After the political meetings came the eai, bad forth, the gathering became lively, and one could see many of them drinking, while the wives engaged in quiet versation, as if it were on practice. At all times, each of them tio stand out.

  One Gwyh was slightly flushed from the drinks, while there in the distance, Billy got up from his seat, feeling overwhelmed by the drinks too. Those old folks drank like fountains.

  -Billy, e, let me introduce you to my friends, - ented Gwyh, happy about everything that had happened.

  -Girls, this is Billy... Billy Diaon, Goldie Hawn, and Jane Fonda, - she approached slowly. - Jane Fonda is Ted Turner's wife, the founder of , and unfortunately, your aremy, - she whispered secretly.

  -hat a handsome young man, " murmured all three women in their forties or older. These women, what they call seasoned, knew all the ins and outs of the film world, were positioned as actresses in their youth, then directors, producers, and others married to magnates.

  Diaon, a blonde woman with a distinguished appearance, wore frame gl, bckbck lenses, and a bowl-shaped hairstyle, and ter adopted a fresher style. Oher hand, Goldie Hawn was a blonde woman with chubby cheeks and a round face that showed her age, which suited her.

  -Hahaha, it's true, look at those shiny eyes standing out, - ented Gwyh.

  -Ladies, it's a pleasure to share a table with you, - Billy responded politely, kissing each of the extended hands of the women, who smiled flirtatiously while Gwyh kissed his cheek.

  -Oh my God, how illogical and unfair life is to poor men these days. It's o meet you again, young man. I retly saw one of your movies again with Kurt, and I must say, you keep gettier, - Goldie Hawn ented.

  -Oh, whie specifically? - Billy asked.

  -Before Sunrise. We were in Berlihan a month ago, - Goldie replied.

  -What a surprise, Billy was there for the Berlin awards, - Gwyh responded.

  -Oh, you have a new project, dear? - Jane Fonda inquired.

  -I hope so. I've done some auditions, but everything is moving at life's pace. For now, I have good prospects with three films. If all goes well, I'll take two supp roles and most likely a voice-over, - Billy eaking a seat in the small circle. Gwyh followed suit and took her seat.

  -It's promising, but not as promising as that movie you're iing in. I heard you worked with Saul Zaentz and Michael Ondaatje, the writer... a love story for more i, - Jane Fonda replied.

  Even in her fifties, she still had a magnifit presence, and her demeanor expined one of the reasons she's sidered one of the most beautiful women in history.

  -How do you know? - Billy asked.

  The three women smiled, with an almost youthful daringness, and Gwyh could only shrug. Moments earlier, she had stressed that Billy was a bit straightforward and cked some political a, which he banced with his business savvy, vision... charm.

  -Dear, everything is known in Hollywood. People hear the gossip, but here, everything is known. We know the truth and the reason behind that truth. Kurt might have mentio to you, but he's not much different from you. He hates sitting down to talk about these things; he'd rather py basketball with his group of friends, - Goldie Hawk ented. She has been in a stable retionship with Kurt since 1983, and it's rumored that she was the reason Kurt cut ties with his wife, quite the opposite, it was because of Kurt.

  -Pying basketball wouldn't be bad, - Billy responded with a smile, ign the fact that if everyone knows, especially why don't I know? These thoughts kept Billy entangled in a series of cycles about what to do or say, and how painful it is to think about anything you say.

  -They're expeg you to say something about The English Patient, - Gwyh whispered to his right, while the women gossiped.

  This earned a slight chuckle from Diaon, which halted the overheard words. - They're not pretty, - she said.

  -Oh, they are, -Jane Fonda replied.

  -The produ is in progress. I think we'll start filming this summer and it will be released by the end of the year. We still have a lot to discuss, but Jim Gianopulos is in charge of the entire process. He's my eai director, - Billy ented.

  Raimon is fotten, but he is the one who checks the finances of the entire pany. In this case, he acts as a financial director, along with Rachel, but it's just a trol, provided by Anne, who checks the ats three or four times every four months.

  -Jim Gianopulos, I know him. He was in charge of the small indepe pany... mmmm from Fox in the distributioor. What led you to hire him? - Jane Fonda asked.

  -A gut feeling, - Billy replied.

  -You hired aertai director on a gut feeling, - Jaed, somewhat incredulous at Billy's words.

  -There were surprising didates, but he met the ditions of the offer and gave me a gut feeling that he was the right fit for my pany at this time, - Billy ented, still carefully choosing his words.

  ***

  By March, there were still two long months—no, three long months—before the start of The English Patient. There are three main issues: the film is being made a year earlier than phe script, like the book, has been ready since 1993, but the timeline has beeeo 1994 to allow for sponsorships. At that time, the rights to The Lord of the Rings were purchased by Miramax in te 1995 for 15 million, which kick-started The English Patient series.

  Additionally, Miramax itself was there to support the produ, tributing ara 12 million, 3 million of which went to advertising. Thus, the money provided by Billy is perfect for the series, totaling 23 million. They've tighteheir belts; the lead actor, Ralph Fiennes, is filming another movie, and actress Juliette Binoche did a simir drama less than a month ago. She's hesitant, while the actress, Kristen Scott Thomas, was chosen for Mission: Impossible, a mega-produ set in the same period.

  -Why don't we choose Billy? He'll act for 500,000 if needed. He's a good ar. Magnelia see it; he's incredible. It's just that he's had issues standing up to Warner, and some projects have fallen through. But he acted retly in Little Women, and I watched the whole thing—it's good! Better than I would have expected from a love movie, - said Raimon. Little Women grossed 99 million at the box office.

  -He's not British, and he's very young, - ented Anthony Minghel.

  -Please, he has known how to do a British at since he was 12. He has studied at several art academies, - said Raimon, produg some papers—Billy's resume—a sheet listing the four art academies he attended. His chubby fingers handed over the papers, along with the movies and his brief appearances in ercials and small miniseries throughout his life. Three films, four voice-overs, three ercials, and three miniseries, all in supp roles, with the miniseries shooting no lohan 45 minutes.

  -He has a good resume; he'll surely act for so little. It's almost a sary for a low-tier star; his st sary was five million, - ented Anthony Minghel.

  -Oh, he'll do it, but don't be stingy; his time is wold after all, - said Raimon.

  For the three individuals—Anthony Minghel, Saul Zaentz, and Michael Ondaatje—this reality emerged in 1992. They wanted Daniel Day-Lewis, but he rejected it, saying the script was bnd aitive, something he didn't like. Even Bruce Willis wisely decided to stick to British actors only. Juliette Binoche is still tempting, but she doesn't want to.

  -You know, Billy is friends with Steven Spielberg, he's friends with Winona Ryder; I'm sure they had a romance, - said Raimon, enting on something that would only cause more chaos for Billy.

  -Ohhh, - said Saul Zaents. - With Spielberg, they attract many iing people. -

  -I vince Juliette Binoche, but we o finish casting as soon as possible. I'll improve the script a bit to give Juliette's character more drama, and she'll decide to act; she likes art films, - said Anthony Minghel, st off.

  -You vince Winona Ryder to py Katherine Clifton, -

  -Sure... but it's Billy, - said Raimon, sweating over the problem he's dragged Billy into. If they have a retionship, the chemistry must be good. Direinghel rushed to see Little Women to determihe truth of the romaween them. Simirly, Saul Zaentz went up, smiling inside. If Billy acts, they raise the budget a bit for better promotion, and if Spielberg is there, he help with Oscar promotion; it's perfect.

  firmation isn't needed, as there have been rumors for some time that Billy Carson will be io Steven Spielberg's new pany. The liart to blur, and Raimon might be in trouble, but Billy, take on this major role.

  ...