The extravagant birthday party of Tom Cruise was in full swing, with the who's who of Hollywood mingling and chattering away. Lucas and Neil were no exception, effortlessly blending in with the glamorous crowd. Lucas found himself engaged in a riveting conversation with none other than Ryan Reynolds, and later, even Johnny Depp joined them. Tom Cruise, the birthday boy himself, was spotted in a corner, surrounded by men who, while lesser-known in the glitz and glamour of the industry, exuded an air of power that could only come from their positions in the government.
As the night progressed, Lucas politely declined an offer of drugs from a group of people, including some certain faces in the industry. "Sorry, I'm not into drugs..." he said, his voice firm but polite.
The woman who had offered him the substance looked genuinely surprised.
"Really? You don't do drugs?" she asked, as if she had just seen a unicorn. The others around her shared her incredulous expression, as if they couldn't fathom a rising star in Hollywood who didn't partake in such activities.
"No, I'm afraid not," Lucas shook his head, maintaining eye contact to convey his resolve.
"Come on, live a little. We won't tell, we promise," one of them insisted, nudging him playfully.
"Yeah, it'll be our little secret," another added, as if to reassure him.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass," Lucas said, his tone friendly yet unwavering.
Neil, who had been observing the exchange, stepped in, his voice firm but polite. "My client here is telling the truth. He doesn't do drugs."
The group of celebrities and powerful men looked taken aback, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
"For real, G?" one of them asked, raising an eceptical eyebrow.
"Yeah, man, what do you do when you're feeling down or stressed out? You don't turn to the good stuff?" another one pressed.
"Well, I prefer to talk to a professional psychiatrist instead," Lucas said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"You mean, like, a shrink?" The group erupted in laughter, finding the idea of a rising star in Hollywood seeking help from a psychiatrist hilarious.
"Come on, just once won't hurt," they cajoled, still trying to convince him.
"Hey now, if the man said no, then no means no," a deep voice boomed from behind them. Everyone turned to see Sean, aka Puff Daddy, sauntering over with a glass of champagne in hand.
"Yo, Piddy," one of the men greeted him. "You want some of this?" he asked, offering Sean the same substance they'd been trying to push on Lucas.
Sean waved it off with a chuckle. "Nah, man, not everything gotta be about that. Besides, I'm good."
The group backed off after that, sensing the change in dynamics. Sean turned to Lucas, giving him a nod of approval.
Lucas wasn't exactly thrilled to see Sean Diddy Combs, but he didn't let it show. Sean sauntered over and extended his hand for a handshake. Lucas hesitated for a moment before shaking it, trying to hide his discomfort.
"I finally got to meet the superstar, Lucas," Sean said with a grin.
"Superstar? I'm not on that level yet," Lucas replied with a forced laugh, trying to brush off the compliment.
Sean studied Lucas's face for a moment too long, making him feel uncomfortable.
"Hmm... Not a superstar? Maybe. But for me, you are."
Lucas secretly nudged Neil, who quickly interjected, "Hello, Mr. Combs. I'm a big fan of your rap songs."
"Oh, really? That's great to hear," Sean said, shaking Neil's hand enthusiastically. "I'm Sean, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Sean. I'm Neil Lamb, Lucas's manager," Neil introduced himself.
The two of them struck up a conversation, leaving Lucas to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, their respite was short-lived as Sean turned back to Lucas with an invitation.
"You know, I'm having a white party at my place in September. It's only a few months away. You guys should come," Sean said, his eyes lingering on Lucas.
Lucas panicked for a moment before blurting out, "I'm sorry, Mr. Combs. I won't be able to make it. I have prior engagements that month."
Sean's expression fell slightly, but he quickly recovered. "That's a shame. Well, I hope our paths cross again." With that, he melted back into the crowd.
After Sean Diddy Combs left, Lucas leaned in and whispered to Neil, "That guy is weird, right?"
"No kidding," Neil agreed, a shiver running down his spine. "Well, what do you think? This party is different from the Golden Globes or Oscars, huh?"
Lucas nodded, remembering the uncomfortable encounter with the drugs and weed offers. "Yeah, it's... unique here."
As they observed the partygoers, the comedian Eddie Deezen took the stage, scratching the back of his head as he started his act. "Wow, it's like I've seen these faces before... but where? TV? No, movies! That's it!" The crowd erupted in laughter, enjoying his self-deprecating humor.
"Well, at least the entertainment's good," Neil said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, that's one thing they got right," Lucas agreed, forcing a smile.
After a while, Lucas managed to strike up a conversation with Tom Cruise, who turned out to be more approachable and down-to-earth than he'd expected. To his relief, Tom didn't bring up any mention of his religion, instead, he was genuinely interested in getting to know Lucas better as a person.
"I've seen your work, man. You've got talent," Tom said, clapping him on the back. "We should collaborate sometime."
"Thanks, I'd love that," Lucas said, still feeling a bit guarded.
As the party went on, Lucas and Neil also mingle with other industry bigwigs. They exchanged pleasantries and business cards, planting seeds for future collaborations.
However, as the night wore on, the atmosphere at the party began to change.
The remaining guests, mostly lesser-known actors and actresses or those desperate for a break, started to engage in more risqué activities. Even famous faces like Brad Pitt and others had already left much earlier, mindful of their image. Lucas and Neil, sensing it was time to leave, made their excuses and left the party as discreetly as possible.
"Whew, that was... an experience," Lucas said once they were outside, breathing in the fresh air.
"You can say that again," Neil agreed, shaking his head in disbelief. "But hey, at least we met some important people, right?"
"Yeah, there's that," Lucas said, he added. "Let's just hope this doesn't bite us in the ass later."
Lucas and Neil climbed into the waiting car with Jack and Shawn, who were eagerly waiting to hear about the party. As Shawn started the engine, he couldn't help but ask, "So, Lucas, how was it? Feels surreal to be at Tom Cruise's party, huh?"
Lucas buckled his seatbelt, a faraway look in his eyes. "It was... an experience," he said cautiously. "I mean, I got to meet some important people, but I don't think I'd want to attend another one like that anytime soon."
"Why's that?" Shawn asked, genuinely curious.
"It's just... not my scene, I guess," Lucas said diplomatically.
Jack, who had been quiet in the front passenger seat, turned around to face them. "Trust me, these kinds of parties thrown by celebrities or industry bigwigs can get pretty wild. I've been to my fair share as a bodyguard."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Really? Care to share?"
Jack chuckled, "Well, let's just say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but yeah, I've seen my fair share of debauchery."
"I see," Lucas said, processing the information.
As they pulled up to their hotel, Shawn parked the car and turned around in his seat. "I see now why you don't want to go back to those kinds of parties, Lucas."
Lucas nodded, thinking about the evening's events. "I've made enough connections tonight. I don't need to put myself through that again anytime soon." He glanced at Neil. "Speaking of which, can you get in touch with Todd Phillips and Scott Silver?"
Neil raised an eyebrow. "Um, sure, but why? You want to collaborate with them?"
"Yes, I have an idea for a script," Lucas said, a spark in his eyes. "I want to write a movie dedicated to a villain."
Neil's eyes widened a bit. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious," Lucas said, a grin on his face. "I think it's time we flipped the script, pun intended, and gave the bad guy a chance to shine. Didn't you see how interested Barry was in our conversation? I think he'll like it."
Neil chuckled, "Lucas, he was just being polite."
"I don't care, I still want to write it," Lucas insisted. "And who better to help me than Todd Phillips and Scott Silver?"
Neil sighed, but there was a smile on his face. "Alright, alright, I'll reach out to their people first thing tomorrow. But for now, let's get some rest."
The next morning, bright and early, Neil was on the phone with their respective agents, trying to set up a meeting with Todd and Scott.
After a few hours of trying, Neil finally got back to Lucas with some news. "I'm sorry, man. Todd and Scott are swamped with other projects. They wish you luck, but they can't commit to anything right now."
Lucas sighed, but he didn't let it deter him. "It's alright, we'll try again next time."
Todd and Scott were the acclaimed scriptwriters of "Joker 2019," and their style was evident in every project they touched. They had the ability to weave dark, gritty narratives, much like the world of the Joker.
Lucas knew that if he could just finish the script, he would have a shot at pitching it to Barry Meyer, the Warner Bros. CEO. If Barry showed any interest, they could discuss the possibility of adapting the "Joker" storyline. And if that went well, Lucas will have a chance to collaborate with the director of the Joker 2019 film.