Chapter 482: Painkillers

"What secret could Wall Street have?" Robert Downey Jr. turned to Jonah Hill. Wall Street was indeed full of secrets, but not ones that outsiders could easily uncover.

Beyond the dark and sordid aspects he had encountered, he had seen another side of Wall Street through his interactions.

What is the true nature of Wall Street? If he had to describe it in one word, it would be "buzzing." Everyone seemed like tireless, hyperactive bees, busy selling "hope" to construct their own "hope." They worked tirelessly, with dedication and efficiency unmatched worldwide.

Wall Street guided the global economic pulse not just because money was concentrated there, but because it gathered some of the world's brightest minds and fostered fierce competition. The financial innovation, the speed and sophistication of applying the latest theories in mathematics, computing, and finance, were beyond what most people could imagine. However, the unchecked power of this group might lead to another crisis, like the 2008 subprime mortgage meltdown, though no one could predict it for sure.

Robert Downey Jr. then shifted his thoughts to the movie he was starring in. What was the background of the characters in "The Wolf of Wall Street"? They were once hounded by creditors, running out of options, living in dire poverty, finding solace in gallows humor. Besides finding humor in their misery, what else could they do?

Is life just about finding humor in misery? That's a privilege of the weak!

Murphy's lines in "The Wolf of Wall Street" struck a chord with him — "I've been rich, and I've been poor. If given a choice, I'd choose to be rich every time!"

In Robert Downey Jr.'s view, in a unique place like Wall Street, being content with a job and an annual salary might not drive one to madness. But if you live in the USA and aspire to drive a Porsche, wear Armani, vacation in the south during winter, and ski in the mountains during summer, you must be endlessly ambitious.

Murphy's script for "The Wolf of Wall Street" only scratched the surface. Everyone was crazy about money; that's the reality of this commercial empire.

As for the other things, like sex and escorts, they were nothing. Walking the path paved with money, concepts like society, self-discipline, self-sacrifice, role models, and moral imperatives often pale in comparison to a stack of greenbacks.

As the Wall Street professionals he interacted with said, compared to the highs and lows of trading indices, commodities, forex, and derivatives, sex and drugs were trivial.

However, Robert Downey Jr. knew Jonah Hill was different from him and Murphy. Jonah was far more interested in drugs.

Sure enough, when Murphy asked what the secret was, Jonah Hill talked about drugs.

The chubby actor, looking like he knew the world's biggest secret, said, "I got a recipe from a stockbroker."

Murphy, arms crossed, listened with a skeptical expression, sharing Robert Downey Jr.'s thoughts.

"Don't look at me like that. I said I'd quit drugs!" Jonah Hill looked particularly innocent. "This is just about painkillers."

He winked conspiratorially, "Mix painkillers with beer and drink it down. It's incredibly high!"

Murphy shook his head, ignoring Jonah's suggestion. He packed his things and said, "Don't overdo it. I'm heading out."

Robert Downey Jr. and Jonah Hill waved him off.

Reuniting with Gal Gadot, Murphy left the Venice set. They hit a traffic jam on the way back to Beverly Hills, delaying their return. By the time they got home, Bill Rossis and his lawyer Robert were already there.

However, with a dedicated butler and chef employed at Wave Manor, dinner was almost ready, just waiting for Murphy and Gal Gadot.

"The chef is someone Gal hired from France," Murphy explained to Bill Rossis and Robert as they enjoyed dinner. "He's great with French cuisine and also makes excellent Italian dishes."

"It's fantastic!" Bill Rossis praised, savoring a piece of foie gras. Robert, having just swallowed his food, agreed, "It's got a unique flavor you don't find in restaurants."

"Thank you," Gal Gadot smiled. "Grace recommended him to me."

Initially, she wasn't too fond of the CAA agent, but their impeccable service and how they treated Murphy as a god made them hard to dislike.

As dinner began, Murphy recounted what Jessica Chastain had told him about Sheriff Gatlin Collins. They chatted about food for a while before turning to serious matters.

"Is what Sheriff Collins did legal?" Bill Rossis asked the professional, Robert.

Without hesitation, Robert replied, "Absolutely not."

Such actions, though not uncommon among US police, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, were not for public eyes, especially against a public figure. The fallout from exposure would be severe.

After hearing Robert's explanation, Murphy felt confident in his plan.

Robert added, "Legally, I can pressure the LAPD to suspend Gatlin Collins without much trouble."

"We can also leverage the media," Bill Rossis suggested. "They love scandals involving public officials. They'll jump at the chance to report this, forcing the LAPD to abandon Collins."

If Murphy were still a small-time player, being targeted by a sheriff like Gatlin Collins would be daunting. He never overestimated the integrity of American police, who preach the rule of law but often act otherwise.

But things were different now. Targeting a renowned Hollywood director required solid evidence, and a sheriff's private actions couldn't shake him.

The events of the past were known only to Murphy. If there were evidence, the LAPD would have acted long ago.

Since getting his startup funding, Murphy knew he was on the LAPD's radar and had avoided illegal activities that could give them leverage. He wouldn't foolishly break the law and give them a reason to act.

In the early days, with nothing to lose, Murphy might have taken risks. Now, with capital, he was a law-abiding citizen.

Murphy was still pondering when Bill Rossis asked, "Murphy, what's your plan?"

Those close to Murphy knew he was very decisive.

Robert also looked at Murphy. He had served Murphy for nearly a decade, and Murphy was one of the firm's most important clients.

Murphy might not be as wealthy as the super-rich, but like Tom Cruise to Scientology, he was a flagship client for the law firm.

"Do what you suggested," Murphy said, approving their simple yet effective plan. "But delay the execution."

Robert nodded, "I'll need time to gather evidence."

"Delay?" Bill Rossis, more familiar with Murphy, caught on quickly. "You mean… to align with the film's promotional schedule?"

"Exactly," Murphy didn't hide his intentions. "If the media can be made to hype this during 'The Wolf of Wall Street's' key promotion phase, why not? The media attention will draw in audiences."

Gal Gadot glanced at Murphy, resisting the urge to facepalm. This was so typical of him.

"Great idea!" Bill Rossis clapped. "We can turn this problem into a significant advantage."

Robert smiled, staying silent. His job was legal work; media manipulation was more CAA's domain.

"Bill," Murphy continued, "coordinate with Grace and Kara Faith to draft a feasible plan."

He left the specifics to the professionals. With CAA and Robert's law firm's resources, implementing the plan shouldn't be difficult.

"Got it," Bill Rossis promised efficiency. "I'll call Kara Faith tonight and head to 20th Century Fox tomorrow."

"Murphy," Robert added, "leave the legal and evidence-gathering to me."

Having worked together for so long, Murphy trusted their abilities. "Alright, I'll await your good news."

They discussed more details until ten that night, then Bill Rossis and Robert left Wave Manor, driving out of Beverly Hills to handle the matter.

Murphy then had Gal Gadot coordinate further, while he focused on filming "The Wolf of Wall Street." By the end of June, after nearly three months, filming was almost complete.

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