Once the robbers had fled, the crew cautiously began to emerge, one by one.
Looking at the Batmobile, riddled with bullets and smoking, and the Batman model, everyone still felt a lingering fear. Even in Chicago, notorious as a crime capital, no one had ever witnessed such a scene.
"Anyone hurt? Is everyone okay?" Gilbert asked.
"No problem, director. Everyone's safe," came the reply.
"It's just that the set got destroyed. We probably won't be able to shoot here," someone added.
"Ah," Gilbert sighed. "Let the set and art departments work hard to restore it. Let's take the next couple of days to fix the scene before shooting resumes. Today we wrap, everyone gets a break, and we'll return after Christmas."
After such an incident, it made sense for everyone to take a short break and rest.
Gilbert then turned to Charles Rowen. "After this, Chicago owes us an explanation. Charles, go negotiate with them."
Charles Rowen, being older, had been thoroughly shaken by the scene but was now recovering.
"Sure, some compensation shouldn't be an issue. At least the Batmobile should be reimbursed," Rowen said, eyeing the extinguished Batmobile.
Gilbert stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We can turn this incident to our advantage. Why do you think the robbers opened fire on Batman and the Batmobile?"
"Well," Rowen pondered, "they were startled by Batman and stopped shooting."
"That's right," Gilbert clapped his hands. "Even if we didn't hear exactly what they said, that doesn't stop me from spinning a story. It'd be even better with a video clip."
"Who has footage?" Rowen asked.
A camera assistant raised a hand. "I secretly recorded a bit."
Gilbert nodded at Rowen. The footage from this assistant would now serve as a promotional tool.
Rowen coordinated the crew to present a unified statement: the robbers panicked upon seeing Batman, which delayed their escape and led to their capture by the police.
This was also factual. The observed events matched the account.
After agreeing on the story, the crew announced a break, taking time to rest and recover their shaken spirits.
The bank robbery, dubbed the "Chicago Heist," might not have drawn attention on its own since such incidents occurred frequently. North Americans had grown accustomed to such events.
However, because it involved the high-profile Batman: Begins crew, it immediately became a sensational case across the U.S.
Although all five robbers were captured, the details resembled a Hollywood blockbuster, complete with a dramatic twist at the end, drawing nationwide attention.
The morning after the robbery, the Chicago Sun featured it as the front-page headline. Other media quickly followed, and local TV stations covered the story in their morning news segments.
CNN, CBS, ABC, and other major North American networks ran special reports and interviewed those involved.
Everyone knew the five robbers had ultimately been apprehended on the highway in South Chicago's outskirts.
But according to police sources, for over ten minutes prior to their capture, the robbers' exact locations were untracked.
South Chicago's territory was complex, with rampant gangs and weak police oversight.
It was the Batman crew who provided crucial information on the robbers, allowing the police to locate and pursue them again.
Naturally, the public was curious: what exactly transpired between the five robbers and the film crew?
Was anyone injured? Was Director Gilbert safe?
Strangely, the next day, the crew released no statement, maintaining silence.
This mysterious silence fueled all sorts of wild speculation.
Some claimed the crew had suffered severe casualties. Others suggested Gilbert had been shot multiple times and hospitalized in Chicago.
Adding to the rumor, journalists found themselves barred from a well-known Chicago hospital's ICU, leading them to suspect a major figure was in critical condition—presumably Gilbert.
Seeing these reports, Gilbert, now safely back in Los Angeles, laughed so hard it almost sounded like a pig squeal.
Online commentary reflected similar reactions. Most fans expressed concern and prayed for the crew, while a few, seeking to appear unique or simply disliking someone, wished misfortune upon them.
There were also those who just enjoyed spectacle and hoped the drama would escalate.
"You really haven't made an appearance?" At the Scented Melon Estate, Doug Walter rushed to visit upon hearing Gilbert had returned.
Seeing Gilbert unharmed, Doug finally relaxed.
He had known about the Chicago Heist and the crew's involvement, feeling as if the sky were falling. If Gilbert had been hurt, what would become of Warner Bros.?
Fortunately, not only was Gilbert unharmed, but the crew suffered no injuries either, aside from a few sprained ankles.
Gilbert sipped his tea, gazing toward the coastal road. "Showing up now wouldn't have the right impact. We wait until public interest peaks, then I'll appear. Doug, arrange for journalists to interview me at that time."
Doug instantly understood. "This is for movie promotion?"
"Of course," Gilbert nodded. "Even though it was an accident, it's an opportunity. We can leverage this bank robbery for publicity."
Doug reviewed the events and watched the video footage.
Though it was hard to believe that Batman and the Batmobile blocked the robbers, the video documented everything, and the crew's accounts were consistent.
Given such an unexpected opportunity, Doug wouldn't let it pass, ensuring it was used for promotion.
During Gilbert's return from Chicago, his safety was a major concern for many.
He first called Naomi Watts and others to reassure them he was unharmed.
Then he answered calls from one acquaintance after another—Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, Sandra Bullock, Elijah Wood—all had immediately called Gilbert.
Upon learning that Gilbert was unharmed, these people finally relaxed and offered him their comfort and reassurance.
Meanwhile, some others harbored the utmost ill will, speculating whether Gilbert had survived. But with the latest news confirming that Gilbert was safe, these individuals were left frustrated.
Although they didn't understand why Gilbert hadn't immediately come forward to publicly confirm his safety, that didn't stop anti-Gilbert media from spreading rumors, claiming that he had died in the Chicago Heist.
The situation escalated over several days until the Chicago police finally released an investigation report and held a press conference.
At the press conference, the police detailed the robbers' entire process, including their scouting, weapon preparation, escape route, and so on.
"Here, we would like to especially thank the Batman crew. Thanks to their assistance, we were able to apprehend these robbers," the police stated.
A reporter immediately asked, "Has Director Gilbert been injured? Where is he now?"
"Sorry, this involves personal privacy; I cannot disclose that," the Chicago police deflected, which only fueled more speculation.
Many people increasingly believed that the crew had indeed been in danger and that Gilbert might have been harmed; otherwise, he would have appeared by now.
Amidst the swirling rumors, ABC's special program received a videotape showing the five robbers firing at the Batman model and Batmobile.
That evening, the television special aired the footage, instantly spreading it across the United States. The special achieved the highest ratings of the day in its time slot, unmatched by any other program.
Viewers finally realized that the robbers had lost time because they had encountered "Batman."
This astonishing scene gave people a fleeting sense that the dimensional barrier had opened, and Batman had entered the real world.
Although the "Batman" and the Batmobile were shredded by gunfire, lacking any comic-book finesse, it didn't stop the notion that Batman had indirectly helped capture criminals in reality.
In an instant, the video reignited the public's hope and excitement for superheroes, especially Batman.
Such an occurrence was rare, a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Online discussions became even livelier. For fans of fantasy, nothing could be more thrilling than witnessing Batman appear in the real world to apprehend criminals.
"So Batman really came to the real world."
"And he even helped catch criminals? This Batman is impressive. I'm already excited."
"Even if it's directed by Gilbert, I wasn't planning to watch this film in theaters, but now I have to."
"It's really amazing. Listen closely to the video—those robbers are all shouting 'Batman.' They really thought he was real."
"I don't care about anything else; I just want to know if Gilbert is okay."
The next day, following the release of the footage, Cameron Diaz, the producer of Batman: Begins, gave an interview.
"I wasn't on set when the incident happened, but I have seen Gilbert. He's fine. Thank you all for your concern."
Everyone knew Diaz's relationship with Gilbert, so her words reassured fans. She then detailed the events to provide the public with a clearer understanding.
Gradually, other insiders from the crew also came forward, sharing related details with the media.
Thus, the Chicago Heist was transformed into a story where Batman assisted the police in capturing five dangerous robbers, drawing nationwide attention to Batman: Begins.
The film's lead actor, Christian Bale, who was present that day, confirmed that he had witnessed the entire event and that the robbers had indeed been frightened by Batman.
Later, criminal psychology experts analyzed the incident.
The robbers, under extreme stress, had suddenly encountered Batman—the crime-fighting figure from comics and movies—and instinctively believed he was real.
Regardless of the robbers' thoughts, this heist broke the seven-year dry spell for Batman, bringing the film back into the spotlight.
Now, everyone was eagerly waiting for Gilbert to make an appearance, curious to see his response to the incident.
...
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