Chapter 237: Wouldn’t That Be Too Tiring?
Chapter 237: Wouldn’t That Be Too Tiring?
“I didn’t expect you to be so capable. There’s just one thing. Why does everyone else become an idiot, while you alone remain wise and mighty?”
It was another early morning. In Eric’s room, Elizabeth sat on the chair beside the small wooden table, watching Eric brush his teeth in the bathroom as she asked.
“I’m the director. The one controlling the whole crew, like the alpha wolf in a pack,” Eric rinsed his mouth, wiped the white foam from the corner of his lips, and continued, “If I make a mistake, wouldn’t that mean all of you are wrong too?”
“Hmph, you really know how to argue.” Elizabeth curled her lips in dissatisfaction. Seeing Eric come out, the woman pointed at the breakfast tray in front of her. “Here, for you.”
Eric did not stand on ceremony. He pulled the tray directly in front of him and quickly started eating. He knew Elizabeth had definitely already eaten. According to the woman herself, she was dieting, and during this period, she only ate one apple and drank one glass of milk for breakfast. But in Eric’s view, she simply could not stand the sanitary conditions here and could not find a place to make breakfast herself, so she had no choice but to keep it simple. She also ate very little for the other two meals.
Watching Eric begin wolfing down his food, the woman helplessly picked up the documents in front of her and read through today’s shooting schedule and several other matters for Eric, while also reminding him of a few things he needed to set aside extra time to handle. These had originally been Allen’s duties, but since Elizabeth insisted on coming along, Eric naturally assigned this part of the work to her. At the same time, he could also give his eyes a pleasant view every morning. Although Elizabeth realized Eric’s “filthy” intentions, she did not refuse.
“Right. I think you’ll definitely need to read this newspaper.”
“What?”
Eric put down his glass and took the newspaper.
It was a copy of The Seattle Times, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Washington State.
Of course, that was not what Eric cared about. What caught his attention was the front-page headline.
Sony Acquires Columbia Pictures for 5.5 Billion Dollars.
Although he already knew Sony might complete the acquisition in September and had worried about the future revenue-share payments from Running Out of Time after the Japanese bought Columbia, Eric could not possibly keep thinking about it all the time.
After carefully reading the article, Eric breathed a sigh of relief and casually put the newspaper aside before continuing his breakfast.
He noticed one piece of information in the article. Under pressure from public opinion, the Japanese had publicly stated that Sony would not participate in the management of Columbia Pictures. The company would still be run by an American management team, while Sony would only maintain the identity of an investor. Since everything would remain unchanged, there should not be any problems with the future revenue share for Running Out of Time.
Elizabeth stared at Eric for a while before she could not help asking, “Are you feeling pretty smug right now?”
Eric swallowed the food in his mouth and looked up in confusion. “What do I have to be smug about?”
“Heh, I didn’t expect you to be modest.” The woman curled her lips. “Or did you not read it carefully just now? In the fourth paragraph, the article analyzed that because Home Alone and Running Out of Time successively pushed up Columbia’s stock price, the Japanese paid at least seven hundred million dollars more for it. That’s seven hundred million dollars. Isn’t that enough to make you smug?”
Eric shrugged. “Of course I’m smug, but it’s not enough to make me jump up and down in joy. After all, the Japanese didn’t deposit that seven hundred million dollars into my account.”
“What about Running Out of Time, then? I heard about the contents of that contract. Firefly didn’t invest a single cent, but it still received more than half of the box office profits.”
“Why are you looking at me like I took advantage of them? Although I took most of the profits, Columbia also made money from it.” At this point, Eric pretended to be furious. “And you just said that the Japanese paid seven hundred million dollars more because of this. Calculating it that way, I’m the one who lost out. On average, each of my films made Columbia’s shareholders earn an extra three hundred and fifty million, yet they refused to share even a cent with me.”
The woman was stunned by Eric’s divine logic, her small mouth opening slightly. After a long while, she finally said, “You really are…”
“Alright, these aren’t things you need to worry about right now.” Eric finished breakfast, pulled out a napkin, and wiped his mouth. “The most important thing now is filming this movie properly.”
“Now that you mention it, I remembered something else.” The woman looked up at Eric, who had walked to the cabinet to get his clothes. “I’ve read the script over the past few days too. I think this movie is very… strange.”
“Very strange?” Eric turned to look at her.
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. Don’t you think that two people who’ve never met each other before, one of them getting all worried before even seeing the other, while the other looks like they’re reunited after a long separation the first time they meet, seems too forced?”
“I don’t think so.” Eric put on his coat and said, “Liz, have you heard of… fate?”
“Ship?”
The woman repeated the phrase Eric had thought over for a while before translating, then shook her head. “I don’t think that’s possible. How can there be a relationship that’s destined from birth in this world?”
“Everything that has already happened and can no longer be changed is fate. That is what’s called predestined affinity. Just like you and me, me and Jenny, me and Drew, me and Vicky…”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes dramatically. “Hearing you say it like that makes me suddenly want to beat you up. Also, don’t put me together with other women, alright?”
Eric smiled. “Fine, I’m joking. Actually, in the distant East, there’s a very romantic idea: five hundred glances back in a past life are exchanged for one passing encounter in this life.”
“What does that mean?” Elizabeth asked.
“That would take a while to explain.” Eric looked at his watch. “Everyone has probably already set out. We should go too. I’ll explain on the way.”
The small motel was less than a kilometer from the seaside house the crew was using for filming, so everyone in the crew walked there.
After greeting the others, the two walked side by side down the street. Only then did Elizabeth say, “Keep going.”
Eric nodded. “Eastern Buddhism has a belief that life does not vanish. Souls reincarnate again and again, which gives rise to past lives and present lives. So think about it again, and you should understand.”
“Five hundred glances back in a past life are exchanged for one passing encounter in this life,” Elizabeth murmured, repeating the line. Then she looked at Eric and said, “Wouldn’t that be… too tiring?”