Well a funny thing happened on the way to the word processor. Early in 1986 my agent ScottMeredith called me in his most persuasive quotDont-say-no-until-Ive-finishedquot mode. There wasit seemed this young genius of a movie producer who was determined to film something— anything— of mine. Though Id never heard of Peter Guber as it happened I had seen two of hismovies Midnight Express The Deep and been quite impressed by them. I was even moreimpressed when Scott told me that Peters latest The Color Purple had been nominated forhalf a dozen Oscars. However I groaned inwardly when Scott went on to say that Peter had a friend with a brilliantidea hed like me to develop into a screenplay. I groaned because there are no new ideas ins.f and if it really was brilliant Id have thought of it already. Then Scott explained who the friend was and I did a double-take. The project suddenly lookedvery exciting indeed for reasons that had nothing to do with Peter Guber but a lot to do withStanley Kubrick