"Groups, prepare!"
"November 11th, Scene 5, Take 1, action!"
In the morning, the crew started filming, and today's main focus was the bed scene between the female lead, Emily, and the supporting actor, David Shaw.
The film, titled *The Perfect Murder*, is adapted from Alfred Hitchcock's *Dial M for Murder*.
The story follows wealthy Stephen (played by McDougal) who, facing a business crisis, discovers that his young and beautiful wife, Emily (played by Gwyneth), is cheating on him with a poor artist, David Shaw (played by Richard).
Jealous and angry, Stephen plans to kill his wife to inherit her fortune and secure himself through the financial crisis.
Upon investigation, he discovers that David Shaw is a schemer who recently swindled a widow and is now wanted by the police.
With this information, Stephen blackmails David into killing Emily, promising him $500,000 upon successful completion. David agrees.
Today's bed scene marks the beginning of everything.
Before shooting, Richard and Gwyneth prepared thoroughly.
Richard wore shorts and went shirtless, while Gwyneth maintained her elegant image with sensitive areas covered, revealing only her smooth shoulders and back.
They lay in bed, partially covered by a blanket.
When the director shouted "start," they began to be intimate under the blanket.
"Cut!"
"Next action, David, lift Gwyneth's hand."
"Continue!"
The scene was divided into over fifty shots.
After each action, the director immediately called "cut," made adjustments, then proceeded with the next action. Each shot was separated by less than twenty seconds.
Before filming the bed scene, Richard had countless fantasies about it.
But after filming, he just felt it was incredibly frustrating.
During the shoot, they lay in bed while over thirty people stood and squatted around them, like they were at a party.
After filming for ten seconds, the director would call a pause. Sometimes it was to redo the shot, sometimes to adjust the action, sometimes for makeup touch-ups, and for various other reasons.
It felt like being given a bowl of rice, taking one bite, and then having the bowl taken away, only to be brought back again. It was an endless cycle with no hint of romance.
"Cut!"
"Richard, be more into it, pay attention to your movements, and remember to coordinate with Gwyneth."
Director Davis shouted.
"Got it!"
Richard waved his hand.
"What's wrong?"
Gwyneth asked as she nestled into his arms.
"It's nothing, just a bit confused. My first shoot was a fight scene with my shirt off with Daniel on stage, and now my second shoot is with you in bed. Am I particularly suited for nude scenes?"
"Hmm~"
Gwyneth smiled and snuggled closer, giving him a light punch on the chest.
"That's the feeling!"
Director Davis nodded to himself and waved to the script supervisor.
"Groups, prepare!"
"Scene 5, Take 18, Action!"
——
After a whole day of rolling around in bed, the crew finally wrapped up around six in the evening.
Richard lay on the sofa stretching; filming bed scenes all day was more tiring than a boxing match.
"Feeling tired?"
Gwyneth, wearing a nightgown, walked into the makeup room.
"A bit. Aren't you off work yet?"
Richard got up to greet her.
"No rush. I came to talk to you."
Gwyneth walked in and said.
"About what?"
Richard invited her to sit.
"What do you think?"
Gwyneth wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
Bang~
Suddenly, the door burst open. "Richard, I found your clothes… uh, sorry, I didn't see anything. Continue." Anthony threw the clothes down, covered his eyes, and ran out.
Richard shrugged. Gwyneth kissed him again. "Let's continue."
"Let's not."
Richard pressed her shoulders.
"Don't you want to?" Gwyneth smiled slightly, "During the shoot, you were very responsive. Now that I'm in your arms, what are you waiting for?"
"Here?" Richard pointed at the makeup room.
"Why not go to the RV?"
Gwyneth suggested.
"Still, no. I'm too tired."
Gwyneth stopped and stared into his eyes. "If I'm not mistaken, you're rejecting me?"
Richard gently touched her cheek and said seriously, "Gwyneth, even though I'd like to have something happen between us, you know I have a girlfriend. If we got involved, I wouldn't know how to handle our three-way relationship."
Gwyneth looked at him in surprise. "Haven't you ever had a one-night stand with someone else?"
"No, I'm rather conservative in this regard."
"Ha, it's hard to imagine you're like this."
Gwyneth stared at him, then suddenly smiled. "Richard, what do you think of me?"
"You're great—beautiful, sexy, intelligent, elegant, and a big star."
"How about being my girlfriend?"
"Are you joking?"
"No, I'm serious. I like you. I want you to be my boyfriend."
Gwyneth said.
"Gwyneth, thank you for your admiration, but I have a girlfriend, and our relationship is stable. I have no intention of breaking up."
Richard replied politely.
"You're rejecting me? Because of a small-time model?!"
Gwyneth looked at him incredulously. "Do you know the benefits of being my boyfriend? As soon as you become my boyfriend, you'll gain media attention and exposure comparable to second-tier stars.
Don't you want to be an actor? You'll get more roles coming your way.
Don't you need money? You'll get many endorsement deals and make a lot of money. What can that small-time model give you?"
Richard shook his head. "She can't give me anything, but I've never wanted anything from her.
I seek a girlfriend to warm each other, not for personal gain.
I don't want to and don't need to approach relationships that way.
I've always understood that relying on others is unreliable. The only person you can truly rely on is yourself.
So, from a young age, I've fought for what I wanted based on my own abilities, not by waiting for others to provide. Gwyneth, your proposal is tempting, but it's not my choice."
"Not relying on others? Hypocrite!"
Gwyneth sneered coldly. "In the crew, because I'm the lead, you deliberately approached me to secure your position. Haven't you relied on others? I heard your role was also secured through producer Copson. Haven't you relied on others?"
"I just wanted to collaborate better with you."
"Hmph!"
Gwyneth snorted. "Richard, do you know, after hearing your story before, I've been curious about what kind of person you are?
Are you the ruthless, perverted, cunning, vengeful killer, or the kind, brave, gentle, and sunny young man?
In the past few days, while we painted, trained, went to the docks, attended concerts, and had meals together, I felt your warmth, kindness, and gentle nature.
I thought you were the latter.
But now I realize I was wrong. You must be the former. You're scheming, despicable, cold-hearted.
You relied on our relationship to establish yourself in the crew, and now that the collaboration is over and I'm no longer useful to you, you coldly pushed me away.
Haha, I've finally seen your true colors, Mr. Killer!"
Gwyneth sneered and turned to leave.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Richard shook his head. Women, indeed, are emotional creatures. When they love you, they're clingy, and when they hate you, they're ruthless.
Can't afford to provoke them!
"Richard, why is it over so soon?"
Anthony grinned as he walked in, "I saw Gwyneth's sour face. Did you mess up and upset her?"
"Don't talk nonsense. We were rehearsing."
Richard said while dressing.
"Hehe~ I understand, I understand. Umm, I know a few good male doctors."
Dingling~
Richard's phone rang.
"Shh~"
He gestured and answered the call from Bond.
"Darling, what's up?"
"Richard, I just sneezed twice. Were you thinking of me?"
Bond's cheerful voice came through the phone.
"Ha ha, of course, it must be me."
"Then don't think of me, okay? I've been sneezing all day."
"Really? You must be catching a cold. Have you taken any medicine?"
"No, I don't want to."
"Why? You can't avoid medicine when you have a cold."
"Just don't want to."
"Hurry up and take the medicine!"
"Not going to."
"If you don't, I'll give you a beating!"
"You dare!"
"Just wait and see if I dare!"
——
(End of Chapter)