Topic: Fifty Shades of Green

Jonathan Granger

Date: 2012-06-16 11:01 EST
"Jon, two million for a film like this is chump change!" a woman's voice exclaimed on the other end of the phone. "The book is flying off the shelves. This is gonna be bigger than Twilight. Pattinson got two million for Twilight, and he was a relative unknown at the time. I'm pushing for five, bare minimum, along with a percentage of the profits."

"I don't need five million, Trish?" Jon argued. He was just trying to recoup the loss on 21twelve, not re-start his movie career.

"This isn't about need, Jonathan," his agent insisted. "I know you love your job, but this is Hollywood. You're teetering on the edge of the A-list. If you want to be the next Brad Pitt?"

"That's just it," Jon interjected. "I don't. I'm only doing this for the money, that's all."

"You're not on the coke again, are you?" his agent asked, "Because if you are?"

"No!" Jon replied with a heavy sigh, not really wanting to explain. "I invested over half a million in 21twelve, and it just went belly up."

There was a brief pause on the other end as his agent seemed to absorb and consider this information. Jon could just about hear the wheels turning in her head. "You really should keep me informed, you know," she scolded, continuing. "If all you wanna do is recoup what you lost, let me look into something less" controversial. Your name came up for Bronze Horseman. Can you speak any Russian' You'd be perfect for that."

"I don't want to do a historical drama. I don't have time. I've got a contract with the theater, and I'm getting married in a few months."

"Jon, Fifty Shades is a trilogy. If the first one does well - and I can assure you it will - there will be two more."

"That's fine, Trish. I can do three of these in less time than it would take to do one historical."

"Have you read the script?" she continued. "You know what it's about?"

"I know what?s it about," he assured her.

"You know who you're up against' Somerhalder's actively campaigning for the part, but it's you they want. They like what they saw in Crowes, and they want you. Somerhalder's too pretty. They need someone with a certain look, and you've got the look."

Jon chuckled. "I look like a millionaire playboy with a damaged past who likes to play bedroom games?"

"You are a millionaire playboy with a damaged past who likes to play bedroom games," she countered.

"Was, Trish. I've changed."

"I know," she replied, a short pause before she continued. "How are you anyway' Do you remember anything that happened before" you know."

Jon silently filled in the blank: "Before you were shot." He wasn't sure why everyone was always tiptoeing around it like it had never happened, just because he didn't remember it. "No, nothing. I mean, I get flashes sometimes. Bit and pieces, but it's mostly a blank."

He didn't have to see her face to hear the frown on the other end of the phone. The conversation would be over soon, now that they'd entered private life territory.

"I'm sorry," she offered, but he wasn't sure if she really meant it or if it was just one of those pat things people said when they didn't know what else to say. "I'm gonna let you go, Jonny. I've gotta call the bigwigs at the studio and see we can come to an agreement. Five for the first one, and if it does well, double that for the second."

"Trish, I'm not looking to rekindle my movie career."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just about the money, but I'm telling you this is gonna be explosive!"

"Just don't go crazy, okay?"

"You want money, I'm gonna make you some money. That's my job, remember" Trust me. I'll talk to you soon, Jon. Give Vicki a kiss for me."

Jon sighed again as the phone went dead, wondering if he was making a mistake. He didn't want to be part of Hollywood again. He just wanted to settle down with Vicki, raise a family, and focus on what he loved most - the theater. He just hoped his agent knew what she was doing.