The first draft of the screenplay was written by Joe Eszterhas , who had his name removed from the project following Figgis's rewrite. The film is narrated by Max Carlyle. Max lives in Los Angeles, where he has a successful career directing television commercials and is happily married to Mimi, with whom he has two children.
While visiting New York City, Max meets Karen by chance after missing a flight; circumstances keep bringing them together over the course of the evening, and they end up spending the night together. When he returns home, Max seems distant and unhappy, though Mimi can't tell why and Max won't say.
Max meets Charlie's brother Vernon and is introduced to his new wifeβKaren. Facing Karen sends Max into an emotional tailspin, and he realizes that he must tell Mimi the truth about his indiscretion. The film was based on a script by Joe Eszterhas then at a career peak due to the success of Basic Instinct Part of the appeal of the deal was Adrian Lyne was attached to direct.
Robert Shaye of New Line said, "With Joe Eszterhas and Adrian Lyne, you're more than investing in an idea, you're investing in a film with a world-class screenwriter and director who can attract world-class talent. Eszterhas says the film was based on the break up of his marriage. When the couple in the film have a one-night stand, "They talk, they have sex, they make love, and I distinguish between the two things.
It's not just the sex, it's to do with the heart, not the glands. Now I am 50, I am sure of the difference. Eszterhas handed in his script in early According to the Los Angeles Times , his "first draft certainly wasn't the sort of script you'd want to give Bob Dole for bedtime reading.
