[Chapter 450: Tortured Once Again by Link]
In the afternoon, Monica and Michelle came back from shopping and saw Lily feeding the baby with a bottle.
"Lily, didn't you say breastfeeding was healthier? Why aren't you nursing the baby with a bottle?" Monica asked while sipping her water.
"The doctor said formula is more balanced nutrition-wise."
"Really?" Monica eyed her skeptically, glancing at her chest, "Why does your chest look so flat? I thought someone had stolen the baby's lunch."
"No, don't say nonsense."
Lily adjusted her collar and rolled her eyes, her cheeks flushing more rosy and radiant.
Monica and Michelle couldn't help but laugh and advised Lily to be careful since there's a little foodie in the house who likes to sneak bites from the kids' meals.
...
Link was about to head downstairs but overheard their conversation and returned to his study to read.
After finishing filming American Beauty, he rested in Seattle for over a month and only started working again in mid-October on his new movie.
---
The new movie, Armageddon, is a sci-fi film about a giant meteorite, roughly the size of Texas, detected by NASA satellites heading toward Earth. It's expected to hit in 18 days, triggering a mass extinction.
NASA's only solution was to send an oil drilling team to land on the meteorite, drill a hole, and plant a nuclear bomb to split it into two, changing its trajectory.
Veteran oil drilling engineer Harry Stamper was tasked with the mission, leading his oil crew including his daughter's boyfriend A.J. Frost aboard two modified spaceships.
After landing, they faced surface explosions, equipment failures, and lost several crew members.
The nuclear bomb's remote control failed, so manual detonation was necessary to split the meteorite.
Harry chose to stay behind and sacrifice himself, giving AJ a chance to survive and instructed him to take care of his daughter.
The mission succeeded, saving humanity. AJ and Harry's daughter Grace mourned Harry and other heroes at the funeral.
The plot was straightforward, highlighting human virtues amid an apocalypse, exploring family love, romance, devotion, and sacrifice. It's a commercial film blending disaster, action, and tender moments.
...
Filming took place in Texas, Florida, and Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center.
The original timeline main cast retained, including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, and Steve Buscemi.
They rehearsed for three weeks before filming started.
...
"Scene 2, shot 3, take 2, action!"
On an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, Bruce Willis's character Harry played golf as over a dozen environmentalists approached on motorboats, holding signs protesting the oil company's work.
"Whoa!"
Willis swung the golf club, hitting the ball out to the sea, shouting at the protesters, "I donate $50,000 to your cause every year!" Then turning to his assistant, Chick, he asked, "Why do you think they do this?"
"I guess they think drilling for oil is evil," Chick replied.
Harry shouted, "Do you know how much diesel that rust bucket leaks in an hour?"
Chick opened the construction plans, "Harry, I found something interesting. We over-drilled the second rig by 180 feet."
"Oh? Whose fault is that?"
"Guess."
Chick glanced toward AJ.
"Oh, damn!"
Willis angrily threw down his golf club.
...
"John, get a back shot."
"Got it, director!"
Cameraman John Schwartzman positioned camera #3 for a backlit silhouette of Bruce Willis and Will Patton as Chick, facing the sky with the light creating a black background.
"Cut! That's a wrap on this shot."
"Ready for the next one!"
...
The next scene had Harry confronting AJ, only to catch him on a date with Grace, Harry's daughter.
As a protective dad, Harry furiously chased AJ with a double-barrel shotgun until Grace intervened and the father-daughter duo had a heated argument.
Just then, military representatives arrived, requesting Harry's help to save the world.
"Is this Harry Stamper?"
A US military officer in a helicopter landed on the rig looking for Harry.
"I'm Harry Stamper!"
Bruce Willis approached and shook hands.
"Mr. Stamper, I come on behalf of General Montgomery, the Air Force Commander, and the Secretary of Defense. They've sent me to assign you a national security mission authorized by the President of the United States."
Bruce burst out laughing, "Is Mad Willie pranking me again?"
"Sir, I don't know any Mad Willie. This is utterly serious," said the officer sternly.
"Cut!"
Link glanced at the footage, had the lighting adjusted, then continued filming.
...
During filming in the Gulf, Link received a call from Greg Davis.
Greg said MGM was up for sale, but the offer was too low. Kirk Kerkorian gave two proposals:
First, Guess Pictures would pay $5.2 billion to acquire MGM, including $3.8 billion of debt. Upon completion, Guess Pictures would own 100% of MGM.
Second, pay $2.5 billion to buy 49% of MGM, gaining operational control. If Guess Pictures could help MGM turn a profit within ten years, an additional 5%-15% stake would be transferred to Guess Pictures based on performance.
"Link, what do you think about these terms?" Greg asked.
"Not good. Guess Pictures doesn't need to buy MGM to acquire one of the Big Seven. Five billion could buy Universal, Columbia, Paramount, but not a nearly bankrupt company like MGM. Greg, you're a Guess shareholder negotiating this deal. Is this the best price you can get? Disappointing," Link said bluntly.
Greg was embarrassed and stammered, "I know Kerkorian's proposals are high, but it's negotiable. We can bargain."
"Fine, what do you think is a fair price for MGM?"
"$4.5 billion. I believe acquiring MGM outright at that price is reasonable. I can convince Kerkorian to accept it."
"$4.5 billion is too much. MGM isn't worth it. Even if successful, it'll drag us down. I propose full acquisition at $4.5 billion or $100 million for 49% shares and liabilities. If we help MGM pay off loans and become profitable in ten years, Kerkorian will transfer at least 15% more stake. If he agrees, we continue; otherwise, we'll look at other studios."
"Okay, I'll talk to Kerkorian and try to get one of these deals accepted."
"No rush. MGM's troubled, likely to go bankrupt. They're the desperate ones, not us."
"I understand. I'll get a better deal from Kerkorian."
After hanging up, Link resumed directing.
...
The protagonist Harry learns from NASA about the meteorite heading toward Earth in 18 hours. If it hits, humanity faces extinction in ten days.
Understanding the stakes, Harry agrees to the mission, traveling on the space shuttle to drill and plant a nuke on the meteorite.
Harry disagrees with NASA's team, believing only his original oil workers can succeed, so he takes them along.
"Link, my role is too small, just a decoration with no challenge," Liv Tyler told Link during a break.
"Being a decoration isn't bad; many want that chance but don't get it. Your role isn't just a decoration; Grace is central. She's Harry's loved one, his belief and what he protects. Harry accepts the mission to protect Grace. AJ also loves Grace, leading to conflict with Harry. Grace brings laughter and tears; without her, the story would be dull. So don't feel discouraged because of less screen time," Link comforted gently.
"I know, I don't hate the role. I just wish it was more challenging. I preferred roles in The English Patient and Primal Fear. Next time, cast me in movies like that. I'm a better actress now, aren't I?" Liv smiled sweetly.
"Yes, you're great!"
Link kissed her cheek. At 21, she was still youthful and a bit temperamental, deserving patience and understanding.
Liv kissed him back, then focused on her script under the sunshade.
...
Ben Affleck quietly approached, holding two cups of coffee.
Liv eyed him curiously. Everyone knew she was Link's girl; few dared bother her on set. Yet Ben was bold enough to approach.
"Liv, I wanted to discuss something with you," Ben said cautiously, handing her an iced coffee.
"Thanks. What's up?"
"You know I'm a method actor. To play well, I immerse myself. This time, I'm trying to see you as my lover."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"It's huge. In my mind, you're perfect, flawless. But I often see you cuddling with Link on set. That makes me uncomfortable and breaks my focus. So could you not show too much affection with Link during filming? Please?"
Ben pleaded.
Liv laughed, "Isn't it painful playing like that? I mean, falling in love with actresses then breaking up after filming? Is that right?"
"Not at all, but it helps me act better and gives me confidence. It's my only choice," Ben shrugged.
"Okay, I'll try not to be openly affectionate with Link on set," Liv agreed.
"Thanks! You're the best!"
Ben left, though feeling a bit down.
While filming Se7en, Ben immersed himself as detective Mills, even falling in love with the character's wife, played by Jennifer Connelly -- Link's woman.
Watching Jennifer and Link together on set was torment for Ben.
Filming Batman Forever, Ben fell for Dr. Chase but saw her clinging to Link, disdaining him as Batman, crushing him.
Now filming this movie, his new movie girlfriend Liv was again Link's woman.
Ben sighed, working with Link was torture, each project a new round of agony.
"Ben, get ready; next scene is yours!" a crew member called.
"Got it," Ben sighed, entering the set with a gloomy face.
*****
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