Los Angeles Superior Court. Morris, with his bald head, stood at the corner of the corridor, looking at the door of the mediation room. The door was tightly shut, and there was no sign of the parties involved in the mediation coming out.
The temporary contract he signed with Matthew Horner at the time meant this lawsuit had little to do with him, but thinking of the series of negative impacts Matthew Horner's breach of contract had brought upon him, he couldn't help but want to come and see. He specifically pulled some strings and accompanied the production company's Agent to the court.
More importantly, he saw this as an opportunity.
He had been so humiliated back then that he had thought of sending Matthew Horner to a super heavy-taste film crew.
However, as a non-party, he couldn't enter the mediation room, and because he had just gone to the restroom, he had missed Matthew Horner's arrival.
Originally, he had a pleasant collaboration with the production company of forbidden tarot. This breach of contract brought a lot of trouble until a few months ago when he found another lead actor who satisfied the production company, and only then did they completely drop the matter.
Although actresses are key in such films, lead actors aren't just anyone; they must have substantial assets.
Matthew Horner's substantial assets would be a waste if he didn't film such movies... Morris still felt regret now. For the past six months, he had been busy looking for actors for the production company and hadn't paid much attention to other things, so he didn't know how that country bumpkin was doing.
However, he probably hadn't changed much. Who could turn their life upside down in half a year? How would Matthew Horner repay the $30,000 mediation breach of contract fee?
Thirty thousand dollars was definitely not a small sum! Morris mused. Before coming, he had specifically inquired and learned that this settlement agreement was for installment payments. The opposing lawyer requested payment in three installments, and the production company only wanted to receive the breach of contract fee, with no special requirements for the timing, as long as it was paid off within one year.
However, this also indicated a problem: Matthew Horner had no money! He was still a pauper!
Morris calculated, if Matthew Horner couldn't pay later, could he tempt him again? Of course, this time he couldn't let him shoot ordinary films. After causing so much trouble, he must shoot a super heavy-taste type. He heard that many companies in the valley focusing on human-animal themes were always short of lead actors... Thinking of this, Morris almost laughed but held back.
He knew very well that the production company didn't care much and didn't want to waste too much time on such matters. If it weren't for his covert instigation, plus $30,000 not being a small sum...
Inside the mediation room, under the mediation commissioner's guidance, both parties quickly reached an agreement. Lawyer Wilson handed the out-of-court settlement agreement to Matthew. Matthew quickly flipped through it and then gave it to Helen Herman. Helen Herman, who had specifically accompanied Matthew, looked through it and said, "No problem, sign it."
Matthew picked up the pen and signed the two copies of the contract.
Although he had to pay $30,000 and Lawyer Wilson's $4,000 legal fee, the $16,000 reduction significantly lightened his burden.
Moreover, Wilson's legal fees could be paid before the end of the year, and the $30,000 breach of contract fee would be paid in three installments over the next year, so the pressure on him wasn't particularly great.
"It's finally over," Matthew sighed in relief.
Helen Herman nodded and then said, "I reminded you, but you never took it seriously."
Matthew was speechless. The facts of this incident made him realize that the fantasy of trying to take advantage was just a fantasy. This wicked America was an extremely realistic society.
He would have to be a realistic person from now on.
After signing the settlement agreement, the production company's people and lawyer left first. Lawyer Wilson also had other cases to handle and left in a hurry.
Matthew and Helen Herman packed their belongings and slowly left the mediation room.
They walked along the corridor towards the exit.
At the corner of the corridor, the bald Morris saw Matthew and almost burst out laughing. He judged from his appearance that the guy must have suffered a lot recently.
He remembered very clearly that Matthew Horner used to be fair-skinned, but now? His fair skin had completely disappeared. Both his face and his arms, exposed by his short-sleeved T-shirt, were very dark, clearly the result of long-term outdoor labor and sun exposure.
And his physique, Matthew Horner was visibly thinner... What did this mean? For a long time recently, Matthew Horner had been engaged in high-intensity physical labor, a low-status job that didn't earn much money.
In Los Angeles, this kind of work could only support oneself, and it would be very difficult to pay off the huge debt of $30,000.
So, Morris's gaze fell on the woman next to him. That woman was wearing a fitted professional suit, and he smelled the scent of a colleague from her.
"No wonder Matthew Horner dared to sign the settlement agreement." Morris immediately connected some things, "So that's how it is!"
Watching the two people walk out the door, Morris quickly followed. This Matthew Horner, who had refused so firmly back then, causing him a lot of unnecessary trouble, still ended up going down this path.
This matter made him quite unhappy.
Leaving the Los Angeles Courthouse building, he saw the two people in front enter the parking lot and quickly followed. Seeing the man and woman pull open the car doors and about to get in, he couldn't help but call out, "Matthew Horner!"
Matthew had just pulled open the passenger door when he heard someone call his name. He turned to look and saw an unusually bright bald head rapidly approaching under the sunlight.
He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the somewhat dazzling sunlight, and only then did he clearly see the person's appearance, frowning involuntarily.
Although they had only spent a short time together, Matthew remembered who this person was.
Helen Herman also didn't get in the car. She closed the opened door and looked at the approaching bald man with suspicion. From the bald man's suit, tie, and briefcase attire, as well as her initial impression, she felt she had encountered a colleague, but this colleague seemed a bit different, though she couldn't pinpoint it at the moment.
"Long time no see, Matthew." Morris, with his briefcase tucked under his arm, came in front of Matthew, deliberately scrutinizing him from head to toe, exclaiming, "Did you go back to swinging a sledgehammer at a construction site again? Why are you so tanned? I just thought I ran into a Black person..."
In fact, Matthew was only lightly tanned to a wheat color, still far from being what one would call Black.
Before Matthew could speak, Morris looked at Helen Herman on the other side of the car. "Miss, which agency do you belong to? You look very unfamiliar."
Helen Herman looked at Matthew, who shrugged. "This is the Agent I told you about."
She immediately understood.
Morris turned back to Matthew. "Can't you make money driving or swinging a sledgehammer? Back in this industry again? Which crew are you in? Matthew, tell me, I know a lot of people in the entire valley, maybe I can help you a little."
"What future is there with a female Agent?" He tried to pat Matthew's shoulder, but Matthew blocked his hand, so he continued, "Or re-sign with me, I guarantee you can become a big star and participate in the most important films in the industry."
Morris looked at Helen Herman with disdain. He basically knew all the important Agents in the industry, and this girl was clearly a newcomer.
"And you." He pointed at Helen Herman. "Why be an Agent? With your looks, if you personally go and film, you'll definitely become famous."
Helen Herman's face showed a hint of anger, but Morris spoke quickly and said to Matthew again, "What insignificant little film are you shooting? Just come with me, I'll pay the breach of contract fee!"
"Are you really going to pay?" Helen Herman suddenly spoke.
Morris rubbed his bald head, about to speak, but then held back. He had only been talking earlier.
Helen Herman was clearly provoked by the suggestion of her personally filming. She said, "Matthew's breach of contract fee is average for a film crew, three hundred thousand dollars!"
"What?" Morris didn't believe it at all. "Three hundred thousand dollars? Don't joke around, Nikki Anderson's breach of contract fee isn't that high! What kind of film are you shooting?"
"band of brothers!" Helen Herman said calmly, "DreamWorks, BBC, and HBO invested, and Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are the producers."
"This is impossible!"
Morris turned to look at Matthew. How could this penniless pauper, this fool who was even willing to film those kinds of movies to make money and become famous, get involved in a project produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg?
Since Helen Herman had started speaking, she had no intention of stopping. "DreamWorks and HBO both have public phone numbers; you can call and find out if it's true."
Hearing her say that, Morris suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. He couldn't help but look up at the sky. The scorching sun was overhead, burning his skin, and it was clearly not a dream at night.
"Forget it, believe it or not, it's up to you. I am a licensed entertainment Agent." Helen Herman opened the car door again. "There's nothing to say to someone like you."
After speaking, she got into the car.
Matthew also opened the passenger door. In fact, he remembered that Morris also had a legitimate entertainment Agent license, and that license had played a significant role when he initially tricked the other Matthew.
"I know you don't believe it." Matthew didn't get in the car immediately. He said, "By the way, my last role was the lead actor in Britney Spears's MV. This Friday morning is the MV's premiere, and I heard it will be broadcast live on TV. You can watch it."
"MV? Britney? And the lead actor?"
Morris was somewhat stunned. He had just looked up at the sun, and the intense sunlight had irritated his eyes, combined with Matthew's words, he felt a dizzy sensation.
The sound of a car engine starting came from beside him, and before Morris could recover, the car drove out of the parking lot.
"When are you going to New York?" Helen Herman regained her composure. "I'll have someone book the tickets."
Matthew shook his head. "No need, I plan to go tomorrow. I've already booked the tickets."