"How many years has it been since we last saw each other?"
The bar was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered around. Matthew sat with the imposingly muscular Dwayne Johnson.
Johnson glanced at Matthew and replied, "Two years, maybe three? I don't really rember."
Matthew smiled, then raised his glass to Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight. He waited for them all to take a sip before saying, "I've forgotten, too. All I rember is that we spoke at the audition for The Mummy Returns."
Johnson pursed his lips and nodded, a peculiar expression on his face. "You passed the audition, and I was cut."
Matthew grinned. "So we were rivals a few years back."
Johnson smiled back.
In reality, Matthew knew that Johnson had no idea what had transpired behind the scenes of that audition. He’d always assud he was eliminated because his acting skills hadn't t the requirents.
Over the past two years, Johnson had appeared in a few films, and thanks to his reputation in the world of professional wrestling, he had carved out a certain degree of popularity in Hollywood.
At the ti, Johnson hadn't taken the failed audition too seriously. He raised his glass to clink with Matthew's, offering a broad grin. "If I'd won that audition back then, maybe our positions would be reversed right now."
Matthew nodded. "It's entirely possible."
He didn't recall Johnson's early films from when he first broke into Hollywood, but he knew the big man would eventually climb to the very top. A film like San Andreas would one day prove he could carry a blockbuster and dominate the box office all on his own.
Matthew chatted for a bit with Justin Bartha, who, apart from Matthew himself, was currently the most successful actor at the Angel Agency—a promising C-list star on the rise.
After filming together for so long, Matthew felt that Justin was level-headed and didn't create drama over minor issues like the agency's unequal distribution of resources.
Matthew raised his glass again, tapping it against Jon Voight's. "To the success of the film!"
Voight, perhaps due to the age gap, was a man of few words and sat quietly among them, looking sowhat somber.
Trying to start a conversation, Matthew offered, "I've known Jolie for a long ti. She's an excellent actress."
Hearing the na of his troubleso daughter, Jon Voight's expression soured slightly. He shot Matthew a look, clearly recalling the rumors that had once circulated about him and Jolie.
"Don't get
wrong," Matthew said, noticing the change in Voight's face and quickly explaining, "I was able to get my start in Hollywood thanks to her kindness. It was Jolie who got
my first role."
Voight nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. After all, those rumors...
Next, Matthew turned to Diane Kruger, the German actress who had starred in Troy the previous year, playing Helen, the stunning beauty who ignited the Trojan War.
The film Troy was set to be released on the second weekend of the sumr season, just one week after Van Helsing.
Matthew had already seen the film and rembered that its lead actor was Brad Pitt.
He also recalled that, during his last phone call with Orlando Bloom, Orlando had ntioned playing a major princely role in the movie.
Thus, in the first two films kicking off the sumr season, Orlando Bloom would have the absolute lead in one and an extrely important supporting role in the other. The resources the British actor had secured would undoubtedly make many people green with envy.
It was just a sha...
Matthew shook his head slightly. So things were just strange. There were actors who starred in a small production that no one took seriously, only to have it explode at the box office and achieve staggering success. Then there were stars who had countless resources and all the best opportunities, yet the more they acted, the worse their careers beca.
...
They didn't stay at the bar for long. None of them were particularly close, and they all had to work the next day, so they soon returned to their rooms.
Filming continued in Washington, though the schedule was constantly being adjusted. Many of the shooting locations were popular tourist attractions, and if the crowds were too large, the crew would alter the day's plan based on the actual conditions.
A large, battered van was parked on a lawn. Matthew, Justin, and Diane erged, having finished their makeup, and walked onto the grass behind the van where the crew had finished setting up. The director, Jon Turteltaub, approached to walk them through the scene.
"Diane," he began, addressing her first. "You'll grab the Declaration of Independence from Matthew, realize he's not paying attention, then kick off your heels and run for it."
Diane glanced down at the lawn, which the staff had tidied up, making it soft underfoot. "No problem."
Next, Jon turned to Justin. "You're just sitting in the car, talking to Matthew."
Justin, fully aware that his character was rely the lead's sidekick, replied, "Got it."
Finally, Jon told Matthew, "When Diane gets so distance, pick up the shoes she left behind and throw them at her."
Matthew nodded and looked down at the high heels on Diane's feet. They had been custom-made by the props team, fashioned almost entirely from leather, so that he could safely throw them at the fleeing actress in this scene.
A few monts later, filming began.
"I'll tell you what," Matthew said, taking the rolled-up docunt and walking over to Diane, who was sitting on the ground. "If you want it that badly, I'll let you hold it."
He handed the bundle to Diane, then leaned in and asked solemnly, "Now, will you promise to be quiet?"
Diane nodded and clutched the Declaration of Independence, her eyes fixed on Matthew with a look of defiance.
Matthew took a few steps back toward the front of the car to discuss with Justin what to do with the docunt.
He looked a little odd with his stoic expression, but director Jon Turteltaub had once told him he played the part well.
After appearing in several films and consistently practicing for years, from 1999 to the present, Matthew's acting, while not outstanding, had beco more than satisfactory for less demanding comrcial entertainnt films.
This was especially true for roles that were sowhat similar to his own personality.
The latest script revision for this film had involved overhauling the setting and adding action sequences, as well as tailoring the male lead's persona to better match Matthew's temperant and appearance.
For instance, in this scene, the original script had the female lead trying to escape, only to be imdiately caught by the hero.
The script had been changed to showcase a certain "skill" of the actor and to add a corresponding touch of humor.
Matthew was still discussing sothing with Justin when Diane discreetly slipped off her uncomfortable heels and seized her chance to escape. While Matthew's back was turned, she stood up, glanced back, and then sprinted across the lawn.
"Hey! Hey!" Matthew shouted, noticing her escape. "That's not going to work! Stop!"
Diane had no intention of stopping and, in a flash, had run five or six ters away.
Matthew fell silent and was about to go after her when he spotted Diane's high heels. He picked one up and hurled it at her.
It was hard to say whether it was Matthew’s incredible luck or Diane’s terrible misfortune, but the flying heel struck her squarely in the back of the head.
"Ow!"
Diane cried out in pain and tumbled onto the grass.
"Cut!" yelled director Jon Turteltaub, halting the scene. "That's a wrap on this shot! The next two takes are canceled!"
Then he shouted, "Where's the dic?"
Ignoring the rest of the crew, Matthew saw Diane still lying on the ground and rushed over to her.
Originally, this take was supposed to end with him throwing the shoes at Diane, followed by two more shots of his throw and the shoe hitting her.
Who would have thought he’d accidentally hit her right in the head on the first try?
Although the heels had been specially "softened" and couldn't have seriously injured her, Matthew hurried over with an apologetic expression and asked, "Are you alright?"
Diane turned her head, rubbing the back of it. "Yeah, I just took a tumble. Luckily, the turf is soft."
As she spoke, she tried to get up. Matthew extended a hand, helped her to her feet, and asked, "Do you need to see the dic?"
Diane shook her head. "No."
She brushed the grass clippings from her clothes and said, with a hint of annoyance, "You didn't aim for the back of my head on purpose, did you?"
"Of course not," Matthew said, looking apologetic. "I just threw it..."
Deciding against further excuses, he said earnestly, "I'm really sorry."
Diane saw his sincere apology and concluded it must have been an accident. "It's alright," she replied.
Matthew offered an embarrassed smile. "I made you fall. How about this: when you have so free ti, I'll treat you to dinner as a formal apology."
Diane, who had been a model before entering the film industry, was imdiately on her guard. She politely declined with a forced smile. "There's no need. I'm not mad at you."
She gestured to the costu she was wearing. "I need to get out of my makeup and this outfit. Excuse ."
Seeing Diane walk away hastily, Matthew raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn't press the matter. He turned and headed for his own makeup trailer.
With that scene fild, all of his work in Washington was complete. He was set to return to Los Angeles tomorrow for the upcoming Academy Awards, where he would also be carrying out the publicity stunt that Helen Herman and Sean Daniel had concocted.
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