Today's filming wrapped up early. Usually, it would end around 8 p.m., but due to road closures, MGM could only get a permit from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. City Hall had to consider the interests of the residents, avoiding rush hour traffic jams to minimize disruptions.
So what seemed like a long day turned out to be quite short. With the time spent on setup and breaks, only about five hours were left for actual filming.
As soon as the shoot was over, the props team began packing up the equipment. The damaged vehicles were sent back to the factory for repairs so that they could be replaced with fresh, scrapped cars the next day. General Motors had provided plenty of vehicles for these scenes.
Meanwhile, locals from nearby shops and apartments started coming out onto the street to take photos with their favorite stars, even though there weren't any A-list celebrities among them.
Since the shoot was happening in Los Angeles, most of the crew went home after work. Those without homes in LA, like "the British gang," stayed in hotels.
Ryan Reynolds, accompanied by three Brits, approached Eric. Since spending a month together at the military camp with Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender, they had become close friends, bonded by shared experiences.
Tom and Michael were already good friends with James McAvoy, so Ryan got along with him as well. Chris Evans joined in, and the five of them formed a sort of band of brothers.
"Eric, are you free tonight? Want to grab a drink?" Ryan asked.
"Sure, where are we going?"
Eric, realizing he didn't have any particular plans for the evening, agreed.
"Let's pick a quiet bar. We have filming tomorrow, so it'd be bad if we got too drunk."
"Alright, I'll choose a spot and text you the address," Ryan said, leaving in high spirits.
...
A blues bar.
Unlike the lively Avalon club, this was a cozy, atmospheric bar where a young white guy with a guitar sang his own songs while a Black girl played the piano.
The five friends sat in a corner, drinking and chatting, discussing everything from the quality of their latest meal delivery to more inappropriate topics.
"Michael, why do you keep staring at the stage?" Chris asked.
Ryan also noticed Michael's gaze fixed in one direction. "I get that the singer's good, but you've been watching him all night. Are you bi?"
The moment Ryan said this, all the guys subtly scooted away from Michael, especially James McAvoy, who instinctively shielded his rear. With his looks, he'd often received attention from men since his school days and was always on guard.
Seeing his friends' reactions, Michael frowned. "Guys, look at me. Do I seem like I have that kind of preference? I'm not staring at the singer, but at that pianist. She's stunning!"
"Who?"
"The Black girl?"
Just then, Eric arrived, guided to their table by the waiter.
Everyone jumped up, making room for him in the center.
"Where's the rest? No Ben Foster?" Eric asked.
"He went to see his girlfriend. He's quite the committed guy," Ryan replied.
"Kirsten Dunst? I thought his girlfriend was Dunst?"
"No, they broke up while we were still in training camp. Not that he was too torn up about it. They had a lot of differences, and Ben has a strong sense of self-worth. It's better they split sooner rather than later—they argued a lot," Ryan added.
Everyone nodded in agreement. No matter the environment, even among regular folks, it's important for partners to be on equal footing. Otherwise, issues are inevitable.
Eric took a swig of his beer. "The sooner they broke up, the better. What were you guys chatting about? It seemed pretty lively."
Tom Hardy pointed toward the stage. "Michael's fallen for that pianist."
Eric glanced at the stage, saw the Black woman, and immediately lost interest.
Halle Berry was beautiful because she was of mixed race.
Considering the previous rumors about Michael, it was clear he had a thing for African women.
Eric patted him on the back. "Michael, if you like her, go for it. While you're not yet a big star, you have the freedom to do what you want. The singer and pianist don't seem to be together, so you've got a shot."
Michael quickly shook his head. "No, I'm just admiring her, that's all."
"Ha, I don't believe in 'just admiration.' Guys, let's raise our glasses to Michael!"
Everyone but Tom lifted their glasses.
"Wait, wait, Tom, why are you drinking juice? The bar has so many drinks, and none of them appeal to you?"
"No, I'm just giving up alcohol. A month in the camp helped me, and the doctor recommended I stay off it for at least three months," Tom explained.
Eric remembered that Tom was indeed battling alcohol and drug addiction at this time. He wasn't the kind of boss who forced his team to drink just because he could, so he left Hardy alone.
Encouraged by his friends' support, Michael Fassbender mustered up the courage and headed toward the pianist.
Meanwhile, the rest continued chatting. One thing led to another, and they ended up talking about movies again.
Eric turned to McAvoy. "James, how about working together again after 'Transformers'?"
The three friends looked at him with envy, while McAvoy was pleasantly surprised. "What movie? What role are you offering?"
"It's an art-house film, told from the perspective of the female lead. I want you to play her lover. It's a small role but requires real skill, and if you pull it off, it could be a standout. Interested?"
McAvoy nodded eagerly like a little chicken. "Of course, I'm in! I love those kinds of films."
"Great, it's a deal. I'll notify you before filming starts."
Having secured the role so unexpectedly, McAvoy offered to cover the bill.
Once everyone was sufficiently tipsy, they began to head out. Fassbender left with the pianist in his arms, while Ryan, Chris, and Tom each found themselves a date, and McAvoy was swept away by someone.
Opening the car door, Eric slid into the passenger seat of a Lamborghini.
"Where are we headed?"
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