173 Can I still get it up?

On the set of "50/50," there was a reshoot for the pivotal scene where Adam learns about his cancer diagnosis. Lucas's improvisation was so on point that it was kept in the final cut, although he tweaked his performance to avoid it coming across as too over the top.

Andrew, portraying Dr. Ross, delivers a line that's meant to be a bombshell, detailing Adam's condition with clinical fascination: "Well your case it's actually quite fascinating. Your cancer is the result of an incredibly rare gene mutation in chromosome 17p in the p53 gene that causes the growth of malignant cells in tissue around the nerves. In your case it's grown along the nerves in your lower spine."

Adam listens to the doctor's report with a blend of confusion and curiosity at first. His reaction—mixing bewilderment with humor—strikes a chord before shifting to anxiety and fear as the gravity of his situation sinks in.

You can see it all in Adam's face—the slight changes in his expressions and the way his eyes move—revealing the storm of emotions brewing inside him as he digests the news about his health.

Eventually, Adam stands up and slowly walks to the window. His approach, the longing look he gives the world outside, and his entire body language speak volumes. It's as though he's trying to find an escape from the harsh reality he's just been confronted with, all while lost in the view beyond the glass.

In the scene, Lucas, embodying Adam, feels as though the world has dulled to shades of gray. He gazes out the window, yearning for an escape, his body feeling inexplicably light while his heart is weighed down by dread.

The emotional depth of Adam's moment of vulnerability is palpable to the cast and crew watching. Will, observing Lucas's compelling performance, finds himself deeply moved, reminded of his own confrontation with the news of cancer.

Amidst this heavy atmosphere, Dr. Ross presses on with the sobering details: "People can go years without knowing they're sick. We're lucky we caught it before it metastasizes. Given the placement and size of your particular tumor, the wisest course of action is to see if we can possibly reduce this thing down to a more managable size." His eyes meet Adam's distant gaze at the window, adding, "I'm going to put you on a four month regimen of chemotherapy." He continues, "Now Chemotherapy can result in fertility issues—"

But before he can finish, Adam, cutting through the tension with a mix of genuine concern and an attempt to lighten the mood, blurts out, "So, can I still get it up and have sex?" This unexpected interjection breaks the somber rhythm of the conversation, introducing a moment of levity and human vulnerability amidst the overwhelming reality of his diagnosis.

Andrew, in the role of Dr. Ross, was caught off guard by Lucas's unexpected line. He tried to suppress a laugh but ended up coughing and chuckling instead.

The cast and crew, who had been absorbed in the scene's heavy drama thanks to Lucas's poignant portrayal, found themselves erupting in laughter at the sudden shift.

"What is wrong with you? Jesus," Director Jonathan exclaimed, unable to contain his amusement as he called cut on the scene.

Seth, trying to lighten the moment further, chuckled and nudged Lucas, "I was about to cry, bro!"

Will also couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief at Lucas, but then he noticed something different. Lucas was silent, tears in his eyes. Concerned, Will asked, "Are you alright?"

Lucas wiped away his tears and managed a nod. What the others hadn't realized was that Lucas's humorous line wasn't just for the sake of humor. It was his way of portraying Adam's coping mechanism—using humor to deal with the crushing weight of his diagnosis. For Adam, and by extension Lucas, the joke wasn't really funny given the gravity of his situation.

Meanwhile, the crew and director gathered around to discuss Lucas's impromptu line while watching the scene replay on the monitor.

As the scene replayed and Lucas's line, "So, can I still get it up and have sex?" filled the room, laughter broke out.

"I actually think that line works for the scene," Will said to Jonathan, who was nodding in agreement. "Our film is a comedy-drama, after all. Lucas's improvisation adds a layer of humor without making the audience feel too overwhelmed by drama."

"Alright, let's shoot it again," Jonathan decided. They had already done several takes of this single scene, which was starting to wear on everyone's patience.

The repeated takes were due to Andrew's slip-ups or Lucas's desire to refine his performance. While the crew was largely understanding, recognizing that good results often require persistence, not everyone was as patient. Bryce, in particular, felt a twinge of envy seeing Lucas receive so much praise from Jonathan, Will, and other key team members. Despite her own significant connections in the industry, she had never been the focus of such attention. Nevertheless, she couldn't deny being impressed by Lucas's acting prowess.

After Jonathan had a chat with Lucas and Andrew, he aimed to align their performances for the scene. He facilitated a brief discussion between the two actors to smooth out their on-screen chemistry before deciding it was time to roll the cameras.

"Alright, take eight, scene 52, shot 3, Action!" Jonathan's voice rang out, signaling the start of yet another take.

As the scene played out, Lucas wove in his improvised lines, with Andrew adroitly adjusting to keep the scene flowing. Observers could see Lucas enhancing his performance with each retake, a testament to his growing prowess as an actor.

Bryce, among other cast members, watched the scene evolve. She found herself increasingly impressed by Lucas's talent. His performance was not just technically adept but emotionally resonant, touching everyone who watched.

Laughter mingled with tears among the cast as they listened to Adam's humorously incongruous lines amidst the gravity of the narrative. Despite her initial skepticism and envy towards Lucas, Bryce had to admit—his gift for acting was undeniable.

The ad-libs, humorous as they were, seamlessly blended into the scene's fabric, portraying Adam's use of humor as a coping mechanism against his cancer diagnosis. Finally, the scene wrapped up successfully, with Andrew in step with Lucas's spontaneity and Lucas feeling content with their collective performance.