The Old Compton Street Producer

Goes like this: I get a telephone call from S, a friend of an out-of-work actor I've recently met. He says that he's heard I've got a good script that I want to promote. Well hey - being a well-known and respected film producer (I'd never heard of him, but that meant nothing at the time) he'd like to see my screenplay. Yes! I'm in demand. So I arrange to meet him in Old Compton Street, outside a coffee bar.
When I get there I find this well-dressed presentable bloke, cashmere coat, large felt hat of the producer-kind, he buys me a coffee and we chat. I tell him all about the screenplay, he takes it all in, chemistry seems good, and we agree to meet the following week, when I'll bring along the screenplay, and he'll bring along a buddy director.
Next week he introduces me to M, the nephew of a well-known musician, but the chemistry's bad. M is an obnoxious egotist with a limp handshake, walking negativity, nothing's good enough for him - the coffee's rubbish, the chairs are too hard, the weather's wrong, there's too much traffic, and he clearly hasn't taken to me. The screenplay's been done before (it hasn't) and anyway, who's interested in the subject matter? They are, obviously, because after a few wines they begin to wax lyrical and decide to option it for a token £1. Which incidentally, they don't hand over. Of course, I don't read the smallprint - that would be way too small-minded of me. So I sign the rights over for eternity to the V Film Co., of which these two characters are the directors.

To cut a long story short, the V Film Co folds, M disappears, but S signs the rights back to me - which counts for nothing as M has to agree.

Some time later, my screenplay, restructured and under a different title, comes out as a stageplay and is a fair success. I get no credit.

Lessons learned:
Don't sign anything without representation. Get a media lawyer if you can afford it, or find an agent if you can't.
Don't be influenced by fancy clothes and big talk.
Don't drink too much at meetings with unknown persons.
Be aware that stealing ideas is a profession. Really.