Chapter 289: He Couldn’t Exactly Bite Back
Chapter 289: He Couldn’t Exactly Bite Back
After learning from Murdoch that Michael Eisner had been the one who led the previous storm, Eric had completely given up any intention of compromising. At the same time, he made up his mind to have someone find a way to acquire the Righteous Brothers’ song “Unchained Melody” tomorrow. As for everything else, let things fall where they may. In any case, there were countless good films in his mind.
There was only one somewhat regrettable point. Eric had originally planned to spend this year creating a special effects company, familiarizing himself with the use of film special effects, and preparing for the later production of Jurassic Park.
Ghost was undoubtedly a very good experimental subject. The wall-passing special effects and the Grim Reaper special effects in the film could all serve as practice for him.
With this film gone, many of Eric’s original plans would be disrupted.
“All right, Eric, it’s getting late. Let’s end dinner here,” Murdoch suddenly said.
Eric was not in much of a mood to continue chatting either. He called over the waiter, handed over his credit card, and asked him to settle the bill.
Murdoch stood up directly. “Eric, Liz is staying in Beverly Hills during this period. I’m a little old, so I want to go straight back. Can you help me send her home?”
“Dad, I can go back by myself,” Elisabeth said.
“You’re a girl. What if you run into bad people? I’m sure Eric won’t mind sending you home, right, Eric?” Murdoch asked Eric with a smile.
Eric looked at Elisabeth and said, “If Liz is willing, of course I don’t mind.”
“Then that’s settled.” As Murdoch spoke, he called over the assistant and bodyguards who had been waiting nearby and turned to leave.
Since it was already nearly ten o’clock, there were not many people left in the restaurant. In this area, only Eric and Elisabeth remained, looking at each other.
“I don’t need you to send me. I can go back by myself,” Elisabeth stubbornly repeated.
“Oh.” Eric nodded and extended his hand in a gesture telling her to suit herself.
Elisabeth, who had just stood up, glared at Eric in dissatisfaction and sat back down bitterly. “I’ve never seen such an ungentlemanly guy like you.”
Eric smiled. After settling the bill, he stood up and said to the woman, “All right, let’s go.”
Elisabeth reluctantly stood up and followed behind Eric. The two of them got into Eric’s car together.
“You’re still staying at Julia’s place?” Eric asked as he started the car.
“Yes. It’s livelier with two people living together. Besides, Julia is also my partner in the film company. It’s more convenient for us to live together and discuss things.”
“Speaking of which, I still don’t know the name of your film company,” Eric said casually as he drove the car onto the road.
Elisabeth said, “TG Pictures.”
“What does TG mean?”
Elisabeth opened her mouth and was about to answer, but then she remembered that if she explained it, Eric would definitely ask who the three girls were, and then Drew would be exposed. Drew had reminded her and Julia more than once not to tell Eric for the time being. The woman believed she had far more integrity than her shameless father and would not sell out a teammate so easily.
“TG is TG. Why are you asking so much?”
“Oh, all right.” Eric obligingly stopped probing and changed the subject. “By the way, didn’t you explain The Silence of the Lambs clearly to your father?”
“Explain what?” Elisabeth asked curiously.
“For example, that I’m quite optimistic about this script.”
The woman blinked a few times. “My dad didn’t ask.”
“Then I guess when The Silence of the Lambs is released, someone else will regret it so much he won’t be able to eat,” Eric said with a smile.
“Hmph. Now that you mention it, I remember. You’re really hateful. You secretly bought the rights to An Affair to Remember from Fox ahead of time. I heard the videotape sales for that film have already reached more than a million copies. My dad called Barry Diller and scolded him, and a Fox executive even lost his job.”
Eric shrugged. “That’s business. Besides, you sold it willingly. I didn’t steal or rob anyone.”
The woman said in dissatisfaction, “We haven’t signed the contract yet. Don’t think I’ll definitely hand The Silence of the Lambs over to your small company for distribution.”
Eric stopped the car at a red light and casually looked at the street outside the window. “Up to you. Besides, it might not be a big hit. Maybe you’ll end up crying from the loss.”
“If that really happens, I won’t be the only one crying,” Elisabeth said meaningfully. Seeing Eric’s noncommittal expression, the woman continued, “The North American release can be handled by Firefly, but I want a 35% share. I’ll give the overseas release to Fox.”
“20%,” Eric immediately haggled with a grin.
The woman raised her fist and smashed it against Eric’s shoulder. “35%. Otherwise, I’ll hand it to Fox.”
“How about 21%?”
“Get lost.” Just as the woman was about to speak again, a silver convertible sports car behind Eric’s car began honking wildly. Several young people in the car shouted crazily, “Hey, the light’s green. Drive, drive!”
Eric helplessly glanced at the rearview mirror and slowly pressed the accelerator.
When the silver convertible passed alongside them, the young people shouted a few provocative words toward Eric’s window. Eric continued driving at his own speed as if he had not seen them. The silver convertible soon overtook them. Eric originally thought the other party would speed off into the distance, but the car quickly slowed down again and drove alongside Eric’s car.
“Hey, beauty, how about coming over to our car and taking a ride with us?” a young man with a permed afro whistled at Elisabeth in the passenger seat.
Eric glanced out the window and directly pressed the button to raise the glass. Elisabeth followed suit, though her mouth still refused to spare him. “You’re really weak. The lady beside you is being harassed, and you don’t even dare fight back.”
Eric glanced at the woman. “If a dog bites you, are you going to bite it back?”
“You… You’re really vulgar.” Elisabeth angrily turned her head aside, determined to ignore Eric.
Eric did not take it to heart either and focused on driving. Although Eric had raised the window, the young men in the convertible still refused to leave. They sped up and slowed down alternately, circling around Eric’s car and making various provocative gestures from time to time.
Eric looked out the window. This place was already not far from Elisabeth’s home, so he had no intention of paying them any attention.