Tycoon Actor in Hollywood

As filming progressed, the story delved deeper into Arthur's descent into madness. After the subway killings, Arthur's life continued to unravel.

In a cruel twist, Randall, the coworker who had given Arthur the gun, falsely claimed that Arthur had asked for it, leading to Arthur losing his job.

This betrayal seemed to push Arthur further over the edge, culminating in the chilling scene where he killed his mother, Penny.

During a break in filming, Lucas found himself deep in conversation with Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. As they reviewed the footage shot so far, a pattern began to emerge - one of inconsistency and unreliability in the narrative.

"You know," Todd mused, leaning back in his chair, "I'm starting to lose track of what's real and what isn't in Arthur's world."

Scott nodded in agreement. "It's like we're seeing everything through a fractured lens. Arthur's perspective is... well, it's not trustworthy, is it?"

Lucas, still partially in character, felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "That's the point. Arthur is the ultimate unreliable narrator. Even he can't distinguish between reality and delusion half the time."

Todd turned to Lucas, curiosity evident in his eyes. "What about you, Lucas? After living in Arthur's head for so long, can you tell which scenes are real and which aren't?"

Lucas paused, considering the question. "Honestly? Sometimes I'm not sure. There are parts that are clearly fabricated - like the scenes with Murray praising Arthur, or his imaginary girlfriend. But beyond that..." He shrugged. "I think that ambiguity is what makes this story so powerful."

"So when people watch this," Scott interjected, "they're not just seeing Joker's perspective. They're experiencing the confusion, the uncertainty that comes with mental illness."

Lucas nodded. "Your right. We're not just telling Joker's origin story. We're giving the audience a glimpse into the mind of someone struggling with severe mental health issues. The confusion, the blurred lines between reality and delusion - it's all part of that experience."

Todd sighed. "That's what's going to set this apart from other comic book movies. It's not about good guys and bad guys. It's about the human experience - the darker side of it, sure, but still undeniably human."

He then turned his gaze to Lucas, his eyes lingering on the actor's gaunt face. Concern crept into his voice as he said, "I hope you're not getting too consumed by this role, Lucas. It's intense stuff we're dealing with here."

Scott nodded in agreement, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "Yeah, I gotta say, the more I look at you, the more I feel a chill. It's like you're actually becoming the Joker."

Lucas let out a laugh, but it came out eerily similar to Arthur's uncontrolled outbursts - too loud and tinged with an unsettling edge. The sudden shift in his demeanor caused Todd and Scott to exchange worried glances.

Noticing their reaction, Lucas quickly composed himself. "Come on, guys," he said, his voice returning to its normal cadence. "If I were really losing it, you wouldn't be able to have a normal conversation with me, right?"

Despite his reassurance, there was an undercurrent of tension in the room. Todd and Scott seemed to relax slightly, but their eyes still held a hint of concern.

"Just... make sure you're taking care of yourself, okay?" Todd said, his tone softer now. "This role, it's demanding in ways most aren't. We need you sharp and healthy."

Lucas nodded, appreciating their concern. "Don't worry. I've got this under control. It's intense, yeah, but I know where the line is." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "Besides, if I start painting my face and causing chaos off-set, you'll know it's time to intervene."

The joke managed to break the tension, eliciting chuckles from Todd and Scott. As they moved on to discuss the next day's shooting schedule, the moment passed.

***

Then they began filming the scene where Arthur entered the apartment of the "girlfriend" in his head.

The atmosphere on set was tense as Lucas, fully immersed in Arthur's psyche, stepped into the apartment. The actress playing Arthur's imaginary girlfriend recoiled in fear, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as she faced Lucas's haunting portrayal.

Lucas's eyes were eerily vacant, devoid of any warmth or humanity. With a deliberate, almost mechanical motion, he raised his hand to his forehead, fingers forming the shape of a gun. His lips moved silently, mouthing the word "Bang!" The simple gesture carried an immense weight of menace and instability.

The scene progressed, with Arthur leaving the room, followed by a shot of him laughing maniacally in his own apartment. The rawness of Lucas's performance left the crew in stunned silence even after Todd called "Cut!"

As the set bustled with activity preparing for the next scene, Lucas retreated to a quiet corner. He pulled out Arthur's notebook, but this time, he felt a shift within himself. He wasn't writing as Arthur anymore; he was channeling the Joker.

Lucas had long come to realize that Arthur and Joker were distinct entities within the same fractured mind. Joker was the dominant personality emerging from Arthur's suffering and disillusionment, a twisted response to an uncaring world.

With his left hand, Lucas began to write, his handwriting taking on a chaotic, almost violent quality:

"Oh, poor, pathetic Arthur! Always grasping for love and compassion in this cesspool of a world. It's hilarious watching him chase his pitiful dreams, aspiring to be like that bloated buffoon Murray. What a joke! Why bother with dreams when chaos are so much more fun? Why imagine cruelty when you can inflict it? Arthur's been wronged, pushed around, laughed at. Well, now it's my turn to laugh. And believe me, when I set this rotten world ablaze, my laughter will echo through the flames. I'll paint this town red..."

Lucas paused, looking down at the words he'd written. A chill ran through him, but he felt compelled to continue. Sighing deeply, he put pen to paper once more:

"I can't stand those empty faces passing by on the streets. So dull, so lifeless. Why can't they see the world like I do? Why can't we connect, truly understand one another? Is it so hard to smile in the face of all this suffering?

Those suit-wearing vultures and politicians sicken me most of all. They paste on those fake, pitying expressions, but we all know they're grinning beneath it all. Living their cushy, mind-numbing lives while chaos swirls around them. Even the desperate souls like Arthur, scrambling just to survive, is more interesting than these soulless puppets.

Someone needs to shatter this façade. I'll be that someone. I'll paint smiles on the faces of the poor, make them see the absurd beauty of it all. And those corrupt fat cats? Oh, I've got plans for them. It's time they experienced some real excitement, some genuine terror. Let's see how interesting their lives become when their comfortable little world comes crashing down.

After all, a little fear can be so... illuminating. It strips away the masks, reveals what's really underneath. And won't that be a fascinating show to watch?"

Lucas stared at the page, a mix of horror and fascination washing over him. The dark thoughts flowed so easily, it was unsettling.

He understood that much of what they were filming was either exaggerated or entirely in Arthur's head - a product of his mental illness and his gradual transformation into the Joker.

The hallucinations, the over-the-top scenarios - they were all part of Arthur's journey, his struggle to accept his true identity as the Joker. Lucas realized that only when Arthur fully embraced this new persona would these fantasies become a twisted reality.

As one of the writers, alongside Todd and Scott, Lucas saw clearly how the entire film was essentially the story of Arthur, a downtrodden man suffering and slowly evolving into his true self - the Joker.

Lucas chuckled to himself, appreciating the meta-narrative they'd created. This whole project was, in a way, Arthur playing out stories in his head that would ultimately shape him into the Joker and bring his darkest fantasies to reality.

He knew that the real intrigue, the true emergence of the Joker, would only come in a potential sequel. But that hinged entirely on the success of this first film. Only if "Joker" turned a significant profit would Warner Bros. consider green-lighting a follow-up.

Shaking his head, Lucas pushed these thoughts aside. For now, he needed to focus on the present - on bringing Arthur's complex and troubled psyche to life on screen.

***

As Lucas remained deeply immersed in his role as Arthur Fleck, the outside world was buzzing with activity he was completely unaware of. Paparazzi photos of him in clown outfit, looking alarmingly thin and haggard, had somehow leaked onto the internet and were spreading like wildfire across social media platforms.

The images caused quite a stir among fans and the general public alike. Many were shocked to see the usually fit and healthy Lucas looking so gaunt and disheveled. Comments flooded in on various platforms:

"OMG! What happened to Lucas Knight? He looks so sick!" one fan tweeted.

"Is this for a new role? Or is something seriously wrong?" another user wondered.

As often happens in the world of celebrity news, rumors began to circulate. Some tabloids, eager for clicks and attention, started spreading unsubstantiated claims about Lucas's health.

Headlines like "Lucas Knight's Secret Battle with Illness Revealed!" and "Friends Worry as Lucas Knight's Health Deteriorates" began popping up on gossip sites.

These fake news stories only served to fuel the fire of worry among Lucas's fanbase. Social media was soon flooded with messages of concern and support:

"Sending positive vibes to Lucas Knight. Hope he's okay! #PrayForLucas"

"Whatever he's going through, we're here for you, Lucas!"

Even some of Lucas's Hollywood colleagues, unaware of the true nature of his transformation, started reaching out to his management team, expressing their concern and offering support.

---

---

---

For advance chapters, go check my [email protected]/NewComer714.