Chapter 430: Expected To Go Crazy

In the morning, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel lobby, Nicholson and Leonardo found Martin. They ordered coffee, waiting for Martin, who had stayed at the hotel the night before.

As they sipped their coffee, they fondly remembered the previous night when they all arrived at the hotel. Just before nine, Martin hugged Angela Lindvall and Karolina Kurkova before heading downstairs.

Spotting Nicholson and Leonardo, Martin waved and arranged for the hotel car to send the supermodels away. Angela and KK seemed in high spirits, with KK mentioning the positive effects of a high-protein diet.

"Consider adding more high-protein foods to your diet these days," KK advised Martin. Martin, being considerate, replied, "No problem, just come to me if you need it."

Angela chimed in, "And me."

"Come together," Martin suggested as they left. Afterward, Martin went to the rest area, ordered tea, and settled in.

Leonardo remarked, "Did you see? Martin was the first to leave last night and the last to come out this morning."

Nicholson agreed, playfully calling Martin a "bastard" for being with two supermodels. Martin retorted, exposing their own escapades: "Jack, did you sleep between Mr. and Mrs. Meryl last night? Leo, did you sleep in front of Giselle's current wife?"

Leonardo denied his involvement, but Nicholson strangely kept silent. Martin, quick-witted, signaled Leonardo to stay quiet. The trio bantered, and Leonardo accused Nicholson of being with the Meryl couple.

Martin teased, "Jack, you didn't even call me!" Leonardo realized Martin was joking, and the banter continued. Nicholson finally revealed his last encounter with Meryl, and Leonardo suggested Naomi Campbell as an alternative.

Martin brought up Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholson shared how he helped her with a role. Martin warned, "Get a camera ready, and be passive when the time comes."

Leonardo praised Martin's foresight, and Nicholson revealed plans to leverage videos for future financial gains. Martin acknowledged, "Jack, you bastard is too far-sighted." The conversation shifted to the future, considering Leonardo and Martin had no children to worry about.

The trio enjoyed tea and a casual chat, diving into the details of Leonardo's upcoming collaboration with Scorsese on a new film.

Martin inquired, "Graham mentioned you're heading to a mental hospital for real-life experience."

Leonardo affirmed, "It's a two-stage process, lasting at least a month."

"I've been through that before 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,'" shared Nicholson. "Good luck. If you go nuts, Martin and I will visit you monthly."

Martin added, "Don't let Jack and me down; you must become a mental patient."

Leonardo felt the sincerity and the presence of two good friends around him.

Nicholson quipped, "I traveled across the U.S. for fun, from LA to NY! Martin had a blast yesterday, but Leo, who brought me here, didn't impress. Quite disappointing."

Martin suggested, "There's still fun ahead; let's keep making memories."

Nicholson asked, "Who?"

"The Affleck brothers," Martin reminded. "Remember Oscar night? They declared war on our Face Gang for the Foot Gang."

Leonardo remembered, "Big Ben is better, but his younger brother, Casey, is terrible."

Nicholson, not one to shy away from trouble, asked, "What's the plan?" Aware of his role, he asserted, "As the leader of the Face Gang, I can't be vague when it's time to step forward. Wes Craven isn't in good health."

Martin explained, "The Affleck brothers are nothing. Even with Quentin and Matt Damon, the core of the Foot Gang, compared to us, it's nothing. The key to their power is Harvey Weinstein."

Nicholson warned, "Dealing with him is tricky; he's is part of the Jewish lobby."

Leonardo added, "He might be able to influence some of the Jewish representatives."

"I know," Martin acknowledged. "Focus firepower on the Affleck brothers."

Nicholson inquired, "Where are they now?"

Martin informed, "Back in Los Angeles after failing to compete for 'Prince of Thieves' rights."

Excitement filled Nicholson as he planned to return to Los Angeles to investigate. He declared, "I'll check on those two bastards and formulate a plan."

Leonardo shared the excitement, saying, "The more we know, the more targeted we can be."

Martin cautioned, "Keep an eye on them. The Foot Gang isn't as principled as our Face Gang."

In Los Angeles, preparations were underway, focusing on people closely related, especially those unfamiliar with the industry, like Elizabeth and Lily.

Nicholson, not wanting to miss out on the fun, added, "If Leo goes crazy here, notify me for front-row seats."

Martin assured, "No problem."

Leonardo, wide-eyed, asked, "Are you really expecting me to go crazy?"

Martin playfully responded, "If you do, no one will compete with me for a beautiful blonde with long legs."

As they parted ways, Nicholson had already booked a flight back to Los Angeles.

Leonardo, heading to a mental hospital, feeling a bit overwhelmed, grabbed Martin's arm and said, "When I go to the mental hospital, you have to follow me more closely. Call me every two days, and if anything seems off, bring me back quickly."

Martin reassured, "Don't worry; I'll keep in touch regularly."

After discussing serious matters, Martin added humorously, "If things really go south, I'll cover the hospitalization costs."

Leonardo's reaction was a mix of relief and disbelief.

Capitalizing on the MET GALA trend, The Dark Knight crew unveiled a special episode featuring The Joker.

The brief 45-second personal clip packs a punch with Martin's intense and villainous performance, easily stirring emotions.

In character, Martin declares, "Gotham is a degenerate crime city, and I want to improve its taste and style," against the backdrop of a mountain of burning dollar bills.

All promotional content revolves around the anticipated showdown between Batman and the Joker.

Director Nolan joins the action, sharing two behind-the-scenes videos on his blog. During The Dark Knight filming, Maggie Gyllenhaal, playing the heroine, found Martin's performance so intense that she nervously frequented the bathroom.

In another clip, Michael Caine, faced with Martin's maniacal smile, was momentarily frightened, even forgetting his lines. These snippets heightened audience curiosity and anticipation for the film.

Martin's expanding fan base, coupled with members of the Coca-Cola Cult, eagerly await the release.

"Not only were the actors on set frightened, but I was also scared by Martin's on-screen performance," one enthusiast shared. "This character is intriguing and unlike any other clown. Can't wait to see the film."

Nolan's behind-the-scenes highlights add a real, interesting dimension, keeping the audience captivated.

The Dark Knight crew strategically releases promotional material, gradually building anticipation and market buzz with exceptional rhythm.

Besides excelling in their respective roles, the director and lead actors actively contribute to publicity and marketing.

Notably, Martin's completed film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and the ongoing "John Wick" garner significant attention. Despite the former's release scheduled for next year, it seizes the current craze by unveiling a poster featuring the aging young Benjamin.

While "John Wick" films on New York streets, a media open house ensures more people learn about this exciting production in progress.