Chapter 292: Operation Red Wing

In Century City, a warm round of applause echoed through the lobby of WMA. Aniston beamed, waving as she strolled towards the independent office area.

Steve, her companion, gestured towards the opulent office ahead. "Jen, this way."

Aniston glanced back at the townhouse offices she had come from and spotted Martin standing at one of the doors. She smiled in his direction, and Martin nodded in response before she entered Steve's office.

Meanwhile, Martin pushed open the frosted glass door, took a seat across from Thomas, and Thomas inquired, "How have you been resting recently?"

Martin explained, "When I returned, I was busy preparing for the upcoming awards season. I finally outlined a preliminary plan and was getting ready to go on vacation with Blake. Then you called and mentioned that the Coca-Cola commercial next to us was set."

Thomas, with a smile, responded, "It's not too late to go on vacation after the commercial is finished." He then shifted to the main topic, saying, "The commercial crew has been assembled. Coca-Cola invested heavily in this commercial and enlisted the Oscar Best Director winner, Sam Mendes, as the director."

Martin recognized the name; he recalled that Sam Mendes was Kate's current husband. It seemed that big brands hired prominent directors for their commercials.

Martin faintly remembered a Coca-Cola commercial with a cyberpunk twist directed by David Fincher a decade later, but the specifics were long gone. If not for David Fincher, that ad might have faded into obscurity.

Thomas handed Martin a fax document, saying, "The commercial will be shot in Park Town, Southern California. The crew has worked out the schedule. Here's the crew's main members list." As Martin quickly scanned through it, he spotted a familiar name.

Elizabeth Olsen!

Was it the same Elizabeth or just a namesake? Martin retrieved his phone, found Elizabeth's number, and sent her a text message. Elizabeth promptly called and confirmed her involvement in the commercial.

After a brief exchange, Martin expressed his anticipation for their cooperation, and Elizabeth had to cut the call short due to her class.

"Are you taking lessons from Leonardo?" Thomas asked, rarely engaging in gossip. "Who is Elizabeth?"

Martin casually replied, "Don't get the wrong idea; she's just a girl I rescued at Burbank Middle School."

Thomas, trying to recall, inquired, "Isn't she one of the Olsen sisters?" Then, with an exclamation, he teased, "A hero saving a beauty!"

Martin set aside the fax document, saying, "You'll need to coordinate with the advertising crew regarding the specific schedule. I'll take my leave."

As he left, Martin waited in the WMA lobby for Aniston to come downstairs, and the two engaged in a brief chat before parting ways.

...

At the Angel Shooting Club, Chad Starski had just emptied two magazines and returned to the club's entertainment area. His friend Marcus, whom he had met there, was still seated on the sofa.

Chad brought two cans of Coke and placed one in front of Marcus. When Marcus saw Martin Davis' image printed on the Coke can, he remarked, "Coke Cult?"

Chad asked, "Are you joining too?"

Marcus opened the can, took a sip, and said, "Many soldiers in Afghanistan have joined the Coca-Cola Cult as a way to unwind and have some fun. It's a tough place, and very boring." Chad chuckled, "I'm a member of the Coca-Cola Cult too. Martin even mentioned making me a divisional bishop when we were having drinks together."

Marcus had drunk about half of the can when he continued, "I've watched the video from Burbank Middle School. Martin is an amazing star. Only someone who has actually been on the battlefield can appreciate the courage it takes to stay calm in such a situation, think on your feet, and have the bravery to confront armed thugs."

Chad considered for a moment and then said, "Martin is an optimistic and humorous guy who always finds a way out. Despite his penchant for mischief, he's extremely loyal to his friends, which is why I've been collaborating with him."

Marcus inquired, "Can I join your action coaching team?"

Chad agreed, adding a condition, "You'll need to undergo psychological treatment."

Marcus clarified, "I'm not traumatized; it's guilt."

Chad was attentive, prompting Marcus to share, "When my team was on a reconnaissance and infiltration mission, we encountered three Afghan shepherds who could have potentially exposed our location. But they were civilians..."

Chad nodded in understanding.

Marcus continued, "At the time, there were differing opinions within our team. Some suggested killing the shepherds to prevent our exposure. Others, including me, disagreed because we didn't want to end up in military prison. Ultimately, we voted and let the shepherds go."

He sighed and went on, "A few hours later, over a hundred armed militants surrounded us. My three teammates were killed, and I was seriously injured, falling down a cliff. Local villagers found me, took care of me, and I was later rescued."

Chad considered Marcus's story and said, "You're right; guilt can be a heavy burden."

Chad's mind raced back to last year, recalling a glimpse of news. "Are you the SEAL that terrorists publicly claimed to have captured?"

Marcus admitted, "Yes, that's me." He quickly clarified, "But they never actually captured me."

Chad struggled to offer reassurance, stating, "It's all in the past now, man." That was the best he could muster.

Marcus sighed once more, reflecting, "If I had made a different choice back then, the outcome might have been entirely different."

Chad, a qualified filmmaker, couldn't help but find this story incredibly dramatic and conflict-laden, seemingly perfect for adaptation into a movie. However, he acknowledged his own limitations and recognized that he lacked the clout to promote such a project. Instead, he decided to discuss it with Martin.

Over the past two years of working closely together, Chad had seen Martin's capabilities grow, most importantly his knack for attracting funding to transform ideas on paper into actual film projects.

Chad quickly weighed his options and proposed, "In the next few days, I'll find an opportunity to introduce you to Martin when the time is right. You've met him once before." Marcus still remembered their previous encounter at the Angel Shooting Club.

Kane, the club owner, approached them at this point and acknowledged, "You guys seemed to have a great conversation."

Marcus grinned, "Chad always shares intriguing aspects of the film industry with me, which I find fascinating."

Kane encouraged Marcus, "Open up more, Marcus. The past is the past. People need to look forward and not dwell on the past."

Chad suggested, "I'll schedule another meeting with Martin. We'll have a rematch here."

Kane agreed, "No problem. I lost to Martin in the community shooting competition last year, and I've been eager for a rematch." He patted the back of Marcus' chair and inquired, "Can your dog come along?"

Marcus stood up and confirmed, "I've found a new home, and I just came to collect my dog."

Chad asked, "Where's your new place?"

Marcus explained, "I've rented a standalone house in a fringe community south of Santa Monica. It's quite spacious for a single occupant."

Chad cautioned, "I've heard the south side isn't very safe, so be careful when you're out."

Marcus chuckled at the warning.

Chad gently patted his head and said, "Take care."

Kane then accompanied Marcus to retrieve his dogs, Daisy and John. They were two spirited Labradors.

Marcus knelt down and embraced his two canine companions, treating them like cherished family members.

After a while, he left the club with his two dogs. Once they got into the car, Marcus greeted Chad and drove away.

Kane remarked, "In Los Angeles, Daisy and John are like family to Marcus."

Chad revealed, "I have a dog too, a German Shepherd. I adopted a stray pup while filming 'Wanted.' I'm leaving now; let's chat another time."

Once in his car, Chad immediately called Martin, informing him about Marcus's story. "Remember Marcus? He experienced a unique battle in Afghanistan last year. There were reports claiming that local armed forces in Afghanistan had kidnapped a Navy SEAL, and Marcus was that SEAL. I suggest you meet him in person and see if there's potential for adapting his story."

Martin swiftly replied, "No problem, make an appointment at a convenient time."

Chad inquired, "Are you free tomorrow morning? Great, let's schedule it at the Angel Club?"

Martin, who had a commercial shoot in Park Town next week, agreed, "Okay."

...

In Burbank, near the Sacred Valley, there was a business club where female producers and directors in Hollywood occasionally gathered. Here, women supported each other, sharing knowledge and enjoying the perks of being influential women in the industry.

Mene entered the club under the guidance of Ellen, Scorsese's regular casting director. In the entertainment hall, over a dozen women and a few men were gathered.

Emma Thomas, the target Mene was after, stood out among the women, not necessarily for her striking looks, but because she appeared relatively young compared to the other women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Mene's actions the previous night had pleased Ellen, who had granted him some freedom.

After wandering around for a while, Mene pretended to have just spotted Emma Thomas and approached her with a friendly greeting, "Hi Emma, I almost mistook you for someone else when I walked in, but it turned out to be you."

The two had briefly chatted at Warner Bros.' annual party, and Emma Thomas recognized Mene, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment. She was curious about his presence and asked, "Why are you here?"

Mene gestured towards Ellen, "Director Lewis brought me here."

Emma Thomas had heard Ellen mention Mene last year, and this piqued her interest. She signaled the waiter for two glasses of wine and handed one to Mene, saying, "Let's have a drink and chat for a while."

Mene sat across from Emma, and they soon engaged in a lively conversation. When the event concluded, while they didn't leave together, they exchanged their contact information.