Chapter 256: Prisoner

At the long bar of the Black Mamba Bar, Matthew picked up a cocktail, took a small sip, and found it sweet and sour. He knew, however, that this was just the surface; the carefully mixed cocktail packed a strong punch. With his fairly decent tolerance for alcohol, he figured that a few drinks would quickly have him down.

The sound of a glass hitting the bar counter came from beside him. Matthew turned to see Charlize Theron had just downed a similar cocktail and was telling Johnny Depp on the other side of the bar, "Depp, another one, please."

Matthew and Johnny Depp had left a party early to come drink at the Black Mamba and then ran into Charlize Theron, who was sitting at the bar drinking alone. They knew each other and joined together.

Without saying much more, Johnny Depp poured another cocktail for Charlize Theron.

She picked it up, threw her head back, and downed it, then pulled out a cigarette and lighter, lit one, and gestured with the cigarette and lighter towards Matthew.

Matthew shook his head, and Charlize Theron blew out a smoke ring, saying, "Almost forgot, you don't smoke."

They had drunk here a few times and knew a bit about each other.

Charlize Theron waved at Johnny Depp, "Depp, another one, please!"

"Isn't the free drink especially delicious?" Johnny Depp muttered as he poured another for Charlize Theron, "I'm too hospitable."

Matthew pointed at him, "Wouldn't you welcome Sally?"

Johnny Depp straightened up, "Of course, I welcome! It's you I don't welcome."

Though he said this, Matthew knew well that Johnny Depp was a generous and hospitable guy. Whenever they came to the bar to drink, it was always him treating.

A strong smell of smoke drifted over, and Matthew looked to see Charlize Theron clearly not in a good mood, barely speaking besides ordering drinks.

"What's the matter?" Matthew took the initiative to ask, "Something bothering you?"

Charlize Theron glanced at him, nodded, "Too many troubles."

Matthew looked her over, saying, "You've practically gotten your figure back, shouldn't be about that, right?"

The last time he saw Charlize Theron, she was preparing for a new film and had gained quite a bit of weight, but now she was almost back to how she looked when he first met her.

Charlize Theron shrugged, "Women's troubles, you wouldn't understand."

Seeing she didn't want to talk more, Matthew didn't press, after all, they were just drinking buddies.

At that moment, the bar door opened from the outside, and a handsome man came in, his gaze sweeping around the bar before landing on Charlize Theron and quickly making his way to the bar.

As the man got closer, Matthew heard footsteps, looked back, and noticed him staring intently at Charlize Theron, warning her, "Sally, seems someone is coming for you."

Charlize Theron turned her head to look towards the handsome man.

Suddenly, Matthew noticed that Charlize Theron, usually calm and even a bit cold, showed a hint of panic.

The man came over, grabbed Charlize Theron's arm without a word, and said darkly, "Didn't you understand what I said? Am I still your boyfriend?"

As he spoke, he pulled Charlize Theron towards the bar's door. She seemed guilty, whispering, "Sorry, I just came for a drink!"

"Don't we have drinks at home?" the man's voice suddenly rose, "You had to come to this place!"

Matthew stood up, looking over, judging from their conversation that the man must be her boyfriend.

Johnny Depp came around the bar, approaching them, "Stuart Townsend, what's wrong with this place? Can't Sally come to her friend's bar to drink?"

The man named Stuart Townsend ignored Johnny Depp, dragging Charlize Theron out. Johnny Depp looked somewhat helpless but still followed, and Matthew, after a moment's thought, followed too.

Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron left the bar first, with Matthew and Johnny Depp following.

"What's going on?" Matthew was confused.

Johnny Depp briefly explained, "This guy has some psychological issues, not very nice to Charlize Theron."

Outside, they saw Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron getting into a car. The car didn't immediately leave. From his angle at the bar's entrance, Matthew could vaguely see the two inside the car seeming to argue.

But to Matthew's surprise, Stuart Townsend suddenly slapped Charlize Theron!

From a distance, Matthew and Depp could only watch as the car eventually drove off.

Matthew frowned, "Why is this happening?"

Charlize Theron always seemed to him a strong, independent woman with a powerful presence, but it appeared that was all a facade she built up.

Johnny Depp shook his head, "Sally is now a prisoner trapped in a cage of love."

There wasn't much outsiders could say. Matthew and Depp watched the car disappear and returned to the bar, but their mood for drinking had vanished. After chatting for a while, they left the bar separately.

In the following days, Matthew returned to his regular life, focusing more on preparing for "Dawn of the Dead" and also checking on Charlize Theron's situation. He didn't see any news of her breaking up with her boyfriend, but instead, TMZ published some daily gossip news showing Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend vacationing together in Europe.

Seeing this news, he could only sigh, everyone has their own way of living.

Talking on the phone with Depp, Matthew discussed the situation. According to Depp, Stuart Townsend was again spending Charlize Theron's money, seducing her with sweet nothings.

Johnny Depp mentioned that he and Keanu Reeves had warned Charlize Theron more than once, but a woman trapped in love wouldn't listen. Besides, they were only friends with Charlize Theron and couldn't say too much.

After hearing Johnny Depp's description, Matthew had a very bad impression of Stuart Townsend, seeing him as a sort of freeloader.

But that was all he thought; after all, he was far from as close to Charlize Theron as Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves.

Matthew prepared for his role, and the "Dawn of the Dead" production team confirmed the lead actress, the most important female supporting role according to Matthew.

"The production chose Jessica Alba, the lead actress from James Cameron's 'Dark Angel,' for this role."

Hearing Helen Helman's words, Matthew remembered seeing Jessica Alba at the Staples Center, "Sean doesn't mind her skin color?"

"Jessica Alba is just Latina," Helen Helman had also noticed this, "You forgot, Sean only has prejudices against African Americans."

Matthew nodded, "I see."

Helen Helman waved her hand, "It doesn't matter who the lead actress is, she's just a figurehead, this movie is all about you."

"I know." Matthew had talked with Zack Snyder several times recently to prepare for filming and to get closer, "Zack seems to have unique insights into action scenes and cinematography, but most of them were rejected by Sean."

Helen Helman looked curiously at

 Matthew, "You and Zack Snyder seem to have no secrets?"

Matthew casually said, "We share many of the same views on movies."

Helen Helman scoffed, "You? What insights could you have?"

"Don't underestimate me, okay?" Matthew claimed to have unique insights, "We both think the film's visuals could use a rich, oil-painting-like palette, and action shots could be filmed in high-speed slow motion, showing every detail of the movements and every drop of blood to the audience."

Helen Helman gave Matthew a look, "Sean won't agree."

"Yeah, Sean is a relatively conservative producer." After spending a few years in the industry, Matthew understood that being conservative was never a pejorative in Hollywood; innovation was what production companies disliked, "So, Zack Snyder will only use a bit of it, the final say in how the film is made is in Sean's hands."

As a newcomer director from the advertising industry, not to mention a producer like Sean Daniel, even Matthew, the male lead, had a status and salary far above Zack Snyder's.

Once the investment amount was large, a newcomer director, even a genius, couldn't possibly hold much power in Hollywood's environment.

They were basically the on-site shooting commander.

Fortunately, though Zack Snyder didn't have final cut rights, he wasn't completely excluded from post-production and would participate in editing, though his power was minimal.

In the next two days, the "Dawn of the Dead" production team quickly finalized the rest of the cast, including Matthew and Alexandra Daddario, who had already passed the audition. Helen Helman's Angel Agency also brought a large number of ordinary actors into the production to play minor roles and important zombie roles.

By the end of the month, Matthew arrived at the production set and joined the team heading to Toronto for filming.

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