The Greatest Showman

Chapter 129

“Are you nervous?” Rami nudged Renly’s shoulder with a tense expression, looking even more excited than the person involved.

Renly chuckled helplessly. “Nervous.” He spread his hands. “But there’s nothing I can do about it.”

His straightforward, unpolished demeanour left Rami momentarily stunned, but then he burst into laughter. Even Morett, sitting on the other side, gave a kind smile.

Renly couldn’t deny it—he was indeed nervous. The tension in his emotions felt like a bow being drawn tighter and tighter, closer to perfection, yet the arrow remained unlaunched.

Compared to earlier, when he was watching the presentation of other awards, the tension had somewhat eased. After observing others for so long, it was suddenly his turn, and his mindset began to relax. Regardless of who won the award, the results would finally be revealed. It was as if a weight in his heart was about to be lifted—just like Hugh Laurie; even in defeat, at least the torment would end.

Still, the waves of anxiety and the brief void before the announcement made his palms sweat.

Renly knew his chances tonight weren’t great—in fact, they were slim.

Among the five nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, Michael Sheen of ‘The Special Relationship’ and Ian McKellen of ‘The Prisoner’ were practically out of the running. Their works lacked overall strength, attention, and acclaim. Even for Ian McKellen, audiences seemed content with celebrating his fifth nomination and second consecutive one, rather than believing his performance in ‘The Prisoner’ was of award-winning caliber.

Jeff Bridges of ‘A Dog Year’ was a unique case. The quality of the film itself was average, but Jeff’s momentum over the past year had skyrocketed. ‘Crazy Heart’ had swept the awards season, which had just ended as if three decades of acclaim and regret had poured in at once. People seemed ready to vote for him without even watching the film. This was his strongest card for an Emmy win.

Ever since ‘The Pacific’ premiered, debates around the series had never ceased. Alongside this controversy came consistent praise for Renly’s performance. While it couldn’t be said that he single-handedly salvaged the series, his acting truly embodied the directors’ and writers’ intentions, completing the puzzle and elevating the work— it was a remarkable achievement. His nuanced, profound, and effortless acting left the audience in awe.

Securing an Emmy nomination for a series dominated by ensemble acting and war drama spectacles like ‘The Pacific’ already underscored Renly’s professional recognition.

However, this strength was also a limitation. ‘The Pacific’’s structural constraints and Renly’s status as a 20-year-old newcomer formed insurmountable barriers for his first Emmy win. Moreover, the competition between miniseries and movies inherently favoured the latter—condensed narratives tended to spotlight acting more effectively.

Under such circumstances, the overwhelming acclaim and solid performance of Al Pacino made him the frontrunner. The only question was whether Jeff Bridges could capitalize on his momentum to claim both the Oscar and Emmy.

Renly was well aware of all this. Simply being nominated for the first time was already a significant honour. Attending the ceremony was more about participation. Yet, the tension still tightened his muscles, as though a dozen tiny figures were wreaking havoc in his stomach. When presenter Tina Fey walked onto the stage, Renly exhaled deeply, trying his best to calm down. Though his heart pounded violently, almost to the point of pain, he managed to regain a semblance of control over his breathing.

As Tina delivered her brief introduction, the screen displayed the five nominees. Renly noticed a crane camera descending from the ceiling, aiming at him from afar. Compared to the other nominees, his seat was not only further back but also in the middle—an undeniably awkward position. This small detail seemed to reflect NBC’s lack of confidence in his chances.

Renly adjusted his expression, attempting to look composed and elegant, akin to stars like Leonardo DiCaprio or Tom Cruise at the Oscars. But when his peripheral vision caught his own slightly stiff face on the screen, it struck him as both comical and unfamiliar. Unable to help himself, he burst into a soft laugh. The gentle curve of his lips, blooming like sunlight, rippled into his eyes, exuding a radiant warmth.

In the plaza outside the venue, Hope Bates caught this moment perfectly. Overcome with excitement, she screamed, pointing at Renly’s smile on the big screen, too thrilled to form words— so she only screamed.

Beside her, William and Graham missed the scene. Following Hope’s gaze to the screen, they found the director had already switched the camera angle. Bewildered, they asked what had happened, but Hope couldn’t answer, as she was still screaming, “Ahhh!” She hopped in place, overwhelmed with emotion, tears brimming in her eyes, her cries unstoppable.

Rami noticed Renly’s sudden change as well and couldn’t help but chuckle. He lowered his voice and asked, “Did you just break character and laugh?”

Renly pressed his lips together, the more he thought about it, the funnier it seemed. The laughter spilt over from his eyes. Rami, however, was laughing uncontrollably. “Now all of America has seen it. You’re doomed.” His schadenfreude was completely obvious. (T/N – Schadenfreude – the emotional experience of pleasure in response to another’s misfortune)

Renly confidently shook his head. “The director cut the shot quickly. No one noticed.” Even if they did, he was just a nobody—no one would care.

Outside, Hope was still screaming, “Ahhh!”

The introductions of the five nominees were over. Without pausing, Tina Fey opened the envelope in her hand and spoke into the microphone, “The 62nd Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie goes to…” She pulled out the card, and there was a brief silence. All eyes focused on the two veterans, Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges. Tina glanced at the card, then looked up with a knowing smile. “Renly Hall, ‘The Pacific’.”

Wait, who is the winner again?

Renly Hall. That is his name. Does that mean… he won? Renly was frozen for a moment. How had he suddenly won? Before his emotions could even begin to surge, Rami jumped up, shouting, “Renly! Renly! Renly!” His excited cries rang out as he pulled Renly into a huge hug. “Man, you won! You did it!” Rami was so thrilled he seemed even more emotional than Renly. His large, cow-like eyes sparkled with tears of joy.

Finally, it sunk in—he had won.

The emotions came rushing in. It all felt so unreal, like a beautiful dream where every good thing had happened. He had got the opportunity to perform in ‘The Pacific’. He had taken the first steps toward his dream of becoming an actor. He had earned the recognition and with that, he got a nomination. And now, he had claimed his first award—a trophy from the Emmys, one of the top four awards in American entertainment.

He had proven, through his own talent, effort, and determination, that he was an outstanding actor. He had shouldered the blame from his parents, the weight of his dreams, and the expectations of his family. He had proven that he could achieve excellence.

“You’re just a fool chasing a pipe dream. The chances of success are zero!”

George’s harsh, cold words still echoed in his ears, but now, it was all over—dissipated like smoke.

More than being moved, exhilarated, or thrilled, Renly felt an overwhelming sense of disbelief. Happiness had come so quickly, so unexpectedly, that he didn’t know how to react. Then, in his field of vision, a crowd swarmed toward him—James, Morett, and others. Familiar and unfamiliar faces blurred together in a radiant glow.

Renly felt like he couldn’t breathe.

“Ahhh!” William jumped up as if possessed, shouting wildly like a madman. He couldn’t think of what to say, nor could he say anything coherent, so he just screamed, releasing his joy and excitement in full. Turning to Graham, he clenched his fists and shouted with abandon, “Ahhh!”

Nearby, Hope sprinted in circles like a lunatic. “Ahhh!” She screamed excitedly toward the fans of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Glee’ not far away, letting out her exuberance without restraint. “Ahhh!” She didn’t say a word, but her actions spoke volumes.

Memories of being ignored online, of the anger at being sidelined on the red carpet, surged in Hope’s heart. Overwhelmed with joy and triumph, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “Ahhh!”

Other people watched Hope as if she was crazy, puzzled by her exaggerated behaviour. But she didn’t care. She shouted and screamed freely. This was Renly’s moment. This was their moment.

“Congratulations!” Tina said loudly, starting a round of applause. The audience finally snapped out of their shock and joined in, clapping enthusiastically.

Tonight, everyone witnessed the birth of a rising star. Defeating Al Pacino, and defeating Jeff Bridges, Renly won an Emmy with his remarkable debut acting performance in ‘The Pacific’. The achievement carried immense weight and was nothing short of extraordinary. From confusion to astonishment, from delight to heartfelt blessings, the applause roared through the venue.

Al Pacino chuckled lightly, shaking his head with a mix of helplessness, regret, and a touch of gratification. Then he raised his hands and joined in the applause.

T/N – Lets goooooooooooo, it is our boy Renly in the end, the acting genius and the new Hollywood star, please write in the comments all the praise for future great Renly Hall…

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