She Was the Intended Choice

"Oh, you want me to recommend this screenplay to Mr. Coppola?"

In one of the offices on the set of The Godfather Part III, Aaron met Al Pacino.

"Yes. Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore entrusted it to me a couple of days ago. His film Cinema Paradiso won the Jury Prize at Cannes this year."

"Everybody's Fine is a family drama centered on familial love. Although I recommended it to Disney, I can't guarantee they'll be willing to take it on."

After hearing Aaron Anderson out, Al Pacino smiled. "It's too artistic for those big companies like Disney to appreciate, isn't it?"

"Yes," Aaron nodded.

"Cinema Paradiso, huh? I know that film. It's about Sicily, and it was well made."

"Don't worry. I'll recommend your screenplay to Mr. Coppola." Al Pacino understood why Aaron Anderson had sought out Coppola.

Italian works were indeed more likely to catch Coppola's eye. Besides, Giuseppe Tornatore was one of Italy's representative young directors in recent years.

"Thanks. I'll be leaving, then." Aaron rose and left the office. Jennifer Connelly's audition should have ended by now...

Outside the set, Aaron immediately spotted Jennifer Connelly looking utterly dejected and guessed the outcome.

Aaron smiled and patted her shoulder reassuringly. "It was only one audition. It's not a big deal. Let's head back first."

Jennifer Connelly got into the car. "My audition only lasted half an hour. Winona Ryder went in after me, and she's been in there for forty-five minutes already. She still hasn't come out."

Aaron muttered to himself that, given Winona Ryder's current acting skills and popularity, she was indeed a very suitable choice for The Godfather Part III.

Judging by the situation, she had been invited by Mr. Coppola and was likely the director's intended choice. Yet Aaron clearly remembered that Coppola's own daughter, Sofia Coppola, had played the daughter in The Godfather Part III.

He shook his head inwardly. This had nothing to do with him anyway. Italians valued family—there was no disputing that. What had happened behind the scenes was something only the people involved knew.

On the set of The Godfather Part III, Francis Ford Coppola was very satisfied with Winona Ryder's audition.

If nothing unexpected happened, she would probably be cast as the daughter in the film.

Back in his office, Coppola received a screenplay recommended by Al Pacino.

"Giuseppe Tornatore is a promising young Italian director."

Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino were old friends. Since Pacino had recommended it, it certainly was not some random screenplay.

"Yes. He found a CAA agent for help. That agent knows me and asked me to bring the screenplay for you to look over."

"I think the story is quite good."

Al Pacino gave a casual introduction while Francis Ford Coppola flipped through the screenplay.

"A CAA agent? The young man accompanying Jennifer Connelly?"

"Yes. He was the one who persuaded me to take Pretty Woman. Otherwise, I might have joined the Dick Tracy production instead."

Al Pacino smiled. "That kid has a good eye. He was the one who discovered Sex, Lies, and Videotape."

"I see..."

After Francis Ford Coppola had roughly looked over the screenplay, he said, "What a pity. The story focuses on family bonds and is very warm."

"The budget isn't high either, less than ten billion Italian Lira. If I weren't directing The Godfather Part III, I could have served as its producer."

Paramount required The Godfather Part III to be released during next year's Christmas season, so Coppola had no energy left for anything else.

If Francis Ford Coppola's name were listed as producer for Everybody's Fine, it certainly would not lack distributor investment.

After all, the film's budget was not high. At the current exchange rate, ten billion Italian Lira was only a little over seven million dollars! (The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Italian Lira was currently around 1:1400.)

"Everybody's Fine is highly artistic, without obvious commercial elements. You can suggest that he seek support from independent art-film companies."

"How about this? I'll introduce him to Heritage Entertainment. They should be interested."

Al Pacino nodded. He just needed to find time to inform Aaron Anderson.

Neither Al Pacino nor Francis Ford Coppola actually cared all that much.

The main reason was that Everybody's Fine was an Italian art film. That mattered more than Aaron Anderson's identity.

By October, the weather in New York had already turned cool. Compared to the warmth of Los Angeles, it was far more chilly here.

In a suite at the St. Regis Hotel, Aaron sat on the sofa talking to Al Pacino on the phone. "Thank you, and please convey our gratitude to Director Coppola as well, Mr. Pacino."

After hanging up, Aaron considered the Heritage Entertainment company Pacino had mentioned. It was an American art-film distributor.

It managed Landmark Theatres, an art-house cinema chain with nearly fifty theaters and more than two hundred screens across the United States.

"Aaron, what's wrong?"

Jennifer Connelly emerged from the bathroom and saw Aaron staring blankly from the sofa.

"Oh." When Aaron saw Jennifer Connelly wearing nothing but one of his shirts, her sexy, voluptuous figure faintly visible beneath it, he thought, She really is a seductive little vixen.

"Director Coppola favors Winona Ryder for The Godfather Part III." Al Pacino had just told him the result over the phone.

As he spoke, Aaron pulled Jennifer Connelly into his lap and kissed the beauty in his arms.

"Mm..." After a long French kiss, Jennifer Connelly's breathing was ragged and her gaze dreamy. She wrapped her arms around Aaron's neck, looking especially affectionate.

"Was last night not enough? Winona, huh? So they did choose her after all."

"How could I ever get enough of a woman like you? When are you planning to go back to school?"

Aaron felt Jennifer Connelly's enticing 34D against him and asked.

"Not so soon. At least another week or two. Stanford University suffered some damage in the earthquake and needs to be cleaned up first."

"Is that so? Perfect. Then stay at the hotel with me these next few days."

Jennifer Connelly smiled. "I'm going home for a few days. I'll come find you afterward."

"Fine." Aaron needed to visit Heritage Entertainment anyway. He had to make an effort for Giuseppe Tornatore's Everybody's Fine project.

"Oh, and don't leave tonight. I'll drive you home tomorrow." Jennifer Connelly's home was here in New York.

Aaron had been very satisfied last night, so naturally he could not bear to let Jennifer Connelly leave today.