Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

"So, this has to do with William Morris?" Martin asked.

"Exactly," Jeff Raymond replied. "Lately, William Morris has been competing with us for the advertising agency rights for Pepsi and Coca-Cola, as well as the management rights for Kobe and Eli Manning. I've heard they're also quietly reaching out to big names like the Coen Brothers and Ben Affleck. I need your help, Martin."

Martin considered it. "I can't guarantee anything with Pepsi and Coca-Cola, even though I'm a major shareholder. You know how complicated those deals are. But I can put in a word for the others. You'll need to ensure their terms are at least as good as what William Morris is offering—I won't let my friends take a loss."

"Don't worry, Martin," Jeff assured him, his spirits lifting. "We'll offer better terms than William Morris, guaranteed."

Pepsi and Coca-Cola rarely entrusted their brand advertising to the same agency. If not for Martin's maneuvering, CAA wouldn't have secured both. But with their contracts nearing expiration, other agencies were circling like sharks, sensing a chance to carve up the lucrative deals.

The companies themselves seemed to think it wasn't ideal to keep both accounts under one roof, stirring up a storm in the entertainment and advertising worlds.

"Martin, I won't ask for your help for free. How about some CAA shares?" Jeff said, knowing exactly what would pique Martin's interest.

Martin smiled.

He did want CAA shares—not to artificially inflate Meyers Pictures' stock price, though it would have that effect. His goal was to boost his own and Meyers Pictures' influence.

…

Driving home, Martin's car radio played a news broadcast:

"Voyager 1, after a 33-year journey bidding farewell to the planets and moons of our Solar System, officially left the system in August 2010, entering interstellar space. Interstellar space, the region between stars, is filled with sparse, charged particles…"

"Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 has sent back stunning images of the Solar System over its decades-long mission, including the famous 'Pale Blue Dot' captured in 1990. Having traveled over 40 years, it's the farthest human-made object, currently about 22 billion kilometers from the Sun. It will continue transmitting data about interstellar space until around 2025, when its power supply is expected to run out…"

Voyager 1… space…

A spark of inspiration hit Martin. How did I forget that movie?

Back at his Beverly Hills estate, Martin ignored the chatter of the women downstairs and bolted to his second-floor study. He fired up his computer and began typing furiously.

Setting: 600 kilometers above Earth, in space.

Temperature: Fluctuating between -125°C and -100°C.

Sound: Cannot propagate.

No air pressure, no oxygen.

In space, life cannot survive.

Film Title: Gravity

Houston to astronaut dialogue:

"Please confirm switching to Component 1 and Component 2."

"PlAIA base has been cleared."

"Oxygen reserves in M1, M2, M3, M4 have been depleted."

"Copy, Explorer."

"Dr. Stone, this is Houston."

"Medical team is concerned about your heart rate readings."

"I'm fine, Houston."

…

Dinner time came, but Martin still hadn't come downstairs.

Nicole, growing impatient while nursing little Connor, said to the others, "Someone go check on him. What's he up to?"

Scarlett chimed in, "Yeah, it's been over an hour."

"Probably caught up in some inspiration," Lindsay said. "He gets like this."

"I'll go," Jessica volunteered, heading upstairs.

Pushing open the study door, she found Martin furiously typing at his computer.

"Honey, what're you doing? Come eat."

"Almost done," Martin replied without looking up.

Jessica leaned over, curious, peering at the screen. "What's this? Gravity? A script?"

She got sucked in.

Downstairs, the women grew restless and unanimously sent Lindsay, Martin's "little sweetheart," to investigate.

"They're not… doing it up there, are they?" Scarlett muttered.

...

"Daddy Martin, what're you up to?" Lindsay called, poking her head into the study.

All clear—no mischief.

Martin was typing, and Jessica was glued to his side, engrossed.

Just then, Martin finished the final line, clicked "Save," and stretched. He gave Jessica's backside a playful pat and grinned. "Done. Let's eat."

Turning, he planted a kiss on Lindsay's lips and hoisted her up with one arm. "Wow, my little Lindsay's getting heavy!"

"No way!" Lindsay protested, flustered. "It's just… summer weight, that's all."

Among Martin's woman Lindsay had the least ambition but was the most doted on.

Martin gave her a light smack on the rear, sending a ripple through.

"Look at that jiggle—still saying you're not heavier?"

"Hmph!" Lindsay pouted, silent, her cheeks flushing.

Martin's such a rogue, she thought.

Jessica, oblivious to the exchange, was still fixated on the script. It wasn't until they sat at the dinner table that she snapped out of it.

"Martin," she declared firmly, "I've decided. I want to star in this movie."

"What movie?" Scarlett asked, confused. "Divergent?"

"No, not Divergent," Jessica said. "It's a new script Martin just wrote."