Chapter 65

In late November, the nighttime temperature in Los Angeles had dropped quite a bit. Charles and Camille left the restaurant, heading west.

When their car reached Hancock Park, they saw police cars parked ahead and officers standing around.

"Officer, what's going on up ahead?" Charles rolled down the window and asked.

"There was an accident up ahead. Two African Americans hijacked a business vehicle, then crashed while trying to escape. Several people are injured! If you want to go through, it's better to take another route!"

Charles stuck his head out and saw several car parts scattered on the road, and three people lying on the ground.

"Thanks," Charles prepared to take a detour, deciding to cut through Hancock Park via Beverly Boulevard.

They took North Highland Avenue to reach the Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood, where Charles took Camille into a room.

Inside the room, Charles stood by the window, seemingly lost in thought. Someone had just been robbed, and then there was a car crash during the escape.

The movie Crash, which dealt with racial discrimination - it wasn't ringing any bells for Charles.

"Charles," Camille, freshly out of the shower, hugged Charles from behind, "what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Charles turned around. Camille's silk nightgown highlighted her perfect figure, and her short blonde hair gave her a unique charm.

Kissing her neck a few times, Charles embraced Camille from behind and whispered, "Sweetheart, you don't know how irresistible you are right now!"

The next day, Charles dropped Camille off at USC. The university was about to go on winter break.

"Keep in touch!" Camille reminded with a goodbye kiss before getting out of the car.

Charles waved and smiled.

Directed by David Dobkin, Wedding Crashers starred Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, while Scarlett Johansson and Isla Fisher were among the potential lead actresses.

Scarlett Johansson was working on about four or five movies a year, in lead and supporting roles alike. Last year and this year, only Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring had made an impact.

Most of her projects were low-budget independent films, but Scarlett Johansson had now received an invitation to perform in a film by renowned art-house director Woody Allen.

Simultaneously, Carpe Productions had also invited her to star in Wedding Crashers. Both parts were female leads, and the shooting schedules clashed.

Evelyn Carpe had no choice but to let Scarlett Johansson decide for herself which one to take.

Scarlett Johansson went directly to Charles Carpe's office at Carpe Productions in Burbank.

"Scarlett, what's up? Got time to visit me today?" Charles handed her a glass of wine as he poured two. "Girl with a Pearl Earring seems to be getting good reviews, similar to Lost in Translation!"

Girl with a Pearl Earring had been released in September of this year.

Scarlett took a sip and said with a hint of frustration, "But the box office isn't great; it's totally underperforming compared to Lost in Translation."

Charles sat down next to her, smiling, "But you're the leading lady. You had a lot more screen time in this film than in Lost in Translation!"

"Charles, I have two scripts right now. One is your Wedding Crashers, and the other is Woody Allen's Match Point. I'm the leading actress in both, but the shooting schedules clash!" Scarlett was clearly torn.

"Woody Allen, Match Point!" Charles knew about that movie. Woody Allen had the talent, but the art film circle was messier. Unlike commercial films, which prioritized profits, messing around in art films could hurt financial interests and would be tough to bear.

"Wedding Crashers is a commercial film, with little artistic ambition, an R-rated romantic comedy. But as for Woody Allen, his directorial skills are proven, and his films receive good reviews. It's an art film genre, so it's up to you," Charles didn't say much more. If she wanted to continue focusing on art films, he'd have to find someone else.

Scarlett knew the difference as well. Just looking at the two scripts, Woody Allen's was a drama with room for exploration.

Charles' script was purely a commercial romantic comedy.

*****

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