Capítulo 321: Chapter 321: 100 Millions
In the morning, Martin's slumber was interrupted by the persistent buzz of his vibrating cell phone. Gently disentangling himself from Louise, who was still sound asleep, he stealthily got up and tiptoed to the balcony.
As soon as he hit the "answer" button, Leonardo's voice filled his ear, "Martin, come on out and say hello!"
Martin glanced at the wall clock and remarked, "Am I mistaken? It's only seven in the morning."
Leonardo replied, "Don't you usually rise at half-past six for your morning jog?"
Martin quickly responded, "Well, yesterday afternoon and evening, I was engrossed in too many rounds of golf..."
Leonardo seemed puzzled, "I remember you're not a fan of golf."
Martin couldn't help but tease, "You're not very bright, are you?" He then gave a hint, "Think about it, what's an 'eagle' ball?"
"Eagle ball... Hole in one!" Leonardo immediately got it, "After Aniston in the afternoon, who was it in the evening?"
Martin remained silent but inquired, "Why are you up so early? Where are you headed?"
Leonardo explained, "I'm on the Oaks section of the Ring Road, west of your place. Come join me, and remember to ride a bike and be an environmentalist."
Unable to fall back asleep, Martin swiftly freshened up and surveyed his attire from the previous day, which had suffered from the previous night's activities. Louise, shifting in her sleep, questioned, "Where are you off to so early?"
Martin greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, "Good morning, my dear. Leo asked me to go for a bike ride."
Louise playfully remarked, "Boring. He's an environmentalist; you're not cycling with him." Her drowsy thoughts drifted to the hair salon, "Was it enjoyable being alone yesterday?"
Martin, with a reassuring kiss, replied, "I'll be back soon."
As Louise lay on her stomach, she added, "I've prepared some of your clothes in the cloakroom. There's a mountain bike in the garage; I've barely used it since I bought it." Martin investigated the specially arranged wardrobe that had once held only Louise's clothing and accessories. It was now filled with men's attire and bore a note reading "Martin Davis."
He swiftly dressed in the provided sports clothing and sneakers, tailored to his precise measurements. It was clear that Louise had paid special attention to his needs.
Without a word, Martin headed out of the bedroom after bidding Mary, the housekeeper, goodbye. In the garage, he retrieved his mountain bike, mounted it, and set out on his journey.
From the South Hillside to Huanhai Road, the route was mostly downhill, and although not incredibly steep, the descent provided an exhilarating ride. Martin was transported back to his youth, remembering the thrill of racing down a hillside with a 28-inch bike, relying solely on foot brakes. All in all, it was an adrenaline-pumping experience, albeit with slightly worn-out shoe soles.
Soon, Martin reached the Ring Road. Leonardo was already waiting at the intersection, and unexpectedly, Tobey Maguire was accompanying him. Martin welcomed Spider-Man, saying, "Let's get going quickly; we can't stand around chatting with so many reporters tailing us."
Leonardo concurred, "Let's go green and do as we please."
Martin quipped, "People who talk about going green all day might end up with green hair."
Leonardo didn't grasp the humor and asked Maguire, who shook his head.
On his mountain bike, Martin led the way, and the trio, while not riding too swiftly, enjoyed conversation and the scenery. The two motorcycles and two cars following behind were compelled to maintain a slow pace.
During the promotional period for "The Departed," both Martin and Leonardo cooperated with paparazzi for photographs.
Martin inquired, "Is AA getting engaged this year? What about the bachelor party you mentioned?"
Leonardo inquired, "Can you still attend?"
Martin retorted, "Do you think everyone is like Leonardo? And remember, there's a paparazzi here; I'm saving face for you."
Leonardo assured him, "Victoria's Secret is preparing an unprecedented show this year, which requires extensive preparation. AA's engagement has been postponed until after the Victoria's Secret event. Don't worry; I'll keep you in the loop." He further asked, "Last time I saw Heidi, she inquired if you had any creative ideas."
Martin tapped his temple, "I had them long before."
Tobey Maguire interjected, "Have you wasted your vacation on these ideas?"
Martin had a vague familiarity with Maguire and questioned, "Anything else fun going on?"
Maguire proposed, "Why don't you come with me to Las Vegas for some poker?"
Martin responded, "Leo and I play poker too, bang, bang, bang..."
Maguire glanced at Leonardo, silently asking, "Where did you find such a friend?"
Martin explained, "Poker games are still fun."
Individual preferences differ, and Martin has always steered clear of gambling and drugs, so Maguire's hobbies are not aligned with his.
Martin vaguely recalled Spider-Man having some tough times with poker later on, but thankfully, Leonardo was there to keep things in check.
The three of them biked for less than four kilometers, had breakfast, and then headed back.
Leonardo extended an invitation, "My other film, 'Blood Diamond,' will be released soon. You must come to the premiere."
Martin assured him, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there. If De Beers sends assassins after you, I promise to take them down with a can of Coke." "Blood Diamond" was set to be released around Christmas, and the De Beers Diamond Company was concerned it might dampen enthusiasm for diamond products. They had even tried to discourage it, claiming the Diamond Business Association would boycott.
Martin and Leonardo arranged to freshen up in the evening. After washing up, they turned at an intersection and cycled back to Sherman Oaks.
While going downhill had been fun, the uphill journey was a different story. Martin contemplated calling Bruce to pick him up, but then recalled that Bruce had gone to see the Kardashian sisters the previous night, and he didn't want to disturb him.
In this matter, Martin believed he was more qualified than Leonardo. The order of the trio was determined not by age but by the high standards they held. Suddenly, a car horn beeped from behind.
Martin stopped and turned around, only to find a red BMW behind him. Elizabeth Olsen had driven up.
She greeted him, "Hey, Martin, working out? Need a lift?"
Martin agreed, got off the bike, folded it to fit into the trunk, and climbed into the passenger seat.
Elizabeth drove him toward the South Hillside, and Martin remarked, "This is the first time I've seen you driving."
Elizabeth responded, "I'll be turning 18 next year, didn't you know?" The words had a slightly different implication, and Martin pondered them before calmly saying, "What, your 18th birthday? I'll have to prepare an early birthday gift."
Elizabeth clarified, "You don't need to prepare anything for next February; your presence is the best gift."
Martin assured her, "Remember to send me an invitation."
Elizabeth happily agreed, and she cherished the idea of having him at her 18th birthday party. She also mentioned, "I've switched agents, and now, like you, I'm a client at WMA."
Martin acknowledged, "WMA has another excellent client."
Elizabeth pointed out, "That's because I have two talented sisters."
Martin replied, "That's because you're exceptional." A few days ago, Martin had read Forbes magazine, which dubbed the Olsen sisters "human money printing machines."
When the car reached the South Hillside, Elizabeth asked, "Are you going to Louise's place?"
Martin nodded, "I can get off here and call you later."
Elizabeth requested, "Don't forget to share your number."
The BMW then headed to the Olsen family's mansion, and Martin hopped on his mountain bike and pedaled back to Louise's house, which was not far away.
Louise had worked late the night before and was still asleep.
Martin tidied up a bit and lay down to catch up on his sleep. Holding bicycle handlebars was far less comfortable.
Simultaneously, photos of Martin and Leonardo's bike ride had made their way onto the TMZ website.
The internet was transforming the world of entertainment gossip.
In North America, "The Departed" had entered its third weekend of release. With its stellar critical acclaim and positive word of mouth, the film's box office performance remained remarkably steady. Although it had slipped from the top spot, it still grossed $17.55 million.
Including weekday earnings, the North American box office total had now exceeded the $100 million milestone, reaching $118 million.
After "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Wanted," Martin achieved the remarkable feat of starring in three consecutive films that grossed over $100 million at the North American box office. His next film was bound to command a salary surpassing $10 million, even if it had two or three protagonists.
This week, "The Departed" had also been released in additional markets worldwide, expanding to over 40 foreign markets. Overseas box office earnings had surpassed $60 million, and it was not extravagant to anticipate recouping the entire investment through box office revenue.
Warner Bros. had stepped up its efforts for the film's Oscar campaign. Oscars came with substantial financial rewards from television rights and DVD sales.
Scorsese's crime drama had already captured the bulk of its revenue from theaters, but a significant Oscar win would significantly boost its profitability.
The four members of the creative team reunited once more.
Surprisingly, Martin had imbibed more than anyone.
After getting intoxicated, Scorsese clung to a lamppost in Leonardo's mansion courtyard, fervently declaring his desire for a seventh child to his wife.
Nicholson planned to rendezvous with Naomi Campbell that night and return to where they left off on the yacht.
Uncharacteristically, Leonardo became melancholic, shedding tears while confessing that Gisele Bündchen was the love of his life, but he couldn't forsake so many other wonderful women for her.
Martin, fueled by alcohol, rallied to march on Washington, seize the White House, and dissolve the Union.
The four slightly unhinged friends made quite a spectacle, and it continued well into the night.
Fortunately, Leonardo's Brentwood mansion was spacious enough that their antics didn't bother the neighbors.
The next day at noon, Scorsese woke up and spotted the polished lamppost. He promptly ordered the other three, "No one is allowed to breathe a word of this. If I catch wind of any rumors, you better be prepared for the mafia to come after you!"
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