[Chapter 718: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]
William White certainly didn't pull any punches with Nicole. That Scientology organization wasn't reliable at all. In fact, outside the United States, it wasn't recognized at all. Being wrapped up in lawsuits was just the tip of the iceberg; many countries outright banned them from entry.
In William White's view, Tom Cruise was completely out of his mind. Not only did he indulge in these things himself, but he also wanted his friends to join in. Some suggested he could just cast someone else in Mission: Impossible. Hollywood had plenty of fresh faces, after all.
Sometimes, a movie role could make a star, and other times it was the opposite. Tom Cruise perfectly fit the character of Ethan Hunt. For William White, it was all just business. No matter how evil Scientology was, it didn't concern him. Besides, he still had to deal with one angel and didn't want more trouble on his hands.
"Nicole, what he said is true. If you can, stay away from that guy," Nastassja said, wiping her damp hair as she stepped out from the yacht's cabin. The noise outside had been too much; she didn't want to mess around on the deck with that guy.
"Really, Nastassja? There are a lot of people in Hollywood who believe in that nonsense. Their so-called mind therapy sounds impressive," Nicole replied.
William White struggled to find words. That Australian naivete was just too much. Impressive? Not at all; her therapist father was probably the real expert there.
"Did you know, Nicole, Roman Polanski is actually a lunatic? He has been living in the past. Do you know why he chose me for his film? Don't you think my nose looks a lot like his ex-wife's?"
"Is that why? So you don't want to be in anyone's shadow? The old guy did have talent -- really, if it wasn't for that incident," William White thought, anyone could go mad with something like that. An unexpected disaster -- now that was terrifying.
"Humph, you may not be a good person, but at least you are somewhat normal," Nastassja commented.
William White smiled bitterly; that dark chapter in Hollywood truly was chilling. In a way, Nastassja considered herself a victim.
He knew that Nicole had an interest in the role of Ruth. In fact, she liked Underworld too. Nowadays in Hollywood, there weren't many films led by women, and White Films' next two projects would have strong female leads.
William White could see that this naive girl still loved the limelight. If that was the case, why not do a musical? Nastassja's acting was subpar, and Nicole's was even worse. But the moment they appeared on the big screen, the audience's focus just couldn't be shifted.
Taking two beautiful women out fishing, William White didn't want to spoil the enchanting atmosphere. Since they planned to make a film, he might as well fulfill their wish. As long as they had ambitions, they could still keep enjoying the game, right?
Nicole likely had no idea that her later acting skills came from her time with Tom. That marriage was unlikely to happen again; her acting career was nearly winding down.
Pretty women indeed had it tough in Hollywood, especially those with such striking figures. Come on, if you played Ruth, would you expect Leonardo DiCaprio to stand on a stool? How would they even film that scene at the bow -- a prop wouldn't cut it.
William White chuckled at the horrifying thought. 'Humph! I don't know what that truck driver was thinking. With so many young actors in Hollywood, he picked the shortest one.'
"Hahaha, Nicole, do you really think Tom is tall? Come on; you're over six feet tall, yet you complain about others being too short. Isn't that a little unfair? Let me tell you, the male leads in artistic films are often chosen for their refined looks first and then their physique. If you two weren't remotely decent-looking, there's no way the directors would have picked you."
"Then why don't you just direct the movie yourself? You and I would make a pretty good pair," Nastassja mused, her little hand starting to wander.
That silly Australian girl was clearly frustrated. Well, when it came to love, she still had fantasies, and she certainly didn't like situations like this one.
Ahem, it seemed no woman liked that kind of situation. Love was exclusive. If you didn't want to make things messy, it was best to stay devoted -- at least somewhat.
No wonder people called William White a jerk; he is in a bad mood and came out to relax. Of course, he doesn't care too much about other people's feelings. If you must be depressed, let's be depressed together.
...
After a chaotic battle ended, the three sharply dressed people sat down for dinner. The sea at sunset was beautiful, with crimson mist at the horizon looking particularly enchanting. Regardless of how much one cared about their figure, after wear and tear, replenishment was needed.
Or dining with someone like William White, who had a great appetite, made diet plans seem trivial.
"Nicole, this is a musical. It would suit you perfectly. Whether we can start filming this year depends on your performance," he said.
Nicole appeared considerably brightened; her earlier disappointment had evaporated. Nastassja rolled her eyes nearby, thinking that this guy was just full of himself. No way -- she needed to get her own share of the spotlight.
Now Nastassja could talk openly about Roman Polanski, as she had finally moved on. Nowadays in Hollywood, no one referred to her as Roman's ex-girlfriend.
Nicole might have been sweet and oblivious, but she was no match for Nastassja. She was well aware of how dark Hollywood could be. As for William White, he wasn't as absurd as he seemed.
As for Roman, that old guy didn't even dare come back to the U.S. After all these years, no one needed to say how outrageous his actions were.
The protection of minors was a near-obsession in the States. Nastassja noticed that William White paid a lot of attention to that.
While she believed it unnecessary, she wouldn't speak against it. She was fully aware of what Roman had done; that disgusting bastard was a total scumbag.
Nastassja, of course, had no idea that her little secrets meant nothing to William White.
There were plenty of people hoping to set traps for him. If he slipped up even once, it would get quite disgusting indeed.
Wherever there were interests involved, someone was always willing to play dirty. MJ's luxurious mansion wasn't too far from his home. That was one of the most notorious legal injustices in U.S. history.
What had MJ ever done to deserve that? All he had were his music rights and the sensitive nature of white folks. That was all there was to it.
Who said there was no discrimination against black folks in America? They just didn't discriminate towards those at the very bottom. It wasn't a matter of not wanting to; they simply felt it was beneath them.
The events in Los Angeles left a deep impact on the American public. If possible, it was always best not to stoop to their level.
But if a black guy made it to the top, let's see how many of them could still sit comfortably.
"Hey, should I go help MJ?"
Alright, William White thought if he didn't try to trip him up, he was doing a decent job. That kid was practically just that -- a kid. Beyond music, he really didn't know how to manage his own life.
*****
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