Chapter 164

Martin's initial motivation for writing Twilight stemmed from his fear of the emotional void he felt during his adolescent years in high school.

However, as Martin moved into adulthood, he began to realize that he no longer needed Twilight to fill that gap. With roles in films like The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix, which had garnered both critical acclaim and impressive box office earnings, he found himself questioning whether he still needed to star in movies.

The Twilight series, while profitable, didn't significantly elevate the male cast members. In the original timeline, it was only the female lead who truly benefitted from the film's success. The male actors, despite their prominent roles, had little impact on the overall narrative, as it focused primarily on the female protagonist.

"Has Warner approved our terms for The Matrix?" Martin asked as he met with Jeff in the CAA offices.

"They've agreed to everything, matching nearly every condition of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible contract with Paramount," Jeff replied with a confident smile.

"Great," Martin said, "It's time to start assembling the team. I'll be playing the male lead, Nicole will be the female lead, and I'll leave the rest to you and your team at CAA. However, I'll be providing a list of suggestions—please try to follow it."

"Of course!" Jeff beamed.

When Martin returned to Los Angeles, he had little time to rest. After a few brief meetings with women, he dove straight back into work.

It was mid-March, and the Oscars were just around the corner.

Before the ceremony, something unusual occurred. On March 10, 55 Academy Award statuettes were stolen from an Overland Express loading dock in Bell. The Academy immediately contacted the police, but the stolen trophies were never recovered before the ceremony.

In a scramble, the R.S. Owens company hurriedly produced a new batch of Oscars just in time for the event. Nine days later, a man named Willie Fulgear discovered 52 of the stolen statuettes in a trash bin at a supermarket near Pickleland, Los Angeles. The remaining three were never found. As a reward, the freight company paid Fulgear $50,000, and the Academy gave his son, Allen, two tickets to the evening's gala.

As the opening music played, the Oscar ceremony began. Martin sat with the cast of Hide and Seek, including John Poulson and Robert De Niro, while the Little Island crew, which included Nicole Kidman and Lindsay Lohan, sat a few rows away.

Nicole glanced at Martin as she took her seat, and Martin gave her a reassuring nod.

Lindsay, now 14, smiled brightly at him. Her looks were only getting sweeter with age.

At the ceremony, Hide and Seek received nominations for "Best Original Screenplay," "Best Soundtrack," and "Best Actor" (for Robert De Niro). Little Island garnered nominations for "Best Original Screenplay," "Best Soundtrack," and "Best Actress."

All eyes were on Nicole Kidman's potential win for Best Actress, and Martin, using his influence, quietly worked to secure several key votes in her favor.

Nicole was nervous, but Martin's confident gaze gave her a sense of calm.

At that moment, Lindsay whispered, "Nicole, you'll definitely win. Martin never breaks his word."

Nicole smiled and affectionately rubbed Lindsay's head.

With the opening music fading, Billy Crystal, hosting the Oscars for the seventh time, took the stage and immediately entertained the crowd. He imitated the classic rose petal scene from American Beauty—but instead of rose petals, he was "carried" on stage by an actor dressed as a Los Angeles police officer, poking fun at the city's chaotic law enforcement. The audience erupted in laughter.

As the awards began, American Beauty emerged as the big winner, sweeping major categories like "Best Picture," "Best Director," "Best Actor," and "Best Cinematography."

Meanwhile, Martin won the Oscar for "Best Original Screenplay" for Hide and Seek. The presenter was none other than Mel Gibson, who greeted Martin warmly. Their hug was a far cry from the image of Gibson as a drunken, volatile star—though the atmosphere was much more congenial given the occasion.

"Congratulations, Martin," Gibson said, smiling.

"Thank you, Mr. Gibson," Martin replied. "It's great to be back. The kid who ran away from home is home again!"

The audience burst into laughter.

As Martin began his acceptance speech, he thanked everyone in sight before raising his Oscar high. With a charming grin, he joked, "Two years ago, James Cameron stood here and said he was the king of the world. Well, I don't have quite that much ambition—what I'll say is, one golden man a year!"

The crowd cheered, laughing along with him.

Nicole whispered to Lindsay, "Martin's speeches are always a hit."

Lindsay puffed out her chest, beaming. "Martin's the best!"

When the Best Actress award was announced, Nicole stiffened, nervous for what was to come. The competition was fierce, with Annette Bening from American Beauty, Hilary Swank from Boys Don't Cry, Jenny McTeer from Tumbleweed, and Meryl Streep from Music of the Heart all in the running.

Before the ceremony, her husband had warned her that she might not win, especially since Cruise Films had not invested as heavily in her campaign as other studios had in their candidates. But Martin had reassured her the day before the ceremony, telling her that her chances were strong.

Nicole had prepared her speech and chosen to believe in Martin's words.

"The winner of Best Actress is…" Roberto Benigni, the presenter, paused dramatically, earning a round of boos from the audience. He smiled, having built suspense, before continuing, "Little Island—Nicole Kidman!"

Nicole jumped to her feet, beaming with joy, and embraced those around her.

In the midst of the hugs, Lindsay whispered in her ear, "I told you! Martin always keeps his promises!"

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise, who wasn't sitting with Nicole, frowned upon hearing his wife had won. He quickly masked his discomfort, rising to applaud as he waited for Nicole to come over.

But Nicole, with a radiant smile, immediately ran to Martin, embracing him warmly. Tom watched them, his expression turning slightly wistful as he saw the growing bond between them.

Not far away, Harvey Weinstein, watching the exchange, seethed with envy. His resentment toward Nicole was palpable, and his suspicions about Tom Cruise's involvement grew.

The whole situation reminded him of events that had led him into hiding for nearly six months, and now, his suspicions pointed squarely at Cruise—after all, Tom had the motive and the means to orchestrate it all.