"You do," Hugh affirmed. "Theatre's the easiest since it's pretty steady but on a union film, legally you have to have so many hours off between takes, and you get your call schedule somewhat in advance anyway although it can change," he laughed. "By the end of the week you may have been scheduled for 7am and end up in at 10am because the crew was there until 2am the night before. But to answer your question from above, I'd like to do the film. It's a short project, and I think it might be good for me to get back there, remind myself that I can do that work also." Without being too ambitious, without violating his own ethical code because a director had asked him too - it felt important somehow in a way he couldn't entirely explain.
He lifted the drink to his lips and considered Theodore's question. He took a sip, swallowed and sat it back down, wondering if it made him sound narcissistic to say yes. But denying it was an outright lie, and he didn't want to engage in those with this friendship. He didn't get the impression that it mattered with Theodore - not in the sort of way where he'd be rejected for the truth. "I've always wanted to be recognized for my work," he offered slowly. "I'm not certain I've any delusion at this point in my career that I'll be the best actor of my generation or something like that, but I want to create art that matters and is recognized as such. And the fame comes with that a bit. I finally started an Instagram again," he gave a brief huff of a self-depreciating laugh. "So my brother and a few friends from Seattle can follow me, I guess. But right now I'm alright with that low follow count."
He turned the glass in his hand, eyes on Theodore's face. "If it's not too personal, how do you do it? I feel like I fell apart after the trial, and even now there are moments-" his gaze drifted to the bar, even though their waiter was nowhere in sight she'd been a reminder that things were different he was different "-Where I feel like I'm acting a role, and the role is me? I don't know if that makes sense at all. It's like, 'trying to be my old self again but still trying to find it'."