Chapter 155 – Climbing Into Your Bed
With the Fourth of July just past, Four Weddings and a Funeral officially began filming at Shepperton Studios outside Buckinghamshire.
Meanwhile, Aaron Anderson had flown back to London for a dinner meeting with director Ridley Scott to finalize the plans for The Mask of Zorro.
Evening settled over Fleet Street. Inside a quiet French restaurant, Aaron sat with Ridley Scott, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The casting was now locked in:
Kevin Costner as the new Zorro, Anthony Hopkins as the aging former Zorro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the leading lady — the daughter of the legendary masked hero.
"I've already finalized everything with Mike Medavoy at Samsung Pictures," Aaron said. "We'll co-finance the film — sixty million dollars in total."
Sixty million. It would be the most expensive production Dawnlight had ever taken part in. Dawnlight would handle domestic distribution, while Samsung oversaw the international market.
Ridley Scott nodded. "Prep work is almost done. If nothing changes, we can start shooting next month."
Beside Aaron, Catherine Zeta-Jones could barely keep her composure.
A newcomer landing the female lead in a sixty-million-dollar Hollywood blockbuster — it was the sort of dream that normally happened only in fairy tales.
Her hands were clasped tightly on her lap, trembling with excitement.
This is real. This is actually happening…
As they left the restaurant, Catherine clung to Aaron's arm.
"Aaron… is it really true? We're actually starting next month?"
"Why wouldn't we?" he said with a smile. "Indecent Proposal has crossed the $100 million mark in North America — $120 million overseas. Sleepless in Seattle is already past $65 million domestically. Samsung trusts Dawnlight completely. Nobody's going to question my call on Zorro."
Catherine laughed breathlessly. "I know. I'm just… too excited."
Aaron slipped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. "Come on. Let's grab a drink."
"There are some great bars near the Savoy," she said immediately — of course she wasn't going to refuse.
As they walked together, Catherine mused,
"Fleet Street used to be the heart of British newspapers — every major paper was headquartered here. But in the mid-eighties, News Corp moved The Times, News of the World and The Sun out to the suburbs to cut costs and boost circulation. Everyone else followed suit… and Fleet Street emptied out."
Aaron suddenly paused.
"Look," he said.
Outside a cinema, two giant posters were displayed: Sleepless in Seattle and Batman Returns.
"They've just opened here in the UK," Catherine said. "Columbia TriStar and Warner Bros. International. Sleepless — that's one of Dawnlight's films, isn't it?"
Aaron chuckled. "International distribution is Samsung's department. I can't possibly track every country's release date."
He studied the Batman Returns poster.
The sequel had opened huge — a $45.7 million opening weekend — and now sat at $120 million domestic.
But compared to the 1989 Batman, shot on a $35 million budget and earning $250 million domestic and $400 million worldwide, the follow-up's trajectory was clearly weaker.
With a ballooning $80 million budget and Michael Keaton's fee alone hitting $10 million, the sequel was underperforming expectations. Tim Burton's increasingly dark, gothic direction wasn't helping either.
Later that night, after some drinks, the two headed straight to the Savoy.
Catherine was bold — even fierce — in her gratitude and excitement.
She gave Aaron everything she had, every bit of charm and skill.
She wasn't just grateful for landing a role — this was the role that could change her entire life.
At dawn, Aaron let out a low groan as he woke. Catherine slid up from beneath the blanket and rested on his chest.
"I'll be flying to the U.S. by the end of the month," she murmured. "Ridley wants several days of training before filming starts. I've been taking fencing lessons and working out nonstop — all for the action scenes."
Still sleepy, still savoring her warmth, Aaron stroked her hair.
"Zorro will be a long shoot. Don't worry — come find me whenever you need a break. And I'll visit the set now and then."
She smiled like a cat basking in sunlight. "I will."
Then she added, with a mischievous sparkle,
"Oh — I ran into Elizabeth Hurley earlier. She asked me about Zorro. You could feel how jealous she was. She shot her first Hollywood film this year… but well… it's nothing compared to this."
Aaron didn't need her to explain.
At the Four Weddings company event, Elizabeth Hurley had been eager — very eager — to get his attention.
"Honestly," Catherine continued with a giggle, "I think she regrets introducing me to you."
Aaron raised a brow. "How would that be her fault?"
"Because," Catherine said sweetly, kissing his chin,
"she regrets not climbing into your bed first. Now every model and actress in Britain would kill for a chance… but I got here before they did."
Aaron laughed quietly. "So you're feeling lucky?"
"Absolutely."
He patted her waist. "Come on. Let's get a shower."