Chapter 36: The Best Actress

"Mr. Stanton, I hope you'll keep your promise during filming," Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan said sternly, sitting on the slightly worn sofa in an office at the Hollywood Actors Guild, closing the actor contracts in their hands. They looked at Murphy with a hint of warning in their eyes, "My agent will be keeping a close eye on you."

Beside them, Kerry Mulligan remained silent, but in her eyes, she held a proud look of victory as she gazed at Murphy.

"Don't worry," Murphy assured them confidently, "Stanton Studios may have just been established, but it's a reputable company, and personally, I consider integrity to be the most fundamental principle."

During their previous two meetings, the Mulligans had expressed significant concerns about the script for "Hard Candy." Murphy had promised to make adjustments, and he had swiftly produced an improved version of the script. With the endorsement of Kara Fess, the news director of Channel Six, the Mulligans finally gave their nod of approval.

In the world of Hollywood, fame and status played significant roles, and without Kara Fess's assistance, Murphy might have had to reconsider his choice of leading actress.

The signing of the contract involved not only Murphy, the Mulligans, and their legal advisor Robert, but also representatives from the Children's Association and the Actors Guild, as well as Julian Faros and Bill Ross, Kerry Mulligan's new agent. Reviewing the contract, negotiating terms, and revisiting disputed clauses took over two hours, but ultimately, both parties signed Kerry Mulligan's actor contract.

Given the involvement of a minor actor and a member of the Actors Guild, with oversight from the Children's Association, the contract was stringent. It detailed Kerry Mulligan's daily work schedule and even included provisions for hiring a private tutor. Under Hollywood's robust and strict protection system, Kerry Mulligan's rights on set were maximally guaranteed.

Although some clauses in the contract were daunting, Murphy knew he was playing a legal game. To survive in this industry, one had to adhere to the rules. Moreover, considering Kerry Mulligan's lack of prior acting experience, her salary was only five thousand dollars.

As for the stipulated work and study hours, the presence of representatives from the Children's Association and the Actors Guild ensured that there was some flexibility. Despite the strict oversight, Kerry Mulligan's presence on set would face minimal disruption.

With the contract signed, Kerry Mulligan's parents would return to London to focus on their respective jobs, leaving Kerry in the care of Julian Faros and Bill Ross. Although they were not easy to deal with, they were more flexible compared to Kerry's conservative parents.

Most importantly, Kerry trusted them as reliable individuals, and as long as she didn't cause trouble, there would be fewer problems.

With the formal signing of the contract, the role of the female lead in "Hard Candy" was finally secured.

"Murphy..."

Outside the Actors Guild, as Murphy walked towards his car, he heard a clear voice calling out to him. He turned and saw Kerry Mulligan hurrying towards him, waving her hand, "Wait up, I have something to tell you!"

Turning around, Murphy glanced at the Mulligans standing nearby, politely smiling at them before focusing on Kerry. "What's up?" he asked.

Stopping about five feet away, Kerry folded her hands behind her back, swaying slightly as she spoke in a low voice, "I came to thank you."

"Thank me?" Murphy pointed at himself as if he didn't quite understand her words, "Why?"

"You've helped me see my goals clearly," Kerry's voice remained low but determined, "And you've taught me that I must strive for what I want."

"No, no, no, Kerry, that's not because of me," Murphy knew exactly how to handle this girl, "Everything that's happened only shows that you're a determined young lady with aspirations."

"Really?" Kerry asked, her eyes twinkling.

Murphy nodded without hesitation, "Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"

Kerry took a step forward, her voice even lower, "You're the best, Murphy."

Hearing this, Murphy looked up slightly, as if he had just heard a crow cawing above him, but then he smiled, "You're the best too, Kerry. I believe you'll become the best actress."

"Yeah!" Kerry didn't show false modesty, she nodded vigorously, tapping her chin proudly.

"It's getting late..." Murphy gestured towards the Mulligans, "Your parents must be getting anxious."

"They..." Kerry snorted softly before speaking, "If I hadn't forced them into a corner, would they have given me the freedom to choose?"

Even though her wish had been granted, her resentment towards her parents hadn't dissipated.

Murphy was somewhat curious, lowering his voice, "What did you do, dear?"

"Guess..." Kerry flashed a cunning smile, "It's my secret. I won't tell you."

"Well then..." Murphy made a gesture as if making a phone call, "Wait for my call, and don't forget to study the script."

As he watched Kerry walk away, Murphy couldn't help but wonder what she had done to make the Mulligans finally compromise.

However, as he got into his car, he realized that he already had an idea. From their previous interactions, he could see that the Mulligans genuinely cared for Kerry, but their conservative nature and busy schedules made them less adept at communication. For a teenage girl to make her doting parents compromise, there were many tactics she could have used.

What Kerry had done was not as important as the fact that she had become the leading actress in "Hard Candy."

Perhaps she wasn't the best choice in all of Hollywood, but among the actresses Murphy had access to, Kerry Mulligan was the most suitable one.

With Kerry Mulligan secured, Murphy returned to Milton Café to continue his preparations. He coordinated with the set designer, lighting technician, and prop master to revisit the shooting locations in San Fernando Valley, exchanging ideas with them about the envisioned scenes.

To be honest, the progress of the preparations was not as smooth as Murphy had anticipated. He lacked experience, and the crew he hired were mostly from the lower echelons of Hollywood, chosen more for their opportunities than their capabilities.

Fortunately, Murphy had expected this. He knew that the beginning would be difficult, and it was unrealistic to expect a film project to be completed quickly with a group of inexperienced and less capable individuals, even if the film mostly consisted of one setting and two actors.

After returning from the scouting trip in San Fernando Valley, Murphy deliberately met with James Franco.

"Take a look at this." In Milton Café, Murphy placed a stack of contract copies on the coffee table and pushed them towards James Franco, who was sitting opposite him. "These are specifically prepared for you."

"Without my agent present, I can't sign any contracts," James Franco thought the contract was tailored for him. He picked it up and flipped through a few pages, his eyes lighting up, especially when he saw Kerry Mulligan's headshot tucked inside. His eyes seemed to bulge, "Oh... wow... uh... this..."

He made a series of meaningless sounds, took a deep breath, closed the contract copy, and slammed it onto the table. "Are you trying to deceive me?"

James Franco wasn't foolish. Although Murphy

had mentioned Kerry Mulligan joining the cast, he hadn't fully believed him, given the ongoing negotiations between the two parties.

Seeing James Franco reopen the contract and fixating on Kerry Mulligan's photo like a wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood, Murphy calmly said, "If you feel uncomfortable, Jim, I can find another actor."

"No! Don't..." James Franco raised his hand, as if trying to stop Murphy in this manner, "Please don't! Murphy, I'm extremely interested in the character in the script, but your offer is too low, and my agent strongly opposes it. I've been trying to convince him, but it takes time."

Murphy had once learned from media reports that James Franco was known for his eccentricity, but now he seemed even more peculiar than the media portrayed.

"Jim, my time is tight," Murphy said, "I've almost completed other preparations, and I need to set aside time for rehearsals with the lead actors before filming..." he emphasized the word 'lead' subtly, "...which means you and Kerry will need more solo rehearsal time."

James Franco seemed determined. He slammed his hand on the table, "I'll go talk to my agent right now."

Murphy couldn't help but think that James Franco, as peculiar as he was, seemed even stranger in person than in the media.