Regency.

Competing for the role of Bud White, in the special team of L.A. Confidential, a film featuring Kim Basinger in her youthful prime, as radiant as marble statues in a museum, untouched by excessive Botox—she could truly be considered a beauty. From her angular face to her siren-like gaze, she's as seductive as the stars illuminating a dark sky.

Billy and Jim walked through the doors of Warner, but not before stopping by the Regency Agents studio, an independent film company sponsored by Warner, with a ten-film deal nearing its end. A golden statue of Regency Agents had caught the eye of other companies like Fox, Columbia, and Universal… all were eager to join forces with this and another company.

Starring three detectives, Billy saw again that someone was already attached to the script—Kevin Spacey, who seemed to work tirelessly, was part of the main trio. The film boasted a special luxury team. Politics was never absent in these promotional campaigns. The first issue arose with the budget, and the second was that the script was well-received, attracting many young actors eager to be part of the movie. With a budget of 30 million, and with James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, and Kevin Spacey already on board, it was shaping up to be a stellar cast.

-So, the fight for the two lead detective roles is, for now, the best opportunity, as long as you're okay with the 2 million salaries they're offering,- commented Jim Waiit.

-Let's do it, there's no problem with that amount, as long as they pay on time,- Billy replied.

The start of his voice was a delight that no one could understand; its strength lay in the system, which was slowly growing. It needed to reach 40 points for his acting ability to be considered acceptable by the standards of great actors. He didn't have the same disposition for drawing, but over many years, it had become a force to be reckoned with, even without the system.

Billy Carson:

Drawing: 37,899

Literature: 35,560

Performance: 37,050

Points: 18,450

-I'll take care of that,- Jim commented, entering the small three-story studio.

Reevaluation!

The studio was empty, a completely different and logical move. Only those favored for the role were called in—those who could perform the part. In that scene, it is undeniable that these producers have a lot of skill.

Arnon Milchan and Curtis Hanson promoted the role of artistic direction, which focused on the beauty of the camera and the sets, which were special for this film.

-I'll wait for you outside,- said Jim Waiit, taking a seat in the front reception area while fiddling with a loose thread on his wrist button, ready to fall off. The two people he least wanted to see arrived; they were part of Warner's generous board—the frenemies of Billy Carson.

With sunken eyes, deep circles, classic frames, and a long triangular nose, Barry Meyer had a thin and unmistakable look tied to his Jewish roots. Beside him was Paul Grant Witt, head of studio entertainment and currently coordinating with the studio on matters regarding Cartoon Network, the backdrop left by Terry Semel and Bob Daly.

Paul was a man with a broad forehead and a crooked smile. People often criticized the smell of his breath, so he commonly used mints and cologne to mask it. He had done everything to break, but…

-Gentlemen.-

The newcomers were greeted with the proper formalities—a firm handshake and their incessant questions about the project.

-We have many convictions that we can discuss with Billy once he's out of his interview,- Barry Meyer commented. He was the type who believed that interests could outweigh conflicts. He was willing to make some concessions if he found them logical and fulfilling certain expectations. However, in practice, the Cartoon Network partnership was a valuable asset that generated significant revenue and couldn't be overlooked. If they could introduce live-action series into their programming and complement them with animated shows, they could create a channel that surpasses Luxtoons, which currently leads in extended animated networks.

-You can wait! I am his representative in name, but I have no voice when it comes to these matters. However, I think this isn't the right place for this meeting. Shall we reconvene later? - Jim Waiit suggested. Billy needed time to think.

Barry didn't respond to his words but took a seat with a broad smile. He ignored Jim's advice, which Jim could understand, as he had just mentioned that he had no say in this matter.

Paul could only watch with more detachment as the ticking of the clock grew intense, causing a certain unease. This feeling wasn't unique to him; many novice actors who aspired to join films had their nerves heightened by the clock ticking above their heads, counting down the minutes. In about twenty minutes and ten seconds, Billy emerged from the room, his implicit character in the role already impressive to some who struggled to grasp his talent.

They thought Billy's qualitative leap was due to his experience over the past months. The films he had made were numerous—a myth, but with a hint of truth.

-I believe we have a conversation to catch up on, - Barry Meyer said to Billy as he stepped out, his face slightly sweaty, tie-less to better represent his role.

Billy's sigh raised many questions.

***

Barry Meyer wasn't going to reveal his intentions easily, so he would use cordiality to gain a certain position within the company. It wasn't a direct attack on the CEO, but rather, he considered them incapable of keeping up with the market. They lacked what was needed to run a film company and had made serious mistakes, such as underinvesting in certain areas while engaging in public battles with other companies. This might be beneficial… but if done in excess, it's a sin.

His approach began with listing everything Billy had done well in the animation industry. Visuals are just as important as the script when it comes to cartoons.

-You should know that I have a slight conflict with those close to the case due to their bad faith. But because of that, I'm not suing—I'm demanding the breach of contract. It has cost me a lot of money, as shown by the mere filing of the lawsuit. As for why I sued Hanna-Barbera, you're mistaken. I sued a small company to avoid further problems for Warner and, consequently, for me. What stays in-house, stays in-house. If they minimize the risk, only a few might learn of my lawsuit, - Billy commented.

Lying blatantly, he wanted all of Hanna-Barbera's franchises. Destroying the competition was best; it wouldn't be long before the bubble burst. When his second strike hit Warner's fledgling company, he might steal some good series or maybe movies with future potential—perhaps even steal New Line.

-Very direct, just as people say. Your style suits those like us who like to seize the day… So, you say the problem isn't personal; it's about the breach of contract, - Barry Meyer said, nodding. - You can hold that up. Hanna-Barbera is an important part of the studio; we wouldn't want to lose a significant part of our small factory for children. That's something Warner cannot and will not allow. -

-As long as they pay the money! - Billy replied.

-We won't lose the lawsuit. -

-Well, then there's no need to ask me, - Billy said with a smile. This meeting had come to an end… He could never quite see what those old men were scheming, but whenever someone from the board approached him to talk, it ended in serious problems.