Echoes of Hollywood

James Franco and Lily Collins' new home in Santa Monica by the beach consists of a couple of white cottages and a large expanse of lush green lawn. Standing by the window in a room on the second floor, Murphy could see the blue ocean. The sea breeze blowing in was refreshing.

Before coming upstairs, Gal Gadot had been left downstairs with Lily Collins and the other women. Only the men were gathered here, specifically the Stanton Gang and Leonardo DiCaprio, who had also accepted James Franco's invitation.

"Hey, Murphy!" James Franco called out loudly. "You're not here just to look at the sea, are you?"

Murphy turned around and walked over to the table where James Franco and the others were sitting. He picked up a drink and took a sip. "I wanted to see what your new house looks like first."

The party was held in the afternoon, and the window offered the best view of the sea.

Perhaps it was a habit formed from his time on the other side of the Pacific; when Murphy visited a friend's new home, the first thing he wanted to do was check out the house.

"My turn! My turn!"

Leonardo DiCaprio walked over and stood next to James Franco. He picked up some ice from the table, aimed briefly, and threw it. The ice landed perfectly in the glass on the other side of the table.

"Yes!"

He pumped his fist in triumph and then turned to Murphy. "Want to try?"

"Sure!"

Murphy stretched his hands and arms, took Leonardo DiCaprio's spot, grabbed an ice cube, and quickly glanced at the glass six feet away.

"Place your bets! Betting starts now!"

Robert Downey Jr. adjusted his tie and loudly announced, "Bets are now open. Murphy hitting the target pays 1:1, missing pays 1:2."

"I bet Murphy will miss." James Franco handed a hundred-dollar bill to Robert Downey Jr. "His aim is always terrible!"

Seth Rogen, who had been watching the fun, also handed over a hundred dollars and said, "I bet Murphy will miss!"

"Murphy..." Leonardo DiCaprio spread his hands and shrugged. "Since everyone says so, I have to bet you'll miss."

Robert Downey Jr. took his hundred dollars, looked around, and curiously asked, "Where's Jonah? Didn't he go to get the gift? Why isn't he back yet?"

"You're all betting against me?" Murphy looked at his friends, who were eager to see him fail. He took out his wallet, pulled out a hundred dollars, and handed it to Robert Downey Jr. "Robert, I'm betting on myself."

With that, he picked up the ice cube and threw it. The ice cube followed a parabolic trajectory and landed perfectly in the glass.

At the same moment the ice cube landed, Robert Downey Jr. loudly announced, "The thrower himself cannot participate in the betting..."

Murphy turned to him and gave him the finger. "Robert..."

"You threw it too quickly!" Robert Downey Jr. said seriously. "I didn't have time..."

"I'm here! I'm here!"

A voice came from outside, and Jonah Hill burst through the door, holding a small transparent glass bottle high. "I got it! Look, I got it!"

James Franco looked over curiously and asked, "What is that?"

"The perfect medicine!"

Jonah Hill walked over to the table, asked Robert Downey Jr. for a tray, and unscrewed the bottle cap, pouring out the contents.

Round pills fell onto the tray, looking very much like aspirin.

But Murphy knew Jonah Hill wouldn't bring a bottle of aspirin and call it a perfect medicine.

"Jonah, what did you bring?" Murphy knew it had to be some kind of drug. "Is this your gift for James?"

James Franco picked up a pill, examined it closely, and shook his head. "Jonah, you're too cheap. This is just regular Quaalude. You have plenty of these, don't you? Just grabbing a bottle for a surprise?"

Robert Downey Jr. crossed his arms and took a step back, seemingly afraid of being tempted, then took another step to the left, standing next to Murphy as if Murphy could strengthen his resolve.

Leonardo DiCaprio, however, seemed interested and picked up a pill to look closely.

"You think these are just regular Quaaludes?" Jonah Hill said disdainfully. "A bunch of ignorant fools."

He picked up a pill and tossed it into his mouth. "These are original from India, ten times more effective than the knockoffs!"

To prove his point, Jonah Hill added, "You'll see soon."

"Good!" James Franco gave Jonah Hill a thumbs-up. "Jonah is personally demonstrating."

"Just wait!"

Jonah Hill shook his head and sat down in a chair, his eyes already starting to look dazed.

Quaaludes were initially invented by an Indian doctor in the 1950s as a sedative for stressed-out housewives, but soon people discovered that staying awake for fifteen minutes after taking them produced a significant high.

So, it didn't take long for Quaaludes to be abused, and by the early 1980s, Washington had officially banned them, as had most other countries.

Naturally, their numbers became extremely limited. While some drug dealers and cartels produced knockoffs, the effects were far less potent than those of the original pharmaceutical products.

After a few minutes, Jonah Hill's head drooped, and he sat there drowsily. Murphy and James Franco ignored him and continued their ice-throwing game.

The conversation gradually shifted to the awards season and the upcoming Oscar voting.

"Don't worry, Murphy." Leonardo DiCaprio assured. "My votes will definitely go to you and 'Inglourious Basterds.'"

As a longtime Academy member, he naturally had the corresponding votes.

Unlike Leonardo DiCaprio, Murphy didn't have such privileges. After quitting the Directors Guild, he, like George Lucas back then, lacked the basic qualifications to become a member of the Academy.

Likewise, except for Robert Downey Jr., other Stanton Gang members weren't Academy members either.

"He's been desperate for that Best Director Oscar." Robert Downey Jr. couldn't resist teasing Murphy. "In Murphy's heart, Gal is first, and the Best Director Oscar is second!"

Robert Downey Jr. feigned a sad look. "Murphy, you're breaking our hearts."

Everyone laughed, except Jonah Hill, who sat in the chair staring at the ceiling, drooling unconsciously.

The guy seemed to have floated away from reality.

"Murphy's not the only one obsessed with the Oscars."

James Franco was about to say something when footsteps sounded outside. The door opened again, and Dave Franco burst in.

"What's up?" James Franco asked his brother. "Weren't you supposed to be helping downstairs?"

"I was," Dave Franco replied, pointing at Jonah Hill. "Jonah told me to notify him when his guest arrived. Emma Roberts is here..."

"Oh..." James Franco's interest piqued. "That chick really came?"

Robert Downey Jr. put down his drink and headed outside, calling to Murphy and the others, "Come on, let's see what kind of woman Jonah's after."

Murphy, curious about Jonah Hill's speed and efficiency, followed Robert Downey Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio, asking Seth Rogen, "Did Jonah really succeed so quickly?"

"No," Seth Rogen shook his head. "Emma Roberts just agreed to come to the party."

The group turned the corridor and went down the stairs to the first-floor hall. There were quite a few guests, and they greeted Murphy and James Franco. Murphy looked toward the villa's entrance, where Lily Collins, Gal Gadot, and Susan Downey were talking to a petite girl.

The girl was the well-dressed Emma Roberts.

Murphy's group was about to greet her when they heard a clattering sound behind them. Jonah Hill stumbled out, his face showing signs of intoxication.

"Hot chick..." He staggered forward, his eyes fixed on Emma Roberts, ignoring everyone else. "So beautiful!"

Clearly, the top-grade Quaaludes had taken effect.

Standing opposite Emma Roberts with a clear view, Jonah Hill suddenly did something shocking.

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