In the sprawling estate, lush trees provided shade, and a classical red villa stood before a manicured lawn. A Steadicam operator emerged from behind the trees, capturing close-up shots of the three leads.
Matthew and Diane Kruger walked out of the woods, hands clasped, laughing and chatting with Justin Bartha beside them.
"...They want us to attend the treasure's opening exhibition in Cairo next week," Justin Bartha said as they walked. "They'll send a private jet for us."
Diane Kruger, holding Matthew's hand tightly with one hand and a black leather notebook with the other, said, "That sounds interesting."
Justin Bartha nodded, "They'll send a big plane!"
He turned to Matthew, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone, "Ten percent, Ben! They offered you ten percent, but you refused!"
Matthew remained calm, smiling as he said, "Riley, we've already discussed this. Ten percent is too much for me; I can't accept it."
"God, we deserve it!" Justin Bartha reached out to Matthew. "A splinter of wood got stuck in there, causing my finger to fester for three months."
Matthew stopped, turning to face Justin Bartha. "Next time we discover a treasure that redefines human history, you can take the finder's fee."
"That sounds good, but what do you want?" Justin Bartha looked at Diane Kruger, then understood. "You got a good girl!"
Diane Kruger generously stated, "That's true."
"Really?" Matthew wrapped an arm around Diane Kruger's waist and kissed her.
After their kiss, Justin Bartha said, "I don't envy you two. I have it, speed..."
He mumbled as he got into the car, then started the sports car, which sped towards the estate's main gate.
"Cut!"
Director Jon Turteltaub called a halt to filming and, taking a megaphone from his assistant, loudly announced, "Filming for 'National Treasure' is officially wrapped!"
They had already filmed two takes.
With this take completed, the crew's filming work also came to an end.
A chaotic cheer erupted from the crew, though it was short-lived as they still had to pack up the set, as the estate was borrowed from a real estate agency.
As filming concluded, Matthew released Diane Kruger's waist. Both were in modern attire, with only a layer of foundation, so they weren't in a hurry to remove their makeup.
"This property looks pretty good," Matthew said, looking towards the villa. "I heard it's for sale."
Diane Kruger also looked in that direction. "Didn't you say you wanted to move a few days ago? If this looks good, you could consider buying it." She shrugged slightly. "As for me, I can only look."
Matthew was genuinely considering it. The estate was said to cover nearly 3 acres. He had no concept of acres, but before filming began, he had driven around it in a golf cart with Justin Bartha and estimated it to be at least 10,000 square meters. He figured ten million dollars wouldn't be enough to acquire it.
Diane Kruger glanced at Matthew and then added, "Didn't the media say your salary for this film reached ten million dollars? Mortgaging a house like this shouldn't be difficult."
"It's not that much," Matthew sighed. "My salary is very low."
"Your salary is low? Don't joke, Matthew," Diane Kruger shook her head. "Compared to yours, my salary makes me despair."
Although she had appeared in the super-production "Troy," the film hadn't been released yet, and she had no notable works in Hollywood. The crew had only paid her $200,000.
Matthew gently patted Diane Kruger's arm and said, "There's nothing we can do. This is the situation in Hollywood right now, and it's not something you or I can change."
"Hollywood's gender discrimination is too severe!" Diane Kruger seemed to have been holding it in for a long time. "No matter what kind of work male actors do, or what methods they use to get a role, as long as they succeed, people call them great artists! What about women?"
She said indignantly, "No matter how hard female actors work, even if they become superstars, in the eyes of the public, they're just a..."
The word starting with 'B' circled in her mouth several times before finally coming out: "Bitch!"
Perhaps realizing her words were a bit excessive, Diane Kruger softened her tone and said, "I've seen a statistic that only less than five percent of American films are directed by women, and these female directors usually make the female protagonists appear stronger. However, in films by male directors, female roles are mostly relegated to being eye candy or supporting characters, with almost all the credit going to the male characters."
Matthew merely smiled and said nothing more. In Hollywood, women face a severe glass ceiling; the highest level women can reach is much lower than that of men.
This is an objective situation, and it's even true for the entire United States.
It won't change because of one woman.
And if that woman is just a pretty face from Germany, then it's even less likely.
"Diane, you're getting a bit too emotional," Matthew said, seeing that the crew members were all busy. "How about I walk around with you? A stroll might help."
Looking into the distance, Diane Kruger nodded slightly and walked ahead across the lawn towards the villa. Matthew followed.
When Matthew caught up, Diane Kruger glanced at the smooth lawn beneath her feet and asked, "Was I rude just now?"
"A few complaints are completely normal," Matthew said, gesturing with his hands. "My agent didn't manage to get me ten million..."
At this point, he quickly corrected himself, "Sorry, I brought up something that makes you unhappy again."
Diane Kruger smiled, "It's okay."
Matthew dropped the subject and said, "Filming is all done, and work is over." He attempted an invitation, "Are you free tonight? I'd like to treat you to dinner?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of wariness crossed Diane Kruger's eyes. Matthew Horner had left a very good impression on her during their work on set; he had a great personality. But the recent media reports... she easily concluded that he was a playboy.
Being casual friends with someone like him, chatting and walking together, was pleasant, but anything more... Diane Kruger secretly shook her head and asked, "Why are you suddenly inviting me to dinner?"
"Did you forget?" Matthew pointed to the back of his head. "Last time in Washington, I hit you with a shoe, and I haven't apologized yet."
"There's no need to be so polite," Diane Kruger stopped and turned to Matthew. "Really, you don't have to."
She then specifically added, "My husband is here, and tonight I'm going to explore Los Angeles's nightlife with him."
Matthew understood the implication of her words. He said, "I apologize, I was too presumptuous."
Diane Kruger turned back and said, "It's getting late, I need to go back and remove my makeup."
She walked briskly towards the makeup trailer, and Matthew followed her there.
Clearly, Diane Kruger had seen through his intentions and firmly rejected him. Matthew felt a little frustrated, but he quickly recovered. He hadn't known Diane Kruger was married before.
As Matthew entered the makeup trailer, that bit of frustration vanished without a trace. He wasn't a dollar bill; he couldn't expect everyone he met to like him.
Besides, knowing Diane Kruger was married, his interest had waned.
After removing his makeup, Matthew greeted director Jon Turteltaub and then went to the parking area at the estate's entrance. He drove off first. Before he even left Beverly Hills, he received a call from Helen Herman and went straight to Angel Agency.
"I've already got the draft script for Akiva Goldsman's project."
In the office, Helen Herman pushed a bound photocopy directly in front of Matthew and said, "Since filming for 'National Treasure' finished today, we can officially move on to the next project."
Matthew picked up the script and complained playfully, "Come on, I just finished filming the last scene. I should at least get two days off, right?"
Helen Herman said calmly, "You can take the script home with you and rest as much as you like." She pointed to the script in Matthew's hand. "You read it first, and then we'll discuss the specifics."
"Okay," Matthew nodded and opened the script.
His reading level wasn't very good, so he read very slowly. This script was simple and clear, unlike when he read the script for "The Island" last time, where he was completely confused at the beginning.
This script was crystal clear, relying entirely on the dramatic conflict between the male and female leads to support the entire story structure. After reading a third of it, Matthew remembered a typical popcorn entertainment movie he had once seen and couldn't help but speed up his reading.
After finishing the script, Matthew quickly summarized the main plot in his mind, in the fastest and most concise way possible.
To sum it up in one sentence, the script described a spy couple who, after a series of unexpected events, suddenly realize they have both been targeted for assassination, and the assassins responsible are none other than each other. In the end, they team up to fight against their respective organizations.
Although the script had no names, and even the male and female leads were referred to by the codenames "A" and "B," Matthew was very certain that this was "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," the film that caused a huge scandal involving Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
At one point, the gossip surrounding Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie during "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" spread wildly to the other side of the Pacific.
But now that he thought about it, there might have been orchestrators behind that super gossip.