Facing Jack's mature and seasoned control, Hugo, with a plan in mind, unhurriedly laid a huge trap. But when he finally uttered, "Can you explain that?", all the staff on set—almost without exception—turned their heads to look at Jack.In this brief exchange, Hugo not only wasn't led into Jack's rhythm, but on the contrary, he used his own unique rhythm to counter Jack. The two people's conversation didn't have much fluctuation, nor much argument, but this sparkless duel made the atmosphere on the shooting set completely tense.It could be said that Hugo had completely entered the state."The fact is there was no transfer order at all, and Santiago wasn't going anywhere, was he, Colonel?" Daniel didn't give Colonel Jessup time to answer directly; he keenly grasped the Colonel's moment of hesitation and followed up with a fatal blow.But this time, before Colonel Jessup could speak, the prosecutor Jack stood up directly, "Objection, Your Honor. Clearly, Lieutenant Kaffee intends to slander a senior naval officer, hoping to achieve his goal with such rude behavior. Your Honor, I request that Lieutenant Kaffee be disciplined, to express the court's sincerest apologies to the witness."The judge thought for a moment and actually said, "Request denied." Jack wanted to struggle, but the judge interrupted directly, "Your objection has been noted for the record." In other words, the judge hoped to hear Colonel Jessup's answer."Colonel?" Daniel also pushed step by step, believing this was the best moment for a breakthrough. However, Colonel Jessup was not flustered at all; on the contrary, he actually revealed a smile. Daniel was not afraid either, "Is this funny, Colonel?""No, it's not funny, it's pathetic." Colonel Jessup was not affected by Daniel at all, "I must say, I don't have a bloody clue. Maybe he's used to waking up early and likes to pack his bags in the morning; maybe he doesn't have any friends at all. I am an educated man, but I'm afraid I cannot answer a trivia question about William Santiago's travel habits." Colonel Jessup remained unhurried, never losing his rhythm and speech speed. Clearly, the situation was still under his control, "I only know that he had been scheduled to leave the base at six o'clock.""Now, did you call me here just to answer these questions?" This time it was Colonel Jessup's turn to counterattack, "Phone records and packing boxes? Please tell me what else you want to know, Lieutenant." Every word of Colonel Jessup was like a nail driven into Daniel's heart, causing his hitherto firm expression to loosen, as if he might collapse at any moment, "This trial will determine the fate of these two Marines. Please tell me their lawyer won't pin his hopes on phone lists. Do you have any other questions, Lawyer?"Although Colonel Jessup's words remained unhurried, the weight of his words controlled the situation, suppressing Daniel all along. Even facing the suddenly accelerated questioning from Daniel just now, he remained unmoved. On the contrary, with just one sentence, Colonel Jessup rendered all of Daniel's previous efforts void.Daniel hesitated. His amber eyes wavered; the firmness and confidence in his gaze seemed to be dissipating, and the determination between his brows slowly relaxed. Although he didn't speak or have any special expression, the confusion and hesitation in his eyes made everyone feel anxious.Was Daniel really going to be defeated like this? Was Hugo, in the face of Jack Nicholson's seasoned and steady acting, going to be utterly routed? Unconsciously, the feelings of all the staff on set were tied to Hugo. They were watching Daniel in the play, but at the same time, they were watching Hugo. Unconsciously, everyone's emotions changed along with Hugo's situation.What did this mean? It meant that Hugo's performance was so successful that everyone was drawn into the play, and in the confrontation with Jack, he carried this scene with an aura and stance that was not inferior at all.But Hugo's feelings at this moment were even deeper. He only felt a heaviness on his shoulders—not the pressure of acting, but the weight of the lives of the two Marines. Colonel Jessup's calmness, in Hugo's view, was a disregard for life. Perhaps Colonel Jessup thought his decision was to protect the country, but in Hugo's view, these were all excuses. This was just Colonel Jessup using the name of the country to cover up the fact that he had caused the death of Santiago, a living person!Hugo was angry at this moment, so Daniel was also angry. Unconsciously, Hugo had completely merged himself with the character. He didn't even need to deliberately think; he could easily use his inner emotions to present the effect the character needed.So, just when everyone thought Daniel was about to give up, Colonel Jessup even stood up to leave in contempt of court, but Daniel spoke up to keep the Colonel there, "Sorry, I haven't let you go yet." Facing Colonel Jessup's arrogant aura, Daniel slowly settled his voice. The panic between his brows re-condensed, and his amber eyes emitted light little by little. Even though his right hand, which was drinking water, was still trembling slightly, revealing his true inner emotions, he still outlined a smile again, and his entire aura rose up once more."Colonel, was the earliest flight leaving the base at six in the morning?" Daniel began the cross-examination again, proceeding according to his own plan, "Was there no flight that left seven hours earlier and landed at Andrews at two in the morning?"But the judge was clearly dissatisfied with Daniel's repeated questioning and was the first to raise objections. Daniel, however, finally calmed down. He picked up two flight logs, "Your Honor, these are the flight logs for Guantanamo and Andrews. Guantanamo has no record of a flight leaving at 23:00, and Andrews has no record of a landing at 2:00." Daniel handed the two logs to the prosecutor and the judge respectively, "The defense hopes to get confirmation from both bases.""What do you mean?" The judge said, "Do you want to confirm a flight that never existed?""We believe it existed, Your Honor." Daniel said confidently, "The defense requests to call Air Force personnel O'Malley and Rodriguez to testify. They were the ground crew at Andrews at two o'clock on the 7th." The prosecutor naturally was unwilling and raised an objection, but the assistant among the defense lawyers stood up and submitted the application on the spot according to legal provisions.When both sides were clashing in front of the judge, Daniel stood in front of Colonel Jessup, looking at the Colonel calmly, steadily, confidently, yet sharply. This made the Colonel lose his rhythm for the first time, "This is too ridiculous. For God's sake, check the flight logs!" His tone was full of anxiety and irritability, and his pitch couldn't help but rise, becoming somewhat sharp."Now there is Air Force personnel who can confirm, sir." Daniel was unmoved, which made Colonel Jessup somewhat distracted, "Just now you said you ordered Kendrick to tell his subordinates not to touch Santiago, but was he clear about your order? Is it possible he ignored this order? Is it possible he forgot? Is it possible that after leaving the office, he said, 'The old man is wrong'? When Captain Kendrick told his subordinates not to touch Santiago, is it possible they took it as wind in their ears?"Daniel's series of questions made Colonel Jessup feel it was extremely absurd, which also angered him, "Have you ever served in the infantry, son? Have you ever been to the front line? Have you ever entrusted your life to someone else? Or has someone entrusted their life to you?" He countered Daniel with a series of rhetorical questions, "We follow orders, son. We must follow orders, otherwise people will die! It's that simple. Do you understand?" Colonel Jessup was clearly very dissatisfied with Daniel's questioning just now, and said through gritted teeth.Facing Colonel Jessup's angry counterattack, Daniel was unmoved. Instead, he raised his voice slightly and deliberately slowed his speech, making his words full of weight, "Before I cross-examine O'Malley and Rodriguez, there is one more question. Since you gave the order not to touch Santiago, and your orders are always obeyed," speaking here, Daniel paused, and said with every word carrying the weight of a thousand pounds, "Then, why was Santiago in danger?" Daniel didn't deliberately raise his volume; he still used his normal volume, but after slowing down the speed, the weight of every word became heavy, making people unable to breathe. That invisible momentum gradually took shape between his upright brows, "Why did he have to be transferred from the base?"Colonel Jessup was silent. After a second of blank space, he said, "Santiago was a substandard Marine, he was transferred..." But his words were interrupted directly by Daniel, who said with a sudden acceleration, "But that's not what you said just now. You said he was transferred because his life was in danger. I can read the court record to you.""I know what I said! I don't need you to remind me!" Colonel Jessup also gave up on explaining and started to rebut, following Daniel's questioning.Daniel interrupted Colonel Jessup's words again, asking with a calm voice like a tiger descending the mountain, "Why were there two orders? Colonel."Under Daniel's step-by-step pressure, Colonel Jessup lost his composure, "Sometimes subordinates take matters into their own hands.""You said it very clearly, your subordinates do not take matters into their own hands!" Daniel walked forward directly, using rapid words to apply frontal pressure. Those amber eyes made people shudder, "They have to obey orders, otherwise people will die! So, was Santiago in danger or not?""You rude bastard!" Colonel Jessup finally lost control. The prosecutor wanted to adjourn the court, but was refused by the judge.At this moment, Hugo entered a special state. He was Daniel, and Daniel was him. But deep in his mind, the part belonging to Hugo was still Hugo, but it merged into Daniel's body in a special way. Hugo did not lose control and shout; his voice, tone, volume, and rhythm were all firmly controlled in Hugo's hands. He used the most concise yet most powerful way to vent all the persistence in his heart, thereby forming huge self-confidence. That powerful aura rivaled Jack Nicholson in front of him, not only not falling behind but also faintly bringing this scene to a higher level. That dazzling light made the entire set silent.Hugo felt it. This was acting!
