Billy remembered many scenes—starting with those where he was just a boy stepping through a stargate into another room, or the period dramas where he played a foolish lover, and then shifting into the dark hallways of a detective haunted by rage, and even to the role of a patient lost in his mind.
The new roles were always so direct; he could feel the sweat sliding beneath his skin, giving him a fresh sense of time, particularly when shooting The Matrix, playing a man constantly hunted.
INT. OFFICE – META CORTECHS.
The main partitions line each wall, with windows facing the center. Rhineheart, the epitome of a corporate man, lectures Neo without ever looking up, typing nonstop at his computer.
Rhineheart: You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You think you’re special—that for some reason, the rules don’t apply to you.
His long, bony fingers click the keyboard again.
Rhineheart: This is one of the world’s leading software companies because every employee understands that they are part of a whole. So, if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem.
He turns to face him.
Rhineheart: The time has come for you to make a choice, Mr. Anderson. Either you decide to be at your desk on time starting today, or you decide to find another job. Am I making myself clear?
Neo: Yes, Mr. Rhineheart. Clear.
–Cut, – said Larry Wachowski on set, just as the extras moved into position—not too far, not too close. It was an open floor divided into sections representing a typical office space.
–Nothing like good chocolate, – whispered one extra as he nibbled a small square of it.
Billy took a deep breath and closed his eyes to avoid the discomfort of the white lights, mentally noting the detailed features of the set—details that only a meticulous hand could create. Even the printed sheets were arranged to reflect a real office lifestyle. It suited the corporate tone perfectly.
–You’ll be over there, and some of you will be seated in the cubicles. I want a half-eaten box of donuts on a desk. And someone needs to be at the printer—roll up your sleeves to the elbow and print this. – Came from the direction of the office entrance.
–You’ll enter and walk along the marked path. We’ll dampen the carpet slightly, just enough to trace the route. That’s the only way it’ll work, – the Wachowski siblings commented as they surveyed the process, murmuring to each other, as always, while the assistants listened carefully and carried out each task precisely.
–Next scene, – someone whispered to Billy. Ana, a green-eyed, tanned brunette, was the photography advisor in charge of setting up preliminary shots and lighting. Her proactive nature helped shake Billy out of his daze and guide him to his mark, giving him a subtle nod of approval.
The entire floor looks like a grid of human panels, a maze of cubicles structured around a central elevator core.
Voice: Thomas Anderson?
Neo turns to see a Federal Express courier at the entrance of his cubicle.
Neo: Yes, that’s me. Follow current novels on novèlfire.net
He signs the electronic pad, and the delivery guy hands him a softpack.
Messenger: Have a nice day.
He opens the bag. Inside is a cell phone. The moment he touches it, it starts to ring. Nervous, he flips it open. The voice on the other end is flat, intentionally emotionless to keep him focused on the lines.
His confused expression was his way of interpreting the moment. Andy made a mental note that the kid knew how to pull off a sharp take like that.
Morpheus: Hello, Neo. Do you know who this is?
Neo’s knees buckle as he sinks into his chair.
MORPHEUS: I’ve been looking for you, Neo. I don’t know if you’re ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately, time is running out. They’re coming for you, Neo. And I’m not sure what they’ll do.
Neo: Who’s coming for me?
Morpheus: Stand up and see for yourself.
Morpheus: Slowly. Look at the elevator.
He peeks over the top of his cubicle. In the elevator stands Agent Smith. Behind him, Agent Brown and Agent Jones lead a squad of police officers. An employee turns and points toward Neo’s cubicle.
Even though he hits his rib, he stays in character.
One cop stays in the elevator. The others follow the agents as Neo clutches his side, clearly in pain but staying in the moment.
Neo: What the hell do they want from me? I’m a nobody.
The last part, he whispers.
Morpheus: I’m not sure. But if you don’t want to find out, you need to get out of there.
Morpheus: I can guide you, but you must do exactly as I say.
The agents move quickly toward the cubicle.
Morpheus: Move. The cubicle ahead of you is empty.
Neo dives into the hallway, sliding into the next cubicle just as the agents turn toward his row. He curls into a dark corner, gripping the phone tightly.
Morpheus: Stay here for a moment.
The agents enter Neo’s now-empty cubicle. A cop checks the bathroom. Morpheus’ voice whispers in Neo’s ear.
Morpheus: Just a little longer…
Brown is talking to another employee.
Morpheus: When I say, head to the first office at the end of the row on the left. Stay low.
Sweat trickles down his forehead.
Neo rolls out of the cubicle, eyes wide. He freezes just behind a cop who’s just turned around. Crouching low, he slips through the row and dashes through the opening, first door on the left.
Morpheus: Good. There’s scaffolding outside.
Neo: How do you know all this?
Morpheus chuckles softly.
Morpheus: The answer is right here. There’s a window in front of you. Open it.
He opens the window. Wind howls into the room.
Morpheus: You can use the scaffolding to reach the roof.
Neo: No way. It’s too far.
He comments, realizing it's nearly across the building and looks hard to reach, even though Billy only saw a green screen floor, it was still several meters across. He imagined the actual height in his mind.
Morpheus: It’s just a ledge. It’s a short climb. You can do it.
Neo looks down. The glass wall of the building drops into a concrete abyss. He memorizes the plan in his head: cross the ledge and climb onto the scaffold just beyond.
NEO: No way. No way. This is insane.
MORPHEUS: There are only two ways out of this building. One is that scaffold. The other is in the custody of the agents. The choice is yours.
CLICK. The call ends. Neo looks at the door, then at the scaffold.
Neo: This is crazy! Why is this happening to me? What did I do? I’m a nobody—I didn’t do anything.
He climbs onto the ledge of the window, gripping the frame as he steps onto the narrow platform. The scaffold looks even farther now.
Neo: I’m going to die.
Suddenly, the wind lashes the side of the building, throwing him off balance. He tightens his grip on the frame. The phone slips from his hand. He watches it fall, disappearing into the distance below.
Neo: This is insane. I can’t do this! Forget it!
He retreats inside, just as a cop opens the door.
–Billy, we’re going to do another take, – Andy called from the back of the room, his voice soft but clear across the soundstage.