Countess
01-02-2006, 05:24 PM
The meeting with his father and publicist had gone well. Together they had agreed that Jules' best course of action was to confront the accusations and rumors head on, which no one would possibly expect, and disarm his enemies by refusing to be intimidated by them. Although Jules was less enthused by the prospect of a confrontation, he nevertheless concurred with his keepers' approach, and promised to show up at the specified locations at the appointed times to recite the prescripted answers to the predetermined questions. There was only one caveat to the plan to which Jules held exception, and that was the intentional renewed relationship with Cass. Ana, he was told, was a nobody and as a nobody her presence in his life was a superfluous one; therefore she could be dismissed without causing a ruckus, and could easily be replaced with a connection of superior and thus noteworthy significance. Although Jules initially raised fierce opposition to the idea, citing his ardor and affection for Ana as a legitimate reason to reject such ludicrous and preposterous notions, he eventually became reconciled to it through his father's rational argument as well as his publicist's frenetic insistence that it was the "right" thing to do.
As was to be expected, Ana was not delighted that she was being summarily replaced by her former rival, even if it were for the benefit of Jules's career. In fact, an elderly gentleman on the third floor of the same hotel reported overhearing loud voices followed by a very pronounced crash and the appearance of broken shards of pottery on his terrace soon after the producer's return to the room to tell Ana of his new resolutions. However, after the original excitement died down, a taciturn peace settled over the place, and it was generally agreed upon by both the staff and service personnel that the two had reached a mutually acceptable solution.
So, when Jules emerged from his room on Monday at approximately 2PM and took the elevator downstairs to the limousine that was awaiting him outside, no one thought much of it, and indeed, neither did Jules. He was singularly focused on the mission at hand, and on memorizing the questions and the answers he was to give during his interview with Oprah. Although he had already sat once with her and knew her to be a kind and gentle woman, he was nevertheless anxious, especially considering the time and the subject of the material.
They had arranged for her to put the questions to him as delicately as possible, and he was to respond with the tact and refinement that betrayed his good breeding. Nonetheless, the volatile nature of the situation invariably excited his nerves, and when at last he heard his name called to go onstage, he felt a large lump in his throat and his hands quivered from the stress.
Standing erect, Jules strode down the imagined runway, intentionally planting each foot, toe-first then heel, in front of the other, to the cushioned seat that awaited him at the far end. His ears registered the loud screams of his primarily female audience, but being intimately acquainted with the fickle quality of their shallow emotions he could not appreciate their adoration. In the next hour they could easily turn against him and jeer him off the stage.
Oprah stood up to embrace him, and then both of them sat down and ceremoniously gazed at each other. Her affectionate smile immediately put the producer at ease. "So, how are you Jules?"
"I'm well," he beamed, turning to smile at the audience to the delight of several of its members. "And yourself?"
"Fine….well you look good," she commented, studying his appearance. "You really do. Do you feel good?"
"I feel great - of course, beauty is a prerequisite to health," Jules quipped, crossing his legs and tossing his hair. “What good is it to be fit and perfectly plain?
Oprah chuckled at his jest. "It must be the Vercini blood."
"Oh it's definitely the Vercini blood," Jules shifted excitedly in his seat. "Definitely, but don't underestimate the Cromwell aristocracy. They have extravagant taste as well."
"You mean your father," Oprah suggested.
"Yes, my father…but really, the entire Cromwell pedigree. My ancestors were gentry landowners in Regency London, and several held summer homes in Paris. In fact, I suspect my father fell for my mother's Greco-Roman classic style."
Oprah looked surprised. "Do you think?"
Jules grinned devilishly. "No, but it would have been a better story."
"But your mother did do some classic Italian designs, didn't she?"
"Yes, for about a year she was inspired by the Italian Renaissance," he confirmed.
"And you went through a similar period yourself?"
"I did, although mine didn't last six months," Jules noted seriously. "After dallying in it I moved on to more exquisite motifs, like luxurious fabrics and elaborate patterns - pure decadence."
Oprah smiled graciously. "That's the Jules we all know."
"Yes, well it's tedious being mature all the time," he jested playfully. "Sometimes you have to act a bit childish," and he winked at her and made her blush..
"So what made you leave fashion for literature? I remember the move was rather controversial for you."
"Well let me make one thing clear: I never left fashion and I will never leave fashion," the producer corrected, waving his hand in the air like a regal nobleman. " As you said, it's in my blood. Rather, I was interested in expanding my creative horizons, seeing what I could do in other industries. I didn't just explore literature either; I looked into art, sculpting, photography - I had my hand in many different projects. At some point I realized I had to choose a primary trade, and I chose producing."
"And speaking of producing…" Oprah cut in.
"…oh no, here it comes!" Jules giggled delightfully, "You saw my debut I heard. Did you know I wrote, acted in and directed that entire project, not to mention fund it? It was quite a production."
Oprah burst out laughing at Jules clever red herring. "That was your first try at producing and directing."
"Absolutely. A lot of hard work went into that film," the producer grinned slyly. "Did you enjoy my performance?"
At this question, Oprah's eyes grew wide and she blushed as she continued to chuckle hysterically. "Yes."
"That's wonderful!" Jules enthused, then turned to the audience. "Did you guys enjoy it, eh, did you?" he asked. His question was immediately met with a loud round of whoops, whistles and screams. "That's great, really great. Maybe I'll get an Oscar nomination, or a Golden Globe…or two." The fashion mogul continued to smile gleefully as he observed his amused host and his highly animated spectators. Eventually the interviewer was able to calm down and resume her usual calm tone.
"Jules…you didn't…" she started.
"I did. You know I did, I always do," he teased, his eyes dancing coyly with hers. "You want me to again?"
A few audience members whooped once more at his suggestion, although none knew to what he was referring.
“Now this was based, at least in part, on your own life, right?” the host asked, resuming her previous serious tone.
“Well it’s not autobiographical per se,” Jules mused, “but it is an allegory to an experience I had when I was eighteen – my first, really.”
“With a man,” Oprah clarified.
“Yes.”
“And how did that shape you?” she inquired. “Do you feel like you’ve become The Handsome Prince?”
“Eh, at one time, perhaps,” he expounded. “I was becoming that way and I’ve no doubt without Nate’s intervention I would have become a victim of my own design, quite literally, but his death changed everything for me.”
“Speaking of which – he’s the centerpiece of your biography, correct?”
“I wouldn’t say he’s the centerpiece – his death or rather his sacrifice is the crux of the book and the event that drives the film towards it’s ending,” the producer commented.
“You said it changed you. How?”
“Without going into great detail that might spoil the plot, his decision made me question for whom I was living, and also why I was making the choices I was making in my life. I realized how conceited I was, vain, arrogant – all the words we reserve for the celebrity,” Jules joked. “I decided I didn’t want to be that person, I didn’t want to hurt anyone or myself any longer. I’m a long ways off from where I want to be, but far away from who I used to be.”
Oprah smiled wisely at these words. “You’ll get there,” she said, reassuringly. “So tell me who the mysterious individual is who authored your biography. By all accounts you’re pleased with it.”
“I’m not at liberty to tell you the individual’s name just yet,” Jules remarked, carefully avoiding the issue, “but I will say the book will be published in conjunction with the film – at least that’s my goal.”
"Well, now, because of this video, I hear you've been chased around town by paparazzi, and apparently some of them took some photos of you and Cass Depardieu. Are you two back together again?"
"Yes, definitely."
"So you are off the market…"
"…for both men and women," Jules joked. "Yes, I'm taken," the producer announced loudly to the audience, "I'm sorry."
His declaration was met with several "Awhs" and general sadness on behalf of the audience.
"I know, I'm a mean, cruel man," he continued mischievously.
"No you aren't," his host rebuked him, "but now we have to go to break. When we come back, Martha Stuart talks to us about decorating for the holidays."
As was to be expected, Ana was not delighted that she was being summarily replaced by her former rival, even if it were for the benefit of Jules's career. In fact, an elderly gentleman on the third floor of the same hotel reported overhearing loud voices followed by a very pronounced crash and the appearance of broken shards of pottery on his terrace soon after the producer's return to the room to tell Ana of his new resolutions. However, after the original excitement died down, a taciturn peace settled over the place, and it was generally agreed upon by both the staff and service personnel that the two had reached a mutually acceptable solution.
So, when Jules emerged from his room on Monday at approximately 2PM and took the elevator downstairs to the limousine that was awaiting him outside, no one thought much of it, and indeed, neither did Jules. He was singularly focused on the mission at hand, and on memorizing the questions and the answers he was to give during his interview with Oprah. Although he had already sat once with her and knew her to be a kind and gentle woman, he was nevertheless anxious, especially considering the time and the subject of the material.
They had arranged for her to put the questions to him as delicately as possible, and he was to respond with the tact and refinement that betrayed his good breeding. Nonetheless, the volatile nature of the situation invariably excited his nerves, and when at last he heard his name called to go onstage, he felt a large lump in his throat and his hands quivered from the stress.
Standing erect, Jules strode down the imagined runway, intentionally planting each foot, toe-first then heel, in front of the other, to the cushioned seat that awaited him at the far end. His ears registered the loud screams of his primarily female audience, but being intimately acquainted with the fickle quality of their shallow emotions he could not appreciate their adoration. In the next hour they could easily turn against him and jeer him off the stage.
Oprah stood up to embrace him, and then both of them sat down and ceremoniously gazed at each other. Her affectionate smile immediately put the producer at ease. "So, how are you Jules?"
"I'm well," he beamed, turning to smile at the audience to the delight of several of its members. "And yourself?"
"Fine….well you look good," she commented, studying his appearance. "You really do. Do you feel good?"
"I feel great - of course, beauty is a prerequisite to health," Jules quipped, crossing his legs and tossing his hair. “What good is it to be fit and perfectly plain?
Oprah chuckled at his jest. "It must be the Vercini blood."
"Oh it's definitely the Vercini blood," Jules shifted excitedly in his seat. "Definitely, but don't underestimate the Cromwell aristocracy. They have extravagant taste as well."
"You mean your father," Oprah suggested.
"Yes, my father…but really, the entire Cromwell pedigree. My ancestors were gentry landowners in Regency London, and several held summer homes in Paris. In fact, I suspect my father fell for my mother's Greco-Roman classic style."
Oprah looked surprised. "Do you think?"
Jules grinned devilishly. "No, but it would have been a better story."
"But your mother did do some classic Italian designs, didn't she?"
"Yes, for about a year she was inspired by the Italian Renaissance," he confirmed.
"And you went through a similar period yourself?"
"I did, although mine didn't last six months," Jules noted seriously. "After dallying in it I moved on to more exquisite motifs, like luxurious fabrics and elaborate patterns - pure decadence."
Oprah smiled graciously. "That's the Jules we all know."
"Yes, well it's tedious being mature all the time," he jested playfully. "Sometimes you have to act a bit childish," and he winked at her and made her blush..
"So what made you leave fashion for literature? I remember the move was rather controversial for you."
"Well let me make one thing clear: I never left fashion and I will never leave fashion," the producer corrected, waving his hand in the air like a regal nobleman. " As you said, it's in my blood. Rather, I was interested in expanding my creative horizons, seeing what I could do in other industries. I didn't just explore literature either; I looked into art, sculpting, photography - I had my hand in many different projects. At some point I realized I had to choose a primary trade, and I chose producing."
"And speaking of producing…" Oprah cut in.
"…oh no, here it comes!" Jules giggled delightfully, "You saw my debut I heard. Did you know I wrote, acted in and directed that entire project, not to mention fund it? It was quite a production."
Oprah burst out laughing at Jules clever red herring. "That was your first try at producing and directing."
"Absolutely. A lot of hard work went into that film," the producer grinned slyly. "Did you enjoy my performance?"
At this question, Oprah's eyes grew wide and she blushed as she continued to chuckle hysterically. "Yes."
"That's wonderful!" Jules enthused, then turned to the audience. "Did you guys enjoy it, eh, did you?" he asked. His question was immediately met with a loud round of whoops, whistles and screams. "That's great, really great. Maybe I'll get an Oscar nomination, or a Golden Globe…or two." The fashion mogul continued to smile gleefully as he observed his amused host and his highly animated spectators. Eventually the interviewer was able to calm down and resume her usual calm tone.
"Jules…you didn't…" she started.
"I did. You know I did, I always do," he teased, his eyes dancing coyly with hers. "You want me to again?"
A few audience members whooped once more at his suggestion, although none knew to what he was referring.
“Now this was based, at least in part, on your own life, right?” the host asked, resuming her previous serious tone.
“Well it’s not autobiographical per se,” Jules mused, “but it is an allegory to an experience I had when I was eighteen – my first, really.”
“With a man,” Oprah clarified.
“Yes.”
“And how did that shape you?” she inquired. “Do you feel like you’ve become The Handsome Prince?”
“Eh, at one time, perhaps,” he expounded. “I was becoming that way and I’ve no doubt without Nate’s intervention I would have become a victim of my own design, quite literally, but his death changed everything for me.”
“Speaking of which – he’s the centerpiece of your biography, correct?”
“I wouldn’t say he’s the centerpiece – his death or rather his sacrifice is the crux of the book and the event that drives the film towards it’s ending,” the producer commented.
“You said it changed you. How?”
“Without going into great detail that might spoil the plot, his decision made me question for whom I was living, and also why I was making the choices I was making in my life. I realized how conceited I was, vain, arrogant – all the words we reserve for the celebrity,” Jules joked. “I decided I didn’t want to be that person, I didn’t want to hurt anyone or myself any longer. I’m a long ways off from where I want to be, but far away from who I used to be.”
Oprah smiled wisely at these words. “You’ll get there,” she said, reassuringly. “So tell me who the mysterious individual is who authored your biography. By all accounts you’re pleased with it.”
“I’m not at liberty to tell you the individual’s name just yet,” Jules remarked, carefully avoiding the issue, “but I will say the book will be published in conjunction with the film – at least that’s my goal.”
"Well, now, because of this video, I hear you've been chased around town by paparazzi, and apparently some of them took some photos of you and Cass Depardieu. Are you two back together again?"
"Yes, definitely."
"So you are off the market…"
"…for both men and women," Jules joked. "Yes, I'm taken," the producer announced loudly to the audience, "I'm sorry."
His declaration was met with several "Awhs" and general sadness on behalf of the audience.
"I know, I'm a mean, cruel man," he continued mischievously.
"No you aren't," his host rebuked him, "but now we have to go to break. When we come back, Martha Stuart talks to us about decorating for the holidays."