"Why are you all here so early?" Lily Collins asked as she sat down, glancing around before touching her face. "What's going on? Why are you all staring at me?"
James Franco quickly signaled to Susan Downey, who smiled and said, "Because you look beautiful today, dear."
"Thank you," Lily replied sweetly, reaching for her glass.
Though February in Los Angeles wasn't particularly hot, the drive, especially on the crowded coastal road, had worn her out. Feeling thirsty, she didn't hesitate to take a big gulp of the brightly colored juice.
No one stopped Lily Collins, including Murphy. Everyone was waiting to see her reaction when she found the ring and for Franco to propose...
But what no one expected was that Lily, perhaps because she was so thirsty, didn't take small sips but gulped down the juice.
The moment she took the first sip, Murphy realized something was wrong and quickly said, "Lily, wait..."
But as he spoke, Lily took two more big gulps, swallowing the juice along with the ring. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Lily..." Everyone felt the impending disaster.
Lily Collins coughed slightly, confused. "What's wrong with the juice? Did they not make it right? I felt something hard."
James Franco immediately grabbed her glass and poured it into the dish in front of him. The juice spilled over the edge, dripping onto the floor, but there was no sign of the ring.
"You..." James Franco was stunned. "Lily, did you swallow it?"
Lily Collins, still confused, replied, "What's the matter? I was thirsty. Of course, I swallowed the juice."
"No..." Franco seemed at a loss for words. "I meant... I was talking about..."
He clapped his hands in frustration.
"Stop talking!" Murphy stood up and cut him off. "We need to get to the hospital!"
This wasn't just any object but a metal ring with a diamond. Lily Collins unknowingly swallowing it could pose a serious health risk.
Lily Collins was still puzzled, but Franco grabbed her and rushed out. Murphy and the others followed, and they quickly headed to the University of Southern California Medical Center.
On the way, Lily Collins figured out what had happened. Her expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Swallowing gold could have serious consequences, but it didn't happen instantly like in TV shows or movies. Lily Collins had only swallowed the ring a short time ago, so there was no immediate danger, and she didn't even feel any discomfort yet.
However, after the X-ray, she would face the unpleasant task of vomiting and stomach pumping.
"I planned out the perfect beginning..." James Franco sat dejectedly outside the medical room. "But I didn't expect this kind of ending."
Murphy walked over and patted his shoulder. "It was just an accident."
Seth Rogen added, "It's okay. Lily said she doesn't blame you."
Franco sighed deeply, still looking dejected.
About half an hour later, a nurse wheeled Lily Collins out. Her face, once bright, now looked tired. Franco and Susan Downey helped her to a room.
Seeing that Lily was okay, and sensing some awkwardness between her and Franco, Murphy gestured to the others. It was time to leave and give the couple some privacy to clear up any misunderstandings.
"We should go now," Murphy said to Franco and Lily. "James, if he doesn't apologize properly, give me a call, and I'll make sure to set him straight."
Lily Collins managed a tired smile and nodded.
Murphy, Seth Rogen, and Susan Downey left the USC Medical Center and headed to their respective cars.
On the drive back, Murphy thought about the day's events and found himself amused, just like Lily. What should have been a simple proposal turned into a hospital visit. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
As his black SUV entered the Beverly Hills area, Murphy decided that when his time came to propose, he would choose a more reliable method. Creative proposals like Franco's today were definitely off the table.
Sometimes, the simplest ways showed the most sincerity.
Returning home, Murphy cleaned up and called Franco, relieved to hear that things were under control.
Frankly, the relationship between James Franco and Lily Collins hadn't been easy to maintain. Despite many tabloid rumors over the years suggesting that Franco and Seth Rogen were gay, Murphy knew it was just gossip.
Hollywood was full of temptations and all kinds of romantic entanglements, with many people behaving recklessly. But there were also those who kept their lives clean.
Of course, maintaining a clean life required a certain foundation.
Murphy admitted he wasn't a saint but neither was he a playboy jumping from one bed to another.
Everyone had their preferences, just like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher liked threesomes, Meryl Streep enjoyed escapades in her makeup trailer, Leonardo DiCaprio dated a series of long-legged models, and Taylor Swift wrote songs about her exes. Stable relationships were just another lifestyle choice in Hollywood.
Murphy was no saint, but his current lifestyle was one he chose, enjoyed, and cherished.
After hanging up with Franco, Murphy called Gal Gadot, who was still in Israel. She had returned to Los Angeles briefly in late January to help her parents but had been in Israel for a long time since.
As night fell, Murphy, who wasn't used to sleeping early, went to his study on the second floor to prepare for his next film project.
Over the years, he had consistently made one film per year. Now that "The Wolf of Wall Street" was nearing the end of its run, it was time to prepare for the next one.
Murphy had been considering his next project for some time, planning to make a typical black action crime film. While it wouldn't be entirely original, it would differ from "Inglourious Basterds" and "The Wolf of Wall Street," which incorporated his style and vision into existing films. This new project would borrow a framework from a past film but largely be filled with his ideas.
Like "Man of Steel," the main and supporting characters would undergo significant changes in both setting and background.
In essence, it would be a semi-original film.
Having been in the industry for so long and reaching the status of an A-list director in Hollywood, Murphy certainly had his own production ideas and concepts. He wanted to apply these to actual filmmaking, even if it meant risking failure. It would allow him to see his shortcomings and gain valuable experience.
With his current fame, status, and influence, he was far more resilient than new directors. Even a few failures wouldn't deter him.
Sitting in his chair, Murphy didn't immediately start writing but spent more time thinking.
Setting the film's backdrop in Los Angeles? He slowly shook his head. A big city like New York would be more suitable. While glamorous on the surface, New York could also be portrayed as a city full of crime...
As these thoughts emerged, Murphy's mind raced with ideas.
This city of sin would be teeming with gangs and corrupt police. At night, countless criminal activities would thrive, making it unsafe for ordinary people to walk down dark alleys. The living standards of the residents would plummet, pushing the city toward decay and corruption.
Only a few would retain their conscience, trying to save the city through their actions...
Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, Murphy opened his notebook and wrote down the word "New York."
Next was the protagonist.
Since this film would be a big-budget production, the protagonist had to embody justice. However, besides being just, he also needed to be somewhat controversial.
Everyone had a dual nature, including Murphy himself. Therefore, this protagonist should too. Besides being just, he should have another side—perhaps a dark personality and a heavy psychological burden?
Murphy thought this aspect was worth considering.
Next came the supporting characters, particularly the antagonist.
In this type of black crime film, supporting characters were crucial to its success. In the classic heist movie "Heat," for example, both Al Pacino's cop and Robert De Niro's robber were indispensable, creating a perfect balance that made the film iconic.
Murphy spent even more time considering the antagonist than the protagonist. He pondered the antagonist's motivations—why he committed crimes and why he clashed with the just protagonist.
This point was crucial.
After much thought, Murphy wrote another line in his notebook under "antagonist"—"Ideological Conflict."
Compared to personal or material conflicts, ideological conflicts were far more profound and challenging to resolve.
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