The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2096 Passionate as Fire
"Why did they write John instead of JR? Your name is JR, not John."

Barbara noticed the name on JR's uniform chest and exclaimed curiously.

JR finally sat up straight and began to get dressed. "Letters aren't allowed in the Air Force, Barbara," he casually explained, referring to the origin of Johnny Cash's name.

Johnny was preparing to join the army, which worried his mother and sister greatly. His younger brother Tommy, who was born later, was still too young to understand what joining the army meant and just played around. But clearly, his father still didn't like Johnny.

He didn't think Johnny was in any danger at all. The war was taking place on the Korean Peninsula, while Johnny was heading to Germany. He couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks.

Johnny turned and left, unsure whether he should be sad or happy. The camera slowly climbed up, looking down at the figure embarking on his journey.

At first, he slumped his shoulders, his steps were reluctant, and he hesitated a little. He tried to turn around but eventually continued to move forward. After walking a short distance, he finally relaxed, as if he had returned to his childhood. He and Jack chased each other on this dirt road, running without reason or destination.

As I ran, I couldn't help but stop, turn around and look at the house behind me, and keep backing away.

In the end, he still fled this place.

1952, Langsberg, Germany.

Johnny was stationed here, and his daily life consisted of nothing but training, training, and more training. There were no other entertainment activities. One day, he stumbled upon a music store on the street, went in, picked out a guitar, and began to teach himself.

Johnny was deeply in love with Vivian, the girl he had met at the training base. They exchanged letters and made phone calls, but Vivian's father thought Johnny was unreliable. After only dating for a month, Johnny went to join the army, his fate unknown. He arranged other marriage partners for Vivian.

Upon learning this, Johnny eagerly proposed, and in the throes of their passionate love, they pledged their lives to each other across the Atlantic Ocean via telephone.

During his time in the army, Johnny relied on this longing to sustain him.

One evening, while they were watching a documentary about Fulson Prison in the military, Johnny, who was idly flipping through a magazine and saw news about Joan Ford's rise to fame, inadvertently glanced at the documentary and was suddenly inspired.

He held his guitar, trying to write down the melodies and lyrics in his mind.

From then on, there was no stopping him. He hid in the corner of the bathroom or in the shadows of the hangar, holding his guitar and persisting in creating music. He was shy and dared not show it to anyone, but he was immersed in the world of music and wandered freely.

In a daze, it felt as if I had returned to my childhood.

However, he eventually needs to return to reality.

Memphis, 1955.

Johnny and Vivian welcomed their first child, marking a new chapter in their lives, and Johnny tried to find a balance between dreams and reality.

On one hand, he was striving to become an excellent salesman; on the other hand, he and two technician partners formed a band and played gospel songs in their spare time, just like in his childhood.

However, the harsh reality overwhelmed them.

Vivian watched Johnny, who was neglecting his duties, on the verge of collapse. She endured and endured, but in the end she could not control herself and completely broke down.

Johnny's sales jobs were going nowhere, and he had no marketable skills. He could no longer afford the rent and received an eviction notice from the landlord.

Vivian pleaded with Johnny to return to St. Anthony, where her father had arranged a job, and if Johnny agreed, they could escape their predicament.

However, Johnny didn't want to.

He didn't want to go back and rely on his father-in-law, and deep down he didn't want to leave Memphis, because Memphis was the music capital, and it seemed that he could get closer to his dream there.

Torn between emotion and reason, Johnny was plunged into despair and anguish.

Seeing Vivian in tears and completely broken, Johnny thought of his mother.

Johnny painfully turned his head away and slammed his fist against the bathroom wall. He had spent his whole life trying to avoid becoming a father, yet it seemed he could never escape his father's shadow.

After the argument, in the dead of night, Johnny curled up in the basement, holding his guitar, his fingertips gently strumming the strings, softly singing. Disordered notes and chaotic thoughts flowed gently in the blurry light and shadow.

Large screens seem to always have this ability: those trivial or even insignificant details, in the flow of light and shadow in the camera lens, transform into a gentle stream of thoughts, making time stand still and drawing you into the world inside.

At this moment, that's it.

All he had was a guitar and a voice. The guitar wasn't even playing a complete chord; he was just singing a cappella. But his hoarse, deep voice was so pure, gently plucking at the heartstrings. The sadness and sighs, mixed with some anger and helplessness, flowed out in the interplay of light and shadow in the night.

The power of music was on full display at this moment.

“You will call me, but I will tell you, ‘Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.’”

I turn and leave, and you will cry, cry, cry…

It's all so simple, without any frills, yet it captivates the listener.

People have witnessed Anson's charm as an actor, and they have also witnessed his charm as a singer, but this is the first time that people have seen Anson's charm as an actor playing a singer on the big screen.

Unlike the Grammys and Oscars, the gentle, storytelling vocals captivate the heart, drawing the listener into a sea of ​​thoughts.

Then, Vivian appeared.

She went down to the basement, stood at the top of the stairs, and couldn't even see Johnny's face clearly. She just listened intently, a smile slowly creeping onto her lips.

"You will cry, cry, cry, you will cry, cry, cry alone."

When everyone forgets, and you are left alone, you will cry, cry, cry…

Vivian froze, her smile slowly fading from her lips.

Finally, Johnny noticed the presence of the people around him. He turned to look, but didn't have time to speak.

Vivian said, "You hate me."

Johnny sat up straight. "No, I didn't."

Vivian looked at Johnny, a hint of struggle in her eyes, "This song is vicious."

Johnny spread his hands. "It's just a silly song, Vivian."

Vivian: ... "Yes."

Without waiting for a response, Vivian turned and left.

Johnny tried to stand up and salvage the situation, saying, "Vivi...it's just a song."

Unfortunately, he received no response.

The world fell silent. Johnny stood frozen in place, his shoulders slumped limply.

Incredibly, Niles, sitting in the Lumière Hall, could hardly believe his eyes—

Ginnifer-Goodwin, who plays Vivian, was completely overshadowed in this scene with Anson.

Not only is it stiff and superficial, but the single-layered emotions completely fail to convey the character's struggles and tensions, and even appear impetuous and hypocritical, revealing the obvious signs of acting.

They were completely crushed by Anson.

Is this...is this really happening?
(End of this chapter)