"That's how things went."
In a cafe near Universal Studios, Matthew recounted the entire sequence of events in detail, adding, "I acted a bit impulsively, but in that situation, it would be difficult for any normal person to control their emotions."
Helen Herman did not complain or blame Matthew; instead, she said, "According to you, the crew terminating your contract must have been Vin Diesel's request."
Matthew added, "Based on my observations and the news I've heard, Vin Diesel holds a lot of sway."
"I know." Helen Herman was quite calm. "When you rushed over, I called to check the situation. I don't know Vin Diesel's background, but he managed to secure a large investment for this project. Although he isn't listed as a producer, the producers still have to respect his reasonable suggestions."
"Terminating my contract is also a reasonable suggestion?" Matthew curled his lip.
The question was meaningless, and Helen Herman did not answer, saying, "The fact that your contract is about to be terminated is already established."
Matthew sighed, picked up his coffee cup, and took a sip, thinking of the actor contract he signed with the crew. "Then let's terminate it. Doesn't the contract I signed with the crew have a breach of contract clause? This counts as a breach, right? We must demand the penalty payment!"
Helen Herman glanced at her wristwatch. "Of course it's a breach! We must pursue the penalty payment! This is your legitimate right."
She stood up and signaled Matthew, "Time is almost up, let's go to the set."
Leaving the cafe, Matthew and Helen Herman entered the studio area of Universal Studios. In a small office building next to the sound stage, they were received by a producer whose face was somewhat unfamiliar.
"Hello, Miss Herman." The producer was quite polite. "Hello, Mr. Horner."
He introduced himself, "I am Doug Claybourne, the executive producer for the crew, specifically here to handle the contract termination matters between the crew and Mr. Horner."
Helen Herman glanced at Matthew and whispered, "You'd better wait for me outside."
Matthew nodded, left the office immediately, sat on a bench in the corridor, took out his phone, and waited.
He understood Helen Herman's meaning.
In negotiations destined to become contentious, it is best for the actor involved not to be present, but to let the representative handle it. This creates a layer between the two parties, and if anything goes wrong, certain matters can be blamed on the Agent, leaving room for reconciliation between the principals.
While Matthew waited outside, Helen Herman had already begun her heated debate inside.
"With all due respect, Mr. Claybourne," Helen Herman said, sitting on the sofa without any pretense of politeness, "the crew has no justifiable reason to terminate the contract with my client, Mr. Matthew Horner!"
Doug Claybourne knew this, of course, but he wouldn't admit it. Furthermore, seeing that Helen Herman was a young woman, he couldn't help but feel a little contemptuous.
Although the crew was mentally prepared to pay the penalty, if circumstances allowed, they naturally wanted to save this expense.
"Mr. Horner damaged the vehicle of another actor on the set, Vin Diesel..."
Before Doug Claybourne could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Helen Herman. "That falls under a dispute between two actors, shouldn't it be left for the actors to resolve themselves?"
Interrupted before finishing, Doug Claybourne was slightly displeased, and his tone became a little aggressive. "Matthew Horner subsequently retaliated against Mr. Vin Diesel during filming, causing him minor injuries, which constitutes a breach of contract, and the crew has the right to terminate the contract with you!"
"I want proof!" Helen Herman's expression was serious. "The time, location, specific incident, and witnesses... We were filming an action scene yesterday, and the director and Action Director even required improvisation. My client was also injured! Was this perhaps deliberate retaliation by Vin Diesel?"
Recalling what Matthew had said, she asked, "Surely you don't only have Vin Diesel's side of the story? You must have third-party witnesses!"
Doug Claybourne hadn't expected Helen Herman to be so difficult to deal with.
Helen Herman continued, "Mr. Matthew Horner is a member of the Actors Guild! I have already contacted the Actors Guild, and if necessary, I will apply to the Actors Guild for investigative arbitration. We are very patient and can wait for the Actors Guild's findings."
Doug Claybourne suddenly fell silent. It was not easy to find third-party witnesses willing to testify for Vin Diesel. Forget about the cast and crew who complained bitterly about him in private; even Claybourne himself didn't want to step forward for someone who was practically a troublemaker on set.
The crew's—especially Universal Pictures'—indulgence of him, and everything they were doing now, was purely for the sake of the large amount of capital he brought in.
Doug Claybourne knew that the crew could not afford to let the Actors Guild intervene in the investigation. Once the Actors Guild got involved, the crew would inevitably have to temporarily shut down, and even a few days of stoppage would result in wasted money and time.
Even if most of that money was investment secured by Vin Diesel.
"Miss Herman." Doug Claybourne knew he couldn't get rid of her without paying. "Can you tell me your conditions?"
Helen Herman's attitude was firm. "I have no conditions. We will proceed strictly according to the breach of contract clauses in the agreement."
Doug Claybourne frowned. He had checked the relevant contract this morning: the penalty payment was five times Matthew Horner's salary, amounting to thirty thousand dollars!
He thought for a moment and said, "The crew can compensate Mr. Matthew Horner with an additional salary payment."
"Six thousand dollars?" Helen Herman immediately shook her head. "That's impossible. If this is your attitude, there's no need for us to continue talking. Let's apply for Actors Guild investigative arbitration."
The negotiation inside continued. Matthew sat on the bench in the corridor, fiddling with Tetris on his phone. He trusted Helen Herman's ability to secure a suitable penalty payment for him.
Then again, he hadn't expected Vin Diesel to dislike him so much after filming wrapped yesterday, that he would rather force the crew to breach the contract just to instigate his removal from the set.
"Did those two punches hurt that much?" Matthew muttered to himself. "I only used half my strength. Isn't this guy supposed to be a tough guy?"
He turned his attention back to his phone.
Footsteps suddenly sounded from one side of the corridor, quick and hurried. Matthew turned to look and saw Paul Walker, wearing sneakers, striding rapidly toward him.
"Why are you here?" Matthew stood up and asked, "No filming?"
"The director is shooting scenes featuring women right now, so it doesn't involve me yet." Paul Walker strode closer and said, "I heard the crew was going to terminate your contract, and my assistant saw you come to this building, so I came over."
He asked, "Are they really terminating your contract?"
Matthew nodded. "It's true."
Paul Walker immediately cursed, "F@#k Vin Diesel!"
"It's fine." Matthew's mood was relatively calm. He lowered his voice and said, "I guess those two punches yesterday afternoon made Vin Diesel very uncomfortable."
After speaking, he deliberately winked.
"You..." Paul Walker shook his head and laughed. "Look at the situation, yet you're still so optimistic."
"I have reasons to be optimistic!" Matthew spread his hands, looked at the adjacent office, and smiled, "My Agent, Helen Herman, is inside negotiating the penalty payment. If there are no surprises, I can get the full contractual penalty payment: thirty thousand dollars!"
He genuinely seemed to be in a good mood, and he said to Paul Walker, "Look, I've actually achieved all the goals I had for joining this movie. I earned more money than expected, gained the audition and on-set acting experience I wanted, punched an asshole, and got to know you and Jordana..."
As he spoke, Matthew suddenly realized that apart from definitely not appearing in the final cut of fast & furious, he had already gained everything he wanted from this crew.
Seeing Matthew's optimism, Paul Walker reminded him, "Don't forget, you still have to swallow this insult."
"I don't need to swallow anything," Matthew shrugged. "I'm leaving this crew immediately. I won't have to deal with Vin Diesel's annoying behavior—the tardiness, the bullying, the last-minute script changes—anymore. I feel relaxed and happy."
He suddenly reached out, patted Paul Walker's arm, and said, "You guys are the ones who have to endure. Paul, if you don't need to, don't clash with Vin Diesel."
Compared to him, a mere passerby in fast & furious, Paul Walker would likely have to cooperate with Vin Diesel for many years.
The sound of high heels clicking echoed as Jordana Brewster entered the corridor. She waved to Matthew from a distance, and Matthew smiled and waved back.
"Vin Diesel and Neal H. Moritz are here too," Jordana Brewster said after greeting him. "They are right behind me."
Hearing this, Matthew pointed to the other end of the corridor. "Hurry and leave. There's no need for you to have another unpleasant encounter with Vin Diesel because of me. Go this way."
Paul Walker frowned and said, "Matthew..."
"Hurry up and go!" Matthew urged. "I'm fine, my Agent is here."
He waved his hand at the two of them. After all, they were different from him.
Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster glanced at Matthew, turned, and walked toward the other side of the corridor.
Less than twenty seconds after the two of them left the corridor, Matthew saw Vin Diesel's bald head. He and Neal H. Moritz were walking toward him.
From a distance, Vin Diesel's gaze locked onto Matthew. Matthew did not flinch, staring back at him with an equally sharp look.
However, Vin Diesel and Neal H. Moritz did not stop, walking straight into the office.
Neither Matthew nor Vin Diesel was foolish enough to start a conflict in this setting.
Half an hour later, Helen Herman walked out of the office. An agreement had been reached with the crew: the crew officially terminated Matthew's acting contract and simultaneously paid a penalty of thirty thousand dollars. Matthew would leave the crew citing physical discomfort as the reason.
The next day, both parties formally signed the termination agreement witnessed by lawyers and a representative from the Actors Guild.