Terminator 5 Redemption
For Christian Bale
Disclaimer: This story is for entertainment purposes only. Props to James Cameron for creating Terminator.
Chapter 1: The Time Travel Scene
New Mexico 2008 on the set of Terminator Salvation
"Do you want me to go fucking trash your lights? Do you want me to fucking trash them? Then why are you trashing my scene? You do it one more fucking time and I ain't walking on this set if you're still hired. I'm fucking serious."
Christian Bale was pissed.
Trying not to laugh, the lighting guy paused for a moment to compose himself. It was evident the talent wished to stay in character. He addressed Bale accordingly.
"With all due respect, Mr. Connor, uh John, are you really upset about being interrupted or is something else going on?"
Bale stood there for a moment dumbfounded at what just went down. No one had ever had the balls to question him, especially after American Psycho was released. He smirked, "You know lighting guy, you're bloody right. Sorry I was a dick. Let me buy you a pint."
The pair walked across the dusty lot under the noon day sun. It was a sweltering 110 degrees, and luckily the bar was just a five minute walk from the set. But if you want to know the truth, luck had nothing to do with it. Christian Bale, like any self respecting Brit, made sure that a pub was within walking distance from any set he was filming on. It was in his contract and was nonnegotiable.
They bellied up to the bar at the Swinging Dick Saloon. Lighting guy was happy to be off set and finally able to speak freely. He had been sick to his stomach since filming began. Sure he needed a job, but as a Terminator purist, he was appalled by what he saw. Between the pussy John Connor was in T3 and the convoluted story line in Salvation, one could only hope the explosions and new technology would justify the 20 dollar a head ticket price for the general public. He knew the story alone wouldn't cut it.
"Do you think that maybe you're so upset because this is a terrible movie? I mean, come on. You're Christian Bale. You're a legend. Dude, I loved you in Newsies. You're the reason why I came to New Mexico. You know, Santa Fe. Are you there, will you swear you won't forget me! Classic shit, man." He paused thinking about good old Jack Kelly. After a moment he laughed and went back to ripping on the script of Salvation. "Look at your lines. Come on! I think the real question here is, why are they trashing your lines?"
Bale listened intently as lighting guy carried on.
"You know what was another shitty movie?" LG asked slurring his words.
"Terminator 3," Bale replied perfectly sober in spite of the 10 pints he had just shut down.
"Exactly bro." Lighting guy continued, "Wouldn't it be epic if we could go back in time and stop both Terminator 3 and 4 from being made! Shit, with the money they are spending on this project, they probably have a real time machine. I heard McG talking to some dude over at Los Alamos about time travel and stuff. I think they're legit; these Hollywood guys wanna do it right."
"That's fucking funny. I'll go speak to him about it," Bale said while paying the tab. "I know I can be a bit intense. I'm truly fucking sorry. "
Lighting guy sat there with a silly grin on his face. He wasn't gay, but CB was the best looking guy he had ever seen. "Go get 'em Cowboy!"
Bale winked as he walked out of the bar.
He burst through the swinging doors on a crash course to find McG and possibly some redemption for the Terminator franchise. Lighting guy was right; it was criminal what they were doing to John Connor and the first two movies.
CB flung open the door of the air-conditioned trailer to find McG leaning back in a chair, his feet propped on the desk reading The OC Weekly.
"Hey Mc," Bale began, " Sorry about the shit this morning. It's just that John Connor is a great character and we're fucking him up. We need to end this steaming pile of shit now, before it's too late. And speaking of being too late, I'd like to get rid of T3 while we're at it."
"And how do you suggest we do that?" McG asked putting down his mag.
"I'm going to need to borrow your time machine." Bale said with a deadpan expression.
McG began to laugh, "Christian, I couldn't agree with you more. This movie does suck balls, and the last one was pure shit too. Your idea is so tempting. And you know how I hate being any where east of the 405 this time of year. But shit man, I need to get paid. If you rid the world of T4, while it would be extremely humanitarian of you, I'd be out of a job."
"I'll pay you myself." Bale said leaning in closer to the desk with the same intensity he had earlier that day.
McG didn't hesitate. " Go to Los Alamos," he said pulling out a set of keys. "Pass through the gates and if they say anything, just hit them with the "Do you know who I am?" thing. It should be pretty easy for you. Once you're in, head over to the first lab on your right. Enter the room and, when you're ready, push the big red button on the wall. That ought to do it. "
"Brilliant. Thanks Mc." Bale said putting his cigarette out on the corner of the desk.
While some would be offended, McG laughed. CB was such a pain in the ass, but he loved the guy. "Oh and Christian, one last thing. You'll have to be completely nude for that sucker to work."