Chapter Summaries

Aaron discussed film prospects, currency speculation, Jack Wells’s Russian dealings, and political donations before preparing to travel to the Venice International Film Festival. Monica Bellucci stayed in the United States to rehearse for Philadelphia, while Aaron planned to take Jennifer Connelly instead.

• Aaron and Catherine Zeta-Jones discussed the disappointing performance of her Columbus biopic and Ridley Scott’s upcoming 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
• Aaron had Tianhai Fund begin shorting the Pound sterling as investors sold Pound sterling and Italian Lira for Deutsche Mark.
• Jack Wells told Aaron about buying Russian weapons for sale in Africa and investing in Omega Advisors, then admitted his role in the attack on Sean Combs and 2Pac.
• Aaron told Jack Wells to donate to promising California congressional candidates ahead of the elections.
• Aaron invited Monica Bellucci to Italy, but she stayed to prepare for Philadelphia, so Aaron planned to bring Jennifer Connelly instead.

Aaron watched Europe’s currency crisis escalate while staying in Italy, and he profited by shorting the Pound sterling as Britain and Italy left the European Monetary System. At the Venice Film Festival closing banquet, he met eighteen-year-old Spanish actress Penélope Cruz.

• Aaron followed the Finnish Markka’s unpegging and the Italian Lira’s devaluation, then watched Germany cut interest rates.
• Quantum Fund-led speculators attacked the Pound sterling, and Britain raised interest rates before withdrawing from the European Monetary System and cutting rates again.
• Italy spent reserves defending the lira but withdrew from the European Monetary System, while European Community finance officials approved temporary exits for Britain and Italy and a 5% devaluation of the Spanish peseta.
• Aaron told Jennifer Connelly at the closing banquet that he had made money shorting the Pound sterling.
• Aaron bumped into Penélope Cruz in the corridor, recognized her from Jamón, Jamón, and learned that she recognized him as Mr. Anderson.

Aaron returned to Los Angeles after profiting from the pound’s collapse, then took Nicole Kidman to Saint Barth for a vacation. While there, he heard that a Canadian brewing group was interested in acquiring Time Warner and Nicole asked whether they should continue.

• Aaron declined Penélope Cruz’s invitation for a drink before leaving the United Kingdom with Jennifer Connelly.
• Tianhai Fund closed its leveraged short position on the pound, earning Aaron 70 million US dollars net.
• Aaron visited Nicole Kidman in Manhattan, then took her to Saint Barth to spend several days together.
• MGM received another 350 million US dollars from Crédit Lyonnais, while Orion Pictures was declared bankrupt.
• Disney’s Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg clashed over power as Euro Disney struggled and Katzenberg’s businesses prospered.
• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron that Michael Ovitz had visited the ill Steve Ross and that a Canadian brewing group wanted to acquire Time Warner; Nicole asked Aaron whether they should continue.

Aaron attended the United States premiere of The Crying Game while discussing Seagram’s interest in acquiring Time Warner with Dawn Steel. After watching the controversial film, he considered Neil Jordan as a possible director for Interview with the Vampire.

• Aaron and Dawn Steel discussed Gerald Levin’s rise at Time Warner and Seagram’s plans to acquire the media conglomerate.
• Aaron warned that money alone would not guarantee success for wealthy companies entering Hollywood.
• Aaron watched The Crying Game, which followed Fergus’s relationship with Dil and the violence surrounding his former IRA associates.
• Critics praised the film for blending suspense, politics, identity, and romance, while its twist also made it controversial.
• Aaron considered Neil Jordan as a possible director for Interview with the Vampire.

Aaron Anderson supported The Crying Game’s Oscar campaign, then pursued Spider-Man film rights for Dawn Pictures as the US election approached. The chapter ended with Aaron and Jack Wells discussing Bill Clinton’s visit to Los Angeles and their bet on his victory.

• Aaron Anderson assured Neil Jordan that Dawn Pictures would promote The Crying Game and campaign for the Oscars.
• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron Anderson that European countries were considering quotas to protect their film industries, and Aaron asked about Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man rights.
• Aaron Anderson ordered Dawn Pictures to acquire Golan’s 21st Century Film Corporation and negotiate a new Spider-Man license with Marvel Comics.
• Dawn Pictures acquired 21st Century Film Corporation and secured a five-year Spider-Man filming license, with Marvel receiving five percent of box-office revenue.
• Aaron Anderson and Jack Wells discussed Bill Clinton’s visit to the Los Angeles disaster area and their bet on his winning the election.

Aaron promoted Dawn’s films, discussed Clinton’s campaign and Hollywood rivalries, and continued working with Monica Bellucci on Philadelphia. Bill Clinton won the 1992 presidential election, and Aaron prepared to return to Los Angeles for Dawn’s upcoming releases and Oscar preparations.

• Dawn held a screening of The Crying Game, and Aaron reviewed documents about Bill Clinton’s scandals and discussed his campaign with Jack Wells.
• Aaron and Monica Bellucci attended a Halloween ball, where Aaron told her how Arnold Schwarzenegger had tricked Sylvester Stallone into starring in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
• Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot to become the 42nd President of the United States.
• On the Philadelphia set, Aaron learned of Clinton’s victory and spent the night with Monica Bellucci.
• Aaron told Monica that he planned to return to Los Angeles to oversee Scent of a Woman, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Schindler’s List ahead of Oscar season.

After Clinton’s victory celebration, Aaron returned to Los Angeles, where he took Elizabeth Hurley in and promised her the female lead in Forrest Gump. He then traveled to Spain to inspect The Mask of Zorro’s production and visited the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

• At Clinton’s victory celebration, Jack Wells told Aaron that his security company had recruited retired Marines who had come from Haiti.
• Aaron took Elizabeth Hurley home after she complained about the Passenger 57 crew, and she asked to stay at his villa while pursuing Hollywood work.
• The next morning, Aaron promised Elizabeth Hurley the female lead in Dawn’s planned adaptation of Forrest Gump.
• Aaron traveled to Sitges, Spain, to inspect The Mask of Zorro’s production and toured the film festival with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
• Aaron stopped in front of a poster for A Chinese Ghost Story III: Tao Tao Tao, but told Catherine that nothing was wrong.

Aaron watched A Chinese Ghost Story III with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Spain, visited Salma Hayek during The Mask of Zorro’s production, and later met Sophie Marceau in Paris. He invited Sophie to spend a few days with him at his new villa on Ibiza before they returned to the United States.

• Aaron and Catherine Zeta-Jones watched A Chinese Ghost Story III at the Sitges festival.
• Aaron and director Ridley Scott discussed moving The Mask of Zorro’s remaining filming to Mexico.
• Aaron spent the evening with Salma Hayek in Barcelona, where she talked about her work and Penélope Cruz.
• Aaron visited Sophie Marceau in Paris and discussed the European political and economic news with her.
• Aaron told Sophie Marceau he had bought a seaside villa on Ibiza and invited her to stay there with him before they returned to the United States.

Aaron stayed in Paris with Sophie Marceau and attended a business reception where he discussed European film markets and upcoming projects. He then spotted an alluring woman at the reception, leaving her identity unrevealed.

• Aaron and Sophie Marceau agreed to take a Mediterranean vacation together after she finished her affairs in France.
• News of Prince Charles's affair with Camilla added to a string of scandals damaging the British royal family's reputation.
• At a Paris reception, Aaron met Roman Coppola and discussed Bram Stoker's Dracula and the French film market.
• Aaron spoke with Nicolas Seydoux about the failure of 1492: Conquest of Paradise and asked whether Luc Besson was preparing a new project.
• Aaron noticed a striking woman in a black evening gown standing nearby.

At a Paris banquet, Aaron Anderson spoke with Roman Polanski and Hugh Grant before rescuing actress Christiana Yeri from Jean-Jacques Annaud’s harassment. He offered her a chance to pursue an acting career in Hollywood and left her his business card, asking her to call within three days.

• Aaron spoke with Roman Polanski and Emmanuelle Seigner about Schindler's List and Bitter Moon.
• Aaron reassured Hugh Grant that Four Weddings and a Funeral would be a pleasant surprise when it was released.
• Aaron found Christiana Yeri being harassed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and invited her for a drink.
• Aaron told Christiana about Dawn Pictures and offered to help her find opportunities in Hollywood.
• Aaron left Christiana his business card and told her to call him within three days.

Aaron attended a Paris banquet for 1492: Conquest of Paradise while discussing French film culture, Christiana Yeri’s hopes for Hollywood, and the people shaping the film industry. The chapter ended with Aaron learning that the Seydoux family controlled both Gaumont and Pathé.

• Aaron and Sophie Marceau discussed The Lover’s success and the backlash from France’s literary critics at Aaron’s Paris villa.
• Aaron attended a banquet with Christiana Yeri to mark the French release of 1492: Conquest of Paradise and reassured her about pursuing acting in Hollywood.
• Gérard Depardieu made unwanted advances toward Christiana Yeri and offered to help her career, but she declined and returned to the banquet hall.
• Aaron spoke with Ridley Scott about The Mask of Zorro and observed Woody Allen, whose personal scandals had damaged his reputation.
• Aaron met Jérôme Seydoux and learned that Gaumont and Pathé both belonged to the Seydoux family.

Aaron met Jérôme Seydoux and discussed potential cooperation with Pathé, then beat Gérard Depardieu unconscious after finding him assaulting a woman in a restroom. Aaron later told Christiana Yeri that Depardieu had been attacked by someone else, and she accepted his explanation.

• Aaron shook hands with Jérôme Seydoux and said Dawn could cooperate with Pathé Films.
• Christiana Yeri told Aaron that Gérard Depardieu had offered to introduce her to a film role, and Aaron asked whether Depardieu had mistreated her.
• Aaron heard Gérard Depardieu promising a woman a role in exchange for sex, switched off the restroom lights, and beat him until he passed out.
• The woman emerged from the stall and called for help, while staff found Gérard Depardieu badly injured at the restroom entrance.
• At the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Aaron told Christiana Yeri that an admirer had attacked Gérard Depardieu, and she believed him.

Aaron Anderson vacationed with Christiana Yeri and Sophie Marceau, then attended the London premiere of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and discussed winery investment with Francis Ford Coppola. The story left Aaron seated beside Winona Ryder as the film began.

• Aaron watched news of Gérard Depardieu’s injury with Christiana Yeri and discussed the actor’s delayed projects and Ridley Scott’s films.
• Aaron asked Christiana Yeri to join him in Hollywood, and she said she could go at the beginning of the year after handling a few matters.
• Aaron vacationed with Sophie Marceau in Ibiza, offered her homes in Los Angeles, and invited her to London for Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s premiere, but she declined.
• Dawn’s The Crying Game expanded into more Hollywood theaters as several major November releases approached.
• At Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s London premiere, Aaron asked Francis Ford Coppola about his Napa Valley winery and considered investing in one.
• Aaron sat beside Winona Ryder as the movie began, and she asked why he had come to the United Kingdom.

After spending time with Winona Ryder in London, Aaron saw Bram Stoker's Dracula open strongly in North America. Watching the Lakers, he decided to explore buying a sports team and planned to speak with Jerry Buss and Donald Sterling.

• Aaron watched Bram Stoker's Dracula with Winona Ryder, then discussed the film's promotion and Dawn's support for Reality Bites with her.
• Bram Stoker's Dracula opened in 2,491 North American theaters and earned $30.52 million over its first three-day weekend.
• At a Lakers game, Aaron told Jack Wells that he wanted to own a sports team.
• Jack Wells explained that Los Angeles teams were unlikely to be available, and Aaron said he would meet Jerry Buss and Donald Sterling to ask whether they might sell.

Aaron explored buying an NBA or NFL team while discussing the Clippers, Lakers, and shifting power at Time Warner. As Thanksgiving arrived, Dawn’s Scent of a Woman opened to strong reviews and became an Oscar campaign target.

• Aaron reviewed Donald Sterling and Jerry Buss’s backgrounds and learned that neither planned to sell their NBA team.
• At a party, Ya Kun and Jack Wells told Aaron that the Lakers and Clippers were not for sale, and Aaron rejected buying a minority stake in the Lakers.
• Aaron asked Jack to watch for NBA and NFL teams that might become available.
• Jack told Aaron that Steve Ross was critically ill and that Gerald Levin had replaced nine Time Warner directors.
• As Thanksgiving arrived, Scent of a Woman opened in limited release to strong reviews, and Dawn targeted it for Oscar campaigning.

Aaron discussed the film adaptation of Forrest Gump with Robert Zemeckis and confirmed that Tom Hanks would star. After Elizabeth Hurley introduced him to Victoria’s Secret lingerie, Aaron decided to pursue the brand and approached Charles Johnson about a joint acquisition.

• Aaron told Robert Zemeckis that Tom Hanks had agreed to star in Forrest Gump, and Elizabeth Hurley would play the female lead.
• Elizabeth Hurley showed Aaron her Victoria’s Secret lingerie, prompting him to imagine a lingerie runway show and consider acquiring the brand.
• Aaron learned that Limited Brands owned Victoria’s Secret and that Franklin Templeton Investments was one of its shareholders.
• Aaron proposed that Charles Johnson and Franklin Templeton Investments join him to acquire Victoria’s Secret.
• Charles Johnson said he needed to discuss Aaron’s proposal before responding.

At a Hollywood gala, Aaron discussed Sony's losses and the casting of Interview with the Vampire, while Jack Wells sought damaging recordings of Donald Sterling and Franklin Templeton Investments tried to acquire Victoria's Secret. The chapter ended with Les Wexner refusing to sell the brand.

• At a Sony-hosted gala, Aaron told Nicole Kidman that Sony Pictures Entertainment's losses reflected Mickey Schulhof's influence and Sony's willingness to fund its American operations.
• Aaron met David Geffen and discussed Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Anne Rice's objections, and Neil Jordan as a possible director for Interview with the Vampire.
• In Irvine, Jack Wells obtained a short recording of Donald Sterling's racist and misogynistic remarks but decided it was not enough to make Sterling give up the Los Angeles Clippers.
• Charles Johnson offered Les Wexner a controlling-stake deal for Victoria's Secret on behalf of Franklin Templeton Investments.
• Les Wexner rejected the offer and said he had no intention of selling Victoria's Secret.

Aaron pursued stronger leverage against Donald Sterling while approving Edward Zwick’s adaptation of Legends of the Fall. He then traveled to Japan to promote Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where he planned to stay longer and visit China and Hong Kong after the crew’s brief visit.

• Jack Wells played Aaron a recording of Donald Sterling, and Aaron decided they needed someone to draw Sterling into saying something more damaging.
• Edward Zwick presented his Legends of the Fall screenplay, and Aaron approved the production and told him to begin assembling the crew and casting.
• Aaron agreed to join the Bram Stoker’s Dracula crew on a promotional trip to Japan, where the film’s team held a press conference attended by Akira Kurosawa.
• Aaron spent the night with Winona Ryder in Tokyo and told her he planned to remain in Japan before visiting China and Hong Kong.
• Winona Ryder said she would soon leave for Europe with the crew and told Aaron he was better suited to Hollywood than she was.

Aaron met Yasuyoshi Tokuma to arrange Tokuma Shoten’s cooperation with Dawn’s new Japanese branch, then spent the evening with Miss Japan, Norika Fujiwara. He planned to visit Hakone and later travel with her to China and Hong Kong.

• Aaron reviewed Dawn’s Japanese earnings and discussed plans for its Japan branch with Ethelind Beckett.
• Aaron met Yasuyoshi Tokuma, praised Dunhuang, and agreed to work with Tokuma Shoten on Japanese film distribution.
• Yasuyoshi introduced Aaron to Norika Fujiwara, who had just won Miss Japan and signed with Tokuma Shoten as a model.
• Aaron asked Norika to guide him in Japan and promised Tokuma Shoten would help her get an acting role.
• Norika suggested visiting Hakone, and Aaron said she should prepare to accompany him to China and then Hong Kong.
• Aaron and Norika kissed after dinner, and he carried her back to his suite.

Aaron traveled with Norika Fujiwara to 1990s Beijing before continuing to Hong Kong, where he offered to make her his exclusive companion in Japan. The chapter left Norika agreeing to the arrangement as Aaron prepared to return to the United States before Christmas.

• Steve Ross died after a prostate cancer relapse, and Gerald Levin became chairman and CEO of Time Warner.
• Aaron took Norika Fujiwara to Beijing, explored the city, and visited the Lufthansa Friendship Shopping Center.
• Aaron and Norika traveled to Hong Kong, where Aaron received a call about attending Clinton's inauguration.
• Aaron offered Norika the role of his exclusive woman in Japan, and she agreed to remain available to him while telling him if she wanted to marry someone else.