Over the next few days, Leon threw himself into the production work for The Princess Diaries while keeping a close eye on Leonardo's progress.
He'd occasionally get excited, nervous texts from Leonardo:
"Got in touch with Steven's assistant! Script's been sent!"
"Steven agreed to read it! Fingers crossed!"
"He read it! Meeting tomorrow!!!!"
Leon's replies were short, encouraging, and to the point:
"Stay focused. You've got this."
"Keep the story's core charm in mind."
"Good luck."
He knew this was make-or-break.
If Spielberg passed, the project wouldn't die, but its scope and impact would take a hit, and getting someone like Tom Hanks on board would be a long shot.
But if Spielberg said yes, every obstacle would melt away, and Hollywood's doors would swing wide open for the project.
Warner Bros. Studios, the set of Friends Season 6.
Leon showed up early, dressed in a tailored but understated casual suit.
Per the director's instructions, he fully embodied "Leon" (to avoid confusion, the author kept his name as is)—the handsome, slightly "unlucky" older brother of Carl, the dessert chef from Chicago, who's a furniture designer.
The executive producer and director of Friends Season 6 welcomed him warmly, going over his blocking and key lines one more time.
"Remember, Leon, you're the 'normal' outsider. The more real and awkward your reactions, the better the comedy. Especially with the Gellers and Joey's headgear."
"Got it, director," Leon said with a grin. "Acting like a regular guy meeting this crew of weirdos for the first time? That's not hard for me."
His adaptability and professionalism put the crew at ease.
Filming began.
Scene 1: Central Perk Café
Monica's bustling around the dining table, checking the silverware, while the others lounge in the living room.
Monica (clapping to get attention): "Hey, listen up. We've got an extra guest for dinner tonight."
Chandler (instantly suspicious): "Who? Did you adopt another stray animal? Hopefully not another vulture-looking thing."
Monica (rolling her eyes): "There's a new dessert chef at the restaurant, Carl. He's super shy. His brother's in from Chicago to visit, but Carl's working tonight."
"So he asked if his brother could join us so he's not alone on Thanksgiving."
"His brother's name is Leon. Seems like a nice guy. You all better act normal and not scare him off."
Rachel (perking up, fixing her hair): "Is he cute?"
Monica: "How would I know? I haven't met him! The point is, he's normal. We need someone normal to raise the average in this room."
Ross (adjusting his glasses): "Thanksgiving's a family holiday. Inviting a stranger feels a bit…"
Phoebe (dreamily): "Maybe he's an angel sent by the universe to balance our chaotic energy!"
Chandler: "Oh, great. So he'll float in and bless the pumpkin pie with holy vibes?"
(The live audience cracks up.)
Scene 2: Leon's Entrance
The doorbell rings. Monica opens it.
Leon (standing in the doorway, holding a nice bottle of red wine, with a perfectly polite, slightly apologetic smile): "Hi, you must be Monica. I'm Leon, Carl's brother."
"Thanks so much for inviting me. Otherwise, I'd be stuck watching pay-per-view in my hotel room for Thanksgiving."
Monica (caught off guard by his polished demeanor and good looks, instantly warm): "Oh, come in! No need to thank me! You're totally welcome!"
Leon steps into the apartment, his eyes quickly scanning the room with appreciation: "Wow, this place is amazing. The arch design and how you've used the space… really clever, full of personality."
(He turns to Monica, sincerely) "You must've put a lot of thought into it."
Monica (beaming): "Oh! Thanks! Are you… into design?"
Leon: "Furniture design. I've got a small studio in Chicago. I'm kind of a nerd about spaces."
(He smiles, greeting the others as they approach.)
When he shakes Rachel's hand, his gaze lingers on her face for half a second, and he smiles: "Wow, the bar for Thanksgiving parties in New York is pretty high."
Rachel (flashing a dazzling smile, her heart skipping a beat): "Oh, are all Midwestern guys this smooth?"
Leon (winking, lowering his voice slightly): "Only for the right people." (He lets go of her hand.)
(The audience hoots knowingly.)
He chats with Chandler about the differences between Chicago and New York, deftly handling Chandler's sarcastic jabs, earning a rare nod of approval.
He shows genuine interest in Phoebe's massage therapy work, asking thoughtful questions that make her declare his "energy is super pure."
With Ross, he keeps things polite but a touch reserved.
Throughout, his eyes occasionally drift to Rachel, who responds with a hair toss or a smile whenever he looks her way.
Scene 3: Dinner and the Climax (Awkwardness Amplified)
Jack and Judy Geller arrive.
They notice Leon's handsome, composed demeanor and start off overly formal.
Judy: "Oh, Leon, hello! What a delightful Thanksgiving! I'm Judy, and this is my husband, Jack."
Jack: "Welcome, young man. Happy Thanksgiving."
Leon stands to shake their hands: "Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. and Mrs. Geller. I'm Leon, Monica's restaurant colleague's brother. Thanks so much to your daughter for inviting me."
Judy (to Monica, rare praise): "Oh, Monica, you've finally made a decent friend!"
(Monica's face is a mix of emotions.)
As dinner progresses, the Gellers' usual chaos takes over. They forget Leon's an "outsider" and start nitpicking Monica's dry turkey ("It lacks moisture!") and fawning over Ross ("Our PhD son!").
Leon's presence makes every awkward moment twice as cringe-worthy.
He shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting between the Gellers, Monica, Ross, and the others, trying to smooth things over but unsure how, so he just keeps sipping water.
When Ross finally admits he smoked and blamed Chandler, Leon's eyes widen in shock, nearly choking on his water, his face screaming, "What kind of family drama am I witnessing?"
When Chandler boldly puts his arm around Monica to announce their relationship, Leon's expression shifts from peak awkwardness to surprise, understanding, and a hint of respect, giving a subtle nod as if to say, "Nice move, man."
Scene 4: Flirty Moments with Rachel
Amid the chaotic dinner, Leon and Rachel's interactions become a sweet oasis in the storm of awkwardness.
When Jack launches into a long story about Ross reading at age three, Leon leans toward Rachel and whispers, "In my house, if the turkey was this good, my mom would cry tears of joy."
His warm breath tickles Rachel's ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
Rachel giggles softly, whispering back, "Welcome to the Gellers' wild ride." They share a knowing look under the table.
While passing the green beans, their fingers brush against the bowl, lingering briefly until Ross pointedly coughs, and they pull apart casually.
Rachel's cheeks flush.
During the height of the family drama, Leon and Rachel exchange frequent glances. Leon mouths a tiny, comical "wow" to her, making Rachel bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud.