A vast property was dotted with trees, and a classic-style cottage stood before a neatly manicured lawn.
The caraman erged from behind the trees to capture a close-up of the three main characters.
Matthew and Diane linked fingers as they walked alongside Justin.
"They want us to go to the opening of the Treasures exhibit in Cairo next week," Justin said enthusiastically as they walked. "They're sending a private jet for us."
Diane squeezed Matthew's hand and then said, "That sounds interesting."
Justin nodded. "You bet it is!"
He turned to look at Matthew, more than a little disgruntled. "Ten percent, Ben! They were going to give you ten percent, and you turned it down!"
Matthew remained calm and replied with a smile, "We've already discussed this. Ten percent is too much for ."
"Good grief! We earned it," Justin retorted indignantly.
Matthew paused before saying, "The next ti we find a treasure that could rewrite human history, you can have it all."
"That would be nice, but what did you get out of all this adventure?" Justin suddenly looked at Diane, and it dawned on him. "You found yourself a girlfriend."
Diane replied graciously, "That's true."
"Is it?" Matthew wrapped his arms around Diane's waist and kissed her.
"Cut!"
Director Jon Turteltaub shouted to stop filming, then took the gaphone from his assistant and announced, "That's a wrap on National Treasure!"
A chorus of joyous shouts erupted, though they didn't last long, as the crew had to start clearing the set. The estate, after all, was just a rental from a real estate agent.
As soon as the scene was over, Matthew removed his hands from Diane's waist.
"The villa looks magnificent," Matthew said, gazing toward the house. "I heard it's for sale."
Diane glanced over as well. "Didn't you say you were thinking of moving? It looks nice enough. You should consider buying it."
Matthew was genuinely considering it. The estate was said to be about three acres, but he had no concept of acres. He had driven around the periter with Justin before filming began and visually estimated it to be at least 10,000 square ters, so he figured it would cost a minimum of ten million dollars.
Diane shot a look at Matthew and added, "Buying a house like this shouldn't be a problem for you."
"Hardly," Matthew sighed. "I wouldn't say my salary is that high."
"Don't exaggerate, Matthew." Diane shook her head. "I'd be crushed if I compared my salary to yours."
Although she had starred in the excellent production of Troy, the film hadn't been released yet. Lacking any notable credits of her own, the studio had paid her only $200,000 for this movie.
Matthew said, "That's Hollywood for you. There's nothing you or I can do to change it."
"Hollywood is so sexist!" Diane, who seed to have been holding her tongue for a long ti, finally let loose. "Male actors, no matter what work they do or what ans they use to get a role, if it works, people call them great artists! But what about won?"
She said indignantly, "No matter how hard an actress tries, even if she becos a superstar, in the public's eyes she's nothing more than a..."
The word, starting with an 'S', spun on her tongue before she finally sighed.
Realizing she had gone too far, Diane softened her tone. "I read that less than five percent of Arican films are directed by won, and those female directors usually make their protagonists strong. In male-directed films, however, the female characters are often nothing more than window dressing. It's all so awful. Why can't we have equal rights and pay for won and n? We're not in the Middle Ages anymore."
Matthew just laughed and said nothing. In Hollywood, there was a serious glass ceiling for won, and the maximum height they could reach was far lower than that of n.
It was an objective reality, true for the entire United States, and it wouldn't change just because one woman was outraged—at least, not yet.
Surveying the crew as they went about their business, Matthew suggested, "Why don't we take a walk around?"
Gazing into the distance, Diane gave a slight nod and took the initiative, striding across the lawn toward the villa with Matthew following behind.
When Matthew caught up, Diane looked down at the smooth grass beneath her feet and asked, "Was I rude just now?"
"It's normal to complain about so things," Matthew replied with a wave of his hand. "My agent didn't get
ten million for the role. I'm not happy about it either."
With that, he changed his tune. "Sorry, I just brought up sothing that upset you again."
Diane smiled. "It's all right."
Matthew changed the subject. "Filming's over, the job is done, so... are you free tonight? I'd like to treat you to dinner."
Hearing this, a hint of caution flickered in Diane's eyes. Matthew was soone who had made a good impression on her during their work on set and had a pleasant personality, but the press reports from a while ago...
She had easily co to the conclusion that he was a playboy.
It was nice to just be friends with a man like that, to talk, but anything more...
Diane shook her head and asked, "Why the sudden dinner invitation?"
"Did you forget?" Matthew pointed to the back of his head. "That ti in Washington, when you clocked
with your heel... I feel like I still owe you an apology for forcing your hand."
"There's no need." Diane turned to Matthew. "Really, you don't have to."
Then she said, "My husband is arriving soon, and I'm planning to spend the evening with him, exploring Los Angeles at night."
How could Matthew not understand the aning of that statent? "Sorry, that was presumptuous of ."
Diane turned back. "It's all right. I'm going to get my makeup off."
She took a step toward her trailer.
It was obvious that Diane had seen his intentions and was firm in her refusal. Matthew was a little disappointed but quickly recovered. He hadn't known she was married.
Matthew went into his makeup trailer, and that small bit of disappointnt vanished without a trace. He wasn't a dollar bill, after all; not everyone was going to like him.
Besides, knowing that Diane was married put his mind at ease.
After removing his makeup, Matthew walked to the parking lot in front of the estate and drove off. But he hadn't even left Beverly Hills before Helen called, and he imdiately headed for the Angel Agency.
"I have a copy of the script for the Goldsman project."
In her office, Helen placed a bound copy in front of Matthew. "Since filming for National Treasure wrapped today, we can officially move on to the next job."
Matthew picked up the script and said in a deliberately pitiful tone, "Co on, I just finished shooting the last scene. I need a couple of days off."
Helen just said, "Read the script, and then you can rest as much as you want."
She gestured to the script in Matthew's hands. "We'll talk when you're done."
Matthew nodded and began to flip through the script.
He read slowly. The script was concise and clear, unlike the last ti he'd read the screenplay for The Island, where he'd gotten confused right from the start and couldn't figure out what was happening.
This script was straightforward, relying entirely on the dramatic conflict between the hero and heroine to hold the story together. A third of the way through, Matthew recalled a classic popcorn flick he had once seen and couldn't help but speed up his reading.
After finishing the script, Matthew quickly and concisely summarized the main plot in his mind.
In a nutshell, the script was about a pair of assassins who worked for different clients and were simultaneously assigned to eliminate each other.
Although the script had no nas, and even the male and female leads were designated by the codenas "A" and "B," Matthew was sure this was Mr. & Mrs. Smith—the very film that would cause the massive scandal between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
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