Stepping into the bar, Michael Fassbender called out to Matthew. He gestured toward a blonde woman and asked, "Is that her?"
The actress had been in full makeup on set, and in the bar's dim lighting, he couldn't be certain.
Matthew glanced in her direction. "That's her."
He found a table for four and they sat down. Jas McAvoy ordered a round of drinks and poured one for each of them.
Then Jas scanned the room. "Looks like Tom isn't here yet."
"Perfect opportunity for you, Michael," Matthew said with a grin. "Aren't you the self-proclaid master of seduction? Let's see what you've got."
Michael shot a confident glance toward the blonde woman. "Give
ten minutes, tops. She'll be mine."
With that, he stood up.
"Cheers," Jas said, raising his glass, his eyes following Michael as he walked away.
Matthew took a small sip from his glass, his gaze occasionally drifting to the blonde's table. They were too far apart, and the bar was too noisy for him to overhear their conversation. But he watched as Michael, after exchanging just a few words, slid into the seat opposite her.
Matthew couldn't help but shake his head at the sight.
He and Jas had barely finished their drinks when Michael returned, the blonde woman in tow.
"Isabella, I'd like you to et so friends," he announced, gesturing to Matthew and Jas. "These two are fellow actors from the cast. This is Matthew Horner, and this is Jas McAvoy."
Michael then introduced the blonde woman. "This is Isabella Seibert."
The three of them exchanged greetings, and Isabella took a seat at their table, accepting Michael's gracious invitation.
"I know him," she said, looking at Matthew, who gave a slight nod. "We fild a scene together this afternoon."
Isabella raised the glass of wine Jas had just poured for her.
As they finished their first glass of wine, the atmosphere grew warr. Michael, clearly a seasoned pro at this, had Isabella laughing so freely it seed inevitable that sothing would happen between them later that night.
Outside the bar, Tom Hardy climbed out of his car, his face a thunderous mask that clearly broadcast his foul mood.
He was late because he'd been on the phone with his agent. After speaking with the production team, his agent had delivered so infuriating news: aside from the scene they'd already shot, Tom had only one scene left to film—his character's death.
In other words, all his other scenes had been cut. The next ti he was needed on set, it would be to lie on a stretcher and play a pathetic corpse!
The thought was irritating—no, infuriating—but there was nothing Hardy could do about it.
At least there was a beautiful woman to pick up tonight. A perfect way to blow off so steam.
Entering the bar, Hardy scanned the room for his target. His eyes finally landed on a table occupied by three n and one woman.
The first person he recognized was Michael Fassbender—the bastard who had stolen the lead role from him in a college play. Not just once, but several tis.
Hardy didn't bother to hide his disgust. Then he saw the other two, his eyes narrowing on the guy he'd fild with that afternoon—the one who'd shaken his head at the end of the take, clearly mocking him.
Finally, his gaze fell upon Isabella. Seeing her laughing and leaning in close to Michael, a belligerent energy surged through him, and he strode forward.
Seated facing the entrance, Matthew was the first to spot Tom Hardy. He shot Michael a quick wink and rose to his feet. "Tom! Co on, join us for a drink!"
Isabella glanced over her shoulder, her expression blank as if she didn't recognize him, and then turned back to her conversation with Michael.
Tom Hardy's face twisted into a scowl as he stalked toward their table.
Sensing where this was headed, Jas calmly flagged down a waiter and had another chair brought to the table.
Matthew, Michael, and Jas all smiled up at Tom. Isabella simply watched him with an air of curiosity.
But to Tom, her curious gaze and the others' smiles were laced with mockery.
He reached the table but didn't sit down. His grim expression only deepened.
Tom shot a venomous glare at Isabella first. "Don't think for a second I don't know what you're up to!"
He slamd a hand on the table, the sound cracking through the bar's chatter. His voice rose to a sharp accusation. "You just wanted to laugh at , didn't you? Is that it? Have a good laugh because the production cut most of my scenes?"
Matthew and Jas exchanged a look.
"And you three idiots," Tom snarled, his expression turning feral.
He jabbed a finger first at Michael, then Matthew, then Jas. "You only ca to this dive bar to get your kicks! So go on, laugh it up!"
Caught off guard by his outburst, or maybe just montarily stunned, both Jas and Michael froze.
The sheer volu of Tom Hardy's voice caused heads to turn all around them, patrons looking over with surprise.
Tom slamd the table again and opened his mouth, ready to unleash another tirade.
"Ha." A short, sharp laugh from Matthew cut him off.
The laugh was punctuated by the deeply sarcastic look on Matthew's face.
"You!" Tom jabbed a finger at Matthew. "What are you laughing at?"
Noticing they had an audience, Matthew deliberately raised his voice. "What's the matter? Am I not allowed to laugh at an idiot? Besides, you told
to laugh."
He glanced around at the others. "Didn't he?"
His question seed to snap Jas and Michael out of their stupor. They both broke into matching grins, the sarcasm on their faces unmistakable.
A mont later, ripples of laughter spread out from the surrounding tables until it felt like the entire bar was roaring.
Never before had Tom been the butt of such a public joke. His handso face flushed a deep red as he raised his hand again, pointing at Matthew. "Why you—!"
His other hand clenched into a fist, and he took a threatening step forward.
Matthew's body went rigid, and he pushed himself up from the table.
Michael had been watching Tom closely. The mont he saw the fist clench, he raised his voice. "What do you think you're doing, Tom?"
Jas silently picked up an empty bottle, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips. "There are three of us, Tom."
Just then, a familiar voice bood from the doorway. "And !"
Big and burly, Michael Cudlitz stood in the entrance, a cheerful fire in his eyes as he took in the scene.
A few more voices chid in from behind him. "Jas, you need a hand?"
A group of guys, all actors from their training platoon, filed in behind Cudlitz, clearly having co for a drink themselves.
Tom needed only one glance at the newcors. He subconsciously lowered the hand he'd been pointing at Matthew, shot one last hateful glare at him, Michael, and Jas, and then turned and stord out of the bar without a backward glance.
"Is that it? No fight?" a few disappointed murmurs rose from the other patrons.
Tom paused at the door for a fraction of a second before finally disappearing into the night.
"Guess the guy has so sense left in him, even when he's throwing a tantrum." Jas set the bottle down and leaned back in his chair. "Still, I almost wish he'd stayed."
Michael raised his glass and drained it. "He's not that stupid."
Matthew, however, paid the retreating Tom no mind. He turned to Michael Cudlitz and the others. "Thanks, guys. Drinks are on
tonight!"
...
It was getting late, and with filming scheduled for the next day, the group soon dispersed. Michael managed to whisk the blonde away to a hotel, while the rest of them headed back to get so sleep.
After that night at the bar, Matthew only saw Tom Hardy one more ti on set. He was lying on a stretcher, playing a dead body, as the cara swept past.
Since he wasn't a main character in every episode, Matthew's filming schedule was sparse. After shooting his key scenes for the ninth episode, he was back to being background scenery—sotis an Arican soldier standing by the roadside, other tis a dead German soldier lying on the ground.
In March, shooting in the small town set of Foy concluded, and the production moved to an outdoor location to begin filming the seventh episode.
This episode contained Matthew's most important scene as Ronald Speirs, chronicling the character's transition from a lieutenant in D Company to the new commander of Easy Company.
Matthew was more than ready, especially since he had recently resud so of his military training.
On a sunny afternoon, the crew assembled hundreds of extras and actors for the scene. After finishing in makeup, Matthew noticed a few of the producers, including Gary Goetzman, gathered near the director's chair, deep in discussion.
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