Just a few days later, producer Prue Bronson sought out Rouben Mamoulian once again. This time, he no longer hid his intentions and cut straight to the point, his tone leaving no room for negotiation: "Mamoulian, we believe you are no longer suitable to continue as the director of cleopatra. Therefore, we have formally invited Joseph L. Mankiewicz to take over this project. We hope you can understand and cooperate."
Mamoulian's expression froze for a brief moment. But to Bronson's surprise, he did not show any intense resistance; instead, it was as if he had expected it all along. The torment and struggle within the production crew these past few days—the power struggles with the star and the friction with the production side—had long since worn away his initial passion. At this moment, the sense of relief actually outweighed the sense of loss.
He then revealed a smile that was almost carefree and responded dryly, "Fine, I'm leaving."
Seeing this, a polite smile also surfaced on Prue Bronson's face, though he secretly breathed a sigh of relief—the other party's cooperation saved a lot of potential trouble and talk.
"Director Mankiewicz will arrive at the set tomorrow," Bronson added. "Please complete the necessary handover before then."
"Rest assured," Mamoulian's tone was calm, devoid of emotion. "I will handle all the handover work properly and won't delay the progress."
He had long wanted to leave this place of right and wrong that had exhausted him physically and mentally, so why wouldn't he cooperate... After 3:00 PM, when Li Kai came to Mamoulian's office, he found him tidying up his personal belongings.
Seeing this, Li Kai immediately realized that Mamoulian might be leaving.
"Director... are you leaving the production?" Li Kai asked anyway.
Rouben Mamoulian replied with a bitter smile, "That's right. 20th Century Fox feels I'm no longer suitable to continue as the director of cleopatra and has found Director Mankiewicz to replace me. And I myself want to escape this place of trouble, so I simply agreed to them readily."
Mamoulian put down the things in his hand, walked up to Li Kai, and patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't worry about your situation. I will recommend you to Mankiewicz and tell him you are a very talented young man who is worth keeping. Mankiewicz is a very formidable director; you can learn a lot by staying by his side."
Li Kai looked at him, momentarily unable to tell if Mamoulian was forcing a smile or if he was truly being carefree. Regarding his offer to recommend him to Mankiewicz, Li Kai expressed his sincere gratitude.
"Thank you, Director Mamoulian. Thank you very much."
...The next morning, the arrival of Joseph L. Mankiewicz immediately caused a stir throughout the entire crew.
Only then did everyone learn that Mamoulian had been fired by Fox and replaced by Director Mankiewicz.
Li Kai looked at Elizabeth Taylor from a distance and saw that her expression was as calm as water, as if all of this had been within her expectations.
He understood in his heart: how could Fox choose a director without first obtaining the approval of this "cleopatra" who truly held the lifeblood of the film? If she didn't nod her head, even the most formidable director would find it impossible to move a single inch. Ultimately, Fox could no longer afford any more setbacks.
At this time, the atmosphere inside the director's office was solemn yet held a subtle hint of reconciliation.
Mamoulian expressed his feelings to Mankiewicz, frankly telling him the truth: "Between me, Fox, and Taylor... the differences in vision were too great, and the conflicts became irreconcilable. I truly couldn't stay in this position any longer. So, you don't need to feel any burden."
"To be honest, having you take over feels like a relief to me instead." After Mamoulian finished speaking, he couldn't help but show a smile of liberation.
Mankiewicz smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
How could he not know that this was essentially a hot potato? The risks were extremely high, and success or failure was unpredictable. If it weren't for Fox's repeated pleas, combined with that small bit of ambition he was unwilling to admit in his heart—if it succeeded, this might be a pinnacle work that would leave its name in film history.
As an artist, he was also tempted by the challenging nature and potential historical status of this epic subject matter.
At the end of the conversation, Mamoulian said solemnly, "Before I go, I must recommend someone to you. Li Kai, a young Chinese man and a top student from USC. He has extraordinary directorial instincts and is the most talented newcomer I've seen in recent years. If you are willing to keep him, he will surely become your capable assistant."
Mankiewicz nodded, his tone steady: "If he is truly as you say, I will give him a chance."
The two discussed the handover for the entire afternoon. When Mamoulian finally rose to take his leave, Mankiewicz already had a clear understanding of this massive and chaotic project. The lights grew brighter, the cameras were ready to roll, and his version of cleopatra was just beginning to pull back its curtains... Director Mankiewicz took over the director's chair very smoothly.
The crew members were also very obedient to him.
Furthermore, Mankiewicz would not repeat Mamoulian's mistakes; he knew very well what Fox had hired him to do.
He knew deep down that the project was out of control, the budget was exploding, the schedule was severely lagging, and star relations were tense; the risks were extremely high. To use his own words to describe it: "This is the most terrifying and frustrating task I have ever undertaken!"
Currently, the most painful part was his discovery that the original script had major problems and almost needed to be entirely rewritten. Thus, during the subsequent filming process, he often finished writing the dialogue and scenes to be shot in the early morning of the filming day; the actors frequently received freshly written lines in the morning that still smelled of ink.
Secondly, he also needed to coordinate the performances of the two superstars, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, manage the massive crew, and deal with the daily pressure from the studio.
In addition, he had to handle the media storm and personal emotional fluctuations triggered by the increasingly public affair between Taylor and Burton.
Mankiewicz's head was about to burst!
The entire filming process was simply like hell.
The only thing that gave Mankiewicz some slight comfort was the young man Mamoulian recommended before leaving—Li Kai. He was indeed a rare talent; not only did he remain calm and efficient in the chaotic set, but he also demonstrated professional intuition and understanding beyond his years. He had now quickly grown into an indispensable and capable assistant by Mankiewicz's side.
For Li Kai, being able to follow through the entire process of an epic production like cleopatra was undoubtedly an experience money couldn't buy. Whether it was Mamoulian's previous rigorous grasp of visual storytelling or Mankiewicz's current deep refinement of dialogue and character psychology, he benefited immensely. He was like a sponge, greedily absorbing the vastly different directorial philosophies and working styles of the two Hollywood masters, growing rapidly through practical experience.
He settled his heart and diligently handled every task, transforming the pressure of the set into nourishment for learning. However, just as he was fully immersed in the world of film, a letter from the United States arrived quietly.
He never expected that the turning point of fate would knock on the door at this very moment—
A publishing house named G. P. Putnam's Sons, after months of careful evaluation, finally decided to take a gamble. They were willing to publish his novel that had been repeatedly rejected—The Godfather."Dear Mr. Li Kai:
We sincerely thank you for submitting your masterpiece, The Godfather, to our house for review. After multiple rounds of careful evaluation by our editorial department, we unanimously agree that this work possesses significant publishing value. G. P. Putnam's Sons is very pleased to collaborate with you to formally publish this novel.
Upon receiving this letter, please contact us by telephone as soon as possible to further discuss publishing matters. Our contact number is: XXXXXX.
We look forward to your reply.
Editorial Department of G. P. Putnam's Sons."
"Hey, Li, what's got you so happy? It wouldn't happen to be a love letter from some girl, would it?" Gaius Hansen, a fellow assistant director, leaned in and asked half-jokingly.
Li Kai raised an eyebrow and played along, joking, "You actually guessed right. I just got a letter; a mysterious lady says she's taken a liking to me and plans to pay me ten thousand dollars a month in pocket money so I can focus on writing."
He thought to himself that once The Godfather was published, it would be far more than ten thousand dollars. Once the novel became a bestseller, it wouldn't be hard for royalty income to reach six figures a year; if the film adaptation rights were successfully sold, a million dollars might not be just a dream.
Gaius obviously didn't believe him, shaking his head with a smile, but he didn't ask further. Instead, he started chatting about the recent filming progress of cleopatra.
There were no night scenes that day, so work wrapped up at six in the evening. Li Kai calculated the time difference—evening in Italy was noon in New York. He borrowed the production crew's telephone and dialed the number in the letter.
"Hello, G. P. Putnam's Sons, how may I help you?" The operator was a young girl with a crisp voice.
"Hello, I am Li Kai, the author of The Godfather," he responded in a steady tone. "I have received your letter and would like to further discuss publishing matters."
"Certainly, please hold for a moment."
The call was quickly transferred. After a moment, a capable female voice spoke: "Mr. Li, I'm very glad to receive your call! I am your editor, Joan Slick."
"Hello, Ms. Slick, I am Li Kai," Li Kai greeted her.
Hearing this, Joan said in surprise, "Hello, Mr. Li. To be honest, your voice sounds very young. Is The Godfather your first work?"
"Yes, I am twenty years old, and this is indeed the first novel I've written."
There was a distinct intake of breath on the other end of the line. "Only twenty?! That is simply shocking!" Joan's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement. "To be able to write such a mature and profound work, you are absolutely a genius. I believe you will not only make a name for yourself in American literature but will also occupy a place in the world literary scene!"
Li Kai gave a faint smile and replied politely, "Thank you for the compliment. I look forward to working with you."
"As do we! Now, let's get back to business and discuss the publishing terms in detail." Joan's voice returned to a professional tone.
"Of course, that is the purpose of my call," Li Kai replied.
"Very well, Mr. Li. The preliminary terms we have drafted are: a royalty rate of 12.5% for the hardcover edition and 8% for the paperback edition. Additionally, we are willing to provide an advance of 5,000 dollars, which fully reflects our confidence in this work. What do you think?"
"I accept these terms," Li Kai answered succinctly.
He had researched industry standards beforehand. For an unknown debut author, the royalty terms and advance amount offered were already generous. Therefore, he chose not to haggle.
He knew very well that the royalties from physical books were not his true goal; the real value lay in the subsequent film adaptation rights. What he truly expected was for The Godfather to create a sensation upon publication, thereby attracting the attention of Hollywood production companies.
At that point, he would personally serve as the film's director and screenwriter; that was his bottom line. If a production company refused to let him take the helm, he would rather put the project on hold temporarily than easily surrender control.
"Wonderful! We will send the contract to you as soon as possible. I wish us a pleasant collaboration and look forward to the great success of The Godfather!" The tone on the other end was brimming with joy and anticipation.
"I appreciate the kind words," Li Kai responded with a smile, his voice steady yet imbued with an unquestionable certainty.
Then, Li Kai thought of something and added, "Oh, right, there's one thing I need to clarify. I am currently in Italy, participating in the filming of cleopatra at Cinecittà Studios as an assistant director. Please send the contract documents directly to the set address here."
"No problem, Mr. Li. We will send the contract text via airmail to the set address in Italy. Once you receive and sign it, please send it back to the publisher in New York via airmail. The whole process may take one to two weeks or even longer," Joan replied quickly.
"Understood, I'm clear on the process. Looking forward to our collaboration. Goodbye."
"Goodbye!"
After hanging up the phone, Li Kai's heart was still unable to settle. A surge of excitement mixed with a sense of trance welled up within him.
In his past life, he had spent most of his years in mediocrity, achieving nothing; yet now, he was about to knock on the door of the world literary scene with The Godfather. The sudden turn of fate was like a dream. He subconsciously pinched his palm; feeling the sensation, he was unwilling to wake up... In the following days, he continued to work as usual, but he couldn't help but feel a bit more distracted by anticipation. Whenever he had a free moment, he would circle back to the production crew's mailroom, his gaze sweeping over the neatly stacked mail time and again, searching for traces from New York.
Until the afternoon of the sixth day, a voice finally called out to him:
"Li! There's a letter for you, needs a signature!"
A crew member led a mailman toward him.
Li Kai's heart skipped a beat, and he almost jogged to meet them.
"Sir, are you Mr. Li Kai himself?" the mailman asked routinely, holding an airmail envelope.
"Yes, that's me." Li Kai forced himself to remain calm and quickly took out his identification to hand over, though his eyes were already fixed tightly on the letter.
"Very well." After verifying his identification, the postal worker handed him the airmail letter from the United States.
"Thank you!" Li Kai carefully took the mail and immediately rushed back to his quarters.
As soon as he entered the Room, he impatiently tore open the mail and took out the contract that carried his future. He reviewed the terms word by word, and ten minutes later, after confirming that all details were exactly as previously discussed, he decisively signed his name.
Without lingering, he immediately asked the crew for half a day off, then hailed a taxi to the local post office to send the signed contract back to New York by airmail.
The entire process happened quietly, without attracting any attention from his colleagues on the crew. At this moment, no one could have predicted that this hurried afternoon and this contract sent back across the ocean were about to give birth to a king of bestsellers who would cause a sensation across America and even draw a scramble of reports from the Italian media.