The set returned to normal operations, and all the crew members took their positions again, preparing for the upcoming shoot.
In the interrupted scene just now, surprisingly, Vin had stumbled, forgetting his lines and abruptly cutting the entire scene short. This forced them to start over from scratch. All the extras returned to their places, and filming resumed from the moment Hobbs made his entrance.
Paul bid farewell to Renly and returned to his acting position. An intense, burning gaze locked onto him. Raising his head, he saw Vin's face contorted with displeasure. Paul knew, given Vin's personality, he wouldn't easily give up. This confrontation was far from over.
Paul didn't offer any response, simply withdrawing his gaze and exchanging greetings with the other actors nearby.
"Paul," Justin hurried over, "after the confrontation forms, step forward to back up Dominic."
In an instant, Justin sensed the sharpness in Vin's eyes, almost as if they could slice through his skin. But Paul still stood up and faced Vin, asking, "Explain in detail."
Justin's scalp tingled, but he was still the director. Even if Vin was a big star, he held some power. Ultimately, the person likely to be affected was Renly, and Justin hoped Renly could withstand the pressure from Vin. "When Hobbs comes in to apprehend two people, facing Hobbs, Brian is naturally Dominic's most important partner. He can't show weakness. So, no matter how Dominic is doing, Brian must step forward and provide support."
In his speech, Justin's words were lofty. Though Vin remained somewhat dissatisfied, with Paul's voiced support, he reluctantly agreed. "I understand. And the positions? Are they the same? I'll stand to Dominic's right and slightly behind him. Is that okay?"
Thus, Vin cast his eyes downward again and remained silent. His biggest enemy now was Renly, not Paul or Justin. He needed to teach Renly a lesson and regain his position. Otherwise, he would lose face throughout the entire crew, and how could he stand in the future? Especially with two hundred extras present today! He needed focus, absolute focus. Once he dealt with Renly, all other matters would fall into place!
Justin explained his ideas in detail until he was sure Paul understood. Then he found Renly and explained his vision. Afterward, he communicated with the camera crew, lighting team, and various departments, and only then did the crew dive back into filming.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of the clapperboard, the entire crew operated like a well-tuned instrument, entering a high-speed rhythm.
Hobbs made his entrance, Dominic responded, Brian mocked, Hobbs asserted his dominance, Dominic stepped forward, Brian followed closely behind—a confrontation took shape! The entire shoot flowed seamlessly, transitions of atmosphere and pace occurred naturally, leaving one breathless.
"Your mistake is thinking you got a goddamn choice, boy."
A towering force surged like a monstrous wave, cleaving down. With Hobbs' words, the officers behind him raised their firearms, aiming at Dominic, Brian, and the group. The sound of guns being cocked reverberated in the quiet parking lot, filling the air with an extreme tension, a smell of nitrous fumes.
Dominic stared fixedly at Hobbs, saying nothing. The serene atmosphere slowly spread as Brian took half a step forward. The sound of his shoe soles scraping against the gravel spread delicately, somewhat restoring Dominic's focus. He slightly lifted his chin, making an effort to keep his gaze level with Hobbs's. A trace of a smile curved his lips, exuding confidence and composure.
"And your mistake?" Dominic said in a deep voice. He paused slightly, then continued with full sarcasm, "Thinking you're in America. You're a long way from home." A smirk played on Dominic's lips. His eyes flickered with pride as he continued, "This is…" He raised both hands, showcasing the people behind him. "Brazil!"
His vibrant, triumphant words, full of pride and arrogance, carried a fervor that wasn't concealed in the slightest. Instantly, the fifty or so onlookers around them drew their firearms, encircling Hobbs and his team. The tide had turned; the hunter thought he had trapped his prey, not realizing he had entered the prey's trap, becoming the hunted.
The swift shift in momentum left hearts racing.
Hobbs' brows slightly furrowed, a momentary gravity passing through his eyes. He recognized his error; his eagerness to apprehend the suspects had led him to rush without careful consideration. He had unknowingly walked into Dominic's trap, suddenly placing himself and his team at a disadvantage.
But his hesitation was fleeting. His gaze regained focus, unwaveringly meeting Dominic's. He showed no change in demeanor despite Dominic's surging presence. Clear as day was the deepening of his dark brown eyes. Resolute and fierce determination surged with unyielding force, charging toward Dominic like a blaze.
Vin couldn't help but pause. This time, he was fully prepared. He knew how Renly would perform and understood that in this scene, Dominic would undoubtedly dominate. Yet, at this moment, as he saw the resolve in those eyes, an inexplicable chill crept from the depths of his heart. It was as if the man before him might opt for a mutual destruction in the next second, utterly decimating the scene. The brilliance of that gaze made his soul shiver with icy coldness.
Terrifying!
That was Vin's sole thought. Alongside it, anger and dominance surged, continually elevating his aura. He didn't realize it himself, but his body slightly leaned forward. With an absolute physical dominance, he exerted pressure on the opponent, revealing his unyielding determination to meet force with force.
On set, a clash was imminent. It was a true test of strength. The pungent scent of gunpowder began to make people's mouths dry and their breaths almost impossible. In that moment, time and space seemed to freeze.
Standing behind them, Yorgo Constantine felt like he was suffocating. His heartbeat slowed down, yet each beat became stronger, as if he teetered on the edge of an imminent explosion. Yet, a shred of rationality remained; he knew his upcoming task.
In the film, he portrayed Hobbs' chief assistant, Chato. In this scene, his role was to step forward, break the deadlock, and persuade Hobbs to withdraw. This also meant that the next line belonged to him.
Yorgo cautiously took a step forward, each footfall feeling as heavy as a ton. His muscles felt like they couldn't exert any force. The oppressive weight seemed to be tearing at every inch of his flesh, leaving his back drenched in sweat.
Arriving next to Hobbs, Yorgo said in a low voice, "Forget it, boss. Another time."
Dominic's lips curved into a smile—a smile of impending victory. This made Hobbs lean slightly forward, his gaze narrowing as he looked at Dominic up and down, a murderous aura colliding between his teeth. The imminent sense of slaughter tautened the air.
Vin felt his heart constrict again.
Yorgo involuntarily swallowed, trying to ease the tension in his heart. Veins pulsed fiercely at his temples. He could hear his own voice, tight as a drum. "Let it go. Today's not the time."
Dominic continued to stare at Hobbs intently. Hobbs' eyes flickered slightly, and he seemed to relax his posture. The resolute and daring determination that had hinted at mutual destruction quietly dissipated. The taut air also seemed to loosen slightly. "Until we meet again, Torreto," Hobbs said.
He had won.
Vin's heart began to celebrate. In this battle of dominance, he had won! "Until we meet again!" The corners of his mouth curved into a faint smile, but he quickly restrained it, preventing himself from appearing too complacent. Yet, the emotions in his eyes betrayed his true feelings at the moment.
Hobbs' eyebrow twitched slightly, and a hint of disdain and scorn shimmered in the depths of his gaze. The corner of his mouth tugged lightly, a subtle change, but that mocking smile rippled like a spring breeze over a lake, creating ripples.
Initially, Hobbs had been losing ground in the dominance battle, feeling regretful and retreating. However, with this slight shift in expression, he regained the upper hand. His deep gaze seemed to say: You're just an impulsive punk, far less formidable than I imagined. This time, I let you take the lead, but next time, luck won't favor you.
This disdainful look once again stirred Dominic—or perhaps, Vin. He clenched his teeth, his complexion changing involuntarily. Despite holding the advantage, he was again overshadowed by the opponent. Teeth creaked and ground together; he felt the urge to bite the man in front of him into a bloody mess.
Hobbs took a step back, and the curve of his lips rose a bit more. Taking another step back, the curve rose again. The distance between them expanded to about a step's length. Then, Hobbs raised his right hand, using his palm to mime a pistol against his temple. The curve of his lips settled, his expression returning to its usual calm demeanor.
Suddenly, Hobbs pressed his thumb down, simulating the motion of pulling a trigger. With silent lips, he mouthed, "Bang." The deep eyes glinted with a daunting brilliance. Mockery and derision reached their pinnacle in this moment. His eerie aura, both righteous and sinister, toyed with Dominic, remaining unperturbed even amidst the surrounding circle of over two hundred people.
In this clash of titans, he effortlessly gained the upper hand, an overwhelming domination.