The Best Director

Sina’s live broadcaster Xiao Yan updated: “Wang Yang, along with Robert Downey Jr., Charlize Theron, and other guests from ‘District 9’ and ‘The Hangover,’ have taken two seats. In an earlier interview, he said he hoped to win Best Picture. Today, there’s a great chance for Yang Yang to win an award; according to American media predictions, the hot favorites for Best Director are Martin Scorsese, Stephen Daldry, and Wang Yang. Let’s check out the situation on American websites—Yahoo’s poll has Yang Yang at 32%, Martin Scorsese at 24%, Stephen Daldry at 16%…”

“The first film award has already been presented. Best Original Song went to ‘Gangs of New York’ for ‘THE-HANDS-THAT-BUILT-AMERICA.’ It seems the judges really like ‘Gangs of New York’! That’s dangerous for Yang Yang.”

TV broadcasts were interspersed with bursts of thunderous applause and cheers, nominees laughing and clapping. Natalie, watching from the dorm sofa, sneered unimpressed, raised her can of beer, and took a swig, assuring herself that the losers weren’t as happy as they appeared. She refused the organizer’s invitation to attend because the noisy scene was the last thing she wanted—first, she didn’t want to fly back and forth, and second, the couch was more comfortable.

There was all kind of networking going on, both genuine warmth and fake cordiality. Many nominees did not reveal their true feelings, and if they couldn’t even say, “I want to win this award,” how dull!

Natalie burped, looking at the broadcast camera focusing again on a handsome guy with black hair. She curled her lips upwards, glad that Wang Yang hadn’t disappointed her. If he didn’t win Best Director, she hoped he wouldn’t act as if he had won a grand prize like the others, and instead show a genuine mix of congratulations and disappointment—that would be cool. And if he did win, well, that would be all right too.

Right then, many tuned into NBC to support Wang Yang. Joshua leaned against the sofa back in the cluttered living room, cobwebs in the corners, casually tossing the empty chip bag onto the floor, watching the screen with interest. The ceremony, after presenting the TV awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie, moved on to Best Original Score for films.

“Here it comes, ‘District 9’ is nominated!” Joshua straightened up seriously. Michael Pitt looked around with his head tilted back, noticing several black clumps on the ceiling that looked like gum and wondered, “Why didn’t you come to my place? It’s messier here.” Joshua snorted with laughter: “Is your place the haunted house from ‘Paranormal Activity’? This is.”

Zachary, who was also at this guys’ gathering, just shook his head, thinking back to years ago and sighed, “You’ve ruined it. It used to be so cozy and clean here. Why would Yang have rented it to you?” Initially, Wang Yang moved out and later on, he bought the place and rented it to Joshua who was about to start a family, even throwing a housewarming party.

At this moment, everyone in the living room quieted down, and the TV screen split into five sections, showing the faces of the five nominees in suits and bow ties: Elmer Bernstein, Terence Blanchard, Jan Kaczmarek… The presenter, music star John E. Don, wearing red-framed glasses in a black suit, slowly opened the yellow envelope and announced with a smile, “The winner for Best Original Score is, Elliot Goldenthal for ‘Frida’!”

“OH!” As the cheer from the live audience on TV erupted, everyone loudly expressed their disappointment. Occupying most of the sofa, Harry George checked the latest media updates on his laptop. As the assistant cinematographer for ‘District 9’ and the cinematographer for ‘The Hangover,’ he hadn’t received an invite to the Golden Globes. He said, “Guys, not winning these awards has its advantages too, otherwise ‘District 9’ might easily be overlooked.”

“Wow, Yang’s support rate has gone up again…”

However, Joshua looked seriously at Zachary on the loveseat and said, “Zack, did you know? This place used to be even worse than now. Cardboard boxes piled on the floor, rats running around… Yang was such a slob! It became clean because I tidied it up later, and so did Jessica.” Michael Pitt and Zachary both murmured in realization, knowing that if this was true, it was probably Jessica who did the cleaning.

“Oh Lord! Bad news,” Harry George said, his chubby face full of surprise, looking at a photo on the screen of a girl in a purple gown sprawled face down on the floor. He gasped, “Jessica fell down in the hotel!”

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Joshua, remembering his sister safe and sound on the TV screen just before, wasn’t too worried. He glanced at the screen, seeing she really did take a 100% genuine fall and couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “Hahaha—” Michael Pitt, puzzled, asked, “Is that funny?” Joshua nonchalantly waved his hand and replied with a chuckle, “She’s always like that, it’s no big deal!”

As the broadcast camera panned across the guests, the award ceremony continued amidst applause. There was no fixed order for the presentations, always considering audience attention and viewership ratings. A few more television awards followed, as well as the Best Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) and Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep) for films; after the Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy was snagged by Jennifer Aniston of Friends, the next award was for Best Actor in a Drama Film.

In the Hilton Hotel’s dazzling hall, everyone sat around the round tables laden with fine food and wine, clapping nonstop, welcoming Halle Berry as she emerged from the side of the stage. She was wearing a sky-blue evening gown that revealed half her bust, and a sapphire necklace that glimmered dazzlingly under the lights.

Holding the results envelope, Halle Berry approached the microphone at the center of the stage. As the applause gradually subsided, she smiled and said, “Hello everyone! I’m so honored to present this award. They are all outstanding actors who have brought us countless touching moments…”

Hearing Halle Berry’s words, Wang Yang also felt a tinge of nervousness. He wasn’t a nominee, but. Wang Yang looked towards Donny sitting beside him. He wasn’t wearing his signature orange sunglasses, and had a faint smile on his face. Wang Yang softly called out to him, “Robert, I’m with you on this.” Donny raised an eyebrow quizzically, “Isn’t that the case?” Licking his lips, he nodded and laughed, “Thank you!”

At the dinner tables, Jessica, Charlize Theron in a red evening gown, Michelle Rodriguez in a black long dress, Zack Galifianakis, and others all watched the large TV screen on the stage; as did those at the next table like Jack Nicholson and Adrien Brody…

“Let’s see who they are. The five nominees are Adrien Brody, The Pianist.” Before Halle Berry could finish, the hall erupted with cheers and applauding “Whoa whoa” noises from below, as the camera zoomed in on Adrien, who was smiling with his eyebrows raised. The screen then played a clip from The Pianist, with him sitting at the piano gently playing, and walking down the street wearing a blue ghetto armband…

After the clip ended, Halle Berry continued, “Robert John Downey Jr., District 9.” Instantly, a louder and more frenzied wave of cheers and applause arose from below, as the camera panned to Downey, who was clapping and making peace signs with both hands, humorously gesturing to Wang Yang beside him. Under everyone’s gaze, the screen began playing scenes from District 9.

“This is not your home! This land, this planet, it’s not yours! Get out, get out, get out!” In his supervisor’s uniform, Downey vehemently cursed at the prawn-like aliens, pretending to throw a punch as if he were about to rush over and hit one; the scene switched, and he laid on a hospital bed, looking at his left hand that had grotesquely transformed into a prawn-like alien’s hand, and he screamed in terror and jumped up, “Ah ah ah—what is this!! Ahhh—”

“Don’t leave me, baby, please…” Soft, mournful whispers filled the hall, and Downey, sitting in the wasteland of trash, tears streaming down his face, looked blankly and with a firm yet pleading voice into the phone, “Believe me, I didn’t sleep with those bugs, I love you, don’t give up on me, don’t leave me, believe me, I’ll change back…” A woman’s sobbing came from the phone: “Wikus, I want to believe you, but just… let me go.”

Around the silent guest area, Sarah Jessica Parker smiled faintly. Her hands were tightly clenched under the table. Even though they had no feelings or relationship anymore and she had become a mother last year, listening to these once heartfelt words, she still felt somewhat disconsolate and unconsciously glanced at Downey at a nearby table, a thought crossing her mind, “Congratulations on finally getting rid of drugs and alcohol…”

“You all deserve to die!” Half of Downey’s face was deformed as he furiously roared, controlling the mech to charge at the soldiers. Countless large bullets sprayed out from the mech’s arm cannons.

Once the clip ended, applause thundered through the hall once again, as Downey thanked the people around him. Halle Berry on stage continued, “Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can… Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York… Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt.” As she spoke, clips from each nominee’s films were shown on the screen.

“And the 60th Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Film goes to…” While speaking, Halle Berry began to open the envelope in her hand. On the broadcasting camera screen, the nominees lined up on either side both up and down, all smiling or laughing, but even veterans felt a hint of nervousness; Jack Nicholson with seven nominations and one win, Daniel Day-Lewis with four nominations, Leonardo with two nominations, Robert John Downey Jr. with two nominations, and Adrien Brody with one nomination.

The biggest favorites this year were Nicholson, Adrien, and Downey. Nicholson claimed he acted like it was a comedy in About Schmidt, “like a pile of dog shit,” but with his old-school reputation, he still remained a favorite among the jurors; Downey’s performance in District 9 was highly praised by film critics, the drastic transformation before and after allowed him enough scope to showcase his abilities, with several scenes of inner monologue that were incredibly moving. His real-life “transformation” was also an element that the jurors favored and drew public attention; Adrien’s genius acting also could not be overlooked.

In front of the TV, Joshua, Michael Pitt, George Harry, and others stared wide-eyed holding their breath… Evelyn spread her hands as if ready to hold back her excited friends from rising up, her face full of tension… Natalie clenched an empty soda can forcefully, making a “crack crack” noise.

“We’re currently presenting the award for Best Actor in a Drama Film, let’s see if District 9 can take it! Go, Downey!” Sina’s live commentator Xiao Yan updated the live text as the page’s rapidly increasing traffic nearly brought the network to a halt.

On stage, Halle Berry glanced at the opened envelope, her white teeth gleaming as she smiled and announced, “Robert Downey Jr., ‘District 9’!”

“Wow, wow, wow—huhu!” The entire venue instantly erupted in tumult, the thunderous applause drowning out the sound system’s stirring music. The expressions varied among the four nominees who didn’t win. Jack Nicholson was laughing and shouting something with his arm raised, Lewis and Leonardo were also smiling and offering congratulations, and Adrien maintained his bitter melon-like frown while laughing; the camera zoomed in on Downey’s seat, showing him standing up in disbelief.

“Robert! It’s you! Wow, it’s you!” Wang Yang bounced up excitedly, his eyes filled with incredulity. Prior rumors and predictions had all but assured Jack Nicholson the win, yet here was the result! He laughed and clapped loudly, then opened his arms to embrace Downey and said through gritted teeth, “You damn guy!”

“Congratulations! You were incredible!” “Wow—Robert, congratulations!”…People nearby offered their joyous congratulations, whether it was from the ‘District 9’ or ‘The Hangover’ camps, or other movie guests. Regardless of whether it was genuine or feigned, in this moment everyone offered their blessings to this prodigal middle-aged man turning his life around.

The live broadcast camera swept back and forth across the audience, capturing various nominees, Sarah Jessica Parker… all of them were smiling and applauding. After embracing people like Wang Yang, Downey made his way to the stage with a complex smile on his face. Wang Yang settled back into his seat, watching Jessica beside him, who was giggling happily, and said with a laugh, “Robert really was cool this time.”

“Thank you.” On the small stage, Downey took the Golden Globe trophy from Halle Berry’s hands, hugged her, and then she stepped aside. Looking at countless faces below, he adjusted the microphone, drew a deep breath, and said with a smile, “Thank you! I am astounded to have won this award, not because the judges chose me, but because they even had the option to choose me.”

A few cheers erupted from below, but most of the audience fell quiet. Downey raised the trophy slightly, gazing at the few smiling faces etched in his heart, recalling all the stories of these past years: the joyful, the sad, the terrible, the good… He sighed and said with a smile, “I don’t want to read off a list of names, I want to talk about myself, Robert Downey Jr., this asshole.”

“I was once an asshole, a scoundrel. I did many, many terrible things, as you all know,” Downey grimaced as he reminisced, shaking his head with a smile, “like speeding naked and breaking into someone’s home; back then, I thought I was chatting with God.” Amidst gentle laughter, his expression turned serious as he said, “I must say this, thank you to all who have loved me, cared for me, scolded me, and hoped that I would become a good person. And to those I’ve wronged, I’m sorry.”

Sarah Jessica Parker, trying to maintain a serene smile, felt a twinge in her nose. She had loved and scolded this man, rejoiced and suffered for him. They had moved in together at 18; she had given him 7 years to change, but it was one heartbreak after another… She couldn’t bear it anymore, chose to walk away, and went from being the ugly duckling by his side to a strong independent woman. She dated John Kennedy, Jr., dated Cater…

But never again would she feel that all-in, foolish love for someone, even now while loving Matthew, it would never happen again. That trash was something she’d never shake off for the rest of her life, never again.

“Unlike Wikus, I really disappointed them, I really hurt them, hurt the best people in the world,” Downey’s voice grew louder on stage, furiously waving the trophy and with a choked voice, said, “My friends, my family, my son… please forgive me, forgive Robert Downey Jr.!”

Before his words faded, applause thundered from below. Whether it was Sarah, Wang Yang, or everyone else, they all clapped fervently. Downey, with slightly reddened eyes, looked toward Wang Yang and choked up with laughter, “For a person to be reborn, one must possess a strong belief in turning the impossible into possible. I am very grateful to the person who gave me that belief, that incredible young man, Wang Yang!”

The broadcast camera immediately turned towards Wang Yang, where he was seen laughing and chatting with Jessica. Noticing the camera, he smiled and gave a thumbs-up. Meanwhile, Downey, noticing the timekeeper at the edge of the stage reminding him of the time, shook his head and smiled, “I haven’t finished! No one is getting me off this stage until I’m done. What’s my image? I must thank him because, without him, I might now be passed out in a pile of garbage on the street, can you imagine that?”

The audience laughed again at this interjection. However, the organizers didn’t intend to rush him off. What’s a few more minutes to them? The audience always loves these unique award acceptance speeches, and viewership is soaring.

“At the beginning, we were in jail, that day was his girlfriend Jessica’s birthday, and I angered him. He grabbed me and punched me, once, twice… He said, ‘Has anyone ever told you this way? You’re a piece of shit!'” The audience gasped and became rowdy at the blunt words, but Downey laughed and said, “No, no, no, this is what I wanted! Don’t sue him; he did the right thing, he woke me up.”

Jessica held Wang Yang’s hand, feeling waves of sweetness in her heart, and she softly chuckled and asked, “There’s also that story?” Thinking back on that situation, Wang Yang sighed with a laugh, “Yeah, that day I was really about to lose my mind. I even dreamed that your dad was going to beat me to death.” Jessica opened her mouth in surprise, and Wang Yang quickly waved his hand and said with a grin, “Nevermind that, it’s all in the past. That damn guy, I never agreed to let him announce it!”

“That night, he said to me, ‘Robert, it’s time to end this terrible life, let everyone see a new Robert John Downey Jr.!'” Downey continued to remember, with tears shimmering in his eyes, as he spoke of the reason he could turn over a new leaf, “He also invited me to a movie, saying ‘As long as you get off drugs, you’ll be the lead actor.’ I truly didn’t know what to say—he was 21! Was I 21?!”

Glancing over at Sarah Jessica Parker, who was expressionless, he lowered his head and said, “A selfish piece of trash. That day I realized from age 21 to 36, I had never changed, always a piece of trash! I wanted to be the new Robert!” He laughed and then choked up, “Later we got out, after the audition that day, that guy said, ‘Downey, drive safely! Don’t fucking get drunk again!'”

“So many people repeated that to me over and over, and in the end, I always let them down.” Downey wiped the tears that welled up in his eyes, took a deep breath, and continued, “How could I let down another person who cares about me? The truth is I still had drugs at home, I just never made up my mind to throw them away, but that day, I took them in my car to the beach, and then I threw them all into the sea, a new Robert! This was my transformation.”

The sound of thunderous applause instantly filled the Hilton Hotel, and the decibels of the exuberant shouts of “wow” also set the record for the evening. It seemed like Downey’s moving speech, which captivated movie fans worldwide, should have ended there, but he still hadn’t left the stage. He then added with a smile, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve often seen a certain sentiment regarding the Best Director award recently, the Magic Yang is too young, he has plenty of chances in the future…”

Down in the audience, many guests were immediately puzzled. What did this topic have to do with anything? Wang Yang also raised an eyebrow in confusion. Was he supporting him for Best Director? But it wasn’t a time for campaigning, he felt like this guy was about to say something “unusual”…

“Without a doubt, every director on the nomination list is outstanding, but in my heart, Magic Yang is absolutely the best director of this season. He not only made a great movie but also transformed this bastard. Yang, if you don’t win the director’s award tonight!”

Downey looked over at Wang Yang, laughing and shouting with the trophy held up, feeling a surge of youthful recklessness. Let that kid be capricious one more time! He leaned into the microphone and said solemnly, “I personally will not recognize that result, won’t acknowledge the results of any of the awards this season, including this one in my hand! I would return this trophy to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association!”

“Oh!” A low murmur of surprise came from the audience. It wasn’t that no one had ever refused the Golden Globes or Oscars before for reasons of disdain or dissatisfaction; however, binding the acceptance of one’s award to whether a director wins was unprecedented. “He wins, I take it; he doesn’t, I don’t want it”—that was a first.

Downey was still Downey! Sarah Jessica Parker suddenly laughed out loud, cursing with a grin in her heart, “New Robert? There’s no way you could ever change!”

“Thank you!” Downey raised the Golden Globe in his right hand high, sent a flying kiss to the crowd with his left hand, and laughed loudly, “Thank you so much!” After speaking, he walked backstage with Halle Berry, who had been voted “Most Talkative at the Oscars.”

Being watched with various expressions by Jessica, friends at the table, and other colleagues nearby and feeling very touched, Wang Yang wiped his forehead and muttered with a chuckle, “This bastard has dragged me down.”

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PS (Free): Begging for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets! We couldn’t make it to the top of the recommendation list again this week, why can’t my power draw out the tickets from everyone’s hands!? My power is choking up, my own fault for being tongue-tied. Writing until deep into the night every day, putting all my thoughts into how to write the book, I neglected asking for votes, and simply begging for votes feels so cold, so unemotional. But can’t you all feel my heart and passion? Can’t you all see my care and effort for this book?

If you like this book, I’m thrilled; but if you could cast your votes, I’d be eternally grateful! Monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, review tickets (you get a free one after spending 10 bucks, only applicable to this book, please check if you haven’t already cast yours, thank you). My power and I are with you, thank you!