The filming of L.A. fidential ti its usual rapid, urgent, and intense pace. Time was no longer a ; although movies required repetition and many small assembly processes, everything was moving smoothly. The director had envisiohe film from the first day of shooting.

  It was like a North Star that pelled people to sit and focus during work time. In L.A., by the sofa, Monica resent throughout the filming for the first time. She was a true delight, with a keen sense of fashion and a pent for wearing new dresses. This time, she wore a white dress with a blue leather jacket, looking stunning.

  She observed everything with passionate eyes.

  She watched Billy’s performah the necessary attention, noting every detail of his portrayal. Billy was an amazing actor, among the best in Hollywood. His partiality didn’t matter; he had that passion, which was so needed in his love life. Just watg him with such dedicatioed her immensely. She was sure he would be a wonderful lover, as sweet as the wine of Dionysus.

  -Adjust the lighting; the peeds to be dark... - shouted the crew, who seemed like busy ants in a stru site, everyone every little detail.

  Billy was being made up. His fa camera was angur and serious, but when the camera rolled, he shifted to an i look with a hint of rebellion, marked by the way he raised his eyebrows.

  ***

  Se 43, Take 6

  An old bck man in a tattered tuxedo pys the piano. Bud, sipping a drink at the bar, approaches a redhead with too much makeup and too many miles on her.

  REDHEAD: Are you having a drink, old man?

  BUD(while nodding)My name is Bud.

  REDHEAD: Nobody is born with the name Bud.

  BUD: If they give you a name like Wendell, you need an alias.

  REDHEAD: “What are you doing, Bud?

  BUD: I’m a bit between jobs. Look, what if we...?

  A hand nds on Bud’s shoulder. He turns to see Dudley Smith.

  DUDLEY: Kid, I talk to you?

  James well’s presend his clear way of doing things made him perfect for the role. Some actors remain among characters, reized but never reag superstardom. Personally, and in Billy’s view, James was his superstar.

  BUD: What’s up, Captain?

  DUDLEY: Say goodnight to your friend and joi those tables in the back.

  Pointing to a table hidden by a pilr and shaded by the distant light, Dudley’s eyes were cold and eager. Billy mimicked the questioning look, trying to gauge what was happening in the room. Dudley begins. Bud turns back to the redhead, but she’s already talking to a sailor.

  INTERIOR

  Dudley sits at a table. There is an open neer with a small pile beh it. Bud joins Dudley.

  BUD: Does that neer say we’ve been accused? Does it say Exley is a hero for ratting me and Stensnd out?

  DUDLEY: He made his move and got what he wahey’re making him a detective.

  BUD/BILLY: Captain, what do you want?

  DUDLEY: Call me Dudley.

  BUD: Dudley, what do you want?

  A faint expression of disdain, so subtle it only creates some disfort.

  DUDLEY: Kid, I admire your refusal to testify and your loyalty to your partner. I admire you as a cop, particurly your adhereo violence as a necessary part of the job. And I’m very impressed with your punishment of wife-beaters. Do you hate them, Wendell?

  BUD(looking away)Yes, I hate them.

  DUDLEY: And with good reason, judging by what I know of your background

  Bud looks back. Dudley is being too personal.

  BUD: What’s going to happen to Stensnd? He’ll get cirrhosis from this. He’s a year away from his pension.

  DUDLEY: It would have happened years ago if you hadn’t carried him. Why the loyalty, Wendell

  BUD: He helped me ohat’s all.

  DUDLEY: Your partner is fihe department’s scapegoat by the chief’s orders. Charges have been filed against him, he’ll be prosecuted, and he’ll get revenge.

  BUD: Him aoo. Screw Exley.

  DUDLEY: Don’t uimate his skills. As a politi, he even surpasses me. But the department needs smart men like Exley and... straightforward men like you.

  BUD: What do you want?

  DUDLEY: Wendell, I want you to e to work for me.

  BUD: To do what? Mow your damn wn?

  Smith tears off the neer, revealing Bud’s badge and .38 Special.

  Bud is stunned by what he sees.

  DUDLEY: They’re yours. Take them.

  BUD: I knew you had power, but... Is there no damn charge against me?

  DUDLEY: Four of the accused retracted their testimonies.

  BUD: How?

  Dudley dismisses the question with a wave of his hand.

  DUDLEY: I need you for a mission the chief has approved. A duty few me for, but you were born for it. You’ll be w in Homicide.

  BUD(excited)Homicide? A detective?

  Billy's smile was oried to hide, but his eyes sparkled in front of the camera, prompting James to match his expression with a smile of his own. They pyed off each other like a pair of poker pyers, elevating the performao a new level of natural and fwless iion.

  CHIEF: Your talent lies elsewhere, Wendell. This is a job for strength and shooting. You'll do what I say without asking questions. Do you follow?

  BUD

  (disappointed)

  In Teicolor.

  DUDLEY: Will you work for me?

  BUD: Of course... But how?

  DUDLEY: How what, Wendell?

  BUD: How did you get them to retract their statements?

  Dudley pces his bloodstained bronze knuckles oable.

  -Cut. –

  -Great take, ge the set. – the director shouted. The studio had small rooms and twelve sets, making it easy to simute various sarios.

  Billy wiped the sweat from his brow and walked over to where Monica was the entire process.

  -I think the schedule is more intehan I thought, - Billy remarked, cheg his watd noting it was 5:30 PM. Monica simply nodded, deeply captivated by the magic of filming. Such processes required long hours or multiple takes from different angles for the director and future editor.

  -I love being here. Many of the takes are so incredible and insightful that you start to uand how Ameris achieve such professional film editing. Many deny its artistry, but I fiy in it, - Moniented.

  In the 90s, Hollywned supreme over any filmmaker or rec. The potential and risk were simply magnifit, with signifit stakes involved.

  -Luis, how much time do we have until the ake? - Billy asked a young camera assistant.

  -15, 15, and 30, - the young assistant replied. This eant they would likely be waiting another hour due to some disteween the director and producers over minor issues. Billy took the script ahrough his lines as Monica lovingly caressed his hair, small gestures of affe he appreciated.

  Monica didn't hesitate to help him with his lines.

  ...