Capítulo 189: Chapter 189: God Is A Woman
Exiting the hotel room and proceeding down the corridor toward the elevator, Thomas paused in front of a wall-mounted mirror to scrutinize himself.
He was undeniably handsome, so why did Ellen, a woman in her 50s, seem to dislike him? Was it the receding hairline, the thinning hair, or the slightly larger forehead?
Thomas rode the elevator to the lobby on the ground floor and took a moment in the lounge area to collect his thoughts. He had spoken too much earlier, and it was imperative to make amends with Martin. How could he rectify the situation?
Casting director Ellen's request was not unreasonable; it was standard in the industry.
In Hollywood, certain unspoken rules were followed.
Thomas retrieved his mobile phone, scrolled through his contacts, found Bruce's information, and dialed his number. "We need to meet," he informed Bruce.
Bruce inquired, "Where?"
Thomas provided the address and patiently waited. Ten minutes later, Bruce arrived at the hotel and took a seat across from Thomas.
Thomas got straight to the point. "Martin's plan hit an unexpected snag. Allen, the casting director accompanying Scorsese to Boston, has asked for some special services—celebrity services."
Bruce, familiar with Martin's plan, questioned, "You mean Martin has to do it himself?"
Thomas clarified, "No, any celebrity who piques her interest will suffice. Originally, I was willing to go to great lengths personally, but she doesn't think highly of me."
Bruce caught onto the essential point. "You were willing to go to great lengths?"
Thomas nodded, confirming, "Quite literally. Should I inform Martin?"
Bruce, now serving as Martin's manager, couldn't offer any advice on film selection. He essentially acted as a scavenger in the entertainment industry. "No need, we'll handle it," Bruce assured. "Martin has entrusted us to handle these troublesome matters. There's no need for him to get directly involved."
When Bruce heard the mention of going to great lengths, he thought of a trump card he held. Without hesitation, he elevated his tactics and called Mene. "I have something important, and I need to utilize your unique abilities."
Mene, clever as ever, responded, "Bruce, tell me, who do you want me to charm?"
Bruce shared the hotel's location. Thomas inquired, "Who are you contacting?"
Bruce explained, "I'm reaching out to Paris Hilton's former lover. She's currently interested in pursuing him, but he seems unattainable. It's Mene!"
Thomas was familiar with Mene, a persona created by Martin who had gained nationwide fame through Paris Hilton.
Bruce inquired, "Is Mene available?"
Thomas sent a text message: "Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend, Mene."
The reply came promptly: "Yes!"
Thomas nodded to Bruce. The text message exchange continued. "When will you arrive?" Thomas asked.
"Shortly," came the reply.
The hotel was conveniently located near Warner Studios, and Mene arrived within ten minutes.
Bruce briefed him on the situation. "A casting director in her 50s, with a penchant for being charmed by others—literally. You're the perfect fit."
Mene grinned enthusiastically. "Who better than me in Los Angeles? Leave it to me, Boss!"
Bruce assured him, "No need to inform Martin about this."
Mene agreed with a nod. "I'll sweeten up all the middle-aged and elderly women in Los Angeles for Martin."
Thomas provided him with the room number, and Mene readied himself with a few spritzes of breath freshener before taking the elevator to the tenth floor and knocking on the designated room's door.
The door swung open to reveal a Caucasian woman in her 50s who glanced at Mene before pulling him inside.
Initially, Ellen had merely been curious to try something new.
Within half a minute, her expression transformed from surprise to delight, as if she believed that divinity itself was embodied in a woman.
Back downstairs, Bruce and Thomas waited anxiously but saw no sign of Mene.
Thomas fretted, "Do you think something's gone wrong?"
Bruce, observing that Mene appeared more composed than before, replied confidently, "If there were any issues, Mene would have been ejected long ago."
The two waited for nearly three hours until Mene finally descended from the upper floor.
Compared to his demeanor when he went up, his lips had a richer hue, and his voice carried more confidence. "I... understand," he affirmed.
Bruce fetched a bottle of water and offered it to Mene. "Have some water."
Mene declined with a wave of his hand. "No, I can't drink it. Went down."
Thomas inquired, "Could you provide more details?"
Mene began to explain, "After Ellen's arrival in Boston, she updated me on her schedule every half day. She also agreed to assist Martin during the auditions." He chuckled, adding, "And at some point, Ellen even mentioned the possibility of recommending me for one of the black police roles."
Thomas had anticipated the first part but was entirely surprised by the latter. "You also got a role?" Uncle Mene brimmed with enthusiasm at that moment. "I took her to ascend to the heavens three times to become a god, and she solemnly vowed to me, exchanging contact information. She also gave me her contact details for future arrangements."
Bruce congratulated him, "Well done, my friend. I'd suggest that Martin take you to Boston to experience police life."
The three of them made their way to Warner Studios, and Bruce briefed Martin on the situation.
That evening, Martin hosted a dinner at the Smoke House, ordering an array of dishes.
Two days later, Mene received a message from Ellen, and WMA communicated with the Boston Police Department.
Martin, accompanied by Mene and Bruce, boarded a flight to Boston.
Whether it was the LAPD, APD, or BPD, they all placed a significant emphasis on their public image and maintained dedicated media and public relations offices.
The arrival of two Hollywood actors, Martin and Mene, for an immersive experience was warmly welcomed.
Chief John, head of the Public Relations Office, personally accompanied them on their tour of the police station.
Martin commended the BPD, praising it widely.
Sheriff John was deeply impressed by Martin's humility and lack of celebrity airs. He was a pleasure to interact with.
At the conclusion of their day's visit, Martin extended an invitation to Chief John and several of his colleagues for dinner.
Sheriff John, genuinely touched, found it hard to refuse.
Martin had Bruce reserve a high-end restaurant for the occasion.
After the meal, they even took a group photo. Some of the civilian police officers asked for autographs and left congratulatory messages for their children, which Martin gladly obliged.
Sheriff John held Martin in high regard and personally drove them back to the hotel.
"Mr. Davis..."
"Martin, please call me Martin." Martin made a point of sitting in the passenger seat.
John was at the wheel and offered, "If you need anything, just let me know. As long as it doesn't violate regulations, I'll do my best to assist you."
Martin was direct. "I'm preparing for a role as a plainclothes police detective. For the first few days, I'd like to visit your police academy, shadow patrol officers, and dedicate the rest of my time to the plainclothes police department."
John immediately agreed. "No problem, I'll coordinate with various departments."
They soon arrived at the hotel. John parked the car and said, "Martin, your Boston accent is impressive, very authentic."
"Really?" Martin appeared pleasantly surprised. "I've been practicing. It's one of the most charming accents in North America."
John, a Boston native, chuckled. "Indeed, the Boston accent is quite alluring."
After the three exited the car and watched John drive away, Mene's phone chimed with a text message alert. He quickly checked it. Once inside the hotel, he shared, "Director Scorsese is coming to Boston in five days."
Martin nodded, and the three of them proceeded to their rooms to review the various related information they had brought.
Martin handed a copy to Mene. "Take a good look; it'll be beneficial for you."
The information pertained to the BPD and the Boston gang organization, meticulously compiled by WMA for Martin's benefit.
Soon, Martin came across details about an Irish-American gang leader named Bulger. He had served as an FBI informant, collaborated with the BPD and state police, and was involved in drug trafficking, murder, terrorism, among other crimes. Remarkably, he was still a fugitive, having escaped in 1995. His brother held the position of Senate President of Massachusetts.
Martin recognized the parallels between Bulger's life story and the character of the antagonist, Frank, in the film.
However, unlike Frank, Bulger remained at large, a fact that intrigued Martin.
...
In Los Angeles, within the Warner Studios Building, lay the studio for "The Departed."
During a meeting in the conference room, Leonardo posed a question, "As March approaches, we're set to commence auditions for the second lead role. Do we have any suitable candidates?"
Scorsese shook his head. "I haven't found anyone yet, so there's no rush."
Warner Brothers' executive, Daniel, made a direct suggestion. "I recommend Martin Davis."
A representative from Plan B recalled Brad Pitt's mention of Martin and voiced support. "Martin Davis has recently starred in three consecutive successful films. His latest, 'The Hills Have Eyes,' received unanimous acclaim from critics for his acting prowess."
Kate, a friend of theirs, had also mentioned Martin Davis. Leonardo nodded in agreement. "I've seen Martin Davis; he's quite good."
Louise, having already negotiated the investment, made her stance clear. "Pacific Pictures strongly endorses Martin Davis."
Scorsese looked over the recommendations, a bit puzzled by the number of people suggesting Martin Davis.
Although he hadn't watched "The Hills Have Eyes," he had heard about its success, particularly its North American box office performance heading toward $100 million.
Doug, a representative from Dyson Pictures and a significant investor, put forth an alternative. "I recommend Matt Damon."
Another Warner Bros. executive argued, "I believe Matt is a better fit than Martin. He's had over a decade of acting experience, has been tried and tested in multiple films, has a substantial fan base thanks to the 'Ocean' and 'Bourne' series, and, crucially, he hails from Cambridge, Boston Massachusetts!"
Louise subtly glanced at Scorsese, who remained unreadable, withholding any immediate indication.
The final decision on the lead actors lay in Scorsese's hands. "The Aviator" had ultimately not clinched the Oscars, so Scorsese wasn't rushing into casting decisions; instead, he was returning to the genre he knew best.
Candidates were being recommended, indicating financial backing behind them.
Louise wasn't surprised by the mention of Matt Damon. Even if Damon wasn't part of Scorsese's project, other contenders would likely emerge to vie for the role.
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