[T/N: I have update the previous chapter to include the 3 thugs names for better readability.]
[Chapter 51: Playing Too Wild]
In the back of a used van, Hawke looked at the grinning DaShawn and asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"
He waved his hand quickly. "No, no, I'm all good now."
Edward chimed in, "The three of them are in great shape."
Hawke pulled out a stack of cash, giving each of them an extra $50. "Don't talk nonsense about this."
Carter happily accepted the money. "We're just a bunch of homeless folks; who would listen to us?"
Edward cautioned, "Make sure to hold onto that cash. Don't let anyone steal it."
Hawke suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you help pass out business cards?"
Tyrone nodded. "Yeah, we did, and we even helped Edward gather a list..."
Edward sighed, feeling exasperated at how freely these guys were talking.
Hawke rarely issued a warning, saying, "You're in good health, hanging around the streets. You might as well pick up some bad habits."
DaShawn and Carter exchanged puzzled looks, asking Tyrone, "What does that mean?"
Tyrone shook his head. "I'm not sure either."
Edward recalled Hawke's earlier words and put it plainly: "Don't participate in those welfare health check-ups, got it?"
Tyrone didn't understand but thought Edward seemed like a decent person. He nodded, "Got it."
Carter scratched his head. "Aren't those about charity?"
Tyrone said, "The Ackerman Charity Foundation seems to be running some health check-ups, saying they'll help the homeless with medical issues. A while back, a couple of folks with hidden illnesses were taken by them, and we heard they didn't come back after being cured -- they found new jobs out of town. A lot of people envied them."
Hawke pointed at Edward. "You should listen to him."
Edward drove the trio back and then took Hawke to Century City, where they entered the William Morris Agency together.
...
In the same conference room, Hawke found Johnson, Dany, and Caroline already waiting inside.
Johnson was using an ice pack on his face, which was red and swollen in two places.
Hawke quickly stopped him. "Don't let those bruises go away. You've gotta keep them, the more obvious, the better. When the reporters interview you, those will be your medals of honor."
Caroline added, "I warned him but Dwayne wouldn't listen." She gestured with her hands. "You keep trying to convince him."
Hawke gave her the finger and said to Johnson, "If the swelling goes down, given the contract stipulations, I'll have to get hands-on myself. By the way, my style is different from these guys; I'm good at kicking, choking, and eye-gouging."
Caroline whistled and said, "Dwayne loves that."
Johnson couldn't take it anymore -- he also gave Caroline the finger, dropped the ice pack, and asked Hawke, "What did you call her last time?"
Hawke replied, "Miss Baaa."
Johnson followed suit, "Miss. Baaa..."
Caroline, with a thick skin, said, "Gentlemen, we're discussing work, let's stick to the topic."
Hawke had connected his notebook to the projector and hit play, saying, "Dwayne performed really well -- brave and fearless."
The video wasn't long, starting from a picturesque view to a woman shouting for help, ending with Johnson getting in the car and driving off, all shot from a genuine bystander's perspective.
During this, the visuals shook abruptly, capturing the sound of the camera operator's footsteps and heavy breaths. The angles were unique, never revealing Jacqueline's face clearly.
Dany said, "Great footage! Watching the video, I thought Dwayne really prevented a crime."
Hawke wasn't being modest: "I told you, this is my specialty."
Caroline, maintaining a serious tone about work, added, "True, the quick cut perspective is rough, the breathing sounds are almost like moaning, the shooting level is quite amateur but captures the authenticity."
Unsure if she was complimenting or critiquing, Dany said to Hawke, "Turns out, you're the most professional at covert filming."
Hawke pretended not to hear and said, "If the video works, I'll send it to Channel 11 later."
Recently, "Midnight Entertainment" had been a hit, and Dany insisted, "You've gotta get it on 'Midnight Entertainment.'"
"Sure thing," Hawke responded, then asked, "Did you guys handle the media arrangements?"
Caroline answered, "I've got reporters lined up, and once Dwayne steps out, he'll be photographed with his injuries. The reporters will ask what happened, and Dwayne won't answer -- he'll just say it was a minor incident."
She operated in a traditional manner. "Before six o'clock, news of Dwayne's injuries will be up on Yahoo Entertainment, movie forums, and some entertainment bloggers' sites, creating buzz for tomorrow."
Hawke grasped the essence: "Do a good deed without leaving a name, but let the media expose it -- works even better."
Caroline laughed, "Not too shabby."
Hawke responded, "Baaa..."
Caroline's face went serious; her phone rang, and she answered, saying a few words before looking at Johnson. "The reporters are in position. Let's head downstairs."
Johnson pointed at his face, "Do I need makeup?"
Caroline pushed him and urged, "Hurry up; don't waste time."
...
Hawke shut his notebook, unplugged the projector, and took a moment before heading out.
He was curious to see the traditional media operation, so he went to the main exit, standing by the glass doors, gazing outside.
Johnson stepped out, walked solo toward the parking lot, and suddenly a few reporters rushed out, snapping photos of him.
One of them, curious about Johnson's injuries, stepped closer and asked, "Dwayne, how did you get hurt?"
Johnson flashed a practiced warm smile and said, "It's nothing -- a minor incident."
The reporter pressed for more, but Johnson didn't reply, got in his car, and left.
"Looks pretty ordinary, huh?" Caroline came up next to Hawke. "Not like you, playing it so wild."
Hawke remarked, "Times are changing."
Caroline shot back, "Playing too wild could break it beyond repair."
"Let's keep in touch," Hawke said, grabbing his notebook bag, going outside to his car, and driving to the Fox Television Center in Beverly Hills.
...
On the way, he called Megan Taylor to set up a meeting.
Before long, Hawke arrived at Channel 11 and met Megan in the reception area.
She had her newly dyed blonde hair tied back with a pen.
"Is this newsworthy?" Megan asked directly. "If not, I'm not talking. My time's tight."
Hawke replied, "I got it from someone else; it's definitely eye-catching."
Megan turned to watch the video with Hawke.
The shaky footage, heavy breathing, intense running -- all signs of an unexpected event.
After the first run-through, Megan watched it again, pausing at a close-up of Johnson's face.
She scrutinized it, continued playing, until the video ended.
Megan noticed the footage was raw and unedited, asking, "Where did you get this?"
"From an informant," Hawke answered.
In a short amount of time, three headlines had been made; Megan exclaimed, "You always manage to get the explosive news."
Hawke told the truth, "Because I handed out tens of thousands of business cards in L.A., and I pay my informants and for copyright permissions more than any studio does."
Just viewing the video, Megan didn't doubt it -- most explosive media stories came from such avenues.
However, news informants for major media aren't just ordinary citizens; many come from big companies or even Congress.
This involved complex exchanges of interests.
The news was intriguing and rich with angles to pursue. After some back and forth, Megan secured it for $10,000.
The lead story for "Midnight Entertainment" was done.
Once Hawke signed the authorization agreement and received the check, he ran into Megan again on his way out.
"Are you interested in joining my production team?" Megan proposed. "I could give you a nice spot."
Hawke flicked the check in his fingers. "What kind of weekly salary can you offer me?"
Megan remained unfazed, saying, "Forget I asked."
Hawke slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out alone.
...
Megan entered the production room, asking, "Where's the headline? Got it yet?"
A male editor said, "We've got one: Dwayne Johnson fights off a robber to save someone -- he's a hero in real life!"
Megan was unsatisfied. "That alone isn't enough for a headline! Aside from Dwayne's bravery, we need to expand the story."
She pointed at the three Black men on the screen. "Los Angeles' crime rate is worsening, and crime is spreading from downtown to the affluent areas."
Everyone nodded. This way, the video was not merely gossip; it carried social depth.
*****
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