With "Rounders" behind them, they had enough clout to insist on directing their second script themselves.
The first winner, Pete Jones, beat out 10,000 competitors for the right to direct his script.
He becomes friends with Ellie, and directs her first script.
For instance, he has no interest in directing someone else's script.
Whether he should be directing his own script is another question.
However, at the time, Lee decided to direct and produce his own script for Way of the Dragon instead.
"I would even direct somebody else's script," he said.
"Any man in my position who wanted to direct his next script would be allowed to do it," Ms. Foner said.
In the theater I directed other people's material, so why shouldn't I direct someone else's script?
A few years later, I wrote about the diner guys themselves, and got the opportunity to direct my script.