The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 105

"Do you know them?" Tom asked.

Jonny Lee Miller shook his head. "That Matthew Horner just looks like a guy I've seen before."

He couldn't recall the driver's name from Red Penguin Services, but Matthew Horner was a dead ringer for him. Then again, how could a lowly driver possibly be an actor in a Ridley Scott film?

Glancing at Tom, who was still looking back and forth between Matthew and James, Miller pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "It's me. Call Lister at Red Penguin Services. I need a list of every driver who's ever been assigned to me."

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that Matthew looked exactly like one of the drivers who used to bring him prostitutes, a realization that sat very poorly with him.

...

After clearing security, Matthew and James entered Edwards Air Force Base and made their way to a transfer point, where a U.S. Army vehicle drove them to their designated quarters.

If there was one complaint to be had about their accommodations, it was that the private bathrooms were too small and lacked showers, forcing them to use the communal facilities in the dormitory to wash up.

Ultimately, it was a military base, so there was no room for complaints.

According to James, who was always well-informed, the Pentagon had a long-standing relationship with all six major Hollywood studios. It even maintained an office dedicated to Hollywood affairs, frequently providing sponsorships for major films, including manpower, various weapons, and access to military bases—but only if the film promoted an exclusively positive image of the U.S. military to the world.Matthew immediately thought of the "Transformers" movies he'd watched countless times, where the American soldiers practically stole the spotlight from Optimus Prime, and the Decepticons and Megatron were made to look like absolute chumps in comparison.

The crew of "Black Hawk Down" had also received sponsorship from the Pentagon, whose specialists were serving as consultants for both filming and training. They had also provided a wide array of weapons and equipment for the shoot, including Black Hawk helicopters.

The Pentagon had even dispatched a real five-man Delta Force team to train the actors and assist with complex scenes, such as rappelling from a helicopter.

The film crew would definitely be expected to put in a good word for the American military. The scripts Matthew had seen portrayed the U.S. soldiers as anything but villains, but it wasn't his place to dwell on such matters.

Frankly, he was still a minor actor trying to claw his way up from the bottom, and the truth of what was happening on the African continent was not something he cared to investigate.

...

The day after they arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, nearly a hundred actors began their training. It was markedly different from what Matthew had experienced on "Band of Brothers." This time, there were over ten military instructors in addition to the five members of Delta Force. The attitude toward the actors was different, and there was a distinct lack of the grueling physical conditioning.

The training lasted only ten days and was focused on the combat movements and tactical coordination of the U.S. military, as well as weapons handling.

Some might have considered it hard work—practicing firing stances in front of targets under the blazing sun was no simple task—but for Matthew and James, two men who had already been through paramilitary training, it felt more like a vacation.

With their previous experience as a foundation, the pair handled the training with relative ease.

By the third day, Matthew could already expertly disassemble the CAR-15 assault rifle that the Delta Force soldiers used in the film.

"It's a shame," Ben Foster remarked to Matthew as they rested in the shade at the end of a session. "We don't get any live-fire training. Too bad."

Matthew's fingers were itching to try as well, but he knew better than to joke about it on a military base. "If they've forbidden it, there must be a good reason."

"You can shoot all you want if you really want to," James chimed in, ejecting an empty magazine from his M16A2 rifle and tossing it aside. "There are plenty of gun clubs. You can go have some fun and then apply for a gun license."

"That's right!" Matthew instantly remembered that America was a country with both rampant gun-related crime and the legal right to bear arms. "James," he asked, "do you know how to apply for a gun license?"

James leaned back against the wall. "I'm British. I have no idea how U.S. laws work."

Just then, Ben jumped into the conversation. "Just find a legal gun shop when you get back to Los Angeles and ask them. Guns aren't even that expensive. I've heard a standard handgun is worth less than a cell phone."

"When I get back, I'll find a gun club and try out a few pistols first." Matthew had never fired a handgun before; it was every man's dream. "And then I'll apply for a license."

He declared with a dramatic flourish, "I'm going to buy a house full of guns!"

James scoffed. "What's the point of guns? You're better off buying some C-4, keeping it in the house, and then... Boom!"

The three of them bantered idly. Not far away, Jonny Lee Miller finished his cold drink, tilted the brim of his cap up, and let his gaze settle on Matthew.

He had already confirmed it: Matthew was the very same driver from Red Penguin Services who used to ferry prostitutes to him.

A hard look entered Miller's eyes as he stared at Matthew.

After calling his assistant, he had quickly pulled up the biography of a young actor named Matthew Horner—a resume he found rather difficult to process.

One item, in particular, stood out to him: the first film Matthew Horner had appeared in as an extra, and more specifically, who he had appeared with.

Miller remembered it clearly. "Girl, Interrupted" was filmed right in the middle of his divorce from Angelina, and his assistant had informed him that Matthew had landed the part on Jolie's recommendation.

Angelina, the Red Penguin driver, access to his estate to deliver his escorts...

The pieces clicked into place, leading him straight to the tape Angelina Jolie had used against him—the secretly filmed video that had cost him a fortune in their divorce settlement.

He had initially assumed Angelina herself had planted a hidden camera in the Malibu estate and had searched the property from top to bottom, finding nothing. But now, it seemed the truth was far simpler.

The driver who chauffeured models for his orgies had suddenly connected with Angelina Jolie, transforming from a nobody into a well-paid Hollywood actor, even landing a part in Ridley Scott's nearly hundred-million-dollar blockbuster.

What could Horner have possibly done for Angelina to recommend him for a part in "Girl, Interrupted"? The probability that Matthew Horner was directly responsible for that tape had to be over ninety percent!

Jonny Lee Miller glared at Matthew, his anger mounting with every second. How had a piece of trash like that managed to get cast in "Black Hawk Down" as a key supporting actor?

"The bastard!" Seeing Miller's venomous stare, Tom Hardy ambled over and stood beside him. "You know," he said, "I almost beat him to a pulp in a bar while we were shooting 'Band of Brothers'."

"What did he do?" Miller asked.

Tom didn't hesitate. "He got my scenes cut."

Miller tore his eyes away from Matthew and looked at Tom Hardy, whose face was a mask of open hostility whenever he looked at Matthew Horner.

As they shared the same agent, he knew Tom's type well enough: arrogant and conceited, thanks to a privileged background. He always thought of himself as some brilliant actor but was, in reality, just a prime example of youthful impulsiveness and a total lack of street smarts.

"Are you just going to let that slide?" Miller crossed his arms, starting his little game. "Pretend it never happened?"

Tom snorted. "Of course not!"

A glint appeared in Miller's eyes. He clapped Tom on the shoulder. "To be honest, Tom, I have a serious beef with him myself. If you need any help, just say the word."

Tom scratched his head. "Actually, I've had an idea for a while. We could try it out on Matthew."

And just like that, two men with their own scores to settle found common ground.

...

As the break came to an end, James clicked an empty magazine into his rifle and leaned toward Matthew. "Tom's been staring at you for the last five minutes. Miller, too."

Matthew swiftly reassembled the M1911A1 he'd been cleaning. "I know."

James asked, "Does Miller have a grudge against you?"

"I'm not sure," Matthew replied, giving the M1911A1 a final inspection. "But I did help Angelina Jolie out when she and Jonny Lee Miller were getting divorced."

Judging by how often Jonny Lee Miller was looking his way, he had probably put two and two together.

Matthew was fully aware that his resume listed his role in "Girl, Interrupted." Many on set knew he had a connection to Angelina Jolie. With his history as a driver for Red Penguin Services, he figured anyone who wasn't a complete moron could connect the dots.

The connection was too easy to make; it wouldn't stand up to any scrutiny. He decided that as long as he didn't have to confront Miller directly, it wouldn't be a problem. It wasn't as if they were scheduled to be in any scenes together for "Black Hawk Down".

He holstered the pistol, picked up his CAR-15 assault rifle, and gestured to James and Ben. "Let's go. Time to train."

As long as Tom and Miller didn't cross a line and start trouble, he would just pretend they didn't exist.