Chapter 392

Ridley Scott's daughter, Jordan Scott, finally completed the screenplay adaptation for her first feature film, Cracks.

Jordan Scott specifically brought actress Eva Green to visit Charles.

"The script is done, then shoot it. Choose the shooting location and wait for it to be released after filming!" Charles had little patience for this low-budget art film.

However, Charles really appreciated her father, Ridley Scott - he was like the Steven Spielberg of Britain.

Jordan Scott looked at Charles with a smile and asked, "You've read the script. There are lesbian scenes. The scope..."

Charles rubbed his chin. "Scope, necessary nudity is fine, but don't push it too far, or the final cut will definitely be NC-17. You know that the MPAA has strict restrictions on homosexuality and sex!"

"Capet Pictures is joining the MPAA next year as an official member. Won't that help?" Jordan Scott asked.

"Jordan, you're not planning to make Cracks like Eva's Last Tango in Paris, are you? Even if Jesus said so, it would still be NC-17, unless you don't care about the North American release," Charles said, rubbing his forehead. Female directors were really bold with their scopes!

Jordan Scott shook her head, "No, it's not that extreme, just some intimate scenes between Eva and another girl."

"Let's aim for an R rating, no need for NC-17. Let's finish shooting first. Since Capet Pictures will be an official MPAA member, we can get an R rating with some slight cuts," Charles understood too well that directors liked to go all out during filming.

"Alright, alright. I promise to find the cast and locations this year, and deliver the final cut next year," Jordan Scott's mind was now filled with various storyboards and scripts for Cracks.

Jordan came and left in a hurry, while Eva Green stayed behind.

"So, it took this long to finish the script?" Charles looked puzzled after Jordan Scott left.

Eva Green touched Charles's hand, "Jordan did a lot of research. She wanted to restore the rules and regulations of British girls' schools in the 1920s and 30s."

"I've read the script too. My role is very dramatic and challenging. I'll prepare well for the role of a 1920s British girls' school teacher over the next few months," Eva said.

"The intertwining of reality and desire, exploring human darkness in a confined space, even with youthful and beautiful visuals, it leaves a chilling feeling," Charles himself rated the script highly.

It's a standard artistic film, with no commercial vibe, a female-centric movie that conveys more than just feminism. It also depicts teenage girls' hormonal cravings and school bullying...

"The theme of the original novel is the darkness inside a girl's heart," Eva Green thought the script suited her taste the best.

"Jordan made significant changes, but the main storyline remains, making it more suitable for a movie's length!" Charles noted, looking at Eva Green.

"When I see you, Miss G from Cracks, mysterious, sexy, elegant, infinitely charming yet slightly neurotic, contradictory and self-absorbed," Charles commented.

Touching the actress's face, "Seems you like these dark-themed characters. The gothic dark beauty label fits you so well!"

...

Quickly, Charles flew directly from London to Hong Kong.

He met Lily Ying, who had been low-profile for the past few months. After all, handling nearly $6 billion in US bonds was quite the pressure.

"Do you need to exchange some of it for yen? The yen is always a low-interest safe haven," Lily Ying explained.

"I don't have much investment there. The strong dollar mainly targets the Eurozone. The yen won't create much of a splash, so no need to hold on to yen," Charles explained.

Lily Ying had no objections. The dollar was a global currency. If it weren't for the euro, there'd be no competition.

Charles nodded. It was all operated through Cayman Islands or Bermuda offshore funds, saving a lot on taxes.

Moreover, Hong Kong was one of the world's four major offshore financial centers and was suitable for such operations.

"Dona didn't come over? Previously, her AC Capital was fully loaded with US bonds. Combined, our three investment companies purchased over 50 billion HKD worth of US bonds," Lily Ying laughed. They all followed Charles's lead; HKD and USD had a fixed exchange rate.

"Dona returned to America to help me invest in an electric car company. You might want to keep an eye on it too. You've done well this time, so generous!" Charles laughed. 

"It's okay, can't compare with you," Lily Ying laughed while waving her hand. 

...

At a yacht named Star Light in Deep Water Bay, Charles Capet sat in a chair by the pool, flipping through a newspaper.

The Dow Jones Index, FTSE 100, CAC 40, DAX, Straits Times Index, and Hang Seng Index all plummeted.

Wearing a bikini, Gao Yuanyuan lounged by the pool, enjoying champagne and feeling very relaxed. When she saw Charles put down the newspaper, she climbed out of the pool.

Charles smiled as he pulled Gao Yuanyuan onto his lap.

Gao Yuanyuan wriggled a bit and wrapped her arms around Charles's neck, giving him several kisses. 

"Investors in European and American banks and securities might take a big hit," Charles said, with one hand on Gao Yuanyuan's waist and the other on her thigh. 

"How long are you staying in Hong Kong this time? Are you here for the Beijing Olympics?" Gao Yuanyuan didn't care about the financial tsunami.

"I'm here for business. If I have time, I'll watch a few games," Charles clarified his motives.

In the morning, Charles woke up to find Gao Yuanyuan was no longer in bed.

After washing up, he found Gao Yuanyuan laying breakfast on the table in the living room. "You're awake. Let's eat!"

"Do you like congee?" Gao Yuanyuan asked as she watched Charles enjoy the plain congee.

"Yeah, it's good. This plain congee is nice too," Charles remembered adding sugar when he was younger, but grew to appreciate its simplicity.

"Charles, the Olympics will start in a week. Will you go to Beijing?"

"Hard to say, Beijing is too crowded, and the weather is too hot. I might have to go to South Korea. Capet Pictures is my main business, you know that!"

Gao Yuanyuan agreed. Capet Capital's main business was indeed Capet Pictures.

*****

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