decision, he returned home and spent the whole night writing a script. He wrote it with his acquaintances in mind—he didn't have the means to hire professional actors. Calling all three of his workplaces, he asked for a few days off and went to prepare breakfast.
During breakfast, Amy saw her son's tired appearance and said worriedly:
"I think working three jobs is too much for you now. You should slow down a bit."
"Don't worry, I will," Ray replied. "I'll have to quit soon anyway. I found news about a film school competition, and I'm going to do my best to give Lily the win."
"I'm going to visit Tony, so I'll be gone for a few days. I have a role that's perfect for him."
"Does Lily know about your plans?" Amy asked.
"No, I'm going to surprise her. Besides, I'm not sure if Tony will have time. If he can't do it, I'll have to rewrite the script."
"Do you have a role for me?" Amy asked playfully.
"Never thought you'd be interested," Ray chuckled. "But the truth is, you're too good for a supporting role. This is very important for Lily's future, so I need everything to be perfect."
"Relax, I was joking! But you're right about one thing: I really am too good for supporting roles," Amy said with a laugh.
"Many people notice that I lack modesty. Now I know who gave me this flaw," Ray remarked jokingly.
After breakfast, he quickly packed and boarded a train. Along the way, Ray continued working on the script. Tony was his only school friend, and they hadn't seen each other in a very long time. When Ray knocked on the door, it was opened by a tall black guy, almost two meters in height. Seeing his guest, he let out a joyful yell and wrapped Ray in a hug.