In Rifkin's mind, even Sloane has limits, and often they have to do with the people he loves (and yes, shriveled and spotty as it is, Sloane has a heart). For example, there was one scene on an airplane where Sloane, who had just lost his wife, Emily (Amy Irving), was having a conversation with Irina.
"In the script," Rifkin says, "they had written that there was some sort of sexual suggestiveness between Irina and myself. It was a moment of electricity. I was disturbed by it. Emily had just died.
"I went to the writers and said, 'She just died. It's enough trouble with me being a villain, but to have me ready to screw someone else -- forgive me -- right after my wife died, doesn't feel right for the character. Whatever empathy the audience has for Sloane is going to be gone immediately.'
