Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Dog Eat Dog Business
The sleek black car idled in front of the North Hollywood apartment. Just as Thomas was reaching for his phone, Martin emerged from the doorway, ushered the front passenger seat aside, and slid into the car, declaring, "Let's go, to the Warner Studios."
Today marked the final round of auditions.
Thomas initiated the ignition, and they hurried toward Burbank.
As they drove past an intersection, Thomas noticed something was amiss and swiftly realized it, "Why aren't you behind the wheel? Martin, I'm your agent, not your chauffeur."
Martin, in his characteristic nonchalant manner, diverted Thomas's attention, saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff. I've got an audition later, and I need to stay energized."
Thomas accepted the explanation and drove on with assurance. He even made an effort to keep the car's speed steady, ensuring Martin's comfort, as though he were a dedicated chauffeur.
The client's opportunities were the same as agent's own opportunities.
Martin flipped down the visor and made a slight adjustment to his short hair using the mirror.
Thomas remarked, "No worries, Martin. Mary Gale despises the Beatles and prefers men with neat, short hair."
The car arrived at Warner Studios and settled into a parking spot.
Before disembarking, Thomas encouraged Martin, "We've been preparing for days, pulling in our most substantial connections and ironing out every detail, down to the tiniest one, all for this day!"
Martin, with a hint of seriousness, quipped, "Even if Susan Levin offers, I won't mind going to the hotel with her."
Thomas waved off the notion, saying, "She's just engaged to Robert Downey Jr., so no worries there."
The two men arrived at the studio entrance and switched to an electric golf cart.
Halfway there, Martin pulled out his phone and made a call, "Robert, it's Martin. I've got something to discuss with you."
Inside the Marietta Community Theater, Robert spotted the call and strolled toward the sales area near the entrance. As he walked, he spoke into the phone, "I know what you need, a Coke, right? I'll get one now and set it up on the table, facing Los Angeles."
Martin grinned, "Thanks, buddy."
Robert purchased a can of Coke and returned to his office, which now featured a relocated desk, officially oriented to the west, with a small bottle of olive oil perpetually resting on it.
He coated the can with olive oil and placed it on the far western corner.
Meanwhile, Martin and Thomas reached the designated area for the crew and entered a small studio.
In the waiting area outside the audition room, half a dozen or so young actors in their twenties sat in anticipation.
For Martin, most of these faces were unfamiliar, and none resonated with his recollections from his previous life.
One actor, however, he recognized, Adrian, with medium-length dark brown hair, took the initiative to greet him.
Martin, with a knowing smile, inquired, "Hey there, are you here to root for me? Appreciate it." Stepping closer, he whispered, "No need; I'm just here to go through the motions." These words served as a reminder to Adrian about their common concern, Jason Shaw, who posed the biggest threat.
In recent days, Adrian and his agent had focused intensely on Jason Shaw. After careful inquiries, they had discovered that Paris Hilton had injected more funds into the project than Pacific Pictures.
Adrian smiled, "I'm not just here to support you; I also came to audition for the lead role in a commercial film."
Martin studied Adrian's cheerful face and felt an impulse to slap it off. Yet, upon noticing Adrian's medium-length hair, he restrained himself and instead bumped fists with him, remarking, "You're a good man. Let's give it our all."
Adrian, though discontented with Martin's apparent advantage, held back his own frustrations and replied, "Brother, let's give it our best shot together."
Martin and Thomas found a place to sit.
Thomas initiated a conversation, saying, "Did you see that? It's not that I'm not working hard; competition within the company is fierce. If you don't prove your value, the company won't allocate more resources to you."
Martin acknowledged the need for both the stick and the carrot, "My relationship with Louise Meyer didn't require much company resources."
Considering Louise Meyer's prominent position under Martin, Thomas felt the need to step up his game.
Many clients, when dissatisfied with their agents, switched agencies after signing with a company.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Adrian stepped into a deserted corridor and dialed his assistant Tony's number, inquiring, "He's not here yet?"
Tony responded, "The guy at the hotel entrance said he left the hotel alone, so he should be on his way."
Adrian questioned, "Can you handle it? We can't afford any mistakes."
Tony, with a smile, reassured, "We've invested so much time and effort into this guy over the past few days; our time and energy won't go to waste. Don't worry. Leave it to me."
Adrian ended the call, extracted his phone card, and entered the restroom, where he flushed the card down the toilet.
In the parking lot outside, Tony destroyed the phone card and discarded it in a trash bin.
They returned to the car and waited patiently.
According to the audition schedule provided by the crew, Martin's audition was scheduled for 10 a.m.
There were four people ahead of him, and, on average, they emerged from the audition room in less than ten minutes.
When the door to the audition room finally opened, an assistant announced, "Martin Davis."
Martin powered down his cellphone, strode into the audition room, and assessed the situation quickly.
Seated at the front was a bespectacled woman in her fifties with a weathered face—casting director Mary Gale.
Next to her sat Susan Levine.
In total, there were at least eight individuals present.
Surprisingly, two of them were engrossed in a game, emblematic of ubiquitous smartphone enthusiasts.
Martin greeted them, saying, "Good morning, Manager Levin, Director Gale."
Susan offered a nod in response.
"Good morning," Mary replied, her gaze lingering on Martin's face. His short, light brown hair presented a pleasant and handsome appearance. Although judging a book by its cover was simplistic, any normal woman would find it hard not to steal a few extra glances at an appealing gentleman. She instructed, "Let's proceed with the script from the role, shall we?"
Martin, well-prepared and fully immersed in the moment, commenced his audition under the guidance of the assistant.
Susan Levin rested her chin on one hand, occasionally glancing at the camera screen. Louise, known for her reliability despite her struggles with alcohol, had a knack for recommending talented actors.
Among the auditionees, one actor stood out with exceptional skills.
Perhaps the character deeply resonated with him?
Susan had even requested alterations to the character's backstory during the scriptwriting, as Nick Jones was simply a supporting role, portraying a man previously imprisoned for car theft.
He was Susan's favorite prodigal son.
Susan firmly believed that life's hardships were the best training, and those who endured such trials would eventually shine.
The audition concluded swiftly, and the actors were sent on their way. Susan inquired routinely, "How did Martin Davis perform?"
Mary, with no decision-making authority, offered her initial impression, "Very well."
Meanwhile, Jason Shaw drove up to Warner Studios. His freshly styled short blond hair gave him a lively appearance.
Upon entering the parking lot, his girlfriend's call interrupted him, "Darling, have you arrived?"
"I'll be there soon," Jason Shaw assured her. "Don't worry; I can handle it on my own. You don't need to accompany me here."
Paris Hilton added, "Alright, just give me a call once you're done."
Jason Sean ended the call. However, before he could fully process what had occurred, a car pulled out from the side and collided with the front of his vehicle.
The collision in the parking lot was minor since both cars were moving slowly.
Jason Sean checked the time, opened his door, and stepped out of his car.
From the opposite vehicle, a stout man exited.
"How could you drive like that?" Jason Shaw examined the damage from the collision. "Never mind, just go on."
But Tony wasn't about to let it slide. He pointed accusingly, "You ask me how I drive? I should be asking you the same thing! You were on the phone, not paying attention, and you bumped into me."
Contemplating his upcoming audition, Jason Sean decided to tolerate the situation. "I don't have time for people like you. Just give me an estimate."
Tony, however, claimed loudly, "This is a brand-new car, and repairs will cost at least $3,000."
Jason Shaw believed it could be done for $500 but felt anger bubbling up. Nonetheless, he recognized the importance of the situation and prepared to retrieve his checkbook.
Tony noticed that Jason Shaw was more tolerant than expected and swiftly changed his approach.
He began rapping, "I've seen Paris, she's got inverted heads of different sizes; I've seen Paris, she's like a dog, lying down and waiting to be screwed; I've seen Paris, she enjoys giving blowjobs, spreading it all over her face and chest; I've seen Paris..."
Jason Sean knew exactly who Tony was referring to and what those lyrics implied.
While he had previously maintained a calm demeanor when questioned about the video tape, facing such taunts in person was unbearable for any man.
In a fit of anger, Jason Shaw lunged forward, landing a punch on Tony's face. Tony, with his ample frame, staggered backward and fell to the ground with a thud.
"You damn jerk!" Jason Shaw didn't hold back, launching a series of hard kicks.
Tony quickly shielded his head, as his nose wasn't bleeding. However, when he lowered his head, one of Jason Shaw's kicks landed squarely on his face, causing his nose to bleed.
Nearby, Tony's girlfriend began yelling for help, claiming it was a murder. Hearing the commotion, two security guards from the parking lot rushed over.
This incident occurred in a prime patrol area for the security at Warner Studios. Within half a minute, sirens blared as police vehicles sped towards the scene.
Jason Shaw considered making a run for it, but Tony clung tightly to his leg.
Security personnel arrived and ordered him to stop.
A police patrol car pulled into the parking lot, prompting Tony to release his grip and feign unconsciousness on the ground.
Taking advantage of her gender, Tony's girlfriend loudly accused Jason Shaw of violent behavior.
From the perspective of the parking lot security, Jason Shaw appeared to be assaulting Tony without provocation.
This location fell within the surveillance camera's range.
Tony lay on the ground, unable to get up, with blood streaming from his nose, covering his face in a pitiable manner.
Jason Shaw loudly protested, explaining that he was an actor rushing to an important audition.
However, in Los Angeles, a city teeming with actors, his unfamiliar face failed to convince the police.
Another police cruiser arrived on the scene.
The two officers restrained Jason Sean and escorted him to the police station.
One officer took statements from Tony's girlfriend and the security guard, while the other sought permission from security to access the surveillance footage.
The parking lot soon returned to its usual tranquility.
Tony called his attorney and officially reported the incident. It appeared that Jason Sean would be absent for quite some time.
...
Back at the production office, an assistant opened the audition room door and called out, "Jason Shaw, it's your turn."
No response came, and no one answered.
The assistant raised their voice, "Is Jason Shaw present?"
The other actors exchanged glances, but no one responded.
Adrian smirked; Tony had taken care of it.
The assistant turned away and stated, "Jason Shaw is not present."
Susan frowned. As a producer, she was personally overseeing the final round of auditions, and a tardy actor demonstrated a lack of basic respect.
She declared firmly, "Move on to the next one."
The assistant exited once more and announced, "Adrian Grenier."
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