While Alex was thrilled to have landed the role of Clifford Peache, the cast of My Bodyguard included two other actors who would bring the story to life.
Playing the crucial role of Ricky Linderman, the initially reluctant bodyguard, was Adam Baldwin. This film marked Baldwin's very first role in a feature film.
The character of Melvin Moody, the school bully who makes Clifford's life miserable, was cast with Matt Dillon. Dillon just made his debut this year with the film Over the Edge.
November brought the start of filming for My Bodyguard in Chicago. The movie would be shot on location throughout the city. For the fictional Fleer High School, the production chose the real Lake View High School as their setting. Additionally, the Ambassador East hotel served as the real-life counterpart for the hotel where Clifford and his father lived in the movie.
The fluorescent lights of the Lake View High School bathroom set hummed overhead. The crew was setting up for a tense scene where Moody corners Clifford for protection money. Alex Hayes, as Clifford, stood looking small and apprehensive near the grubby sinks. Matt Dillon, smirking as the menacing Moody, leaned against the tiled wall with two other actors cast as his friends, Gary and Dubrow.
"Alright, Matt, Alex, and fellas," the director called out. "This is right after the classroom incident. Moody's establishing his dominance. Matt, that handshake offer needs to feel fake, a setup. Alex, you're wary but trying to be agreeable. Let's roll."
Matt Dillon, as Moody, sauntered over, offering a disingenuous smile and an outstretched hand. "Hey, it's Peach Pit. What do you say?"
Alex, as Clifford, hesitated, his expression a mixture of unease and fear. Dillon, staying in character as Moody, continued: "Just trying to make friends. Don't you want to be friends?"
Alex replied, "All right. Here," and shook his hand.
The actor playing Dubrow stepped forward, offering his hand with a wider, slightly unsettling grin. "What about me?"
"Sure." Alex shook Dubrow's hand quickly, trying to avoid eye contact.
"How you doing?" Dubrow asked.
The actor playing Gary stepped in, leaning close to Alex, making the character of Clifford feel trapped.
"Where'd you go to school before here?" Dillon asked.
"South Side Academy."
"Ooh, costs a lot of money to go there." Gary's voice was laced with suspicion.
Dubrow moved closer, his smile turning into a leer. "You rich?"
"No."
"Hey, that's nothing to be ashamed of, man."
"I'm not ashamed."
Gary, nodding knowingly, announced, "Knew he was rich."
"No, I'm not, really," Alex quickly explained.
Matt Dillon, as Moody, stepped in, his eyes narrowing. "Hey, listen, pal, it's obvious you got bread. Question is, you got sense? I'm serious. Do you have sense?" Alex, as Clifford, remained silent, looking down. "Hmm? Hmm?" Matt Dillon asked repeatedly.
Moody gave Clifford a rough shove. Alex looked surprised and spoke the dialogue. "I think so. Sometimes."
"I think so too. So you'll know this is no private academy. Now, you go to a school like this you need a bodyguard."
Dubrow chimed in, "You know, we got Ricky Linderman in our Homeroom?"
Moody lowered his voice conspiratorially. "You know about Linderman? He's a psychopath. He just went berserk. Wasted some kid. Shot him in the head." Suddenly, Dillon made a sharp "Bang!" sound with his mouth, making Alex jump visibly.
"Blew his brain out."
"Why'd he do that?" Clifford asked, his voice shaky.
Gary offered casually, "Probably he was a pain in the ass."
"Guys like Linderman lose control after a while," Moody stated.
Matt Dillon suddenly yelled "Yah!" and shoved Alex hard against the tiled wall.
"Cut!" the director called out. "Matt, that yell was great, but Alex, we need more surprise on your face when you hit the wall. Let's take it again from the 'psychopath' line."
Take Two: The Tissue Balls
They reset. The scene continued from a point of high tension.
Moody leaned in again. "Like that, you know? That's when you come to us. We're bodyguards. Interested?"
"I don't know," Alex replied, his voice showing a hint of fear.
"For you, it's cheap, uh... Buck a day," Moody offered.
Alex's eyes widened slightly, capturing Clifford's surprise. "Buck a day?"
"Yeah, buck a day. We give everyone the same deal. You can work it out day to day, or week to week. Any way you want to work it out, man."
Matt Dillon walked over to Gary, who was off to the side, making small balls out of tissue paper and water from the sink.
"Alright, everyone, quick break," the director announced. "Matt, on the next take, you'll start throwing those little paper balls at Alex's head while you're talking. Alex, just react naturally, try to dodge them."
The break ended. The cameras rolled.
Clifford tried to reason with them. "Where am I gonna get a dollar a day?"
Moody turned back, tossing a wet tissue ball that just missed Alex's head. Alex flinched, moving his head slightly. "Lunch money. You don't wanna eat that crap, anyway."
Dubrow added, "Fifty cents for Godzilla feed."
Gary said, "It's a rip-off."
Dubrow clarified, "Sixty, if you want two milks."
Matt Dillon threw another tissue ball, this one hitting Alex's shoulder. Alex grimaced, trying to stay in character.
"So, for that same 60 cents... we're talking two milks... you got us almost paid for. Now all you got to do is... scrape up another 40," Moody finished.
Matt threw another paper ball, hitting Alex's cheek this time. Alex could have easily avoided it, but in a flash of inspiration, he decided it would look more effective for Clifford to get hit. He simply grimaced, trying to stay in character.
"I'm not gonna give you my lunch money. I have to eat."
"Got to eat, huh?" Moody scoffed.
Matt Dillon walked over to Gary, took a plastic cup from the prop table, and grabbed Alex roughly by the collar, dragging him towards the grubby toilet stalls. "Come here. Come here."
Moody shoved Alex toward a toilet and dipped the cup into the bowl, filling it with the murky water. He then turned and thrust the cup into Alex's face. "Tell you what, eat this."
Alex made a disgusted face, his eyes wide with revulsion. Moody laughed, a harsh, low sound. "Suddenly he changes his mind, eh?"
In a swift reaction, Alex, as Clifford, grabbed the cup and splashed the toilet water all over Matt Dillon's face.
Alex immediately took off, running out of the bathroom.
The camera focused on Moody's dripping face, a look of furious humiliation replacing his usual smirk.
"Cut! That's a wrap on the bathroom scene! Excellent work, everyone! Matt, that was a great reaction to the water!" the director announced, a grin on his face.