Chapter Seventy

  After hanging up the phone, Song Tang's mind kept flashing Sophie's sexy and charming figure. Thinking about the conversation he just had with Sophie, he felt extremely excited about meeting her tonight. Although Song Tang had only met Sophie once on the streets of Paris, he was not unfamiliar with this Frenchman's eternal love. She exuded an artistic aura all over her body, deeply attracting Song Tang. Although Song Tang didn't know what kind of person he was in Sophie's eyes, he was filled with fondness for Sophie in his heart, but this did not represent love, it was a vague feeling!

  Thinking of tonight's appointment, Song Tang couldn't help but wonder: which script should he prepare for. However, no matter which one, time was running out. After some deliberation, Song Tang finally set his sights on a famous film from his past life, which also happened to be one of Sophie Marceau's most representative works.

  "Braveheart", the film that won five major awards at the 68th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Makeup, although it did not break free from the framework of Hollywood technical films. The massive photography team traveled across the ocean to shoot on location; employed three thousand people and two hundred horses for the grand war scenes; the long shooting cycle all contributed to the high investment in the film. Fortunately, after its release, the box office was not bad, earning over $210 million worldwide, far exceeding the investment, and ultimately ending with a satisfying conclusion.

  The main plot of "Braveheart" is that when William Wallace was still a child, his father, the Scottish hero Malcolm Wallace, sacrificed himself in the struggle against the British army. The young boy learned culture and martial arts under the guidance of his uncle.

  Time flies like an arrow, King Edward of England issued a decree to consolidate his rule in Scotland, allowing British nobles to enjoy the right of "primae noctis" on their Scottish fiefs, so as to let the nobles develop and govern Scotland. Although this decree would seem to benefit English rule over Scotland, it would also provoke resistance from the Scottish people. Young William Wallace returned home after completing his studies, proposed to the beautiful maiden Murron, and privately married her, willing to live a peaceful life. However, Murron was forcibly taken away by British nobles and killed, and Wallace finally erupted. Amidst the villagers' cries of "Son of Heroes", they rose up in revolt, killing English soldiers and declaring their uprising.

  Here is the translation:

  Robert, a Scottish nobleman, wanted to become the leader of Scotland under the guidance of his father, Bruce. He led the Scottish nobles in a pretended alliance with Wallace. Wallace defeated the English army that came to attack, and the Scottish Parliament knighted him and appointed him as the Guardian of Scotland. However, Wallace discovered that these Scottish nobles only considered their own interests and did not care about the people or the future of the country. Edward sent his son's queen, Isabella, to negotiate with Wallace in order to ease the situation. But because the English king did not consider the freedom and equality of the people at all, and only wanted to buy off Wallace as a condition, the negotiation failed. After Isabella returned, she realized that the negotiation was just a cover-up, and the English king had combined forces with the Welsh army, Irish army, and French army to surround Wallace's Scottish troops. She quickly sent a message to Wallace. Under the pressure of the large army, the Scottish nobles were in a state of panic, and Wallace led his troops into battle. Just when morale was high and victory seemed imminent, the Scottish noble reinforcements fled from the battlefield. Wallace decided to risk everything and single-handedly attack the English king, but unexpectedly discovered that Robert had colluded with the English king, which dealt him a heavy blow.

  Wallace, enraged after his defeat, hunted down and killed all the treacherous nobles but spared Robbie. Princess Isabelle was deeply moved by Wallace's bravery and came to his camp to confess her true feelings to him, and the two were lost in their love for each other.

  Robert, feeling regretful, again offers to cooperate and vows never to betray him again. Wallace agrees to go along with the plan for peace and unity. In Edinburgh, he is treacherously seized by Mornay's men and handed over to the English king. Robert is outraged at his father's deceit, and Wallace is eventually sentenced to death. Isabella's pleas are in vain, and before the English king dies, she reveals to him that the child she carries is not of royal blood but rather Wallace's, and this child will one day become the new King of England.

  Wallace's final cry of "Freedom" shook everyone. A few weeks later, at his investiture, Robert refused the king's offer of a title, boldly taking up Wallace's mantle to defy the English and continue fighting for Scotland's freedom.

  At the same time, "Braveheart" boldly innovated and used heavy historical themes of oppression, depression, and anger to bring the major historical event of the 13th-century Scottish people's great uprising onto the big screen. With its grand and majestic momentum, the film won the title of epic blockbuster. In the film, we see Scotland's mountains, forests, and villages, as well as the mournful bagpipes and the Scottish people's desperate cries of resistance in the midst of poverty and suffering. People felt a sense of real life and history. And in the film, Sophie is about to play the role of the sorrowful and sentimental Queen Isabella.

  After making the decision, Song Tang opened his computer and started listing out the main plot of the movie. Although Song Tang had a clear memory of the plot of "Braveheart", this didn't mean that he could quickly write out the complete script. Many times, Song Tang would list out the general plot of the movie based on his own memories, and then slowly fill in the details according to his own ideas. This was the case for previous movies like "Lowly" and "The Shawshank Redemption", as well as upcoming movies like "Jurassic Park" and "Return to Reno". Song Tang wasn't simply copying out the plots of these movies from memory, because after all, every shot in these movies was good. What Song Tang needed to do was get rid of the parts of the plot that he thought were unreasonable, and replace them with more reasonable ones.

  However, time is limited this time, and after a busy afternoon, Song Tang only outlined the overall plot framework of "Brave Heart". As for some detailed descriptions in "Brave Heart", Song Tang didn't have time to write them down yet. But this doesn't affect Song Tang's purpose tonight, because he isn't planning to start filming "Brave Heart" immediately. The timing is not set, the actors are not set, and the funding is not in place, etc., a series of factors are constraining the shooting of the film.

  One day's busy work, Song Tang didn't notice that Charlize had been staying by his side, acting as his secretary. This made Song Tang very uncomfortable. Although Song Tang felt a bit uncomfortable, he was more puzzled about where Charlize went today and couldn't be reached by phone. With this puzzlement in mind, Song Tang walked out of the office after working for a day, then called home and drove directly to the address Sophie gave him.

  Sophie's place wasn't actually that far from Da Tang Entertainment, although Los Angeles is a big city, many Hollywood stars who came to seek development lived not far from Hollywood, and the address of Da Tang Entertainment was next to Hollywood, so Song Tang drove to Sophie's place without taking too much time.

  Song Tang arrived at the address Sophie had given him, with excitement and a pounding heart, he knocked on Sophie's door. Although she had known since this morning that Song Tang would come, Sophie still dressed very casually today, and didn't intentionally change anything because of his arrival. Perhaps in Sophie's eyes, she had already considered Song Tang as a friend, and between friends, there was no need to deliberately hide anything.

  However, Sophie's outfit today still caught Song Tang's eye. Due to the indoor setting, Sophie was only wearing a white low-cut sleeveless tank top that accentuated her sensual and alluring figure, forming a deep cleavage in front of her chest. A black ultra-mini skirt exposed her snow-white thighs, while her brown long hair casually fell on her shoulders. Her understated yet sensual outfit highlighted Sophie's charm and sex appeal. The signature Chanel No. 5 perfume filled the room, and Song Tang was both visually stimulated and slightly uncomfortable at the same time.

  Song Tang took a deep breath and tried to calm his tense emotions, opening his mouth slightly: "Dear Sophie, you're truly stunning tonight."

  "Heh heh, really? Director Song, are you mesmerized?" The moment Song Tang entered the door, Su Fei noticed his loss of composure. Apparently, at this moment, Su Fei also realized that her outfit tonight was a bit too revealing, but since things had already gone this far, she could only continue like this.

  "Of course, I believe all men will be enchanted by you, but tonight only I have the good fortune to see this charming side of my dear Sophie." Song Tang smiled slightly and whispered in Sophie's ear, "However, my dear, I think you shouldn't always call me Director, because I have a name of my own. You can call me Song or Tang if you like."

  Upon hearing Song Tang's somewhat frivolous words, feeling the warmth emanating from beside her ear, Sophie's face turned red. However, Sophie was not that kind of inexperienced young girl, and she quickly regained her composure. Then, with a slightly complex expression, she said: "Is it really like that?"

  "Yes, I think you should be clear that your charm can't be stopped by anyone!" Song Tang turned to Sophie's front and said firmly.

  "Really? Then why am I still in America?" Sophie said with a hint of self-mockery, as if she hadn't heard Song Tang's compliment.

  Song Tang saw Sophie's dazed expression and felt a wave of worry in his heart. Song Tang knew why Sophie was like this, but he didn't know where he got the courage to take Sophie out of his arms and gently ask her by her ear: "What exactly happened between you and him?"

  "We've broken up!" After a while, Sophie's slightly hoarse voice came from her arms.

  Song Tang knew that Sophie was not feeling well at this time, after all, this was Sophie's expectation of love. Once she discovered that things were not as perfect as she had hoped, anyone would be unable to withstand such a blow. However, Song Tang did not know how to comfort Sophie because he originally did not know how to comfort people. At this moment, Song Tang could only hold the Sophie in his arms more tightly, but there was no intention in his heart. Then he said softly: "Since things have passed, let them pass. You should look forward, Sophie. You still have many things worth cherishing!"

  "Thank you! Song Tang." After a long while, Sophie in Song Tang's arms gently pushed open his embrace and then with a slightly flushed face said to Song Tang.

  Looking at Sophie with tears still on her face, Song Tang didn't know what to do, and could only gently lift his hand to wipe away the tears hanging on her cheeks.