In the quiet room, there was no sound. Matthew sat in a chair brimming with technological vibes, facing the Scientology master who wanted to have a conversation with him earlier.
The man named Michel Hammerson, a key figure in Scientology, looked about sixty years old. He wore a black robe with a white collar, the standard clerical attire, with the Scientology symbol—a stylized 'S' connecting two triangles—embroidered on his chest. His face bore a perpetual smile, giving him the appearance of a kind, venerable elder.
Though Matthew appeared relaxed, he was on high alert. It was often such seemingly benevolent individuals who were the most adept at brainwashing.
Moreover, before entering this room, in the hall, Tom Cruise had introduced him to Amber Hilton, followed by this Scientology master, Michel Hammerson. Matthew had already started piecing things together.
Scientology was attempting to seduce him with both charm and intellect.
If he remembered correctly, Amber Hilton was the woman who had caused major trouble for Depp, one of his closest friends.
Clearly, Amber Hilton was Scientology's bait.
Given his close friendship with Depp, Matthew felt compelled to take the bait but throw the hook back.
Of course, he could be overthinking it. After all, aside from exchanging a few pleasantries, Amber Hilton hadn't made any overt moves.
After this brief introduction, he had followed Michel Hammerson into the room.
Matthew glanced at the chair he was seated in. Its design was quite distinctive, resembling props used in Hollywood sci-fi films, and it was impressive in a way that made him wary.
Michel Hammerson had already talked about topics laden with philosophical significance, including the journey of Hollywood, the drive for personal success, and the interpretation of good and evil.
It was likely that Matthew, with his limited education and lack of scholarly pursuits, couldn't quite grasp what Michel Hammerson was trying to convey.
If Scientology thought they could lure people onto their ship with such abstract talk, they were seriously underestimating their audience. Even a drug sales rep from across the Pacific could probably do a better job at persuasion than Michel Hammerson.
Michel Hammerson, though his eyes appeared half-closed, was actually observing Matthew. The Hollywood star seemed somewhat perplexed, clearly muddled by the recent philosophically dense dialogue.
This was a common tactic for Hammerson—a prelude to more effective means.
Michel Hammerson certainly didn't believe that spouting some esoteric philosophy would make a worldly Hollywood star like Matthew submit to Scientology.
"Mr. Horner," Hammerson said cryptically, "What do you think humans are?"
Matthew pondered for a moment before slowly replying, "Humans are the most intelligent beings, the apex of the food chain among mammals."
"And do you believe humans are spiritual or material?" Hammerson continued.
"Um..." Matthew scratched his head, unsure how to respond.
"Humans are neither purely spiritual nor material," Hammerson said slowly. "They are a kind of soul entity called 'Thetans.' Humans are Thetans who have undergone reincarnation and evolution. Upon entering this world of matter, energy, space, and time, they forget their past divine status. During reincarnation, they become attached to other souls, and experiences during growth lead to mental disorders, which accumulate as inner sins and obstruct one's self-awareness."
Matthew feigned curiosity, just like most people would when hearing such statements for the first time, and asked, "How can one truly understand oneself?"
He acted very intrigued.
Hammerson, maintaining his calm demeanor, replied, "What often hinders one's self is the heart." He then asked again, "Do you have any worries in your heart?"
"Yes," Matthew answered without hesitation.
"To remove those worries, one must purify the heart," Hammerson said with the air of a master. "The reason why people worry, why they are unhappy, why they can't understand themselves, is because their hearts are filled with too many sins. Only when these sins are purified can one transcend the limitations of matter and time and enter a higher level."
He then adopted a serious tone, "Scientology can help people achieve this purification."
Matthew seemed somewhat tempted and replied with a mix of curiosity and anxiety, "Really? Can it truly purify the sins in one's heart?"
Michel Hammerson had targeted Matthew not just because he was a major star who could become the new face of Scientology after Tom Cruise, but also because, as previously discussed, Matthew Horner hadn't received much education, grew up in poverty, and had lived a troubled life before entering Hollywood. He hadn't enjoyed the warmth of a family and was uncertain of his basic beliefs.
Such people often carried psychological shadows, making them more susceptible to the indoctrination of Scientology.
Many Hollywood stars had too many dark secrets, which, when buried deep inside for too long, often led to enormous psychological burdens.
So, Hammerson raised a finger, pointing to the room they were in, and said, "Then you must confess the sins in your heart. Only by speaking them out can you be purified."
He remained seated but knew that the people in the adjacent room had probably already turned on the highly concealed recording and video equipment.
This was a common Scientology tactic: using the guise of purifying the heart and eliminating sins to gain control over many celebrity followers' secrets, making it impossible for them to break free from Scientology.
In North America, where religious beliefs are widespread, most people have an inherent trust in religious figures, which Scientology cleverly exploits.
Frankly speaking, secrets buried in one's heart, especially dark ones, could be incredibly burdensome.
Matthew was no exception, though he had found very effective ways to vent and relieve stress.
Hearing Hammerson's words made Matthew even more vigilant.
Someone raised purely in a Western environment might have been awed by Hammerson, a so-called cleric. But Matthew, having grown up under a different regime, had no belief in gods or such notions.
Thinking this, Matthew showed a conflicted and struggling expression on his face, as if he wanted to speak but was hesitant.
Hammerson didn't rush him. Seeing Matthew's expression, he knew that it wouldn't be long before he succumbed. Therefore, he maintained his benevolent smile and made an inviting gesture with his right hand.
"Should I confess all the sins from my childhood?" Matthew asked deliberately.
Michel Hammerson, embodying the aura of a master, replied with a somewhat ethereal voice, "When you confess all the sins buried deep in your heart, your heart will be completely purified."
Matthew, appearing to make a significant decision, began, "When I was ten years old, I was hungry and saw a neighbor's child eating a hot dog. I snatched a piece from his hand. Though I apologized later, the neighbor's child didn't accept it..."
"At eleven, there was an older kid who bullied the boy I had taken the hot dog from. I pushed him from behind, and he fell into a pile of trash. To this day, no one knows who did it."
"At twelve, I got into a fight with a classmate and hit him so hard his face swelled up..."
Hearing Matthew confessing such minor childhood misdeeds, Michel Hammerson nodded slightly. These were trivial matters, not enough to be used as leverage, but they were a good starting point. Once the confessions began, it wouldn't be long before Matthew Horner revealed all his darkest secrets.
This way, Scientology wouldn't just hold his secrets; they would be seen as his confidants, making it easier to stand together.
If Amber Hilton's efforts also went smoothly, it wouldn't take long to bring Matthew Horner into the fold.
Michel Hammerson, already confident, now felt certain that Matthew Horner was about to fall under the control of Scientology...
No, under his control.
Michel Hammerson then thought of something: the current leader of Scientology had reached his position partly because he had Tom Cruise under his influence. But with Cruise seemingly on a decline, and Matthew Horner's star rapidly rising, if Hammerson could gain control over Horner and invest the right resources to make him as big a star as Tom Cruise, could he not also aim for the top position in Scientology?
He believed it was quite possible.
Hammerson focused intently on Matthew Horner, who had just finished confessing his regret about running away from school at fifteen.
"When I was sixteen, I came to Dallas for work. One time, after getting paid, I met a homeless child on the street and gave him ten dollars. I still feel guilty about that to this day..."
Stingy? Miserly? Hammerson remained expressionless. If the public knew their idol had such traits, they'd surely be disappointed.
Matthew appeared regretful, saying, "Why didn't I give him more money? What if he had siblings to care for? Ten dollars might not have been enough. I should have given him more!"
"Um..." Hammerson was taken aback.
"The following year, I became an auto mechanic," Matthew continued, now weaving a fantastical tale. "Once, while on a job with a coworker on the outskirts of Dallas, we saw a car accident. A woman was trapped under a vehicle, and we tried to lift the Ford pickup but couldn't. By the time the ambulance arrived, the doctor said the woman had been pinned down too long and had to have her leg amputated!"
Matthew pounded the armrest of his chair in anguish, "If I had been as strong as I am now, I could have saved that woman! She wouldn't have lost her leg!"
As he spoke, he struck the chair's armrest with force.
Michel Hammerson's eyes widened. Was this a confession of guilt? Why did the last two confessions sound more like self-praise?
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