money player

Chapter 775 The Sleeper

Sin Yiu-man lifted Kelly's chin. "You're easily persuaded by me because I'm sincere."

"Maybe."

Kelly lit a cigarette and held it between Sin Yiu-man's fingers, using his fingers as a cigarette holder.

"What other projects does the company have besides 'Roman Holiday'?"

Sin Yiu-man flicked his cigarette ash, then changed his grip to hold the cigarette between his thumb and forefinger. "Noon isn't even over yet, and you're already thinking about the next project?"

"You haven't read the script for 'Noon'? I'm just a pretty vase with no room to make a difference."

"You seem to have forgotten about a project."

"The Eight Blessings Inn?"

"uh-huh."

"Adam, to be honest, I've lost a lot of interest in 'The Eight Happiness Inn.' Its subject matter isn't good, so it's unlikely to get high box office returns or win any awards."

“You think I wouldn’t have thought of that?” Sin Yiu-man glanced at Kelly. “John Wayne often plays tough cowboys, and audiences think he’s a sharpshooter in real life; Barbara Stanwyke was seen as a scheming woman by audiences because of Double Indemnity, which led advertisers to refuse her endorsement of baby products.”

Such examples abound in Hollywood. Many moviegoers still have a vague understanding of actors and roles, and are prone to over-identifying movie characters with real life.

If you enjoy challenging roles that require high acting skills, I can design a very challenging role for you: a Scotsman during the War of Independence who first helps the English massacre the Irish, and then is bribed by the French to deal with all the Britons.
Later, he fell in love with Native Americans, turned against all white people, then transferred his affections to black slaves, and led black people on the path of fighting for civil rights.

Do you think this role is very challenging?

Kelly glanced at Sin Yiu-man and asked, "After playing this role, will I still be able to live in the United States?"

Sin Yiu-man shrugged. “After finishing ‘Noon’, start ‘Eight Happiness Inn’ as soon as possible. Don’t think about taking on other important roles before the film is released.”

"How can we get started if the company doesn't provide a budget?"

Sin Yiu-man patted Kelly's cheek. "Investor, producer, director, screenwriter, lead actor—all these can be your names, Miss Kelly from Philadelphia."

"What the hell."

“Ha.” Xian Yaowen gently stroked Kelly’s face and said, “After dinner, come with me to a party.”

"What party?"

"Political party."

Ambassador Hotel.

Burke and Gloria Swanson dined together in his presidential suite.

"Meet?"

"I saw him."

"all the best?"

"It went more smoothly than I expected."

"What do you plan to do?"

Old Burke swirled the wine in his glass, observed the legs of the wine, took a sip, and said, "Gloria, I'm not young anymore."

"Where's that little Daniel?"

“Daniel has his own plans.”

Swanson raised his glass in a toast, "Nathan, I'm jealous of you."

Burke and Swanson clinked glasses. "Adam is very smart. He learned Hebrew, identified himself as Jewish, and befriended the Sassoon family of HSBC. But he may not identify with the Jewish people in his heart, and other Jews may not identify with him as one of them. He needs a Jewish fiancée."

"Are you going to interfere in his relationship?"

“I have to do this.”

“Nathan, you’re just asking for trouble by doing this.”

"Maybe not."

Old Burke had already thoroughly investigated all the women in the Xian family. Analyzing Xian Yaowen's actions, he found that each of them was involved in significant self-interest. He felt that his son was stronger than him and was using every available resource to strengthen himself.

"Don't be too optimistic, Michelle won't let me interfere in her relationships at all," Swanson said dejectedly.

"Women and men are different when it comes to relationships."

"Nathan, you seem to be implying something?"

"No."

"I know you want to blame me again for not listening to your advice back then."

"Gloria, it's all in the past now."

"No, I will never forget Joseph appearing when I was most helpless. He was as reliable as a father and as charming as a lover. He helped me out of the trough and then pushed me into the abyss. He stole my money and wanted to steal my soul."

In 1925, Swanson was recognized as the most marketable star. She had made several films for Paramount, all of which were well-received at the box office. Paramount offered her a contract worth $100 million a year, but she refused and instead chose to work with United Artists, which offered her more freedom, even though United Artists had just been established at the time.

The two parties signed an agreement, under which Swanson established Swanson Productions, accepted funding from United Apparel, and committed to subscribing to $10 worth of United Apparel preferred stock.

Swanson was an excellent actress, but not a good boss. In just over two years, Swanson Productions produced several films that did well at the box office, but she did not know how to manage expenses properly. By the end of 1927, despite having a lot of receivables, the company was in financial crisis and had only $650 left in its bank account.

When she was in dire straits, Joseph Kennedy appeared and volunteered to be her financial advisor, helping her restructure her assets and resolve her financial crisis.

She saw John F. Kennedy as her savior, and they collaborated deeply in their careers, co-investing in the production of "Queen Kelly." However, they also clashed emotionally, with a married woman and a married man dreaming of a bright future together.

But then the Great Depression hit, audiences dwindled, theaters closed, and Kennedy's investments in RKO and EMI suffered heavy losses. Worse still, his financial investments on Wall Street were losing even more money, and without increasing his margin, he would lose everything.

He first failed to make the agreed-upon investment in "Queen Kelly," then embezzled part of Swanson's investment through affiliated companies and misappropriated box office revenue, leaving Swanson in dire straits, from initially struggling to make ends meet to actually owing millions of dollars.

The two went to court, and John F. Kennedy was regarded as an "untrustworthy speculator" by Hollywood. He sold his film-related assets, left Hollywood, and went to be a financier for Roosevelt.

Joseph made amends.

"That happened later. Back then, he seduced my secretary Edith and together they swindled my money."

Have you reconciled with Edith?

“They’ve reconciled. We had afternoon tea together a few days ago and talked about how her daughter, Nancy, is already preparing for her wedding.” Swanson pointed to the window. “The groom is him.”

Following Swanson's gaze, Old Burke saw a huge advertising poster on the roof of the building opposite, featuring Ronald Reagan wearing a Goodluck shirt.

“It’s him.” Old Burke turned back to Swanson. “He’s been very active in politics these past few years. Last year he supported Helen Douglas’s campaign for California Senator, but unfortunately he ran into ‘the cunning Dick’ Richard Nixon.”

"Are you paying attention to him?"

"No, I follow Helen Douglas and have donated money to her."

"Oh, her husband is Jewish."

"Yes."

Who will you support next year?

"It could be John Jr., it depends on Joseph."

Just then, Zhao Yage came to the dining table and said, "Sir, Mr. Kennedy has come to visit."

Old Burke looked at Swanson, "Are you going to leave?"

"Do not."

“Jacob, please bring Joseph here.”

Taiwan Strait.

The US Navy destroyer USS Blash was conducting a routine patrol, but two men not in uniform were seen on board, looking towards Pingtan Island with binoculars.

Halfway through their line of sight, a Taiwanese gunboat was quietly moored there, its crew also looking towards Pingtan Island with binoculars.

Suddenly, a speedboat grazed past the gunboat, and a bag was thrown from the speedboat onto the gunboat in an arc, landing on the deck with a thud. One man went forward to check the "thud," and after a moment said to another man, "Sir, the number is correct."

"Walk."

The telescope was focused on a Greek-registered cargo ship, the Maria Lemos, with several people on deck discussing something.

"Mr. Yoshida, how much cement do you think needs to be dumped into the sea?"

“Zhang Sang, I think 10% is enough.”

“Absolutely not enough. The insurance claims investigators at Aegean Insurance and Greek General Insurance are very professional. We need to dump at least 20% to get past their eyes. Zhang, are the shells ready? I bought war insurance. The Maria Lemos needs to take two shells.”

"Ready? Once we've moved the cement, the shells will be coming...whoosh...bang!"

“Very well.”

"Mr. Yoshida, is 20% alright?"

"can."

"Char siu bao, give the signal."

Upon hearing this, a person standing on the ship's side signaled with flags in the northwest direction.

About half an hour later, two cargo ships sailed in from the northwest, one was the Goddess of Joy and the other was Long Live the Lady. The ship numbers looked very bright, perhaps they were newly painted.

In the southwest, a small fishing boat drifted with the current, while a man dressed as a fisherman watched the movements of three cargo ships with binoculars.

"Pillar, generate electricity, victorious rendezvous!"

"Yes."

The Xian family.

"Madam, a call from the sea indicates the cargo has begun to be transferred."

"it is good."

Quan Danru entered the study carrying a tray. "Madam, Sister Wang, Mrs. Song has made winter melon and barley stewed with old duck."

Cen Peipei put down her book and glanced at the clock on the wall. "You've made soup so early today?"

"Madam, you've forgotten, the eldest young lady is coming back today, and the youngest young lady will also be coming over for dinner."

"I almost forgot that Yuzhen is coming back today. Qianzhi likes to eat cold-dressed tender water bamboo shoots. Let Mrs. Song make one."

"Mrs. Song is already doing it."

"Oh." Cen Peipei nodded slightly. "Danru, the master sent a letter yesterday, asking you to go to Taipei after the typhoon. Go back and keep your uncle and aunt company these next few days. We don't know when you'll be able to come back from Taipei."

"Okay," Quan Danru replied cheerfully.

Eating for a few days straight is incredibly relaxing and enjoyable, but eating like that for too long can make you anxious, as if you've just entered the initial stage of feeling restless and desperate to get something done.

Kowloon.

In an ordinary house.

"Comrade Jin, this is the garrison deployment of the 28th Army. The cross marked is the artillery battalion's Jiaoyu artillery position. This is the pledge of loyalty that the organization has prepared for you."

“Jiaoyu Island is less than two kilometers from Kinmen. It’s impossible that Hu Lien’s side was unaware of it, not to mention the American reconnaissance planes. This pledge of allegiance lacks weight.”

"Everything needs to be done step by step, so the first gift doesn't need to be too extravagant."

"Ok."

"The organization hopes you will become a sleeper as soon as possible, infiltrate the CIA, and gather strategic intelligence from the United States. Do not get involved in detailed intelligence. Even if you learn that the CIA is watching me, do not try to pass on any information to me. Since I joined the covert front, I have been prepared to sacrifice myself. If necessary, please betray me."

"Take care of yourself."

"Take care, comrade."

"Next time we meet, please be my introducer for joining the Party."

"must."

"Adam, you need a haircut."

Sin Yiu-man sat in front of the dressing table, and Kelly took a comb and styled his hair.

"It's not too long yet, I'll cut it in a few days."

Do you want some hairspray?

"Need not."

Shave?

"I grew this beard on purpose, so I can't shave it."

"To look more mature?"