If Ron Meyer knew that he had just rejected Hugo, and immediately afterward Hugo received help from Paul Junger Witt, allowing him to attend the movie premiere—going head-to-head with Basic Instinct—his expression probably wouldn't look too good.
Originally, Joseph had come down just to look for the contact book, to see if there was any overlooked solution. But now that wasn't necessary. Paul's invitation alone had resolved the problem, and that was simply wonderful. Joseph took the invitation letter from Hugo's hand, opened the exquisitely packaged envelope, and pulled out the black card inside. Written in gold lettering on it was, "Final Analysis?" Joseph couldn't recall the film for a moment and looked toward Kal standing across from him.
"Kim Basinger." Kal remembered instantly, naming the lead actress, which also jogged Joseph's memory.
"Oh, the one she did with Richard Gere!" Joseph picked up the thread. He finally remembered the movie. It was a highly anticipated production, no less than Basic Instinct. But then Joseph thought of something else and looked at Hugo with a hint of worry.
Hugo had never heard of Final Analysis, knew nothing about it, but the names Kim Basinger and Richard Gere were certainly familiar to him.
Kim Basinger was the first woman in history to both appear on the cover of Playboy and win an Oscar. In the early 1980s, she quickly rose to fame with her sexy, mature aura—one bold appearance had made her a star. She then delivered a passionate performance in 9½ Weeks, successfully establishing her place in Hollywood. In 1989, she starred in Tim Burton's version of Batman, which achieved considerable success. Of course, what truly made Kim go down in film history was her Oscar-winning role in L.A. Confidential in 1997. At thirty-nine, Kim Basinger was already a Hollywood goddess at the peak of attention.
As for Richard Gere, he was clearly the top-tier icon among the sexy male stars of the 1980s. From American Gigolo to An Officer and a Gentleman, and then Pretty Woman, all these made him a red-hot charm figure in Hollywood.
However, compared to Kim Basinger's globally adored sex-symbol image, Hugo's biggest impression of Richard Gere was that he was a supporter of Tibetan independence. Richard had repeatedly made anti-China comments in public, making it hard for Hugo to form a positive opinion of him.
Hugo had no idea what might happen at the premiere. If he irrationally displayed hostility toward Richard, it would surely be awkward. What's more, he now looked like a full-on white man.
While Hugo was pondering the premiere situation, Joseph misread his expression as worry. "Hugo, are you sure you're okay with attending this premiere?"
Hugo was startled and couldn't help but wonder: Had Joseph already sensed his aversion to Richard Gere? That couldn't be—it's not like he'd said anything. Hugo pretended to stay calm and asked, "Why? Is there something wrong?"
Joseph thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. "Uma is also in the movie."
"Uh… Uma Thurman?" Hugo answered cautiously, because Joseph's tone suggested that something unpleasant might have happened between him and Uma. Had they worked together before?
Uma Thurman had never really hit it big in Hollywood, but her signature works remained widely discussed—Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, The Avengers, and others ensured she always had a place among Hollywood actresses. Her deadly allure, infused with an exotic mystique, was captivating in a subtle but striking way.
Of course, at this point, Uma was still a newcomer. Hugo didn't recall his former self ever working with her. But Joseph's expression clearly indicated: something fishy was going on! So Hugo had to choose his words carefully. "I'm fine. I think whatever happened is in the past."
Hugo thought a bit more and added, "Besides, this is work. We must remain professional, right? Paul's invitation was hard to come by we certainly can't miss this opportunity."
Joseph carefully examined Hugo's calm expression, making sure he wasn't lying, then finally nodded. Hugo mentally wiped away a cold sweat. He may have handled Joseph for now, but what should he do when he actually faced Uma? Hugo really didn't know what had happened between them—was it good or bad? He'd just have to improvise.
"Since you've decided to attend the premiere, you'll need to buy two sets of clothes." Though Joseph was technically the agent, by now he had basically become a jack-of-all-trades—stylist, assistant—he had to oversee all of it. Fortunately, Hugo was his only artist at the moment, so it wasn't too much work.
Hugo didn't react at first. "Isn't there already a lot of new clothes in the wardrobe?" Hugo thought for a second. "The one I wore to the Razzie I've only worn that once."
As soon as he said that, Joseph stared at Hugo speechlessly, while Kal looked at him like he was an alien.
"Hugo, this is Hollywood," Joseph said simply. Hugo didn't respond. He vaguely realized he had just made a very basic mistake. If he said anything more, he'd probably reveal how little he actually knew about the Hollywood industry. "If you wear the same outfit to two different public events, the newspapers will probably headline tomorrow saying you've fallen on hard times."
Hugo immediately understood. He had seen plenty of stories like this in the news before. In the fame-driven world of Hollywood, every public appearance was scrutinized by countless eyes from hairstyle to clothing, from makeup to accessories, from female companions to partners everything became the focus of the camera flashes. Wearing the same outfit to two different public occasions, or worse, wearing the same outfit as another celebrity, was considered disastrous especially for actresses, who were held to extremely strict standards. Men had it easier by comparison, but the basic principle was the same. Not to mention, at major events like the Oscars or film premieres, every pore of a celebrity was examined under a microscope.
You couldn't blame Hugo for his blunder. Back when they were performing as "Death Or Glory" at small gigs, there was no such thing as stage costumes—it was all their own clothes, just dressed up a little more. Every outfit was worn over and over again, and this Hollywood concept was completely foreign to him.
Given Hugo's current situation—with the Golden Raspberry Awards still fresh and "Scent of a Woman" yet to premiere—he was temporarily unemployed… which made him an easy target for the press. If they found out he wore the same outfit from the Golden Raspberries to the premiere of "Final Analysis," the ridicule would be endless.
Joseph looked at the clueless Hugo with a bit of exasperation, as if he hated how little Hugo understood. After exchanging a few words with Kal, he took Hugo out of the office to go shopping properly.
"But… isn't money really tight for us right now?" Hugo asked. He had no sponsors willing to support him at this point, so any investment had to come out of his own pocket. Not long ago, Hugo had checked his bank account—there was less than two thousand dollars in it. It looked like a decent amount, but with all the expenses of daily life and no job lined up, Hugo would need to be frugal.
Joseph clearly had a better grasp of financial planning than Hugo. "Don't worry, the paycheck for 'Scent of a Woman' will be in today."
"Really?" Hugo's eyes lit up instantly. This was the first income he would earn since crossing over—frankly, it was also the first formal income he'd had since running away from home at fifteen.
In the U.S., personal income tax needed to be paid, but Hugo didn't fully understand the details. Still, based on his income bracket, he knew he'd be taxed at around 36%. After applying deductions, exemptions, and the progressive tax rate, Hugo's final tax burden would be around 15%. Then he'd have to give 10% to Joseph and the agency as commission. In the end, Hugo would take home about $380,000 from the paycheck, though the exact figure would have to be calculated by the accountant Joseph would consult.
Three hundred eighty thousand dollars—this meant everything for Hugo in his current tough situation.
"We need to make some soft investments. Buying clothes is just the first step," Joseph had already planned this out, knowing the payment would arrive today. "Next, you need to find a new place to live."
"We're moving?" Though their current place was in terrible condition, it was also the most familiar spot to Hugo since crossing over, so he was a bit reluctant at first.
Joseph chuckled softly. "Of course. You have to move. And I need to move, too." Their current residence was just a temporary solution. They still couldn't afford to buy property or live in high-end housing, but finding a safer, cleaner place was a necessary step.
Hugo quickly came around. Staying where they were wasn't a long-term plan, and moving was inevitable. He nodded without dwelling on it. But soon, Hugo's joyful mood settled down again early '90s fashion? Especially for men? That style was a world away from 2014's aesthetic…
Buying clothes didn't feel like enjoyment—it felt like torture.
....
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