Chapter 562: Dust Has Settled

In the hushed tranquility of Martin's study, the black tea, as dark as the secrets they harbored, cascaded gracefully from the spout of a pristine white porcelain teapot, releasing tendrils of steam that danced in the slanting light. Martin, with deliberate precision, filled Leonardo's cup to the brim while Nicholson's received a more modest measure.

Nicholson, with the casualness of a seasoned plotter, fetched the milk and sugar cubes, his movements smooth and practiced. As he mixed his tea, the spoon chiming gently against the porcelain, his voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "The legs of the Foot Gang are frail, ripe for the taking. I've yet to make my move, but with Martin, the cunning little brother, we've left them battered and bruised."

Leonardo, his gaze sharp and assessing, retorted with a wry smirk, "Ah, the Face Gang's tradition of unabashed audacity never fails to amuse."

Martin, feigning indignation, interjected smoothly, "Your shamelessness knows no bounds, gentlemen. Spare me the association."

Before the banter could spiral, Martin steered the conversation towards Harvey, his tone light but loaded. "Speaking of entertainment, Leonardo, have the recent escapades been to your taste?"

Leonardo, his eyes glinting with mischief, leaned back, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. "Utterly captivating. And as I've always maintained, what's wrong with a little kindness after a night out? No harm in being a gentleman, right?"

Martin chuckled, his admiration genuine. "Leonardo, ever the unyielding charmer."

Leonardo preened, his confidence unshaken. "I stand for unwavering devotion and true love."

Nicholson, sipping his adjusted tea, grimaced at the sweetness. "All this watching the fun is amusing, sure, but the real game lies in the participation."

Martin's eyes gleamed, a plan forming. "There's a task at hand, Jack, tailor-made for you. Leo and I lack your... particular talents."

Nicholson's laughter was a low rumble, his interest piqued. "And what might this task be?"

Martin leaned forward, the gravity in his voice palpable. "We're going to ensure the Foot Gang's downfall in Hollywood is irrevocable."

Leonardo, his brow furrowed in concern, questioned, "Can Harvey really make a comeback?"

Martin's response was firm, his resolve unshakable. "It's an uphill battle, but not insurmountable. We'll hit him relentlessly until he's completely vanquished."

His fingers lightly brushed the porcelain of his tea cup, his gaze distant yet focused. "Public sentiment and industry alliances can sway the judiciary, after all."

Nicholson, catching on, his expression sharpening, ventured, "You're suggesting we sway Hollywood's power brokers against Harvey?"

Martin's smile was enigmatic, yet triumphant. "Jack, you're the linchpin, one of the old guards."

Realization dawned on Nicholson; this was his moment, his stage. Draining his tea, he rose. "I'll engage Warren Beatty, his wife, and Sidney Gannis immediately."

Leonardo, not to be left out, inquired, "And my role in this?"

Martin's gaze was unwavering, his voice steady. "As the Face Gang's second son, publicly sever your ties with Harvey. We move as one."

Leonardo nodded, his resolve mirroring Martin's. "Together, in step, without fail."

With the departure of his conspirators, Martin reached out to Thomas, his voice low but clear. "What's the word from Ari?"

Thomas's reply was prompt, the gears of their plan already in motion. "WMA is making a statement today."

Martin's smile was one of satisfaction. "The first domino falls, the rest will follow suit."

That afternoon, as WMA's press conference unfolded, Ari's words resonated far and wide, marking the beginning of Hollywood's unequivocal renouncement of Harvey Weinstein. The subsequent days saw a cascade of solidarity, with agencies and stars alike distancing themselves, their declarations echoing through the industry like the final tolling of a bell for Harvey's reign. Hollywood, once a place of whispered alliances and quiet understandings, had spoken loudly and clearly. The game had changed.

In the opulent lounge of Warren Beatty's mansion, where the scent of aged whiskey mingled with the faint aroma of Cuban cigars, a gathering of Hollywood's old guard, faces etched with the lines of countless stories, deliberated in hushed, earnest tones.

Nicholson, his voice carrying the weight of decades in the industry, addressed the assembled titans. "Gentlemen, as we stand at the twilight of our reign, what truly remains our most treasured asset?"

In the dimly lit room, rich with the patina of old Hollywood, the old white men pondered. Finally, Nicholson, his gaze piercing the veil of smoke, declared, "Reputation! For decades, we've nurtured our legacies. Why tarnish them now by associating with a convicted felon?"

Annette Bening, her poise unshaken, her voice steady yet charged with emotion, revealed, "Harvey made his attempts on me. It was only my wit that thwarted him."

Warren Beatty, his expression a mix of surprise and concern, turned to his wife. "Annette, why is this the first I'm hearing of it?"

With a shrug that spoke of a different era, Annette replied, "Back then, Warren, we were both just stars orbiting in our own galaxies, not yet united."

Warren, his demeanor sobering, nodded. "To be entangled with such a felon is beneath us."

Nicholson, his voice a blend of nostalgia and disgust, mused aloud, "We've weathered our share of storms, gentlemen. But did any of us stoop as low as Harvey?"

A chorus of indignant murmurs swept the room, each man disavowing any association with such disgraceful acts.

As the conversation swirled, all eyes eventually settled on Sidney Ganis, the influential president of the Academy. The weight of their collective outrage and concern was palpable; the thought of their own daughters, potential prey in this predatory game, was unbearable.

Sidney, sensing the gravity of the moment, resolved, "I will convene the Academy's council."

Meanwhile, in a stark room that reeked of despair and legal paperwork, Harvey sat, his face a map of stress, dark circles like ominous shadows beneath his eyes.

His lawyer, the epitome of professional detachment, relayed the latest blow. "Georgina has filed for divorce, Harvey. She's moving to freeze your assets."

Harvey, a tempest of betrayal and panic brewing within him, insisted defiantly, "I can still pay you!"

The lawyer, maintaining a veneer of loyalty, assured, "I'm with you, Harvey. But our options are narrowing."

As accusations piled up and political pressures mounted, the lawyer presented a desperate strategy. "Pretend illness, Harvey. It's our only play."

Harvey, his face contorted with a mix of anger and disbelief, protested, "I'm innocent! They came to me willingly!"

The lawyer, recognizing the futility of words, let Harvey's delusional tirade unspool, a bitter symphony of denial and self-deception.

Finally, as the lawyer exited the room, leaving the echo of Harvey's rant behind, a dramatic scene unfolded. Harvey, his face crimson with rage and exertion, suddenly clutched at his chest, collapsing in a heap on the cold, unyielding floor, a fallen titan in a tragic tableau that marked the end of an era.

Harvey's descent was calculated, his hefty frame cautiously hitting the ground in a feigned collapse, mindful that his pretense could all too easily become a grim reality.

As he was whisked away for medical evaluation, the Film Academy Board of Governors assembled with unprecedented urgency at the lavish Ritz-Carlton. The air was thick with tension and the weight of history as Sidney Gannis, his voice steady but laden with gravity, made a groundbreaking announcement on behalf of the Academy: "Effective immediately, Harvey Weinstein's Academy membership is hereby revoked." A decision unparalleled in the Academy's near-century legacy.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Prosecutor's Office declared a dedicated task force for the Weinstein case, reflecting the enormity of the charges that spanned coasts, with victims stepping forward in New York and beyond, the count horrifyingly surpassing eighty.

The nation was in uproar, the world watching in disbelief. The Me Too movement, championed by figures like Jolie and Aniston, swelled into a formidable force, their outcry reverberating from Washington to the streets of Hollywood where crowds rallied, their placards a testament to the collective demand for justice.

Amid this maelstrom, TMZ's release of a video depicting Harvey's abuse towards Georgina Chapman added fuel to the raging fire, exposing layers of violence and betrayal.

As the traditional Hollywood awards season commenced, the glitter of trophies paled in comparison to the shadow cast by Weinstein's scandal. Even after his conditional bail, Harvey remained a prisoner within the city limits, Los Angeles holding him in an unforgiving grasp.

On his release from the hospital, the scene was chaotic. Harvey, his visage a portrait of defeat and despair, clutched a wheelchair for support, each step towards his car an ordeal under the scrutiny of the media and protesters.

Once inside the vehicle, Harvey's confusion was palpable as he inquired about his long-time driver, only to learn from his weary lawyer that even the most loyal had turned, lured by the promise of hefty payouts for insider revelations.

In a world that had flipped on its axis, Harvey, his heart racing with dread and betrayal, fumbled for his medication, the pills a temporary refuge from his crumbling reality.

"Scott," Harvey implored, seeking a fragment of truth from his decade-long confidant, "just how dire is my predicament?"

The lawyer's response, heavy with the burden of unspoken truths, was a bleak forecast. "Harvey, we're surrounded by adversaries. Those who once stood by you are now your most fervent accusers. Stay silent on certain matters, and perhaps you'll see retirement—though even that's a decade away at best."

Harvey, trapped in the intricate web of his own making, understood the unspoken rules of his grim new reality. Silence was his precarious sanctuary; speaking out could seal his fate. A once untouchable titan, he now navigated a labyrinth of betrayal and vengeance, every ally turned adversary, every whisper a potential harbinger of his downfall.