Sunset Boulevard, Grapevine Manor Bar.
Martin ascended to the secluded second-floor lounge. The room held just two other occupants, Musk and his latest companion, Amber Heard.
The space was perfectly soundproof, the clamor of the outside world muted once the door clicked shut.
"Hi, my friend!" Musk exclaimed as he rose to greet Martin, arms outstretched in a warm embrace. "You've finally escaped the frigid East Coast for our sunny Los Angeles!"
Martin, noticing the bold streak of red lipstick across Musk's face, couldn't help but comment, "That's quite the statement you're wearing tonight."
Musk chuckled and glanced at Amber. "Credit for that goes to Amber," he said with a grin.
Amber offered a wave from the background. "Hi, Martin, good to see you again."
Martin acknowledged her with a nod, then settled into an armchair, uncorking the wine he'd brought along. "Here, let's see what you think of this vintage," he proposed.
Amber took the bottle gracefully, pouring each of them a glass.
They clinked glasses and took a sip in unison.
Leaning forward, Musk cut to the chase. "I actually have a favor to ask you," he began.
Martin set down his glass, his expression turning serious. "I'm all ears."
Musk sighed, "Amber and Depp's divorce proceedings are looming. It's going to be a drawn-out affair." Despite his shortcomings, Musk seemed genuinely concerned for Amber. "Given your history with Depp, any advice on securing a favorable outcome for Amber?"
The buzz of Depp's alleged misdeeds was omnipresent in the media, with much of the entertainment world siding with Heard. Martin, however, remained skeptical of Amber's narrative.
Still, the opportunity to discomfit Depp was too tempting to pass up. "There's one angle you might not have considered," Martin finally said, "Lily-Rose Depp."
Amber leaned in, her voice low. "Depp has been careless in front of his daughter, drinking, drugs, you name it. And I've captured it all on video."
Musk's tone hardened. "Make sure your lawyer gets every detail. If these accusations hold, it'll shatter any credibility Depp might claim. A man who neglects his own daughter won't be trusted to care for anyone else."
Martin remained silent, simply pouring another glass of wine and savoring its bouquet.
Musk pressed on, "Anything else we should consider?"
Martin shrugged. "This is really a matter for the lawyers now."
Musk nodded at Amber, "You should discuss these things with your attorney."
Amber hesitated, catching Musk's stern gaze, and promptly exited the lounge.
Musk watched her leave and then mused aloud, "She's a complex one, isn't she? A truly wild spirit."
Martin offered a word of caution, "Just be careful. When you play with snakes, you risk being bitten."
Musk's reply was half-joking, "If the snake gets troublesome, I'll just send it on a one-way trip to Mars on a rocket."
He paused, then suddenly asked with a hint of curiosity, "What's your take on Amber Heard's appearance?"
Martin, choosing his words carefully, replied, "Purely from an aesthetic standpoint, she could easily be mistaken for a Hollywood icon."
Musk, probing further, questioned, "And how about us? Are we good friends?"
With a casual nod, Martin affirmed, "Absolutely."
"I was flipping through some entertainment gossip recently," Musk continued, his interest piqued, "and it mentioned something about you hooking for a pair of sisters? Given my resources, I couldn't resist asking: would you bring them along to my next gathering?"
Martin eyed the tech mogul warily. "What exactly are you suggesting, Elon? Remember, I'm proficient with a rifle, blowing a man's head off from 800 meters is as routine for me as a meal."
Understanding Martin's guarded stance, Musk quickly clarified, "Nothing nefarious. I'm thinking of a simple swap game at the party. No freeloaders here; I'll bring Amber Heard and Talulah Riley."
He added, emphasizing, "And Talulah is no ordinary woman. She's not only stunning but also holds a PhD in quantum physics from Caltech."
"Wait a minute!" Martin interjected, confused. "Isn't Talulah Riley your wife?"
Musk corrected him, "Ex-wife. We've divorced."
"Was it a friendly split?" Martin inquired.
Nodding, Musk shared, "I gave her $16 million. We remain friends, and she's contemplating a return to Hollywood. Among all the Hollywood insiders I know, you're the most trustworthy..."
He suggested, "You always had a preference for women like her. Perhaps you should consider Talulah for any future opportunities."
"Stop! Just stop," Martin cut him off, visibly troubled. "Elon, your ideas are too wild for my conservative tastes. Let's not talk about swapping Amber and Talulah. I believe in respecting a woman's autonomy. Let's drop this subject."
Musk shook his head, slightly disappointed. "I didn't expect you to be so conservative."
Martin retorted, "I'd say I'm just a better man."
"Alright, good guy Martin," Musk transitioned, seeking a different favor. "I've read in the media about your deal with the 'Interstellar' crew to star and produce the film. How perfect would it be to feature SpaceX as the main sponsor?"
"Main sponsor?" Martin questioned.
Musk explained eagerly, "I've seen the script and want to turn the space base into a SpaceX facility. Spielberg told me Nolan's mainly in charge of the plot and production. I don't know Nolan well, though; they say he's quite traditional. If he doesn't get a good first impression, it'll be tough to win him over later."
He eyed Martin thoughtfully. "I've heard you're quite close with Nolan. Martin, Tesla is gearing up for our next funding round soon, and I intend to offer you the same stake as before..."
Martin pondered for a moment before replying, "I can certainly put you in touch with Nolan. If he seeks my counsel, I'll back you. However, the groundwork will have to be yours to do."
Musk, eager to propel both SpaceX and Tesla forward, agreed immediately, "Absolutely, no problem."
Before they finished their bottle of wine, Martin excused himself and left, heading back to Beverly Hills.
Meanwhile, Martin's days were punctuated by returns to Davis Manor, where he balanced time between his daughters, Lily and Elizabeth, in Los Angeles.
The following morning, after his routine dance and piano practice, Martin met Jonathan Nolan in Louise's office.
Soon after, David Fincher also arrived.
The quartet spent the afternoon in deep discussion, ultimately aligning on a collaborative project centered around multiple personalities.
Per Martin's suggestion, the project was christened "Split."
Jonathan Nolan would take on the scriptwriting duties. "I'll need about a year to draft it," Jonathan informed Martin. "Besides the two biographies and the 'Crowded Room' script, I plan to interview Billy himself and his psychiatrist. Ideally, a trip to Ohio to meet with the parties involved in the case will allow me to gather more comprehensive details."
Knowing Jonathan's meticulous approach to storytelling, Martin nodded in agreement. "That sounds perfect. Let's aim to finalize the script by next September."
David Fincher mentioned his upcoming commitment, "I'll be tied up filming 'House of Cards' for Netflix next year, so I won't be available to direct."
"I'll have my agent touch base to work out the contract details with you," Jonathan added.
As the meeting concluded, Martin stood and shook hands with both Jonathan and David Fincher. "Let's keep the lines of communication open and update each other promptly should any issues arise."
This is Jonathan Nolan's first project since parting ways with his brother Christopher Nolan. His goal is crystal clear: he wants to show Hollywood that he stands as a top-tier screenwriter on his own merit.
Understanding the nuances of Hollywood, Jonathan knows better than to rush into directing solo. He's adopting a methodical approach, building his directorial debut step by step.
After bidding farewell to David Fincher and Jonathan Nolan, Martin engaged in another discussion with Louise.
"A talent like Jonathan Nolan shouldn't earn less than $3 million," Martin noted.
Louise nodded, adding, "Top Hollywood screenwriters like Aaron Sorkin and Paul Haggis fetch around $5 million per film. Sorkin, known for TV hits like 'The West Wing,' and Haggis, whose 'Crash' won an Oscar for Best Picture, set the bar high."
"True, but their styles wouldn't suit 'Split,'" Martin mused.
A few days later, Martin decided it was time to foster stronger connections. He organized a night out with the Face Gang, inviting both Nolan and Musk to a trendy nightclub, believing that a relaxed setting could enhance their rapport and trust.
"People are more open and collaborative after unwinding a bit," he explained to Nolan as they walked into the vibrant atmosphere of the club.
Nolan, primarily a commercial director, was open to incorporating brand sponsorships into his projects, provided they didn't negatively impact the film's integrity. As technology moved away from large-scale live shoots to more CGI-driven productions, Nolan remained committed to real locations, which often required substantial investment.
During the gathering, Musk revealed he could provide $8 million in sponsorship, preferring it to be allocated to the film's production budget rather than its revenue.
After a night of refreshing conversations and a bit of unwinding, Musk caught up with Martin, walking behind the others. "I really appreciate tonight," Musk said cheerfully. "When you're free, how about we and Talulah have dinner?"
Martin, somewhat exasperated, responded, "Elon, even post-divorce, you don't need to keep promoting your ex-wife."
Musk, half-joking, retorted as they strolled, "You're a safe bet compared to some of the eccentrics in this town, someone to genuinely look out for her."
"I'm not interested, Elon. Remember your promise about Tesla," Martin replied dryly.
Musk, suddenly recalling, smacked his forehead. "Right, I almost forgot your interests are elsewhere. Maybe I should remarry Talulah and then we can all go out?"
Martin couldn't help but recall an old saying at that moment: It's indeed easier for eccentrics to find one another.