The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 767: The Plan

At Los Angeles International Airport, Ronan Farrow walked through the arrivals gate to a newsstand and bought a copy of The New York Times before getting into a taxi.

"Century City in Beverly Hills, please," he told the driver.

As he watched the driver pull away from the airport, his gaze fell upon the newspaper in his hand.

As a journalist based in New York, Ronan Farrow knew that today's issue of The New York Times contained a special supplement dedicated to a single person.

That person was the man he was on his way to see.

Although the golden age of print media was fading, Ronan Farrow could count on one hand the number of people who had been honored with a dedicated supplement in The New York Times over the past decade.

Figures like George W. Bush, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates came to mind.

But this time was different. This man didn't belong to the traditionally influential political and business classes; he was a Hollywood superstar.

Though even that wasn't entirely accurate. He was also involved in politics, actively supporting causes for the rights of women and children, donating frequently to impoverished areas, and establishing himself as a nationally recognized philanthropist and public figure.

Furthermore, he had also achieved success in business. He had recently founded his own film production company in Hollywood, and the movies he produced had been met with great success.The man's influence had long since transcended the entertainment industry.

Ronan Farrow was particularly impressed by him because he wasn't a perfect man.

Anything that presented itself as perfect was a lie.

He had obvious flaws, primarily his playboy reputation, but it wasn't so much terrible as it was enviable—he never hid his sincerity and treated women as equals in his interactions, a fact that stirred a certain jealousy in others.

He pulled out the newspaper supplement and glanced at the photo of a poised Matthew Horner, next to which a headline blazed in unusually bold print.

"The Unshakeable Matthew, a Man with No Weaknesses!"

Ronan Farrow shook his head and chuckled, then fell back into thought. Aside from being a playboy, it seemed Matthew Horner had no other flaws.

He began to read the description:

"Matthew Horner may not look like a massive bodybuilder, but he is pure muscle—a walking hormone. With his agility and outstanding acting talent, he has crafted one cool-guy persona after another on the big screen!"

The article went on to list the films Matthew Horner had starred in, but Ronan Farrow didn't bother reading the details. He was already well aware of the success Matthew had achieved in cinema.

Skimming past the story of Matthew Horner's rise from obscurity to fame, he jumped straight to the end of the article.

"Never before has there been an action star who could be so brilliant and ingenious. Matthew Horner has reached heights that neither Sylvester Stallone nor Arnold Schwarzenegger ever did, and can be called the only true superstar in Hollywood after Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts!"

Thinking it over, among the stars still active in the film industry today, who else besides Matthew Horner could be called a superstar?

Harrison Ford had gotten old, Tom Hanks had moved behind the scenes, Tom Cruise was just treading water, Leonardo DiCaprio lacked commercial appeal outside of 'Titanic' more than a decade ago, Will Smith was A-list at best, Brad Pitt was barely holding on to his A-list status, and Johnny Depp was only a superstar of the Caribbean...

Besides Matthew, Hollywood was truly barren of superstars.

But could Matthew Horner still be called just a superstar?

Ronan Farrow understood perfectly well that Matthew Horner was no longer merely a superstar.

Matthew Horner was an inspirational social phenomenon.

The taxi stopped in front of an office building in Century City. Ronan Farrow collected himself, tucked the newspaper into his backpack, paid the fare, and stepped out. He entered the building, deliberately checking his reflection in a mirror in the main lobby and adjusting his clothes.

He had called ahead to arrange a meeting with Matthew Horner for the afternoon.

After taking the elevator to the floor where the studio was located, he explained his purpose to the receptionist and was led to an office door.

Ronan Farrow let out a quiet sigh of relief. His reason for coming to Los Angeles was actually very simple—to thank Matthew Horner.

The office door opened. An employee went in and said something, then Ronan himself was ushered inside.

Matthew saw the young reporter enter and greeted him with a handshake. "We meet again, Ronan."

Ronan Farrow's hand trembled slightly. "Matthew, I'm very happy and thrilled to see you again."

"Make yourself comfortable." Matthew gestured to a sofa in the office and took a seat on another one nearby. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

Ronan Farrow sat down and quickly waved a hand. "No, thank you." His smile faded, replaced by an expression of utmost seriousness. "I came here specifically to thank you."

Matthew, of course, understood what Ronan Farrow was thanking him for. He smiled and shook his head slightly. "You're too kind. It was a small thing."

"No." Ronan's voice was firm. "To me, it was a very important and very big thing!"

Matthew looked a little surprised.

Ronan Farrow continued, "I am truly, very grateful to you."

"There's no need for formalities," Matthew said with a smile. "As you said, it was beneficial for me as well."

He had plans for Ronan Farrow, so he ventured, "You don't need to dwell on the past."

Ronan Farrow didn't hide his feelings, shaking his head slowly but firmly. "I hate those who coerce women and disguise themselves as good people!"

Matthew remained silent.

Ronan Farrow, exceptionally perceptive, clarified, "But you are nothing like Woody Allen."

He spread his hands. "There's nothing wrong with ordinary relationships with women. I dated several women in college myself, but we never forced them into anything."

Matthew nodded gently. "That's right."

Even Carolina had come to him of her own volition; he had never forced her to agree to anything.

While he admitted he wasn't exactly a good guy in that regard—more of a scoundrel, really—he always maintained a line and ensured things were mutually beneficial.

Ronan Farrow spoke slowly. "For so many years, I've worked hard to do something, only to find that my own power is limited."

He suddenly laughed at himself. "Matthew, do you know what Father's Day is like for me every year? Oh, or rather, my brother-in-law's day!"

Hearing this, Matthew thought about their tangled relationship and could understand Ronan Farrow's mixed feelings. The whole situation—Woody Allen being both Ronan's father and, by marrying his adoptive sister, his brother-in-law—was a mess that would make anyone uncomfortable.

Ronan Farrow sighed. "There are too many women like my sister, completely manipulated by men and unable to speak for themselves."

Matthew considered this for a moment and said, "Join us."

"Join you?" Ronan Farrow didn't quite understand.

"Advocate for the protection of women's rights." Matthew's light tone carried a serious weight. "Fight for more women to have the rights they deserve."

He emphasized, "If not for others, then at least for your sisters."

Ronan Farrow fell deep into thought. He ran his hands through his hair, combing them back slowly. After a long moment, he replied quietly, "Everyone says Woody Allen is innocent, that they love each other with all their hearts."

His voice suddenly rose. "He was with my mother when she found out he was taking naked photographs of my sister!"

Matthew made no comment on their family affairs. There were so many different opinions about Woody Allen that the question of right and wrong had never been settled.

Matthew sighed and said, "The media is easily manipulated, held hostage by the PR machines of the big shots in the entertainment industry, and they don't even try to get to the bottom of many things."

Was the media in this so-called free North American world truly so impartial? It was a joke. If things were really that fair, there wouldn't be so many media outlets singing his praises all the time.

The upper echelons of Hollywood all acknowledged that Matthew and Helen were masters of generating fame and hype.

Ronan Farrow's expression was grave. "Matthew, you are absolutely right."

"I've always advocated for women to have the same rights as men." Matthew's tone grew heavy. "In reality, Hollywood has never been, is not, and will never be short of people and incidents involving abuse."

"Why don't they speak out?" Ronan Farrow asked.

"The women who are abused simply lack the means to make accusations, because they are dealing with people who can decide their fate. And the few who dare to come forward often pay an enormous price, because they're up against a legal system and a sociocultural environment that can tear them to shreds."

Ronan Farrow knew that Matthew was speaking the truth, and his face grew more serious. "Because of that, I've always believed I had to do something... to change something."

Matthew, however, deliberately shook his head. "Ronan, you're not the only one who wants change, but do you know how great the obstacles are?" He asked again, "Have you thought about where to even begin?"

"I..."

When it came to a solution, Ronan Farrow realized that he had only thought about the problem but had done practically nothing. "I haven't thought about it specifically yet."

Ronan was a little disappointed in himself. "I've been too fixated on Woody Allen."