Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 192: The Hit and Run]

Link embraced Jennifer Aniston, looking at Robert Downey Jr. with a mix of sympathy and disdain. "You're so naive and immature. You don't even realize you've been used. If you had pulled out a gun just now, you would have been a complete mess, and before you died, you wouldn't have known who caused it. After you're gone, that so-called friend of yours will use your father's retirement money without a second thought while trash-talking you for being a fool, getting played and still helping others profit."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Robert's face twisted with rage as he glared at Link, but he didn't make a move.

...

Robert glanced at his two bodyguards, pulled out his phone, and called Michael Ovitz to ask how many times Richard Gere had taken money from him and for how much each time.

Ovitz replied that it happened three times: the first two times were for ten million each, and the third time only five million, since the chances of winning were slim with the last bet being voluntary. When asked why he wanted to know, Robert hung up, clenching his teeth, the look on his face becoming even more fierce.

...

Sirens wailed. The police arrived, and two officers stepped out of their car, guns drawn, ordering Robert to lay on the ground for a search.

"Link, don't get cocky. I'm letting you off this time, but others won't be so merciful. I bet you'll have a tough time ahead," Robert shot a glare at Link before laying face down on the pavement.

The officers approached him, patting him down until they found a handgun and promptly took him away.

...

Link, shaken, led a frightened Jennifer back to their hotel in Manhattan to rest. The next day, while on set, Link got word that Robert had been bailed out by his father.

Meanwhile, the police issued a restraining order against Robert, forbidding him from contacting Link or being within five hundred feet of him.

...

Later that evening, Link received a call from Lily in Los Angeles. Half an hour earlier, Robert had drunkenly hit Richard Gere with his car outside a bar, sending Richard flying over ten feet and into the street, where he was rushed to the hospital, his condition unknown.

...

The next day, nearly all American media covered the explosive story.

Hollywood's rising star, who had received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor earlier that year, Robert Downey Jr. was reported to have hit fellow star Richard Gere at 6:24 PM.

Richard was critically injured and was currently in the ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with multiple fractures. The most severe injuries were to his spine and skull, and his survival remained uncertain.

Robert, on the other hand, had been arrested at the scene.

This news was sensational, with papers across New York running extensive coverage, complete with detailed accounts and numerous high-resolution photos of the horrific scene.

...

The Los Angeles Times published an investigative piece detailing the conflict between Robert and Richard, mixing fact and speculation. According to Cindy Crawford, Richard's wife, prior to the incident, Robert had visited Richard's home, where a heated argument had broken out, escalating into a physical altercation.

Robert was reportedly thrown out by Richard's security.

Less than three hours later, Robert was driving recklessly down the street and crashed into Richard. Reporters asked Cindy about the reasons behind Robert and Richard's explosive fallout. She admitted she did not know.

Industry insiders revealed that before this incident, Robert and Richard had shared a good relationship, often seen chatting happily at bars and parties. So what had caused this rift so sudden and severe?

This situation piqued the curiosity of onlookers across America and even the world.

...

In the following day's coverage, the Los Angeles Times continued its comprehensive analysis of their conflict. The report referenced findings from the New York Daily News, stating that two days before Robert hit Richard, he had been taken in by the NYPD for questioning due to arriving in New York specifically to confront Link, with a loaded gun in tow, only to be stopped by Link's bodyguards.

Why had Robert brought a gun with him to confront Link and then ran Richard over the following day?

The tangled relationship among Robert, Richard, and the prominent director Link was under scrutiny.

Was there any connection between Link and the incident involving Robert hitting Richard?

Stay tuned for the next installment.

...

Due to the Los Angeles Times' lengthy and drawn-out coverage, over five thousand words a day, some eager onlookers grew impatient, seeking out other newspapers to uncover the story's real details.

Many papers reported on the incident that day. Though lacking the depth of the Los Angeles Times, they still offered glimpses into the situation's behind-the-scenes dynamics.

According to an investigative article from The Hollywood Reporter, a significant event had occurred in the entertainment industry prior to Robert's conflict with Link and Richard.

Link's third film, Final Destination, had earned $209 million domestically within its first fifteen weeks, surpassing Tom Cruise's film, The Firm, to temporarily secure the second spot on the annual box office chart.

How did Final Destination's box office success relate to Robert's reckless driving incident?

The answer lay in a betting agreement.

In July, Robert had bet Link at a bar over which film -- Link's new movie Final Destination or Tom Cruise's The Firm -- would earn a higher box office tally after their first fifteen weeks. Initially, they wagered ten million dollars.

Soon, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, and many high-ups from CAA got involved, with the total wagering amount reaching an astounding $144 million, creating a royal bet.

To secure The Firm's victory, CAA mobilized substantial funds for promotion, including securing star endorsements, totaling over $40 million. The investment largely came from Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, and Robert's contributions.

Ultimately, The Firm grossed $202 million within those fifteen weeks.

Everyone had expected Tom and the others to win comfortably, but once Final Destination hit theaters, its ticket sales skyrocketed, crossing the $100 million mark in less than four weeks.

It was rumored that after Final Destination reached large box office figures, Tom Cruise and Robert continued to raise funds to spread negative news about the movie and its creators through the tabloids in an attempt to suppress its box office.

Unfortunately for them, Final Destination's potential was massive, and Link's promotional methods were highly effective.

Despite significant pressure from the media, the film's ticket sales kept climbing, surpassing $200 million in thirteen weeks and hitting $209 million after fifteen weeks, successfully outpacing The Firm.

Link won the bet, raking in $144 million, including initial capital and profits.

However, to guarantee victory in the bet, CAA stars had to pool tens of millions of dollars to promote The Firm while attempting to sabotage Final Destination's box office.

Robert had personally contributed over $8 million, combined with his $5 million wager, bringing his total to $13 million.

Given Robert's precarious financial status, $9 million of that came from a bank loan, with $3 million from his father.

Following his loss in the wager, Robert filed for bankruptcy, rendering him broke. This was partly the reason he threatened Link with a gun.

As for the incident with Richard, insiders suggested it was due to the financial mismanagement by CAA. When collecting the debt, Michael Ovitz had Richard inflate figures, leading Robert to pay several million dollars more than necessary, worsening his already tight finances.

Robert presumably harbored resentment after discovering this.

...

As the story unfolded, observers started to connect the dots. Robert's confrontation with Link stemmed from his inability to take the loss, while hitting Richard was a moment of furious retaliation for what he perceived as betrayal by a friend.

As the narrative continued, it became evident that neither Robert Downey Jr. troubled with the law nor Richard Gere reeling from severe injuries were innocent bystanders.

This included Link, who had made a substantial profit of over $70 million from the bet and faced threats, a situation one could find themselves in when dealing with such large sums of money.

He was far from innocent.

*****

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