America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 433 How to Decompress

New York-Presbyterian Columbia & Cornell University Hospital.

Leonardo sat in the snow-white lobby of the mental hospital, staring blankly at the entrance door, like a person in darkness, longing for the light to arrive.

That bastard Martin promised to call every two days, but he only called once a week.

Leonardo rubbed his face, trying to perk himself up a bit.

He was very dedicated to his work, even staying in the hospital ward for several nights in a row to meet Scorsese's requirements for filming "Shutter Island".

Although it's not a critical care ward, the various noises at night are quite stimulating.

The door opened, and several people came in. Leonardo saw Martin among them.

Leonardo stood up excitedly, his face flushed, his eyes red, and even his legs trembling slightly.

That bastard actually knew to come!

He strode up to him, grumbling and complaining, "Why are you so late! Do you know how I've been getting through this whole week?"

Martin didn't respond, but instead asked, "You're not crazy? That's disappointing."

The doctor, who had accompanied him, said, "You two talk, I still have work to do."

Martin smiled and said, "Dr. Fletcher, you're all busy."

Fletcher nodded slightly and pointed to another doctor, saying, "If you need anything, just ask O'Shea."

O'Shea, wearing a white coat, sat behind the medical reception desk in the distance.

After Fletcher left, Leonardo questioned, "You promised to call me every two days, but what happened? You only called once a week, and that was last night!"

Martin said in a serious tone, "Because I have faith in you."

The two left the vicinity of the lobby entrance and sat down in the bench area. After chatting for a short while, Leonardo insisted on taking Martin to the patient area to experience life there.

O'Shea had the two change their clothes, get temporary passes, and walk through the building into the garden area behind it.

Many patients spend their days relaxing and enjoying themselves here.

A nurse came to find O'Shea, and O'Shea told Martin and Leonardo to wander around as they pleased, and then follow the nurse to see a patient.

Leonardo has been here for a week, familiarized himself with the relevant rules and taboos, and hasn't caused any trouble, so O'Shea trusts him quite a bit.

The patients who can have fun here are those who do not have violent tendencies.

Leonardo walked along the lattice-paved path, saying to Martin, "I've met a lot of patients and doctors this week, and I've learned a lot."

Martin nodded: "I can tell you're under a lot of stress."

Leonardo DiCaprio brought up the old point again: "That's why I asked you to call me and have a normal chat with you for a while so I can de-stress."

Martin helped Leonardo de-stress in his own way: "I saw in the media that Tom Brady went back to Boston and Gisele stayed in New York. Go see her to de-stress, and I'll keep it a secret."

Leonardo shook his head: "Am I the kind of person who goes back to the past?" He countered Martin's question: "If you were asked to go back and find Anne Hathaway, would you?"

Martin insisted on his principle: "Unless she contacts me first."

An old man sitting under a tree by the roadside, lost in thought, looked up at Martin and Leonardo upon hearing the voices and greeted them, "Hi, Leonardo, you're here again."

"Hi, Keane," Leonard greeted the others first, then whispered to Martin, "I talk to him more."

Keane looked at Martin and asked, "Is he a patient?"

Leonardo said in a serious tone, "A fully recovered person, ready to be discharged."

"Cureed?" Keane stared at Martin. "You really meet the recovery criteria?"

Martin nodded casually: "Of course."

Keane asked, "All recovered patients need to undergo a test. Have you done it?" He immediately concluded, "It seems you haven't. I'll help you complete it."

Martin wanted to speak, but Leonardo stopped him.

Keane pulled his glasses case from his pocket, took out his reading glasses, put them on, and looked as serious as a learned professor: "The test is simple; you can only be considered recovered if you pass. So, imagine a swimming pool filled with water needs to be emptied. You're given a spoon and a bucket; which would you choose to use to empty the water?"

Martin immediately sensed something was wrong. After a brief pause, he decided to follow the other person's line of thought: "Of course, it's the bucket."

Keane took off his glasses and shook his head: "Normal people would turn on the drain."

Leonardo patted Martin on the shoulder: "Dude, you need to be hospitalized."

Keane said very seriously, "Dr. Leo, this person does not meet the criteria for recovery and must continue to be hospitalized for treatment."

Leonardo grabbed Martin and tried to leave, saying, "Don't worry, he can't leave."

Once they were in a secluded spot, Martin said, "What a unique experience, Leo. You're a great actor."

Leonardo raised his chin, quite proudly: "When it comes to dedication, few people in the industry can compare to me."

The two entered the room and found a guy in the entertainment area hanging himself in a net hanging from the rafters.

Martin asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"

Leonardo understood the situation: "He saw himself as the chandelier in this house."

"The doctor isn't going to help? Aren't you afraid something will happen to him?" Martin was quite accepting, so it wasn't too strange.

Leonardo retorted, "How can that be? Without the chandelier, won't the house be pitch black?"

Martin looked at him: "Are you Leo? Or some kind of monster from hell?"

Leonardo nodded: "Of course I'm Leonardo."

Martin automatically moved a few steps away.

Leonardo laughed: "How about that? Scared you, huh? Haha, my acting has improved a lot, scared you silly goose!"

Martin said, "I was just about to draw my gun." He added seriously, "I thought you were possessed by a demon and I was going to exorcise it for you."

Leonardo frowned: "Then we should use holy water and a cross."

"Physical exorcisms are more effective." Martin made an exaggerated gesture: "Bang! Your head explodes, blood and brains fly out together, the possessing demon will definitely run away, and the exorcism will be successful."

Leonardo strode forward, searching for Dr. O'Shea as he went: "There's a madman here, get him treated quickly!"

Once it was confirmed that Leonardo did not have any mental health issues, Martin immediately lost interest, and it's likely that Nicholson felt the same way upon returning to Los Angeles.

After walking around with Leonardo for a while and chatting for a bit, Martin prepared to say goodbye and leave.

Leonardo pulled him back and said, "Come see me again in a few days, or I'll really go crazy."

Martin nodded and said, "Don't send it out; there are many reporters outside."

Leonardo didn't understand.

Martin said, "I'm here for a medical checkup."

Leonardo said deliberately, "Looks like Keane was right, you haven't recovered."

Martin met Bruce at the entrance of the mental illness treatment center. The relaxed and carefree look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy expression tinged with a sinister madness. He strode out of the main entrance.

More than a dozen reporters who were waiting there raised their cameras and video cameras to take pictures, and the high-definition lenses recorded every expression on Martin's face.

Dr. Fletcher, who escorted Martin out of the theater and was also the psychologist hired by the "John Wick" crew, gave an interview to the media: "Psychological and mental illnesses are the most stubborn. Martin's condition was quite complicated. His condition had been improving, but playing a new role caused his condition to relapse."

Having obtained the interview records from the authoritative doctor, the entertainment reporters were overjoyed and rushed back to their cars to write their articles, eager to publish them on their respective online news platforms.

Before Martin's car even returned to the hotel where the film crew was staying, news about his visit to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital's psychiatric treatment center was already spreading like wildfire on the internet.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, Martin discovered that Nolan had arrived in New York and was waiting for him in the lobby lounge.

With the release of "The Dark Knight" drawing ever closer, the British director is under immense pressure, suffering from insomnia every night, and even having several major arguments with his wife, Emma Thomas, over trivial matters.

It is all too common for people to lose control of their emotions when under excessive pressure.

With an investment of over $300 million weighing on his shoulders, even with Nolan's extraordinary marketing and hype skills, he is becoming increasingly haggard.

When Nolan saw Martin, it was as if he had found a partner who could share the marketing pressure. He said, "Let's find a place to have a good talk."

The film crew had a dedicated business meeting room at the hotel, and Martin invited Nolan and his assistant into the meeting room to chat.

Nolan ordered an iced coffee, took a big gulp, and said, "I just watched the news tonight. You did a fantastic job, stirring up another wave of public opinion."

Martin smiled and said, "I can't get away right now, so this is all I can do for the time being."

Nolan asked, "During our last phone call, you said you didn't have any work plans for the second half of the year?"

Martin stopped laughing: "After this film is finished, I plan to take a few months off."

"Alright, I have a suggestion." Nolan always valued authenticity, and his suggestion was genuine: "After you finish filming and return to Los Angeles, announce that you need to take a break for treatment due to the psychological and mental stress caused by the Joker, and that you will not accept any new film offers before the end of this year."

He had a lot to consider: "Martin, including The Dark Knight, you have three films that haven't been released yet. Taking a break for a while isn't a bad thing."

Nolan could say that easily, but it would be very difficult for a currently popular star to do it.

Martin doesn't make promises lightly: "I need to discuss it with my agency."

Nolan finished the rest of his iced coffee in one gulp and said, "Martin, if Dark Knight is a huge success, our futures will take a giant leap forward, and finding new projects won't be a problem at all."

Martin nodded slightly: "Chris, I believe the film will be a success because I believe in your abilities."

Nolan wanted Martin to cooperate with him as much as possible, adding, "I already have an idea for a new project, and Jonathan has started writing the script. If possible, I would still like you to play the male lead."

This idea had been in his mind for a long time. The initial idea was to cast Christian Bale, but Bale's performance during the filming of The Dark Knight was so disappointing that he was a real troublemaker.

In contrast, Martin is no less dedicated than Bale, has good interpersonal skills, and knows how to cooperate.

Most importantly, it has strong commercial appeal.

Of course, the Dark Knight failed, so there's no need to think about any of that anymore.

Nolan took the initiative to invite him, and Martin certainly wouldn't refuse. Good actors definitely need great directors. He said, "I also want to continue working with you and continue our perfect collaboration on The Dark Knight."

"You're a very good actor, the kind every director would love." It's just mutual flattery, Nolan is no less impressive than Martin: "Ever since The Dark Knight started filming, I've felt that we could become long-term collaborators like Scorsese and Leonardo."

Martin laughed heartily: "Chris, we'd be the perfect team."

Nolan nodded and brought up the marketing hype surrounding The Dark Knight again: "Next month, Bale will be coming to Los Angeles from England, and according to the production team's publicity plan, you will meet at a public promotional event."

He made an explosive gesture: "Boom! Batman and the Joker face off head-on, justice and evil clash fiercely."

Martin grinned maniacally, like a clown: "I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"

Nolan said, "Also, when are you going to launch your attack on Nicholson's side?"

Martin knew what he was asking and said, "I spoke with Jack, and he plans to attend the Warner Bros. preview screening and arrange an interview afterward."

Nolan said, "No problem."

The two chatted for a long time, exchanging many opinions on promotion and marketing.

(End of this chapter)