Chapter 515: Fishing? Feed the fish!

In the dimly lit room, Martin sat, his expression a mask of composed neutrality as he perused the manuscript before him. "I'm completely finished with riding a horse," he read aloud, the words resonating with a sense of finality. "This is the conclusion I've reached after much contemplation. I'm finished!"

The text painted a picture of six days that were meant to herald the start of a glorious six-month journey, yet they had become the overture to a nightmare. The protagonist lamented the presumed thoughts of his teammates, who likely believed him dead. The irony of being potentially the first person to die on Mars was not lost on him.

As Martin delved into the first two chapters, the image of Matt Damon, with his earnest demeanor, sprang to mind, aligning seamlessly with the narrative. The title 'Growing Potatoes on Mars' was a dead giveaway to the film's identity.

He glanced at Rachel, sitting across from him, pondering the FBI's intentions. Why had they chosen this novel, one not even available in the publishing market, as bait? Was this an act of goodwill or a clever ploy?

Despite the whirlwind of thoughts, Martin's face betrayed nothing. He maintained the demeanor of a seasoned professional, treating the work as just another manuscript.

Rachel observed Martin closely, noting his calm demeanor as he read, seemingly uninterested. She knew this wasn't an FBI operation; instead, it was her boss using subordinates to flaunt the person who had hindered her career advancement. The resources at her disposal were limited, and she had hoped a simple seduction tactic might work, given Martin's reputation as a playboy.

After reading a couple more chapters, Martin closed the manuscript. "It's a decent piece leaning towards hard science fiction, but its adaptation potential is average. Hollywood's large investments in hard science fiction movies rarely pay off, with few true successes," he commented analytically.

Rachel, prepared for this response, chimed in, "Don't you see it as a Martian version of 'Robinson Crusoe'? It's compelling, like a rocket launching into space!"

Martin inquired about the work's publication status and the author's fame. Rachel had to admit the truth: it was unpublished, and the author was unknown.

Martin gestured resignedly. "These factors are problematic. Even if I wanted to adapt it, there's a long journey ahead."

Rachel, internally relieved he hadn't outright refused, suggested they could work on a plan to steer it towards adaptation.

However, Martin's quick review revealed the manuscript lacked an ending. "Who's the author? There's no conclusion! Rachel, this makes things difficult," he expressed, his frustration evident.

Rachel hesitated, retracting her previously extended offer.

Martin persisted, "I need to meet the author, discuss the completion of the work, and ensure a satisfactory ending before considering adaptation."

Rachel, understanding the stakes in Hollywood, where every step could cost a fortune, reassured him. "Our publishing house is addressing these issues. I can assure you, communicating with the author won't be a problem." Her tone held a mix of determination and pragmatism, hinting at the complexities of adapting literary works into successful films.

Recognizing the opportunity presented by Martin's expertise, she proposed, "Let's make it more collaborative. For this early recommendation, we could jointly fund the subsequent movie projects. When things are set in motion, I can bring your publishing house in front of our investment shareholders."

Rachel was taken aback by Martin's suggestion. It was a leap from merely selling a novel to actively participating in financing a project. She was caught in a dilemma: was this a simple case of fishing, or was she being fed instead? As an assistant in the FBI's Hollywood office, she knew such collaboration was a common practice in Hollywood, but it was still an unexpected turn.

However, she was well aware that funding such an endeavor was beyond her financial capacity, and she doubted her superior would be willing to shell out the necessary funds.

Bruce, observing the exchange, remained silent. This negotiation seemed to be a personal endeavor rather than an official FBI operation. If it were the latter, they would have already found a way to settle it.

The situation was evolving in ways Rachel hadn't anticipated, and she felt a bit overwhelmed. Facing Martin's sincere offer, she hesitated, "I need to consult with my superiors."

"Don't worry," Martin assured her, picking up the manuscript. "I'll review this more thoroughly."

Rachel nodded in agreement, allowing him to take the manuscript with him. Martin tucked it into his portfolio and subtly nudged Bruce.

Their conversation was interrupted by Bruce's ringing phone, which turned out to be an invitation from the White House for Martin to attend a fireworks show. Rachel, slightly taken aback by this revelation, didn't dwell on it, knowing her superior was not connected to the White House.

Martin, ready to leave, shook hands with Rachel, who had stood up. "If you decide to invest, please let me know in time for preparations."

"I'll report it to my superiors," Rachel replied with a smile.

After Martin and Bruce departed, Kate, who had been observing silently, criticized Rachel's approach, suggesting a more direct tactic could have been more effective. Rachel, visibly annoyed, didn't respond and promptly left the coffee shop with her briefcase.

In the hotel lobby, Martin and Bruce paused in the rest area. Bruce checked the portfolio to ensure everything was in order before they headed upstairs.

"The meeting ended so soon?" Elizabeth asked, still packing her luggage.

Martin nodded and asked Bruce to summon Thomas.

In the suite's study room, Thomas was handed the manuscript. Martin expressed his interest in acquiring the film and television adaptation rights but noted the author's identity was unknown.

After a roundabout conversation with Rachel that yielded little information, Martin instructed Thomas, "Find the author and negotiate the rights as quickly as possible."

Thomas, reviewing the manuscript, then searched a snippet of the text on Google, leading him to a personal blog.

"He's Andy Weir," Thomas announced, having found the author. "He serialized 'The Martian' on his blog, lacking publisher support. It's been updated to the last chapter."

Martin, recalling Matt Damon's honest face and the curious connection to the Foot Gang, mused over the intriguing twists of fate and the FBI's role in aligning him against the gang.

In the quiet ambiance of the hotel room, Martin listened as Thomas read aloud from the author's profile on the blog. "This individual graduated from the University of California and is presently employed at Blizzard Entertainment."

Intrigued, Martin inquired, "Is that the same Blizzard Entertainment known for creating the Warcraft game?"

"Yes," Thomas confirmed, "He's a programmer there."

Martin pondered for a moment, then decisively said, "Head back to California immediately. Find this guy and secure the copyright."

Thomas, efficiently packing away the manuscript, replied, "I'll book a flight right away."

Another thought struck Martin. "Also, check Ridley Scott's availability for future projects."

Thomas nodded in acknowledgment and swiftly exited the room.

Martin reflected on Ridley Scott's career. Known for his unpredictable output, Scott's films varied greatly in quality, earning him a mixed reputation, despite not having final edit rights. His epic films, especially those like "Gladiator," had achieved tremendous commercial success. In contrast, his ventures in the science fiction genre were almost always hits.

Recalling Ridley Scott's ambition, Martin mused over his tendency to leap into epic films following a successful science fiction project. However, films like "Kingdom of Heaven," "Robin Hood," "Exodus: Gods and Kings," and "The Last Duel" had been costly box office disappointments.

After a brief call to Neves on a special phone, Martin felt more at ease.

That afternoon, Thomas boarded a flight to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Martin and his companions enjoyed an early dinner before heading to the White House to watch the Independence Day fireworks show alongside Obama and others.

Elizabeth also personally confirmed with Michelle that Maria would be joining the "Inception" crew in Los Angeles for a summer internship in mid-July. Christopher Nolan, Martin, and several Warner Bros. executives would all endorse her internship, paving her way to an Ivy League school in the future.

The next morning, Martin bid farewell to Lily and Elizabeth before flying out of North America to continue filming "Inception" in Morocco.

During a layover in Rabat, he received news from Neves. The fishermen, having failed in an internal competition, were reassigned to South Korea as liaison officers, meaning they wouldn't return to North America anytime soon. With the hook now gone, Martin had no choice but to proceed with the bait.

Thomas successfully contacted Andy Weir, who was still juggling part-time writing. Given the challenging prospects of serialized novels, negotiations with Weir progressed smoothly, opening up new possibilities for the project.