Inside the Warner Television Network studio, "The Helen Show" was about to start its live broadcast. Martin had finished styling and was going over the script one last ti to avoid any mistakes as much as possible.
At this mont, Helen ca over, and upon seeing Martin, she imdiately opened her arms and gave him a hug, feigning complaint, "You've finally agreed to co on my show."
Martin replied with a smile, "Please be rciful, I can't withstand torture."
The relationship between the two was out of the ordinary. Helen gave him a peace of mind, "Apart from the surprise segnt at the end, the rest will follow the process we've discussed."
Martin asked, "What sort of surprise have you prepared for ?"
"It's a secret," Helen winked and said, "It definitely won't embarrass you."
Martin nodded.
Helen put on her earpiece, listening to the director's voice, then moved from backstage to the front, pointing at the cara and saying, "The Helen Show, eting you on ti every week!"
Her expression turned serious and somber, "I once experienced a terrifying attack. I was very lucky to have survived, under the protection of Martin Davis. Please welco my guardian angel, Martin Davis!"
Dressed casually in a jacket and jeans, Martin erged from backstage onto the stage like the friendly big boy next door.
Helen opened her arms and hugged Martin firmly.
At the sa ti, in Nicholson's mansion on Sunset Boulevard, the old man had gathered a group of old friends tonight for a drink and a chat.
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, William Hurt, Dustin Hoffman, and others.
They had quarrels when they were young, but as they grew older, they beca relatively peaceful, still managing to sit together for a drink from ti to ti, reminiscing about their era.
Nicholson grabbed the remote control and switched to the Warner Television Network, saying, "Let's watch a program, as a side dish to our drinks."
Dustin Hoffman remarked, "Isn't that the young brother you just t?"
Nicholson chuckled, "He's an interesting guy."
William Hurt, who had read a report in Empire Magazine, said, "These young people nowadays beco famous too easily. We old folks are out of fashion now."
Robert De Niro suggested, "Let's watch the program first."
On "The Helen Show," after the routine opening pleasantries finished, the show moved onto the main topic.
"In the currently screening 'Infernal Affairs,' you play an undercover agent, a bad guy undercover, and you've received high praise." Helen was imdiately maximizing the show's impact, pointing at the big screen behind the stage, which displayed pictures of Jolie and Aniston at the sa ti.
Full of gossip, she said, "On the sa day, both Jolie and Aniston praised you highly, comnding your role and dedication, saying you were hard-working. What do you think about that?"
What he did privately was one thing, but publicly acknowledging it was absolutely impossible. Martin ca up with a standard response, "I worked with Angie and Jen on two separate films, and they are both excellent and dedicated actors. We beca good friends during work, and that friendship has continued to this day."
Helen, ever the gossip, inquired, "As far as I know, Jolie and Aniston are arch-enemies. Have you ever thought about diating between them?"
Martin, with his thick skin, said, "That's the plan."
"How about this, we call them here to the show," Helen suddenly said, "And you diate live on the air?"
Martin thought to himself, was this the show's surprise segnt?
As the show effect peaked, Helen put on a regretful face, "Our show's budget is limited; we can't afford to invite two big-na actresses."
She asked, "Can you help?"
Martin shrugged, "I'll try to communicate with them privately."
Seizing the mont to switch topics, Helen asked, "Now you can beco friends with big-na stars like Jolie and Aniston. Before coming to Los Angeles, did you ever imagine this?"
Martin shook his head, "I didn't dare to think about it. Back then, I just wanted to find a foothold in Los Angeles."
Helen inquired, "You never thought about becoming a big star?"
Martin went along with her question, continuing, "Anyone with my experience wouldn't dare to have too many hopes for the future."
Seizing the opportunity, Helen asked, "It's reported in the news that you grew up in a slum and had an unhappy family life. Was it very hard?"
"It was tough," Martin revealed his own pain points, seeking sympathy, "In the environnt where I grew up, there were gangs, violence, and dealers everywhere. Many of my peers joined them. I was luckier. I had a talented father who taught acting. From my teenage years, he took along to work as an extra."
Helen asked, "Was he an incredible person?"
Martin spoke as if about an unrelated person, "No, he was into drugs, alcohol, and fraud. All the money I earned from acting was taken by him. One day, he made borrow money from loan sharks. After I got the loan, he took the money and ran off with a woman, completely disappearing from my life.
I couldn't get in touch with him anymore, and then I was left with a huge debt and had no choice but to work as a bartender in a strip club to earn money to pay off the debt..."
Such outrageous revelations left the live audience eye-opening and buzzing with discussion.
Helen gently guided, "You gave up acting."
"No, I didn't." Martin fully imrsed himself in the past weaved with facts and established a persona of determination, "I didn't want to join a gang, even less to be a peddler. I wanted to change my destiny! But for soone like , it's just so hard to struggle out of that mire, especially with a huge debt on my back."
His voice resonated powerfully, "I had only one path to take, only acting. I t benefactors, Captain Jero, Mrs. Kelly Gray..."
Martin nad those who had helped him and continued with his experiences, "After securing a key role, I pondered over the character every day, studying how to craft it, asking everyone around for advice. I put in trendous effort because I had no way out, nothing to fall back on. If I did, I would fall back into the mire and never get out.
I've seen a childhood friend get his chest and belly blown up by a shotgun during gang fights!"
Helen gasped softly, "That's terrifying!"
"To avoid such tragedies, I bought a gun to protect myself and the neighbors who had helped since I was young." Martin continued, "Thankfully, God protected ; the late-night film was a success, and I paid off my debts. But I didn't relax; I beca even more diligent because I learned of a place called Hollywood, the temple of cinematic art."
He spoke further of his journey from Atlanta to Los Angeles, stressing, "Later, I t many artists who made realize one thing: the art of acting is never a sprint. It is a marathon, a long battle. You can't stop midway; you have to keep going, keep pushing yourself to excel and touch the true art of performance."
Helen comnted, "Several directors you've worked with, including Martin Scorsese, have praised you highly, saying you are an exceptionally gifted actor."
When it was ti for Martin to be humble, he naturally was, "So people are the darlings of Hollywood and performance art; I never felt that I belonged to that category. I'm more like a conscientious blue-collar worker, willing to put in multiple tis the effort for a role and my work, knowing that I have no other options."
He knew how to appeal a little more to the old folks, constantly ntioning effort, "I've reached the threshold of acting art. In this marathon called life, I never thought of relaxing or giving up. From 'Wanted Order' to 'The Reader,' from 'Infernal Affairs' to wax museums, I've always been pushing myself.
The support of my seniors allowed to achieve so success, and the more successful I beca, the more motivated I was to work harder."
The show went on, and in Nicholson's living room, the drinks had been poured several tis over.
Dustin Hoffman watched the show with a smile, "An interesting young man, much smarter than Tom Cruise when he worked with on 'Rain Man'."
William Hurt, who had experienced a vagrant youth, resonated sowhat with Martin's recounted experiences and his perception changed, "It turns out he didn't achieve fa easily either."
Robert De Niro stated, "He's inexperienced, but a man who works that hard deserves a chance."
Nicholson spoke more directly, "Old fellas, among the younger generation, can you find anyone more agreeable than him? Look at the young actors today, coming from upper-middle-class families, or wealthy family child stars, or second-generation celebrities, or soone tutored by a big shot. Fewer and fewer are like us scoundrels, who have climbed up from poverty."
In those years, most of them were poor when they beca actors.
As the leader of the Trio of Scoundrels, Nicholson bluntly rallied for votes right there, "That little punk is my kid brother. Whatever nomination votes you guys have in your hands and those you can influence, give them to him if you can."
"I knew it, free booze from an old scoundrel like you wasn't going to be good," Al Pacino said. "I really admire Martin, but he's too young."
William Hurt concurred, "This year, quite a few of our old friends want to compete for Best Supporting Actor." As if speaking about himself, he added, "They'll likely never get a shot at Best Actor in their lifetis."
Dustin said, "I've promised to give my vote to Ellen Arkin first."
William Hurt spoke as well, "So have I."
Nicholson filled every old buddy's glass with more wine, "It's just a nomination."
Hearing this, William Hurt nodded, "No problem for ."
The others also expressed they could give Martin a nomination vote; if not the first choice, then the second on their ballots.
After wrapping up the conversation quickly, their attention returned to the talk show.
The stage background changed to images related to reports from 'Arican Rumors.'
"I've seen the internet, a lot of people are discussing it," Helen asked, "Is what's published there true?"
Martin acknowledged with a touch of restraint, "It's true."
The audience erupted into murmurs.
Martin went on, "But it's selective reporting, neglecting the cause and effect. The actual situation was that gangsters from the south of Atlanta had taken over the community where I lived and wanted to push into that white business. The community was so disturbed by them that a friend I just ntioned earlier died in the feud.
We were from a poor neighborhood with inadequate police presence, so so neighbors and I ford the Community Defense Alliance."
This was common in Arica, so the audience could relate.
Helen followed up, "Did the Defense Alliance clash with the gang mbers?"
"Four gang mbers tried to rob a house, and I discovered them in advance..." Martin recounted the incident of that night without exaggeration.
"So you an to say, you protected four friends from your neighbor's family?" Seeing Martin nod, Helen announced, "Here's a surprise, one of them is here on the show."
Hearing this, Martin was quite surprised. Which of those four idiots ca to the show?
Elena? Obviously impossible.
Holle would just whine about the Earth.
Harris would have told him in advance.
It could only be Lily the idiot!
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