A Pile of Trash

"Congratulations. You closed another deal!"

In the hotel bedroom, Nicole Kidman lay sprawled in Aaron's arms.

"Ah, it's still just a minor path. How much can an agent really achieve?"

Holding Nicole Kidman against him, Aaron seemed somewhat distracted. Agents ultimately belonged under film companies.

"That's already very impressive. The deals you're handling now are film deals, not talent representation!"

As Nicole Kidman spoke, she kissed the man's face several times.

"Mm. CAA still hopes I'll sign more artists and cast a wider net."

Just then, the mobile phone on the bedside table rang.

"This is Aaron Anderson."

"Mr. Anderson, this is Jennifer Connelly. We met before. I wanted to ask..."

After hearing her out, Aaron said, "Mm, bring the script tomorrow. I'll read it first, then give you my opinion."

"Okay, thank you."

After hanging up, Aaron realized summer seemed to be ending. Jennifer Connelly actually wanted to drop out of Stanford University?

"What, another new client?" Nicole Kidman asked from atop him.

"I don't know. Jennifer Connelly—the actress who auditioned with you last time, you remember her, right? I wanted to sign her then, but she said her mother handled her business."

"Now, I guess she's having second thoughts?"

Aaron shook his head. He did not have any roles on hand.

"Ah, her. I know her," Nicole Kidman said with a smile. "That girl really has an amazing figure!"

Aaron nodded as well. "She does."

"Do you like it? She's a D-cup. They must feel much better than mine," Nicole Kidman whispered into Aaron's ear.

Aaron blinked. "This is the time to build a career. Love and romance are troublesome."

Nicole Kidman merely smiled without speaking, then took the initiative to kiss him...

At the St. Regis Hotel in New York, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, Jennifer Connelly met with Aaron Anderson.

On the booth's sofa, Aaron set down the script in his hand and took a sip of coffee. "This is the script you received?"

Jennifer Connelly nodded. "What do you think?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yes."

Aaron shrugged. "It's a pile of trash. Orion Pictures probably just wants two sexy beauties for some suggestive material. It's a story template straight out of the forties or fifties."

"The two female characters' figures and looks are probably the only selling points!"

The story was called "Boiling Point," a low-budget B-movie about an old man arriving in a small town and encountering two sexy women, mixing murder, desire, and sexiness.

Compared to "Wild at Heart," it was simply far inferior.

"Is it really that bad?"

Jennifer Connelly would have to push the limits in the movie and show off her body. At present, all she could do was trade on sex appeal.

Aaron looked at her and smiled. "You're planning to drop out and take this movie?"

"Yes. My mother supports it too."

"You don't think taking your clothes off in a movie will create an impact, do you?"

"But right now, these sexy vase roles are all I can get!"

Aaron shook his head. "A garbage script like this brings nothing but controversy. Your problem right now is your acting skills."

"Your audition for 'Pretty Woman' was terrible. You only transferred from Yale University to Stanford University's drama school this year. You should settle down and study properly at school."

"Roles that flaunt sex appeal like this are purely for exposure. Any woman with a good figure and pretty face can play them. Other than burning through the popularity you already have, I don't see any benefit!"

Jennifer Connelly's expression fell. "I understand what you mean, Mr. Anderson."

Aaron waved a hand. "Just call me Aaron."

"And when choosing scripts, it's best to look at the content first. Your mother doesn't understand this at all. You should find someone more professional."

Jennifer Connelly looked at Aaron. "If I sign with you, do you have any plans for me?"

Aaron thought for a moment. "Not at the moment. Right now, you need to properly study acting. Though practice is a good way to learn."

"But having the chance to study acting systematically is also very good. I'll do my best to get you some roles too."

As he spoke, Aaron spread his hands. "I'm a newcomer too. I don't know many people yet, and I need time to build up and develop."

"The actors I have are newcomers as well. One is a foreign actress who just joined David Lynch's 'Wild at Heart,' and another is a comedy performer on 'Saturday Night Live.'"

"The other two are directors. You should know Steven Soderbergh—the youngest Palme d'Or winner—but he doesn't have any projects right now either."

Jennifer Connelly nodded. "I know Director Steven Soderbergh. He's very impressive. And I submitted my résumé for Director David Lynch's 'Wild at Heart,' but I failed."

Aaron smiled. "Well, you look like you're somewhere between a child and an adult right now. You're too old to be a child star—"

"But as an adult, you look too young. It really does make it hard to land roles!"

Jennifer Connelly still had a little baby fat on her face, and her features were indeed brimming with youthful energy, making her suited for campus romance comedies.

Something as explicit as Boiling Point would not merely be a change in image—it would invite controversy.

"I understand what you mean. My acting is still very immature, and I need to study properly!"

After all, she had been accepted into both Yale and Stanford. She was definitely smart, and Aaron Anderson's meaning had been obvious.

He was saying that her acting skills were currently inadequate. At most, she could serve as a pretty vase and flaunt a bit of sex appeal—things that only required a good figure and a pretty face.

"Mm, we can sign a contract first. You can continue studying at school. Even if you receive a script, it would be best if you only took the role after I approve it."

"Don't blindly follow your mother's wishes!"

Jennifer Connelly nodded. "Then I'll sign with you."

"Good. So, when does your school start?"

"Late August!"

"Late next month..." Aaron thought for a moment. "Miramax has scheduled Sex, Lies, and Videotape for early next month."

"A week before its release, there'll be a premiere in Los Angeles. You'll be back in Los Angeles then too, so you can attend it!"

After all, Sex, Lies, and Videotape was a Palme d'Or winner, and Miramax thought highly of the film, so they had specially arranged a premiere for it.

"Sure. I want to see what this movie is really like too..."