HWI 24

Hollywood What If Chapter 24

"Hey, Carl! I heard a story."

"Hm?"

Carl Morin turned around when he heard someone calling his name. Carl Morin was an agent working under WMA( William Morris Agency). He had few clients but they had a good prospect, especially the Director that he contracted last year. 

"Did you hear the movie Se7en?"

Another agent approached him. 

"Yes. I heard of it. This movie will be released this month, right?" Carl Morin was confused about why his co-worker asked him about this certain movie. 

"Do you know the screenwriter of that movie?"

"I'm sorry John, I'm too busy and I didn't have the time to read the news." He shook his head. 

"It's your ex-client! Kazir Grey!"

"What!?"

Carl Morin was shocked when he heard it. He thought his coworker was joking. 

"Based on your reaction, it seemed that you really didn't hear it. Anyway, I have a magazine here, there's an article about Se7en."

The agent passed the magazine to Carl Morin.

"..."

Carl didn't know what to say. He walked into a room that four agents shared. A small agent like him had to share an office with other agents, it was a normal thing. 

When Carl sat down in front of his desk, he opened the magazine and started reading the article related to Se7en. 

"... That's impossible. I know Kazir Grey, he doesn't have any talent in writing a script!"

Carl was Kazir's agent for three years. When the contract ended, he didn't renew the contract because he felt that Kazir didn't have any good future as a Director. Furthermore, Kazir Grey had angered the upper management after he accidentally spilled water on one of the Vice Presidents of WMA. 

"..."

Carl touched his chin. Based on the article, Se7en had a budget of 35 million dollars. There was a chance that it would have a strong reception in the theaters. 

"No, this kind of movie has a disadvantage. Se7en is probably an R-rated movie and families with children will never watch this kind of movie."

He thought. 

Carl Morin hoped that Se7en would flop at the box office. Or else, there was a strong chance that he would regret his decision of letting Kazir go. 

"..."

He had a bad mood the whole time as he realized that the egg he dropped might be a golden egg. 

"Wow! I didn't expect that the movie premiere will be like this! Hey, look, that's Jennifer Aniston."

"Yes, Reese, I can see her. You don't have to tell me right next to my ear."

It seemed that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt had a good relationship even before their marriage.

"I can't help it! I can't believe that I can see them so close." She whispered. 

Reese Witherspoon and Kazir Grey attended the movie premiere of Se7en. They saw Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Gwyneth Paltrow walking on the red carpet one by one and waving their hands to the crowd. 

They were wearing formal attire and everyone was showing their appearance to the public. 

Unfortunately, a screenwriter like Kazir didn't have any chance to walk on the red carpet, unless he became famous.

'Well, I don't like being the center of attraction. I like shooting movies, but showing in front of the public is the last thing I want in this job.'

After the actors walked into the theaters, the reception slowly turned quiet. 

Kazir and Reese entered the cinema through the backdoor and found their seats. 

"Hey, I heard this movie didn't have a positive reaction in the test screening. The audience didn't like the film at all, I'm afraid Brad Pitt will face a problem with starring in this kind of film."

Reese and Kazir heard the conversation next to them. Reese wanted to talk to the man but Kazir stopped her by grabbing her hand. 

They might as well close their mouths and watch instead. 

The film started and everyone put their focus on the movie. The classic opening credits of New Line Cinema showed up. 

--The story begins with the introduction of Detective Somerset(Morgan Freeman), an experienced detective on the brink of retirement. Somerset is a somber and reflective character who has seen it all and has grown disillusioned with the world. 

"So this is Morgan's role in this movie, as expected. He always plays this kind of gentleman."

Reese frowned when she kept hearing the murmurs next to them.

--Detective Somerset's replacement is Detective Mills(Brad Pitt), a young and ambitious officer who is eager to make a name for himself in the city. 

"Waahh! Brad! How handsome!"

Reese and Kazir heard a squeal behind them. 

[Note: If you do not want to be spoiled, I recommend you skip this part]

--The two detectives are assigned to work together on a case involving a gruesome murder, which they soon discover is just the first in a series of murders.

--The killer is targeting individuals who represent each of the seven deadly sins, and each murder scene is staged in an elaborate and twisted way. 

"Gueh--!" A weak vomit came from one of the audience as they saw the first victim. 

--The detectives begin to unravel the clues left behind by the killer, and as they do, they become increasingly horrified by the brutality and depravity of the crimes. 

--The murders are particularly disturbing, with each one highlighting the horrific nature of the sin being depicted.

--The first murder is that of an obese man who was force-fed until his stomach burst. This is followed by the murder of a greedy lawyer who is forced to cut off a pound of his own flesh. 

-- While the murder spree was ongoing, Detective Somerset met Detective Mills' wife. Tracy(Gwyneth Paltrow) said to Detective Somerset that she was pregnant and she didn't know how to say it to her husband. 

--The third victim is a slothful man who is tied to a bed for a year, and the fourth victim is an envious woman who has her face mutilated. The fifth victim is a man who was forced to kill a prostitute, representing the sin of lust, and the sixth victim is a prideful model who is disfigured with a knife.

--The detectives soon realize that the killer, who calls himself John Doe(Kevin Spacey), is making a statement about the sins of humanity. 

--Doe is an intelligent and calculating individual who is playing a game with the detectives. He wants to show them the true nature of humanity and to force them to confront their own sins.

-- Detective Mills and John Doe had a confrontation in the alley and Detective Mills almost lost his life. However, the murderer let him live. 

The audience sighed in relief because they thought that Brad Pitt would die just like that. 

-- When Detective Mills survived the ordeal. He realized that the murderer was actually the reporter who kept pestering them!

The audience gasped as they realized the truth. 

The climax was approaching and the audience became quiet as the movie was getting closer to its ending. 

--The detectives finally track down John Doe. Doe surrenders himself to the detectives and confesses to all the murders. His clothes had blood, showing that he had killed another person 

"Is this the end of the movie?" Reese whispered next to Kazir and he shook his head. 

Now that John Doe surrendered, everyone thought that the movie was over. 

However, the last scene was still not there. The "What's in the box?" scene...