Chapter 393 Elizabeth Olsen

At Benjamin's Studio, Elizabeth put her signature on the actor's contract, marking her first real movie role.

She would portray Caroline during her younger years, the daughter of the heroic characters, Daisy and Benjamin.

During her performance, she would affectionately call Martin "Daddy."

As these thoughts crossed Elizabeth's mind, she gently scratched her cheek, sensing an indescribable sense of novelty.

Should she reach out to Martin for a rehearsal before the shoot? Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth's mind swirled with various musings, "Maybe I should call Martin first and express my gratitude?"

Leaving the office, her agent Martha offered a reminder, "Liz, remember that Martin played a pivotal role in securing this part for you. Don't forget to call and thank him personally."

Elizabeth had her phone in hand, giving it a shake before declaring, "I'll make the call as soon as I step out."

After exiting the studio, she promptly dialed Martin's number, and as soon as he answered, she greeted, "Martin, it's Elizabeth. Are you free for lunch today? I'd like to treat you to a meal."

Martin responded from the other end, "If you've got time, where shall we meet?"

"There's a lovely restaurant in Sherman Oaks," Elizabeth cheerfully shared the address.

"No problem, we'll meet at the restaurant at 11:30," Martin confirmed.

With Martin's agreement, Elizabeth couldn't help but hasten her pace. She hopped on her scooter, ended the call, and told her agent, "Martha, I'm off."

Martha waved her hand, saying, "You go ahead. I've got some other things to take care of."

Elizabeth revved up her scooter and sped off through the store's entrance.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Nicholson's mansion, Martin swung his golf club, sending the ball soaring dozens of meters before it struck an iron barrel in the yard with a resounding bang.

Leonardo chuckled, "Challenge failed, you lose!"

Setting down his club, Martin retrieved five dollars from his pocket and handed it to Leonardo, admitting, "You won."

Nicholson chimed in, "Yes, to improve, one must practice more."

Leonardo recalled, "Jack, didn't we place a wager? About Weinstein. Georgina Chapman."

Nicholson had some trouble remembering, given his age, "What wager?"

"About Weinstein," Leonardo reminded him, "Georgina Chapman."

Nicholson recollected the bet, did some mental math, and responded, "It's not time yet."

Martin collected his belongings and noted, "The things you're discussing have nothing to do with me."

"You were considering making a bet at the time," Leonardo argued.

Martin overheard something in the distance, glancing at the mansion beyond Nicholson's property. Changing the subject, he remarked, "They're moving Marlon Brando's belongings. I saw a moving van."

Nicholson explained, "He sold the house he owned while he was still alive. Alimony payments and lawsuits for his several children drained his savings and assets. He even used his copyright income as collateral for significant bank loans. In the end, he couldn't repay the money. The union's share was gone, and he had to live in a trailer, relying on welfare and the basic benefits of the Screen Actors Guild."

Martin warned, "We must ensure we don't end up like that."

Leonardo nodded vigorously and gestured toward the neighbor on the other side of the woods, saying, "We need to avoid becoming like Warren Beatty."

Martin teased, "You mean the Warren Beatty who betrayed the bachelor trio and got married!"

Leonardo quickly corrected himself, "I meant Warren Beatty before he got married."

He then suggested to Martin, "Have you ever thought about buying Marlon's house? Your place on Cotis Road is a bit cramped, and you can't even throw a proper carnival party."

"We'll have to wait until I change the house," Martin glanced at his watch and said, "I won't keep you any longer; I have a noon appointment."

Nicholson responded, "We overheard your conversation. Have you considered taking us along? How do you plan to get there? With our assistance, you could be there by this afternoon."

Leonardo playfully draped his arm over Martin's shoulder, quipping, "You wouldn't leave behind two old brothers and go on a date with a lovely lady, would you?"

Nicholson chimed in, "Of course, Martin isn't that type of person." With no reservations, he grabbed his coat and headed for the exit, urging, "Leo, let's hurry; we can't keep the lady waiting."

"Wait!" Martin called out, explaining, "The lady specified that this is a two-person date, and no third party can join."

He didn't want to bring these two along again, stating, "This time is different; I'll scout ahead first. If I need your help, I'll contact you. I have less experience, less skill, and fewer resources compared to you two. I'll surely seek your guidance."

Leonardo simply gestured his understanding. Nicholson wasn't overly concerned; he had plans of his own. If trouble arose, Martin would undoubtedly put on quite a show, diverting attention away from their party.

"Very well, best of luck to you," Leonardo casually waved.

Martin reminded Nicholson, "Don't forget our arrangement. It's not suitable for us to appear together in public right now."

Nicholson nodded, saying, "Agreed, we'll wait until The Dark Knight is released."

Martin swiftly left and dialed Bruce while heading downstairs. By the time he reached the villa's entrance, Bruce had already pulled up in the car.

After getting in, Martin provided the address and cautioned, "Make a few extra loops to ensure those two aren't tailing us."

As the car passed through the gate, Bruce executed a couple of turns, confirming that neither Nicholson nor Leonardo were following. They then sped off towards Sherman Oaks.

Martin, still concerned, turned around to check but found no signs of pursuit. Instead, he noticed that the van in Marlon Brando's yard had turned north at an intersection.

This reminded him of what Leonardo had mentioned about the house and the party, and he inquired, "Should we consider moving to a larger house?"

Bruce asked, "Is the current one too small?"

Martin pondered and then said, "Let's revisit the idea next year."

Suddenly, Bruce remembered something and added, "Brad Pitt reached a settlement with some victims and is making substantial payments. I heard he was short on cash and had to sell several properties on the East Coast."

Martin couldn't resist making a jest, "If you catch Pete solo, he'll go bald." But he considered this matter to be noteworthy and inquired further, "I recall that Pitt had a mega-mansion in Beverly Hills?"

Bruce, who kept an eye on Pitt from time to time, had more information, "Before Brad Pitt's marriage to Aniston in 2001, he spent nearly $13 million to purchase the mega-mansion, which became his pre-marital property and his current residence."

Martin thought it over, realizing he was indeed a thoughtful person who followed through on matters.

Bruce added, "The mansion was constructed in 1934. When Brad Pitt acquired it, the house was rather rundown. He hired a company to renovate it, reportedly spending tens of millions. Although the mansion's architectural appearance remained the same, the actual refurbishment was ongoing for several years."

Martin made a decision, "Let Ivan keep an eye on that place. If Brad Pitt has any intentions of selling, remember to inform me."

Bruce said, "I'm sure Brad Pitt would appreciate your advance consideration. We won't have any worries."

Martin did show an understanding of being considerate, stating, "If Brad Pitt is in a rush to sell at a lower price, we can assist. If he doesn't sell, we'll reassess it later." Soon, the car arrived in Sherman Oaks' business district and parked in front of a French restaurant.

Martin exited the car and stepped into the restaurant. Even before he could inquire with the waiter, he spotted Elizabeth Olsen in a pristine white dress briskly approaching.

"You're here," Elizabeth beamed with a sweet smile, and her white dress, fitting her perfectly, accentuated her youthful and exquisite contours.

Martin mimicked a phone call gesture, saying, "I hurried over immediately after receiving your call."

Elizabeth walked to the booth, gestured for Martin to sit, and took her seat across from him, raising her head and chest as she remarked, "While I was on the phone, I thought I heard Leonardo's voice. He and Jack Nicholson..."

"They didn't come," Martin grinned sheepishly. "I apologize for what happened last time."

Recalling the previous interruption, Elizabeth felt a touch of unease. She had prepared for so long, only to have her plans disrupted. Martin hadn't taken the initiative to ask her out afterward to explain.

Martin, who had a rough idea of Elizabeth's thoughts, added, "In February, I took on a role that required me to lock myself in a hotel for over 40 days, cut off all contact with the outside world, and fully immerse myself in studying the character."

Elizabeth, realizing the role in question, interjected, "The Joker? Are you still having disagreements with Nicholson about it?"

Martin spoke earnestly, "This role is undeniably challenging and has the potential to affect one's mental state. I was entirely consumed by the character, even to the point of experiencing psychological issues. I frightened numerous people on set. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Caine, while acting alongside me, were so terrified that I forgot my lines."

Helplessly, he admitted, "This is an incredibly unsettling character. You'll see when The Dark Knight's trailer is released. I was so engrossed in the film that I lost track of everything else, with the Joker dominating my thoughts. Even Bale, who was equally absorbed in his role, made a non-scripted move on me..."

Elizabeth gasped in surprise. Being an industry insider, she was aware that such incidents were not uncommon in Hollywood.

"The production team instructed me to keep it under wraps," Martin continued. "I... I just wanted to clarify this with you."

Elizabeth nodded fervently, pledging, "I'll never breathe a word of it to anyone." She inquired with genuine concern, "How are you doing now? Have you sought help?"

Martin gave an honest response, "I visit a psychologist every week, and the issue isn't too severe."

Elizabeth couldn't help but recall the industry rumors. Many who had worked with Martin commended his dedication and talent, remarking, "Martin, you work so diligently."

A trace of envy flickered in her eyes as she added, "I wish I had half of your acting prowess."

Martin offered encouragement, "You're exceptional as well. We've worked together, and I've seen it firsthand. You're incredibly talented. With the right opportunities, Elizabeth, you might surpass even your sisters in fame."

His words brought a genuine smile to Elizabeth's face. "I hope so. Thank you for your encouragement. And speaking of gratitude, I'd like to extend a special thanks to you. I landed the role of young Caroline, and Thomas mentioned that you spoke highly of me to the production team."

Martin smiled warmly, "Don't mention it, it's a small favor among friends."

"I owe you several times over," Elizabeth signaled the waiter to take their orders.

Their conversation flowed naturally, and they quickly fell back into the easy camaraderie they had shared before.