Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 194: Wrapped]

Tom Cruise's representatives quickly refuted the rumors, clarifying that he wasn't present that day. Dustin Hoffman's team also produced several witnesses to assert that he had no connection to the incident.

Later, during an interview with Robert Downey Jr., reporters sought to confirm the presence of Tom Cruise and others. Downey Jr. shook his head with a smile, stating, "This was Richard Gere's doing. It was Gere who called the truck driver to block the ambulance, delaying the rescue time for River."

Since Richard Gere had become a paraplegic after a car accident, the media couldn't reach out for his side of the story. The investigation was subsequently stalled, but it was understood within the industry that Richard's career was over. Even if he woke up, he would no longer be able to act.

On top of that, Robert Downey Jr. was incarcerated for intentionally causing serious injury, with a minimum sentence of 10 years. Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and Kiefer Sutherland also suffered reputational damage, resulting in several films terminating their agreements with them.

Only Link managed to gain a considerable advantage from the whole situation, including huge bets in the hundreds of millions, along with his growing notoriety in Hollywood.

...

"Link, have you heard? It's rumored now that you're the one people fear the most in Hollywood. You're more powerful than Michael Ovitz and the heads of the major film studios. Anyone who crosses you is going to regret it," Michelle Pfeiffer jokingly remarked on the phone.

"That's an exaggeration; I'm not that formidable," Link replied downplaying the notion.

"No exaggeration! Richard Gere, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Cruise have all gotten themselves into trouble with you, and each one is worse off than the last. Isn't that proof of how powerful you are?" she countered.

"Okay, there's some connection, but it's not that significant. By the way, I owe you for that intel you gave me earlier."

"Don't mention it." Michelle laughed.

Not long ago, Michelle had received insider information from Dustin Hoffman that Richard Gere had swindled Robert Downey Jr. during a fundraising venture. Michelle passed that tip to Link, who then relayed it to Downey Jr., who in a fit of rage, had crashed his car into Gere.

In this whole affair, Michelle played a crucial role, and Link planned to treat her well when he returned to Los Angeles.

...

Aside from Michelle, several others like Quentin Tarantino, Tim Robbins, and Jerome Preston called to tease him about his rising star power. They also asked when his movie would wrap up, suggesting he ought to buy everyone dinner after this big win.

Link assured them it would be soon.

...

"Scene 15, Shot 31, Take 3, action!"

The crew continued filming, this scene depicted a police road trip with William and Detective Mills escorting the suspect John Doe out into the countryside. Along the way, they discussed John's motives and mindset behind the crimes.

"What's so exciting?" William Somerset, catching sight of the animated John Doe in the rearview mirror, asked.

"The movie's almost wrapped! It's not too far away now," John joked, causing a ripple of laughter among the crew.

...

"Let's do that again," Link called out.

Detective Mills turned to John Doe, "I've been curious about something. Maybe you can help me understand. When people lose it, like you have, do you know you're crazy?"

John Doe remained silent.

"When you're sitting in your own filth, browsing through weapons magazines, do you ever stop and think, 'Wow, this is insane. I'm such a lunatic'? Do you ever think like that?"

Mills asked with a dark humor.

John Doe stared at him, grinning, "Maybe if you treat me as the crazy one, you'll feel better about yourself."

"Absolutely, I find it very enjoyable," Mills shot back.

...

At this, Link called for a break and hopped into the car to discuss the upcoming filming plans with the three of them.

The next scene would see John Doe proactively revealing his motives, claiming to be chosen by God, acting on divine orders to kill the greedy, the lazy, and the corrupt.

This segment was critical to the film, revealing its central themes and sure to spark controversy. The performance was difficult, so Link spent a bit longer prepping before the cameras rolled again.

...

"Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny?" John Doe defiantly responded, "Look at the people I killed. An obese man, a disgusting man who could barely stand up... who if you saw him on the street, you'd point so your friends could mock him along with you. Who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal. After him I picked the lawyer. And, you both must have been secretly thanking me for that one. This was a man who dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath he could muster... to keeping rapists and murderers on the streets."

"Murderers? Like you?" Mills quipped.

"A woman!" John Doe raised his voice, "A woman... so ugly on the inside that she couldn't bare to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer... a drug dealing pederast, actually. And, don't forget the disease spreading whore."

John paused, "Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. That's the point. You see a deadly sin on almost every street corner, and in every home, literally. And we tolerate it. Because it's common, it seems trivial, and we tolerate, all day long, morning, noon and night."

William and Mills listened, their expressions deeply conflicted.

"Not anymore," John continued. "I'm setting the example, and it's going to be puzzled over and studied and followed, from now on."

...

"Cut!"

Kevin Spacey executed the scene remarkably well, delivering his lines with consistent emotional weight and resonance, leaving the audience feeling a sense of loss after his death.

Link reviewed the footage, finding no issues, and signaled the crew to move on to the next shot.

...

The police car arrived at a remote location, where Mills and William were escorting John Doe to a clearing, ordering him to kneel.

At that moment, a truck approached from a distance. Mills maintained his watch on John Doe while William dashed toward the truck, intercepting the driver and retrieving a box from the back.

Upon opening it, he revealed Tracy's severed head.

Meanwhile, John Doe started taunting Mills, "When I said I admired you... I meant what I said. I do admire you."

"Shut up."

"I wish I could have been a normal man like you. I wish I could have a simple life."

Mills looked at him in disbelief. "What the fuck is going on here?!"

"I want you to know, I wish I could have lived like you do."

"Mills... put down your gun! Throw it away!" William shouted, running from a distance.

"What?"

"Throw your gun down now!" William shouted again.

"Are you listening to me, Detective Mills? I'm trying to tell you how much I admire you... and your pretty wife Tracy."

"Throw your weapon, detective! Now!"

"What did you say?"

"It's surprising how easily a member of the press can purchase information from the men in your precinct. I visited your home this morning, after you left. I tried to play husband... tried to taste the life of a simple man, but it didn't work out. So, I took a souvenir," John said expressionlessly, "her pretty head."

"Mills!" William sprinted over, "Give me the gun!"

Mills aimed at John Doe. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

"Give me the gun!" William shouted, panic rising.

"I saw you get a box from the truck. What's in it?"

"Because I envy your normal life," John continued, "Envy is my sin. Kill me!"

"Tell me what's in the box?" Mills cried, desperate.

"David, listen to me..." William cautioned.

"She begged for her life," John said softly, "and for the life of your baby inside her."

William punched John in the face.

Mills froze -- child?

"Oh!" John grinned at William, "You didn't know."

Mills broke down, despite William urging him not to pull the trigger, not to fall for it.

But Mills couldn't suppress his rage. With tears in his eyes, he fired at John Doe, emptying the magazine into his body.

"NO!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

...

This scene proved challenging, especially due to Mills' emotional breakdown. Ben Affleck shot it several times, struggling to hit the mark. Ultimately, under mounting pressure from Link, Affleck finally broke down and nailed the scene.

"CUT!"

After wrapping this scene, they had completed all the shots for Se7en.

Link and the crew returned to Los Angeles to relax, coinciding with the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.