Entertaining cowboys was straightforward. They would casually butcher a few cows, bring out the red wine from home, and enjoy a unique kind of cooking together.
Although the White family had aristocratic roots, they had been in Texas for too long. By the time it reached William White's generation, the noble aura had faded, though he still had some traces of a British accent. Other than that, there wasn't much left of the aristocracy.
The cowboys certainly were not disappointed. William White was quite the talker, full of off-color jokes. Though a bit risqué, he never crossed the line.
"Don't think Texas folk are rough," one of them said. "They're actually one of the most traditional folks in America. If you skip church, your old man will knock you around."
The gathering took place in a region that was not randomly chosen. People there wouldn't tolerate any of the donkey's freedom theories. If you dared preach about anything untraditional, they would set you straight.
"This might seem rational," another remarked. "But try this a few decades ago, and they would've strung you up without a second thought."
The younger Americans were pushing boundaries. Initially, if you didn't oppose something, it was no big deal. Then it changed; if you didn't support it, you would catch flak.
Some speculated that the American world dominance wouldn't last long. More folks were choosing same-sex lifestyles. What's going to happen to their future population? There was a real risk of negative population growth.
Cowboys typically wrapped up their gatherings early. They all had to rise early the next day, a far cry from the late-night parties in Los Angeles.
If someone happened to drink too much, it was no problem. In fact, some cowboys from distant farms didn't head home; there were plenty of empty rooms. They didn't view it as a disturbance, for cowboy camaraderie was built on such trust.
Back when they faced outside threats, sticking together was essential; otherwise, they would've been wiped out long ago.
However, the outside threats were debatable. They were seen as invaders, simply trying to reclaim their lands, and yet, they faced extermination.
...
Meanwhile, the cinema continued its profitable journey. Despite a box office drop in the third week, the trend showed potential for recovery.
Of course, America divided its cities into major and minor markets. Films often launched in sync due to theater distribution rules.
"Why do many blockbusters run for over six months?" someone might ask.
That was simply a part of the industry rules. Big cities might see a film in theaters for about a month before showings tapered off. Extra prints were sent to smaller towns since one might think there was no profit to be made there. The more popular a movie was, the longer it lingered.
At that moment, Hollywood tycoons began to feel the pressure. "Wait a minute; is this channel even established?" one said, bewildered.
Domestic theater chains were manageable, as the bigger players couldn't monopolize. Imagine if William White had another movie. They would proceed with utmost caution.
"If they took just a ten percent cut," someone wondered, "they'd probably be waking up smiling. But somehow, they just lost their minds and decided to rent out an entire theater chain."
They made quite a bit of money, but it didn't have the same thrill as taking a share. However, they found a solid alternative -- the guarantee of renting out the whole place gave them a secure return.
Now they were convinced that many small companies might follow this model to escape the big players' clutches.
"They promised only ten percent for the first week, but they were just too timid," one ventured. "These folks are eager to make some serious cash."
...
Optimism stood alongside pessimism. Some thought William White was just lucky. This style of movie was easy to copy, and the next one might not be a hit.
Despite their skepticism, they acknowledged the marketing brilliance behind his success. Even Harvard Business School planned to use it as a case study.
The professors believed White should have skipped USC and taught at Harvard. His marketing approach was practically legendary, breaking conventional thinking.
This type of success was no mere stroke of luck; he could genuinely sell anything at a high price. He was a born salesman, and having him make films felt wasteful -- teaching was a nobler endeavor.
With such validation, William White felt somewhat anxious. "If I became a teacher, would those young ones even stand a chance?" he mused.
Students might bend the rules, but teachers were held to a higher standard.
Sure, his qualifications were only temporary teaching assistant, but an assistant was still a teacher, after all. He'd have to keep his own pants zipped.
William White guessed he could only hold out for three days before unleashing his full potential. The end might be grim; serving time would be a real possibility.
He had to credit the Harvard professors, firmly stating that he simply did not possess the virtue for such a great job.
This response definitely elicited laughter, considering how bold he was. Everyone found it amusing, especially since the Harvard professors probably didn't read the entertainment section. If he became a teacher, parents of students would surely be stressed out.
He seemed aware of his shortcomings, openly admitting his lack of character -- a blunt statement indeed.
"Man, I just can't take it!" he exclaimed. "The temptations are just too strong, and I really don't want to end up behind bars!"
*****
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