Chapter 226: Chapter 226: No More Bullying This Young Lady
[Chapter 226: No More Bullying This Young Lady]
Seeing that everyone still looked a bit confused, Eric added, "Actually, I've already had quite a few ideas for this story. After the meeting, I'll have someone provide you with reference materials. Also, let me give you a hint: Mulder's ultimate goal is to find clues about his missing sister, and eventually track her down. Through deep hypnotic memories, he realizes her disappearance is related to alien abductions. He will document and categorize the supernatural phenomena he encounters. With his professional instincts, he'll sift through possibly useful information -- it'll be like piecing together a puzzle, ultimately leading to a complete clue pointing toward the Brettian alien colonization conspiracy. You can incorporate him taking notes into each episode."
The idea of the subtitle, "Puzzle," had popped into Eric's mind on the spot. Originally, it was Dana Scully who often recorded the supernatural phenomena in the original version, but Eric hadn't noticed any particular significance to Scully taking notes in the episodes he had watched. With that in mind, Eric figured it was best to put this idea onto the male lead. Plus, the "puzzle" concept could spark fan speculation and curiosity -- this type of suspense had always been a surefire way to draw in viewers for American TV shows.
Once Eric finished speaking, the screenwriters raised no further concerns. After all, they were the cream of the crop sci-fi writers brought in jointly by Fox and Firefly Films. Eric not only provided a general background but also offered his own plot ideas for reference, if these eight gifted writers couldn't craft a script, they wouldn't deserve their reputation.
After another half hour of discussing details, Eric summarized, "So, you all have two months to come up with a script that satisfies me. By the end of the year, Firefly and Fox will co-produce the pilot episode. I hope you all won't disappoint the audience. If there are no other questions, let's wrap this up."
...
Everyone began to leave, while Eric and Allen discussed matters quietly, swiftly organizing the materials before them. When Eric looked up, he noticed Elisabeth still sitting at the end of the long desk, her chin resting on her right hand, staring at him with curiosity.
"I'm heading to the CAA headquarters next. Want to come?" Eric asked tentatively.
"Huh?" Elisabeth came to her senses, glancing at her watch. "It's almost eleven; we're due for lunch soon."
"We'll grab lunch over there. If you're not going, you can head home."
"I'll go!" she replied reflexively, mentally muttering that he couldn't shake her off.
She trailed after Eric as they got into the car. Elisabeth sat beside him in the backseat, continuing to steal glances at him, her eyes betraying her curiosity. Eric, initially focused on reviewing documents, was puzzled by her gaze and couldn't help but ask, "What are you really trying to say?"
"I'm just curious about how you came up with those ideas -- Brett aliens, syndicates, all that?"
Eric closed the binder and placed it on his lap, turning to gaze into her eyes with a hint of mystery in his voice. "Actually, I'm a time traveler from the future, back from after December 21, 2012."
"Hmm?" Elisabeth blinked a few times, not catching on.
Eric leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Everything about the Brett aliens is true. After December 21, 2012, the Black Oil launched an invasion, and ninety-nine percent of humanity was infected. The remaining humans formed a resistance. I was one of them, but our fighting force was too weak to combat the Brettians. Just when they were on the verge of wiping us out, we used their technology to invent a time machine. My comrades sent me to this era, hoping I could sabotage their plans before they initiated colonization. But now, I'm all alone and can only subtly reveal the truth to the public through The X-Files."
"The Brett aliens must have sent a robot named T-800 after you, right?" Elisabeth shot him an unimpressed look and pushed him away. "Don't think I haven't watched The Terminator."
Amid the light laughter of the driver and Allen, Eric shrugged. "See, I tell you the truth and you don't believe me. So, stop asking so many questions."
Elisabeth was not satisfied with Eric's vague attitude. "You're just talking nonsense."
Shaking his head, Eric intended to focus on the documents again, but Elisabeth couldn't hold back and asked, "Hey, what are we going to CAA for?"
"You'll find out when we get there. Don't interrupt; let me finish this." Eric waved his hand, dismissing further questions.
Elisabeth huffed in annoyance but didn't press the issue, turning her head the other way.
...
As they entered a meeting lounge at CAA, a small figure ran up to Eric.
Eric picked up Stuart Ronkel, spun him around, and set him down, ruffling the little guy's hair with a smile. "You've grown quite a bit!"
"You are still the same as ever," Stuart said, looking up at Eric and sizing him up. "Eric, it seems you're done growing."
Eric chuckled and ruffled the little guy's hair again. "Don't act like a little adult. An eight-year-old should behave like an eight-year-old!"
"What's an eight-year-old supposed to be like?" Stuart asked with an exaggerated expression. Spotting Elisabeth next to Eric, the little guy's eyes lit up, and he eagerly approached her with a childlike grin. "Hi, there!"
Elisabeth had thought the little guy looked somewhat familiar and finally registered who he was. Overwhelmed by maternal instincts, she squatted down to pet Stuart's head, her face lighting up with surprise. "You're Kevin, from Home Alone!"
"I'm Stuart Ronkel, but you can call me Stu," he introduced himself, and then he feigned innocence, asking, "Miss, you're really pretty. Can I hug you?"
"Of course!" Elisabeth said without thinking, smiling as she moved in to hug the little boy.
After saying hello to Stuart's parents and his new agent, Brian Kuzman, Eric turned and caught the end of the little guy's innocent request for a hug. He couldn't help but smile ruefully as he extended a hand to lift Stuart back up.
"Stu, no hugging the girls! It's only been six months since I last saw you, and you've turned into a little wolf!"
The boy squirmed a little, escaping Eric's grasp. "Come on, Eric! I'm just a kid! Even if she's your girl, a hug won't cost you anything!"
"All that stuff can wait until you're eighteen. For now, do what you're supposed to do at your age!"
Stuart was about to retort when Mrs. Ronkel stepped in, worried about her son aggravating Eric. She quickly moved to pull Stuart away with a nervous smile.
But having heard their brief exchange, Elisabeth was already caught in thought. Was this really an eight-year-old kid?
...
The lounge was quiet as Eric led Allen, Charlie Ronkel, and Stuart's new agent into a small meeting room next door. This left only Elisabeth and the Ronkel mother-and-son duo in the lounge.
The atmosphere was tranquil. Stuart seemed oblivious to what was happening around him and climbed onto the sofa, pulling out a Rubik's Cube from his backpack and engrossing himself in it.
Feeling a bit bored, Elisabeth moved over to the sofa, sitting down and casually flipping through a magazine taken from the coffee table, while Stuart's mother stood by the door of the small meeting room, listening for a bit before contemplating entering, too timid to push the door open even after multiple attempts, and instead pacing outside it.
While Elisabeth leafed through the magazine, Stuart's childish voice chimed in again. "What's your name?"
Looking up, Elisabeth saw the boy frantically twisting the cube, which was much bigger than his small hands. "Were you asking me? You can call me... Liz."
"I'm not that familiar with you, so I'll stick with calling you Elisabeth," the little guy replied with wide innocent eyes. "Miss Elisabeth, are you Eric's woman?"
"No," she instinctively felt she shouldn't continue this conversation but found herself answering. "I'm just his assistant."
But as soon as she finished, she heard a clearly disdainful "Tch."
"What does that mean, little guy?" Elisabeth couldn't help but put down the magazine and fix her gaze on him.
Stuart replied honestly, "I just think you're a bit hypocritical."
"I... hypocritical?" Elisabeth incredulously pointed at her own nose. "What makes you think I'm hypocritical?"
The boy shrugged. "Eric didn't let you go inside just now, which means you're an unimportant assistant. Your salary can't be high. If you're not Eric's woman, how can you afford such expensive things? Just your Chanel bag costs more than you can afford on your salary!"
"My family is ten times richer than that jerk!" Elisabeth completely forgot Stuart's age and quarreled back like a provoked kitten, raising her voice.
"Oh," the little boy dragged out the vowel, nodding. "I see."
Elisabeth sat back down on the couch, flipping through the magazine vigorously, deciding to ignore the little pest.
But Stuart didn't let her be. "You like Eric, so you gave up being a rich girl to come work as his assistant, right?"
Hearing that, Elisabeth immediately dismissed her earlier decision. "I don't like that jerk!"
Sighing heavily, the little guy declared, "Ah, a woman who says one thing but means another -- so deceitful even little kids can't escape her lies."
"You..."
Just as he was about to tease her further, Mrs. Ronkel finally spoke up, her voice slightly sharp, "Stu, be quiet and don't bully this young lady anymore."
*****
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