"Flight Risk" became a $200 million hit in the United States, grossing roughly the same amount overseas, and First Fleet Pictures was anxious for a sequel. Michael Carter and Abby O'Donovan weren't thrilled about the idea, however, and wanted to make a romantic comedy instead. They came across an unproduced script entitled "Linus, Lucy and Lisa," about an interracial love triangle involving three powerful New York attorneys-the smooth, handsome Linus Jones, the perky, romantic Lucy Hamilton, and the sexy, ambitious Lisa Donahue.
Michael and Abby faced a couple of challenges: they were worried that audiences might not buy the comedy couple as Big Apple legal titans, and they couldn't find a young actress willing to play Lisa, since none of Hollywood's starlets wanted to play third fiddle to the leads.
A fateful trip to New York would solve the latter problem...
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Abby came across a story about Martin Roberts and Miranda Kelly-Roberts in Legal Digest magazine. Abby thought it was serendipitous that she and Miranda were both successful Aussies who came to America and fell in love with gorgeous black men, and she arranged for both couples to meet in New York.
Over dinner at Saoirse's, an expensive Irish restaurant in midtown Manhattan, Martin and Miranda told Michael and Abby about how they met and how they were able to keep their relationship strong. Miranda did most of the talking while Martin, still struggling with guilt from his one-night stand with Miranda's cousin Claire Robyn Kelly, kept to himself.
The Aussie ladies were loud, animated, full of life. Michael joined in on the conversation at times, but for the most part he stared at Miranda, jealous that Martin got to go home every night to this smoking hot Aussie redhead. Abby's hot too, he thought, but Miranda is just that much hotter.
The conversation soon drifted to the casting problems Michael and Abby were running into with the role of Lisa. When Abby mentioned that they were looking for an up-and-coming sexy blonde actress to play the role, Miranda gave Martin a sharp elbow and said, "Hey, how about Claire?"
"Uh, no," Martin groaned.
"Oh, you've got to meet her," Miranda yelled, ignoring her husband. "She's so beautiful and so talented. She's a big fan of yours, too, Michael-she loves all the big black comedians."
Michael laughed. "Well, I'd certainly love to meet her."
"Yeah. Me too," added Abby.
Miranda removed her cell phone from her purse and called her cousin, telling her that America's king and queen of comedy were having dinner with her, and that they wanted to stop by to meet her. Claire squealed with disbelief and said she'd love to meet them.
After speaking to her cousin, Miranda asked Michael and Abby if they'd like to head over now. They said yes.
Martin said he wasn't feeling well, and had to catch a cab home.
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