Chapter 39: Office Dinner
Estelle told Bruce the scripts had sold for three hundred fifty thousand dollars each, which surprised him and made him curious—she had previously said she planned to offer Miramax three hundred thousand per script.
Estelle explained: "Half an hour before I walked into Miramax, I learned they had just closed a deal with New Line for three hundred fifty thousand on Django Unchained, so I immediately decided to ask for four hundred thousand. At first Harvey wouldn't budge beyond three hundred."
Bruce asked: "So how did you finally settle on three hundred fifty?"
Estelle said: "They insisted on three hundred, not a penny more, so I walked out. Since they needed all three scripts, I knew there'd be a follow-up call. Sure enough, that afternoon Harvey called and added fifty thousand to each script. Three fifty was my target all along—so we closed the deal."
Bruce asked: "When do we sign the contract?"
Estelle replied: "Tomorrow the lawyers on both sides will work out the details. One clause will require Miramax to greenlight and produce all three films within six years; if they miss the deadline, we reclaim one script's rights every two years. I can sign for you, but I still have to ask—do you want to come with me tomorrow?"
Bruce said: "No, Estelle. I won't go. Represent me as usual."
Estelle said: "Alright, Bruce. I have to say, you're the most trusting client I've ever had. This is a contract worth over a million dollars. Aren't you worried something could go wrong?"
Bruce replied: "I trust your skills completely. Nothing will go wrong. And if it does, I'll just write more scripts and we'll still make money."
Estelle said: "You talk as if these scripts don't take any effort—like you just reach into a drawer and pull them out."
Bruce laughed: "Exactly. I do have a drawer full of scripts—it's just in my head..."
After hanging up with Estelle, Bruce called Grace. Audrey's voice answered: "Hello?"
Bruce said: "Hi, Audrey, it's Bruce. Is Grace there?"
Audrey replied: "Bruce, Grace isn't home right now."
Bruce asked: "It's already evening—where is she?"
Audrey said: "Still at the firm. She called about an hour ago. If you need it, I can give you her office number!"
Bruce said: "Please do. Thanks, Audrey."
When Bruce dialed the number Audrey gave him, a woman answered: "Hello, Sullivan & Cromwell."
Bruce said: "Grace, it's Bruce. I called your apartment and Audrey said you're still at the office. Working this late?"
Grace replied: "Our team's on a merger and acquisition case. I have to finish a brief for tomorrow's negotiation."
Bruce asked: "Have you had dinner?"
Grace said: "I grabbed a sandwich this afternoon, haven't had time for dinner."
Bruce said: "No matter how busy you are, you need to eat... Well, besides a couple slices of pizza at Joey's this afternoon, I haven't had a real dinner either. How about I bring food and we eat together?"
Grace asked: "You don't have other plans tonight?"
Bruce answered: "My top priority tonight is making sure you get dinner."
Grace laughed: "Then come on over!"
Bruce said: "Great, I'll head out now. What would you like?"
Grace said: "I want Italian food."
Bruce asked: "Any specific place?"
Grace replied: "Just pick whatever looks good. I trust your judgment."
Bruce said: "No problem. I'll find a good place. By the way, where's your firm located?"
Grace said, "125 Broad Street. My office is on the ground floor. Tell the night security guard you're here to see me and he'll let you in."
Bruce grabbed the keys and headed out. On the stairs he ran into Rachel coming up. "Hi, Bruce, heading out this late?" she asked.
"I'm going to see Grace. Just getting off work?"
Rachel gave a knowing smile. "Yep, late shift tonight. Looks like you're taking her dinner—how romantic!"
"Yeah, she's working late. I'm just bringing food. By the way, did Phoebe talk to you tonight?"
The moment he asked, Bruce realized his mistake—if Phoebe had already told Rachel about Paolo, Rachel wouldn't be smiling like that.
Sure enough, Rachel shook her head. "Nope. Why?"
Bruce recovered quickly. "You know Phoebe—she has a habit of pulling people aside randomly."
Rachel nodded. "True enough."
"Right, I'm off. See you, Rachel."
Bruce drove to Little Italy in Lower Manhattan, parking outside a busy Italian restaurant. He ordered chicken parmesan, Caesar salad, and minestrone soup to go.
After paying, he waited another fifteen minutes until the staff handed him the food packed in insulated bags.
The drive from Little Italy to the Financial District took about twenty minutes. Sullivan & Cromwell's office at 125 Broad Street occupied several floors of a modern tower. Bruce parked, carried the food bag to the lobby, told the guard he was there to see Grace, watched the guard call upstairs to confirm, then passed through security.
Just past the entrance, Bruce saw Grace walking out from the office area, smiling and waving him over.
Grace led him to a workstation in the common area and pulled up a chair. "No private office yet?"
Grace laughed. "Who do you think I am? Junior associates don't get offices. If I had the money, I could rent one from the firm for twenty thousand a year."
"Then here's to you making partner soon and getting that corner office."
Bruce unpacked the containers of food. "This place had great reviews. Hope you like it."
Grace took a bite of the chicken. "This is amazing. After days of takeout sandwiches, real food feels like heaven."
Bruce tried his food and smiled. "Glad I picked the right place. Try the salad and soup too."
They ate and chatted. Grace asked, "We haven't really talked since New Year's Eve. You didn't come all the way here just to bring me dinner, did you?"
"Partly, yes—I can't let you starve while working late. But I also wanted to give you those videos I mentioned; I promised you copies at our dinner."
"I remember. Did you bring them tonight?"
"They're in my car. I'll give them to you when I drive you home."
"I'll be here pretty late; you don't have to wait."
"I'd be up late anyway. My writing schedule's completely flipped—I go to bed after midnight, wake up close to noon."
"So why do you prefer writing at night?"
"It feels like freedom. That's why I love being a freelance screenwriter—emphasis on free."
[Reader Event Active]
500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter
Thanks for reading!
20+ advance chapters on P1treon Soulforger