America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 364 Leonardo's Awakening

With her busy work temporarily over, Emma Thomas left the studio and went to a nearby dessert shop to enjoy afternoon tea, an essential part of British life.

When she arrived at the shop, Menée was waiting for her.

Emma ordered black tea and sat down at the table.

Menezes smiled and said, "I ordered you a cake, with double the sugar."

The black tea and cake were served together, and the sweet aroma instantly brightened Emma's mood: "You really understand me. Having afternoon tea with you always makes the experience more wonderful."

Menezes also ordered a cake: "We just happen to have the same tastes, don't we?"

He endured the discomfort and took a big bite of the sickeningly sweet cream cake.

When Emma had finished most of the cake and was in the best mood, Menez picked up her teacup: "A cup of English tea to calm my racing heart."

Emma asked with concern, "What happened?"

Menez said, "Leonardo's missing person notice scared me half to death. I thought the boss had disappeared, but it turned out he had run away to a hotel to hide."

Emma had been busy all day and hadn't paid attention to it yet, so she asked, "What happened?"

"To study and research the Joker character, the boss locked himself in the Four Seasons Hotel and cut off all contact with the outside world." After recounting the details, Menne exclaimed, "The boss is so hardworking. Last year, for the role in 'The Departed,' he went to the Boston Police Department to experience life there and even worked with detectives to arrest drug dealers and gangsters."

Under Menez's influence, Emma already had a very good impression of Martin, and now she was even more convinced: "With such a large investment and so much pressure, I have always believed that the main actors must be reliable."

Why has Emma been meeting with Menez so frequently lately? It's because she's under immense pressure. She's invested $1.8 million, and if anything goes wrong, her and Nolan's future will be ruined.

When Emma is with her husband Nolan, they talk mostly about work. The double pressure is weighing on her shoulders, making it hard to even breathe.

Having a meal or afternoon tea with Mennet is actually quite relaxing and pleasant, allowing me to temporarily forget the troubles of work.

"I think so too. Compared to Martin, the others are too unreliable." Menez recalled the relevant reports on TMZ: "I saw in the media that Adrien Brody, Robin Williams, and Josh Brolin, among others, were either on vacation or traveling, while my boss was working his butt off."

Emma finished the rest of the cake, took a sip of black tea, and said, "Martin loves to cause trouble, but his professionalism is legendary in the industry."

Menne agreed, "My boss is really dedicated. When the wanted poster was issued, he specifically trained in marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat. If he hadn't developed those skills, he wouldn't have been able to save people at Burbank High School."

After finishing their afternoon tea, Emma ended her slacking-off time, returned to the studio for a while, and then went home to Los Angeles with her husband Nolan after get off work.

In the car, Emma talked about Martin: "Have you heard? Martin Davis locked himself in the Four Seasons Hotel for 20 days to study and research the Joker. His best friend Leonardo even put out a missing person notice."

"I heard about it from Orlin." Nolan, recalling Bell, whom he hadn't been too fond of lately, said rather objectively, "Martin Davis's level of professionalism is almost on par with Bell's."

Emma, ​​recalling Bale's rapid weight fluctuations, said, "Bale is very dedicated, but Martin isn't bad either. Most Hollywood stars, once they gain fame and status, only know how to enjoy themselves, like the other auditionees..."

Hearing his wife's words, Nolan's heart swayed towards Martin, but he remained cautious, given the $1.8 million investment at stake. He said, "The audition is coming up soon. Let's wait and see the results."

Emma favored Martin more, but said nothing more, because her husband had already formed a bias in his heart.

…………

"When someone develops feelings for another person, even if they're already highly capable, their farts will smell sweet, and they can even find a plausible excuse to commit murder!"

In the living room of the Four Seasons Hotel suite, Martin leaned forward, appearing shorter, and gestured wildly as he walked.

His lips, painted bright red, resembled a predatory abyss: "My acting skills may not be better than some of the others, but for a $1.8 million project, the audition score carries far more weight than at other times."

He emphasized, "Therefore, this is a fair and square audition. From the moment we enter the audition room, we will absolutely not engage in any underhanded tactics!"

Bruce retorted, "Because you've already done all the work."

Martin turned around, tilting his head to stare at Bruce: "Old Bruce, I'm just trying to ensure the audition is fair and impartial!"

Thomas, seeing Martin's expression, looked as if he'd seen a ghost and said, "The audition will be absolutely fair and just."

Martin laughed heartily and pointed at Thomas: "See how clear-headed my agent is! I will beat all the competition in a fair and just audition! As for whether a certain competitor can't participate in the audition, or whether some competitors have left a bad impression on the crew before the audition, what does that have to do with us?"

Thomas, an agent whose biggest client is Martin, along with others, thought of more and agreed: "That makes sense! That's the true essence of auditions!"

The audition only lasts a few minutes, but the preparation work can continue for months outside the audition room.

Martin laughed again: "Even the agent agrees it was a fair and impartial audition!"

Bruce said, "That's very fair; you didn't use any violence."

"If it comes to higher pay, guns and bombs aren't out of the question," Martin said, stroking his chin with a faint, wicked smile. "Isn't the true essence of a fair duel to have all your opponents run over by dump trucks before you even enter the arena, winning without a fight?"

Thomas found Martin's thinking dangerous: "Are you sure you're acting? And nothing more? You can't get out of character?"

Martin tilted his head at Thomas. "Of course, so I'm just thinking about it, not doing it." He then asked, "How's Lily doing on set?"

"She's very adaptable and knows how to socialize," Thomas said simply. "Everyone in the crew knows that Louise specifically recommended her, so no one dares to bully her."

He scratched his head: "I heard from the crew that she's not someone to mess with. When she joined the crew, she used a carving knife to demonstrate how to stab someone without killing them."

Martin was very satisfied: "Very good, she's a smart girl."

Bruce chimed in, "Don't worry, the crew still has Menne; he persuaded key figures in several departments with his persuasive skills."

Even Martin was deeply impressed by Menez at this moment.

Thomas reminded him, "The audition for the Joker is coming up soon."

Martin said, "Before the audition, have the stylist and costume designer who have signed the agreement come over."

Despite all that he did, Martin still gave it his all during auditions.

For such a large investment project, no one would dare risk ruining their career by casting an actor who didn't perform well in the audition.

Thomas added, "Everything is ready. They'll be here on time before the audition."

Bruce asked, "What about the others?"

Martin thought for a moment and said, "We'll talk about Nicholson and the contract after the audition. We don't do things like popping champagne at halftime."

Thomas was very curious about what Martin and Nicholson had discussed.

"I'll let you know if the audition goes well." Martin had already made that agreement with Nicholson last year.

Nicholson, who had so much time and money that he was bored, was also willing to play along with Martin in a game of manipulating people's hearts.

They have money and free time, and their main focus is on having fun.

Thomas quickly took his leave.

Bruce reminded him, "You owe Leonardo and Nicholson a huge favor this time."

"I know, the favors owed to that trio of bastards still need to be repaid." Martin's tone suddenly changed as he asked, "Old Brooks, what do you think I should give them? Two big, strong black men? Or a short, poor black woman?"

Although he knew Martin was joking, Bruce seemed to see Leonardo and Nicholson silently shedding tears, and said, "Have some decency."

Martin, however, knew exactly what the other two bastards were thinking: "They must be plotting against me, so before they do, I'm going to give them a taste of the ultimate pleasure in life."

…………

Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicholson are drinking at the Avalon Bar.

The latter asked, "Martin invited the two of us to help him this time, so we should at least collect some interest."

Leonardo gently swirled his wine glass: "How can I really get him this time?"

Nicholson lowered his voice: "He told me some ideas last year, like if he gets the role in the audition, we'll kill him?"

Leonardo glared: "No matter how much of a bastard Martin is, he's still our brother. At worst, he'll die surrounded by women..."

"That's not what I meant," Nicholson waved his hand. "Let him die of depression!"

Leonardo leaned closer and asked, "You have a plan?"

"I have some initial ideas, but we need to consider the circumstances at the time," Nicholson said. He lowered his voice, spoke for a moment, and then asked, "Wouldn't it be satisfying to see someone who played the Joker become a villain and die a miserable death?"

Leonardo was in high spirits and slapped the table: "I think Martin will love this ending!"

Three bastards together can turn the film crew upside down.

These two bastards, when they get together, think they can drive someone to depression.

Leonardo took a sip of his drink, then spotted his nemesis and exclaimed, "Jack, Orlando Bloom is here!"

Nicholson, a shrewd old man, grabbed Leonardo's arm and reminded him, "Our brute force isn't here. Let him off the hook today; there will be plenty of opportunities to get back at him later."

"Let me tell you something," Leonardo said mysteriously. "You know I have a lot of friends in the modeling world. After I came back from Miami, I specifically asked around, and Miranda Kerr did indeed accept Orlando Bloom's advances after last year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and they became boyfriend and girlfriend..."

He laughed: "Martin probably got wind of this and focused on Kerr on the island. As a result, when Kerr saw Orlando Bloom again, she turned her back on him. After the bar that day, she even went to Martin's room."

Nicholson said, "As expected of Martin, he loves stealing other people's women."

Leonardo completely agreed: "That bastard Martin is a total pervert!" He sighed, "Ordinary women aren't as appealing as those you steal?"

Nicholson remarked warily, "Luckily, I don't have a wife or girlfriend."

That made so much sense that Leonardo's resolve suddenly shifted: "For the sake of our brotherhood, I've decided, I won't get a wife anymore!"

(End of this chapter)