Outside the Museum of Modern Art, the bustling streets of Los Angeles hummed with the rhythm of the city. Martin, leaning against the sleek body of the Escalade, answered a call from Lily. After a brief conversation, he instructed Bruce in a nonchalant manner, "Head over to the east staff entrance."
As Bruce maneuvered the Escalade, they soon spotted Lily dashing out of a side door, her steps quick and purposeful. She slid into the back seat beside Martin, her breath slightly hurried from the rush.
Martin cast a glance at her, his voice adopting a teasing Atlanta accent, "Smart move, not showing up at the exhibition. Knew better than to give him a chance to see you, huh?"
Lily, slightly defensive yet not retaliating, reminded him, "Hey, you told me not to swear. I've stopped, but you're still at it."
Martin, seeing her growth, conceded with a smile, "Alright, no more calling you an idiot. 'Stupid' is the most you'll get from me."
"I'm not stupid," Lily muttered, a hint of pride in her voice. "I managed to sell those martial arts practice sculptures for a fortune."
Martin's gaze lingered on her, but before he could speak, Lily hurriedly added, "The money's not with me yet. After taxes and the college's cut, I might end up with barely a hundred thousand."
Martin, dismissing her worries about him coveting her earnings, advised, "Stay away from the Affleck brothers in the future. They're trouble."
Lily nodded vigorously, understanding the gravity of his advice.
Turning to Bruce, Martin said, "Find a place to eat. After that, take Lily home." He then offered to Lily, "If you're up for cleaning my new place, you're welcome to it."
Lily, her spirits lifted, eagerly proposed, " Bruce, I'm treating you and Martin to a grand dinner!"
Bruce, knowing her tastes, chose a modest yet cozy restaurant. As they exited the car, Lily, buoyed by her recent financial success, walked with a bounce in her step, humming tunes and occasionally glancing at Martin with a playful glint in her eye.
"Do you want me to call Elena? Brag about my windfall?" she asked Martin with a mischievous smile.
She then paused, a new idea dawning, "Actually, I'll fly to Atlanta tonight and tell her in person!"
Martin, half-joking, half-warning, replied, "Prepare yourself for Elena's fist then."
Lily's mood dampened momentarily, regretting her impulsive offer to treat them. However, Martin quickly lifted her spirits with news of an upcoming venture, "Warner Bros. is launching Joker merchandise this weekend. They're crediting you, an exceptional female sculptor, for the designs."
Her gloom instantly vanished, replaced by joyous leaps. "I'm going to make even more money!"
"You're a true money addict now," Martin teased.
"But I plan to buy a house bigger than yours one day!" Lily retorted with a determined smile.
Martin, ever the tease, responded, "I'll keep inviting you to clean my houses then. You'll love it."
Lily, in that moment, felt a tinge of regret for her decision to come to Los Angeles. The city, with its glitz and glamour, was proving to be a vastly different experience than she had imagined.
...
In a quiet neighborhood off Santa Monica Boulevard, a black Ford Mustang roared into a community, pulling up alongside the curb with a flourish.
Casey Affleck emerged from the car, his steps heavy with a mix of anger and disappointment. Pushing open the door to his main house, he was greeted by the sight of six sculptures prominently displayed in his living room. Each piece, crafted from plaster, stone, or wood, had been purchased at a hefty price, touted as masterpieces of art.
Initially, Casey had envisioned this display as a way to impress and control their creator, to gain influence and perhaps more. But now, these sculptures stood as stark reminders of his gullibility and misplaced trust.
Without a trace of anger, Casey walked to the tool room with a calm yet ominous determination. He returned wielding a hammer in one hand and an axe in the other. Approaching the plaster sculpture first, he raised the hammer and struck it with force. The sculpture crumbled, sending a cloud of white dust swirling around him.
Undeterred, Casey then turned the axe on the wooden sculpture. With a loud crash, it splintered, a deep gash marring its surface.
One by one, he methodically dismantled each piece, his frustration and betrayal finding release in the destruction of what he once valued. The sculptures, once symbols of art and potential connection, were reduced to mere fragments of wood and stone scattered across the floor of his living room.
Cassie, gasping for breath after his destructive spree, sought a momentary refuge in the cold embrace of a beer can. He retrieved it from the fridge, the chill of the can a stark contrast to his heated emotions. Gulping down half of its contents, he found a temporary respite, his breathing easing.
But his respite was short-lived. Picking up his tools again, he directed his wrath towards a marble sculpture, shattering it with relentless force. It took him a full hour to reduce all six sculptures to mere rubble. Each strike seemed to chip away at his pent-up frustrations, leaving him with an odd sense of catharsis.
Sitting down on the sofa, the remnants of the beer offering some solace, Cassie flipped on the TV. Warner TV flickered to life, a stark reminder of the world outside his own. The news shifted to "The Dark Knight," and Cassie's attention was unwittingly captured.
"The Dark Knight's clown statues and figures, inspired by Martin Davis, will hit the markets this weekend. Designed by the prodigious young sculptor, Lily Carter, these collectibles are set to create a buzz," the newscaster announced. "Lily Carter, only 19, has already made a name for herself, with celebrities like Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio among her collectors."
Cassie's grip on the beer can loosened, sending it clattering to the floor as the realization of what he had done sunk in. His living room, once a gallery of potential masterpieces, now resembled a junkyard.
He had seen art hypes before. The thought that Lily Carter's works could have been valuable collectors' items in the future gnawed at him. He had destroyed them all in a fit of misguided anger.
Lying back on the sofa, tears of frustration and regret streaming down his face, Cassie was the epitome of a troubled artist. He wiped his eyes, more tears following.
The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his self-pity. Quickly composing himself, he answered. It was Ben, checking in.
"The exhibition's over. How did it go on your end?" Ben inquired.
Cassie, too embarrassed to admit the truth, deflected, "Give me some more time." He swiftly turned the conversation to Ben's endeavors.
Ben shared his recent foray into the Adler Acting School and his fruitless search for Elizabeth Olsen. "I think Martin Davis might be onto us," Ben mused. "Lay low for now, Cassie."
Cassie, gazing at the remnants of his actions, sighed. "I won't bother Lily Carter again. She's... something else."
Their conversation was brief, ending as quickly as it had begun.
...
As "The Dark Knight" soared in popularity, it became a cultural phenomenon. Discussions about the film echoed those of past blockbusters like "Titanic" and "Star Wars." The Joker, particularly, captivated the public's imagination.
On the second weekend of its release, the Joker series merchandise, helmed by Warner Bros., witnessed an unprecedented launch. Stores across North America saw long queues of eager fans, reminiscent of a carnival atmosphere. The Joker-themed products, especially those crafted and signed by Lily Carter and Martin, priced in the thousands, sold out instantly, even prompting a surge in market prices.
This frenzy wasn't just a commercial success; it was a testament to the film's deep impact on popular culture, with Lily Carter and Martin Davis at the center of this whirlwind of excitement.
The hand-engraved Joker collectibles, particularly those in limited editions, became an instant sensation, fetching high profits for those lucky enough to snag them. Among these, a hand-carved clown statue donning a Coca-Cola red cultural shirt, initially priced at $2,499, skyrocketed to a staggering $5,000 in online sales.
This phenomenon gave rise to a novel profession in North America: brokers who specialized in reselling or even procuring these coveted handmade clown statues, often through less-than-scrupulous means.
In the wake of the diary scandal, fervent movie fans clamored for Martin's "real clown diary," penned by the actor himself. However, Martin steadfastly declined all offers to purchase the diary. Seizing the opportunity, Warner Bros. announced the publication of "The Joker Diary," aiming to satiate the fans' burgeoning interest.
The soaring demand for Joker-related merchandise was fueled not only by its inherent popularity but also by Warner Bros.' strategic implementation of scarcity marketing. Stores were emptied, stock shortages led to inflated prices, and the hype around "The Dark Knight" escalated.
Online forums and media outlets were abuzz with posts offering hand-carved clown statues for thousands of dollars above the original price, further amplifying public interest and desire.
That weekend, theaters continued to be packed with audiences returning to experience "The Dark Knight." The film's box office performance in North America remained robust, raking in an additional $85.14 million. It retained its championship status, pushing its total North American earnings to $338 million.
Matching its box office success, the film's critical acclaim was immense. "The Dark Knight" sustained a Rotten Tomatoes rating above 95% and an IMDB score of 9.6, surpassing iconic films like "The Godfather" and "The Shawshank Redemption" to claim the top spot on the IMDB movie list.
Simultaneously, "The Dark Knight" debuted in international markets, including Europe, Australia, Latin America, and East Asia. Despite Batman's relatively lesser influence overseas, the widespread allure of the Joker character propelled the film to a $166 million opening weekend internationally.
Even the most conservative estimates by market analysts projected that "The Dark Knight" would surpass the $1 billion mark globally, a testament to the film's universal appeal and unprecedented cultural impact.