Chapter 16: Nicole's Ambition

Nicole Kidman, with a mix of yearning and anxiety, adjusted her clothes and hair before pushing open the door to the audition office.

"Hello everyone, I'm Nicole Kidman from Australia, 22 years old..." As she introduced herself, Nicole Kidman unobtrusively sized up one of Hollywood's hottest male stars at the time, Tom Cruise.

At 27, Tom Cruise was indeed flawless, with a handsome face that few women could resist.

Sitting in the chair, Tom Cruise's eyes lit up the moment he saw Nicole Kidman.

"Great, Nicole Kidman, right? Leave your contact details, and we'll call you anytime." After about ten minutes, Tom Cruise, with his dazzling smile, spoke to Nicole Kidman.

"Thank you," Nicole Kidman smiled back at Tom Cruise before leaving the audition room.

"I think she's not bad," after Nicole Kidman left, Tom Cruise smiled at the director, Tony Scott.

"Yes, indeed."

On the other side, after leaving Paramount, Arthur first returned to ITA and then went to the Screen Actors Guild.

After all, besides talent agencies, the Screen Actors Guild also helps recommend jobs, mainly extras.

In the evening, back at his Northridge residence, Arthur continued with his screenwriting endeavors. Scream was a representative teen horror film that mocked its own genre while following horror tropes.

The combination of a psychotic serial killer and young, beautiful women has always been a staple of horror films.

Whether it was the horror movie Scream or the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, Arthur would only complete the first draft and outline the main framework before registering it with the Writers Guild.

Arthur mainly focused on creating concepts and outlining stories, not wanting to spend much time writing.

As for Nicole Kidman, whom Arthur met at Paramount, he knew that Days of Thunder was her big break.

After all, it was because of this film that Tom Cruise noticed her. Although at that time, Tom Cruise's wife was the actress Mimi Rogers, who was six years older than him. Eventually, they divorced, and he married Nicole Kidman.

"I wonder if Nicole Kidman would remember me and give a little help?" Arthur knew that Nicole Kidman was very ambitious, smart, and good at managing her career.

However, Arthur didn't hold much hope, as their interaction was brief. Nicole Kidman probably wouldn't care about someone from the lower echelons of Hollywood.

A few days later, Arthur finally got a job arranged by his talent agency, as a background actor in the movie Dick Tracy. He earned $600 a day for a week, totaling $3,000!

"Okay, I'll report tomorrow," Arthur agreed immediately after getting the details.

Dick Tracy was a film adaptation of the detective comic character, featuring a star-studded cast: Warren Beatty as the director and lead actor, Madonna as the female lead, and supporting roles played by Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman.

Earlier this year at the Oscars, Dustin Hoffman won the Best Actor award for Rain Man.

Dick Tracy was a live-action film developed by Disney's Touchstone Pictures. When Arthur arrived at the set, he was quickly assigned as one of Al Pacino's gang henchmen. He had few lines, mostly just needing to wear a 1930s suit and blend into the background.

Earning $600 a day for eight hours of work was equivalent to $75 an hour. Although Arthur spent most of his time waiting on set, he was happy.

In a week, he'd make $3,000, much more than working at Jeff's restaurant, even with tips. Plus, the crew provided meals!

That afternoon, Arthur was sitting in a chair, waiting, his gaze alternating between the leading actors.

He wasn't familiar with Warren Beatty as the director and lead actor, but he did pay attention to Al Pacino. The Godfather Part III was still in the early stages of planning and was expected to start filming the following year.

"If only I could be in The Godfather Part III..." Arthur shook the thought away, knowing how many people would be vying for that opportunity.

Madonna's role as a sexy singer fit her image well, with her blonde bombshell look making her even more striking. At 31, Madonna was at the peak of her career.

People didn't call Michael Jackson the 'King of Pop' and Madonna the 'Queen of Pop' for nothing!

Arthur's gaze lingered on the extravagantly styled gangster boss Al Pacino. He suddenly remembered that Pacino hadn't yet won an Oscar for Best Actor.

Al Pacino's Oscar award for Best Actor came from Scent of a Woman, a remake of an old Italian movie.

Obviously, Arthur was tempted. Scent of a Woman was both critically and commercially successful.

Arthur felt the pressure to make money quickly, as he hated seeing good projects pass him by.

"Arthur, come over here..." the assistant director called out.

"Okay, I'm coming," Arthur stood up and adjusted his clothes.

In Los Angeles, Long Beach, Nicole Kidman had been waiting for contact from the Days of Thunder crew since her Paramount audition.

It had already been four or five days, and the crew still hadn't contacted her. During the audition, Tom Cruise's captivated gaze was unmistakable.

"Ring... ring..."

"Hello, this is Nicole Kidman," she answered the phone.

"Good afternoon, Miss Kidman. I am Mr. Tom Cruise's assistant. Mr. Cruise wants to meet you at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to discuss the role for Days of Thunder."

"Alright, I'll be there right away, thank you!"

After hanging up, Nicole Kidman jumped up, "YEAH!"

She then quickly got ready, dressing up in a sexy outfit before heading out.

In the taxi, she checked her makeup in a mirror from her bag and suddenly saw a paper with a phone number.

"This is the contact information for Adam Smith, whom I met at the Paramount audition a few days ago," Nicole Kidman remembered clearly. "He wished me good luck, saying I'd definitely become the lead actress in Days of Thunder."

"Let's just find a French restaurant. I like French cuisine!"

Nicole Kidman felt as if Adam Smith's well-wishes were still echoing.

As she took out the paper with his number, she thought if she didn't get the role in Days of Thunder, she wouldn't mind getting to know Adam Smith or even pursuing a closer relationship.

But now, Nicole Kidman didn't need his good luck. She tossed the paper with his phone number out of the car window.

Tom Cruise's gaze during the audition couldn't lie. Which actress wouldn't want to know him right after coming to Hollywood?

Now, Nicole Kidman had only one thought in her mind: getting close to Tom Cruise to quickly rise in Hollywood.

*****

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