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Chapter 213: The Storm Begins
🕑 Added 2025-01-01 10:29:28 +0000 UTCA few Jewish members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences formed a small circle. Naturally, their conversation revolved around tonight's Golden Globe Awards and the upcoming Oscars.
"*Saving Private Ryan* is indeed excellent, and Duke Rosenberg has shown significant progress, but I don't think he's right for Best Director," said Arthur Miller, an elderly man with white hair and a slightly receding forehead, to his companions. "He's too young. He has a lot of potential to grow. Giving him an Oscar now might be a hindrance. I think Mel Gibson is a better candidate."
"Mr. Miller, I disagree," responded Daniel Day-Lewis, who would be the next rotating chairman of the Academy after the Oscars and might also become Miller's son-in-law this year. "Both *Braveheart* and *Saving Private Ryan* have too much commercial appeal and lack strong artistic expression. I believe Tim Robbins and his *Dead Man Walking* are more appropriate choices."
"Have you forgotten?" Frank Pierson suddenly interjected. "Duke Rosenberg is naturally one of us."
The group fell silent simultaneously.
Arthur Miller, a Hollywood veteran and former husband of Marilyn Monroe, nodded in agreement. "Frank, you're right. If he were ten years older, even if Roger Ebert and David Denby called me ten times a day, I would..."
Daniel Day-Lewis gently tugged at Miller's arm, causing him to stop mid-sentence. Tina Brown from *Vanity Fair* and David Fis from the *Los Angeles Times* were walking over. Some topics could be discussed in private, but not in front of the media.
"Miller, Pierson..." Tina Brown, *Vanity Fair's* editor-in-chief, was a skilled networker. She attempted to extract some insider information about the Oscars from these key members, particularly Arthur Miller and Frank Pierson. But the two men were seasoned and wouldn't easily reveal anything.
The atmosphere grew a little stiff and unusually quiet.
Tina Brown wasn't one to give up easily without uncovering something significant. She probed again, "Mr. Miller, I heard..."
"You filthy Jewish pig, Duke Rosenberg!"
A sudden roar interrupted her. Tina Brown immediately turned her head, instinctively reaching for the pen and notepad in her handbag.
Next to her, David Fis, the entertainment editor of the *Los Angeles Times*, reacted similarly, pulling out a pen and notebook from his inner pocket.
A Jewish pig?
As a Jew who had lived through the dark days before World War II, Arthur Miller and Frank Pierson were especially sensitive to such words. They immediately looked in the direction of the shout.
Daniel Day-Lewis and the other Jews present also turned their heads.
As they did, the angry voice rang out again, "Do you think making *Saving Private Ryan* can cover up the crimes of the Jews? Jewish pigs should be held accountable for all the wars in the world..."
Instantly, the entire area fell silent. Countless eyes turned toward the source of the voice. The drunken, furious voice continued, "Every person with Jewish blood is scum! You will never control Hollywood!"
Many in the banquet hall were stunned, unsure of what was happening.
Tina Brown's hands trembled, not out of anger but excitement. Mel Gibson had just openly insulted not only Duke Rosenberg but all Jews. This was the kind of headline *Vanity Fair* had been waiting for all year!
David Fis faithfully recorded every word from Mel Gibson. Tomorrow... tomorrow the entire United States would be in an uproar. And if not, they would certainly make it so!
Arthur Miller's previously dull eyes suddenly flared with sharp intensity. He hadn't felt this kind of anger in years. Just moments ago, he had been considering supporting Mel Gibson for an Oscar. Now, Gibson had just slapped him in the face in front of his old friends by publicly insulting all Jews. How would they view him now?
Frank Pierson coldly stared at Mel Gibson. If he were thirty years younger—no, even just twenty—he would have abandoned all pretense of being a gentleman and beaten that wild man senseless.
Everyone was now watching Mel Gibson and the other party involved—Duke.
The Australian wild man was like a drunken gorilla, spewing out offensive words like "Jewish pig" at the top of his lungs. His voice was so loud and attention-grabbing that not even Sophie Marceau stripping naked could rival it.
This was beyond Duke's best expectations, allowing him to achieve his goal effortlessly.
Mel Gibson, still reeking of alcohol, had a twisted, grotesque expression. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Duke by the collar, making the first move.
At such a moment, Duke didn't hesitate. His right hand clenched into a fist—the same hand that had once thrown a seventy-yard pass with ease—and he swung hard, landing a punch on Mel Gibson's right cheek. The drunken insults stopped abruptly, and Gibson staggered back several steps.
Before Gibson could react, a middle-aged man suddenly emerged and kicked him hard in the leg. The Australian wild man couldn't keep his balance and fell to the ground with a thud.
The sudden turn of events left Duke momentarily surprised, but when he saw who had intervened, he wasn't shocked. It was Daniel Day-Lewis, the eccentric British-Jewish actor known for his unpredictable nature, much like his acclaimed acting skills.
Naturally, such a commotion attracted many onlookers. After Daniel Day-Lewis delivered his kick, security and attendants quickly rushed to separate Duke and Mel Gibson.
Standing on the sidelines, Tom Cruise had been merely a spectator. Now, he felt incredibly satisfied. He suddenly thought Duke Rosenberg might not be a bad partner after all. That punch had been truly satisfying. Most importantly, he knew that Mel Gibson's career was about to take a sharp downward turn.
Racial discrimination was a line no public figure could cross, and Tom Cruise knew this well. If Gibson had insulted black people, he might have been able to apologize sincerely, blame it on alcohol, and lay low for a year or two before making a comeback. But he had insulted Jews—*all* Jews—in front of Hollywood veterans like Arthur Miller and Frank Pierson!
And what about Tina Brown and David Fis, renowned media figures? Would they pass up a story like this? With the influence of *Vanity Fair* and the *Los Angeles Times*, and considering how many Jewish executives and shareholders were behind these outlets, would they let Mel Gibson get away with such blatant anti-Semitism?
You're finished!
Tom Cruise glanced mockingly at Gibson before beginning to contemplate how he could add insult to injury.
Shaking his slightly sore right hand, Duke's gaze passed over the crowd to where Mel Gibson was being held back by security and waitstaff. Gibson, still reeking of alcohol, was shaking his head as if trying to sober up.
Looking away, Duke didn't spare Gibson another glance. The Australian wild man had tried to use underhanded methods to frame him as a rapist, like Roman Polanski. Duke had no choice but to respond with something equally heavy. Whether Gibson could withstand the storm that was about to follow remained to be seen.
Jews have always been sensitive. Some might even say the Jewish community suffers from a persecution complex. Especially in Hollywood, any anti-Semitic sentiment would be met with fierce backlash from the Jewish community.
What had started all of this? Arthur Miller had no interest in investigating. Some things could be thought about and even discussed privately, but saying them in public came with consequences.
"Frank," he said to the man next to him, "you handle contacting our friends in the media. This can't be buried."
"Daniel..." He looked over at Daniel Day-Lewis, who had just returned. "If we need witnesses, could you help?"
"It's my duty," the Oscar-winning actor immediately nodded. He understood that the support of certain forces had played a significant role in his rise to fame.
And with so many witnesses, how could such an incident be covered up?
Duke understood this well, which was why he had chosen the post-Golden Globe party to test if a drunken Mel Gibson was still as arrogant and unfiltered as he had once been. The outcome had confirmed that, even a decade earlier than expected, Gibson's anti-Semitic views were deeply ingrained.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Duke had at least managed to eliminate Gibson as a contender for Best Director.
At some point, Duke noticed Sofia Coppola standing beside him. She whispered in his ear, "I just saw Arthur Miller. He didn't look happy."
"The former husband of Monroe and the Academy's next rotating chairman?"
Seeing Sofia nod, Duke's lips curved slightly. If they weren't in public, he would have burst out laughing. Miller had deep roots in Hollywood and wielded considerable influence.
Suppressing the laughter that hadn't fully surfaced, Duke leaned closer to Sofia and whispered, "Inform Nancy and Panny Kailis, as well as Warner and Fox. I remember Disney still owes me a favor. Michael Eisner and Michael Ovitz are both Jewish. They should do something, too."
The night was long, and the storm was just beginning.
