America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 327: A Surprise Arrives

In the WarnerMedia studio, "The Helen Show" is about to go live. Martin has finished his styling and is going over the script one last time to avoid making any mistakes.

Helen then came over, saw Martin, immediately opened her arms and hugged him, jokingly complaining, "You finally agreed to be on my show."

Martin laughed and said, "You'd better go easy on me, I can't take torture."

The two had a special relationship, and Helen reassured him: "Except for the final surprise, everything else will proceed according to the plan we discussed."

Martin asked, "What surprise have you prepared for me?"

"It's a secret," Helen blinked and said, "I definitely won't embarrass you."

Martin nodded.

Helen put on her earphones, listened to the director's voice, and moved from backstage to the front of the stage. Pointing at the camera, she said, "The Helen Show, see you every week!"

Her expression turned serious and profound: "I once survived a terrible attack, but luckily, I survived under the protection of Martin Davis. Please welcome my guardian angel, Martin Davis!"

Wearing a jacket and jeans, Martin, with a very ordinary look, walked from backstage onto the stage, just like a friendly boy next door.

Helen opened her arms and gave Martin a tight hug.

Meanwhile, at Nicholson's mansion on Sunset Boulevard, the old man had gathered a group of old friends for drinks and conversation that evening.

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, William Hurt, and Dustin Hoffman, among others.

They had their share of fights in their youth, but they've become relatively peaceful in their old age, and they can still sit together from time to time for a few drinks, reminiscing about their era.

Nicholson picked up the remote, switched to Warner TV, and said, "Let's watch a show to accompany our drinks."

Dustin Hoffman said, "Isn't this the little brother you just met?"

Nicholson chuckled: "A very interesting guy."

William Hurt read an article in Empire magazine: "Young people these days become famous too easily; we old guys are outdated."

Robert De Niro said, "Let's watch the show first."

After the usual opening pleasantries, the show gets down to business.

"In the currently showing film 'The Departed,' you played an undercover agent, a villainous undercover agent, who has received widespread acclaim." Helen immediately set the tone for the show, pointing to the large screen behind the stage, where images of both Julie and Aniston appeared simultaneously.

She looked on with a gossipy expression: "On the same day, both Julie and Aniston praised you highly, commending your excellent character portrayal, professionalism, and hard work. What do you think?"

What they do in private is one thing, but publicly admitting it is absolutely impossible. Martin used standard wording: "I have worked with Angie and Jane on two films. They are excellent and dedicated actresses. We became friends through work and have continued to this day."

Helen, ever the gossip, asked, "As far as I know, Julie and Aniston are sworn enemies. Haven't you thought about mediating between them?"

Martin, with his thick skin, said, "There is such a plan."

"How about this, we'll call them to the scene," Helen suddenly said. "You can mediate on the spot?"

Martin thought to himself, "Is this the surprise part of the show?"

The show's effect was achieved, but Helen looked regretful: "Our program's budget is limited, and we can't invite two big-name actresses."

She asked, "Can you help me?"

Martin shrugged: "I'll talk to them privately and give it a try."

Helen seized the opportunity to switch to the topic: "Did you ever imagine you could be friends with big stars like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston before coming to Los Angeles?"

Martin shook his head: "I didn't dare to think about it. Back then, I just wanted to have a foothold in Los Angeles."

Helen asked, "Didn't you ever think about becoming a big star?"

Martin followed up on her question, saying, "Anyone who has had an experience like mine wouldn't dare to have too many expectations for the future."

Helen seized the opportunity to ask, "The news reports said you grew up in the slums, your family wasn't very happy, and you had a very difficult life?"

"It's tough." Martin revealed his own vulnerabilities to gain sympathy: "The environment I grew up in was full of gangs, violence, and traffickers. Many of my peers joined them. I was lucky to have a very talented father who taught me acting and took me to work as an extra since I was a teenager."

Helen asked, "Is he a remarkable person?"

Martin spoke as if he were talking about someone unrelated: "No, he was a drug addict, an alcoholic, and a fraudster. He took all the money I earned from acting. One day he made me borrow money from loan sharks. After I borrowed it, he took the money, hooked up with a woman, and ran away. He disappeared from my life completely. I could never contact him again. Then I was burdened with huge debts and had to work as a bartender in a strip club to pay off my debts..."

Such exquisite items broadened the horizons of the audience and sparked much discussion.

Helen gently guided him: "You gave up on the performance."

"No, I didn't." Martin fully immersed himself in the past, which he had fabricated based on facts, and established a persona of hard work: "I don't want to join the mob, and I don't want to be a street vendor. I want to change my fate! But for someone like me, it's too difficult to struggle out of that quagmire, especially since I'm burdened with huge debts."

His voice was firm and powerful: "I only had one path to take, the only path was acting, and I met a benefactor, Director Jerome, Ms. Kelly Grey..."

Martin named those who had helped him and continued recounting his experiences: "After landing a crucial role, I spent every day studying the character and figuring out how to portray him. I consulted everyone around me. I put in tremendous effort because I had no way out. Going back would only plunge me into a quagmire from which I could never escape. I personally witnessed a childhood friend being riddled with bullets in the chest and abdomen during a gang fight!"

Helen exclaimed softly, "That's terrifying!"

"To avoid these tragedies, I bought a gun to protect myself and the family of neighbors who had helped me since I was a child," Martin continued. "Thankfully, God protected me, and that late-night film was a success. I paid off my debts, but I didn't relax. Instead, I worked even harder because I learned that there is a place called Hollywood, the temple of cinematic art."

He then recounted his experiences from Atlanta to Los Angeles, emphasizing, "Later, I met many artists who made me realize one thing: performing arts is never a sprint; it's a marathon, a long-term battle. You can't stop halfway; you have to persevere and work hard to become better and touch the true essence of performing arts."

Helen said, "Many directors who have worked with you, including Martin Scorsese, have praised you highly and consider you a very talented actor."

Martin is humble when he needs to be: "Some people are the darlings of Hollywood and the performing arts, but I've never felt like I belong to that category. I'm more like a hardworking blue-collar worker, willing to put in several times the effort for a role and a job. I know I have no way out."

He knew how to make the old man more agreeable, and he always talked about his efforts: "I have touched the threshold of performing arts. In this marathon that is like life, I have never thought of relaxing or giving up. From the wax museum to the wanted poster, from Infernal Affairs to The Reader, I have been working hard. The guidance of my seniors has given me some success. The more successful I am, the more motivated I am to work hard."

The show was in progress, and several rounds of drinks had already been consumed in the Nicholson's living room.

Dustin Hoffman watched the show and laughed: "A very interesting young man, much smarter than Tom Cruise when I worked with him on 'Rain Man'."

William Hurt, who had a turbulent youth, resonated somewhat with Martin's story and his perspective shifted: "It turns out that his rise to fame wasn't easy either."

Robert De Niro said, "He's relatively inexperienced, but someone who works this hard deserves a chance."

Nicholson was much more direct: "Old folks, can you find anyone more pleasing to the eye among the younger generation? Look at the young actors these days, they come from middle-class or upper-class families, or are child stars from wealthy families, or are second-generation stars, or are the godsons of some big shot. There are fewer and fewer bastards like us who have climbed out of poverty."

Back then, most of them were poor people who became actors.

Nicholson, as the leader of the trio of scoundrels, simply campaigned on the spot: "That little bastard is my brother. Give him the nomination votes you have, and the votes you can influence."

"I knew it, your free drinks weren't good, you old bastard," Al Pacino said. "I admire Martin, but he's too young."

William Hurt chimed in, "This year, there are quite a few veteran actors vying for Best Supporting Actor." He seemed to be referring to himself, adding, "They'll never win Best Actor in their lifetime."

Dustin said, "I promised to vote for Alan Arkin first."

William Hurt said, "Me too."

Nicholson poured drinks for each of his old buddies: "It's just a nomination."

Upon hearing this, William Hert nodded: "I'm fine."

Others also expressed their willingness to give Martin a nomination vote, or at least the second-place nominee, if not the first.

After quickly finishing their conversation, everyone's attention returned to the talk show.

The stage backdrop changed to images from news reports related to the rumors circulating in the United States.

"I've looked online, and a lot of people are discussing it," Helen asked. "Is what's being published there true?"

Martin used a strategy of first praising and then criticizing: "It's true."

The audience erupted in uproar.

Martin added, "But they are selectively reporting, ignoring the cause and effect. The actual situation is that gangs in South Atlanta took over my community at the time, wanting to develop that kind of white business. The community was disturbed by them. The friend I just mentioned died in the struggle. We are a poor neighborhood and don't have that many police officers. At that time, I and a few other neighbors formed a community defense alliance."

This is very common in the United States, and the audience can understand it.

Helen asked cooperatively, "Did the defense alliance clash with gang members?"

"Four gangsters were planning to break into my house to rob me, but I spotted them beforehand..." Martin didn't exaggerate; he told the truth about what happened that night.

"So, you protected your four neighbor's friends?" Helen said when Martin nodded. "There's a surprise: one of them came to the show."

Martin was quite surprised to hear this. Which of those four idiots came to the show?

Elena? Obviously not.

Hall will only eclipse Earth.

Harris would definitely tell him beforehand.

It could only be that idiot Lily!

(End of this chapter)