Midway through his journey, Martin's phone buzzed insistently, the caller ID flashing Nicholson's name. With a resigned sigh, he accepted the call, bracing himself for what was to come.
"Hey, what gives?" Nicholson's voice boomed through the line, his tone laced with mock outrage. "Why wasn't I invited to this little shindig? Do you think you can leave me out of the loop, kiddo?"
Martin chuckled nervously, knowing all too well the consequences of excluding the fiery actor. "My bad, Jack," he replied sheepishly. "I'm actually on my way to Beverly Hills. Want me to swing by?"
Ten minutes later, Martin and his entourage arrived at Nicholson's lavish abode, where the aging actor joined the fray with characteristic flair. As they made their way to Rodeo Drive, tension simmered beneath the surface, waiting to erupt.
Nicholson eyed Martin with thinly veiled disappointment, his legendary temper threatening to boil over. "Do you have any idea how disappointed I am in you?" he growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.
Martin opened his mouth to explain, but Nicholson cut him off with a wave of his hand. "It's been over a week, Martin," he interjected sharply. "Why the silence? Why wasn't I brought into the fold sooner?"
Martin's apology hung in the air, his guilt palpable. "I messed up, Jack," he admitted ruefully.
Unfazed by his lack of involvement in the Depp debacle, Nicholson delved straight into the heart of the matter. "So, what's the status?" he demanded, his tone brimming with curiosity.
Martin hesitated, weighing his words carefully before responding. "There are risks involved," he began cautiously. "I didn't want to drag you into this mess."
Nicholson scoffed incredulously, his laughter ringing out like a thunderclap. "Risks?" he scoffed. "Since when has Jack Nicholson been afraid of risks? Let me tell you something, Martin. Depp's on thin ice. Once his star power fades, everyone who's ever crossed paths with him will be cheering for his downfall."
Martin nodded solemnly, acutely aware of the truth in Nicholson's words.
Meanwhile, Bruce expertly navigated the bustling streets of Rodeo Drive, his eyes scanning for their target location. As they approached the boutique, Nicholson adjusted his sunglasses, his gaze sweeping the area with keen interest.
"Where are they?" he muttered, his impatience palpable.
Louise, ever the voice of reason, pointed towards a gathering of women across the street. "They're already here," she informed them.
Sure enough, a crowd had gathered outside the boutique, brandishing posters and banners adorned with slogans denouncing Depp's alleged misconduct. Their anger simmered beneath the surface, waiting to erupt at a moment's notice.
Inside the boutique, Depp and Amber reveled in the attention, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing outside. As they made their way towards the exit, a follower approached with a warning.
"There are protesters outside," they informed Depp.
Depp waved them off dismissively. "Don't worry about it," he replied coolly, leading Amber towards the awaiting car.
However, their departure did not go unnoticed. A horde of women descended upon them, their voices raised in condemnation as they brandished a provocative poster depicting the couple in compromising positions.
Reporters swarmed, eager to capture the moment, their questions piercing the tense atmosphere. Depp, unruffled by the onslaught, maintained his composure as he navigated the sea of hostility, his façade of indifference beginning to crack under the pressure.
With a sly grin, the photojournalist unleashed his question like a verbal grenade, aiming directly at Depp and Amber's personal lives. "Hey Depp, ever consider if marriage turned your bathroom into a romance novel? You know, with one of you spreading love while the other spreads something else?" The surrounding women erupted into laughter at the provocative remark, relishing the chaos they had ignited.
Depp's outward demeanor remained stoic, but beneath the surface, a storm brewed. Amber was his sanctuary, his goddess, and he refused to let these slanderous comments go unanswered. With a surge of anger, he moved to retaliate, only to be restrained by his vigilant bodyguard, who held him back with an iron grip.
Meanwhile, another opportunistic photographer egged on the women with the incendiary poster, ensuring the scandalous spectacle continued for the world to witness. As chaos reigned, patrol officers arrived to restore order, but the damage had been done.
Depp seized Amber's arm and whisked her away from the commotion, his grip unintentionally forceful. Amber winced as pain shot through her arm, but Depp, consumed by fury, paid her injury no mind.
Back at Depp's mansion, Amber tended to her bruises in solitude, photographing the evidence as a precaution. Labeling the images with the chilling descriptor "domestic violence," she stored them securely, a silent testament to her pain.
Meanwhile, the commercial vehicle returned to Davis Manor, where Louise chose to depart, her own car trailing behind. Martin, sensing her departure, offered her new Samsung phones as a parting gesture, puzzled by her sudden exit.
Louise, however, remained resolute, revealing a pact with Elizabeth that dictated her comings and goings from the manor. Martin, taken aback by this clandestine arrangement, acknowledged Elizabeth's cunning with a nod of understanding.
As Martin and Nicholson reconvened in the study, they delved into the Depp debacle, dissecting its implications with keen interest. Nicholson, ever the shrewd strategist, plotted their next move, preparing contingencies should Depp's star power falter.
With the news of Depp's escapade streaming in, Nicholson reveled in the scandalous drama, devouring every detail with relish. As they perused the comments section, speculation ran rampant, fueling the frenzy surrounding Depp and Amber's tumultuous relationship.
"Whoever becomes their neighbor is in for a treat. The stench will haunt them for life!"
"If those two start bickering, will their crap and pee start flying?"
Nicholson, seated comfortably like a spectator at a Lakers game, found the unfolding drama utterly captivating. He interjected occasionally, adding his own colorful commentary to the mix.
Martin understood Nicholson's fascination all too well. At his age, the allure of youthful romps and conquests had waned, leaving room for more mischievous pursuits. "Jack, mark my words, when I'm your age, I'll raise hell just like you," Martin declared, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Life's no fun without a little mischief."
Nicholson chuckled in response. "Don't give me that, Martin. You're already a troublemaker extraordinaire. Leo and I combined can't hold a candle to you when it comes to stirring the pot." With a grin, Nicholson rose from his seat, preparing to depart. "I'm off to stock up on fireworks. When Depp and Amber tie the knot, we'll give 'em a celebration they won't forget."
As Nicholson bid farewell, he helped himself to some fireworks from Martin's stash, leaving Martin to wonder if his old neighbor Warren Beatty was in for another round of mischief.
Meanwhile, Depp's latest scandal once again dominated entertainment headlines, further tarnishing his public image. While the negative press boosted his notoriety to some extent, it also eroded his favorability among the broader audience.
Hollywood, however, remained steadfast in its belief in Depp's star power, buoyed by the success of blockbuster franchises like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Alice in Wonderland."
At Disney Studios, Martin crossed paths with his old friend Alan Horn, who brought news of the latest industry developments.
"Gods and Kings" and "Green Lantern" had both wrapped up their global screenings, with dismal box office returns. Alan Horn, visibly pleased with the news, shared the lackluster numbers. "The North American box office for 'Gods and Kings' was a mere $46.38 million, with a global total of $112 million. 'Green Lantern' fared no better, raking in just $72.55 million domestically and $122 million worldwide."
Martin, always attuned to the bottom line, inquired about DVD sales. Alan Horn's response was grim. "Abysmal," he chuckled. "Only 100,000 copies of 'Gods and Kings' and 410,000 of 'Green Lantern' have sold in North America. It's a drop in the bucket compared to production costs."
With a wry smile, Martin quipped, "Should we break out the champagne?"
Alan Horn chuckled. "Perhaps not for these flops. But Disney's gearing up to celebrate the success of 'John Wick 2'."