Chapter 487: Box Office Record for March

In a cozy apartment overlooking Central Park, Martin indulged in the simple pleasure of washing his face, reveling in the cooling sensation of the cleanser against his skin. Alexandra Daddario's undeniable talent echoed in his thoughts.

Exhaling heavily, Martin turned to the mirror. "I feel suffocated," he muttered, sensing a weight on his chest.

Alexandra, graceful and poised, rose from her seat, effortlessly pouring two glasses of wine. Handing one to Martin, she inquired, "Did the director call?"

Taking a sip, Martin noticed the ease in her breath. "Chad went to the midnight show; something must've stirred him," he explained, their glasses clinking together in a silent toast.

"Will you visit New York often?" Alexandra's plea for company tinged her words. "It gets terribly lonely."

She settled onto Martin's lap, her charisma captivating him. Martin, a conscientious man, had previously recommended Alexandra for Wes Craven's upcoming horror film, "The House."

"Heroines in horror flicks need more looks than acting skills," he confessed, admiring Alexandra's exuberance.

"I hope you'll come," she pressed, hopeful.

Amidst a morning meal shared between Martin and Alexandra, a ringing phone disrupted the tranquility.

"Unknown number," Martin noted before answering, only to be met by Chad's voice detailing a bizarre midnight encounter.

Amused by Chad's mishap, Martin chuckled. "Trusting the safety of New York, alone in a remote theater," he teased.

"Just felt representative," Chad defended his choice.

Martin, realizing the urgency, excused himself. "I'll be there soon."

Alexandra swiftly drove Martin back to the Hilton Hotel where a meeting with the film crew awaited. Chad, Marcus, Louise, and Daniel had already gathered.

Daniel pondered the situation, "Certainly headline-worthy."

Chad, less comfortable with attention, winced. "It's a tad embarrassing."

Louise argued, "A boost in movie publicity won't hurt. Plus, the police are on it; news will spread."

Gritting his teeth, Chad reluctantly agreed, eyeing the potential box office impact.

Martin suggested a plan, "I'll try to negotiate the return of Chad's phone from the Joker-dressed thief."

Louise raised doubts, "Will he give it back or fall into NYPD hands?"

"Let's say he 'borrowed' it," Martin understood the law's pragmatism. "For them, the cost outweighs the gain."

Daniel caught on, "This could attract media frenzy."

"But what if he doesn't return it?" he posed a crucial question.

Martin grinned, "We're after attention, not the phone."

Turning to Chad, he added, "Don't feel pressured; it's your call."

Martin, a novice director, was eager for success, more so than Chad. In a swift decision, Chad replied, "Okay, as promised."

Martin nodded, concern lingering in his eyes. "You're sure there are no compromising photos on your phone?"

"Nope," Chad asserted confidently. "I've been glued to the phone you gave me last year. Movies have taken over; no time for distractions."

Efforts to sort out the situation started instantly, but half an hour later, a new post popped up on Martin's personal blog.

"Chad Starsky, 'John Wick' director, left his phone with a fan. He's urging them to contact him or his crew in Manhattan via Hilton Hotel's front desk. Contact info at the back."

The news spread rapidly across various platforms.

Before noon, a swarm of reporters congregated outside Hilton Hotel.

It was clear to anyone versed in social reality that the term "borrowing" was a mere cover-up.

Suddenly, the already popular film gained even more traction.

Raya, a devoted fan since Martin's 'The Dark Knight', had seen his post. Originating from humble means, he emulated Jokers, scavenging and mirroring their style.

The Santa Monica Pier incident had elevated Martin in Raya's eyes, a Hollywood star with genuine combat skills.

Having watched the thrilling midnight show of 'John Wick', Raya was elated, eager to celebrate, until he encountered an unfortunate man with an iPhone.

Unbeknownst to him, the victim was none other than the beloved director of his favorite film.

After pondering at home, Raya revisited Martin's blog and opted against selling the phone.

Admiring clowns and being a part of the Coca-Cola Cult, Raya felt compelled to heed the leader's call.

However, delivering the phone to the Hilton Hotel's front desk was out of the question, given his record of thefts.

He could entertain the thought of being incarcerated at Arkham Asylum.

Decided in a flash, Raya left home, arrived in Manhattan, donned a nondescript hat, located an unwatched public phone nearby, and dialed a specific number.

As the call connected, Raya spoke with a trembling voice, "Back door of Hilton Hotel, first red trash can on the southwest side."

After hanging up, he cautiously approached, concealing the phone within a black bag, tossing it into the trash like unwanted debris.

Moving across the street, Raya purchased a hotdog, sat behind a glass wall at a nearby shop, and gazed at the trash can, hoping for his idol's reliability.

Meanwhile, inside the hotel, Chad informed Martin and Louise, "Someone called. The phone's in the trash at the back door."

Louise swiftly dialed a number, instructing to disseminate the message of the phone's discovery.

The assistant downstairs promptly informed reporters and paparazzi at the entrance.

Martin adjusted his appearance, adorning a Cartier watch and a new Nokia phone, subtly displaying the trademark.

Known for professionalism, Martin prepared for the task at hand.

Chad dashed out, followed closely by Martin.

Concerned, Chad asked, "Reporters all at the front?"

"Most likely," Martin affirmed, glancing out a window.

Inexperienced in handling such situations, Chad fretted, "But the phone's at the back door."

Martin suggested, "Why don't we try going out the front door and circling around to the back?"

Chad nodded, replying, "Sure thing."

With the escort of several hotel security guards and Bruce, the duo rode the elevator down and stepped out through the grand entrance of the hotel. A horde of reporters, numbering around twenty or thirty, immediately besieged them.

"Martin, any luck finding Director Chad's cell phone?" they bombarded them with loud inquiries.

"Did someone return the phone?" another voice chimed in.

"Where's Chad? Can we get an interview?" the questions persisted.

Martin glanced at Chad, who took charge, speaking over the crowd, "Let's grab our phones. Please step aside, folks."

Remarkably, the reporters and paparazzi parted, allowing Martin and Chad to make their way through. As they navigated around the hotel, they reached the back entrance, spotting the red trash can on the southwest side.

Without hesitation, Chad rushed over, reaching for his phone. Unfortunately, his hand landed in uneaten ice cream, leaving a milky mess.

Amidst the chaos, the surrounding cameras and lenses zealously captured the embarrassing scene of the esteemed director.

Unnoticed amidst the commotion was the fervor surrounding "John Wick," an unstoppable media frenzy driving attention and revenue.

After cleaning off the mess, Chad retrieved a black plastic bag containing his Apple mobile phone. As he unlocked it amidst the flashing lights, the background image displayed him operating a camera on set.

"It's mine!" Chad exclaimed, exhibiting the screen to the reporters. "It's been returned!"

With the cameras clicking away, the focus swiftly shifted to locating the anonymous phone returner.

Meanwhile, at a nearby hot dog joint, Raya finished her meal, chuckling at the sight of reporters surrounding Chad and Martin once more.

"No NYPD backup as promised," she mused, a seasoned observer familiar with police presence.

Pulling out a BlackBerry she'd acquired earlier, she logged into IMDb, finding the "John Wick" section and leaving a comment praising Martin for his protective demeanor towards fans.

Once the comment was posted, Raya swiftly left the shop, distancing herself from the Hilton Hotel.

The buzz around "John Wick" continued to entice audiences into theaters, despite its R-rating deterring some younger viewers. The film, defying expectations, sustained high attendance across theaters.

In North America, the movie raked in an impressive $21.78 million on its first day in 3,806 theaters, breaking the March box office record and surpassing the traditional off-season expectations for March releases.