WMA, Joint Partner Office.
"Thank you for your recommendation, Ari," Martin expressed his gratitude formally to Ari Emanuel. "Your support has played a pivotal role in my quest for this role."
Ari didn't look like a typical senior agent; he had the air of a gang boss about him. He patted Martin on the arm and said, "The company has invested significant resources in you. You must secure this role, and you can't afford to let us down."
Confidence radiated from Martin as he replied, "The character won't elude me."
Ali nodded approvingly, stating, "Excellent, Martin. I have great confidence in your future, so seize every opportunity…"
Thomas, who had been quite relaxed until now, felt a sudden tension in the air. The boss's words had set off alarm bells within him, causing his hair to stand on end.
Thomas sensed the potential threat of a third party entering the scene.
He felt like a long-time loser who had finally captured the attention of the coveted Martin. Now, Ari, a wealthy and attractive newcomer, was trying to get involved. What was he supposed to do?
Though Thomas was grappling with his worries, he couldn't vocalize them. He could only hope that Martin would quickly dismiss the wealthy suitor and move on.
While chatting with Ari, Martin noticed that Thomas's eyes were continually darting in his direction, akin to a voyeur ogling a beautiful woman. Being astute, he surmised Thomas's thoughts and promptly ended the conversation with Ari.
As Martin left Ari's office, Thomas heaved a sigh of relief, relieved that a third party's intervention didn't seem likely in the near future.
Martin made his intentions clear with a touch of playful teasing, "Are you worried that I might switch to Ari?"
"No!" Thomas refuted instinctively before admitting, "Well, maybe a little."
Martin placed his arm around Thomas's shoulder, emphasizing, "I'm treated as a top priority here, not just another client. Who do you think I'd choose? Plus, we're not only business partners, but we're also friends."
Thomas, now feeling more at ease, confessed, "Actually, I know you wouldn't leave. It's just that I wasn't sure what to do."
Martin encouraged him, "You'll figure it out. When you become a partner, you'll know exactly what to do."
This show of trust from Martin put Thomas at ease, even making him contemplate leaving the office early each day. He realized that he could still attend networking events and parties, even after leaving the company. After all, the opportunity for "The Departed" had originally come from his personal network.
As they reached Thomas's office, Bruce, the troublemaker, was cheerfully chatting with Natasha.
Martin chose not to enter the office but waved to Old Bruce, signaling that it was time to go.
As they walked down to the lobby, Martin asked, "What did you find out?"
Bruce reported, "Thomas sacrificed love for his career."
Martin chuckled, "With a career, there's no shortage of love."
"Bruce continued, "So far, Thomas has proven reliable. He went the extra mile for the role in 'The Departed' by offering assistance to Ellen. Unfortunately, Ellen didn't see it that way."
Martin sighed, "To reach greater heights, someone has to bear the weight."
Once they left the building, the two made their way to the parking lot.
With the end of the publicity campaign, entertainment news about Martin had dwindled, and the paparazzi had become occasional followers.
As they entered the parking lot, a stranger approached them.
Bruce regarded him warily.
The man said, "Mr. Davis, my boss would like to meet you."
Martin quickly scanned the area to ensure he didn't recognize the man. He asked, "Who's your boss?"
The man replied, "Harvey Weinstein."
A nearby commercial vehicle's door swung open, revealing Harvey's portly face.
Martin nodded to Bruce and climbed into the commercial vehicle.
Bruce understood Martin's unspoken message and pulled out his phone to find Sophia's contact information. If Martin ran into trouble, he would summon support, even if it meant facing his fears.
Inside the vehicle, Martin sat beside Harvey.
Harvey grinned, "I've heard a lot about you, young man. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Martin replied, "I've heard Mr. Weinstein's name mentioned quite often."
Harvey's die-hard supporter, Matt Damon, had long wished for this meeting with Martin. However, Martin had mysteriously vanished from Los Angeles, making it impossible for Harvey to chase him down. He had to wait for the right moment.
"You've starred in three consecutive horror-thriller movies and gained a significant following in that genre," Harvey noted, not one to apply undue pressure but to employ a strategic approach. "I am with the Dimension Pictures, and we have a new installment in 'The Amityville Horror' series. It's a horror-thriller, and I'd like to offer you the lead role."
Martin remembered the series clearly—the nail-headed, bald figure was one of Hollywood's iconic horror images and the inspiration for the buzzsaw killer in "The Cabin in the Woods."
Was this a sincere offer, or did it come with ulterior motives? Martin couldn't be sure; after all, this was his first face-to-face encounter with Harvey.
Sofia unleashed a furious tirade against Harvey at the The Hills Have Eyes Studio, but Martin had already made a swift exit.
Harvey inquired, "What do you think? Are you interested?" He continued, "Your acting skills are truly impressive. After Dimensions Pictures, Weinstein Pictures could also collaborate with you. You know what I excel at."
Martin was well aware of Harvey's reputation for private meetings at hotels under the guise of discussing scripts. He had no intention of making a hasty decision and inquired, "Can you provide an estimate for when filming might commence?"
Harvey maintained flexibility, saying, "The project is in the preparation phase, but we haven't set a definite schedule."
Knowing that actors held more leverage once they signed contracts, Martin contemplated the situation. He recalled the stories he had heard in his previous life, about how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had done various favors for Harvey Weinstein.
Martin was in direct competition with Matt Damon for a role in "The Departed," and now Harvey, who had never interacted with him before, had offered him a part in a Dimension Pictures project with an undetermined timeline. To be cautious, Martin decided to delegate the handling of Harvey to Thomas and stated, "I'll need some time to think it over and will get back to you."
Seeing that Martin didn't outright decline, Harvey urged, "As soon as possible," and handed Martin the script. It was clear that Harvey wasn't just making empty promises about having Martin star in a horror film.
Martin accepted the script, left the car, returned, and asked, "Didn't you call Sophia?"
"You were gone for less than ten minutes," Bruce, the troublemaker, retorted cynically. "I highly doubt that even someone as tonnage-challenged as him could successfully woo you in such a short time."
Martin gave Bruce a rude gesture and needled him about Sophia. Bruce had a soft spot for Sophia, and Martin had a knack for poking at old wounds.
Martin opened the script and quickly skimmed its contents. Then, he dialed Thomas's number and waited for him to arrive.
Once Thomas was downstairs, the two found a quiet spot in the WMA lobby to discuss the situation. Martin provided Thomas with a detailed account of his meeting with Harvey.
Thomas inquired, "Aren't you interested in this project?"
Martin explained, "It's not a matter of interest, but a concern. I remember that Matt Damon has a close relationship with Harvey."
Thomas nodded in agreement, sharing, "Matt Damon and Ben Affleck owe much of their success to Harvey Weinstein. There have been rumors that they are among Harvey's most loyal supporters."
Martin pointedly conveyed his worry, "I'm concerned there might be a catch. I'd appreciate it if you could politely decline the offer."
Thomas was well aware of the responsibility, stating, "Leave it to me." He also had a suggestion, "I'll see if I can pull some strings to get Oscar Isaac involved in this project."
Martin simply left the script with Thomas and departed WMA.
Thomas promptly contacted another client, Oscar, and requested him to come over immediately to discuss a potential project. Subsequently, he communicated with Dimension Pictures and got busy coordinating various arrangements.
Meanwhile, Martin headed to Warner Bros. Studios to continue his preparations for the audition for "The Departed," in which he would be starring alongside Mene.
Martin was relentless in his pursuit of success and was determined to give his all until the results were announced.
Audition invitations for "The Departed" were sent to all relevant actors. Matt Damon received an audition notice for the supporting role of Sergeant Dingner, which puzzled him.
"Why not audition for Colin Sullivan?" Damon wondered.
Doug from Dyson Pictures explained, "Scorsese and the casting director, Ellen, believe you're better suited to play Sergeant Digner due to your age. Colin's role requires someone slightly younger." Doug emphasized, "Leonardo, Plan B, Pacific Pictures, and Warner Bros. are all backing Martin Davis. I can guarantee you an important role, but not Colin."
Damon frowned, saying, "I don't understand why Scorsese would choose him. I'm from Cambridge, so I have an advantage with the accent."
Doug, who had heard plenty of news lately, replied, "Martin Davis has been preparing for this role since December. He put in a lot of effort to master the Boston accent and even spent 20 days experiencing life with the BPD. He's been fully committed."
Damon sighed, "I planned to immerse myself in the role once I get it."
Doug, clearly sympathetic, said, "You've been somewhat slow in your preparations. Martin Davis presented his dedication and effort to Scorsese, while you're still getting ready. He's already put in 100% effort. What do you think Scorsese will do?"
Damon was exasperated. "Is he crazy? He doesn't even have the role yet. He's pushing us all to our limits."
Doug chose to ignore the remark and asked, "So, will you accept the audition?"
Damon agreed, "I'll take it. I have the Ocean series and Bourne franchise commercially, but I lack accolades. Why not try out Scorsese's project?"
Meanwhile, Mark Wahlberg, who was also vying for a role in "The Departed," received news that the casting crew had nearly confirmed Matt Damon for the part he was eyeing. Frustrated that all his preparation had seemingly gone to waste, he couldn't help but keep a close watch on Damon's moves.