Chapter 892: Andrew

"I'll take it home and go through it carefully."

Leonardo instinctively hugged the script tightly, as if cradling a priceless treasure. Whether or not the revisions were flawless, the sheer amount of effort Laila had put into it spoke volumes. There was no better feeling than seeing something you valued being treated with the same level of care and respect.

When he first received the script, his immediate thought was that it could bring him one step closer to that golden statuette. But after reading it multiple times, he began to see the layers beneath the story—themes of diamonds, blood, profit, exploitation, conflict, and human nature.

The stark contrast between the dazzling beauty of diamonds and the darkness surrounding their origins gave the narrative a profound depth.

He couldn't help but wonder—if people truly understood the horrific history behind the diamonds they associated with love, how would they feel?

Before reading the script, he had never given it much thought. He had gifted plenty of diamonds in the past, always delighted by the joy they brought to his partners.

But now?

Now, he could no longer look at diamonds the same way. Instead of seeing clarity and carats at first glance, he found himself wondering what these stones had endured before reaching the display cases—how much blood had stained their brilliance before they were polished and sold.

If he had changed this much, how would audiences react once they saw the film?

Of course, he still wanted that Oscar. He couldn't let Roy pull too far ahead, could he? Unfortunately, since he was older than Roy, breaking the record for the youngest winner was already out of the question.

"Laila."

After a brief hesitation, he couldn't help but ask, "What do you think our chances are of winning an Oscar with this film?"

Laila, having known about his obsession with the award since her past life, immediately understood what he truly wanted to ask.

After a moment of thought, she gave him a straightforward answer.

"It'll be tough."

"Why?" Leonardo asked urgently. "I think the script is great."

"The script is good," Laila replied with a slight smile. "But are you aiming for a Best Screenplay Oscar? No—you want Best Actor. And honestly… judging by your past performances, you're still missing something."

To put it in Eastern cultivation terms, he was stuck at a bottleneck, needing a breakthrough to advance to the next level.

Whether or not she could help him achieve that breakthrough depended not just on her guidance but also on his ability to comprehend and apply it. As the old saying goes—a master can only lead the way; the disciple must walk the path.

Leonardo was unwilling to accept her assessment. "What exactly am I lacking? I can change!"

Laila stood up, patted his shoulder, and said, "Relax, I'll do my best to help you. But I want you to remember something—when you're working with me, don't keep fixating on awards. If you want to follow my lead, you'll have to match my pace. If you fall behind, I won't hesitate to leave you behind."

Seeing the complicated look on his face, she grinned.

"Congratulations—you've found yourself the best director for your film."

After a pause, she shrugged. "Probably also the strictest. Look forward to it."

Leonardo shuddered slightly, her smile sending a chill down his spine.

He figured she was exaggerating—after all, he had survived working under James Cameron, the infamous tyrant of film sets. Could she be stricter than that?

It wasn't until filming officially began that he realized she hadn't been joking. She had understated just how strict she was.

Watching Leonardo leave in a daze, Laila shifted her gaze to the calendar on her desk.

The pages were filled with to-do lists, all packed tightly together. Yet, despite the overwhelming schedule, she still felt more comfortable here than in Moran Group's towering headquarters.

After all, a company she built from the ground up was different from the one she inherited.

Even after months away, the moment she sat in her chair, she felt a sense of connection—almost like a living pulse that resonated with her.

At the New York headquarters, that chair represented responsibility.

Here?

Here, it was hers.

That was her biggest realization after spending time away—there was no place like home.

—

The next morning, Leonardo went straight to the screenwriter's house.

The script for Blood Diamond was originally based on a book by American journalist Greg Campbell, titled Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones. It had caught the eye of acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, who had someone adapt it into a screenplay.

Unfortunately, due to various setbacks, every attempt to get the project off the ground had fallen apart.

The screenwriter, Andrew, had been authorized to work on the adaptation. Laila found his writing promising enough to let him continue refining it.

Of course, she could have rewritten the script herself—her understanding of film was more than sufficient. But she had already provided detailed suggestions, and she wasn't interested in stealing someone else's work.

Andrew was talented, and any weaknesses in the script could simply be adjusted.

—

Andrew was a screenwriter personally chosen by Scorsese—proof enough of his capabilities.

When he first took on this project, he had been thrilled. It was a film with depth, backed by an Oscar-winning director, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

It wasn't hard to imagine what kind of impact the movie would have once it hit the big screen.

Andrew had written several scripts before, but unfortunately, for one reason or another, none had ever made it to production.

Without a finished film to his name, there was no way to measure his work's true market potential.

Scorsese had taken a chance on him—not just because he recognized his talent, but also as a way to help him establish himself. The director had thought, Other projects might fall through, but my films? They get made.

After all, he was an Oscar-winning filmmaker. If he announced he had a movie to shoot, plenty of investors and studios would line up to collaborate.

And yet…

Whether it was fate playing tricks on him or some cruel cosmic joke, Andrew's luck took another dive.

Just as production was about to begin, the studio Scorsese had partnered with suddenly pulled out, unable to provide the necessary funding. Their last film had been a financial disaster, leaving them unable to bankroll another major project.

And so, once again, Andrew's script fell into limbo.

—

PS: The director of Blood Diamond in reality wasn't Scorsese! But thanks to the butterfly effect, things changed a little here. Let's just call it creative liberty.

If you notice discrepancies from real history, don't sweat it!