Chapitre 25: Chapter 25: Something Unexpected
As the sun climbed higher, bringing with it the scorching heat of the day, Robert arrived on set carrying a crate filled with glass bottles of Coke.
Having completed his background artist duties the day before, he had sought Martin's help to secure a temporary job as a stagehand on the crew, providing him with an additional source of income.
Robert held the open crate, glancing over at the filming location not far away where Martin was busy loading hay into the stable.
Martin's role in the production was exceedingly simple and well within his capability, yet Robert couldn't fathom how he had landed it. During their previous film shoot, Robert had noticed that Martin was even behind on his union dues.
Jerome had highly recommended anyone except him for such opportunities. Where was the fairness in that?
No one had offered Robert the kind of roles he yearned for.
Seeking relief from the sun, Robert retreated to the shaded area beneath the trees and sun umbrellas. According to the crew's instructions, Coca-Cola bottles were to be neatly arranged on the table for anyone to grab at their convenience.
He set down the crate and retrieved a pack of tissues.
When unloading the beverages, the inexperienced driver had accidentally broken a bottle of olive oil, causing it to spill onto some of the Coke bottles.
Robert's dreams revolved around becoming an actor, not playing the role of a handyman on set. Consequently, he didn't take the task of wiping the bottles too seriously and went about it haphazardly with a tissue.
After setting up the Coke, he grabbed the empty crate and headed off to assist the driver in delivering lunch supplies.
Almost simultaneously, the male leads, Adam Smith and Kyle, emerged from their dressing rooms and strolled toward the temporary resting area.
Kyle, who was gearing up for a barefoot action scene, had opted for the convenience of slippers.
With his striking blond hair, Adam Smith inquired as they walked, "Where did this Martin Davis fellow come from? I don't recall ever seeing him before."
Kyle struck up a conversation with his fellow actors, adopting a more civilized tone than usual. "You know that guy from the Marietta Theater Company? They say he has some connection with Andrew."
Adam Smith turned his gaze in that direction, pondering for a moment. "The name sounds oddly familiar. I think I've heard it before."
Kyle, trying to play up the drama, exclaimed, "He's a thug, a gangster! He even brought a gun onto the set and threatened me with it! Adam, we're cousins; you've got to help me out!"
Adam Smith offered a word of caution, "Don't stir up trouble. The only reason they hired you was because you could ride a horse."
Kyle was disgruntled, arguing, "You're the lead actor carrying this show, and the ratings on the cable channel are secure thanks to you. What do you have to be afraid of? Are you scared of that idiot?"
Adam Smith simply pretended not to hear. If there was any conflict, it was Kyle's battle, not his. After all, a small supporting role like Martin posed no threat to him.
Martin, with his simple demeanor and impressive physique, wouldn't even be able to start a fight.
While this discussion unfolded, Adam Smith noticed a car approaching a black BMW 7 series. He mumbled to himself, "Is the boss here?"
The BMW came to a stop some distance away, and Kelly Gray, dressed in white professional attire, headed towards it.
Kyle was the first to reach the temporary rest area. Spotting the crate of Coca-Cola bottles, he retrieved a straw from the box and reached for a bottle of Coke.
As he touched the glass bottle, a greasy residue made Kyle recoil instinctively. The bottle slipped from his grasp and tumbled off the table.
Reacting quickly, the former football pro stretched out his foot to catch the falling glass bottle. The heavy bottle struck his slippered foot, eliciting a cry of pain from Kyle.
He sat down on the ground, clutching his injured foot and groaning.
Adam Smith rushed over from behind and inquired, "What happened?"
Kyle, his face contorted in pain, gasped out, "Call a doctor for my foot, quick! It hurts so much!"
Adam Smith promptly contacted the stage manager to summon a doctor.
The commotion caught the attention of the film crew and boss Kelly Gray, who were busy with their shoot.
After an examination, the crew's doctor suspected a small bone in Kyle's foot might be cracked or fractured, advising immediate hospitalization.
Director Benjamin Galvin was livid, nearly pointing an accusing finger at Kyle while berating him.
Kelly Gray, too, was displeased. Aside from the medical expenses caused by the actor's injury, they faced the problem of how to handle his scenes.
Once Kyle had been taken away for medical attention, Benjamin seethed, "I meticulously planned a horseback scene and even found an actor who could ride well and looked good. And what happens? This idiot goes and breaks his own foot! What are we supposed to do now?"
Martin had been lingering on the outskirts of the crowd, quietly observing the situation.
Kelly Gray intervened, saying, "Let's not resort to harsh words. Let's focus on finding a solution first."
Benjamin managed to temper his anger and considered their options. "We'll have to scrap the scene that idiot was supposed to shoot. It's a shame; I put a lot of effort into designing the circus."
Kelly Gray inquired, "Can't we assign the scene to another actor?"
Benjamin explained, "It requires several panoramic shots of horseback riding, and there aren't any actors in the crew who can gallop on a horse."
Not to mention, the horses had been rented, and the cost was higher than the combined salaries of the male and female supporting actors.
This unfortunate situation also left Adam Smith at a loss. He had recommended Kyle, and the main reason he'd been chosen was his ability to ride a horse.
... Martin quietly slipped away from the rest area and found Jerome. "Captain, did you witness what happened on set?"
Jerome confirmed, "Yes, I was there."
Martin got straight to the point, saying, "Captain, I can actually ride a horse."
"You?" Jerome was incredulous. "Why didn't you mention this before?"
Martin offered a fabricated explanation, "Back when my family lived in Texas for a while, I learned it on a ranch there."
Jerome, who had heard of Jack David Si, nodded approvingly. "And you didn't think to tell Andrew?"
Martin replied earnestly, "You're my captain, the one I respect the most. I wouldn't make such a significant decision without your input."
He knew that approaching the crew as a background artist and requesting additional scenes could potentially land him in trouble, so he wanted to make sure he had Jerome's support.
Martin emphasized his gratitude, saying, "Captain!"
Jerome waved it off, then stepped forward without hesitation. He located Andrew, pulled him aside to a quiet spot, and whispered, making it clear that this was not just about Martin but also about their troupe.
With Martin securing a substantial role through the crew, the number of extras expressing interest in joining the troupe had skyrocketed.
After their discussion, Andrew spotted Director Benjamin Galvin talking with boss Kelly Gray. He seized the opportunity to make himself noticed.
While the two bosses wrapped up their conversation, Andrew spoke up, "Director, some of our main actors can ride horses."
Benjamin inquired, "Who?"
Andrew, careful not to glance at his boss Kelly Gray, responded, "Martin Davis."
Upon hearing Martin's name, Kelly Gray immediately recollected the interesting young man and inquired, "Who's from the Marietta Troupe?"
Andrew confirmed, "It's him."
Benjamin then directed his question to Kelly, "Do you know Martin?"
Kelly acknowledged, "A very intriguing acquaintance."
With Martin in mind, Benjamin couldn't help but chuckle, "He's indeed a fascinating actor." He turned to Andrew and instructed, "Get Martin over here and have the horse trainer take the horses to the racetrack."
In less than two minutes, Martin hurried over alongside Andrew. "Director, I'm here."
He greeted Kelly Gray with a friendly smile, "Good morning, Kelly."
Kelly reciprocated the gesture, saying, "You certainly know quite a bit."
Martin replied, "People like me have to learn as much as we can."
Kelly Gray concurred, "Those who work hard are the ones who succeed."
The trainer guided the horses to the racetrack, and Martin, following the trainer's lead, changed into professional riding attire and a helmet. He spent some time acquainting himself with the horses, taking a slow ride to familiarize himself with them before progressing to a trot.
Although Martin had learned horse riding during his previous life as a martial artist, he hadn't practiced it in a long time. He needed to regain his comfort with the animals and find his rhythm.
After a short ride, Benjamin proposed, "Can two people ride together? Can you handle that?"
Despite his apprehension, Martin nodded confidently, "No problem."
He knew he had to give it his all, even if it meant gritting his teeth and persevering.
Benjamin promptly contacted the screenwriter, declaring, "Give Billy the circus."
Thanks to this additional scene, Martin's daily salary increased to $800.
Adam Smith, who had been observing from a distance, overheard Benjamin's decision. He saw Martin chatting and laughing with Kelly after dismounting and thought to himself, "A small supporting role?"
As the crew wrapped up their work for the day, Martin hopped into the Ford with Robert, planning to return to Marietta.
However, Robert suddenly confessed, "I did something, but don't tell anyone."
Intrigued, Martin inquired, "What did you do?"
Robert glanced around cautiously before whispering, "I placed those Cokes there."
Martin recalled mentioning to Robert that he could ride a horse, but he wasn't sure what Robert was implying. "You placed the Cokes there?"
Robert's expression grew earnest. "Yes."
Martin expressed concern, "You didn't have to take such a big risk for me. I merely recommended you for a temporary stage job, and you've given me such a significant reward."
Robert quickly defended himself, "No, it wasn't me!"
Martin understood and reassured him, "I get it. You didn't do anything. The problem lies with the guy who couldn't handle his own actions."
Robert gestured helplessly, saying, "I really didn't mean it that way. It wasn't intentional."
Some things just couldn't be explained clearly.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone