Lucid and hearty

Daniel spoke word by word, and a dazzling light burst from between his eyebrows. "If Kendrick told his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred, Colonel?" His words received no response from Colonel Jessep, so Daniel continued relentlessly, "Kendrick ordered the code red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Kendrick to do." Amid the objections of the prosecuting attorney, Daniel's momentum kept rising, undeterred, steadily accumulating his own strength. "And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose." Daniel's voice seemed low, but each word landed like a thousand-pound punch, breaking through Colonel Jessep's defenses. "Your orders took a life, yet you show no remorse. Not only did you have Markinson sign a phony transfer order, but you also doctored the log books." Daniel's entire presence fully unleashed, standing before Colonel Jessep with an overwhelming posture, like an immovable mountain, making the Colonel feel the omnipresent pressure.

Despite the constant interruptions from the judge and the prosecuting attorney, Daniel pushed through, hammering each word like a heavy blow. Finally, he struck the entire courtroom into silence. "I'll ask for the fourth time. Did you order..."

The judge deemed Daniel's behavior contemptuous of the court, and Colonel Jessep didn't have to answer the question. However, Daniel's impudence thoroughly enraged Colonel Jessep. "You want answers?"

"I think I'm entitled to them." Faced with Colonel Jessep's towering presence, Daniel showed no weakness and charged ahead like a ram.

"You want answers?!"

"I want the truth!"

Back and forth, hammer against hammer! Force against force! They clashed unrelentingly, leaving no room for compromise. Sparks flew, and their voices reverberated through the courtroom, almost causing everyone present to hold their breath, not because they didn't want to, but because they dared not do otherwise. The entire courtroom witnessed the needle-sharp confrontation between Daniel and Colonel Jessep!

"You can't handle the truth!" Colonel Jessep unleashed his firepower as well, glaring fiercely at the Daniel before him like a vulture fixated on a corpse. "Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?" Colonel Jessep's righteousness emanated forcefully from his chest. "I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom." Faced with Colonel Jessep's dominance, Daniel remained unaffected. He clenched his teeth tightly, his facial lines tense, and his brows furrowed. His unwavering eyes stared back at Colonel Jessep, undeterred even in the face of a raging storm. The piercing intensity in his eyes was felt by the latter himself.

"You weep for Santiago and you curse the marines," Colonel Jessep almost gritted his teeth, saying, "You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives"

Colonel Jessep pressed forward, attempting to oppress Daniel, but to his disappointment, the effect was not as expected. He continued to elevate his own momentum, fully embodying the indomitableness of a soldier. "You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me there." The pride in Colonel Jessep's smirk was dazzling. "We use words like honor, code, loyalty... we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline."

Daniel, facing Colonel Jessep in such a manner, not only showed no retreat but instead, the resolute light in his eyes grew stronger. His amber-clear eyes at that moment held no distractions, and he could even envision Colonel Jessep's ferocious appearance.

He stood upright, facing the storm unleashed by Colonel Jessep.

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it." Colonel Jessep leaned forward slightly, spittle flying as his voice reverberated through the courtroom, shaking everyone. And Daniel, bearing the full weight of Colonel Jessep's presence and pressure, was like a small boat in a storm, constantly on the verge of capsizing. "I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to." Colonel Jessep's deliberate words were like sharp knives, filled with immense malice and ruthlessness, mercilessly stabbing at Daniel.

But Daniel remained unfazed. On the contrary, he took a step forward, gritting his teeth and saying, "Did you order the code red?"

"I did the job you sent me to do..." Colonel Jessep's voice strained, but Daniel harshly interrupted him, taking another step forward and angrily shouting at the Colonel, each word hitting like a gale, "Did you order the execution of the code red?"

"You're goddamn right I did!" Colonel Jessep roared with all his might, like an enraged lion, at Daniel.

The scene fell silent, utterly quiet. No one spoke, and even the faint sound of the operating cameras could be heard.

It was a shock, a profound shock!

Watching Hugo and Jack confront each other head-on, sparks flying from their clash, it almost took away everyone's breath. They demonstrated through their actions what a true presence meant, what acting meant, and what a confrontation between adversaries meant!

Mature and experienced Jack, needless to say, portrayed Colonel Jessep's stubbornness, arrogance, dominance, cruelty, and paranoia to the fullest. However, it was the young and inexperienced Hugo that left everyone stunned. Watching Hugo weave trap after trap in his own language and gradually ensnare his opponents was a sight to behold. In Hugo's performance, the art of articulation was pushed to its limits, and his expressions, movements, and postures were reminiscent of the agreed ideal version of Daniel himself, portraying the role of a lawyer flawlessly.

Not to mention Hugo's performance in the face of Jack's raging act. Despite Jack's ferocious performance, Hugo never lost his own rhythm. Instead of being absorbed into Jack's rhythm, he engaged in a confrontation with him. Hugo's overwhelming aura was neither assertive nor sharp, but it stood firm in the wisest and clever manner, eventually forcing Jack into Hugo's pace and pushing the climax of the plot to new heights.

The intense clash between them in the final confrontation, lasting less than thirty seconds, allowed both actors to fully showcase their characters. At that moment, the actors ceased to be actors, and everyone was drawn into the story, marveling at this performance. Appreciation, that word couldn't be more fitting; enjoyment, that was the sole sentiment of everyone present.

In fact, not only the spectators but also the protagonists themselves felt the impact more intensely and genuinely.

Jack's performance against Hugo can only be described as stunning. If there was any reservation about Jack's appreciation of Hugo's talent before, after the scene was shot, Jack had to applaud Hugo once again.

With variations in speed, tension, delicacy, precision, and a profound understanding of the character, Hugo's portrayal of Daniel in this scene can definitely be considered a pinnacle. If Hugo could continue this kind of performance, he would not only be a talented actor, but also an outstanding one. It is evident how exceptional Hugo's talent is.

Jack believed that his friend, Al, had completely underestimated Hugo's abilities.

Likewise, Hugo gained tremendous benefits from his interaction with Jack in this scene. He fully utilized all the tools he currently possessed and achieved a breakthrough in his understanding of acting. "Getting into character" actually means grasping the essence of the character based on one's own understanding and presenting it in one's own way through expressions, movements, language, and other factors, in order to shape the character.

During his performance, Hugo deliberately enhanced his gaze, using a resolute expression in his eyebrows to confront Jack. The surging emotions within him were fully expressed through his language, ultimately presenting a performance that allowed Hugo to truly experience the charm of acting for the first time.

But apart from his own performance, Hugo's greatest gain came from his interaction with Jack. Jack's eyes seemed to speak during his performance, even without dialogue. With just a glance, he could read the complex emotions within himself. This kind of performance wasn't deliberate; it had a natural and effortless quality to it as if it was "meant to be". In Jack's eyes, Hugo could see his own reflection, but more importantly, he saw his own youthful self.

Suddenly, Hugo not only felt that he had broken through a bottleneck and truly entered a state of acting, but he also saw a door opening before him, leading to the world of exquisite acting, a world whose brilliance he yearned for.

Everyone present was left speechless, their jaws dropped, deeply shaken by the collaboration between Hugo and Jack. There were hardly any effective reactions from anyone. The most vivid thought in many people's minds at that moment was: Were they still worried about Hugo crumbling in front of Jack? That was simply a joke. Hugo slapped all the doubters in the face with his impeccable performance.

Recalling how not long ago, Hugo had already impressed everyone during script rehearsals, today, it wasn't just a matter of being impressed anymore. The lingering shock made many people feel a soreness in their jaws.

"Cut!" Even the director, Rob, was stunned for a while. He knew Hugo was outstanding; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen him for the role. However, Hugo's performance just now still startled Robert. Not only did he nail the entire scene in one take, but he also delivered an outstanding performance that elevated the brilliance of the entire scene by two levels. This was truly... a huge surprise.

After regaining his voice, Rob immediately stood up, wearing a familiar smile on his face, applauding Hugo and Jack for their brilliant performances. He repeatedly praised, "Brilliant! Brilliant!"