Although Adrian Knight wouldn't mind signing a few more clients, the screenwriter Bruce Rubin simply didn't excite him. Rubin had talent, sure, but Adrian's eyes were fixed on larger prey. Rather than string the writer along, Adrian chose honesty. He introduced Rubin directly to Jack Wells, a new agent eager for work. Jack could nurture him. Adrian had bigger ambitions.
Meanwhile, Hollywood itself was buzzing. The family drama Rain Man had taken theaters by storm. Since its release, the film had crossed the one-hundred-million-dollar mark at the North American box office, and it showed no sign of slowing down. Critical praise matched its commercial success, and every conversation in industry circles seemed to drift toward Dustin Hoffman's performance or the calculated risk MGM had taken in backing the project.
One evening, Adrian found himself at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, glass in hand, at yet another cocktail party. The chandeliers spilled warm light across gowns and tuxedos, and the hum of polite laughter filled the air. He stood with Paula Wagner, an established agent at CAA and one of the sharpest minds in the business.
Despite having moved beyond running errands, Adrian still looked a bit like her shadow. Paula had a reputation for cutting straight through pretension, and Adrian knew she tolerated his presence because she saw potential in him or perhaps she simply enjoyed having a younger agent to spar with.
She raised her eyebrows over her champagne flute. "What's this I hear, kid? You got yourself a script and want to develop it?"
Adrian didn't flinch. "Hmm," he murmured with a small nod, "otherwise, when will I make a name for myself?"
Paula gave a disbelieving laugh and shook her head. "You're so young, Adrian. And already you want to carve your name into this town? You're an agent. Don't you think you're putting the cart before the horse?"
Adrian's mouth curved into an easy smile. "Don't worry. Pushing projects forward is also part of an agent's role, isn't it? Besides, I'll still sign a few stars. Steven Soderbergh is busy with Sex, Lies, and Videotape. We're cooperating with Miramax on its exhibition and release. I've got that front covered."
Paula tilted her head, considering him carefully. "You want to transition into a producer, don't you?"
Adrian chuckled, gesturing toward the far side of the room where Tom Cruise was surrounded by admirers. "Doesn't Ms. Wagner want the same? With Tom by your side, you could push projects through like butter."
Paula followed his gaze and laughed, lowering her voice. "I've read your script, Adrian. Tom would never agree to play a ghost."
"Really?" Adrian countered, a glimmer of mischief in his eye. "What if I offered him a salary in the ten-million-dollar range?"
That stopped her. Ten million was an audacious figure in 1989. At that time, Sylvester Stallone topped the list with fifteen million, far above anyone else. Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and occasionally Clint Eastwood could command ten million, but Tom Cruise? He was still rising, still proving himself.
Paula gasped softly. "You really have a big heart. Tom's not even at that level yet. He's had lead roles, yes, but he's not commanding ten million."
Adrian just shrugged, his expression unreadable. For now, he was a nobody in this room. All eyes were on Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman, and Tom Cruise, the Rain Man trio. But in Adrian's mind, he was playing a longer game.
Later that night, Adrian returned to his apartment in West Hollywood. As he drove past a small theater, something caught his eye: a bold movie poster pasted outside.
Dead Calm was a Warner Bros. distributed Australian thriller, and while Adrian didn't care much about the film itself, the face on the poster made him pause. Nicole Kidman. The tall red-haired actress radiated presence even on glossy paper.
Adrian tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully. "Isn't this an opportunity?" he murmured. Hollywood wasn't kind to foreign newcomers. Breaking into the system was brutal without the right champion. But he had always believed in spotting value before others did.
Three days later, Adrian arranged a quiet meeting with the actress at a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The place wasn't overly glamorous, but it was private enough for conversation without curious ears intruding.
Nicole Kidman walked in, tall and graceful, her striking features drawing glances even from other patrons. Her skin seemed almost translucent under the California sun, though her fiery permed hair clashed slightly with her otherwise delicate aura. Adrian rose from his chair and waved her over.
"Miss Kidman, over here."
She approached cautiously, noting the handsome young man who seemed far too youthful to be taken seriously in this cutthroat town. "Are you Mr. Adrian Knight, the agent from CAA?"
He extended a business card and gestured for her to sit. "Please, call me Adrian."
Nicole glanced at the card. It checked out; he was indeed with CAA. Still, she masked her skepticism behind a polite smile. "Mr. Knight, you were looking for me?"
"Adrian," he corrected gently, motioning for a waiter. "Let's order first. We can talk while we eat. No rush."
The food arrived soon enough, and only then did Adrian lean forward with his pitch. His tone was calm but persuasive.
"My purpose is simple: I want to sign you. I believe I can help you establish yourself here in Hollywood."
Nicole raised an eyebrow. "That's quite direct."
"Don't be too quick to refuse," Adrian said smoothly. "Hollywood isn't friendly to outsiders. Coming from Australia, you won't get many chances unless someone fights for you. I may be young, but I'm confident in what I can do. You've heard of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, haven't you? That was my project at Sundance."
Nicole gave a small laugh. "I only arrived in Los Angeles last month. But yes, I know of the film."
"Exactly. I came here with no agent, no connections. And yet I managed to sell a film for over a million. I saw your poster for Dead Calm. That's how I found you. And when I saw your presence on screen, your look, your potential, I knew you needed the right advocate."
Nicole listened carefully, intrigued despite herself. "If I were to sign, it would be a one-year contract, right?"
"Correct. First contracts are always one year. If you're unhappy, you can leave anytime after that. I don't believe in holding clients hostage."
Nicole tilted her head, studying him. "Funny. I read an interview where you declared this would be the 'Year of Independent Film.' Arrogant much?"
Adrian smirked. "Not arrogance. Confidence. Sex, Lies, and Videotape will prove me right."
For the first time, Nicole smiled genuinely. "You're very… unusual."
They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes before Adrian set down his fork. "So, what do you say? Do you want to sign with me?"
Nicole blinked playfully. "And if I say no? Will you keep chasing me?"
He shook his head firmly. "No. I don't waste time. If you're not interested, I'll move on to someone else, maybe a European actor. My main focus right now isn't even talent management; it's films."
"Films?" she repeated, curious.
"Film distribution," Adrian explained. "Helping independent or foreign films find U.S. distributors. That's where the money is. Think about it. If you land a million-dollar salary. Which, let's be honest, is years away. CAA takes ten percent. That's a hundred thousand. I get an even smaller cut. You'd be lucky to make two films a year. But if I negotiate the sale of one independent film, I can close deals worth millions. That's far more lucrative."
Nicole considered this carefully. "So if I sign with you, won't I just be left on the sidelines while you chase film projects?"
Adrian rubbed his forehead. "If I had that kind of easy access, do you think directors and producers wouldn't already be giving me films to represent? But no, I see potential in you. That's why I'm here."
Nicole's defenses softened. She had no real foothold in Hollywood, and the truth was she needed someone, anyone, to open doors. Submitting headshots and resumes to casting offices wasn't getting her anywhere.
Finally, she nodded. "Alright. I'll agree."
Adrian extended his hand across the table. She shook it, firm but cautious.
At least now, Nicole Kidman could say she had a legitimate CAA agent behind her name.
As Adrian left the restaurant that afternoon, the contract details running through his mind, he felt a flicker of satisfaction. Nicole Kidman was still an unknown, but she carried herself like a star. If he played his cards right, she could become a cornerstone of his roster.
The world around him remained dominated by the giants: Ovitz, Wagner, Stallone, Cruise, Hoffman, but Adrian Knight knew that every empire began with small, risky bets. He had already staked his savings on Ghost. Now he was staking his reputation on Nicole Kidman.
One day, Hollywood would stop overlooking him. But for now, the work had only just begun.