After finishing the commercial shoot, Ryan recorded the final song of his album, Climb. Then, Thanksgiving arrived.
However, before enjoying the turkey feast, he still had to attend the premiere of a movie.
The Bodyguard premiered the night before Thanksgiving, which was vastly different from his previous life. From the day it started filming, this movie had attracted immense media attention. During this time, many people had even called in to ask when the film would be released.
By now, everyone knew the background of this film's creation. As a result of the conflict between the super genius Ryan Jenkins and megastar Tom Cruise, it was nearly impossible for the film not to draw attention.
When Warner released the first teaser, all the major media outlets dredged up the original incident again, stirring up a new wave of hype. That footage naturally became the top replay choice for many television stations. Talk shows began poking fun at the situation as well—CNN host Larry King even joked on his show that if the movie became a box office hit, Warner Bros. and Jenkins Pictures should give Tom Cruise a red envelope as a thank-you gift.
Tom Cruise, while out in public, was cornered on the street by paparazzi asking him for his opinion on the film.
Not known for being broad-minded, and having been utterly embarrassed by this incident—with not a single film offer all year—Cruise turned pale with anger on the spot, nearly coughing up three liters of blood.
Most movie premieres follow the same format, but what made this one different was that Ryan walked the red carpet alone. Nicole and Jodie Foster had entered the Chinese Theatre together early on.
The media knew very well who the real star of this premiere was. Unfortunately for them, Ryan wasn't going to give them another chance to stir up drama. After signing a few autographs for fans, he skipped the usual group photo with the cast and briskly entered the theater amid shouts from reporters and paparazzi.
He was already winning this silent war and saw no need to keep arguing in front of the media. That would only damage his image and risk shifting public opinion. Besides, he would still do everything that needed to be done—no point in giving the flies any more seasoning to feed on.
He made a round in the theater's foyer, greeting acquaintances and strangers alike. As he grew older, he needed to expand his network. Even though Americans prioritized practical interests, personal relationships within the rules were just as essential.
Soon, he spotted Nicole and Jodie Foster, who were chatting closely.
"Hi, Jodie." Ryan casually hooked his arm around Nicole's. "Didn't think you'd actually come."
"Of course I came." Jodie Foster gave him a meaningful smile. "This is the script you based on me. I had to come check it out, didn't I?"
"Oh, come on, Jodie. I already apologized," Ryan grumbled, waving his hand dismissively.
"Alright, Ryan." Jodie's smile faded. "I wasn't offended. I think you know that."
Ryan shrugged playfully at her. To be fair, Warner had been quite restrained. Their promotional material only touted this as the fourth screenplay by Ryan Jenkins, mentioned Tom Cruise in passing, but said nothing about the script's inspiration—even though everyone knew.
After all, the John Hinckley assassination attempt on Reagan remained the deepest wound in Jodie Foster's heart. And within the industry, it was well known that she and Nicole Kidman were best friends.
Soon, a few others joined their little circle.
" The person speaking to Ryan was a Black woman—Whitney Houston.
"The songs are good, but without your performance, they'd lose half their brilliance." Ryan had listened to the original soundtrack already and found it impressive. Compliments cost nothing—even though she wasn't exactly his favorite, he still flattered her a little.
That's how these gatherings worked—you compliment me, I compliment you, everyone builds connections and chats about current events. Even some film investment deals began with the preliminary discussions at these kinds of events.
With a loud bang, Kevin Costner's character, Frank Farmer, shot a criminal, and the movie began.
The stoic, silent bodyguard and the passionate, fiery female star each revealed their personalities and lifestyles. They seemed like two parallel lines destined never to intersect. And of course, no romance movie would be complete without some cliché drama—the male and female leads had to start off antagonistic.
As for the turning point in their relationship—what's more fitting than a heroic rescue?
During a concert, Rachel, the female lead, was rushed by fans and fell off the stage. Just as disaster was about to strike, Frank saved her and led her away from the crazed fans. Their relationship slowly began to improve. The catchy and upbeat song "" (unclear in original) played, earning a round of applause.
Rachel, wanting to thank her bodyguard, invited him to dinner using a flimsy excuse. Later, she followed him back to his house. Most people could guess what was coming next—but that's exactly what audiences loved to see.
In the bedroom, Rachel picked up a katana and began teasing her bodyguard. Frank took off Rachel's silk scarf, tossed it into the air, and as it floated down, it was cleanly sliced in two on the sword's blade.
Seeing this scene, Ryan felt a bit annoyed. In the script, he'd changed the katana to a Chinese sword, but in the end, director Mick Jackson still used a katana. There was nothing he could do about it. According to the usual practice, the screenwriter should follow the crew to make adjustments as needed.
Ryan didn't have the luxury of time to stress over such things, so he had delegated the right to make minor script changes to the director. Of course, for major plot points, he had to approve them.
What happened next? Well… things had reached that point—if the male and female leads didn't sleep together, audiences would've cursed the writer and director for being boring. The drama had to be served.
However, the love scene wasn't very long, disappointing some viewers who had hoped to see a more seductive side of Whitney Houston.
The next morning, Frank regretted his moment of weakness and tried to draw a line between them so he could better fulfill his duties. As a result, the two grew distant after just becoming intimate. To get back at Frank, Rachel flirted with his former colleague, Bowman, pretending to be intimate with him.
What she didn't know was that Bowman was actually the deranged killer trying to murder her.
To avoid the stalker who kept sending Rachel threatening letters, Frank took her and her family to his countryside villa. After a bombing incident, Frank began to suspect Rachel's sister, Nikki. Under his questioning, Nikki finally admitted that, out of jealousy for her sister's success, she had hired a hitman to kill her.
But that night, the killer mistook Nikki for Rachel and accidentally killed her. Frank pursued him but came up empty-handed.
Rachel was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. As she walked onto the stage after being announced as the winner, the killer, Bowman, disguised himself as a cameraman and aimed a gun hidden beneath the camera at her.
A laser dot appeared on the actress's face, making the audience's hearts jump. Even though most people could guess that the dedicated bodyguard would surely save the star at the last second, they still couldn't help but feel anxious.
Accompanied by the soundtrack, Rachel stood on the highest stage of honor, raising her arms in victory. At the critical moment, Frank dashed in from the side of the stage, taking the bullet meant for her. Amid the chaos, Frank found Bowman and shot him dead.
"He's my bodyguard! He's my bodyguard!"
In a passionate gaze shared with Frank, Rachel finally acknowledged the feelings her bodyguard had long suppressed. She cried out, "No! No! Frank, don't die! Hold on!"
At the same time, the Best Actress Oscar card lay forgotten at the edge of the stage. Eventually, Rachel's manager picked it up and stuffed it into his pocket.
This contrast made the moment even more powerful—the actress threw away the entertainment industry's highest honor and devoted her whole heart to the bodyguard, showing just how deeply she loved him.
What makes a film a classic? At the very least, it needs one scene that truly touches people's hearts, leaving a lasting impression—something they remember and feel whenever they think of it.
So at the end, the most melodramatic, most moving, and also the most iconic scene of the film appeared. To the tune of I Will Always Love You, Rachel ran off the plane, wearing a trench coat and scarf, and rushed into Frank's arms.
At that moment, the song rose from a low hum to a powerful climax. After suppressing their emotions for the entire film, the two leads finally exploded with passion in that earth-shaking kiss, giving both the audience and the film itself complete emotional release.
Just as Ryan had suggested in his script, the director used a 720-degree spinning camera shot to showcase this passionate kiss to the audience.
To be honest, aside from the bodyguard-and-superstar pairing, which was a novel idea for its time, most of the film's plot relied on standard romantic clichés. But the airport farewell scene and the song I Will Always Love You elevated the movie by at least two levels.
"Wow~"
As the credits rolled, thunderous applause broke out in the theater. Many people rushed to the cast and crew to offer congratulations. After all, they were professionals—and they knew very well that barring any accidents, this was going to be a box office smash.