Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

The memoir returns to 1999. Perry lives alone in a luxurious house overlooking Los Angeles. He accepts the lead role in The Whole Nine Yards, costarring Bruce Willis. During filming in Montreal, the actors stay in the same hotel, and Willis hosts parties in his suite. Perry takes Xanax to help him sleep after days spent filming and then drinking with his costar. He realizes that while Willis likes to “party,” he can also stop. Meanwhile, Perry fears his addictions will kill him. Four years later, Perry and Willis star in the sequel, The Whole Ten Yards. The movie fails to live up to the original.

In 2001, Perry leaves the Malibu treatment center free of addictions and cravings. Expressing gratitude to Jamie Tarses for supporting him, he then breaks up with her, saying he needs to focus on his sobriety. In reality, Perry wants to have sex with as many women as possible. He begins every date with a well-practiced speech explaining his disinterest in commitment. During this period, he meets many “perfect” women but ends the relationship if they show signs of emotional attachment. One of them is Natasha Wagner, the daughter of Natalie Wood.