America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 763 Poisoning Incident

Ten minutes later, director Villeneuve's voice came through the electronic loudspeaker: "Attention all departments, prepare to begin filming."

At the rest area, after adjusting Martin's hairstyle, the stylist glanced at Martin, made sure everything was okay, and quickly went to the side.

Martin had changed into a gray sports jacket and came to the set, sitting on a worn-out, uncomfortable sofa.

Props maker Payne turned on the television and played a recording of an ice hockey game.

Villeneuve looked over and asked, "Martin?"

Martin nodded.

The camera slid along the rails, and Villeneuve glanced at the monitor in front of him, saying, "Ready."

The script supervisor came in front of the camera and clapped the clapperboard; filming began.

Martin had rehearsed the scenes he was going to film several times and knew them by heart.

He picked up a beer bottle and smashed it against the edge of the low table, causing the cap to fly off.

The beer foamed and got all over his hand.

Martin pulled out a few tissues, wiped his hands clean, saw the tin box next to the tissue pack, opened the tin box, took out the plastic bag inside, glanced at the powder inside, and couldn't wait to open it and pour some onto a piece of white paper.

The camera lens turned and began to focus on a close-up of Martin's face.

Martin let out a breath, leaned closer with a look of urgency, then looked up and shouted, "Stop! Stop filming!"

The rest of the crew came over to look. Usually, it's the director who calls for a stop, and it's rare for the actors to do so.

Martin sealed the plastic bag, put it into the tin box, and then held the tin box in his hand.

Bruce and Martin, who were very in sync, went straight onto the set and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Martin gestured with his eyes to the blank sheet of paper: "Something's not right."

Bruce leaned in and took a sniff, his expression turning serious. He leaned closer and whispered, "It's not vitamins, it should be real."

Martin glanced across the film set but didn't notice anything unusual.

Director Villeneuve strode over and asked, "Martin, what's going on?"

Martin pointed to the white paper: "Weren't these things supposed to be props made of vitamins? How did they become real?"

Villeneuve leaned over for a look. As someone working in the art industry, he was very familiar with this kind of thing and immediately realized that what was on the paper was not a prop.

He stood up and shouted, "Props! Props!"

Payne immediately ran over: "Director?"

Villeneuve pointed to the white paper: "Did you prepare these?"

"No," Payne said. "I was the one who asked them to buy the vitamin pills, but after they were bought, I gave them to Brandon, who then ground them into powder."

Villeneuve asked, "Where's Brandon?"

No one answered.

The head of the crew's security department had already come over, approached Bruce, and said, "I've notified the producer."

Villeneuve, as the director, wielded far less power than Martin Scorsese, the lead actor and producer.

Even now, Bruce's words carry more weight than his.

But Villeneuve had to show some attitude, after all, as the director, he was the head of all departments in the crew. The vitamins that were originally intended to be used as props had turned out to be real and were almost used by the actors.

This actor is also the project initiator and the owner of the investment company!

Villeneuve said, "Bring Brandon here immediately!"

Payne hurried to find his companions.

Bruce gave a signal, and the security chief followed with one of his men.

Martin handed the metal box to Bruce and returned to the rest area.

Several security personnel came over and stood near him.

Although this was Villeneuve's second time directing a film and his first time directing a movie in Hollywood, he still had basic control over the production. He immediately ordered everyone in each department back to their positions and temporarily prohibited them from leaving the studio.

Graham arrived quickly from the studio's office area.

But Payne and the others haven't found Brandon yet.

The props unit's private compartment was empty, and Brandon's personal prop bag had also disappeared.

Graham approached Martin for his opinion: "Should we call the police?"

"Find him first." Martin remembered Brandon; he had just left when the set was being cleared out, only a few minutes ago. "He can't have gone far."

Graham's expression was extremely serious; this could be considered poisoning, to put it bluntly.

And the target was Martin.

Villeneuve came over and said, "We haven't found anyone yet."

The studio was brightly lit, and the security supervisor and his team searched every corner but found no trace of Brandon.

Bruce had several doors opened, led the group out of the studio, asked someone outside, and then went into a small building next door and into the men's public restroom.

The toilet has several individual stalls, one of which has its door tightly closed.

The security supervisor crouched down and peered inside, spotting someone among them. He called out, "Brandon! Brandon..."

Strange murmurs came from inside, but no one spoke.

Bruce, his right hand still resting on his hip near his gun, gave a wink: "Open the door."

A burly man kicked open the partition door with a bang.

Brandon sat on the toilet, lost in thought, with his prop bag at his feet and two small transparent plastic bags on the floor.

The security supervisor said, "He's been knocking too many times."

Brandon was not fully conscious, and drool was drooling.

Bruce took several photos and videos and sent one to Martin. Martin then called: "Take him to the hospital. You stay with him the whole time. Don't let him die on set."

"I understand." Bruce went over and patted Brandon's face, then checked his breathing to make sure he was just overdosing on drugs and wouldn't be in any life-threatening danger. He then had someone help Brandon out and drove him to a nearby hospital.

They have extensive experience in handling similar situations, and after a series of treatments, the person gradually stabilized.

The hospital quickly moved Bruce to a private room as requested.

Bruce personally stayed by his side in the hospital room.

Two security guards remained at the door of the ward.

Everything depends on Brandon waking up.

At the production studio, an unexpected situation arose with the crew, forcing them to temporarily suspend filming.

Martin had the video that had just been filmed, as well as the props on the white paper, saved.

Graham issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from discussing the matter.

Of course, this can only slow down the spread of the news; it cannot stop it from spreading altogether.

There were dozens of staff members on site, and given that it's Hollywood, there were likely news informants among them.

Villeneuve said, "I've given the order; filming is suspended for one day."

Graham looked at Martin: "Luckily you noticed in time, and nothing went wrong."

Martin took out his phone and was looking through his contacts. He knew some people at the Boston Police Department, people he had connected with from his time there when he came to experience life in Boston, and they had kept in touch all these years.

"It's not that I'm lucky," Martin said frankly. "It's just that our industry is so rotten and chaotic that you can't even tell the truth from the lies. I would have been finished long ago."

Graham nodded: "It's pretty much the same in other circles."

Martin's phone rang. He glanced at the text message and said, "The person over there is about to wake up. Let's go check on Brandon and see what's going on."

Graham and Villeneuve followed Martin out of the studio.

The three of them took a minivan and rushed to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the ward door, the security supervisor immediately greeted them, saying, "Brandon is awake, and Old B is inside with him."

Martin went into the ward first, followed by Glenn and Villeneuve.

Bruce leaned against the wall, staring at Brandon lying on the hospital bed.

Martin came in and glanced at Old Brooks.

Bruce said in a low voice, "He still doesn't know what happened."

When Brandon saw the three main members of the crew—Martin, Graham, and Villeneuve—appear together, he quickly said, "This time it was my fault. I have no objection to any punishment the crew may impose on me. I promise I will never touch those things on set again and will never cause trouble for the crew again."

Bruce had already started recording audio and video.

Martin asked, "Did you bring those things to the film crew?"

"Yes." Brandon's prop bag was right there. Knowing he couldn't hide it anymore, he obediently admitted, "I couldn't control myself today and brought it to the set."

Graham demanded sharply, "Just today?"

Although Brandon was recruited by the production team, he had worked with Graham's company several times before. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I've been with the crew ever since filming started."

Villeneuve knew he had no say, so he quietly stayed by his side.

In any case, he always stood on the side of the two producers.

Martin glanced at Bruce without saying a word, and Bruce walked over, opened the metal box, revealing a plastic bag inside containing powder, and asked, "Is this yours?"

Brandon looked at it for a moment and nodded: "It's mine."

As soon as he finished speaking, his face turned pale. He recognized the metal box as a prop from the film crew, specifically a prop used during filming. He quickly protested, "No, I didn't put those things in there, it was vitamins! How could that be! How could that be!"

Martin just stared at him coldly.

Brandon panicked, remembering the stupid thing he'd done during his episode. He slapped his forehead hard and said, "I didn't mean to, really! It wasn't on purpose! I specifically labeled the vitamin packets; I wouldn't normally take the wrong one! I... I suddenly had an episode, my mind went blank, and in my panic, I grabbed the wrong one, the wrong one!"

Graham said coldly, "Can such an important item be explained away by simply taking the wrong one?"

Brandon hurriedly said, "I really took the wrong one. After I got the prop, I rushed to the public restroom stall before the crew started filming. If Old Biao hadn't found out in time, I might have killed myself."

That makes some sense; Brandon's actions seem more like a work mistake than something intentional.

But Martin, who suffers from severe paranoia, doesn't believe a single word.

Even though he didn't think Brandon was lying.

Graham said, "You're no longer suitable to work on set, and I'll have someone communicate with your agent and agency."

"Mr. Kim!" Brandon started to speak, but Graham interrupted him: "This is a very serious matter!"

Brandon was pale. This thing was never a problem in Hollywood, but because it caused problems for the crew, it would be difficult to find work afterwards.

Martin handed the phone to Bruce and then left the ward.

Bruce was the last to come out and dial the police.

(End of this chapter)