Los Angeles.

The Bel Air neighborhood next door to Beverly Hills, it's Saturday night.

Yesterday, after officially signing the overseas distribution contract for "Lola Run" with Warner, Simon received an invitation from Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Terry Semel to attend a party held by the other party tonight.

"This is a very clever romantic comedy, called "When Harry Meets Sally", which tells the emotional journey of the hero and heroine Harry and Sally from acquaintance, dislike, getting along, knowing each other to finally falling in love for 12 years, the story is somewhat similar to Woody Allen's "Annie Hall", but it is not as nervous as Woody Allen, it seems more warm and interesting. ”

At the party scene in the courtyard of the mountainside mansion, Terry Semel held a cocktail, smiled and listened to Simon, but shook his head and said: "Simon, for "Annie Hall", what the audience likes is the neuroticism of a little intellectual like Woody Allen. According to your description, "When Harry Met Sally" is another love sketch that relies on dialogue and emotional changes to drive the plot. This type of movie, without the support of Woody Allen's skills, or the lack of big-name actors, it is difficult for the audience to generate much interest. ”

Simon also held a cocktail, standing opposite Terry Semele, still smiling when he heard the words, neither humble nor arrogant: "Terry, maybe you should read the script first, if Warner is interested in this movie, I can even make a sample first, this is definitely a movie worth investing in." ”

"Simon, if you pay a little attention, you will find that Hollywood has not had a popular romance film for ten years, let alone a love sketch with a bland plot. Terry Semel still shook his head, but then said, "Simon, you're a very talented screenwriter. So, why not try writing some cop action movie scripts like "Beverly Detective" and "Lethal Weapon", which has been a trend in Hollywood in recent years, and if you have an idea for this, feel free to contact me. ”

"Beverly Detective" was the North American box office number one produced by Paramount Pictures in 1984.

"Lethal Weapon" belongs to Warner, and the film was released a month ago.

When Warner bought the screenplay for $250,000, it caused a small stir in Hollywood. Although it has been firmly suppressed by "Lola Run" since its release, "Lethal Weapon" has now earned nearly $40 million at the North American box office, and the total North American box office is expected to exceed $60 million.

Compared to the production cost of $15 million, Warner is also a big profit.

Now that he has reached a cooperation with Warner, Simon also took the opportunity to get to know the film company, one of the seven majors.

As a result, Warner Bros., who was supposed to be very powerful, has been doing worse than Fox in recent years. For example, last year, Warner's highest-grossing film of the year, "Bloody Demon" starring Sylvester Stallone, had a total box office of just over $49 million in North America.

Knowing this, Simon no longer wonders why Warner would want to buy the overseas distribution rights of "Lola Run" at a relatively high price.

In this era, the overseas distribution of films is usually delayed for three months to more than half a year.

Warner undoubtedly has a well-established global film distribution network, but at the moment, the studio has no films of its own that are worthy of global distribution. Having so many overseas branches but no films to distribute is obviously a great waste of resources.

As a result, "Lola Run" became a very good choice.

"Lola Run" is expected to grossed more than $200 million in North America, and there is no risk of loss in overseas distribution. As long as it is done properly, the film can also get at least $100 million at the overseas box office. The operating cycle of videotape and television broadcasting is slightly longer, but it is certainly very profitable.

With this in mind, Simon could only nod to Terry Semel and said, "If there is a similar idea, I will." ”

"Well, for the time being," said Terry Semele, looking at Janet beside Simon, "Miss Johnston, you are really impressive in the negotiations these days, would you be interested in working at Warner?"

Janet shook her head with a smile and said, "Terry, are you going to give up your place to me?"

"Well, that's not for me to decide," Terry Semel smiled, raised his glass to the two of them, and said again, "Have fun, have fun." ”

Terry Semel finished speaking, and turned and walked away.

Simon looked at the figure of Terry Semel leaving, noticed Janet's eyes flickering beside him, and said with a smile: "With the studio these days, you should know Frank Price, the president of Universal Pictures, right?"

Janet didn't know why, but nodded.

Simon said: "When Spielberg wanted to shoot "ET", Frank Price was very optimistic about the project, he thought that Spielberg's idea of wanting to shoot a children's film was simply crazy, and in the end, it was Sid Szyd, CEO of Universal's parent company, who personally made the decision, and the project was approved. ”

Janet curled the corners of her mouth: "And then?"

"What happened later, everyone knows it, "ET" only cost 10.5 million to make, but the global box office exceeded 700 million US dollars. ”

Janet also learned more and more about Hollywood during this time, and couldn't help but say, "$10.5 million, it's really interesting." ”

For the projects of major Hollywood studios, the production budget is usually a relatively loose whole number, 10.5 million US dollars, which is enough to show how harsh Universal was on the project of "ET" at that time.

That's true, so, after the success of "ET", Spielberg publicly announced to the whole of Hollywood that he would never have any more cooperation with Frank Price. Subsequently, he served as executive producer of several projects of "Back to the Future", and Spielberg even wrote this clause into the contract. ”

Janet smiled and grabbed Simon's arm and said, "In the future, we will also write those who have rejected you into the contract." ”

"I'm not going to do such a boring thing," Simon said, shaking his head, "Speaking of which, I just want to tell you that in Hollywood, anyone can be rejected, and everyone has to get used to being rejected." ”

Terry Semel invited Simon tonight just to get in touch with him, a promising young Hollywood filmmaker. But when the outside world is still bombarded with one-sided bad reviews about "The Butterfly Effect", Terry Semel will not rush to reach any cooperation with Simon at all. What's more, the script for "When Harry Meets Sally" was not written by Simon.

The two stayed at Terry Semele's party until about half-past nine, then took their leave.

Back at the Palisades mansion, the telephone message light in the living room of the villa was still flashing. Janet ran upstairs to change clothes, and Simon simply called again after listening to the phone message from Amy Pascal.

Janet didn't know when she had gone downstairs again, wearing a loose white sweater and jeans, ran to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, and when she came back, she lay on the couch like a kitten and watched Simon call.

Simon and Amy chatted on the phone for half an hour before putting the microphone down.

He walked over and picked up Janet's poured coffee and leaned back on the sofa relaxedly.

Janet had just listened to the general situation next to her, and at this time leaned over and said, "New World Pictures also refused?"

Simon nodded.

New World Pictures acquired Marvel Entertainment's film company last year, originally created by Roger Corman, the king of Hollywood B-movies, and has also been in a state of rapid expansion in recent years, although it is not as popular as Orion, but because this company inherits from Roger Coman's cautious business philosophy, New World Pictures' operation is much stronger than Orion and Canon.

These days, Simon and Amy are splitting up to find investors for When Harry Met Sally, and New World Pictures is also one of the potential collaborators.

Now, apparently, it has failed again.

When Janet heard Simon's confirmation, she frowned slightly again and said, "Then what should I do next?"

"Now is not a good time to find a partner for When Harry Meets Sally, I've asked Amy to stop for a while," Simon didn't have the trouble in Janet's tone, and said: "Next week, let's see the box office decline in the first week and the second week of "The Butterfly Effect", if the situation improves, Amy and I will contact those independent film investment funds, as long as we get investment, it will be easy to find distributors." In the end, if it really doesn't work, we will invest ourselves, but in this case, it will definitely be delayed until the end of the year before the start of filming, and the follow-up release will not be easy to do. ”

Janet twisted the fabric on the shoulders of Simon's shirt, and after listening to him finish speaking so clearly, she said softly: "Goldberg seems to be cooked for the past two days, and David and Brian, they are also very anxious. Simon, don't you really care about those bad reviews? I don't even dare to read them, it's too much. ”

Simon felt Janet's tone, took one of the woman's small hands and shook it, and said, "Do you want to see me pretend to be worried?"

Janet's eyes flashed, and she shook her head and said, "I don't want to." ”

Simon put the coffee cup back on the coffee table in front of him, and with a slight force in his hand, Janet lay down with her head resting on the man's lap.

Looking at the woman with shining eyes in his arms, Simon helped her brush the blonde hair that covered her neck, looked down at the woman and said seriously: "Including those doubts some time ago, as well as the current bad reviews in the media, to be honest, I don't feel much in my heart at all." Because I know exactly what kind of person I am, what kind of abilities I have, and what I can do in the future. The small movements of those people may delay my footsteps, or they may make me feel a little troubled, but no matter what, they can't stop me from continuing to walk. To use a slightly arrogant metaphor, how could a lion care about an ant's bite? ”

"Simon ......" Janet raised her hand, carefully touched the man's face, and said softly, "You will truly conquer the world." ”

"Yes," Simon kissed the woman's palm sideways, and smiled, "So, when the time comes, you will be merciful and don't destroy my world." ”

"Hmm. ”

Janet nodded very seriously, still looking up at the man above her, her eyes suddenly filled with reluctance, and she asked in a low voice, "Simon, what about us, what about our future?"

"We," Simon said softly, running his fingertips across Janet's delicate face, "It's still early." In a few years, we will get married. Then, have a few children, you will be a good cop, I will be a bad cop, and we will bring them up together. ”

Janet had a longing in her eyes, listened to Simon's words, shook her head in a blink of an eye, grabbed Simon's hand and held it in her arms, and said, "It's not like this, it shouldn't be like this." Simon, you are a lion, the king of the steppe, destined to conquer the world, how can you be held back by a kitten and become a mediocre man who guards his little home. It shouldn't be like this. ”

Simon felt that Janet's mood was getting more and more wrong, so he picked up the woman and put it on his lap, looking at the woman's unconsciously dim eyes, a feeling of pity suddenly appeared in his heart, and he said seriously: "Jenny, did I just misunderstand what I just said to you? If so, I apologize." ”

"No," Janet shook her head, leaned over and kissed Simon on the lips, leaned over to the man's chest, hugged him hard, and murmured, "Simon, last time on your birthday, I said that I would not be your bond." ”

Simon also hugged the woman in his arms tightly and said firmly: "No, of course not, how can you be a kitten, how can you be able to tie up a lion." ”

"But that's the way it is," said Janet dreamily, "you know, Simon, I love you so much, and it's not the kind of love at first sight, because from a very young age I knew that I would either be free and alone forever or I would only love one person forever." I've always felt that the first option has a higher chances. But at the age of 27, I suddenly fell in love with a little man, who was smart, powerful, lonely, mysterious, crazy, and strong-willed, but at the same time he would accommodate me when I was messing around, indulge me when I was wayward, protect me when I was drunk, and trust me when I was working. Although I knew it was because the lion didn't care about the kitten's nonsense, I fell in love with it. I'm not going to be as timid as Kate, so since I'm in love, I'm going to hold on to this man tightly. ”

Simon pinched Janet's crystal earlobe and said softly, "It's not good to talk about Catherine behind your back." ”

Janet's earlobes were very sensitive, and she was pinched by Simon, and her face immediately became rosy, but she didn't break free, she still stuck to the man's chest, and continued: "Then, Simon, after really getting along, I quickly discovered your shortcomings." ”

"Well," Simon said with a worried look on his face, "just keep it in your heart, don't talk nonsense." ”

Janet smiled lightly, and directly uncovered the mystery, and said: "Simon, I found that you are a guy who likes to pamper the people around you, especially for the people who love you, it is always difficult for you to refuse them, you will always be doubly good to them, and even feel that you are not good enough." ”

Simon retorted weakly, "Shouldn't that be a disadvantage?"

"Of course it's a disadvantage," Janet rubbed her face on Simon's chest, and said, "Just like me, in fact, I always knew that you weren't ready to accept a relationship at all, but after Christmas Eve last year, you still recognized my identity," Speaking of this, Janet suddenly raised her eyes to Simon and said, "Last time in Arizona, Simon, did you sleep with Kate?"

Simon shook his head: "No." ”

"See, that's it," Janet put her face back on, "you obviously like Kate's more, and Kate actually has a crush on you." I don't think you even need to say any rhetoric, and she wouldn't have resisted Arizo when she carried Kate directly into her room and pressed her on the bed. But you didn't. This is the bond, my bond to you. ”

"That's what I'm supposed to do," Simon said, patting Janet on the back, "If any other man dares to carry you into the house, I'll kill him." ”

"You don't have that chance, I'm going to kill too," Janet said, patting Simon on the ground, "Don't get in the way." ”

"Okay. ”

Janet continued: "There's still this time, and your adjustment to the earnings of Lola Run is that supplementary contract. Simon, I can feel your guilt, you want to accumulate more capital quickly, but you think it's unfair to me, you don't think you've given me enough, you feel like you're being a little selfish in doing this. But, how could it be, Simon, I only paid $400,000, but now, I get $67 million back. 168 times the return, how greedy can you think it's not enough? So, Simon, that's your shortcoming, a fatal shortcoming. I can feel your estrangement and indifference to the world, it is difficult for you to take the initiative to love someone, but you are too soft-hearted and conniving to the person who loves you. ”

Simon forced a smile and said, "Jenny, you won't be disappointed in me now, will you?"

"Of course not," Janet immediately shook her head, looked up, and said seriously, "I love you, Simon." I like your strength, your mystery, your indifference. But if you were really ruthless to anyone in this world, I might love you, but I would never want to be with you. Your shortcomings make me love you even more. But at the same time, your shortcomings have made me your bond. ”

Simon couldn't help but interrupt, "Jenny, that's not the case. ”

Janet raised her hand to Simon's lips and continued, "Last month, in the villa in Malibu, I asked you if you would marry me so that you could own half of my property, and I could feel your panic at that time, but still joked with me casually. Just now, you were able to calmly say to me that in a few years, you will marry me, have a few children, and I will be a good policeman, and you will be a bad policeman. Obviously, you've definitely thought about it more than once during this time. You know I'm looking forward to this kind of thing, because I'm 27 years old, and a 27-year-old woman, is definitely looking forward to marriage. Since I love it, I do look forward to it. And I have no doubt that you will keep your promise, because you will. However, it made me realize even more that until now, you are only 19 years old. A 19-year-old boy should have been flying freely. And my king, the lion king of my steppe, needs to conquer the world without any worries, rather than hastily considering having children and returning to the family because of the bond of a kitten. ”

When Janet said this, without waiting for Simon to talk again, she reached out and hugged her boyfriend in front of her tightly, and quickly said, "So, Simon, let's start again." From the state of our first acquaintance that evening in Burbank. That day, standing on the side of the road, you said, you're from the Watsonville Mental Hospital. Pretty cool. ”

Simon felt the slight trembling of the woman in his arms after saying this, reached out and patted her on the waist gently, and said, "Jenny, I think we should go to the bath together now, and then sleep well." ”

Janet didn't let go, and whispered: "Simon, I'm not going to break up with you, I only love one person in my life, how can I break up." It's just that I don't want to be a tie to you. So, we started as friends, just like Harry and Sally. I won't disturb your life, I won't interfere with your work, and I can help you take care of the company if you need to. But we're not lovers for a while, okay?"

Simon shook his head and said, "Not good. ”

Janet didn't seem to hear Simon's answer, and said to herself, "I'll move back to Malibu tomorrow." Before I met you, I had always wanted to open a gallery, but I was too lazy and the small studio was still a mess. Now, heh, there's motivation. Ever since the release of "Lola Run", people have been contacting me because of the painting in the movie. ”

Simon didn't know what to say for a moment, just fell silent.

Janet finished speaking to herself, and was also silent for a while before she said again: "Simon, I'm a little scared. ”

"Huh?"

"The lion will conquer the whole steppe and become the real king in the future, will he still care about the kitten from the beginning?"

"Of course," Simon reassured, "that is a very selfish lion, and what belongs to him will always be his." ”

"Then why don't you keep your kitten now?"

"Does it work?"

"Nope. ”

"Then I won't keep it," Simon patted the woman and said, "However, you still live here, and I will move away." ”

"Why?"

"Those paparazzi are going crazy when they hear this kind of news, I don't want them to disturb you, it's more private here than in Malibu. ”

Janet curled the corners of her mouth, her eyes sparkled, and she said, "Then you can live in Malibu, and I will lend it to you in the name of a friend." ”

"Don't go. ”

"You can pay rent. ”

"Actually, I prefer a more modern villa. ”

Janet remembered her European-style villa in Malibu and her current Mediterranean-style mansion, and hugged Simon's waist and tightened again: "You've been accommodating me." ”

"yes, there's no need to settle now. ”

"Well, little bastard," Janet seemed a little dissatisfied, reached out and pinched it, but she didn't use any force at all, and said softly, "You, live in Malibu, they don't know about us, and we are temporarily separated." ”

Simon thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay." ”

Janet paused, felt some of her wavering, and quickly shook her head again, and said, "Still, don't, you can live wherever you like, even if you run to share a room with Kate immediately, I don't care." We, we ......" Janet muttered a few words, suddenly broke free from Simon's embrace, stood up and took two steps back, and said firmly: "Simon Westeros, I officially inform you that we have broken up. ”