บท 157: Chapter 157: Rainy London
Rainy weather in London was quite different from the warm sunshine in Los Angeles.
Of course, in England, Charles felt the intense football atmosphere; the English Premier League was already starting to attract large amounts of foreign investment.
Russian mogul Roman Abramovich had bought Chelsea two years ago, kicking off the era of money football, and this year, Chelsea had just won their first Premier League title.
Meanwhile, the Jewish-owned Glazer family had used a leveraged buyout to acquire Manchester United in May this year.
At Stamford Bridge in London's West End, Charles enjoyed the Chelsea vs. Sunderland match in a private box with Keira Knightley.
"Charles, aren't you interested in British football? Chelsea is the reigning Premier League champion!" Keira Knightley, acting as the host, specially invited Charles to experience the live Premier League atmosphere.
Charles sat back in his chair, propping his chin up with his hand and said enviously, "Those oil tycoons from Russia have too much money."
Chelsea's investments over the past couple of years had made them unbeatable; championships could indeed be bought.
Keira Knightley, who stayed in London to promote Pride & Prejudice, invited Charles to watch the game once she heard he was in town.
"I heard the price for Manchester United was nearly 800 millions of pounds," Keira Knightley explained.
"It's all leveraged buyouts; just look at how the Manchester United fans reacted. But the Glazer family doesn't care about that," Charles commented with some frustration, given that Premier League team prices weren't as high as they would be in the future.
As the most commercially successful sports event globally, investing in the Premier League held great potential!
"What, are you thinking of buying a team too?"
In response to Keira Knightley's casual question, Charles laughed, "Why not?"
Keira Knightley chuckled at Charles's answer, "Which club interests you the most?"
"Most interesting club?" Charles pondered for a moment before replying, "Arsenal is building a new stadium right now; I really like them!"
"Arsenal is a big club and not cheap. You should consider mid-level teams or Championship teams."
Keira Knightley's suggestion was reasonable; big clubs weren't easy to acquire.
Charles laughed, "No rush. Capet Entertainment is growing quickly; we'll move into sports entertainment when the time is right."
"True, Capet Entertainment is already a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. You're making strides by setting up a business department in England to expand into overseas markets," Keira Knightley said. At only 20 years old, she had become a major star thanks to her role in the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean.
"We have to take one step at a time. London is already one of the world's film production hubs. Hollywood can't do without the culture, architecture, history, and people in the UK," he said. Language alone meant they were destined to be interconnected.
Chelsea effortlessly defeated Sunderland 2-0 in that game at Stamford Bridge, the difference in strength was too evident.
That evening, Scarlett Johansson, who was filming Scoop in London, joined them at the bar.
"Cheers! London's weather isn't as comfortable as Los Angeles'," they toasted in the lively bar. Keira Knightley, who had cut her hair short after filming the action thriller Domino last year, looked like a tomboy due to her slim figure.
Scarlett Johansson agreed, "Yes, the weather in London is often gloomy; it rains so much that I always have to carry an umbrella."
Charles stretched out his arms, pulling both ladies close, and laughed, "But this is the weather English gentlemen love!"
After laughing for a while, Scarlett Johansson switched to a serious topic, "Keira, Pride & Prejudice turned out great. You looked stunning."
"Thanks. Jane Austen's novels have been adapted so many times; I was quite surprised to be offered the role," Keira Knightley, who didn't fit the typical demure and gentle image, acknowledged.
Charles also chimed in, "Keira's version of Pride & Prejudice features many of England's current beauties and showcases the stunning British countryside, which will attract plenty of viewers."
Pride & Prejudice had held premieres in many European cities, but its wide release was set for this month.
The North American investor for Pride & Prejudice was Focus Features; they chose a great project.
However, Keira Knightley's real blockbusters were Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, slated for release in the next two summer seasons.
In contrast to Scarlett Johansson's The Island, which had flopped, Keira Knightley was much luckier.
After some drinks, Keira Knightley left early to rest as she had work the next day.
"So, Charles, how long are you planning to stay in London?" Scarlett Johansson leaned against Charles.
Charles shook his head, "Not too long. I'm mainly here to check on our business in the UK. Plus, a lot of the post-production for The Da Vinci Code is being done at Pinewood Studios in the outskirts of London. I need to keep an eye on that too."
Actually, Charles was also troubled because French actress Marion Cotillard had called him to go on vacation in Mallorca, Spain!
"And you? After finishing Scoop, heading back to LA to shoot The Black Dahlia?" Charles asked.
Scarlett Johansson nodded; actors often had a few busy months.
"How do you find working with Woody Allen? What's he like as a director?" Charles inquired, curious about Allen, who married his stepdaughter.
"Oh, the director keeps critiquing my outfits on set, always finding faults with my attire. It makes me feel so uncomfortable," Scarlett Johansson vented her frustrations about Woody Allen.
"With Match Point yet to release, Woody Allen started shooting his next film in London already," Charles laughed, noting that Allen only chose bustling cities for his scenes, like New York and future locations Barcelona and Paris.
"Nevertheless, Woody Allen is a great director with strong professional skills," acknowledged Scarlett Johansson, although she had just been venting, she had respect for his abilities.
"Alright then, let's call it a night. You're my girl now. If those indie directors have any ideas, I'll send them packing from Hollywood, leaving them to the European film scene," Charles said while standing up.
Scarlett Johansson smiled, gave Charles a peck on the cheek, and linked her arm with his, heading back to the hotel together.
*****
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