Chapter 381: Deep Into The play

Nolan's arrival hushed the chaotic studio. Bruce guided Martin to a corner, cracked open a cold Coke, and handed it to him with a soothing gesture. "Take a sip of this sweetness; it'll help you calm down," he advised.

Martin eagerly took a big gulp, the cola icy just like when he'd defeated Bale a moment ago. Although he hadn't sustained significant injuries in the Batman vs. Joker scene, the hidden toll was substantial.

It hurt, even when I soared through the air and met the ground!

Physical pain wasn't the only ordeal; his mental state had suffered, keeping him awake for two consecutive nights. Elena was his sole source of comfort during those restless hours.

Bruce seemed deeply absorbed in his role, offering reassurance, "Don't worry, no one can harm you with me around." Martin settled into a chair, sipping his Coke while observing the scene.

Meanwhile, Bale remained sprawled on the floor, muttering anxiously, "No! Don't hurt me, don't hurt me..." as if profoundly shaken.

The production team's doctor hurried over, conducting a preliminary physical examination that revealed minor injuries, except for missing teeth.

Martin's actions were measured, but Bale's most severe injuries were psychological. He continued to plead, "Don't hurt me," clutching his vital areas protectively.

Nolan whispered to the doctor and signaled to Emma Thomas, who led Mene and others to the studio. They promptly sealed the studio door and nearby safe passages.

Another doctor approached Martin, inquiring about his condition. Martin pointed to his shoulder and chest, explaining, "It hurts," and shaking his head, "My head's spinning a bit."

The doctor called for assistance, and Director Nolan rushed over, asking, "Martin, are you alright?"

Martin shook his head and remarked, "Batman packs a heavy punch." He sought guidance, "Director, I need to call the police. I've been assaulted, and they were even threatening to kill me."

Emma Thomas knelt in front of Martin, saying, "Give us some time to handle this, okay? We'll provide an explanation."

With clown makeup still on, Martin appeared pale, stating, "Emma, Chris, I trust you. Don't involve the police for now, but this can't end here."

Emma Thomas reassured him, "It won't."

Nolan glanced at the agitated Bale. Numerous crew members and extras had witnessed the incident. The actors from Atlanta were firmly on Martin's side. Nolan realized Bale was causing significant trouble.

But considering the situation, Nolan's idea could wait. Dealing with the immediate issue was paramount.

While Martin received comfort, Bale continued to be a headache with his nervous outbursts. Emma Thomas reminded everyone that contractually, nothing that occurred during filming could be disclosed to the media without crew consent.

Bale was rushed to the hospital, his makeup removed. Martin also went for a check-up, complaining of dizziness and heart discomfort, which led to a temporary hospital stay.

Bruce returned with news: "Bale lost a few teeth, and other injuries are minor. However, he's suffered major psychological trauma and needs specialized treatment. He can't continue for now."

Martin asked, "Where's the crew?"

Bruce explained, "Emma Thomas imposed a gag order, and Charles Rowan and Orlin are en route from Los Angeles." He added, "Nolan may have some ideas and wants to talk to you privately."

Martin responded calmly, "Nolan excels not just in directing but also in creative thinking."

This unexpected incident had a touch of Nolan's distinctive style. As Bruce answered the door, it was clear that the drama both on and off the set was far from over.

Robert, his hair slicked back and a confident demeanor, walked into the ward. He placed a bouquet of flowers on a nearby surface and inquired, "Martin, are you doing okay?" Martin responded with a reassuring smile, "I'm fine."

Robert and Martin had a long-standing friendship, and Robert's certainty about Martin's well-being was palpable. Without delay, he handed a disk to Bruce, saying, "Here's a video taken by an extra on set. I requested it as soon as she came out, but she couldn't make a copy, so this is the only version we have." Bruce kept the disk, asking, "Just in case?"

Robert's confidence was unwavering as he replied, "No need to worry. They're all from Atlanta and have families."

Martin expressed his trust, "I know I can count on you."

Robert mentioned, "Jerome and Harry wanted to see you, but I advised against it."

Martin pondered for a moment and decided, "If they want to visit, let them come."

After their brief exchange, Robert departed swiftly.

Bruce located a laptop and began reviewing the video. The angle and clarity were acceptable, providing a faithful account of the entire conflict, from start to finish.

Bale's threatening words, "I'm going to kill you!" were clearly audible. Martin instructed, "Keep it for now; I hope we won't need it."

Bruce inquired, "Do you think Nolan can handle this?"

Martin, who had witnessed Nolan's capabilities beyond filmmaking in recent months, responded confidently, "Instead of Emma Thomas and Charles Rowan, probably not. What I prepared is based on Nolan's abilities. The idea originated from him. He's a remarkable director who won't overlook this."

...

A few hours later, Bale's agent, Parker, arrived at the offices of the Dark Knight crew at Gray Film and Television Center. He met with director Nolan and producer Charles Rowan.

Parker began, "I just came from the hospital and saw Bale. He's in a terrible state." Having gained no useful information from the agitated Bale, Parker had reported the situation to the company, notified Bale's wife, and hurried over to investigate. He asserted, "The crew must take responsibility for all of this!"

Nolan assured him, "We won't evade the crew's responsibility." He took the remote control and played the previously recorded video, saying, "Watch this footage first."

Parker intended to continue his statement, but he was captivated by the video playing on the opposite LCD screen.

The video showed Bale entering the studio and initiating the attack on Martin Davis, shouting his intent to kill. Martin Davis only defended himself after Bale's repeated aggressions.

Nolan added, "Martin wanted to call the police, and I stopped him. The crew managed to calm him down."

Parker, now fixated on the video and Bale's fervent threats, was at a loss for words.

Nolan continued, "Martin was also injured. He reported feeling unwell and experiencing dizziness. He's currently hospitalized for observation. If he insists on calling the police, Bale will be in serious trouble." In a hushed tone, Nolan conveyed, "Everyone present, including the crew from Los Angeles and over a dozen extras from Atlanta, could testify against Bale, putting him in a very unfavorable position."

Parker's stance softened as he grappled with the facts.

Not only was Bale clearly agitated, but even from the video's perspective, it was apparent that Martin Davis only defended himself, not causing significant harm.

Parker realized that Bale was entirely at fault in this matter.

Seeing Parker's change of attitude, Nolan continued, "I have a personal hunch that Bale and Martin might have become too immersed in their roles. The enmity and hatred between Batman and the Joker might have spilled over to the actors." Nolan then assured the crew, "I'll keep a close eye on both actors and have regular check-ins with them. The crew is also arranging visits from their loved ones to help them relax. However, it appears there's an issue within Bale's family; during the last visit, they had a serious argument."

Nolan, a modern director with exceptional filmmaking skills and other remarkable talents, deftly placed responsibility on Bale.

Parker could sense that if he pursued action against the crew, it could potentially open the door for Martin to hold Bale accountable.

"I won't immediately report this to the Screen Actors Guild or the insurance company," Parker said as he watched the video of Martin and Bale's conversation. "It's likely Bale didn't intend harm. I believe they both got carried away with the scene." The dialogue between the two actors in the video closely resembled that of Batman and the Joker, and Parker continued, "The dynamics between Batman and the Joker have clearly influenced both of them. Bale isn't the type to intentionally harm others." Nolan chimed in, "I share that view, and the crew will cover all their medical expenses."

"This was an unfortunate accident. Bale didn't intend to harm Martin, and Martin has always been amicable with Bale," Charles Rowan added. "The crew can attest to Martin's friendly behavior towards Bale."

Parker, upon arrival, had contacted crew members who were familiar with the situation, which didn't bode well for Bell.

According to these sources, Martin consistently greeted Bale with a smile, introduced him to friends enthusiastically, and displayed a friendly demeanor. In contrast, Bale often maintained a cold demeanor towards Martin and had even shown hostility on several occasions.

It wasn't just the crew; even the extras from Atlanta had noticed and discussed the strained relationship.

Charles Rowan explained, "The root cause of their strained relationship appears to be their deep immersion in their roles and the inherent conflict between their characters."

He then went on to arrange for a third party to guarantee Bale's remaining action scenes and stunts, with a stand-in taking only half a morning to don the Batsuit.

Regarding personal insurance matters, those would need to be discussed, particularly focusing on Martin's personal stance, which would be the deciding factor.

Nolan emphasized, "The crucial factor here is Martin. If he decides to involve the police, the crew will face a difficult situation, and as for Bale..."

Parker interrupted, "We can discuss Bale's situation later. I'd like to gather more information."

After careful investigation, it became evident that aside from crew rumors, various factors worked against Bale.

If this situation wasn't managed wisely, it could seriously impact Bale's acting career, provided that his mental state could be stabilized.