After a journey of over seven hours, the bus finally arrived at its destination in the evening.
Simon got off the bus and stood on the street, looking around. Although he had never been here himself, based on the information in his mind, he quickly determined that this should be downtown Burbank, located in the San Fernando Valley, northwest of Los Angeles County. His ideal destination required crossing the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.
Hollywood, the true geographical Hollywood, was on the other side of the mountains.
In the 1980s, although many Hollywood film studios had begun to relocate to surrounding areas, most production companies, distribution companies, talent agencies, and other film industry-related businesses were still concentrated on those world-famous streets in downtown Hollywood.
Kathryn got off the bus behind Simon and also stood by the roadside, looking around. Her friend, who was supposed to pick her up, hadn't arrived yet, so she looked at Simon next to her.
What she had expected to be a very boring journey became very fulfilling due to the presence of this young man. After exchanging and reading each other's scripts, the two chatted animatedly about many topics for the rest of the journey.
Although he was much younger than her, Kathryn even felt at certain moments that she was the naive little girl in front of him.
It was hard to imagine how this young man had accumulated such extensive knowledge. Whether it was film, music, or even her own professional field of painting, or many other topics, he could talk eloquently and with ease. The short few hours of their acquaintance even made her feel greatly enlightened.
As they were about to part ways, Kathryn suddenly realized that, apart from his name and the fact that he probably wanted to become a screenwriter in Los Angeles, she knew almost nothing else about Simon. Yet, she had been unknowingly guided by him to reveal a lot of things, such as growing up in San Francisco, returning home to visit her parents, her life in Soho, Manhattan, why she was interested in film and wanted to be a director, and so on.
If he did it on purpose, that would be truly despicable.
However, on second thought, she didn't seem to have asked about those things either. His many topics had already kept her on her toes.
Simon finished surveying the surroundings, turned his head to look at Kathryn, and seeing her looking back at him, he nodded and smiled at her.
Throughout the journey, Simon noticed a very strong contrast between Kathryn's personality and her film style. The characters in her films often killed, set fires, and cursed without restraint, living recklessly, but Kathryn in real life was very quiet, spoke softly, and even appeared quite shy.
Of course, Simon didn't find it too strange. This kind of strong personality conflict, almost like schizophrenia between real life and personal work, was very common among various types of artists.
Thinking this, Simon asked the woman, "Kathryn, isn't anyone coming to pick you up?"
"Yes, but they haven't arrived yet," Kathryn hadn't yet formulated what she wanted to say. Hearing Simon speak first, she could only shake her head and ask in return, "What about you?"
Simon shrugged, "I thought we could share a ride and split the fare."
"I live in Malibu," Kathryn raised her hand and pointed west, saying, "Where are you going? If it's on the way, I can give you a ride later."
Simon smiled, "Malibu, that's a nice city. How about you consider taking me in? I can cook, do laundry, and clean. Just provide food and lodging."
Kathryn gave Simon a gentle glare, a sign of her disdain for his attempt to live off her, but then seriously explained, "I'm also staying with a friend; I don't have the authority to take you in."
Simon chuckled. He was, of course, just joking. Even if Kathryn had actually agreed, he would have politely declined.
It wasn't because he couldn't accept Kathryn's 'free ride,' but rather because he had a deep-seated aversion to staying at someone else's house. He preferred to live in his own home.
Of course, this might not come to pass for a good while yet.
However, hearing Kathryn say she was staying with a friend, Simon suddenly remembered something.
Friend?
Could it be James Cameron?
In the original timeline, Kathryn and Cameron were once husband and wife. This matter was heavily publicized the year 'The Hurt Locker' won an Oscar: 'The Hurt Locker' vs. 'Avatar', ex-wife vs. ex-husband.
After searching through the information in his mind, Simon quickly dismissed this conjecture.
Cameron's current wife was still Gale Anne Hurd, the producer and co-writer of 'The Terminator', and also considered Cameron's mentor. They had only just gotten married last year. Although Cameron wasn't a stable man, they shouldn't divorce until three or four years later.
Kathryn naturally didn't know Simon's thoughts. After explaining, she said, "Simon, since you don't know anyone in Los Angeles and plan to become a screenwriter, you'll need an agent, right? Maybe I can help."
Although Simon had his own plans, he became serious when he heard Kathryn's words, saying, "Can you? I mean, if it's not too much trouble?"
"Of course, it's no trouble," Kathryn shook her head and said, "However, I can only introduce you. Whether you can persuade them to become your agent will require your own efforts. WMA, do you know it? It's a very good talent agency."
William Morris Agency (WMA). Simon naturally knew that this talent agency, founded in the late nineteenth century, was, at this time, still the largest talent agency in Hollywood.
Of course, based on the information Simon knew, WMA's current situation was definitely not good, but a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. What's more, this elephant, WMA, which is far from dying, could easily crush a whole herd of camels. If he could get into such an agency, Simon would certainly be able to avoid a lot of detours.
After all, although many Hollywood stars always claim that they accidentally met an agent while walking, eating, or shopping, and seemed to have become successful ever since.
But ninety-nine percent of these claims are lies. If you don't believe it, just open any celebrity's IMDb page and see how many years passed between their first acting role and their breakout work, and you'll know how circuitous their path to fame was.
Although, through his gained memories, he had opportunities and resources that others could hardly compare to, Simons original plan was to spend three to five years grinding it out in Hollywood. He was only 18 this year and wasn't short on time.
Of course, if Kathryn could offer him some help within her capabilities at this moment, Simon would absolutely not be so pretentious as to refuse.
The two walked together to a nearby payphone booth. Kathryn found a phone book from her luggage, flipped through it for a while, and then dialled the number.
Simon stood by patiently waiting.
Kathryn talked to the person on the other end for a while, then covered the receiver and quietly asked, "Simon, how do you spell 'Westeros'?"
Simon immediately spelled out his last name: "W-E-S-T-E-R-O-S."
Kathryn hummed, turned back, and talked for another minute before hanging up the phone.
"It's a good thing Mr. Friedman is still in the office. I forgot it's already after work, but WMA has been a bit chaotic lately, so him working overtime isn't surprising," Kathryn said somewhat apologetically, found a pen, and quickly wrote something in her phone book. Then she tore it off and handed it to Simon, instructing, "Tomorrow at 4 PM, at the William Morris Agency headquarters. Don't be late. When you get there, tell the front desk you have an appointment, and someone will take you over. If not, you can also call this number."
Simon nodded, took the slip of paper, and looked at it.
At the top was a name, Jonathan Friedman, clearly the Mr. Friedman Kathryn had just mentioned. Below that was 150 Camino Street, Beverly Hills, which should be the WMA headquarters address. Finally, there was a phone number.
Putting the slip of paper into his wallet and watching the woman pick up her shoulder bag, Simon suddenly remembered something and said, "Kathryn, what about you? I mean, if I don't do well and am about to starve on the streets, I'll need to know how to find you for help, right?"
Hearing Simon say this, Kathryn gave him a gentle glare, but still pulled out her phone book again and started writing, while teasing, "If you have hands and feet and still starve on the streets, I won't help you."
As the two were talking, several loud car horns suddenly blared from the roadside. A wine-red Ford sedan stopped, and the woman in the driver's seat, clearly impatient, poked her head out of the car window and said to them, "Kate, I caught you! Hey, little boy, get in the car quickly. Don't talk to big sisters by the roadside casually, or you'll be dragged into an alley and eaten."
Kathryn handed the written contact information to Simon, and with a helpless expression, said to the woman in the car, "Jenny, you're late again."
"Maybe I shouldn't have come. I must have interrupted you, right?" The woman named Jenny pushed open the car door, walked over with a smile, and extended her hand to Simon, saying, "Janette Johnston. Little boy, what's your name?"
Simon looked at the woman in front of him, wearing a pink tight-fitting T-shirt with a string of cursive English letters and high-waisted jeans, with fluffy blonde hair draped over her shoulders. Although not as beautiful as Kathryn, her figure was quite tall and shapely when wearing high heels, and her well-maintained appearance also made it impossible to tell her age.
However, Simon clearly felt that there was a hint of craziness in this woman's personality.
Moreover, was it really okay to drive in high heels?
Thinking this, Simon still politely shook hands with the other party and introduced himself, "Simon Westeros."
"Strange last name," Janette Johnston muttered, then looked Simon up and down, with a very satisfied expression, and then turned to Kathryn, saying, "So, Kate, shall we take him home?"
Kathryn put her luggage in the back seat of the car by the roadside and walked over, saying, "Jenny, stop joking. Let's go."
Janette clearly didn't intend to let the two go easily. She reached out and took Kathryn's arm to prevent her from leaving, but her gaze was fixed on Simon, and she asked curiously, "Little boy, it looks like you just arrived in Los Angeles too, and you came with Kate? Hmm, let me guess, your home is also in San Francisco, right? Which city? I'm asking for Kate, you know?"
Simon saw Kathryn also looking over with some curiosity. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Probably, San Jose."
Janette gave Simon a dissatisfied glance and drawled, "How interesting, 'probably'."
Simon shrugged and said lightly, "I don't have a home; I just grew up in San Jose."
"How can anyone not have a home?" The rather dense Janette didn't react immediately, ignoring Kathryn's subtle tug on her arm, and pressed on, "Then where did you live before you came to Los Angeles?"
Simon curved his lips, revealing a harmless smile, and said, "Watsonville Psychiatric Hospital."