Billy was rehearsing some key scenes with Scarlett for the following week's shoot—crucial moments for the film. He was mounted on a contraption resembling a bright green bicycle, shifting and moving as he tried to master the physically draining stunts, each of them committed to playing their parts. It was a straightforward process—whenever Billy was about to fall, he'd smile and pull himself back up. The machine, more akin to a mechanical bull, tilted at 45-degree angles like a Nascar bike, and in trying to get multiple camera angles, Billy fought to stay grounded, focused on the increasingly exciting work ahead.
-You've got to bring more intensity, - said Michael Bay, watching the footage. The take had lasted fifteen minutes. They turned off the wind machine, trying to create the illusion of a high-speed motorcycle chase, with both leads trying to deny the intrusion of any mistakes.
-Tighten your jaw, then hit it with a smile. Just move your mouth, don't move your eyes—keep them serious. Make it a crazy smile, - Michael Bay instructed as he took a seat while the camera crew reset.
The script had been simplified into two main beats. This was a chase scene: a pair of clones on the run from mercenaries. The script only referenced their escape, but it needed more action—hence the motorcycle scenes. Based on Billy's suggestions, Lincoln's character had been reimagined as a famous rock star instead of an architect. He was constantly surrounded by women, spoke Italian fluently, and sang in perfect Italian.
Billy had been studying Italian lately for reasons even he couldn't entirely explain. He thought it would be a good time to dive into learning with the help of a private tutor. He had a knack for languages, so he went all in.
Scarlett had asked sharply, - Why learn Italian when you already speak French? I've heard you. -
That question only confirmed Billy's desire. In hindsight, he didn't need more time than most—he just needed discipline. With the education he was now receiving, he could learn Italian in a year. While rehearsing lines, he didn't think it would take more than two years to become fluent—he'd already spent that much time on Portuguese and a year on French, which he practiced with friends.
Even though mastering languages was tricky for those around him, Billy approached it with resolve. The struggles with grammar or blending languages didn't deter him. Despite his linguistic gifts, mistakes happened, especially when rules got jumbled. Precision was the hard part—speaking and listening were where he thrived. Words carried a kind of joy.
Back in the present, Billy focused on striking the right poses on the motorcycle. At the cue of an alarm, he was meant to fall, initiating a sequence where he and Scarlett would be yanked by wires—swinging violently back and forth.
When the moment came, Billy felt his entire back burn. Trying not to fall completely, he pulled himself up, wincing at the pain. But in the heat of the moment, he forgot his next move. Something inside went blank. He instinctively looked for Scarlett. She seemed to be in worse shape. The "Black Widow" persona wasn't helping her through these action scenes; she was, after all, someone from the world of artistic cinema. But she didn't break character.
Billy approached her, noticing the strain in her back. He was caught off guard. Though the fall had been tough, they kept going. Scarlett's experience guided her; for Billy, it was more about being used to playing rough. Sports had always driven him, and adrenaline from being on stage felt the same. Pain was never the issue—he craved it in a strange way. It made him feel alive.
The next stunt involved running toward a section marked with green blocks, simulating a wall or window. They were transitioning into another scene involving a short fall into cushioned foam letters. The fall was less than a meter, but everything had to be pressurized with green foam props that seemed to vanish under the camera. They positioned themselves for what appeared to be an accidental crash off the bike, their landing looking chaotic as they rolled in a spin. The oversized letters sat atop a platform, then came another fall, this time onto a red net, standard for these stunts.
Still on their feet, Billy and Scarlett ended up tangled in cables. He felt her elbow hit his face. He'd kicked her by accident, too. Their entangled limbs led to awkward bumps.
-You're squishing me, - Scarlett groaned—luckily, they weren't wearing mics.
-You dream of me holding you this tight, - Billy whispered.
Their fall hadn't been fast, but the impact still hurt. Still, Billy embraced it, finding a strange satisfaction in the sting in his back.
-We'll need to do it again, - said Michael Bay, spotting a camera angle error. The framing was off; they needed a smoother motion.
Billy nodded, dripping in sweat. The reality was sinking in—looking sexy and hitting the floor in under a second wasn't as easy as it sounded.
-We need another take because you can't get it right, Scarlett said.
Billy laughed. -Maybe I'm not as good as I thought. -
...