"So, when do you have time? I think we should sit down and discuss the specifics of the contract."
On the other end of the call, Edgar's voice was upbeat and relaxed, brimming with enthusiasm.
However, to Mangold's ears, it felt scorching, sending his thoughts into a chaotic whirl. He couldn't make sense of anything.
Click.
Mangold hung up the phone abruptly.
He blinked a few times and looked at Kitsch.
Kitsch, jaw almost hitting the floor, stared at Mangold in disbelief. He tried to say something but found his voice stuck.
Finally, Kitsch shot him a scathing look that screamed: What did you just do?!
Mangold took a sharp breath. "What did I just do?!"
But now what?
Edgar was ready to move forward with negotiations, while they were still stuck in the underground parking lot of Sony Columbia. What could they possibly do?
Mangold's mind was a complete mess; all he could think of was to bury his head in the sand like an ostrich.
Kitsch looked like he was on the verge of passing out, his head slamming back against the seat in frustration.
But there was no time to breathe. The phone rang again.
"Ah!"
Mangold saw the caller ID—it was Edgar calling back. The sight gave him the chills, as if he were in a horror movie. Instinctively, he threw the phone aside.
Kitsch couldn't believe his eyes. "God, what are you doing? Edgar's going to get suspicious!"
Mangold held his breath. "Then what should we do?"
Kitsch snapped, "Stall him. We need to come up with a plan."
Mangold hesitated. "What if… we just tell the truth? Maybe he can come up with a solution. After all, Anson has the leverage to push back against them."
Kitsch frowned. "If we tell Edgar now, it's as good as picking sides. We can't afford to take sides yet—we need to get our heads straight first."
Kitsch felt like he was suffocating. Even now, he wasn't sure if partnering with Mangold had been the right move.
Years ago, Mangold had shown interest in the project, persistently circling around Kitsch and Johnny Cash, pleading to join. But Kitsch was never satisfied with him. If it hadn't been for desperation, he wouldn't have reluctantly turned to Mangold for help.
Looking at Mangold now, flailing around like a headless chicken, Kitsch regretted his decision yet again.
But now wasn't the time for regrets. "Answer the phone and keep Edgar calm. We can't let him catch on," Kitsch said, forcing himself to stay rational.
Chaos. Panic.
Neither of them could think straight, and the confusion was bound to lead to mistakes. Kitsch was right—they needed to get their act together.
Taking a deep breath, then another, Mangold finally composed himself. He picked up the phone again. "Hey, Edgar."
"The call got cut off earlier," Edgar said, sounding a bit puzzled.
Mangold scrambled for an explanation. "Yeah, we're in a tunnel. The signal's terrible."
Kitsch gave Mangold a thumbs-up. Nice save!
Sure enough, Edgar didn't seem suspicious. "You're driving? Sorry about that—let's make this quick. I wouldn't want you getting pulled over by the cops."
Mangold forced out a laugh. "Ha… ha. Yeah. Let's set a time to meet. I'll have my assistant contact yours?"
"Of course. I'm free today and tomorrow, so let's finalize something soon," Edgar replied smoothly.
Mangold panicked. Today or tomorrow? That soon?
"Uh, we can't make it these two days. We, uh, need to tweak the script a bit. You know, we're always aiming for perfection. Let me check with James on the progress and get back to you?" Mangold managed to squeeze out an excuse.
"Sure, no problem. Take your time. Anson's looking forward to seeing the updated script. Just let my assistant know when you're ready to meet," Edgar said cheerfully.
After a few more polite exchanges, the call finally ended.
Mangold let out a long sigh of relief. A two-minute call had left him drenched in sweat. Turning to Kitsch, he broke into a goofy grin.
Kitsch rolled his eyes but reluctantly gave Mangold a high-five. A hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
They'd dodged a bullet—barely.
On the other end of the line, Edgar hung up but kept the receiver in hand, deep in thought. His mind raced.
Something wasn't right.
Truth be told, Edgar had his doubts about Walk the Line as a project. However, he trusted Anson's judgment. This could very well be the breakthrough they needed to shake things up.
As a seasoned agent, Edgar knew the brutal reality:
Movies? They mattered—absolutely. But at the same time, they didn't. Awards season was a PR game. Even a mediocre film could sway the tides with the right campaign. After all, it wasn't a meritocracy.
Otherwise, how could Shakespeare in Love have beaten Saving Private Ryan?
Edgar's role was to handle the chessboard while Anson focused on acting. Walk the Line had potential—no doubt about it.
But that phone call?
Mangold and Kitsch had been desperate to bring Anson on board. Now that he'd agreed, why were they suddenly so hesitant?
And the excuse was the script? A script that had been passed around Hollywood for a decade, with Kitsch refusing to make any changes? Now they were suddenly open to revisions, without Anson even asking?
And the tunnel? If they were really in a tunnel, where were the telltale background noises of engines and airflow?
No, it wasn't a big deal on the surface. But the small inconsistencies hinted at something deeper. Edgar's mind whirred, piecing together clues.
What could possibly be going on?
Even if Kitsch and Mangold had found a better option, they could have just rejected Anson outright. They hadn't even reached formal negotiations yet—changes during development were perfectly normal.
Then why all the secrecy?
Could something unexpected have thrown them off?
As Edgar's thoughts raced, one possibility started to form—a crazy one.
A tunnel?
There was a tunnel near the Sony Columbia offices in Los Angeles. And with all the recent internal turmoil and political maneuvering within Sony Columbia, the pieces seemed to fit.
It might all just be a coincidence. But if it wasn't…
No hesitation. Edgar picked up the phone again and dialed a number. This time, it was Sony Columbia's office.
"Hey, David, how's your day going? Busy as usual?"