“Good, Mike,” Stone said. “Get back to me, and we’ll work it all out.” He hung up, and reflected on his day’s work. Making these decisions had actually made him feel better, and not just about the money. To his surprise, he felt something he hadn’t felt since Arrington’s death: enthusiasm.

Chapter 63

63

Peter got home from school a little early and came in through Stone’s office entrance, closely followed by his two security men. Hattie was with them.

“Thanks, fellas,” Stone said to the guards. “You’re done for the day. Same time tomorrow morning.”

The two men said good-bye to Peter and Hattie and left.

Peter flopped down on Stone’s office sofa, and Hattie sat beside him and held his hand.

Stone reflected that he was going to have to reintroduce the subject of sex to Peter. These two couldn’t stay out of bed with each other for much longer; that was obvious.

“So, Peter, now that you’ve finished your film, what’s your next project?”

“I want to write a play, so that I’ll arrive at Yale with something to show them.”

“Really good idea,” Stone said. He fished around among the papers on his desk and found the representation contract that Mort Janklow had sent over. “There’s something here for you to sign,” Stone said, handing it to Peter.

“What is it?”

“It’s a representation contract with the literary agency of Janklow & Nesbit. I’ve been over it with Mort and made a few small changes. The most important thing you have to know is that the agency’s commission is fifteen percent.”

“It used to be ten percent, didn’t it?”

“Times have changed. Sign both copies at the bottom and date them.”

Peter did so.

“Good. That means your first commission payment to Mort will be three million dollars.”

“What?”

“That’s fifteen percent of twenty million dollars.”

“What are you talking about, Dad?”

“Twenty million dollars is what Centurion Studios are paying you for your film, if you approve.”

Peter’s mouth dropped open.

“Oh, and it’s not an outright sale; you’re licensing them the rights to the film for seven years, then you can either extend the license for a further payment, to be agreed upon, or the rights revert to you. Centurion will square everything with the unions before the release. By the way, Hattie, they’re offering you one hundred thousand dollars as a fee for writing the score.”

“Yes!” Hattie shouted, and she and Peter exchanged a high five.

“When are they going to release the film?” Peter asked.

“That’s still to be determined by the studio, but don’t expect it to be the Christmas movie at Radio City Music Hall.”

“Why did they pay so much?” Peter asked. “I was hoping for maybe half a million.”