Butch narrowly escaped death and, after a bizarre and harrowing day, ran off with his girlfriend, bringing the 'Gold Watch' segment to an end.
The story continues, but the plot shifts back to the apartment of the rebellious guys that Vincent and Jules visited at the beginning.
One of the rebellious guys, hiding in the bathroom, suddenly jumped out with a gun and started shooting wildly, catching Vincent and Jules off guard. However, he missed every shot, which Jules interpreted as a miracle, leading him to consider retirement. Vincent insisted it was just an accident.
During their argument, the two partners accidentally shot the undercover agent in the head, splattering blood all over the car.
To avoid being stopped by the police, Jules rushed to a friend named Jimmie's nearby house to deal with the problem. The agitated Jimmie was unfazed by the two blood-covered men and ignored the headless corpse in the car, only rambling about his worry over his wife Bonnie's reaction when she returned from her night shift.
This strong sense of absurdity once again made the audience laugh.
Mr. Wolf, a specialist in solving problems, appeared, finally revealing the Robert Redford character that movie fans had been anticipating.
Several grown men earnestly dealt with the corpse problem to avoid trouble when Jimmie's wife returned, pushing the film's absurdity to its extreme. Film critics in the hall began to understand why the last segment was called 'The Bonnie Situation'.
Bonnie, an ordinary night nurse, never appeared directly on screen, yet she unexpectedly became a crucial factor in driving the plot of this dark comedy, completely defying normal human logic.
After dealing with the corpse, Vincent and Jules chose a roadside cafe to eat. They unexpectedly encountered 'Pumpkin' and 'Honey Bunny,' played by Madonna and Sean Penn, who began a robbery, and the plot finally concluded with a perfect circular closure.
As the end credits slowly rolled, Mike Medavoy once again turned and scanned the hall in the dim light, his heart, which had been racing, finally settled down considerably.
At the Cannes Film Festival, it was common for audiences to leave early in large numbers because a film was too bad or they rejected its premise. Mike Medavoy had been worried that the extensive violence and blunt depiction of drug use in 'Pulp Fiction' would offend the audience.
But now, with the film over, the Lumière Grand Auditorium, capable of seating over two thousand people, remained packed. Clearly, a terrible situation had not occurred.
It was impossible for all two thousand-plus audience members to like 'Pulp Fiction', but those who attended such a sought-after red carpet premiere, whether filmmakers, media reporters, professional film critics, or ordinary moviegoers, generally possessed the professional acumen to judge the quality of a film.
Therefore, as the lights came on, warm applause quickly erupted in the venue.
After a simple curtain call, the audience began to leave, and Simon and the other main creators moved to the adjacent press conference hall for the routine press conference after the premiere.
Approaching noon, everyone wasted no time. As soon as they were seated, reporters below raised their hands in a flurry.
The host called on a bespectacled man with brown hair, whose face clearly indicated he was French. He took the microphone, stood up, and spoke in English with a slight accent: "Mr. Westeros, I am Vincent Fische, a reporter from 'Cahiers du Cinéma.' First, I must say, 'Pulp Fiction' is absolutely another stunning work from you personally. This film completely breaks through the stylistic limitations of your previous 'Run Lola Run,' showcasing a wealth of innovative details in its cinematography, music, and narrative techniques. However, what I am curious about is, what exactly is this film trying to express?"
Simon waited for him to finish, then smiled and leaned closer to the microphone, saying: "Thank you for your affirmation of this film, Vincent. Also, everyone can just call me Simon. I'm only twenty years old, and hearing a title like 'Mr. Westeros' always feels a bit strange".
Amidst light laughter from the audience, Simon continued: "As for your question, Vincent, I didn't intend to express any profound ideas with this film. Just like the title of this film, 'Pulp Fiction,' I'm just telling some stories that everyone can enjoy as entertainment while sitting on the toilet. Furthermore, this film also contains many of my experimental ideas about cinema; it can be said to be an exercise in narrative and technique. It's not difficult for everyone to discover my references to the music, cinematography, and narrative of many classic films".
After Simon finished speaking, the reporter from "Cahiers du Cinéma" did not relinquish the microphone and quickly asked again: "So, Simon, how did you come up with the concept for this film?"
Simon was prepared for this question and replied without hesitation: "This film wasn't born from a single flash of inspiration; it should be considered the result of many ideas accumulating over a long period, which is why it's divided into several different short stories".
After Simon answered this question, the host did not give that reporter another chance and called on another reporter.
"I'm Ed Burkes, a reporter from 'News of the World'. Simon, I noticed a lot of bare feet shots of female characters in the film. Do you have a foot fetish?"
Simon paused, then remembered that 'News of the World' was the unfortunate tabloid that later caused the News Corporation phone hacking scandal, and immediately understood why the reporter asked that.
Facing a crowd of curious and somewhat teasing gazes, Simon smiled and said: "I like all beautiful things, just like Maggie's expression when she's flirting with Sean in the film, Nicole's bangs, Jenny's eyes, and so on. Oh, and my girlfriend's hands—haven't you noticed? My girlfriend's hands are also very beautiful; I even gave them a close-up".
The space on the stage was limited, and as a minor supporting actress, Janette was not seated on stage.
At this moment, hearing Simon Westeros suddenly display affection in public, the reporters below chuckled and simultaneously looked towards Janette, who was standing with Mike Medavoy and others at the backstage exit of the hall. The usually carefree woman, suddenly under so many gazes, blushed for a rare moment and quickly turned away shyly, retreating backstage.
After the interjection from the 'News of the World' reporter, the press conference returned to its main focus, and reporters in the hall gradually shifted their questions to Redford, Travolta, and others.
Half an hour later, the press conference concluded, and Simon had completed his main mission for this Cannes trip. As for the subsequent screenings of 'Pulp Fiction', Simon no longer needed to attend in person, and the main and supporting actors who had specially come to the film festival could now leave Cannes.
After the premiere, major newspapers quickly published media feedback on 'Pulp Fiction'.
Although Simon was very humble at the press conference, this did not hinder 'Pulp Fiction' from rapidly gaining widespread acclaim.
"Variety", from across the ocean, unreservedly praised 'Pulp Fiction' as 'a lavish display of Westeros's cinematic talent'.
The film's consistent lighting and cinematography, its innovative closed-loop narrative structure, its numerous yet memorable vivid characters, and many other details all became hot topics of discussion among a large number of media outlets.
Of course, no film is without its critics.
Amidst the almost one-sided praise, there were also some media outlets criticizing 'Pulp Fiction' for its excessive violence and its extensive borrowing and imitation from many other films, but these criticisms generally did not cause any stir.
'Pulp Fiction's overall media score was quickly released: 4.3 points. Although it was lower than Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski's 'A Short Film About Killing' (4.6 points), Simon felt relieved after seeing this score.
It is well known that films with the highest Cannes media scores, while unlikely to leave empty-handed, have almost never won the Palme d'Or. A score of 4.3 points, in Simon's opinion, was just right.
The hilltop mansion in the Le Cannet district.
It was already the evening of the next day, and cars were gradually arriving from various parts of Cannes.
Since Simon had bought a house in Cannes, he couldn't appear too inhospitable. After discussing with Janette, he organized a very mini-party for that evening, inviting only a few close people from his circle for a small gathering.
Around 7:30 PM, as dusk fell outdoors, Jennifer knocked on the study door. She walked into the spacious study filled with easels, browsing the very rough yet expressive movie concept art on the canvases. She strolled over to Simon, who was standing by the window in front of an easel, waited for a moment, and then softly said: "Boss, everyone has arrived".
"Almost done", Simon added a few strokes to a concept drawing of Batman leaping from a rolling vehicle to another car, then turned to Jennifer and asked: "What do you think?"
Jennifer tilted her head slightly, examining it for a moment. A thrilling image of Batman emerging from a rolling car and directly leaping onto another fast-moving sedan appeared in her mind. She said: "This, it would definitely be very dangerous to film".
Simon also nodded and said: "We'll try to break it down as much as possible then. If the CGI technology is up to par, and we can make up for some details with special effects, that should be enough".
Jennifer said: "We'll also need stunt doubles".
"That's unavoidable", Simon said, putting down his paintbrush. He washed his hands in the adjacent washroom and came out, joining Jennifer in the villa's living room on the first floor.
Seeing Simon appear, everyone looked over. Simon casually chatted with Mike Medavoy, Robert Redford, and others. It was just an ordinary gathering, with no formal agenda. After Simon, the host, appeared, the party immediately began. Relaxing music played in the living room, and everyone gathered in small groups, drinking, chatting, and eating, appearing very relaxed.
"'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' has resumed broadcasting. In the past few days, over 70 production companies have reached agreements with the Writers Guild. Simon, perhaps the strike will end by the end of this month. I've already settled with NBC; they're willing to arrange a special creators' interview for 'Pulp Fiction' on the 31st. Simon, your schedule should be fine, right?"
In the hall, Mike Medavoy, holding a glass of champagne, quietly spoke to Simon about this matter.
Although he knew the writers' strike wouldn't end so easily, and the compromise of second and third-tier production companies would only provoke a greater backlash from the major giants, Simon didn't express his views. He simply nodded and said: "Of course, I'll be back by the 25th at the latest, and I might also stay in New York for a while".
Mike Medavoy smiled and said: "About those reality shows produced by your company?"
"Yes", Simon nodded. Since it had already been publicly pitched to the TV networks, there was no way to hide it anymore.
Mike Medavoy paused, then added: "Simon, I've heard some things. These reality shows of yours don't seem to require writers. This might not have been an issue in the past, but given the current situation, doing this could very likely incur the hostility of the Writers Guild".
Simon shrugged helplessly and said: "Mike, if it were any other time, do you think the major TV networks would even look at Daenerys Entertainment's TV programs?"
Hearing this, Mike Medavoy could only shake his head and say with a wry smile: "No".
Even Orion Pictures only began establishing a TV department and venturing into TV program production two years ago, which is enough to show that the barrier to entry for TV program producers is not so easily overcome. Although Daenerys Entertainment had already produced several hit movies, it had not yet proven its potential in the TV field. Therefore, even if the major TV networks were interested in Daenerys Entertainment's TV programs, they wouldn't offer very good prices.
Therefore, the current situation of a major Hollywood writers' strike and the general shortage of TV programs among the major TV networks can be said to be the best time for Daenerys Entertainment to venture into TV production. If they missed this opportunity, they would either have to accumulate experience little by little or spend a lot of money to directly acquire a TV program production company to gain entry into this field.
"So, if I offend the Writers Guild, I offend them. I can't just let such an opportunity pass me by", Simon said, spreading his hands. He thought for a moment and then asked: "Mike, you're not planning to sign an agreement with the Writers Guild early, are you?"
Mike Medavoy shrewdly shook his head and said: "Our main business is still TV dramas, so we don't need to do that".
Everyone knew the underlying reasons, and Simon didn't expose them.
Those second and third-tier film companies that compromised with the Writers Guild early were actually doing so for survival. After all, half a year without business, in the current economic climate, pretty much meant going out of business.
Orion Pictures might not be in a much better situation, but the company didn't rely too heavily on TV program income. Moreover, its founders were all seasoned veterans who had been operating in Hollywood for many years and knew that compromising with the Writers Guild early carried a very high risk of repercussions later on.
As the two were chatting, Madonna, wearing a black low-cut evening gown, walked over with a glass of red wine, raised it to Mike Medavoy, and asked: "What are you two discussing?"
"Good evening, Ms. Ciccone", Mike Medavoy greeted Madonna with a cordial smile, then 'very tactfully' said: "Just some trivial matters. As it happens, I still need to talk to Travolta about participating in the film's promotion. You two chat".
After Mike Medavoy left, Simon looked around a few times and asked Madonna: "Where's Sean?"
Madonna shot Simon a glance and said: "Is Sean more attractive than me?"
Simon said helplessly: "I was just curious why he didn't come tonight.
."Sean has an audition, so he flew back to Los Angeles last night", Madonna continued, staring at Simon unreservedly. "So, now it's just me".