At the opulent Davis Manor, Elizabeth Olsen, adorned in a breathtaking gown, gracefully swept across the room, her ebony skirt trailing behind her. She approached Martin, presenting him with a clenched fist emblem, which she carefully fastened to his left lapel.
Martin, resplendent in a Brioni haute couture suit, donned a Cartier timepiece on his wrist and a distinctive Coca-Cola lapel pin on the right. He gingerly set down his Nokia N98 mobile phone and reached for the ornate jewelry box before him. From it, he extracted a bespoke necklace, adorned with seven flawless rubies. Gently, he placed it around Elizabeth's neck.
Elizabeth, taken aback by the exquisite gift, ran her fingers over the necklace's platinum, diamond, and ruby composition, her smile radiant. "I adore this gift," she exclaimed.
Martin inquired, a hint of pride in his voice, "I have impeccable taste, don't I?"
Elizabeth stood before a full-length mirror, admiring the necklace's elegance. "It's absolutely exquisite."
Martin positioned himself slightly apart, gazing at her, and said, "You, my dear, outshine it all."
Elizabeth's smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Martin, taking another lapel pin, secured it to her chest.
Elizabeth, with genuine affection, expressed, "I'm not striving to be a feminist; I simply wish to be your forever muse."
Martin responded warmly, "As long as you desire it."
Interrupting the tender moment, Bruce entered from the doorway, reminding them, "It's time to depart."
Martin retrieved his Nokia mobile phone, leading Elizabeth to their awaiting Cadillac. Their sponsors not only provided financial support but also dedicated resources to help secure nominations and awards. In return, Martin was committed to putting in the effort.
The Cadillac, the embodiment of luxury, departed the estate and made its way toward the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Elizabeth recalled, "Have we received any updates from Chanel No. 5?"
Martin offered a subtle nod. "Since last year's Toni Fairman paternity test scandal, the French side severed ties with Thomas. So far, there have been no further developments. We should contact Thomas and assess their stance."
Concerned, she inquired about Toni and Stuart. Martin's attention had shifted.
Bruce explained, "The situation is rather complex. Stuart Townsend, following his legal counsel's advice, is currently suing Toni Fairman for alleged genetic material theft. This case is expected to drag on."
Martin couldn't help but hope, "May they remain entangled in their own mess forever."
Elizabeth, her lips curved in a teasing smile, quipped, "Are you casting a curse or a blessing?" Steering the conversation in a new direction, she shared, "Louise recently introduced me to Irene Lauder, who expressed interest in having me as a beauty ambassador."
Martin offered a supportive response, "If your sisters' brands don't venture into the beauty realm, it could be worth exploring."
Elizabeth disclosed, "Currently, they have no such plans."
As the Cadillac approached the Kodak Theater, the anticipation of the Oscars was palpable. The red carpet, broader and longer than ever, was predominantly adorned with the color black.
Martin and Elizabeth, heeding Jolie and Aniston's call, graced the red carpet in elegant black attire, proudly sporting the Mi Rabbit fist emblem pinned to their chests.
Even the congregation of Coke Cult members had transformed into a sea of black attire.
Amidst the customary Coca-Cola camaraderie, Martin conducted on-site interviews and guided his path into the Kodak Theater.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of Jack Nicholson engaged in conversation with Meryl Streep, both elegantly attired in black garments.
Martin escorted Elizabeth toward the pair, extending his greetings. When he beheld Meryl herself radiating with joy and contentment, he inquired, "Meryl, have you had some good news?"
Meryl beamed with happiness, her eyes twinkling. "The divorce has been settled, though it won't be officially announced for a while, and it may drag on for several years."
In stark contrast, Nicholson wore a perplexed expression.
Martin needed no guesswork to understand the source of his consternation. If he didn't seize this opportunity, when would he? Turning to Meryl, he suggested, "To celebrate your return to singlehood, how about meeting an exceptional man? Just days ago, he confided in me his desire to remarry and experience the warmth of family."
Meryl agreed enthusiastically, saying, "Yes, I'd love to meet him!"
Nicholson interjected gruffly, "Enough of this!"
Undeterred, Martin persisted, "Jack Nicholson, three-time Oscar winner, renowned as the Face Gang's leader—a man who could persuade both Martin Davis and Leonardo to be his younger brothers."
"Very well!" Meryl quipped playfully, glancing at Nicholson. "Jack, when do you plan to propose?"
Nicholson's face turned beet red, and he turned away, retreating.
With a smile, Meryl waved to Martin and hurriedly followed.
Elizabeth, observing the exchange, teased, "You two enjoy your playful banter too much."
Martin chuckled, defending himself, "I'm simply doing good deeds, aiding Jack in overcoming his solitude in old age."
The two of them proceeded into the hall. With accolades like Best Picture, Best Film, and Best Director for "Benjamin," which had garnered 13 Oscar nominations including Best Actor, they had prime seating in the first two rows.
As Martin ventured toward the guest area, someone nearby greeted him.
Blake Lively, elegantly attired in black, rose from her seat and greeted him with a warm smile. "Hello, Martin."
Elizabeth glanced at her and whispered to Martin, "I'll go ahead; you two can catch up."
Martin nodded, waiting for Elizabeth to move away before taking his seat and engaging in conversation. "It's been a while."
Blake responded softly, "I've been swamped with work, on set, promotional tours—it's been non-stop."
"I watched 'Gossip Girl,'" Martin reminisced. There was no underlying tension between them. He complimented her sincerely, "You were fantastic."
Blake acknowledged, "You gave me confidence back then."
Memories of their shared experiences, from "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" to Burbank Middle School, washed over Martin. He gazed at Blake, standing before him, before falling into a contemplative silence.
Sensing the slight unease in the atmosphere, Blake proactively suggested, "Whenever you're free, we should catch up over coffee. Wait, you prefer tea, don't you?"
Martin didn't immediately respond, but instead inquired, "I recently heard news about Warner and DC preparing to produce the superhero film 'Green Lantern.' Rumor has it you're vying for the lead role?"
Blake confirmed, "The third round of auditions is coming up soon, but the competition is fierce. Diane Kruger and Eva Green are also in the running for the role."
Martin contemplated for a moment, feeling compelled to express his thoughts directly given their history. "Blake, I don't think this role suits you."
Blake, catching on to Martin's unspoken sentiments, inquired, "What do you mean? Is the film's future not promising?"
The film had faced significant rejection, jeopardizing Blake's ascendancy in the film industry. Despite subsequent film appearances, she seemed more like an internet sensation than a bona fide movie star known for her work.
Martin, surveying the surroundings discreetly, whispered, "Personally, the current leadership at Warner comprises of a Japanese consortium, and it doesn't instill me with much confidence."
Blake lowered her head in contemplation. She knew Martin well enough to recognize that he wasn't one to make baseless claims regarding work-related matters.
"I'll keep that in mind," she replied.
Martin, ready to depart, asserted, "I'll be in touch when you have some free time."
Blake pledged, "I won't breathe a word of it to anyone."
Martin nodded appreciatively and proceeded to his front-row seat.
Blake made her way back to her seat.
The agent approached, inquiring, "What did you and Martin discuss?"
Blake replied, "We reminisced about some past experiences. Although he and I didn't interact much, there were no conflicts when we went our separate ways."
"Do you want me to discuss it with Thomas? We could use this connection to generate some publicity," suggested the agent. Both of them were part of WMA, and their agent was acquainted with Thomas. "You have a high profile, and it could help your chances of landing the lead role in 'Green Lantern.'"
Following Martin's advice, Blake asserted, "I've decided to withdraw from the auditions for that film."
The agent was taken aback and inquired urgently, "Why? Blake, do you realize the amount of effort I've put into securing that role for you? You can't simply change your mind!"
Blake stood firm, stating, "My decision is final."
"You're disregarding my hard work and your father's efforts during this time!" The agent's frustration was evident. "Think this through carefully."
Blake shook her head resolutely. "No need. It's done."
Filled with anger, the agent didn't know whom to vent it upon, so they grabbed their bag and left abruptly.
In the front-row seat, Elizabeth saw Martin return after concluding his conversation with Kathleen Kennedy. She asked, "How did it go?"
Martin shared honestly, "I convinced her to give up a role."
Elizabeth refrained from further questions, instead commenting, "With thirteen nominations, you're bound to win many awards, right?"
Kathleen Kennedy and David Fincher, seated nearby, shook their heads and sighed, hinting at the less-than-optimistic prospects.
David Fincher glanced at the Mi Rabbit logo on Martin's lapel and remarked, "Don't fret over Best Director; this Oscars will make history."
Kathleen Kennedy added, "Our chances for Best Picture aren't too promising."
Martin attempted to boost morale. "At least we've had a good commercial run, with strong box office numbers."
Thanks to the 13 Oscar nominations, "Benjamin" saw a resurgence in North American theater attendance following the nominees' luncheon. The film's current North American box office stood at $1.89 billion, with a global box office total of $3.68 billion.
Regardless of how many awards they'd secure at the Oscars, a small post-Oscars boost was anticipated.
After some discussion about the evening's potential big winners, the awards ceremony commenced.
In light of the Harvey Weinstein scandal that had gripped Hollywood and North America the previous year, this year's Oscars carried a significant undercurrent. Helen, from Warner TV, served as the host.
As her opening act came to a close, Meryl Streep graced the stage, singing "ME TOO."
Taking down Harvey Weinstein had become the politically correct stance across the entire Hollywood industry, even prompting the Academy to expel him.
At this moment, Martin departed his seat and headed backstage via a side entrance. As the previous year's Best Supporting Actor winner, he was slated to present the award for Best Supporting Actress, the evening's first accolade.
The spotlight shone upon him as he took the stage, delivering the customary lines, announcing the list of nominees, and eventually opening the envelope to reveal the victor. "The winner is Mo'Nique from 'Precious.'"
Amidst the audience's applause, a full-figured African American woman ascended the stage, clutching her gown. She accepted the statuette from Martin, and following the customary thank-yous, she delivered a poignant speech against racial discrimination.
Her speech, however, was targeted primarily at discrimination against African Americans.