Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Lord of War
Wes Craven's ability to handle Jason and freedy, despite being over sixty years old, ignited a fire in Martin. He wasted no time, hitting the fitness center less than an hour after returning from the wild party. The passage of decades was still far from his thoughts; he was determined to enhance his physical condition and stamina.
Should Kate accept Louise's invitation, it wouldn't be a one-on-one battle but a three-way match. Three women in their thirties, the mere thought of it would make their waistlines creak and groan.
Under the watchful eye of Susie, a female coach, Martin engaged in plank exercises, working on the alignment of his body. She offered guidance, "Keep your shoulders and elbow joints perpendicular to the ground. Keep your torso straight!"
Martin remained still, as if he were protecting a delicate treasure beneath him. Susie, stopwatch in hand, encouraged him in a unique way, "Just think about facing your girlfriend; you can hold this position for five more minutes! Keep it up! Alright, time's up, release it and take a breather."
After a quick wipe-down with a towel provided by Susie, Martin moved aside. Susie finally had a moment to inquire, "Where's Bruce? Why haven't I seen him?"
Martin replied, "He'll be here any minute."
Just as he spoke, Bruce entered through the door. Susie promptly shifted her attention from Martin to Bruce, greeting him, "You're running late today."
Bruce explained, "Had a little delay due to something."
He winked at Martin, who then suggested, "Let's take a break, Susie. I'll give you a call if I need anything."
Susie, with a quick look at her well-developed gluteus maximus muscles, turned to observe Bruce and commented to herself, "Isn't a well-defined rear end quite enticing?"
Two determined men, unwavering in their focus, took a break in the fitness center's relaxation area, finding a quiet spot to sit.
Bruce opened his bag and handed a pile of paperwork to Martin. "All the receipts are in there, including expenses for the San Francisco Valley, villa rental, and costumes and props. In total, you've spent over $60,000 on the party."
Martin flipped through the documents once more before stating, "Money truly loses its value when spent."
Bruce added, "I hope it'll be worth it." He then admitted, "I handled the final details."
After a brief respite, the two returned to their fitness routines.
It wasn't just Martin who had been inspired by Wes Craven's spirited fight the previous night; Bruce was equally motivated. It was truly remarkable for someone in their sixties to possess such combat readiness and productivity.
What men dreaded most was not having aging hearts but aging bodies. When they encountered a woman they were attracted to, all they could do was gaze longingly from afar, and that often led to frustration.
Monday morning arrived, and Martin was sound asleep when a knock on the door roused him. He initially thought it was someone seeking Jessica from the opposite apartment, but upon stepping out of his bedroom, he recognized the voice of his landlord, Antonio.
Opening the door, Martin saw Antonio standing by Bruce's door with a shotgun slung over his shoulder. Antonio hurriedly said, "It's me, Martin, one of us, don't shoot!"
Antonio patted his old shotgun and continued, "Don't worry, this is a friendly gun; I won't harm my own."
Bruce opened his door, gun in hand.
Antonio quickly reassured them, "No need to shoot; I'm one of us! My gun's acting up again, you said you'd fix it last time."
Bruce shook his head, "Come in."
Martin followed them into Bruce's apartment.
Bruce carefully inspected the shotgun and retrieved his toolbox.
Martin cautioned the landlord, "Carrying a gun around like that, you should be careful about accidents."
Antonio chuckled, "The friendly gun doesn't cause accidents. Anyone shot by the friendly gun can't be a good person."
Martin gave a thumbs-up, "It's truly a friendly gun."
Bruce found the necessary tool and joined them. One of the gun's parts was broken, and he intended to go out and purchase a replacement.
Today, Martin had a work commitment. He visited Warner Studio alone to perform some dubbing for a scene in "House of Wax." Around noon, his agent, Thomas, called with urgent news.
He immediately rushed to the agency, where Thomas greeted him with great excitement. "This morning, a friend from the Science Fiction and Horror Film Academy contacted me. Wes Craven personally spoke to the jury and ensured your nomination for Best Young Actor. The official nomination list will be revealed at the end of April."
Curious, Martin inquired, "Where's the award ceremony?"
Thomas answered, "It's scheduled for mid-May, and our chances of winning are looking incredibly high!" He then retrieved a fax from his drawer. "The Academy of Science Fiction and Horror Film sent this invitation for you to be a guest performer. I used Craven's influence to secure it."
In response, Martin extended his fist with enthusiasm. "Thomas Lane, you've got to admit we make a great team!"
Thomas clinked fists with Martin and declared, "We're an unbeatable team, and our future is looking very bright!" He also confirmed that the award ceremony would be televised.
Martin inquired about the performance, and Thomas suggested, "Let's showcase your signature move—the zombie machine gun dance. It's a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure and popularity, so we'll need to plan it carefully to grab maximum attention."
Martin agreed, saying, "Then let's go with the zombie machine gun dance."
Thomas recalled the viral video and nodded, "That should work well."
However, Martin knew his limitations in other dance styles, so he added, "I'll need a dance teacher who specializes in zombie dancing and can seamlessly blend the machine gun dance with it. If you can't find the right candidate, I have someone in mind from Atlanta."
Thomas suggested, "Why not contact the original choreographer and dance instructor?"
Martin considered this and said, "I'll need to confirm with the Saturn Award first." He also mentioned the possibility of bringing his backup dancer troupe from "Zombie Stripper" to enhance the performance.
Thomas assured him, "I'll discuss that with them."
Before parting, Martin asked about potential new projects. Thomas presented the information on a multi-party movie project centered around an arms dealer. It already had Nicolas Cage as the lead actor, with WMA Andrew Niccol as the director.
Cage inquired about the director, and Thomas explained, "He's the screenwriter of 'The Truman Show,' and he received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay."
Martin acknowledged, "That rings a bell."
Thomas shared more details about the film's investment and the role Martin was auditioning for—a supporting role as the younger brother of the lead character. It was the film "Lord of War," which had once been quite famous.
Martin asked about the competition during auditions. Thomas replied, "I'm not sure about other agencies, but this morning, our company recommended you, Mike Vogel, and Joe Anderson to the director and crew. Andrew Niccol, the director, screenwriter, and executive producer, will have the final say during auditions."
Martin inquired about the director's preferences or style, and Thomas informed him, "He likes actors with blonde or brown hair and good physiques. His girlfriend is the Canadian model and actress Rachel Roberts. He's known for his unique vision, strong control, and willingness to explore new and bold ideas."
Martin chuckled, interpreting it differently. "So, he prefers sexy actors with blonde or brown hair and enjoys having the upper hand on set, trying out various tricks."
Thomas paused for a moment but couldn't deny it, admitting, "One reason I called you here today is that Andrew wants to meet each candidate before the official audition. This meeting with the three of you is just as crucial, if not more so, than the actual audition in two weeks."
Martin looked at himself in Thomas's mirror and asked, "How do I look right now?"
"Very good," Thomas replied. "Good looks and a great physique, exactly what you need."
Checking the time, Thomas assured him, "Relax; Andrew won't arrive until after four o'clock."
Martin waited patiently until 4:15 when an assistant called Thomas to escort the actors upstairs to meet Andrew Niccol in a small conference room.
Outside the conference room, Martin encountered other actors who were also auditioning. Mike Vogel and his agent, Pinto, had already arrived. Joe Anderson, with his long hair, arrived alone. Eric Lively, whom Martin had met previously, appeared with his sister, Blake Lively, and their respective agents.
The corridor formed four distinct groups, each with its own tension and lack of communication.
The conference room door opened, and Andrew's assistant emerged to call in the first actor, Eric. Half a minute later, Eric exited the room, clearly dissatisfied. He began complaining about the director's decision, but Blake quickly silenced him and ushered him away.
Mike Vogel was the second to go in and returned within minutes, shaking his head in disappointment.
Pinto inquired quietly, "Why?"
Mike Vogel responded, "I just couldn't accept it, plain and simple."
The assistant called Martin's name next, and as he passed by Mike Vogel, Mike turned to him, smiled, and wished him good luck. This unexpected gesture left Martin momentarily confused. While he didn't believe Vogel's good wishes were sincere, it was a peculiar situation outside the audition room. Under different circumstances, the three actors might have resorted to more aggressive tactics, with Eric as a wildcard.
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