America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

After finishing the scenes on Peachtree Street, the crew returned to the Gray Film and Television Center to continue filming.

Maggie JillEnhall also joined the shoot.

"Cut, that's a wrap!"

Behind the director's monitor, Nolan watched as the set was decorated for a party scene, with Maggie JillEnhall clutching her chest and stumbling out as if Martin's performance had frightened her.

Nolan's excellence wasn't just in directing. He immediately called the screenwriter over, "Take note, during the filming Maggie JillEnhall was so scared by Martin's acting that she started to need frequent bathroom breaks, and at one point was too afraid to speak or look at Martin."

The screenwriter's pen flew across the page, quickly jotting everything down.

Skilled at fabricating shoot anecdotes with promotional flare, Nolan thought for a moment, then said, "Call Michael over."

Soon, veteran actor Michael Caine arrived, asking, "Chris, did you need me for something?"

Nolan continued to plan promotional antics. Back in Los Angeles, he had agreed with Aulin and Charles Roven to make Martin, with his more provocative and commercially appealing presence, the focus of the publicity, "In the scene you're about to do with Martin, Michael, you have to be so scared by his performance that you forget your lines."

Michael Caine, who had worked with Nolan many times, understood his intention and replied, "No problem, I'll play along."

A few minutes later, filming started again.

This time, it was a dramatic face-off between Martin and Michael Caine.

As Martin unleashed a frenzied and brutal smile, Michael Caine was struck dumb with fear, forgetting his lines on the spot.

"Cut!" Nolan called a halt to the scene.

Caine backed away, and after taking some water from an assistant, he managed to say, "Sorry, my fault."

He looked at Martin, still shaken, "Young man, you are terrifying. I just saw a real Joker in front of me."

On the edge of the set, the screenwriter again made a note of the anecdote: "Michael Caine forgot his lines in filming because he was scared by Martin."

Martin approached Caine and asked, "Are you alright?"

Caine managed a weak smile, "Much better now."

Martin was surprised. Was his acting really that good?

Bruce had been paying attention to the goings-on of the crew, and when Martin sat down in the rest chair, he said softly, "Nolan spoke with Caine a moment ago."

Turning his head, Martin glanced at the director's monitor and had an epiphany: Typical Nolan, actively creating sensationalism.

Old acquaintance Morgan Freeman came over by himself, sat next to Martin, and said, "This is quite an interesting set."

Pretending to be oblivious, Martin made small talk, "Am I too scary?"

"No." Freeman flashed his signature smile, "Behind the scenes or on camera, off the set or on the set, it's all an act, and it's thrilling."

Martin grinned, "Isn't it fun? Adds a lot of pleasure to the monotonous filming."

Freeman remarked, "I'm old, can't handle too much excitement, I'll just watch quietly..."

Before he could finish, his step-granddaughter came looking for him.

Freeman stood up to leave, "I'm heading back to the hotel, let's talk another time."

An old man and a young woman left the soundstage.

Martin asked, "Old Cloth, will I still have this kind of charm when I'm old?"

"As long as you have enough money, you can be charming at any age." Bruce reminded, "Don't forget, Jack Nicholson was still able to attract 17-year-old Jennifer Lawrence."

Martin nodded, then caught sight of Sophia approaching, "She and Bale have a lot in common?"

Bruce said quietly, "I asked Scott, Sophia goes out hunting for fresh experiences too, but she always goes back to him."

Martin sighed, "Turns out the real winner in life is Scott."

He was winning without even trying.

At lunch in the cafeteria, Martin talked to Sophia for a bit.

"Did you succeed?" he asked.

Sophia shook her head, "It's a bit challenging. While discussing fitness with him, I casually broached the subject of his family. According to him, he loves his wife very much."

Martin dropped a hint, "That's probably not the main issue. As far as I know, he's had sponge tears before."

"Looks like I need a new strategy." Sophia thought there was a problem with Bale, "Should I be more proactive, more assertive?"

She remembered something, "Bale's wife is coming over soon, so I'll wait a few days before making my move."

Martin asked, "To visit the set?"

"Exactly." Sophia's grip tightened on Martin's shoulder, "How about doing me a favor? Aren't you good at breaking up couples or relationships?"

How could Martin refuse? After all, she was a major backer!

......

The next morning, Martin saw Bale's wife, Sibi Blazic, on the set.

She appeared to be a tall brunette in her early thirties.

During a break, Martin saw Maggie JillEnhall going over to greet her and called Bruce, "Let's go see our good friend Bale and get acquainted with his wife as well."

He didn't forget to remind him, "Bring a welcome gift."

Bruce opened the package he had brought and took out a long, slender box as he followed Martin, asking, "What are you doing?"

Martin, with his clown makeup, turned around with a sinister smile, "Just getting to know a friend's wife, that's all."

Bruce felt there was something not quite right.

Before they even got there, Martin already stretched out his arms and, in the warmest manner, called out loudly, "Chris, is this your lady? Aren't you going to introduce her?"

Hiby turned her head only to see a person with a white face and red mouth, leaning forward at the neck, approaching her. She felt a rush of anxiety and subconsciously grabbed onto Bale's arm.

Being British and never one to abandon his gentlemanly conduct in public, Bale, despite his dislike for Martin, still made the introduction, "Hiby, this is Martin Davis. Martin, this is my wife, Hiby Blazic."

Martin was anything but polite, "Hello, Hiby, welcome to Atlanta." He laughed heartily, "I'm a native Atlantan and a good friend of Chris's. If you need anything while you're here, feel free to ask me."

Hiby responded with a smile, "I will, thank you."

Martin, whose hands had been empty before, suddenly flipped one hand down and then up again, now holding a business card between his fingers, "My business card."

Hiby accepted and, out of politeness, handed her own business card to Martin.

A flash of displeasure crossed Bale's face, but with many people around and considering his wife's feelings, he said nothing.

After securing Hiby's business card, Martin extended an invitation, "Chris, whenever you're free, I'd like to treat you and Hiby to some of Atlanta's culinary delights."

Bale stared straight at Martin, whose face was covered in white makeup, looking even more sinister than the Joker in the script to him.

Hiby, noticing her husband's displeasure, said, "We'll see about that. I've just arrived in Atlanta from Los Angeles and am quite tired. I need a few days' rest."

Martin turned and took a gift box from Bruce's hand, offering it to Hiby, "Please, accept this gift."

Hiby took it, "Thank you."

"I won't disturb you further," Martin said with a slight bow to Mr. and Mrs. Bale before leaving.

Bale led Hiby to his resting room, saying as they walked, "Be careful with that Martin Davis on set, he's got a screw loose, a real lunatic."

Hiby caught on that her husband didn't get along with him. She picked up the gift box, "Is it okay to accept this?"

Bale took it from her and opened it, "Let's see what it is."

Hiby glanced inside and pulled out a Joker carving, which resembled Martin's clown makeup.

"It's an upscale handmade souvenir from the crew," Bale said.

The statue was over thirty centimeters long. Hiby held it by the legs and shook it a few times in her hand, saying, "Why does it feel so strange?"

Bale asked, puzzled, "What's strange about it?"

Hiby suddenly thought of a certain kind of used item, "It's nothing."

Bale suggested, "If you don't like it, throw it away."

"It's merchandise from the crew, so let's keep it." What Hiby was actually thinking about was something else. Ever since her husband's injury from a torn sponge, his interest in certain matters had markedly declined, and this statue might still be of some use to her.

Bale didn't dwell on the statue but emphasized again, "Be wary of that Martin Davis."

...

Once back at his resting spot, Martin sat in a chair and sent his ever-present screenwriter away for the time being.

Bruce, ever perceptive, asked, "What's the matter?"

Martin asked, "As I recall from the Pine Forest Film Studio incident, Bale suffered an injury from a torn sponge. Has he recovered now? How's his relationship with his wife?"

Instead of answering, Bruce retorted, "Is it really like Leonardo said, that you're only interested in beautiful women over thirty with a steady partner? Have you caught something from Jolie?"

Martin sneered, "As noble as I am, how could I stoop to such base acts? That's so low-class! Don't forget, I am now a truly noble person."

The way he said it carried a hint of the Joker.

Bruce asked, "So what are you planning to do?"

"Choice is always proactive," Martin already had an idea. "Madness is as pervasive as the Earth's gravity, and all we need to do is gently push from behind, and people will naturally make their choice."

Bruce, sympathetic, mourned for Bale for two seconds before completely siding with Martin.

Martin looked around to make sure no one was close by, then confided, "Go find Robert and ask him to find us some reliable temporary actors from Atlanta. I remember many extras in the crew come from the Marietta Company."

Bruce nodded, "I'll arrange to meet with Robert in a bit."

Martin whispered for a while.

Bruce fully understood Martin's intentions. It really was just a gentle push in the background.

When the crew's break ended, filming resumed.

Bruce left the studio and found a secluded spot to call Robert.

At noon, the two met on the street outside the Gray Film and Television Center.

Robert, in a suit and slicked-back hair, showing off his large bald head, looked very much like the High Priest of the Cola Cult.

After hearing Bruce out, he laughed, "It's easy. There are plenty of temporary actors in the crew I personally trained who are devout believers in the Cola Cult. They're willing to do anything for their faith."

Bruce offered a reminder, "It has to be of their own volition."

Robert nodded, "Of course!"