In the heart of Los Angeles, the film crew had transformed three blocks near City Hall into a dynamic set, bustling with the thrill of action sequences. Each day, the area pulsed with the energy of speeding cars and intense gun battles.
Amidst the orchestrated chaos, Martin skillfully maneuvered a Cadillac through the makeshift streets, hurtling towards the square. With a masterful spin and the screech of brakes, the car came to a halt in a dramatic flick. He turned to Ellen Page, urgency in his voice, "Get down!"
Ellen quickly ducked, clutching her head as the sound of gunshots filled the air. Across from them, two actors playing their parts, fell to the ground.
Nolan, a stickler for realism, insisted on using blank bullets for long shots, ensuring the guns flashed authentically.
As filming paused, the cameraman, cramped in the back seat, emerged, gasping for air. He chugged water, trying to settle his churning stomach.
Martin stepped out, handing the gun over to Bruce. This was no ordinary prop – it was a real firearm.
Nolan, joined by action director Tom, approached Martin. They valued his insights, especially for action scenes, discussing the next sequence with him.
In the distance, obscured by the artificial rainfall, Ben and Casey Affleck, their beards thick and unruly, observed the scene from their car.
Cassie, with a telescope in hand, peered through the misty veil. "Everyone's gravitating towards him. He's like a magnet," she observed.
Ben, focused on another matter, queried, "Any dirt on Lily Carter?"
Cassie shook her head. "Nothing. For a rising star from the slums, any exposure is good exposure."
Ben, puzzled, added, "It's hard to believe Martin Davis isn't the type to coerce women."
Cassie shrugged. "He's never short on female attention."
Ben half-joked, "Nor are Brad Pitt and I."
Cassie, slightly uncomfortable, continued, "Rumors abound in the modeling world. It was Leonardo who first introduced Martin and Nicholson to the supermodels. Martin became a sought-after guest after that."
"He's become an icon," she sighed. "It's said that if Martin doesn't attend the pre-wedding parties of the Victoria's Secret angels, the party is deemed a flop."
Ben, a hint of envy in his voice, remarked, "I never had such admiration in my heyday."
Cassie quipped, "Maybe you lack Martin's charm and wealth?"
Peering out, Ben suddenly asked, "Can I see the telescope?"
"Who are you spying on?" Cassie passed it to him.
Ben scanned the area beyond the set and spotted a familiar figure in a less crowded spot. Despite the hat and changed physique, the protruding belly was unmistakable – it was Toni, his pregnant neighbor.
Since their encounter at the hospital and living in the same apartment building, Ben and Toni often crossed paths, sharing brief, friendly chats.
In the midst of the bustling Los Angeles set, with the crew diligently capturing action-packed scenes, Ben's thoughts lingered on Toni, the pregnant neighbor whose partner had reportedly attended the White House Independence Day celebration. Despite his initial skepticism, observing Toni's confident demeanor and the pride she exhibited when speaking of her child's father, Ben began to reconsider his doubts.
Cassie, curious about Ben's distraction, inquired, "What's caught your attention?"
"It's Toni, the pregnant woman from my building. You've met her," Ben replied, handing Cassie the telescope. "I'm puzzled. Why is she here amidst all this chaos?"
Cassie peered through the binoculars, observing Toni's intense focus on the film set. "Looks like she's engrossed in the filming process."
Ben, musing aloud, wondered, "Could her partner be part of the crew? Who here attended the White House event?"
Cassie, after a moment of reflection, noted, "Only two people come to mind – Martin and his manager, Bruce."
Ben, taken aback, quickly dismissed the notion. "That can't be, can it?"
"Next time we see her, let's test this theory," Cassie suggested, a hint of intrigue in her voice.
Ben chuckled, "This could be the lead we've been searching for. I've helped her before; I'll find an opportunity."
As they spoke, a commotion erupted nearby. A group of exuberant girls, dressed in eye-catching attire, burst into the artificial rainfall, their bodies moving with uninhibited passion. Elsa, their leader, yelled out, "Martin, I love you!" echoed by the chorus of her friends.
In a bold display, they removed their tops, revealing the words "Martin, I love you" scrawled across their skin in striking cola-colored ink.
The seasoned entertainment reporters and paparazzi on site, familiar with such displays from Martin's fervent fans, focused their cameras on the message emblazoned across the girls' chests.
Meanwhile, Toni, spotting Aisha and the others, muttered a curse under her breath. She adjusted her sunhat, concealing her identity, and quickly headed towards the parking area. The presence of these overzealous fans made her uneasy, fearing recognition and the potential disruption it could bring to her serene future.
As she walked away, Toni cast a final glance at her former peers, a poignant reminder of the divergent paths their lives had taken.
The production crew's security personnel promptly intervened, gently persuading Elsa and her group to leave the set. In a gesture of goodwill, they were presented with concept posters of the film and memorabilia featuring Martin's character, a small token to appease their fervor.
In the frenetic atmosphere of the Los Angeles set, Elsa's thoughts were consumed by her growing disdain for Toni. "Toni's gone off the radar," she declared to her group, her voice tinged with bitterness. "She's probably retreated to her hometown, maybe even married someone else, betraying our sisterhood. Let's not speak of her anymore."
"But Toni was so smitten with Martin," one of her companions countered. "She once joked she'd marry his posters if she couldn't have him."
Elsa, feeling a pang of melancholy, quickly gathered herself. "Enough about her. Let's move on," she urged, herding the group away from the film set.
The paparazzi scrambled to capture the moment as the girls made their retreat, cramming into several cars and vanishing into the city's bustle.
Meanwhile, Ben Affleck, observing from a distance, noted Toni's departure and started his car. Cassie, still peering through her telescope, mused, "Imagine having such a devoted fanbase. I'd surely show my appreciation."
Ben, curious, asked, "And how would you reward them?"
Cassie, a thespian yet naive in certain ways, quipped, "With my charm and presence, of course."
Ben, more seasoned and cautious, warned, "Careful, or you might find yourself embroiled in lawsuits and scandal."
Cassie looked at her brother, understanding the gravity of his words. Ben's reputation and fortune had suffered due to similar incidents, leaving him somewhat ostracized in Hollywood.
Ben cautioned, "Tread lightly, or you'll be ruined before we achieve our goal."
Cassie nodded solemnly, "Understood."
As they drove away from the city center, Cassie inquired, "What about Brad Pitt? Wasn't he supposed to join us?"
"Brad working solo; he's got deeper connections than us," Ben replied, braking at a red light. "He despises Martin more than we do. He almost left for Sacred Valley because of him."
As the car idled, Ben continued, "Brad's convinced Martin's the reason for his downfall – stolen roles, lost love, hijacked endorsements. He's quite bitter. Without our intervention, Pete might just be the one to bring Martin down."
Cassie pondered, "Hopefully. Brad Pitt's life's been a mess since crossing paths with Martin Davis."
...
In a nondescript restaurant in Koreatown, Brad Pitt, donning a bunny hat, entered discreetly through the back. The owner, a former Hollywood staffer, acknowledged him with a nod and led him upstairs to a private room.
Inside, an average-looking middle-aged man, Clerson, awaited him. "Long time no see, Brad," he greeted.
Brad Pitt, recalling how he once helped Clerson during a tough time, smiled. "I'm here for a favor."
He opened his bag, revealing a bundle of cash and several live ammunition rounds, pushing it across the table. "I hear you're working with Nolan's crew. I need you to do something for me."
Clerson hesitated, glimpsing the bullets. "Brad Pitt, I have a family..."
Brad Pittt reassured him, "It's not what you think. Nolan's set is chaotic; no one will notice a few bullets swapped. If you find the right moment, make the switch. If not, wait."
Clerson, understanding the implication, cautioned, "If anything happens to Martin, there will be a massive investigation."
Brad Pitt clarified, "I'm not asking for an accident. Just remember, accidents happen all the time on sets like these."
In his current state, Brad Pitt felt he had nothing more to lose.