Nicole Kidman was someone Martin hadn't seen in a while. Recently, the Australian star had returned to her homeland to deal with her sister Antonia Kidman's career troubles.
"Hey, Hanny, no hug for an old friend?" Martin's eyes lit up as he spotted her.
Nicole had put on a touch of weight, but paired with her height, it only enhanced her allure—her most perfect form, in Martin's opinion. He was smitten.
Caught off guard by his enthusiasm, Nicole blushed. "So many people—mmph, oh, Martin, mmph!" Her words were cut off as he swept her into a tight embrace, kissing her deeply.
Her lips were as sweet as ever, and under Martin's influence, she showed no signs of aging—fine lines on her face had all but vanished.
Leonardo, standing nearby, scratched his nose awkwardly, muttering under his breath, "Prioritizing romance over bros, huh?" He shuffled to the side.
Todd Phillips barked at the crew, "Stop gawking! Get back to work! Philip, are the props for the next scene ready? Mick, clear that track…"
Daniel Kaluuya and Chris Pratt, seizing the moment, joined in. "Break it up, break it up! Never seen a kiss before?"
"Don't stare! Nothing better to do?"
As Martin pulled back, Nicole's face flushed, radiating warmth. "Martin, I—ah!"
With a startled yelp, she was hoisted into his arms, then slung over his shoulder. He gave her a playful pat on the backside and strode toward his trailer.
Leonardo's jaw dropped. "What the hell? That wild?"
Moments later, the trailer began to rock rhythmically, accompanied by Nicole's muffled cries.
Leonardo posted a status update on social media: Visited Martin in New York today. Big mistake.
Within five minutes, the post racked up over 500 replies. Were that many people just glued to their screens, jobless? (Should i censor this word?)
"Why the regret?"
"Got humbled by Martin's acting, huh?"
"Leo's no slouch—his work in The Departed was top-tier. Jack's got nothing on him."
"Leo's good, sure, middle-upper tier in Hollywood. But compared to Martin? Pfft."
"Martin's in a league of his own. Who in Hollywood can touch him?"
"Yo, check it—Leo just posted a pic."
"Saw it. A train going through a tunnel? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Feels like Leo's throwing shade at someone."
…
In a Manhattan apartment, Nicole nestled against Martin, murmuring, "Martin, no protection. I want to have your baby."
Cameron Diaz, mid-assist, froze. "Nicole, what about your career?"
Nicole shrugged. "I'm forty. I care more about a child—Martin's child—than my career."
Martin was momentarily stunned by her request, but he quickly understood. Whether for security, legacy, or deepening their bond, it made sense.
"Alright, let's do it," he said.
"My God, you two are insane," Cameron exclaimed. Then a thought hit her. Born in August 1972, she was 36—not exactly young. Maybe I should have a kid too? Screw it, Martin won't abandon me.
…
"Cut! That's a wrap!"
Martin reviewed his scene with Cameron on the monitor, nodding in approval. Since that day, Cameron's acting had exploded—she was treating this film like her last.
He turned to Todd. "Get the extras ready. This is today's final scene—let's nail the crowd sequence."
"And make sure the extras have rehearsed their escape routes," he added. "No chaos."
"Got it," Todd replied.
Soon, the empty street filled with passersby. Two cops mingled among them, played by none other than Chris Pratt and Daniel Kaluuya—now the crew's go-to extras.
"How many roles have we played in this thing?" Pratt muttered.
"No clue. Ten, maybe more?" Daniel replied.
"Hope Martin sees our hustle. Maybe he'll think of us for a real role later."
"Fingers crossed."
Whether from all their bickering or not, their rivalry seemed to be softening into camaraderie, less cutthroat than before.
"Cut!" Todd bellowed. "You in the black suit—your brain made of pork? You blocked Martin's shot!"
"Reset, reset, let's go again."
"Cut! Who left that prop crate in frame? Damn idiot!"
"Reset, one more time."
"Cut! You two over there—you're out of frame!"
Crowd scenes were always a mess—something went wrong every take. Seven or eight tries were standard to get it right.
The only thing keeping Todd sane was Martin's unflappable demeanor. No matter how many takes flopped, he stayed steady.
What a genius, Todd thought. If I were directing this, it'd be perfect.
As filming progressed, Todd felt the film shaping into a classic. His only regret? It wasn't his project.
Chris Pratt and Daniel Kaluuya, backs to the camera, kept whispering.
"Didn't realize Phillips was such a tyrant," Pratt said. "When shooting went smooth, he seemed chill. Now, one hiccup, and he's a studio dictator."
"Mr. Meyers doesn't lose it like that, but everyone respects him," Daniel noted.
"Obviously. With Martin's clout, he doesn't need to yell to command the set."
…
The Washington Observer: "Obama called the current crisis the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression, blaming Bush's failed policies. McCain described it as the greatest crisis of our era. Both candidates sidestepped the $700 billion bailout plan in their rhetoric…"
America Online: "On October 6 alone, Obama spent $3.3 million on ads. At this rate, his ad budget will exceed $90 million by election day, outstripping McCain's entire campaign costs. McCain's ad spend that day was $900,000, with $700,000 from the RNC…"
The Wall Street Journal: "On the 8th, McCain drew criticism for referring to Obama as 'that one' during their debate. That same day, he faced backlash for using songs in campaign events without artists' permission. Notable musician, actor, and author Martin Meyers joined the protest, as McCain used his song Unstoppable…"