America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

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The film crew was nearing the end of shooting, focusing on the intense conflict between Joker and Batman.

Seeing Martin smile broadly and laugh with others on set every day made Bale feel so irritable he wanted to kill someone.

Moreover, after shooting the hospital explosion scene, inspired by Nicholson, Martin added an impromptu element to his performance, making an explosive "bang" with his mouth when laughing crazily.

Nolan thought it was great and very fitting for Joker's reckless and maniacal demeanor, so he fully supported Martin.

But whenever Bale saw that mouth shape and heard that faint "bang" sound, he would subconsciously clench his legs together, and a nameless anger would stir in his heart.

Even sleeping at night, he would wake up from the ripping pain in his nightmares over and over again.

Bale's mental state deteriorated, and he had a full tank of anger that needed to be vented.

Yet Director Nolan was especially pleased with Bale's condition; as soon as Bale suited up as Batman, with no need for much acting, he embodied a Batman thoroughly enraged by Joker, ready to use any means necessary.

No one knew but Nolan himself whether he had played a hand in this.

This British director had exceptional talent and extraordinary methods.

In the rest area, Martin had just had his makeup touched up.

Bruce came over with a rubber prop baseball bat and handed it to Martin.

A few days earlier, the crew had shot a scene where Batman beats up Joker.

Today, they would shoot Joker beating up Batman.

Across from Martin, Bale was walking over in his Batman suit, holding his cowl in his hand.

He lifted his head and locked eyes with Martin.

Martin was kind to everyone, his pale face splitting into a blood-red smile.

A baseball was tossed up by Martin, then caught again, and then tossed up once more.

In his other hand, he held a baseball bat, which he propped on the ground.

Bale remembered this action scene and immediately changed direction mid-way to find Director Nolan.

This was a scene where Batman is unilaterally hammered by Joker!

Some time ago, Bale had tried to leverage an action scene to set up an accident, hoping Martin would get a taste of Batman's fist.

He thought Martin wouldn't pass up the opportunity today.

Seeing that look, he seemed intent on getting payback.

Although consumed by rage and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Bale was not completely out of his senses and said to Nolan, "Director, I'm not feeling very well at the moment, can the stunt double take over for the next few action scenes?"

Nolan frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied.

It wasn't that replacing him with a stunt actor wouldn't work—the various Batman stunt doubles in the crew, once in the suit, were almost indistinguishable in build from Bale, and as long as the chin wasn't shot in close-up, nobody could tell.

What Nolan was unhappy about was that he had been contemplating the morning's writing of new material and had finally found inspiration, only for Bale to decide not to participate.

He asked with apparent concern, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Bale forced a smile, "A little rest and I'll be fine."

Nolan nodded, called over the stunt team, and prepared a stunt double to replace Bale for the last few action scenes.

The pen was in his hands, after all. He would just have to think of something else.

Bale immediately felt more relaxed, sat down in his chair in the rest area, took a deliberate glance at Martin, then closed his eyes to rest.

Even his nerves, strained by recent torment, found an unexpected reprieve in this moment.

Bale felt he had both seen through and foiled Martin's plans.

On the other side, Martin continued to toss the baseball playfully.

Bruce came over again and said in a low voice, "Stunt actors Philip and Rice are getting ready. Bale won't be in the remaining action scenes for Batman."

Martin replied softly, "That's about what I expected. Someone who wants to create an accident in an action scene will never give someone else the chance to create one."

Bruce was not surprised, "He probably considered today's scene while shooting Batman beating up Joker."

"Only someone with nothing but bad ideas in his head could have such a low-level thought," said Martin, with a self-perceived kind smile, "A good actor like me would never do such rotten things like causing accidents on purpose."

Bruce glanced at his smile and reminded him, "That might scare the young actresses in the crew."

Martin had to refrain from smiling, "Accidents can only happen once, and after the hit, it's over. You can't count minutes of beating as an accident, right?"

Taking into account Bale's current situation, Bruce said, "Some physical injuries can cause long-term psychological impact."

Martin agreed, "That's right, so as long as you work from that angle, he can't break free. I think there's a wild beast hiding in his body, ready to burst out at any moment."

He tapped his head, "Nicholson told me, physical and psychological injuries happening together can haunt someone for life. He's my boss, and I plan to follow his advice."

Bruce felt no guilt, as his years of military and Atlanta experience taught him that you can't be soft on enemies.

That would just be too irresponsible to his own future.

Martin looked around and said in a low voice, "Let's proceed as we discussed."

Bruce left the rest area and headed out of the set to find Scott, who had come to visit the set unexpectedly.

"Are you ready?" Bruce asked.

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Scott nodded, "Sophia has invited Bale several times, and he has rejected her each time, which really upset her."

Bruce said, "Just do as I told you, and be honest, understand?"

"Piece of cake," Scott wiped his nose, "I was hustling on the streets before you even knew where you were!"

The two exchanged a few words in a low voice, and then Scott, with one leg crossed over the other, found a place to sit and slowly looked for an opportunity.

Martin picked up the prop bat and walked onto the set to communicate with the stunt double who was playing the beaten-up version of Batman.

He never even considered using an action scene to stage an accident.

That would be too low-level.

As an actor in the Hollywood industry with outstanding professional quality and a great reputation, Martin certainly wouldn't allow such an incident to damage his own reputation.

Compared to Old Cloth, Nicholson and Leonardo, those bastards, he still cared about his face.

The crew finished preparing, the lights dimmed, and upon Nolan's command, filming began.

Martin instantly transformed into a rabid dog, with the aid of two hounds, he ambushed Batman successfully, and started swinging the prop bat wildly at Batman without any rhyme or reason.

The main idea was to be crazy, erratic, and violent.

The bat swung through the air with a whoosh, but fell with little force; Martin, having filmed many action scenes, had plenty of experience and gauged it perfectly.

Batman was also beaten by Joker until he rolled around on the ground in disarray.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Cut, that's a wrap for this one!" Nolan was very satisfied with Martin's performance and shouted, "Keep up the good work."

The makeup artist came in for a touch-up, and the dog trainer pulled the dogs away.

Martin listened to the action director's instructions for the next scene, getting ready for the next shot.

In the rest area, Bale, who had taken off his Batman armor, saw the stunt performer stand up unscathed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Just now, watching Martin beat up Batman, he had broken out in a cold sweat.

When filming paused for a break and the crew took a rest, Bale heard whispers that were inescapable on the set.

"Why didn't that troublemaker show up for the shot?"

"Got cold feet, didn't he?"

"If he's got the guts to stir up trouble, why would he be afraid of an action scene?"

Bale was infuriated. The extras in Atlanta talked too much.

He turned around following the voices and those extras immediately shut their mouths.

But as soon as he turned back, the whispers started again.

Bale, thoroughly annoyed, got up and left the studio to get some fresh air outside.

After wandering around the production studio, just as Bale came around the back of a trailer, he spotted two women talking near the extras' changing area.

One of them, with an unpleasant duck-like voice, said, "Spread the story about Bale through your extras, intensify it."

Hearing his name, Bale hid behind the trailer.

The other person replied, "No problem, this is Atlanta, it's our turf!"

The duck voice continued, "That stirrer Bale has been trying to mess with someone from Atlanta. The higher-ups have talked to people over there, and they said they won't stop until Bale is completely discredited."

"Isn't he already discredited?", the other person remarked.

The duck voice let out an ugly laugh and carried on, "The latest rumor is fabricated from Blanchett's point of view and tone, saying that Bale invited Blanchett to a party and when she arrived, she found Heath Ledger there too, clothes strewn everywhere, and there was a smell of excrement, Blanchett thought they hadn't cleaned up properly..."

The other person burst into laughter, "That's a rumor with a real stink to it!"

Bale stood behind the trailer with his face tense and pale, his bloodshot eyes turning bright red.

Atlanta! People coming out of Atlanta...

The only one he wanted to mess with from Atlanta was Martin Davis!

Bale realized in an instant why the extras were furiously gossiping and spreading messages about him on the set.

Someone was backing them! That person who came from Atlanta was, and could only be, Martin Davis.

Bale, seething with anger, headed towards the studio, with only one thought in his mind: Martin Davis was the true troublemaker!

From a high vantage point in the nearby office building, High Priest Robert was watching everything clearly; he picked up his phone and dialed a number, which was quickly disconnected after the ring.

Scott got off a golf cart, his leg cocked, and walked towards Bale, shouting from about a dozen meters away, "Christian Bale, wait for me, I need to talk to you."

Bale stopped and turned to look, finding that odd man who had been following Kim.

Remembering that Kim might have some dirt on Martin, he forced a smile at Scott, "What is it?"

Scott motioned towards a secluded spot, "It's about Sophia."

Bale followed him.

Scott said, "I'd advise you to be careful, stay away from Sophia, Martin has got her to target you."

Having just overheard the two extras, Bale was particularly sensitive to this, "Target me? How?"

Scott pulled out a pink water bottle over thirty centimeters long from his bag, pointing behind Bale, "With this!"