Small test

After returning to script practice, Hugo's performance clearly underwent a qualitative change, and he got into a state. However, they were only doing simple exercises, so Hugo's performance could only be considered average, not amazing, but at least it made the script practice smoother, which was already a significant improvement.

The atmosphere in the conference room finally calmed down, although no one actively talked to Hugo, at least no one looked at him strangely anymore. However, everyone still didn't want to interact with Hugo too much, as if he were some contagious virus. Hugo wanted to talk to Jack, considering that Jack introduced him to the crew, but unfortunately, Jack had no such plans. After the morning script practice ended, Jack left with Rob.

Finally, during lunchtime, Hugo was like an abandoned child, sitting alone in a corner to eat. Kevin came over to sit with him for a while, but Hugo only chatted briefly with him before using the excuse of needing to read the script to catch up and let Kevin return to the group.

Hugo knew that everyone was not openly ridiculing him now just because they didn't want to affect the progress of the script practice, but they still didn't accept him. Until Hugo proved himself with his ability or until Jack changed his attitude towards Hugo, this situation was unlikely to change fundamentally.

Therefore, even if Kevin accompanied Hugo, he could not change anything, but would only make Kevin's position more awkward. That's why Hugo took the initiative to give Kevin a way out and let him return to the group. However, what Hugo said about reading the script was also true. After quickly finishing his lunch, he began reading the script again. He was too far behind in progress now, and if he didn't make up for lost time, his situation on the set would only become more difficult.

There was a full ninety-minute lunch break, and the others gathered in groups of two or three to smoke or drink coffee, while Hugo sat alone in a corner and continued to read the script.

Seeing Hugo burying himself in the script, Joseph walked over and handed him a bottle of water. Hugo didn't look up, just raised his left hand, which was free, but he felt around for the mineral water bottle for a long time without touching it, just grasping at air. Joseph grabbed Hugo's left hand helplessly, then put the mineral water into Hugo's palm. Hugo finally grabbed the water bottle and put it on his knee, but he didn't drink it for a long time. His right hand kept writing and drawing on the script, and he occasionally muttered a few words.

Joseph could only sigh lightly, squat down, unscrewed the cap of the water bottle, and then grabbed Hugo's wrist to lift his hand, saying, "Drinking water won't waste too much of your time."

Hugo reacted and quickly tilted his head back to gulp down two big mouthfuls of water. A smile immediately appeared on his face, indicating that he was thirsty. After drinking the water, Hugo lowered his head to look at the script again. Joseph could only helplessly twist the cap back on the mineral water bottle and stand up, taking a few steps back to lean against the wall with his arms crossed, silently accompanying Hugo.

When Jack and Rob returned, they saw this scene. Unexpectedly, Hugo didn't go to socialize with the other actors but was instead reading the script alone. This was something Jack had not anticipated.

Rob looked at Jack's ambiguous expression and chuckled, "Jack, do you remember? You recommended him to me, and I am quite satisfied with him now. How about you?"

Jack's expression remained unchanged, but he pursed his lips. "At least those two old men didn't cheat me." Putting aside everything else, Hugo's attitude towards others was quite appropriate, which improved Jack's impression of him slightly. "But whether he's suitable or not still depends on his performance. If he doesn't perform well, those two old men can wait." The two old men referred to here were naturally Bo and Al.

Looking at Jack's stern expression, Rob chuckled and didn't say anything. He walked towards the conference room and stood at the door, shouting towards Hugo, "Hugo, the script rehearsal for this afternoon is about to start. Come in."

Unfortunately, Hugo, who was immersed in the world of the script, didn't hear him at all. Joseph raised his head and saw Jack, who was about to enter the conference room, and quickly patted Hugo's shoulder. "It's starting."

Hugo finally reacted and quickly stood up, holding the script and walking towards the conference room. Before Hugo could sit down, Rob said, "Let's start with Daniel and Kendrick's court interrogation this afternoon." The entire conference room suddenly fell silent.

Hugo's movements hesitated slightly, but he quickly resumed them. He took a deep breath and sat back down in his chair. He could clearly feel the gazes of Demi, Jack, Kevin, and others, which were both inquisitive and sarcastic, as well as gloating.

The court confrontation between Daniel and Kendrick was an important moment for Daniel to demonstrate his abilities. Kendrick, as a loyal subordinate of Colonel Jessep, was following the orders of the Red Code, which came directly from Colonel Jessep. So overcoming Kendrick had extraordinary significance. In other words, this scene was very, very difficult.

Hugo didn't look at Joseph's worried look, Jack's inquisitive look, or Demi's disdainful look. He just opened the script of the play and looked up at Kiefer Sutherland, who was sitting diagonally across from him. In this scene, Hugo was about to have a scene with Kiefer.

After getting eye contact with Kiefer, Hugo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, made some adjustments, and entered Daniel's state. "Lieutenant, these are the last three fitness reports you signed for Lance Corporal Dawson and PFC Downey. Downey received three straight marks of Exceptional. Here, Dawson received two marks of Exceptional, but on this most recent report, dated June 9th of this year, he received a rating of Below Average. It's this last report that I'd like to discuss for a moment." Hugo spoke very smoothly, steadily, and calmly.

"That's fine." Kiefer said.

"Lance Corporal Dawson's ranking after Infantry Training School was perfect. Records indicate that over half that class has since been promoted to full corporal, while Dawson has remained a lance corporal. Was Dawson's promotion held up because of this last fitness report?" Hugo was controlling his tone all the time, calmly stating the facts, just slightly emphasizing the adjectives such as "excellent", as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

"I'm sure it was." Kiefer continued to answer.

"Do you recall why Dawson was given such a poor grade on this report?" Hugo slightly increased the pace of his speech, following Kiefer's words.

"I'm sure I don't." Kiefer's response speed also increased unintentionally. "I have many men in my charge, Lieutenant, I write many fitness reports."

"Do you recall an incident involving a PFC Curtis Barnes who'd been found stealing liquor from the Officer's Club?" Hugo's tone suddenly changed, and he slowed down his speech. It was clear that Kiefer's answer also slowed down a bit. "Yes."

"Did you report private Barnes to the proper authorities?" Hugo asked gently.

Kiefer's voice involuntarily became louder. "I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant, the Marine Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I'm aware of are my Commanding Officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep and the Lord our God."

Hugo didn't reply immediately, but paused and quietly increased the volume a little. "Lt. Kendrick, at your request, I can have the record reflect your lack of acknowledgment of this court as a proper authority."

"Objection. Argumentative." Kevin who played the prosecutor Jack interrupted Hugo. The actor playing the judge also followed up, "Sustained. Watch yourself, counselor."

"Did you report Private Barnes to your superiors?" Hugo's pace and tone returned to normal.

"I remember thinking very highly of Private Barnes, and not wanting to see his record tarnished by a formal charge." Kiefer answered calmly.

Hugo leaned closer to the conference table, leaning slightly forward, and then deliberately slowed down his pace, which slightly deepened the weight of his words, "You preferred it to be handled within the unit."

"I most certainly did." Kiefer fell for it.

Hugo couldn't help but smile, "Lieutenant, do you know what a Code Red is?" The answer was naturally yes. "Have you ever ordered a code red?" The answer was naturally no. "Lieutenant, did you order Dawson and two other men to make sure that Private Barnes receive no food or drink except water for a period of seven days?"

Hugo began to speed up the connection between the questions and answers, slightly increasing the pace, but not exaggerating, which made Kiefer's answers also start to speed up. "That's a distortion of the truth. Private Barnes was placed on barracks restriction. He was given water and vitamin supplements, and I assure you that at no time was his health in danger."

"I'm sure it was lovely for Private Barnes," Hugo inexplicably slowed down his pace again, and then suddenly sped up, "But you did order the barracks restriction, didn't you? And you did order the denial of food." Hugo's irregular changes in speed firmly grasped the rhythm, and Kiefer passively followed Hugo's speed. The impatience on Kiefer's face revealed his inner annoyance, as well as a reflection of the character Kendrick's inner thoughts.

"Yes." Kiefer took a deep breath and spoke.

"Wouldn't this form of discipline be considered a code red?" Hugo actually slowed down again, but the connection between the question and answer made Kiefer somewhat breathless, so he fell silent and finally only managed to say "Not necessarily." Hugo seized this moment of silence and quickly followed Kiefer's answer with a long string of words, "If I called the other 8000 men at Guantanamo Bay to testify, would they consider it a code red?"

You could feel it. Hugo was controlling his speaking speed, tone, and volume in a subtle way, using this subtle technique to manage his speaking style and power arrangement. Before people even realized it, he had already mastered the rhythm.

On the surface, it seemed like Hugo was just reciting lines, but it was not just "reciting" lines, it was more like "performing" lines. Although it appeared plain and unremarkable, it still impressed both Jack and Rob.

In just one morning, Hugo could comprehend and execute such a skill, which was not something an ordinary person could possess, given his talent and hard work.