Chapter 281: Pressure

In a reception room at the Brooklyn branch of the NYPD, Martin, Bruce, and Aniston were joined by the crew's associate producer Damian and the crew's lawyer for routine victim statements.

Martin, Bruce, and Aniston provided factual accounts of the incident. Aniston's part, although slightly embellished, remained true to the facts.

The police officer taking their statements shook hands with each of them and thanked them for their cooperation. Martin, being sincere, remarked, "I've heard that the NYPD is known for its fairness and impartiality, and I trust you'll handle this matter appropriately."

The situation involved well-known individuals, with an Australian star on one side and American heroes and the nation's sweetheart, Aniston, on the other. The officer couldn't help but empathize with Aniston's fear, leading him to consider a measured approach.

Exiting the reception room, the crew's lawyer, Ward, conveyed crucial information to Martin and Aniston. The NYPD had found prescription drugs, exceeding the allowable limit, and an illegal substance in Heath Ledger's possession. Preliminary urine tests were positive, and further blood tests were scheduled. According to New York regulations, they weren't allowed to drive after taking these drugs.

Martin promptly suggested, "He nearly hit Jane and me in the parking lot. Can he be suspected of dangerous driving?"

Ward cautioned, "If you insist on pursuing that, he might face more trouble."

Aniston softly expressed her concern, saying, "I don't care about him." Despite many such individuals in Hollywood, no one had ever posed a direct threat to her.

Martin's phone rang, and it was Thomas, his agent, rushing to the airport. When a client faces a problem, agents respond immediately. Thomas's professionalism was commendable.

Aniston also received a call from her agent, who advised her to refrain from facing the media until his arrival.

Martin pondered and asked an important question, "Is Heath Ledger also a client of CAA?"

Aniston was uncertain, so she inquired and confirmed that he was.

Martin suggested, "We'll discuss it when we get back." He needed time to strategize on how to maximize the potential benefits from this crisis.

As they entered the hall, two women approached Martin: Cate Blanchett and famous actress Michelle Williams.

Blanchett introduced Michelle as Ledger's fiancée and requested a private conversation.

Michelle sincerely apologized to Martin and Aniston, acknowledging the severity of Heath's actions. Martin urged her to convey any relevant information promptly.

Michelle understood the gravity of the situation and tried to explain, "Heath didn't mean to... What happened was an accident, and those drugs..."

While Martin and Aniston acknowledged that the incident seemed accidental, they recognized that the core issue went beyond that.

Michelle skillfully elaborated, "Just over two months ago, Heath became a father. Our daughter was born, and he struggled with the pressure of being a new father, combined with the demands of the awards season. He sought medical help and medication to cope with the stress."

Despite Michelle's carefully crafted narrative involving fatherhood, stress, and mental health, Martin wasn't swayed. He remarked, "So the celebrity father's stress is to blame?" Glancing at Aniston, he suggested, "Shall we go?"

Aniston agreed, and they left. Michelle was left anxious, but Bruce prevented her from following.

Bruce couldn't help but be critical of the situation: highly-paid stars using stress as an excuse for drug addiction, while ordinary people working multiple jobs or enduring long hours of labor faced their stress without resorting to such excuses.

Separately in their cars, as they approached the Brooklyn Bridge, Bruce received a call and informed Martin that they were being followed.

Aniston felt a touch nervous, having just encountered Heath Ledger. Martin, however, was no stranger to difficult situations and instructed, "Find out who they are."

Since subduing Heath Ledger at the studio, Martin had been contemplating the aftermath. Heath Ledger wasn't acting alone.

The Australian gang's opinion of Martin didn't worry him much. Their options were limited due to Ledger's involvement with the Face Gang and the Bastard Trio.

Martin was considering Heath Ledger's agency and the production and distribution company backing the project.

Currently, "Brokeback Mountain" is playing in theaters, featuring Heath Ledger as the leading actor. He has been nominated for Best Actor at the recent Golden Globe Awards. In other words, CAA, the producers, and distributors might be working on securing his Oscar nomination.

The car swiftly arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan and entered the lobby. Bruce informed Martin, "We've got a team of reporters from the News of the World. They might have caught wind of the news and are looking for an exclusive."

Martin replied as he walked, "Ah, the News of the World, old acquaintances." He recalled their secret entry into his room in Washington.

Upon reaching their rooms, Bruce meticulously inspected Martin's accommodations to ensure everything was in order before allowing Martin and Aniston inside.

Aniston decided to take a shower, while Martin sifted through his address book and found the business card of Mockridge, the editor-in-chief of the News of the World. They had previously negotiated a manuscript and royalties deal.

Similar behavior to Heath Ledger's wouldn't usually raise eyebrows in Hollywood if Martin and Aniston weren't involved. In the entertainment industry, the pursuit of profit sometimes led to the suppression of celebrities' missteps.

Meanwhile, in the reception room of the Brooklyn branch, the crew of "I'm Not There" was busy notifying not only their producers but also the New York-based distributor, The Weinstein Pictures. Shamus, the producer of the "Brokeback Mountain" crew, was working in public relations in New York and was soon joined by representatives from Paramount Pictures, another major producer.

"Brokeback Mountain" had just won several Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's success had generated enthusiasm for expanding its release, making the studio unwilling to let the male lead's recent incident harm their profits.

Heath Ledger's agency, CAA, was also deeply invested in his awards season campaign, with a Golden Globe nomination already secured and a potential Oscar nomination on the horizon. Just like Martin, a rising actor's interests were interconnected with many stakeholders.

Kevin Howard, Heath Ledger's agent and a senior partner at CAA, had a conversation with Harvey Weinstein. They both understood the potential losses at stake if Heath Ledger were to face legal issues at this time.

Harvey suggested, "Focus Pictures and Paramount Pictures have invested significantly in Brokeback Mountain, and they're on the brink of a lucrative award season. They won't tolerate this situation. Contact them and let them negotiate with Warner Bros. Communication. My direct involvement with Warner would only escalate matters."

Kevin added, "I've already communicated with these two companies, and they've agreed to meet in New York early tomorrow morning."

In agreement with the plan, Harvey proposed, "Let's meet with them together tomorrow."

Meanwhile, "I'm Not There" had filmed extensively in Minnesota before moving to New York, and replacing Heath Ledger would represent a significant loss.

Outside the Brooklyn Studio, an unassuming car was parked, and its occupants waited for updates. Hazard, in the front passenger seat, examined his "News of the World" press pass before stowing it away. He asked his colleague Lukaku, who had just completed a phone call, "Have we received any updates from the NYPD?"

Lukaku shook his head, replying, "So far, all I know is that a conflict involving several Hollywood stars, including Martin, Aniston, Bale, Blanchett, and Heath Ledger, occurred near closing time at the Brooklyn studio. We don't have the exact details yet."

Hazard gazed through the car window toward the studio area and commented, "Martin Davis always seems to attract trouble."

Lukaku cautioned, "Let's not act rashly. Remember what happened with that Washington spy incident."

While Hazard wasn't fully aware of the details of the Washington incident, there were internal rumors, and their superiors had advised against using dubious methods to provoke Martin Davis.

As they were discussing this, a man wearing an ordinary dark coat and a common cotton hat walked past the car, and an envelope slipped from under his arm, landing with a clatter.

Hearing the sound, Azar looked back and waved, "Hey, buddy, you dropped something."

The man didn't pause, continuing to walk to an intersection and disappearing into an alley.

Azar realized something was amiss, exited the car, retrieved the fallen envelope, and returned to open it. Inside were several sheets of common A4 printing paper covered in densely printed text and a series of photographs, all showing Heath Ledger in handcuffs, escorted by the NYPD and placed in a police car.