*Chapter 243: Irrevocable*

The next day at 6 a.m., Richard got up, had breakfast, and then went for a run in the hotel gym. By 8:40 a.m., he was downstairs, riding in the car driven by his chauffeur, heading to the film set to continue shooting the movie.

Bourne returned to his apartment in Paris and searched the room, but couldn’t find any clues related to his identity. Through a call from the hotel, he learned that one of his identities, Mike Kane, had died in a car accident two weeks ago. Considering that he was supposed to have died at sea two weeks ago, he found this situation highly suspicious.

At the same time, a CIA agent in Paris tracked him down, and the two engaged in a fierce battle.

This action scene was one of the three most important action sequences in the movie. Richard and the stunt team spent a week researching it, and after two days of rehearsals with his co-actor, they finally started filming.

“Scene 243, Take 12, Action!”

The clapperboard snapped, and the crew got into position.

Bang! The window shattered, glass flying everywhere.

The agent sprayed bullets while Bourne swept his leg, knocking the opponent off balance. He grabbed the opponent’s arm, twisted it hard, and disarmed him.

Both were CIA-trained agents, highly skilled in combat. When designing this scene, they incorporated four fighting styles: Krav Maga, boxing, Muay Thai, and kung fu. The two engaged in a brutal hand-to-hand combat in the room.

Richard excelled in these fighting styles, and his co-actor, Dennis, was a former professional fighter. The two clashed fiercely, with every punch landing solidly and every move drawing blood, creating an intense and thrilling scene.

This scene had many complex action sequences and needed to be shot in parts, making the process slow. The crew spent two and a half days filming this crucial action scene.

“Who are you? Answer me!”

Bourne grabbed the killer by the neck and slammed his head against the floor. The killer lay on the ground, blood continuously spilling from his mouth.

“Oh, my God!”

Marie, nearby, opened the killer’s backpack and found two files inside—one belonging to Bourne and the other to her, with her photo and identity information.

Marie’s face turned pale when she saw her photo.

“He has my photo.”

“I know. We’ll talk about it later!”

Bourne held down the killer and gestured to her to stay back.

Marie, holding the files, approached.

“I don’t understand where you got this from. Why are you investigating me?”

“Wait, stay there and don’t move!”

Bourne shouted.

“Where did you get my photo? Where did you get it?”

Marie demanded from the killer on the ground.

“Marie, don’t move!”

Bourne released the killer and pulled Marie away, but she struggled and screamed.

“I’ll handle this. You stay here, right there.”

Bourne ordered.

“Cut!”

“Make the dialogue more intense,” Director Lehmann called out.

“Okay!”

They went through the scene again, this time making the dialogue more urgent and tense.

Finally, the killer jumped to his death, and Bourne left the apartment with Marie.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

Another scene was completed. Richard reviewed the footage shot over the past two days. After preliminary editing, the fight scene looked amazing—clean, crisp, and brutally effective, with each move lethal. The scene was highly accomplished.

Franka’s performance was also excellent. She instantly portrayed the right level of tension, and the scene where her face turned pale from fear required no makeup or aids—she nailed it in one take. Richard admitted that she outdid him in that moment.

“Franka, your acting was really impressive,” Richard praised.

“Thanks, you were great too,” Franka replied with a smile.

“Richard, Franka, we’ll start filming the car chase scenes tomorrow. Prepare yourselves,” Director Lehmann said.

“Got it!”

Richard planned to do the car chase scenes himself. He had seen the director’s design and the terrain chosen by the crew. The difficulty wasn’t too high, unlike the complex stunts in Fast & Furious. He could handle it, which would speed up the filming process.

“Richard, want to hit the bar?” Franka asked after they finished for the day.

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have to train this afternoon,” Richard replied softly.

“Training after a full day of filming?”

Franka was surprised.

"Really? My training team is also here in Paris. I train in the mornings and evenings while filming during the day. But don't tell anyone, or the director might have an opinion about it," Richard said with a light smile.

"Aren't you exhausted? Why do you always seem so full of energy, even in the morning, and still bursting with vitality by the afternoon?" Franka asked, puzzled.

"I work out a lot, so my stamina is pretty good," Richard replied.

"I'm so jealous! Unlike me, I'm practically dead by the afternoon," Franka said as she ruffled her hair.

Richard chuckled, exchanged a few more words with her, then got into his car and headed to the gym to continue his boxing training.

By 8:30 p.m., after a massage, he took a tram back to the hotel.

"Richard?"

In the hotel lobby, he ran into Monica Bellucci, who had just returned from work. With her red wavy hair and wearing a sleeveless black evening dress that accentuated her curvy figure, she looked sensual and a bit provocative.

"Hi, Monica. Just finished for the day?" Richard greeted her, taking off his headphones.

"Yes, I've had a lot of night shoots recently, so I rest during the day and film at night. Is it the same for you?" Monica asked as they walked.

"No, most of my scenes are during the day. I usually finish around five or six in the evening, then head to the sports center for training. I just got back from there," Richard said with a smile.

"Do you train every day?" Monica looked at him, noticing that even in a sweatshirt, his muscular outline was prominent and well-defined.

"Yes, sometimes if I have a lot of scenes or night shoots, I'll postpone training to the next day," Richard explained.

"Do you have time for a drink then?" Monica asked as they entered the elevator, standing beside him. "I did say I’d treat you to one."

"I'll treat you when I have time, or when I’m back in the U.S. I have a lot more free time there."

"Sounds good!" Monica smiled, then asked, "Do you have time later?"

"Why?" Richard asked.

"There's a scene I need to rehearse. I was supposed to go over it with my assistant, but she's not here. Could you help me practice?" Monica explained.

"No problem!" Richard nodded.

The elevator continued up to the 21st floor, and they both entered the hotel room.

Richard poured two glasses of red wine and sat on the sofa by the window, looking at Monica's script, Irreversible.

The script was just five thin sheets of paper. It told the story of a woman who is raped in an underground passage, and her current and former boyfriends exact brutal revenge. The film’s message is that some things, once they happen, can never be undone.

The film had a dark, artistic style with many explicit scenes. Richard was a bit surprised, considering the lead actress in the film was Monica's husband, Vincent Cassel. How could he be okay with his wife filming such a role? He had to admit, though, that people who make art films are truly generous at heart.

"Monica, which scene are we rehearsing?" Richard asked.

"How about this one? It's the most important and also the most challenging scene," Monica pointed to the script.

It was the intense scene in the underground passage.

"I'm playing the attacker?" Richard raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Yes, want to give it a try?" Monica said with a leg crossed, smiling.

Richard smirked. "But these moves are pretty intimate. Wouldn't that be too forward?"

"It's fine, I don't mind. Do you?" Monica asked with a slight smile as she pulled down one of her straps.

"I don't mind either!" Richard replied, downing his glass of wine and taking off his jacket.

"Shall we begin?" Monica asked with a smile as she eyed his physique.

"How about a shower first?" Richard suggested as he scooped her up with a grin.

"I'm all yours," she replied.

Bang—the glass door shut.

Soon, muffled sounds came from inside.

——

*(End of Chapter)*