Chapter 554: Who's Next!

Nolan had been plagued by concerns regarding the Moroccan kidnapping case and the crew shooting. On several occasions, he confided in Martin, expressing his suspicions that the Mossad of the Hoopoe family might be involved.

This secretive agency had a notorious reputation for undertaking countless unsavory tasks.

Martin decided to share a blend of truth and deception, "A few days ago, I gleaned some relevant information from Georgina Chapman, Harvey's wife. Chris, my relationship with her is rather unique..."

Nolan nodded, signifying his understanding, "I can comprehend."

"In all honesty," Martin continued gravely, "there's no concrete evidence for these matters. But considering that they concern both you and me, I believe you have a right to know."

Nolan himself had never contemplated revealing this so delicately. "Actually, I've had some inklings."

Martin was forthright, "Georgina informed me that Harvey instructed Pitt and Ben to carry out these actions. Although I don't know who their target was and possess no concrete evidence, Georgina happened to overhear some of their phone conversations."

Nolan furrowed his brows, "I have no connections with Harvey."

Martin extended an apology, "In that case, I apologize in advance. Some of Harvey's actions may have been directed at me." He mentioned the incident involving the false paternity test, "A while back, the person behind the paternity test that falsely implicated me was none other than Ben and Pitt. They are core members of the Face Gang and have been closely associated with Harvey over the past few years, especially Ben, who went to great lengths for Harvey's benefit."

Nolan was familiar with the story involving Ben and Harvey. Considering Martin's revelations, he inquired, "Is it possible that someone else is targeting me?"

Martin continued, "It's a possibility. Harvey, as a Jew, has connections with certain Jewish factions in North America. These connections run deep."

Nolan had been under immense pressure since the kidnapping case, and he had been forced to bow down and compromise. However, for a director as ambitious and autonomy-driven as him, the greater the pressure, the stronger the desire to push back.

Nolan initially thought the perpetrators were Jews, but as he contemplated further, he voiced his belief, "It's not out of the realm of possibility that they intend to teach me a profound lesson through Harvey. After all, these individuals have committed countless audacious acts, even assassinating UN officials who spoke against them. Young directors like me who have crossed their paths may not be spared either."

Martin sighed, "Perhaps the two of us are simply unfortunate."

Nolan asserted, "It's not a matter of bad luck; it's a matter of them going too far. Their greed knows no bounds. Isn't Harvey a prime example among them?"

Martin concurred, "In any case, be cautious when it comes to Harvey in the future."

Nolan assured him, "I'll be vigilant."

When Martin exited the car, he was feeling somewhat agitated. Harvey had played a surreptitious game with him, and he was left pondering how to retaliate.

Nolan remained by his car for a while, retrieved his phone, and dialed Barry Meyer's number. He stated outright, "We've invested $160 million in a project that may have been tampered with by Harvey Weinstein."

Barry Meyer inquired, "You're referring to the recent shooting incident?"

Nolan had his suspicions but also presented his own analysis, "The covert act of switching the bullets in Tom Hardy's firearm can only be explained within the crew as an act influenced and incited by an external force. The person behind this must hold significant sway in the industry, possess immense power, and harbor animosity toward me, Martin, and even Warner."

He paused briefly before concluding, "This individual appears to be quite influential and clearly not our ally."

The enduring conflict between Harvey and Warner had stretched well beyond a mere year or two. The battle over the copyright of "The Hobbit" had managed to partially resolve their longstanding feud, only to give rise to a fresh enmity.

Barry Meyer chimed in, acknowledging, "Indeed, Harvey fits the description."

"The Dark Knight's" resounding success had given Nolan considerable leverage. He emphasized, "Warner Brothers assured me of their full support."

After a moment's pause, Barry Meyer reassured him, "Don't fret; you'll see it soon."

Nolan ended the call, climbed into his car, and headed home. Upon arrival, he discovered a note left by Emma Thomas.

It revealed that Emma was currently on a European trip and would return in a few days.

Nolan tossed the note aside, entered the room with the zipper, and resumed his work.

The success of his films played a pivotal role in gaining Warner's trust.

...

During the car ride back to Beverly Hills, Leonardo turned to Martin and quipped, "Old man, Jack and I should consider ourselves lucky that we're both staunchly against marriage. Otherwise, we might have thrown you out of the car long ago."

Nicholson shook his head, adding, "I might have been a jerk in my youth, but compared to your antics, I'm practically a model of moral rectitude."

Martin shrugged, jesting, "I told you, I was coerced. Do you believe me?"

Their response was a pair of raised middle fingers.

Nicholson quipped, "If you were trying to save face, you couldn't have said something worse."

Leonardo chimed in, "Have you already chosen your next target? Whose wife or fiancée are you eyeing? Jack and I could make some preparations to help you raise the banners."

Martin pondered the question seriously before declaring firmly, "There won't be any more in the future."

"Nobody in their right mind would believe that!" Leonardo snorted. He continued, "Who else in the Foot Gang even has a wife? Quentin, that gangster, isn't married or engaged. Robert Rodriguez seems to be in the same boat. How about Matt Damon?"

He turned to Nicholson, asking, "Is Damon married?"

Nicholson thought for a moment before confirming, "I believe he is."

"Can you two just be decent human beings?" Martin pointed at them with disdain. "Instead of scheming with other people's wives and fiancées, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Even Satan would be repelled by the stench you emit."

As the car entered Beverly Hills, Leonardo pointed towards the north side of Sunset Boulevard and teased, "Alright, let's be decent human beings and swear not to head there tonight in search of Charlize Theron."

Martin fired back, "Jealousy has clearly twisted your mind, Leo! Unlike you, who seems to have a knack for finding lemons among the apples."

Leonardo almost asked if Charlize Theron had blond hair and long legs but caught himself in time, saying instead, "You don't understand. Only those under 25 are deemed 'true love.'"

Nicholson, wanting no part in their banter, signaled to Bruce to stop the car and declared, "I'm going to get some sleep."

Leonardo followed suit, stating, "I'm heading out too. Need to recharge for the next campaign."

After the two exited the car, Bruce continued driving. As he approached the east entrance of Charlize's house, a small gate opened automatically.

In the midst of autumn's golden hues, the grass transitioned from yellow to a rich flaxen, with a crimson path beckoning Martin to explore.

Before he exited the car, Bruce informed Martin, "I'm going to Judy's place in a bit."

Considering the tremendous effort Bruce was investing in this endeavor, Martin quipped, "Use less force, don't break anyone's bones."

Bruce's face reddened, but he responded resolutely, "Judy is racing against time to catch up on the news, editing and organizing videos. These stories can't be revealed prematurely. She can't handle it alone, so I'm going to lend a hand."

Martin gave a thumbs-up to his dedicated companion, remarking, "You may not be an editor, but you're one hell of a guardian!"

Bruce waved farewell and drove off.

Martin entered Charlize's house and proceeded to embark on the narrow path that lay ahead.

Not long after, Bruce stepped into Judy's house.

The two entered the editing room, where a plethora of materials awaited them – photos, videos, and interview transcripts from various parties. Their task was to craft these elements into a concise video news report.

As per their plan, the initial version of the video news had to be limited to a mere fifteen minutes. In today's fast-paced digital era, if a news piece stretched on for too long, online viewers might click away before even giving it a chance.

Judy, with his wealth of experience and a sharp news sense, skillfully selected the most crucial elements for their video.

Bruce, on the other hand, possessed a broader perspective and a knack for finding angles that could generate greater buzz.

The information they had amassed about Harvey Weinstein's coercion was substantial, akin to a mountain of evidence. With Judy's expertise, they began trimming it down to a more manageable size. In the meantime, Judy prepared two strong cups of coffee.

However, Bruce inquired, "No tea?"

Judy was taken aback, "You enjoy black tea?"

Bruce explained simply, "It's a habit I picked up from Martin."

Judy responded, "I'll make sure to buy some in the future, always ready for you."

Bruce felt slightly flustered by Judy's remark and quickly waved it off, "No need to trouble yourself..."

Judy gazed at him, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

Bruce thought about Kim and Khloe, the two sisters, and decided he needed to clarify things with Judy, "We're friends and partners, there are no romantic involvements here."

"Scoundrel! Worse than Martin Davis!" Judy nearly blurted out, taking a sip of his coffee.

Bruce, having spent considerable time with Martin, had absorbed certain principles. He casually responded, "Please understand, alright? I see how hard you work, and I wanted to express my sympathy."

Judy replied directly, "Once we finish today's work, I'll need that sympathy." She quipped, "Can you be a bit gentler? Are you trying to break my bones every time?"

Bruce had developed a habit of playful roughhousing with the others, and they all had enough padding to withstand it. "I'll do my best," was all he could say.

Judy diverted the conversation back to their task at hand, saying, "Soon, I'll be your whistleblower. Are you confident in taking on Harvey?"

Knowing that their confidence wasn't at 100%, they sought Judy's perspective. Bruce replied, "You can boldly lead the charge, and we'll support you from the rear. If needed, we have at least five powerful forces ready to rush in and back you up."

Judy, resolute and undeterred, didn't look back as she worked. She asked, "Who are these five forces?"

"I can't reveal them at this moment," Bruce responded cryptically, which was partly true, and it sufficed for the present.

Secretly, he was counting on Martin's influence.

Then there was the political leverage Kelly Gray could muster.

It was rumored that Louise was also attempting to persuade her father. After all, her interests were deeply entwined with Martin's, as Pacific Pictures primarily collaborated with him on film projects.

Not to mention Warner Bros., where Barry Meyer, Alan Horn, and Daniel would seize any opportune moment to act against Harvey.

And there were Leonardo and Nicholson. They had both affirmed that Harvey was no ordinary adversary, but neither were they.

These were just a few among the many forces at play.