Exiting the terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, Martin spotted Lily, who had co especially to pick him up today.
"Get in the car quickly, we can't stop here for long!" Lily opened the trunk of the red Cadillac, letting Martin and Bruce load their luggage and beckoning them to get in, she asked, "Where to?"
Martin replied, "Ho."
Lily started the car and drove out of the terminal concourse. "I went to your place the day before yesterday to clean. I nearly killed myself doing it."
Martin gently patted the driver's seat, "I appreciate it."
Lily said, "You gave a car and helped find such a good part-ti job, if I didn't do sothing for you, not only would Elena beat up, I'd beat myself up."
At that thought, recalling her miserable trip back to Atlanta a few days earlier, she self-motivated, "I definitely have to earn more money, that way I'll have the confidence."
Martin casually added, "It's not about the money."
The bit of courage that Lily had just mustered deflated instantly, "The Carter family has such a special way of showing care."
Then she thought of her brother, "That bastard Holle, I go back to Atlanta and he dares to run off elsewhere. I have to encourage him to choose a university in Los Angeles so that he'll co here."
Martin could imagine how happy life would be if Holle really did that.
Living in Atlanta under the care of Elena's sister, and then coming to Los Angeles to be enveloped by the care of Lily's sister.
Being the younger brother is truly blissful.
Martin spotted an entertainnt newspaper on the passenger seat and picked it up while Lily stopped at a red light, flipping through it.
It published news about "The Dark Knight" film crew.
After determining the relevant response strategies and publicity plans, the film crew officially released so information, after all, rumors had been spreading.
Published in the newspaper was the news that Bale got slightly injured and suffered so depression due to an accident while filming and was now under temporary hospital observation.
"The Dark Knight" was scheduled for next sumr, and the real effort in publicity wouldn't begin until next spring.
After reading the newspaper, Martin asked Lily, "Is there much reaction to Bale's injury?"
"Not really, the level of concern isn't that high." Since Lily worked at The Dark Knight Studio, she was privy to quite a bit of information. Curiously, she asked, "I heard that you and Bale had a fight on set, is that true?"
Now was not the ti for publicity stunts, so Martin downplayed it, "Just a little issue."
Lily took it to heart, "Next ti he cos to the studio, should I stab him a few tis with an engraving knife? I guarantee it will hurt like hell and still be a minor injury."
Martin knew Lily could actually do it and warned, "Don't get involved in my business, this isn't as simple as you think. And don't go around stabbing people with an engraving knife."
"I got it." Traffic increased, and Lily concentrated on driving.
Back at Cody Community, Lily pressed the remote, and the gate opened, allowing the Cadillac to drive in directly.
The house had been cleaned very thoroughly, not at all like it had been unoccupied for months.
Martin, seeing that everything had been tidily arranged, even that new beer had been placed in the fridge, said to Lily, "I appreciate it."
Lily, a bit embarrassed since she had often stayed here over the past few months, said, "I used up quite a bit of your stock."
"Oh, right," she pointed upstairs, "I've turned that side bedroom into my room."
Martin nodded, without saying much, simply unpacked his luggage and collapsed onto the sofa, suddenly feeling tired.
It wasn't so much physical exhaustion, but ntal fatigue.
Not only did he have to play the role of the Joker, but also control the pace of conflict with Batman, which was not easy to do.
Thinking about it now, Nolan was indeed formidable. It seed like he had made one movie, but in reality, he had put in the effort and energy for two.
The ability to write and create on set was not sothing an ordinary director could manage.
And so directors who could were too proud to roll up their sleeves and get down to business.
Bruce grabbed a can of beer and tossed it to Martin.
Lily also picked up a can, gave Martin a cautious glance, and, seeing he didn't say anything, opened it and took a sip, asking, "Sleep in for a few days?"
Martin sipped so beer and said, "I'll rest for a few days, then get back to training. Old Cloth, we can't let our guard down, there are too many bastards in this circle. How can we protect ourselves without so skills and strength?"
Bruce strongly agreed, "Indeed, there are too many bastards in the circle!"
Martin picked up a notebook beside him, with several contacts listed inside, such as Angel Shooting Club, and the psychological clinic they had visited after the Burbank Middle School incident.
To prepare for next year's big promotion, he had to start laying the groundwork now.
Martin said, "Old Cloth, get in touch with the psychological clinic we went to last ti. Let's pay them a visit tomorrow."
Bruce knew about Martin's plan and replied, "I'll call them."
Lily was surprised, "You're having psychological issues? That can't be. Could it be due to…"
"Shut up!" Martin pointed at her, "Keep this a secret, don't ntion it to anyone."
Lily grumbled a bit, then replied, "I got it."
Martin said to Bruce, "By the way, notify Ivan to go take pictures and sell them to TMZ."
Bruce nodded his head.
After hanging up the phone, Martin asked, "How is Ivan adapting to Los Angeles?"
"He's doing very well. Just from selling news on Pitt and Heath Ledger alone, he's made tens of thousands of dollars." Bruce was in charge of contacting Ivan, "He's got a new car, rented a new house, life is comfortable."
Lily didn't interrupt, just listened, knowing that whatever she heard must stay locked away inside her.
Bruce's cell phone rang, he answered and then quickly hung up, "It's set, tomorrow morning."
Martin called a nearby restaurant and ordered lunch to be delivered specially.
The three of them had lunch, and in the mid-afternoon, they moved chairs to sit by the front courtyard swimming pool and chat idly.
The doorbell rang.
Bruce went to open the door, it was Martin's neighbor, Mr. Jones, and his daughter Jenna.
"Please co this way." Martin asked Lily to quickly move over two chairs.
Lily arranged the chairs, greeted Mr. Jones, and uttered a few words of thanks.
A letter of recomndation for her had co from Mr. Jones's side.
Mr. Jones bead, "I've heard your teacher talk about you, saying you have a great talent and work hard, your future is limitless."
Lily smiled, "Teachers always like to boast about their students."
Martin poured tea for Mr. Jones and Jenna and said, "This is Darjeeling tea, directly sourced from the origin, tastes good."
Mr. Jones sipped his tea, "Indeed, it's good."
Jenna, not used to this kind of tea, asked, "Do you have milk and sugar?"
"I'll get it." Lily went to get milk and sugar cubes.
As Jenna added milk and sugar to her tea, she said, "Haven't seen you for months."
"Been in Atlanta shooting a new film," Martin said briefly, "that's my hotown, and I didn't co back even during the break."
Jenna obviously had sothing to discuss with Martin, "Last year's San Valley Version 'Wanted Order' profits, I urged the company to make the paynt, you received it, didn't you?"
Martin, who hadn't paid much attention, glanced at Bruce and seeing him nod slightly, said, "Received it."
Jenna continued, "I ca over today mainly to say thank you. Without your help getting the authorization, we wouldn't have seen DVD sales break ten million dollars."
Martin, aware of San Valley Industry's scale which was no less than Hollywood's, was not surprised, and smilingly said, "A very impressive achievent."
"And Jenna has won a big award at the AVN!" Mr. Jones interjected, proud and excited about his daughter, "She got three awards including Best Actress and Best Narrative Director."
What could Martin say but, "Congratulations!"
Jenna hurriedly said, "I couldn't have won these awards without your help."
Martin could roughly guess why Jenna ca to visit on his first day back in Los Angeles.
Lily glanced at Mr. Jones, then at Jenna, feeling she was gaining new insights.
At that mont, Jenna also ntioned, "Martin, I watched 'Limitless', an excellent movie."
With slight hesitation, she still said it, "Um... Can we continue our partnership like with 'Wanted Order'? The share of royalties definitely won't be a problem."
This kind of authorization was common in Hollywood, and Martin had no objections.
Jenna added, "I've already discussed a preliminary adaptation plan with the creative team at the company.
The plan is for to play the female protagonist who consus the super intelligence drug, who goes from being destitute to an Upper East Side socialite, and in order to maintain her image and status, she must obtain more of the super intelligence drug, so she needs to search for and keep consuming it."
Martin suddenly had a rather concerning association.
Lily, curious, asked, "Jenna, the super intelligence drug you ntioned, it isn't the pills from the movie, is it?"
"Of course not," Jenna said openly. "What the female protagonist consus is the genetic material of n, but not every man's genetic material can be the super intelligence drug suitable for her, so she needs to find and try out."
Lily imdiately understood, it was indeed very San Valley.
Jenna smiled and then added, "Such a concept is a great fit for to showcase my skills, I plan to continue as both the lead actress and the director."
Martin's Davis Studio had initially bought the movie and television rights for the original novel outright, so authorization was not an issue.
These kinds of authorizations were not frowned upon in the industry, rather many film and television production companies saw it as a way to increase royalties inco—Martin only considered briefly before saying, "I personally have no objections to granting authorization. Jenna, just go directly to my Davis Studio and speak with Jessica Tinovich about the authorization and royalty sharing matters."
Jenna said, "Martin, thank you so much."
"No need to be polite," Martin casually said, looking at Mr. Jones, "but the royalty fees and share due won't be one dollar short."
Jenna thanked him again, as securing authorization for such a popular movie was not easy.
After drinking afternoon tea for a while, Mr. Jones and his daughter took the initiative to leave.
Before leaving, Mr. Jones said to Martin, "Once Jenna's new movie is out, she'll send it to you right away. Then, please give us your feedback."
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