Chapitre 204: Roasted

In the opulent ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, after Ricky Gervais remarked that the evening would be filled with partying and heavy drinking, he quipped, "Or as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast."

The audience erupted in laughter as Ricky continued, "Wow. Whoa. Let's get this straight. What he did was, he picked up a porn star." He accentuated "porn star" with a gesture, "Paid her to have dinner with him, introduced her to his ex-wife." Ricky chuckled, adding, "as you do."

Ricky shrugged and said, "Ah, went to a hotel. Ah, got drunk." He then added, "Got naked."

Ricky pointed out, "Trashed the place, while she was locked in the cupboard. And ah, that was a Monday! What did he do on New Year's Eve?"

Some in the crowd couldn't suppress their chuckles.

A few celebrities had a sense of foreboding that they might be Ricky's next targets.

Lucas glanced at Johnny Depp in the distance, who was sipping his drink.

Next to him, Andrew whispered, while surveying the room, "Man, the air's heavy here..."

Lucas nodded in agreement. While some groups were taking Ricky's jokes in stride, laughing along, others watched in solemn silence, their smiles seeming more like a facade. Meanwhile, others gleefully laughed at Charlie Sheen's expense.

Ricky shifted the focus, announcing, "Anyway, welcome." He continued, "The Golden Globes celebrate the best in TV and movies over the past year."

"Voted for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association..." he added, "It was a big year for 3D movies, like Toy Story..."

Lucas continued to watch as Ricky began introducing the nominees for Animated Movies and commending the three-dimensional animations.

But even as Ricky praised the 3D animations, he couldn't resist another jab, "Except for the characters of 'The Tourist'."

Upon hearing Ricky's quip, the crowd responded with a mix of groans and disapproval, clearly not all in favor of his roast.

Ricky flashed a mischievous smile and said, "Um, I feel bad about that joke."

Sensing their reactions were having an effect, the crowd pressed on. Ricky, however, intercepted with, "I, no, I'll tell you what." He raised his hand and admitted, "I'm jumping on the bandwagon, because I haven't even seen 'The Tourist.'"

The room lightened up with laughter as Ricky added, "Who has?"

This prompted a heartier laugh, and even Lucas and Andrew couldn't help but chuckle and shake their heads.

"But no, it must be good because it's nominated, so shut up, okay?" Ricky chided the crowd.

"And I'd like to squash this ridiculous rumor going around... That the only reason 'The Tourist' was nominated was so the Hollywood Foreign Press could hang out with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie," Ricky joked, momentarily aligning with Hollywood. A few in the crowd cheered in response. "That is, that is rubbish. That is not the only reason— they also accepted bribes..."

At this unexpected joke, the crowd reacted with mixed emotions, though laughter prevailed. The camera zoomed in on Johnny Depp, who was chewing on something but sported a faint smirk.

"No, all that happened was some of them got tickets to see Cher in concert. How the hell is that a bribe? Really? Do you want to see Cher?" Ricky paused, shaking his head, and added, "No, because it's not 1975."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Ricky then continued to roast other films that weren't nominated, eliciting laughter and occasional boos from the crowd. Despite some rough patches, Ricky's quick wit turned the situation around, and the atmosphere lightened with humor.

After that, Ricky shifted to praise various TV series and films, but not without his characteristic touch of irony. He noted, "There are a few notable rising young talents here in Hollywood, nothing new, nothing special, but then there's someone who's barely been in the industry for two years, already nominated in three categories, and even the film he starred in snagged a nomination."

With a chuckle, he added, "Unlike the questionable nomination of... 'The Tourist'..." The crowd laughed again as Ricky continued, "127 Hours received a great response and was nominated. And who am I talking about? Actor Lucas Knight, who burst onto the scene with tremendous potential and a clean record... Well, except for his questionable relationships with Jennifer Lawrence and Felicity Jones, everything seems to be going well for him."

The crowd laughed, appreciating Ricky's sarcasm, yet they were also impressed by how someone so new to Hollywood could make such a significant impact.

Lucas merely smiled, unfazed by Ricky's jibes.

Meanwhile, across the ballroom, the camera momentarily shifted to Jennifer Lawrence, nominated for her role in "Winter's Bone."

Just when it seemed Ricky was done teasing Lucas, having ended on a seemingly complimentary note, he surprised everyone by continuing, this time shedding the veneer of praise.

On stage, Ricky shrugged and remarked, "Really interesting, really impressive to see a young talent rising in Hollywood... I'd be more impressed if it weren't for the fact that his father is Vince Knight of Warner Bros. And his brother? Melvin Knight." He quickly corrected himself, "I'm sorry, I mean, half-brother."

The crowd laughed, but the laughter was tinged with surprise as they learned that Lucas was actually the son of a influential Hollywood director.

The camera zoomed in on Lucas, who managed to keep a smile on his face despite Ricky's sharp remarks.

Ricky, noticing the astonishment in the crowd, grinned and said, "Shocking, right? I've just given you some free intel that even the established media didn't know."

The crowd erupted in laughter at Ricky's comment, amused by his subtle suggestion that the media was incompetent.

"What did anyone expect? Rising in Hollywood without a helping hand? That's nearly impossible!" Ricky continued with a chuckle, "Some even have to sell their bodies for a role—well, I'm getting off track here."

As the audience's reactions to Ricky's last remark were mixed, he seamlessly introduced the next presenter, not missing the chance to playfully take a jab at Mel Gibson before announcing "Scarlett Johansson."

As Scarlett Johansson stepped onto the stage, at Lucas's table, several celebrities glanced his way, stirred by the revelations Ricky had just made.

Lucas felt their curious eyes but chose to ignore them as he took a sip of his drink.

Andrew gave him a reassuring pat on the back and asked, "You alright?"

"Yeah," Lucas nodded with a smile. He had enjoyed watching other celebrities get roasted by Ricky, but it wasn't until he was the subject that he truly understood how it felt.

Of course, Lucas couldn't go on stage and declare that his father had nothing to do with his success, but even if he did, he doubted many would believe him.

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Chapitre 205: Golden Globes Conclusion

The Golden Globes ceremony progressed as Scarlett Johansson took the stage to present the first award of the evening. "I'm honored to present the first award tonight," she began. "Here are the five men nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture."

Scarlett then proceeded to introduce the nominees: Christian Bale for "The Fighter," Jeremy Renner for "The Town," Geoffrey Rush for "The King's Speech," Michael Douglas for "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," and finally, she announced, "the charming yet calm Lucas Knight from 'Inception.'"

As each nominee was mentioned, the audience applauded. The camera zoomed in on Lucas Knight, showing his colleague Andrew applauding and patting him on the back, before cutting to a shot of director Christopher Nolan.

"And the Golden Globe goes to..." Scarlett paused dramatically, then announced, "Christian Bale for 'The Fighter.'"

The crowd erupted in applause. The ceremony moved smoothly forward, announcing each category and its winner. During a brief intermission, Andrew was seen gathering himself next to Lucas.

"I'm going to be on stage next," Andrew said to Lucas.

Lucas smiled and wished him, "Good luck."

A short while later, Andrew headed backstage and soon appeared on stage as a presenter. He introduced "The Social Network," a film in which he had a role. However, midway through his speech, he stumbled over the word "inspiringly." The audience watched as he struggled momentarily before finally pronouncing it correctly.

Although visibly embarrassed, Andrew managed to feign confidence and reread the line smoothly. He even gave himself a round of applause, joined by scattered applause and cheers from the audience, to which he responded, "Thank you. I appreciate the support."

The camera then cut to the director of "The Social Network," who chuckled at Andrew's recovery.

After his presentation, Andrew exited the stage as clips from "The Social Network," nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama, played on.

The next presenters, Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Lopez, took the stage to announce the nominees and the ultimate winner for "Best Original Song - Motion Picture."

As clips from the films played in the background, the narrator introduced the nominees: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from Burlesque by Cher and Diane Warren; "Coming Home" from Country Strong by Tom Douglas, Tom Verges, and Lindsey; and "There's a Place for Us" from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Carrie Underwood, David Hodges, and Hilary Lindsey.

The audience applauded after each nomination was announced.

Then, as the LED screen transitioned to scenes from "Inception," the song "Fix You" began to play. The narrator then announced, "Lucas Knight with 'Fix You' from 'Inception.'"

The crowd responded with their usual enthusiasm, clapping warmly. The camera captured Lucas looking around and nodding, acknowledging the applause with gratitude.

The scenes then shifted to the film "127 Hours," where "The Scientist" performed by Lucas Knight filled the air. As Lucas appeared on the screen again, the audience applauded, but songwriters and music producers looked on with mixed feelings. Despite recognizing the song's beauty, they were skeptical about Lucas's role in composing it, especially after hearing Ricky Gervais mention that Lucas was the son of an influential director.

Alec Baldwin then took the stage to announce the winner: "And the Golden Globe goes to... 'You Haven't Seen the Last of Me' from Burlesque!"

Lucas's fans, watching from home, were surprised and disappointed, having hoped for his victory. This sentiment was compounded by a growing suspicion among viewers that the Golden Globes favored certain nominees, particularly as "The Social Network" won "Best Original Score - Motion Picture" shortly after being nominated in three other categories, including "Best Motion Picture - Drama."

As the evening progressed, more categories were announced. Attention returned to "The Social Network" when its director triumphed in the "Best Director" category, prevailing over other esteemed directors like Christopher Nolan, Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky, and David O. Russell.

The Golden Globes continued for about an hour, with actors and actresses winning awards across various categories during the breaks.

Lucas gave Andrew a pat on the shoulder and said, "Well, I'm off."

"Where are you going?" Andrew asked, concerned Lucas might be upset about not winning the awards for which he was nominated.

Lucas just smiled. "I'm about to go on stage to present 'Inception', just like you did..."

Hearing this, Andrew returned the gesture. "Good luck, and try not to stutter like I did."

Lucas chuckled softly and headed backstage. As he walked, staff guided him through the bustling area where he spotted several familiar celebrities. He noticed Jimmy Fallon engaged in conversation with others, and then there was Ricky Gervais, who grinned upon seeing him.

Lucas took a seat near Ricky. Approaching with a beer in hand, Ricky offered, "You want a drink?"

Lucas smiled and politely declined, "No, thank you."

Ricky nodded, acknowledging the sensitive topic. "I hope you don't mind me spilling the beans about your background like that."

Lucas shook his head, dismissing the concern. "It's totally fine. I knew it wouldn't stay under wraps forever."

Ricky glanced around, then leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Don't you think this whole event is a bit of a sham?"

"I'm sorry?" Lucas responded, clearly taken aback.

Ricky took a sip of his drink and continued, "Haven't you noticed? You didn't win the award despite being nominated twice for Best Original Song. And who won? Dianne, with her cheesy pop song. Doesn't it seem a bit off to you?"

Lucas was stunned to see Ricky's candid demeanor, realizing that the beer might be loosening his tongue. "Well..."

Ricky chuckled, unbothered. "Come on, this whole thing is rigged. Who's sweeping the awards tonight? 'The Social Network'? Seems like the Hollywood Foreign Press has its favorites, doesn't it?"

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at Ricky's blunt remarks.

"What do you think? Am I right? The Hollywood Foreign Press is just dying to curry favor with Mark, haha. They're after that billionaire's money," Ricky said with a laugh.

Lucas let out a soft laugh in response.

Just then, the narrator's voice filled the room, "Welcome back to the 68th Golden Globe Awards, and now let's welcome—"

At that cue, a staff member gestured to Lucas. Ricky gave him a supportive pat on the back, saying, "Go on."

Lucas adjusted his suit and made his way to the stage as the narrator introduced him, "the star of the film 'Inception', Lucas Knight."

The crowd erupted in applause as Lucas stepped into the spotlight. He cleared his throat and began his speech:

"Good evening, everyone. It's truly an honor to stand before you tonight, not only as a nominee but also to present 'Inception'—a film that has touched audiences worldwide. 'Inception' is more than just a movie; it's an exploration of the mind that challenges our perceptions of reality, and I'm proud to be a part of this remarkable journey. My profound experience on this film owes much to our brilliant director, Christopher Nolan."

The crowd erupted in applause when Lucas mentioned "brilliant director," and the camera panned to Nolan in the audience, capturing his appreciative smile.

"That's right, he is the 'best director' for me," Lucas continued, emphasizing "Best Director" with a knowing tone that resonated with the audience, sparking laughter and nods of agreement from those who caught the implied message.

Lucas then added, "His vision and dedication transformed this extraordinary project into a monumental success, approaching a billion at the box office. Thank you, Chris, for your incredible craftsmanship and for pushing us all to excel. Thank you."

As Lucas concluded, the screen behind him lit up with clips from 'Inception', highlighting his character, Arthur, prominently. The audience continued to applauding for both the film and Nolan's directorial prowess.

After Lucas's presentation, the Golden Globes ceremony continued. The evening progressed to one of the night's most anticipated categories, "Best Motion Picture - Drama." The award went to "The Social Network," which edged out competitors including "Inception," "The Fighter," "The King's Speech," and "Black Swan."

Soon after, the nominees for "Best Performance in a Motion Picture - Drama" were announced. Lucas Knight, one of the hopefuls, watched as the award was presented to Colin Firth for his role in "The King's Speech."

Lucas, though visibly disappointed, joined in the applause. Despite being nominated across three different categories, including a double nomination in "Best Original Song," he hadn't secured a single award that evening. His frustration was palpable, yet he maintained his composure, reflecting both the highs and lows of the night.

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