Chapter 383: Joker

After spending four days in the hospital, Martin was finally discharged and ready to return to the film set for the epic showdown between Batman and the Joker.

During his hospital stay, the rest of the crew had been diligently working on filming the remaining scenes.

In the dimly lit studio, the figures of the Joker and Batman were engaged in a fierce struggle.

This time, Batman's character was intentionally portrayed at its most vulnerable in the all of series thus far.

In the end, Batman managed to subdue the Joker without resorting to lethal force, handing him over to the Gotham police to face legal justice.

While not explicitly stated in the movie's plot, anyone familiar with Gotham knew that the Joker would inevitably end up in Arkham Asylum.

Director Nolan confirmed the successful completion of all scenes for "The Dark Knight."

There were no grand celebrations, no latte art, and no cheers. After months of intense work and some on-set tension, the crew had little interest in celebrating.

Ever since the scene where Batman confronted the Joker, the atmosphere on set had been strained.

Privately, many cast members expressed their grievances against Christian Bale.

"It's all Bale's fault for destroying the harmony of the crew!" seemed to be the consensus among the crew.

As for whether the hundreds of extras contributed to the tension, only Robert was privy to that information.

Nolan, watching from behind the director's monitor, finally heaved a sigh of relief. The atmosphere on set felt much better without Bale.

On the set, Martin jubilantly removed his worn-out suit and tossed it into the air.

Before the suit could even touch the ground, several stuntmen pounced on it.

Watching them tear the suit to shreds, Martin exclaimed, "Stop grabbing it; I have a souvenirs for all of you."

"Really?" The actor in the Batman suit was the first to rush over, followed by others.

Martin waved, and Bruce approached with a large box.

Other cast members joined the excited group.

Martin opened the box and said, "It's nothing too fancy. It's a handmade Joker figurines, a high-end collectible from 'The Dark Knight.' Everyone gets one, and you can show it off to your friends when you get home." Some had already seen Sibi using Martin's Joker statue to playfully hit Christian Bale on the head and were quite intrigued by it.

Even Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal requested this unique keepsake as they left the set.

Martin personally handed out the gift boxes to the cast and crew.

Those who had already formed a positive opinion of him found Martin to be a genuinely good-hearted person. Despite his eerie and maniacal portrayal of the Joker, he was approachable, and a simple greeting from him would earn you a friendly smile.

Martin took two gift boxes and sought out Nolan and Emma Thomas.

Nolan remarked, "I don't need one."

Emma Thomas took the gift box from Martin's hand, opened it, and instantly understood why both Heath Ledger and Maggie appreciated this Joker statue so much.

"Thank you," Emma said appreciatively, stowing it away. "It's a truly unique memento."

Martin didn't boast about obtaining it; instead, he simply explained, "Handcrafted from natural horn, entirely carved by hand."

Emma exchanged a glance with Nolan, sensing that this statue held some significance for her. She added, "I really like it."

She called her assistant, who brought over a photo album and handed it to Martin. "The crew has prepared this for you."

Martin flipped through the album, filled with stills of him portraying the Joker laughter, deep contemplation, wielding weapons, and more.

It was a cherished memento.

Martin expressed his gratitude, saying, "Emma, thank you."

Nolan suggested, "Let's have a private conversation together ."

Martin followed Nolan to a quiet spot.

Nolan, as they walked, revealed, "All the producers and the publicity department have met to discuss the marketing strategy we outlined. They unanimously agree that it's very promising. A professional team will work on the specific plan, and we'd like you to be involved once it's finalized."

A substantial portion of Martin's $20 million compensation had already been transferred. He replied, "I'll cooperate fully with whatever the crew need from me."

Nolan showed confidence, stating, "I have a strong feeling about this film lately. With the right publicity and marketing, I believe it has the potential to be a box office hit."

Martin concurred, "No matter how good the film is, people need to know about it."

Nolan chuckled, "We share many similar views on movies."

Martin joined in the laughter, affirming, "That's right."

In addition to excelling in their respective roles, both of them were adept at generating excitement around the movie and its direction.

Times change over time. The media will continue to advance in the future, and it's certainly a good thing to create excitement.

Once the filming phase was completed, post-production would shift back to Los Angeles, where Warner Studios boasted a state-of-the-art post-production facility.

However, Nolan faced an issue. During a recent high-speed scene shoot, he accidentally damaged an IMAX camera, and the crew's compensation would be factored into the production cost.

Meanwhile, Martin returned to the makeup trailer to remove his stage makeup. Bruce had gathered their belongings from the set and joined him.

In the quiet of the trailer, Martin asked, "Will you accompany Kim to film the video when you return to Los Angeles this time?"

Bruce looked incredibly serious, as if preparing for battle. "I've promised her that once the video is done, she won't interfere with Khloe and me anymore. I've been studying Paris Hilton's videos and watching a lot of first-person-view films from Sacred Valley these days. I'll personally design the scenes and handle the DV camera."

Impressed, Martin quipped, "Brother, turns out you're not just the lead actor, but also the screenwriter, director, and cinematographer."

Bruce, however, had concerns. "It might be a bit challenging."

Martin, unruffled, responded, "How hard could it be? You survived when I faced Sophia. This is a small task."

Bruce picked up his bag and left, thinking, "This guy is really something."

Martin followed and added, "Now that Sofia is devoted to Scott, she only comes out to have fun occasionally. You won't even have a chance next time."

Finally, Bruce couldn't hold back and said, "Wipe that makeup off your face!"

Pretending not to understand, Martin asked, "What do you mean?"

Bruce responded with a middle finger. "You're not the joker rather you are a clown!"

The two hopped on a golf cart and headed to the parking lot, where they switched to an Escalade.

Martin made plans to have dinner with Elena in the Northville community and went on his way.

After dropping Martin off, Bruce headed to the Hulk Mansion Strip Club to have a drink with his old friends.

Inside the Carter family's villa, Martin found Elena preparing dinner, and they were alone that evening.

Dinner was set on the dining table, and Elena was chopping vegetables. Seeing Martin's smile, she teasingly pointed the knife at him and said, "Wipe that silly grin off your face and don't act goofy here."

Martin quickly dropped the smile and got to work washing his hands, helping serve food and mixing drinks.

Ten minutes later, they sat down to a meal featuring Martin's favorite barbecue and fruit.

Elena cut into her steak and asked, "When will you be heading back to Los Angeles?"

Martin replied, "I'll sign a new endorsement contract with Coca-Cola tomorrow, and there's a media event in the afternoon. If everything goes as planned, I'll leave the day after tomorrow."

He added, "I also have an audition to attend in Los Angeles."

Elena nodded and then inquired, "How did Lily's job turn out? The one you helped her find."

Martin downplayed it, saying, "I merely introduced her to an opportunity, and she had the skills to make the most of it."

He picked up the Joker statue displayed on a nearby shelf and continued, "As for this, Lily saw it as a chance to showcase her talent. In the Batman movie I'm in, the Joker is a central character, and the crew invested heavily in Joker-themed merchandise, which aligns with Lily's craftsmanship."

Elena understood and said, "She made a good deal of money and gained a lot of self-confidence. She boldly expresses her thoughts and isn't afraid of challenging the status quo."

Martin offered a moment of silence for Lily, saying, "How did it turn out?"

Elena smiled and responded, "She felt my sister's love in full, and after just one night, she hurried back to Los Angeles."

Martin was surprised, asking, "She left so quickly? Even if she cares about her, she usually stays."

Elena explained, "She couldn't convey her love to Hall, and it made her quite miserable, so she left because Hall went on a trip with the school's baseball team."

Martin nodded, understanding that some loves can't be shared, and there's no point in staying where they can't be expressed.

He speared the barbecue with his fork, took a hearty bite, and inquired, "How's Hall doing in his baseball games?"

Elena nodded in approval, "He's doing quite well, no worse than his hole-digging skills. The school coach even reached out to me and mentioned that Hall has caught the eye of many college scouts. There's a chance he might earn a college scholarship based on his baseball performance."

She expressed a slight frown, "In the end, I'm the only one who never went to college."

"And me," Martin admitted with a hint of relief, "I'm in the same boat."

After dinner, they strolled through the yard. The two "college dropouts" headed upstairs to delve into the profound subject of human life sciences.

The following morning, Bruce and Thomas picked up Martin and drove to the Coca-Cola headquarters.

While the renewal of Martin's contract with Coca-Cola wasn't as grand as the initial signing, there was still a sea of fans donning Coca-Cola red outside the headquarters.

As Martin stepped out of the car, countless fans raised their Coke bottles in celebration.

Bruce had a bottle ready for Martin, who joined in the toast.

The cheers of the Coca-Cola faithful resonated through the entire neighborhood.

Once more, Martin donned his iconic red robe, crown, and held the Coca-Cola scepter. He stood before hundreds of media reporters and inked a new five-year endorsement deal with Coca-Cola.

The contract guaranteed a base amount of up to $10 million per year, with additional incentives. If Martin's major films grossed over $100 million globally, he'd receive a $1 million bonus, and so on. Furthermore, if Martin had a movie and role suitable for Oscars or the three major European film festivals, Coca-Cola pledged full support. Winning an Oscar or a prize at those festivals would come with varying bonuses.