Thats exactly what happens in Sundays series premiere of USAsEyewitness.
[Lukas] doesnt even acknowledge that being gay is a possibility.
Its his first time kissing and being intimate with a boy at all.
Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/USA Network
It scares him a lot, Paxton says.
He doesnt realize that secrets of this magnitude can have some dangerous repercussions that affect everybody else in town.
Is he feeling guilt, or is this something hes trying not to think about it at all?
Christos Kalohoridis/USA Network
JAMES PAXTON:Theres a crazy parallel in Lukas psyche.
Hes wrestling with, in his own mind, the consequences of his own sin.
What is it about Philip that attracts Lukas?
Lukas was born and raised in a small town.
He doesnt know that being gay is not this cross to bear.
Philip comes from the city, and he has a more cultured perspective and is more open and comfortable.
He keeps trying to convince Lukas, you dont need to feel this way about yourself.
They sound quite different.
Are Lukas and Philip able to find any common ground beyond this initial attraction?
Theyre forced to get to know each other.
And that attraction stays true the whole way through.
They get to know each other more and more as the story goes along.
When we first meet Lukas, hes quite violent toward Philip.
How did you feel about that?
I wanted the audience to hate Lukas for a little while.
Its just an outward projection.
Its not the right way to deal with things, and Im not advocating that.
I just felt like it was a natural thing that Lukas would do.
Hes not emotionally tough like Philip, but physically stronger, just through his world and training.
He tries to exert his dominance over him, to pipe him down.
Thats why I made a choice to play him that way.
Does Lukas redeem himself eventually?
By around Episode 6, Lukas breaks your heart, and its all forgiven.
He really makes it up to Philip in a big way.
He sacrifices something huge of his own for [him].
Thats all Im going to say.
After working with your dad onTexas Rising, how was it not having him there?
You dont need my added pressure.
He was really cool.
I was just picking up all I could from him, because he was such a leader on set.
He keeps that morale with the crew and cast.
I just shot a guest star role on his show,Training Day, that hes shooting right now.
They went, This is perfect to play it.
I did a scene with him yesterday, and it was one of the proudest moments Ive had.
Do you guys talk about doing film vs. television?
Does he give you advice about that?
But its different, because theres been a whole shift.
Back when he was coming up, TV wasnt as well respected as feature films were.
His agents asked him if he wants to go out for TV or film.
And he said, Film.
And they said, Youre going to be out of work for a long time.
So he said, Okay.
He struggled through that and came up as a feature actor.
Ive just been so excited if its been a good story.
I dont care what format it comes ina feature or a show or a miniseries.
I just want to be a part of it.
Now the playing field is so cool.
There are so many more opportunities for actors, because theres so much great TV and film.
How did he react when you landed this role?
Its a hard, hard life and a hard business to crack.
He always knew I could do it.
But he couldnt believe it at first.
He was so over the moon.
It was such a great feeling, I almost cried.
You dont have to worry about me.
I can do this on my own.
Eyewitnesspremieres Sunday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
