Joseph was truly furious.
These little tricks within the crew were actually commonplace in Hollywood this was one kind of unspoken rule. Second- and third-tier actors were often reluctant to offend the staff, and for good reason. The staff didn't need to do much just a slight error could make an actor suffer greatly.
To avoid such situations, one had to either rise to the first tier, find a strong backer, or earn recognition through true skill.
That's exactly what Hugo had done he worked diligently and earnestly on set, but now he was treated like this by Allegre! This was unacceptable.
Today, Allegre merely changed the shower water. Then what about tomorrow? Would he push a collapsing scaffold onto Hugo? Hugo might be in a difficult position now, but that didn't mean anyone could bully him!
Confronted by Joseph's thunderous wrath, Allegre was trembling all over. Under such intense pressure, he could only raise his fist in an attempt to physically resist the oppression Joseph brought down upon him. But Joseph had already anticipated this. He seized Allegre's wrist with one hand and squeezed hard, gritting his teeth as he spoke, "Other than these filthy little tricks, do you have any other methods?"
That word "filthy" from Joseph was so harsh. Allegre had just accused Hugo of being "filthy," but now it was clear he was the one making a fool of himself.
Allegre wanted to say something more, but Joseph harshly flung Allegre's hand away and took a step forward. The pressure made Allegre instinctively retreat a step, then another step. He lost his balance and stumbled back several steps, barely avoiding a humiliating fall.
Joseph's eyes locked firmly on Allegre as he raised his voice and said, "Robert, I want an answer."
This was the first time since taking over Hugo's affairs that Joseph had stood so seriously and earnestly from the standpoint of a agent to fight for Hugo's interests.
Reflecting on Hugo's transformation over the past three months, the media's and industry's cold treatment of him, and the difficulties Hugo had faced during the filming of A Few Good Men, Joseph genuinely felt injustice on Hugo's behalf. This matter had to be resolved properly.
Robert was startled by Joseph's icy voice. All along, Joseph and Hugo had been respectful and modest in their attitude. Robert had thought it was because Hugo had adjusted his mindset after the Razzies. But now Robert understood it wasn't that Hugo didn't want to be high-profile, it was that he believed strength spoke louder than flashy gestures.
Seeing Hugo's performance on set, Robert knew he owed Hugo an answer.
The crew's rejection and coldness toward Hugo may have had objective reasons and Allegre's instigation, but Robert had turned a blind eye despite being aware of it. He had his own calculations: replacing Tom with Hugo brought enormous pressure, both from Columbia Pictures and the film's future performance.
But now, his laissez-faire approach had allowed the situation to spiral out of control.
Perhaps Allegre's actions weren't a major crime just a change in water temperature that gave Hugo a mild fever. But previous indulgences had to be corrected. Moreover, Allegre's mindset had clearly gone awry and might cause more trouble in the future. Since Joseph demanded an explanation, Robert followed suit and made his decision.
"Allegre, your time working on this crew ends right now. You can leave."
That was Robert's decision sacrificing Allegre to preserve the crew's harmony. It was a profitable trade.
Allegre never expected such an outcome. Joseph's words had come true. He'd assumed that even if his actions were discovered, he could brush them off. After all, this wasn't a big deal just making Hugo suffer a little. But now, he had lost his job.
Even worse, Robert was no rookie director in the industry. This meant that Allegre might still find work in the future, but it would be far more difficult.
"No… no, this isn't right. That's not what he said. He said it would be fine…"
Allegre looked at Robert in disbelief. "Robert, you can't fire me. I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted to teach Hugo a lesson, that's all!"
Joseph had been furious and even Robert's decision didn't ease his emotions. But since Allegre was fired, he saw no need to pursue it further. He turned to return to Hugo's side until he caught Allegre's muttering.
"That man? He? What does that mean?"
Was someone behind Allegre's actions?
Joseph sharply looked at Robert but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, it was Robert who brought Hugo into the crew. If he didn't like Hugo, he wouldn't have hired him.
Then who else?
Tom Cruise? Brad Pitt? Martin Baum? Or Tracy Jacobs?
"You didn't do your job. You're an unqualified crew member. Of course I have the right to fire you!"
Robert interrupted Allegre's defense. Everything he said was true. Even if Allegre went to the union, Robert held the advantage. He wasn't worried at all.
"You've already explained yourself, so there's no reason for you to be here anymore. You can leave our set now!"
Robert had always been the cheerful, kind old man but when it came to serious matters, he was never indecisive, demonstrating the absolute authority a producer and director must have.
At Robert's command, two men came forward to escort Allegre off the set. But Joseph took a quick step and once again closed in on Allegre.
"Tell me who ordered you to do this?"
Allegre had already mentally collapsed. He let out a low chuckle that quickly escalated into manic laughter, like a madman.
"Why should I tell you?"
That sentence seemed to confirm Joseph's suspicion someone had instructed Allegre.
But then Allegre shouted louder, "No one! No one! It was all me! I just couldn't stand watching a pretty boy like Hugo with no talent and no effort! I want to see what happens when this film releases I'll laugh at your failure!"
The two men didn't give Allegre another chance to rave they dragged him straight off the set.
Joseph stood frozen, frowning. Was there really someone behind Allegre, or wasn't there?
He was beginning to realize that Hugo seemed to have a growing list of enemies in the industry. Something felt wrong.
But they didn't yet have the strength to fight back. There was nothing he could do.
Accompanied by Robert, Joseph went to check on Hugo. Hugo only had a mild fever it wasn't serious.
After apologizing again, Robert temporarily suspended the day's shooting.
Hugo woke up after about an hour of groggy sleep. He had sweated quite a bit and was feeling much better and more clear-headed.
Joseph, seeing Hugo awake, briefly explained everything that had happened. He told him about Allegre's dismissal and shared his suspicions that Allegre might have been following someone else's orders.
Hugo listened carefully without much emotional reaction. Instead, he smiled.
When he was still playing bit roles, he had observed the hidden rules of the industry and thought it was amusing from the sidelines. But now, these things were happening to him.
That made Hugo realize: he was now a part of this system. These so-called unspoken rules wouldn't decrease in the future they would only grow.
This was just the tip of the iceberg.
"What is it? Got any ideas?" Joseph thought Hugo might've picked up on a clue about the mastermind behind it all.
But Hugo shook his head. "How would I know something like that?" If even Joseph didn't have a clue, then he certainly had nothing to go on either. "But don't worry, I won't let such a small matter shake my confidence. After all, this is nothing more than a tiny little 'accident,' right?" Hugo said with a sly wink that left Joseph at a loss between laughing and crying.
"Next up is the scene opposite Jack. That's the real test," Hugo knew. Not only was this the best opportunity to prove himself, it was also the perfect moment to integrate and express his latest insights into acting. He had been looking forward to this scene for a long time. Just thinking about acting opposite Jack made his blood boil with excitement.
Joseph, however, was a little concerned. "But you're still not in great shape. Should we push the scene back a few days? Wait until your fever's gone?" After all, his scene partner was Jack Nicholson any minor slip-up could ruin the entire performance.
This time, the scene between Hugo and Jack was far more challenging than the one in Scent of a Woman. In that film, Al's character naturally dominated Hugo's in terms of presence, and their scenes positioned Hugo as a weaker character fighting back, which helped cover up any shortcomings in ability. But this time, Hugo and Jack's characters were head-to-head an equal confrontation that would expose all of Hugo's weaknesses. It was nothing short of a final test.
Hugo shook his head. Though his face was still tinged with the flush of illness, his smile was full of resolve and confidence. "Jack wouldn't agree. He's on a tight schedule," Hugo said as he looked at Joseph, his amber eyes shining brightly. "Don't worry. This is my moment too!"
And it would be the moment that truly made the entire crew see him in a new light and left them stunned.
....
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