Tycoon Actor in Hollywood

At Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York, where the Murray Franklin Show set was meticulously recreated, Lucas stood dressed as the Joker, preparing for the pivotal scene where he's invited onto the show.

As the crew made final adjustments, Lucas found himself face to face with the legendary Robert De Niro, who was playing Murray Franklin.

De Niro's eyes widened slightly as he took in Lucas's gaunt appearance, his face free of the Joker makeup for the moment.

"I've seen your pictures," De Niro remarked, his tone a mix of surprise and concern, "but I didn't expect... well, it's quite a transformation for a typically handsome guy."

Lucas smiled shyly, a hint of his old charm peeking through. "Oh, so I'm not handsome anymore?" he quipped.

De Niro chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean, you're so thin. You've really dedicated yourself to this role, haven't you?"

Lucas nodded, his eyes gleaming with passion. "It's what the character needed. Arthur's physical state is a reflection of his mental one. I wanted to embody that fully."

"Well," De Niro replied, impressed, "you're definitely a dedicated actor."

Lucas smiled appreciatively. "Same goes for you, Mr. De Niro. I noticed you've put on some weight for Murray."

De Niro let out a soft laugh. "Ah, well, I can't claim the same level of dedication. This," he patted his slightly rounded stomach, "is just natural gain. Seems my metabolism isn't what it used to be."

Lucas laughed along with De Niro, appreciating the actor's self-deprecating humor.

As they moved into a brief rehearsal for the upcoming scene, Lucas was impressed by De Niro's ability to seamlessly slip into character as Murray Franklin. They ran through their lines, with De Niro as the charismatic talk show host.

They continued through the scene, adjusting their timing and delivery. Despite the minimal preparation, De Niro's years of experience shone through. He effortlessly adapted to Lucas's portrayal of Arthur, responding to subtle changes in tone and body language with the skill of a true master.

After rehearsing briefly for the scene, the crew bustled about, preparing for filming. Todd approached Lucas and Robert, exchanging a few last-minute thoughts.

"You guys good to go?" Todd asked, his tone casual but eyes alert.

Lucas and Robert nodded, both already sinking into their characters.

"Alright, we'll start briefly," Todd said before heading back to his monitor.

Lucas was quickly ushered to the makeup chair. The artists worked efficiently, applying the Joker's makeup with practiced ease. It didn't take long - they'd done this dozens of times by now.

The production moved to film the backstage meeting between Arthur and Murray. Lucas, embodying both Arthur and the emerging Joker, waited nervously, smoking a cigarette. When the door opened, he stood up, his body language a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Robert, as Murray, entered with Gene. Lucas greeted them with a nervous "Murray, I can't believe this is real, that I'm really here." to which Gene quickly corrected, "It's Mr. Franklin kid, show some respect."

Robert, fully in character, waved off Gary's formality. "Come on, Gene. We know it's all bullshit. Murray is fine. I prefer it in fact. Thanks for coming on the show."

Lucas, allowing Arthur's admiration to shine through, smiled warmly. "Thank you, Murray. I've been watching you forever. My mother never missed a show."

Robert nodded, his expression a mix of politeness and confusion. "Thank you..." He paused, then asked bluntly, "So what's with the face? Are you part of the protests?"

"No, I don't believe in any of that. I don't believe in anything. I just thought it would be good for my act."

The scene progressed, with Lucas navigating Arthur's complex emotions - the thrill of meeting his idol mixed with the growing darkness of the Joker persona.

As Robert and Gene were about to leave, Lucas stood up abruptly. With a mix of hesitation and determination, he made his request: "Hey Murray, one small thing? When you bring me out, can you introduce me as "The Joker"?"

The request hung in the air, loaded with meaning. Robert's reaction as Murray was a perfect blend of surprise and mild amusement, not fully grasping the significance of the ask.

After filming this intense interaction, the production moved on to the next scene, with the energy from this pivotal moment carrying over into the subsequent shots.

As the cameras began to roll again. Lucas took a long drag from his cigarette.

On TV monitor, Lucas watched his earlier performance as Arthur, fumbling through his stand-up routine. Murray, brilliantly played by De Niro, poked fun at Arthur's awkward delivery. The studio audience's laughter filled the air, each chuckle like a knife twisting in Arthur's gut.

Robert's voice crackled through the speakers: "So let me introduce— The Joker."

Lucas, feeling a mischievous blend of Arthur and Joker, decided to play a little trick. As the curtain opened, the studio fell silent – there was no sign of the Joker.

Robert, Murphy Guyer, and Sondra James sat on the set, genuinely confused by Lucas's absence. The Jazz Orchestra played on, but the guest of honor was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, Lucas's hands emerged from behind the curtain, motioning for Robert. The crew members and extras acting as the studio audience laughed softly at the sight. Lucas, fully in character, felt like he was beckoning a pet rather than a legendary actor.

Robert, quick to catch on, realized Lucas was improvising. He stood up and approached the curtain where Lucas was hiding. As he got close, Lucas popped out, exclaiming, "Boo!"

Genuinely startled, Robert held his chest and took a deep breath. "You almost gave me a heart attack," he said, his surprise real.

Laughter erupted from both the "audience" and the production crew.

Lucas's laugh seemed both forced and genuine as he waved to the audience and followed Robert back to the set.

But Lucas wasn't done surprising Robert. As they walked, he stepped behind Robert and began leading him in a seemingly romantic dance.

Sondra and Murphy, who had been clapping while standing, burst into laughter at this unexpected turn.

'This kid is fucking unpredictable,' Robert thought to himself as he played along with Lucas's impromptu dance, impressed by the young actor's bold choices and commitment to the character.

Lucas held Robert's hand high, guiding him into a pose reminiscent of a ballroom dance finale. Robert, playing along, leaned in close and whispered with a mix of amusement and mock threat, "I'm so fucking done with you, brat. Just wait until this scene ends."

Lucas merely smiled in response, then respectfully led Robert back to his seat. Without missing a beat, he turned his attention to Sondra.

To everyone's surprise again, Lucas gently guided her to Murray's desk. In a move that left the entire set stunned, he dipped Sondra back slightly and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

As Lucas pulled away, Sondra's lips now bore a smear of his red makeup. She looked at him with a mix of surprise and amusement, a smile playing on her lips despite her bewilderment.

With an air of satisfaction, Lucas sauntered over to the guest sofa and took his seat, nodding casually to the audience as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Robert, having witnessed this whirlwind of improvisation, could only shake his head in amazement. "Well," he said, his voice a blend of exasperation and admiration, "that's certainly one way to make an entrance."

Crew members exchanging shocked glances and stifled laughter. Todd, watching from behind the cameras, couldn't help but grin at Lucas's bold choices. This was turning into a scene none of them would soon forget.

As the scene progressed, Robert, fully embodying Murray, read from the teleprompter with practiced ease: "So, ahhh, thanks for coming on the show. But I gotta tell ya, with what happened at City Hall today, I'm sure many of our viewers here in the studio, and at home, might find this look of yours in poor taste."

Lucas, lost in the dual personas of Arthur and Joker, barely registered Murray's words. His eyes darted between the bright studio lights and the audience, reveling in the attention. The Joker side of him basked in the spotlight, while Arthur clung to the desperate hope of being liked.

Robert, noticing Lucas's distraction, repeated his questions before finally getting through: "So when we talked earlier, you mentioned that you aren't political. That this look isn't a political statement."

Lucas snapped back to the moment, nodding as he replied, "That's right. I'm not political, Murray. I'm, I'm, I'm just trying to make people laugh."

Robert, as Murray, smiled condescendingly. "How's that goin' for ya? Have you been working on any new material? Do you want to tell us a joke?"

Lucas glanced at the audience, who eagerly encouraged him. He let out a forced laugh and nodded, reaching for his notebook.

"You brought a joke book?" Robert quipped, eliciting laughter from the studio audience.

Lucas just smiled, thumbing through the pages of his notebook. The tension in the studio was palpable as everyone waited to see what would come next.

As the scene progressed, the lighting shifted subtly, creating a more ominous atmosphere. Lucas delivered his knock-knock joke with chilling calmness: "It's the police, ma'am. Your son has been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead."

As the scene progressed, the tension between Murray and Joker escalated. Lucas, fully embodying the Joker, fixed Robert with a look of utter contempt, as if all respect for his former idol had evaporated. Robert, despite his years of experience, felt a chill run down his spine at the intensity of Lucas's gaze.

The argument built to its climax, with Lucas delivering the chilling line, "I'll tell you what you get. You get what you fucking deserve!"

Robert, still in character as Murray, continued to argue, seemingly unaware of the impending danger. Suddenly, Lucas pulled out the prop gun, pointing it directly at Robert. Despite knowing it was fake, Robert felt a moment of genuine fear, this is due to the tension of the scene.

"Bang!" The prop gun went off, and Robert fell back in his chair, playing dead convincingly.

Chaos erupted on set as the extras playing the audience began to run and scream. Lucas, lost in the Joker's satisfaction, surveyed the pandemonium around him. For the first time, his laughter was genuine, not forced or painful. He stood up, relishing the moment, and fired another shot into Robert's "body" for good measure.

The intensity of the scene held everyone in its grip until Todd's voice cut through the chaos: "Cut!"

The word seemed to break a spell. The extras stopped running, Robert opened his eyes, and Lucas slowly lowered the prop gun. For a moment, no one moved, the weight of the scene they had just filmed hanging heavy in the air.

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