Chapter 25: An Unexpected Birth

After the sun rose higher, the weather became somewhat hot. Robert moved a crate of glass-bottled Coca-Cola to the set.

After finishing his role as a background artist yesterday, he asked Martin for help and secured a temporary crew job, which would provide additional income.

Carrying the open crate, Robert turned his head towards the shooting scene not far away, where Martin was pushing hay into the stable.

His role was very simple and easy to manage, but he had no opportunity.

How come Martin suddenly got the role? Robert couldn't understand. He noticed during the last shoot that Martin even delayed his dues.

Jerome strongly recommended a debtor? Where's the fairness in that?

Robert couldn't even get a single line.

Robert arrived at the rest area under the shade and umbrella. Following the crew's requirements, he placed the Coca-Cola on the table for easy access.

He put down the crate and grabbed a pack of napkins.

During unloading, the idiot driver had broken a bottle of olive oil, and much of it had spilled onto the Coca-Cola bottles.

Robert's ambition was to be an actor, not to do menial tasks for the crew. While wiping the bottles, he half-heartedly used the napkins.

After arranging the Coca-Cola, he picked up the empty crate and left to assist the driver with delivering lunch supplies.

Almost simultaneously, the crew's leading man, Adam Smith, and Kyle emerged from the makeup room, heading towards the temporary rest area.

Kyle had a barefoot scene to shoot and wore flip-flops for convenience.

Adam Smith, with his striking blonde hair, asked as he walked, "Where did Martin Davis come from? I've never seen him before."

Kyle, who knew about the situation, explained, "A dumbass from the Marietta Theatre Group. They say he got in through Andrew."

Adam Smith stared in that direction, "The name sounds familiar. I think I've seen him somewhere before."

"A scumbag from the mob. He even brought a gun to the set and threatened me with it!" Kyle urged, "Adam, I'm your cousin. You have to help me!"

Adam Smith cautioned, "Don't cause trouble. If you weren't a good rider, the crew wouldn't have hired you."

Kyle retorted, "You're the leading man keeping this film together, a guaranteed rating hit for cable TV. What are you afraid of? Afraid of that idiot?"

Adam Smith pretended not to hear these words. The conflict involved Kyle, not him.

A minor character did not pose a threat to the leading man.

Adam Smith thought Kyle had more brawn than brains and couldn't even stir up trouble.

Just then, Adam Smith noticed a car, a black BMW 7, and mused to himself, "The boss is here?"

The BMW stopped in the distance, and Kelly Gray, dressed in a white business outfit, walked towards them.

Kyle reached the rest area first, saw the Coca-Cola on the table, grabbed a straw from the box, and reached for a bottle.

His hand touched the slippery glass bottle, and the grease made him instinctively withdraw his hand. The bottle toppled over and rolled off the table.

The professionally trained soccer enthusiast reflexively tried to catch the bottle with his foot.

The heavy bottle landed on his flip-flop clad foot, and a scream erupted from Kyle's mouth.

He sat down on the ground, clutching his foot, whimpering in pain.

Adam Smith rushed over, asking, "What happened?"

Kyle, his face twisted in pain, cried, "Call a doctor! My foot! It hurts so much!"

Adam Smith immediately called the crew to fetch a doctor.

The commotion alerted the filming crew and the boss, Kelly Gray.

The crew doctor assessed that a small bone in Kyle's foot might be fractured or cracked. It would be best to send him to the hospital immediately.

Director Benjamin Calvin was furious and nearly pointed at Kyle's nose, calling him an idiot.

Kelly Gray was also displeased. The medical expenses for the injured actor aside, what about his scenes?

Kyle was sent away, and Benjamin erupted again, "I meticulously designed a horse-riding scene, specifically chose someone who could ride and had the right look, and what now? This idiot breaks his own foot. What am I supposed to do? What now?"

Martin had been lingering on the outskirts of the crowd.

Kelly Gray said, "No need for angry words. Let's solve the problem first."

Benjamin restrained his temper, thought for a moment, and said, "The scenes previously shot with that idiot are scrapped. It's a pity for my meticulously designed horse-riding scenes."

Kelly Gray asked, "Can't they be given to another character?"

Benjamin explained, "We need many wide shots of horseback riding. Does the crew even have an actor who can ride a galloping horse?"

The horses had already been rented, and the rental fee was higher than the combined salary of the male and female supporting actors.

Given the situation, Adam Smith couldn't speak up for Kyle. He had recommended Kyle, but the key reason Kyle got the role was his horseback riding skills.

...

Martin quietly left the rest area and found Jerome, "Boss, did you see the incident with the crew?"

Jerome replied, "I've been watching the whole time."

Martin got straight to the point, "Boss, actually I can ride a horse."

"You?" Jerome was skeptical, "How did you learn?"

Martin made up a story on the spot, "Our family lived in Texas for a while, and I learned on a ranch there."

Jerome, who had heard of Jack Davis, nodded in acknowledgment but said, "Aren't you familiar with Andrew?"

"You are my boss, the one I respect the most. I wouldn't dare decide something this big on my own." As a secondary character, actively requesting additional scenes on his own was unthinkable.

It could easily create conflict with the crew.

Martin wouldn't make such a mistake, "You're the only one I can rely on and trust."

Jerome patted Martin's shoulder, "Leave it to me."

Martin added with emphasis, full of gratitude, "Boss!"

Jerome waved his hand and resolutely walked to find Andrew, pulling him aside to have a quiet word.

It wasn't just for Martin; it was also for their theater group.

After Martin secured a significant role with the crew, the number of actors calling him to join the theater group surged.

Once their discussion was over, Andrew saw that director Benjamin was speaking with owner Kelly and quickly approached.

A chance to make an appearance.

Andrew interrupted when their conversation paused, "Director, one of our main actors knows how to ride a horse."

"Who?" Benjamin didn't want to give up the carefully designed horse scenes.

After all, they had already paid for the horse rental.

Andrew controlled his line of sight, avoiding glancing towards owner Kelly Gray, "Martin Davis."

Kelly Gray heard the name and immediately recalled the interesting young man, asking, "Martin from the Marietta Theatre Group?"

Andrew confirmed, "Yes, him."

Benjamin asked Kelly, "You know Martin?"

Kelly responded, "A very interesting friend."

Thinking of that guy, Benjamin laughed, "Indeed, he's quite an interesting actor." He told Andrew, "Call Martin over and have the horse trainer bring the horse to the field."

In less than two minutes, Martin hurried over with Andrew, "Director, I'm here."

He then greeted Kelly Gray, "Good morning, Kelly."

Kelly Gray smiled at him, "You know quite a lot."

Martin replied, "Poor folks have to learn more."

Kelly Gray agreed, "Those who work hard can achieve success."

The horse trainer brought the horse to the field. Following the trainer's guidance, Martin changed into professional gear and a helmet. He familiarized himself with the horse for a while, then, assisted by the trainer, mounted the horse. He started with a slow walk, circling the field before picking up a trot.

He had learned horseback riding in a past life as a stunt double and hadn't used the skill in a long time. Martin needed to get accustomed to the horse and find his rhythm again.

After a lap, Benjamin asked, "Can you control the horse with two riders?"

Martin had a bad feeling but still nodded, "No problem."

After all the effort to secure this chance, he had to endure and make it through even if there were challenges.

Benjamin directly called the scriptwriter, "Add the horse scenes for Billy."

Martin's scenes had originally been completed, but with the additional scenes, his pay increased to 800 dollars a day due to the riding scenes.

Adam Smith, standing not far away, heard Benjamin's words and saw Martin chatting and laughing with Kelly after dismounting. He pondered, "A minor character?"

The day's work ended, and Martin drove his Ford, giving Robert a ride back to Marietta.

Robert suddenly said, "I did something. Don't tell anyone else."

Martin was curious, "What did you do?"

Robert looked around the car windows and lowered his voice, "I was the one who put the Coca-Cola there."

"You put it there?" Martin recalled he had mentioned his horseback riding skills to Robert.

Robert, looking grave, said, "Yes."

"Buddy, you didn't have to take such a big risk for me." Martin suspected it wasn't a coincidence, "I just recommended you for a temporary crew job, yet you gave me such a big return."

Robert quickly denied, "No, I didn't!"

Martin understood, "I get it. You didn't do anything. The idiot just had slippery hands. It had nothing to do with you."

Robert spread his hands, explaining, "I really didn't do it on purpose! Really!"

Why couldn't he explain clearly?

*****

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