On the pressurized cabin of the Paramount Gulfstream Duke Hauser sat in a wide chair, his bad leg propped up on a footrest.
He was staring at a map of the Pacific Rim, but his mind was already thinking of the Pacific Rim movie and its awful sequel.
In front of him, Michael Eisner, the current Vice President of Daytime Programming at Paramount was roaming through a stack of binders.
Eisner had voluntered to come on this trip.
"You know, Duke," Eisner said, snapping a binder shut. "My grandfather, Milton Dammann, used to say that a man who only looks at the product is a hobbyist. A man who looks at the machine that makes the product is a businessman."
Duke shifted his gaze from the window to Eisner. "The American Safety Razor Company, right? Your grandfather was a hell of a man, Michael."
Eisner's eyes lit up. He leaned forward, "He was. He understood vertical integration before everyone."
Eisner paused, glancing toward the cockpit to ensure the pilots weren't listening.
"I've been looking at our deal with Mattel for the Blue Beetle line," Eisner said. "Diller thinks it's a home run. He's looking at the prototypes and the shelf-space promises. But I've been looking at their quarterly report."
Duke didn't understood a thing.
"Explain," Duke said simply.
"They're cooking the books," Eisner whispered, "They're booking future orders as current revenue to keep the stock price North. They're under massive financial stress. If Mattel craters while our lead hero's toy line is in mid-production, we're under a big problem."
"Barry is a brilliant TV executive, Duke. He understands scheduling and talent. But he doesn't understand manufacturing at all."
Eisner took a deep breath, "You need someone who understands the physical side of things. Someone who can manage the toy division, the merchandising, ancillary streams, and do it while keeping an eye on the bottom line."
"Jaffe is gone to Columbia. Diller is stretched thin. Let me lead the toy division, Duke. As a test. I'll stabilize Mattel or I'll find the leverage to buy them out for pennies when they trip over their own wrongdoing."
It was a bold play. Eisner was essentially offering to bypass Diller and become Duke's right hand.
Duke studied him for a long moment. He saw the future CEO of Disney, the man who would one day turn a theme park and a mouse into a global hegemon. Let's hope he can do that to Paramount.
Also Duke noted to not trust Eisner too much, he was the Brutus to Diller, Julius Caesar
"I appreciate the intel, Michael," Duke said, his voice calm and steady. "And I value your perspective. But right now, we're going to Korea to open a door. Keep your eyes on Mattel. I have hope for you."
Eisner looked disappointed for a fraction of a second, then masked it with a professional nod. "Understood, Duke. I just want to make sure Paramount is safe."
"Paramount is fine," Duke said, looking back out at the clouds. "Let's focus on Korea."
As the Gulfstream taxied to a halt, Duke saw the reception committee waiting. A dozen men in dark, ill-fitting suits stood in a perfect line. Behind them, two black sedans waited, their engines idling.
When the cabin door opened, the wall of cold air hit Duke like a physical blow, . He descended the stairs, leaning slightly on a cane that helped with stairs, with Eisner trailing behind him.
The leader of the delegation, a man named Mr. Kim from the Ministry of Culture, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Mr. Hauser," Kim said in practiced, formal English. "Welcome to Korea. We are deeply honored by the presence of Paramount. Your victories at the Academy Awards is well known here. You are the 'Young Dragon' of the West."
Duke returned the bow, improvising sice he didn't really knew the protocol here. "Thank you, Mr. Kim. It's an honor to be here. This is Michael Eisner, my Vice President of TV."
The introductions were a blur of formal bows and business cards exchanged with two hands.
They were whisked away in the sedans, the motorcade weaving through streets filled with bicycles, buses, and the occasional army truck. Seoul was a sea of concrete and construction.
The "Miracle on the Han River" was in its infancy, and the sheer labor and sweat of the city were palpable.
The Chosun Hotel was an island of Western luxury in the heart of the city. As they were led to the executive floor, Duke noticed the subtle details. The way the porters stood a little too straight.
The way the lobby buzzed with a mix of Japanese businessmen, American military officers, and Korean bureaucrats.
Duke's suite was sprawling, decorated in heavy silks and dark wood. As soon as the porters left, Duke did a slow lap of the room.
He didn't look at the view, he looked at the lamps. He looked at the heavy, rotary-dial telephone on the nightstand. He looked at the air vents.
In 1972, under the Yushin Constitution, the KCIA (Korean Central Intelligence Agency) was everywhere.
Duke knew that a high-ranking American mogul, traveling with the blessing of the State Department, was a high-value target for surveillance.
Every word spoken in this room was likely being recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by a team of men in a basement somewhere.
Eisner walked in, looking around, not impressed. "Nice place. A bit... formal, isn't it?"
"It's a stage, Michael," Duke said, he walked over to the window, looking out at the city as the sun began to set, casting long, orange shadows over Seoul. "This is a good window to look out."
Eisner caught the subtext immediately. He nodded, his eyes darting to the telephone. "Right. Well, I should go get ready for the dinner. The Ministry people are expecting us at seven."
"See you then," Duke said.
Once Eisner left, Duke sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out and touched the telephone. He thought about the men listening.
He started thinking about Paramount's library. Specifically, he thought about Mission: Impossible.
The show was a hit in the States, a slick, high-tech procedural about a team of specialists who infiltrated impossible locations to stop global threats.
In the West, it was entertainment. But here? In a country where the threat of infiltration was a daily reality.
He imagined a localized version, or at least a heavily promoted syndication deal. If he could give the Korean audience a team of heroes who used intelligence, technology, and teamwork to outmaneuver the communist, he would probably get good ratings
He smiled to himself, looking at the heavy curtains.
He stood up, ignoring the ache in his leg. He had a dinner to attend.
___
The morning after, Duke and Michael Eisner were driven to the KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) headquarters in a black sedan.
Duke walked with a measured pace, beside him, Eisner was looking around.
He was taking in the primitive state of the broadcast hardware, heavy, aging cameras and manual switching boards, he hasnt seen equipment like this in years.
In a glass-walled conference room overlooking the studio floor, Duke met with the Director of Programming. The tea was served in paper cups, steaming and bitter.
"We appreciate the visit as a gesture of American-Korean friendship," the Director said through an interpreter. "But our audience is... specific. They value traditional drama. They value stories of the family. We are not sure if the 'American way' translates to the Korean hearth."
Duke leaned forward, placing a high-resolution animation cel of the Blue Beetle on the table. Beside it, he laid out a production still from Mission: Impossible showing the team hovering over a high-tech blueprint.
"Family is universal, Mr. Director," Duke said, his voice calm and resonant. "But aspiration is what builds a nation."
The Director looked at the cel. The colors were vibrant, a stark contrast to the gray-scale reality of 1972 Seoul.
"I'm prepared to offer you the syndication rights for a fraction of the market rate," Duke continued, "subsidized by Paramount's global outreach fund. But I have one condition."
"I want the prime time-slots," Duke said, his eyes locking onto the Director's. "Week Mornings and Saturdays for Blue Beetle. Tuesday nights for the Impossible Missions. I don't want these buried."
The Director hesitated, looking at his assistants. In a state-run system, prime time was reserved for government announcements and safe, local variety shows. But the quality of the cels on the table was undeniable.
"We will take it to the Ministry," the Director finally said. "But your confidence... it is persuasive, Mr. Hauser."
Duke finally used his final offer, "I heard Director Park's family, has a Hardware company, Paramount is looking for a regional partner to handle our hardware needs. I've already authorized to begin the certification process for your brother-in-law's firm. It seems like a natural fit, given our new partnership at KBS."
The director smiled and served him tea. Now they were talking
___
Later that evening, the neon lights began to flicker to life,Duke led Eisner away from the sterile luxury of the hotel and into a legendary spot, Gamoo.
The restaurant was a local landmark, famous for its donkatsu, a Koreanized take on the breaded pork cutlet.
They sat at a small, cramped table near the window, two tall Americans in expensive wool coats surrounded by students and office workers.
Eisner looked at the breaded pork on his plate with fascination. "Is this trip worth it just to get a Tuesday night slot in a country that most people in California couldn't find on a map."
Duke cut into his cutlet, the steam rising. "Michael, look out that window. What do you see?"
Eisner looked out at the crowded street. "I see a lot of people in gray jackets walking very fast."
"I see the next Japan," Duke said firmly. "Everyone in Hollywood is looking at the European markets. But these people have nothing right now but an iron will and a hunger to be great. Im betting that the Korean economy will rise soon."
Duke took a bite, then pointed his fork at Eisner. "If we make sure they know Blue Beetle from childhood, once they get disposable income, they will buy our things."
Eisner chewed slowly, his brain finally clicking into gear.
"It's a long-tail play," Eisner murmured. "Vertical integration across time, not just industries."
"Exactly," Duke said, a genuine smile breaking across his face