Who can say no when reality becomes undeniable? What can people do when they fall into a trap, caught off guard… Billy was doing a fine job.
–You're here. What can people do? – said Billy as he noticed Anne arrive. It was the height of summer, and what bothered him most about Australia were the animals that roamed freely, even in his five-star hotel. He often saw cockroaches darting from one corner to another, and spiders crawling about as well—it was dangerous and unsettling. Yet Australians were so accustomed to it that they coexisted with the wildlife, never allowing anyone to disrupt the natural order. Set cleanings were scheduled to ensure safety.
–It's hot, – Anne said, aware of how the heat was now affecting her mood.
–It is. I asked for my room to be next to yours, – Billy replied. The VIP area was designed for guests to face the unimaginable.
–Do you have the comics? – Anne asked.
Billy nodded. He had completed four chapters of Bleach, three of Real, and another four of Hellsing. Solid work, although the comics for Bleach and Hellsing still needed coloring.
–They have talent, no doubt. I'll bring them in for a more focused assignment. But I'm still waiting on your new piece, – Anne replied, intrigued by the leftover chapters. With each new comic Billy released, it was clear that his stories struck a deep chord across North America—even among professors of drawing, animation, and technical design, his work left a lasting impression.
–I've got some strong ideas for the next projects. They'll deliver solid results with minimal conflict. Each comic I publish will offer a fresh way to tell stories and will support our sports initiative. To me, they're new ways of narrating real events, – Billy said, still lost in thought. Both of them would soon have to focus on the financial mechanisms and how private company funds had been spent. The corporate reorganization had been a battle of contradictions—managing debt through sustainable measures. For some time now, their practice had been to pay off loans monthly, with a final large capital injection to shorten the loan's duration. Since the credit terms were favorable in both size and timeline, Billy used that to his advantage, turning a 12-year loan into a 4-year payoff or less. His credit score was stellar, a direct result of his financial discipline.
–Now we have a $500 million loan, with $25 million in annual interest. The payment figure sounds absurd, but if we manage it right, that money could do a lot, – Anne said. She didn't fully grasp the specifics of the trades—complex actions hedged through CDFs, options, and leveraged positions. It was a mess she was trying to untangle. What worried her most was that the funds hadn't yet been delivered—a complicated situation.
–It'll come through by October. No doubt about it, – Billy said, knowing that by then, the early investments in Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia would already be yielding results. The money left to deliver was more symbolic than substantial.
Anne sighed with relief. She didn't want to ruin the day worrying about failure, and she was confident in Billy—he always seemed to land on his feet, no matter the setback. Changing course now wasn't a real option for either of them.
–Then it'll be October when we pay the bills from Lucasfilm and The Lord of the Rings. What a challenge. At least we own the riskiest company in the world, because the explicit rule is: truth becomes action, – Anne whispered. She understood the nature of cinema, speculation, and the stock market—they were the most volatile and demanding arenas. Still, within that chaos lay the chance for massive success.
–This is going to be a big year, – Billy said, closing the folders. They weren't far from home, but they were fully aware of the mounting difficulties. News about the Titanic had put him back in the spotlight. Even in Australia, the fan frenzy didn't let up—people often came up asking for photos. Distance offered little escape, and privacy had become a precious rarity.
–I've got a shoot later this afternoon. You should see how they manage things around here—they plan every dollar of production, where it's spent and why it's useful in every possible way, – Billy said. His words carried focus and purpose. Art always circles back to the numbers, and the real spending—green screens, full sets—was just as vivid and vital as anything on-screen.
–Local dishes? – Anne asked, noticing how the menu leaned heavily toward the region's famed BBQs. Billy offered to help her choose a "barbie"—a BBQ plate with grilled lamb, shrimp, sausages, and roasted potatoes, plus a grilled tuna steak.
–We'll order the rest tomorrow, – Anne said, closing the menu at the five-star restaurant, where flavor went far beyond simple presentation.
***
Who gets left behind when honest work leads to real success? The score so far was only halfway.
–That's exactly what we want in the months ahead, – Peter Jackson responded, hard at work. Along with a team he had handpicked, they were building every set design, every map, every miniature model for the next three Lord of the Rings films, as well as two movies adapting The Hobbit and a third focusing on Thorin Oakenshield's fight against Azog the Defiler. The story would center around the Orcs, the shadow over Mordor, and the events that led up to The Fellowship of the Ring, revealing more about Gondor's hidden past.
While three animated films are expected to be made, about tales from Middle-earth, an animated series about the First Age, and three films about the War of the Last Alliance.
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