Chapter 34: Good People

"The girl with the golden short hair?" Murphy looked at James Franco, the eccentric genius, with surprise. "Are you talking about Kerry Mulligan?"

James Franco wasn't sure of her name, only that she had auditioned for the project. He murmured, "So her name is Kerry Mulligan."

Murphy furrowed his brow slightly, seeming to grasp something from James Franco's attitude.

"Her acting is outstanding," Murphy tentatively said, "she's the best among the girls of her age that I've seen."

"Outstanding?" James Franco hurriedly asked, "Are you planning to cast her?"

"If everything goes smoothly..." Murphy glanced at James Franco again, seeming to have made a decision. "She will be the lead actress in this project."

"OK!" James Franco snapped his fingers. "Have your people contact my agent."

Turning to Jessica Chastain, Murphy reiterated, and James Franco, without a word, swiftly grabbed the pen he had his eye on earlier, hiding it in his sleeve before standing up. "That's it for now. I'm off."

Thinking of the girl he saw at the Actors' Guild, James Franco's smile became even more charming as he left.

He waved goodbye to Murphy and Jessica Chastain, exited the warehouse, and under the bright sunlight, made his way towards Milton Café. Taking out the pen from his sleeve, he examined it carefully, muttering to himself, "Another addition to my collection."

In the warehouse, Murphy closed his notebook and noticed his pen was missing. He searched high and low on the table but couldn't find it, puzzled as to where it could have gone.

"Someone took it," Jessica Chastain seemed to have an idea.

Murphy turned to her, puzzled. "Who took it?"

"James Franco..."

Upon hearing Jessica Chastain mention the name, Murphy couldn't fathom it. He used an ordinary, cheap pen that even a beggar would disdain, yet James Franco, a somewhat known actor, took it?

However, Murphy quickly understood. He had read about the peculiar habits of Hollywood stars.

In the following two days, Murphy continued to prepare for his project while also making initial contact with James Franco's agent. Unlike the actor himself, agents were a tough bunch to negotiate with, especially when it came to fees.

The negotiations started with a demand for $150,000, nearly half of the film's $300,000 budget...

After two rounds of negotiations, the fee gradually dropped to below $100,000, still beyond Murphy's means.

When they reached $80,000, the negotiations almost broke down. Murphy knew it would be difficult to bargain further with the agent. This was where the actor's own wishes could make a difference.

Standing by the window in his office, Murphy dialed a number. When there was a response on the other end, he said, "Hey, Jim, it's Murphy."

On the other end, amidst a cacophony of sounds, it took a while before James Franco's voice came through. "Hey there, Murphy, long time no see."

Intentionally teasing, Murphy said, "Still enjoying the pen?"

"Oh..." James Franco sounded embarrassed. Murphy took the opportunity to say, "Jim, don't you want to join my project?"

Who wouldn't want to join? James Franco thought to himself but said, "Of course."

"But negotiations with your agent are tough," Murphy didn't beat around the bush. "My project only has a budget of $300,000, and he's asking for $80,000 for you. At this rate, we won't be able to make the film."

James Franco casually replied, "Negotiations are my agent's job. I can't interfere."

If James Franco was eyeing a minor role in Murphy's small project, Murphy wouldn't have believed it. After the audition, he had a rough idea of what James Franco wanted. He sighed, "It's a pity. Looks like we can't work together. My lead actress, Kerry Mulligan, is already set. I'll have to find another male lead."

It seemed regrettable that James Franco wasn't on board.

"The lead actress is set?" James Franco paused for a moment on the other end. "Murphy, I feel like we have great chemistry. Let me talk to my agent..."

Listening to James Franco's rambling, Murphy hung up the phone. Furlan's visit to his set hinted at some ulterior motives, but for Murphy, it was a good thing, right?

An actor like James Franco was more professional and suitable than the part-time car washers and waiters who auditioned.

Turning back, Murphy sat at his desk. The biggest problem now was securing Kerry Mulligan.

Her attitude wasn't the issue; Jessica Chastain had informed her of her successful audition. But due to her age, her guardian had to sign the contract.

Getting parents to agree to their child appearing in such a film was no easy task.

And failing to secure Kerry Mulligan meant the negotiations with James Franco would fall through completely.

While Kerry Mulligan and James Franco weren't indispensable, among the auditioned candidates, they were the most suitable.

With this in mind, Murphy dialed the phone number he had recorded in his notebook.

"Hello, this is Kerry Mulligan."

The voice on the other end sounded choked, as if the person was crying. Murphy quickly asked, "Hello, Kerry, why are you crying?"

On the other end, Kerry Mulligan was curled up on the couch, wiping away tears. She felt wronged as she said, "They won't let me play Hailey."

Confused, Murphy asked, "They?"

Another sob, and Kerry Mulligan seemed to find an outlet for her grievances. "Uncle Julian Faros objected, and he even called my parents. They just called from London and scolded me..."

Her voice choked up, Murphy knew this girl, hidden behind her delicate appearance, was rebellious. He tried to comfort her, "Hey, Kerry, don't cry. Even if we can't work together, after the movie is finished, I can let you see the script. Your parents are doing this for your own good."

"For my good?" The girl's voice rose. "They've been opposing everything I want to do since I can remember. Every little thing I like, they're against. I have no freedom at all!"

Murphy added, "They're your parents, and they love you."

"If they loved me, they would support my dreams instead of constantly blocking me." Kerry Mulligan's voice grew louder. "If they loved me, would they have agreed to let me come to Los Angeles as an exchange student? They've never even visited me!"

This girl seemed to have accumulated a lot of resentment.

"Sorry, Kerry..." Dealing with such a naive girl was relatively easy for Murphy. "For the sake of your family's harmony, I have to give up on you..."

"No!" Before he could finish, Kerry Mulligan interrupted him over the phone. "I must play! Murphy, can you give me more time..."

Her voice lowered, "Please."

Initially, she was indeed interested in the unique story of Lolita avenging the creepy uncle, and after reading a page of the script, she felt it was good. But it wasn't a must for her. With her

background as a budding actress, she could land small roles in other movies as well.

However, teenagers like her were the most rebellious. The more vehemently parents opposed, the more determined they became to do it. Coupled with Murphy's subtle instigation, Kerry Mulligan had made up her mind to play the role of Hailey no matter what.

Even if her parents were flying to Los Angeles, she had no intention of giving up.

Murphy didn't speak for a long time, conveying a very awkward message. After Kerry Mulligan said 'Please' again, he finally said slowly, "Kerry, the rest of the crew is in place, and we're about to shoot in northern Los Angeles. We just lack a lead actress."

Kerry Mulligan seemed on the verge of tears again. "Murphy..."

She wanted to prove her parents wrong. She was grown up now and needed to follow her own path.

"Alright, alright, Kerry..." Murphy finally said, "I can wait for you, but only for a week at most."

"Thank you, Murphy." Kerry Mulligan smiled. "You're a good person who understands others."

In the eyes of a rebellious girl, anyone who acquiesces to her desires is a good person, while opposers are always villains.

After hanging up the phone, Murphy called Jessica Chastain's number, informing her to continue the recruitment of the lead actors and actresses. Although he believed Kerry Mulligan and James Franco were the most suitable actors, there was no guarantee they would be cast. Having a few backup options wouldn't hurt.

Whether Kerry Mulligan, the rebellious girl, could overcome her parents like Natalie Portman did years ago, Murphy had no confidence. After all, he was far inferior to Luc Besson back then.

In Kerry Mulligan's apartment, she hugged the phone, sitting on the spacious couch, figuring out how to defeat her impending parents.

In her eyes, her parents were simply demons destroying dreams. From childhood to adulthood, they had ruthlessly crushed one dream after another. Now, they were going after the biggest one yet.

"I won't give up!" Holding the phone tightly, Kerry Mulligan shouted in the empty Julian Faros' residence, "I won't give up!"