Marietta, Clayton Community.
Lily pulled the cart with all her might after leaving Nanni's little supermarket, with a wooden box on top of it.
"Do you want to help you?" Nanni asked.
At that mont, the sound of a car horn blasted, and a black BMW 7 Series pulled up next to Lily.
Elena got out of the car and asked, "Where did that co from?"
Lily pointed to the label on the box, "Martin mailed a gift for you and ."
Elena opened the trunk and, together with Lily, loaded the box into the car, then waved towards the supermarket, "Thanks, Nanni!"
"Don't ntion it," Nanni curiously asked, "Martin's beco a big star now, when will he be coming back?"
Elena moved to the driver's side, "He won't co back to Atlanta."
Lily got into the passenger seat, urging Elena, "Let's go ho, hurry up!"
This gift was particularly heavy, and she was eager to find out what Martin had mailed.
The BMW stopped in front of their house, and the two sisters carried the box into the living room, placing it in the center. Lily got a screwdriver and quickly opened the box lid, which was stuffed with a lot of collision-proof sponge foam.
Elena lifted it to find two rosewood gift boxes and so green jade stones.
There was also a note.
Lily reached out to take it but was slapped back by Elena, who muttered discontentedly, "It's not just for you..."
Elena glanced at it, and Lily shut her mouth.
Even though she was taller than Elena, she didn't dare to provoke her sister.
Elena picked up the letter, recognizing the sloppy handwriting as Martin's.
The gift boxes were for her, the jade stones were all for Lily.
Elena took out one of the rosewood boxes and opened it, revealing a chain bracelet of erald green beads.
In the other box was a jade plaque.
Elena put away the boxes and handed the letter to Lily, "The rest is yours."
Lily could tell that these were no ordinary stones; she took one in her hand and remarked, "Martin has sent you jewelry, aren't you going to Los Angeles to thank him?"
"I'm not going," Elena glanced at Lily.
Lily imdiately looked down at the box.
Elena warned, "Don't tell Scott and Emma about this."
On hearing her parents' nas, Lily shrugged, "Scott's hooked up with a rich woman, and Emma's disappeared for a week again. We've got such great parents."
Choosing not to dwell on her annoying parents, she shifted topics, "Martin's making big money now, he mailed so many nice things. Did he scam all of Annie's money? Cheating money and affection seems like sothing he'd do."
Elena, thinking about what Martin had done before heading to Los Angeles, seed like he really could do it.
Lily tentatively asked, "How about we take a trip to Los Angeles during spring break?"
Elena clenched her fist and retorted, "Do you have the money?"
Lily didn't dare say more and quickly picked up a long piece of jade from the box, sitting in front of it to ponder, "He sent these to to practice carving; the carving teacher in our school's hobby class is well-off and doesn't have anything as luxurious as these. What should I carve it into?"
"I've got it!" Lily brightened up with an idea, "Elena, I'll help you..."
Before she could finish, Elena strode over and punched Lily on the head, "Idiot, shut up!"
Lily's idea was imdiately knocked out of her mind.
At that mont, Harris ca in from outside, calling out, "I've got so good news for you! I just heard from Robert at the Marietta Theatre Company, Martin's new movie will be coming to Atlanta for location shooting in a few months."
Elena and Lily fell silent at the sa ti.
Harris, puzzled, "Aren't you happy?"
......
Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios.
After the main creative eting of the Warrant Order crew ended, the art director and the set crew headed to Atlanta first to prepare the studio set-ups.
"Kelly has already converted the entire shop at the General Motors Center into a studio."
In the office, Louise sat on the swivel chair, pushing her black-rimd glasses slightly and said to Martin, "That harlot has reserved two studios for the crew, with the rent going directly into the production costs. Will that be okay with you?"
Martin, still living off others, had no standing to refuse, "As long as you have no objections."
Being part of the production costs ant sharing in the film's profits, which was much better than paying rent separately; he too had his own plans, "I just want a one million US dollar salary, and the remaining two million US dollars will be considered as investnt into the production costs?"
Louise was indifferent, "I have no objections."
This way, Martin's total investnt in the project reached five million US dollars.
Actually, he had spent less than a million of his own money.
"The project is proceeding normally; the exact shooting schedule will depend on the outco of 'Infernal Affairs,'" Martin emphasized, "During the upcoming period, I'll be vying for a role in the Infernal Affairs crew."
Louise nodded slightly, "I've basically co to terms with Warner Bros., and you'll be bringing capital into the group, but Scorsese has the final say on actor selection, the key still lies with his choice."
After thinking for a mont, she added another sentence, "Actually, apart from the four main roles, I can guarantee you'll certainly land any other role."
"Let's fight for the second lead first!" Martin had so thoughts, "A few days ago, I t Daniel from Warner Bros., and he ntioned sothing. For the shooting needs, Scorsese is preparing to visit the Boston Police Departnt for field research, and I need his itinerary and the list of accompanying personnel."
Louise's words echoed those of Thomas, "That's Martin Scorsese, not those minor figures like Adrian, don't ss around."
She specifically stated, "Scorsese is no longer capable in that area; he's uninterested in either sex. From various signs, he won't win an Oscar this ti. I've had a few interactions with him, and when it cos to another Oscar run, Scorsese is giving it unprecedented attention."
Martin outlined his plan, "I've been practicing the Boston accent for a long ti, but I don't think it's enough. From the initial script you got, the second lead is a police officer. I want to go to the Boston Police Departnt to experience life."
Louise understood what Martin ant, "You want Scorsese to see this?"
Martin retorted, "If the director doesn't see it, what's the point of experiencing life?"
Louise nodded, "First have your agent contact the Boston Police Departnt; they will probably agree. I'll ask about Scorsese's side."
Martin stepped out to call Thomas. WMA would contact Boston as quickly as possible.
Louise had a wide network at Warner Bros., and quickly got so information.
When Martin returned, she said, "Accompanying Scorsese to Boston will be the screenwriter William Monahan, Scorsese's personal assistant, and the casting director Ellen. The schedule is hard to predict, too many variables."
Martin suddenly rembered, "Thomas has ntioned Ellen to before, he's had dinner with her a few tis."
The casting director's field visit to the Boston Police Departnt was naturally to prepare for future casting.
Louise said, "Since Thomas knows her, find a way to get her on board. If she's willing to disclose information, Scorsese's schedule in Boston will be transparent to you."
Martin replied, "I'll ask Thomas to reach out to her again."
He called Thomas from the office and gave a brief rundown, then reiterated, "Bringing capital into the group, I can get a ticket to the final selection for the second lead. Securing casting director Ellen is key to my victory in the selection. Thomas, I'm counting on you now."
Thomas had previously been determined, fully ntally prepared, and when he said it again, there was no psychological barrier, "Martin, even if she wants to spend the night with her, it's no problem, whatever she wants, I'm ga!"
Martin said, "I'll be waiting for your good news."
Seeing him hang up the phone, Louise said, "Apart from those rotten tricks, do you have any other thods?"
"There's another very crucial link." Martin didn't explain to Louise but went to the window and dialed Robert's mobile number.
......
Atlanta, Marietta Community Theater.
Several vans were parked at the main entrance, with many minor actors going in and out, boxes being carried into the vans.
Robert directed a few people, carefully moving his storage from the theater, constantly reminding them, "Be careful with the Cokes, so are in glass bottles."
A curious young actor asked, "Director, why have you stored so much expired Coke?"
"You wouldn't understand." Robert wasn't going to explain to these people, and pointed to his van, "Load all the Coke in there, and make sure it's secured against shocks."
Wiping sweat off his bald head, he shouted to another person, "What about the olive oil?"
A few more people ca out from the theater with boxes, "The olive oil is here."
The last to co out were two guys carrying a table, muttering as they walked, "Director, why do we even need to bring this old table?"
Robert's face was grave, "It's a key item; get it on the vehicle quickly."
This was the altar for the ceremony.
With the Marietta Theatre Company becoming corporate, Jero set up a special agency for minor actors.
Knowing that Robert and Martin were close, he kept in touch with Robert, and not only did Jero appoint Robert as the artistic director, he also made him a partner.
The vans set off towards Peachtree Street.
Robert drove his Cadillac, following the convoy.
Arriving at the office building leased by the company, Robert had people move the table up first, placing it in the new office facing west.
When the Coke and olive oil were carried up, the High Priest was about to call Martin when Martin's call ca through.
"Robert, there's sothing, Coke."
"I've moved to a new office and am setting up the Coke. Are you vying for a new role?"
"Apart from The Hills Have Eyes, I have two other projects."
"Got it." Robert didn't say more, hung up, took out a small notebook, and busied himself strictly following the recorded procedure.
Three bottles of 2003 Coke were placed on the old desk, then anointed with olive oil.
Then, Robert stood in front of the wooden table, chanting under his breath.
The new assistant knocked and entered the office at that mont.
Robert pointed at the altar and said solemnly, "No one is allowed to touch anything on this, rember."
The assistant quickly replied, "Yes, Director."
Robert went to the office window and muttered to himself, "Wishing Martin all the best."
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