Truth be told, Michael Eisner had been mentally prepared for this.
Roy Disney hadn't sealed the deal with Dunn after all this time—obviously, the kid's demands were way over the top.
But when Eisner actually heard what Dunn was after, he was so shocked he couldn't even speak!
Turns out, Dunn had his eye on that batch of classic animated films!
A request that bold? No wonder Roy Disney wouldn't budge!
Those cartoons were the life's work of the Disney brothers—the founders. They're the true legacy of the Disney family, handed down from Roy's parents. To Roy, those films mean more than his own life!
Dunn's appetite was just too big!
"Disney's not about to bankroll a competitor!" Michael Eisner shot down the idea flat.
"No, you've got it wrong," Dunn said, shaking his head repeatedly. "I'm not looking to remake those cartoons. What I want is the adaptation rights—for live-action movies."
Michael Eisner frowned. "That's still a tough sell. The old guard won't let anyone touch those assets."
But Dunn's eyes lit up.
Sure, Eisner hadn't said yes—but his response… it left room to maneuver!
That was a far cry from Roy Disney's flat-out, no-hesitation rejection.
"Negotiations, you know? Sometimes, if both sides give a little, we can land on a win-win," Dunn said with a fake smile, chuckling lightly.
The two strolled slowly through Disneyland. Their entourages trailed at a distance, and the park was nearly empty—rumor had it Eisner had shut it down for two hours. Guy's got some serious clout.
"You know I'm a feminist," Dunn started, all casual-like. "For decades, the New Right, neocons, and religious right have been stomping all over women's rights. Brutally, too. They've swayed Congress, killed the Equal Rights Amendment, fought against abortion, same-sex rights, and equal sexual autonomy. The way they've oppressed women? It's right up there with racial discrimination back in the day."
He went on, sounding like some compassionate saint. "It's the 21st century now. The world runs on science and law, not some ancient doctrine from thousands of years ago. The Bible says women are men's ribs—Genesis even has God telling Eve, 'Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.' Ha! How ridiculous is that?"
Michael Eisner stared at Dunn, deep in thought. Honestly, he couldn't tell if this was the real Dunn or just the version from the rumors.
Wasn't this guy supposed to be some playboy master of Hollywood's casting couch? And now he's genuinely pushing feminism?
Sometimes, Eisner could kinda get where Dunn was coming from. The conservative crowd's arguments were seriously outdated—claiming the differences between men and women go beyond biology, rooted in some divine law.
That's just oppressing women in the name of God!
"So… you've got your sights set on Disney's female-led animated films?" Eisner asked.
"Exactly!" Dunn replied, hands behind his back, watching little Taylor playing happily in the distance. Confidence practically radiated off him. "To me, Disney's cartoons are a goldmine for pushing feminism. And I'm the one holding the key to unlock it."
Eisner went quiet for a moment, then nodded. "I'll have to take this back to the board and see if it's doable."
No matter what, Dunn's pitch was lofty—politically correct to the max! It vibed perfectly with Disney's values.
Half the time, these high-minded, feel-good reasons were the best way to sway a boardroom.
Dunn grinned. "Roy's got a lot of pull, huh?"
"He doesn't speak for Disney!" Eisner snapped back.
With Monsters, Inc. hitting theaters, Eisner was riding high. Bringing Pixar's success under Disney's umbrella? That was his doing.
Compare that to Roy Disney's animation department, which was a total disaster—barely worth looking at!
But Dunn's next line threw cold water on him. "I'm still a major shareholder in Pixar, you know. Oh, right—second only to Jobs."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Eisner's face tightened.
Dunn blinked, feigning confusion with an innocent look. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Eisner let out a heavy grunt. "Jobs isn't exactly a saint!"
His beef with Steve Jobs wasn't new—it'd been simmering for years.
…
"Dunn, what the hell are you playing at?"
On the phone, Roy Disney was roaring like a madman.
Dunn shrugged at the elegant woman in front of him, then sighed into the receiver. "Mr. Disney, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Still playing dumb? Eisner's looking into the adaptation rights for those cartoons!" Roy's voice was shaking with rage.
Dunn rolled his eyes. "Mr. Disney, I don't get it. We talked about this back in the summer, didn't we? You kept dragging your feet, so I found someone else to work with. What's the problem? Am I only allowed to deal with you at Disney?"
"You—!" Roy, usually a man of few words, was fuming now. "Don't forget, your company almost went belly-up because of Eisner!"
Dunn shrugged it off. "So what? Business is business—alliances shift all the time. No permanent enemies, just permanent interests. Besides, a partnership between Dunn Films and Disney? That's a win-win, right?"
Win-win?
Win-win, my ass!
If it were really a fair deal, Roy would've signed off ages ago. This kid was trying to swoop in during Disney's internal chaos and stock disputes, looking to score big on the cheap.
Roy gritted his teeth. "Dunn, don't think I don't see through you. I'm telling you, no way! As long as I'm around, you're not touching a single one of Disney's cartoons!"
Dunn sighed, sounding helpless. "Mr. Disney, you're a legend in the industry, and I respect you. But you can't just throw a tantrum like this. I'm not stealing or cheating—just proposing a legit business deal. You didn't want in, so I went to Eisner. What's wrong with that?"
"Spare me the fancy talk. We both know what you're after—using Disney's name for your own gain. I won't let it happen!" Roy barked, resolute.
Dunn's tone cooled. "If you're this dead-set against me, then we've got nothing left to discuss. I want to use Disney's cartoons to promote women's rights—what a noble, thrilling mission! How else could Eisner possibly agree?"
"It's because he wants to cling to power at Disney! And you just want to cash in! It's a dirty little backroom deal!" Roy was practically unhinged, hurling accusations.
Dunn stayed calm. "That's your opinion, not mine. Eisner and I are thinking big-picture—your narrow mindset's holding you back. Sorry, I've got company. Goodbye."
He snapped his flip phone shut and tossed it onto the desk.
A smirk tugged at Dunn's lips as he scoffed.
Kirk Douglas, Roy Disney—old geezers like them should be enjoying retirement, not meddling in stuff like this. Don't they ever get tired?
Just then, the stylish woman lounging on the sofa—legs crossed, high-heeled boots swaying lightly—shot him a teasing, provocative look. "Dunn, you're shameless!"
Dunn's face flushed. "Sofia, is that how you talk to a friend? Don't forget, I just did you a huge favor!"
Sofia Coppola let out a little huff. "Some favor. Did you know Rose Pictures pushed Lost in Tokyo's shooting schedule back to July next year?"
Dunn waved it off. "Rose Pictures has a ton on its plate—everything's on Kathryn Kennedy's shoulders, and she's swamped. Gone Girl shoots early next year, so your movie's gotta wait."
Sofia and Dunn were tight—always trading sarcastic emails and jabs in person. She smirked. "Oh, sure. Gone Girl's based on your book, Mr. Big Shot. Of course my little film can't compete with your project."
Dunn groaned. "Sofia, you're a director now—do you nitpick like this on set too?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Everyone respects me just fine!"
"Oh, right—have you picked the leads for Lost in Tokyo yet?"
Dunn's curiosity perked up. He was genuinely interested—the original Lost in Tokyo starred a global goddess, after all…