The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 138 Good intentions
On Christmas Day, Hawke found himself alone.

Edward went to accompany Deborah, Megan and Caroline went back to their respective hometowns for the holidays, Erica attended a family Christmas party, and even Frank, who lived across the street, had a Salma Hayek.

Hawke opened the window and picked up the telescope. In the open space of the parking lot, Frank set up a barbecue and was going to enjoy a barbecue with Salma.

"This bastard, he didn't even invite me to the barbecue." Hawke put on his coat, went out, crossed the street and entered the parking lot.

Frank saw Hawk coming from afar, stood up from behind the grill, picked up the barbecue skewer, and pointed it at Hawk.

The meaning is very clear, you shameless person, don't even think about coming here to eat for free.

Hawke pretended not to see it, came over, pulled out a chair and sat down, and greeted Salma across from him: "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Salma went to get the cutlery and cups.

Frank said, "Don't worry about him. Let's eat and let him watch."

Salma ignored him and went to get a set of cutlery and a few bottles of beer.

"Thank you." Hawke took it and opened a bottle of beer. He said to Frank, "Don't be so stingy. I bought the grill you're using, the meat you're grilling, and the beer."

Frank is shameless: "You gave it to me, it's all mine."

Having said that, Hawke had already sat down and he didn't chase anyone out.

Salma was curious: "Are you guys always like this?"

"Not only that, he's really too much!" Although Hawke is not like a savior, he stabbed Frank in the vitals: "My girlfriend and I were resting at night, and he actually shot a slingshot at my bedroom window."

Salma turned to look at Frank and asked in surprise, "You would even do something like this?"

Frank was so angry that he wanted to hit someone with a pair of tongs, pointing at Hawke: "This bastard did it first."

Hawke said confidently: "I did that because you stole my slingshot."

Salma didn't want to listen to the two idiots arguing, so she interrupted them and asked, "Is the barbecue ready? How long do we have to wait?"

Frank said unhappily, "Right away."

Salma changed the subject and asked Hawke: "Your studio specializes in public relations. Didn't you receive any business during this awards season?"

"We received a big order." Hawke said vaguely, "It's basically completed."

Salma was curious: "Are we competitors?"

Hawke was puzzled: "Are you also competing for the prize?"

"The movie Frida, an autobiographical film about a Mexican female painter." Salma said roughly: "My goal is to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar."

“Mine is the series,” Hawke said.

He glanced at Frank, and suddenly understood what he had not understood before.

Last time, Hawke was still wondering why Salma came to find Frank, the down-and-out old bastard.

It can't be because of Frank's dry grass.

It turns out it’s because of the awards season.

Given Frank's age, he is the most core white male member among the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that is, the Oscar judges.

Moreover, academy membership is a lifelong tenure, and it would take many years for Harvey Weinstein, the first person to be expelled from the academy, to become so.

Frank must still have some old friends or something.

All I can say is that Salma Hayek's approach is very consistent with the consistent style of Hollywood actresses.

When it comes to competing for an Oscar, all resources will be used, including your body.

Frank brought over the barbecue.

Salma went back to the RV and got the Mexican-style food she had brought.

The three of them ate, drank, and chatted, and also talked about the Hollywood awards season.

The Academy will mail out Oscar ballots by December 12.

Frank pointed at Hawke and said, "To be fair, Hawke will fill in my share."

Salma raised her glass and clinked it with Hawke's: "Remember to vote for Frida?"

Hawke took a sip of beer and said helplessly: "This is a serious Oscar vote, why are you guys so casual about it?"

"How else are we going to vote?" Frank said casually, "Get a sheep to vote?"

Hawke raised his middle finger directly in front of him.

Salma asked instead, "Did you call for me?"

Frank thought of the dry grass in his home that had been soothed and moistened, and said, "I have called, but I can't guarantee that the old friends will not buy it. They don't owe me anything."

"That's good." Salma was satisfied and raised her glass: "I toast to you two."

Hawke, who had been drinking, said casually, “Every profession has its difficulties.”

Salma said: "Especially for women, there is a workplace rule in the United States that if women are harassed by their superiors, they cannot complain and must endure it."

Hawke has heard Carolyn, Johnson and Josh Hartnett say this a lot: "In Hollywood, men are the same."

Frank continued: "Not to mention men, the same goes for underage children."

"You wouldn't have done that?" Hawke stared at Frank.

Frank said disdainfully: "I'm a normal man who likes normal, beautiful women, like Salma."

He sneered and raised his voice: "Don't compare me with those bastards who like to study hairless black holes. I'm disgusting."

Hawke handed him a new beer: "You're still a man, you bastard."

Salma has actually experienced this these days: "Although I am not as majestic as I was in previous years, I am indeed a man."

The atmosphere was set at this point, and the King of Kings took the opportunity to go online: "Think about ten years ago, I was holding Julia Roberts who ran away from her marriage in my left hand, and Cameron Diaz who wanted to enter the entertainment industry in my right hand. Marisa Tomei was kneeling in front of me, and there was Robin Wright behind me. I could even call Spielberg's two goddaughters over with just one phone call..."

Hawke couldn't stand seeing people pretending to be so arrogant: "Is your fiancée among them?" He beat the King of Bullying back to his original form: "I wrote down all the names, let the Savior try them one by one."

Frank shook his head: "Don't ask me for help in the future."

Salma discovered that these two people have a unique way of getting along with each other.

She glanced at Hawke and changed the subject: "Doesn't your studio provide business strategy consulting? Can you do one for me?"

Frank reminded him, "His fees are very high. The salary you earn is not enough."

"Here's a popular suggestion, free of charge." Hawke, for the sake of the long-term, deliberately made things difficult for Frank: "You'll be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress this time, and your reputation and fame will reach a new height. Find a rich businessman to marry."

He specifically said: "There are many precedents like this in Hollywood, such as Grace Kelly."

Salma thought this was a good idea: "Don't even think about America. You can go to Europe. After all, there's the Atlantic Ocean between us. Hollywood stars still have a halo..."

"Wait, wait!" Frank was angry. "I'm not dead yet, and you two are discussing this?"

Hawke added insult to injury: "Can you give Salma the affluent life she wants? Can you let her win an Oscar for Best Actress? If you two are together, Salma will have to take care of you as an old man in your old age."

Frank picked up the skewer and stabbed it into the wooden table. He said, "Go away! Go away quickly! I don't welcome you!"

He turned around and got into the RV.

Hawke and Salma ate Frank's barbecue and chatted leisurely.

Not long after, Frank came out of the car holding a pile of newspapers and threw them to Hawke: "Read the newspapers and eat less."

Hawke pointed at him and said nothing more.

Frank, who was hungry, ate quickly.

Hawke flipped through the newspapers, which were mostly entertainment newspapers. The most popular pages were all promoting award season movies or people.

The headline of the second edition of Hollywood Life published a piece of gossip related to the topic the three had discussed before.

Hawke looked at it carefully for a moment.

The parents of several young actors disclosed to the media that Van Wageren, the director and producer of "Criminal" and "Alan and Nomi", molested their children.

These children are both boys and girls.

Hawke took the newspaper and showed it to Frank.

Frank glanced at them and said, "It's not uncommon in Hollywood. Don't think that child stars are safe. There is no limit to the bottom line of those disgusting things in human skin."

He said: "If you really want to count, you guys who take secret photos are a hundred times more noble than them."

Hawke looked through other newspapers and found that except for another tabloid, there were no related reports in the more formal entertainment newspapers.

When Salma saw that the two had finished eating, she took the initiative to clean up the dishes and said, "I have something else to do in the afternoon, so I'll leave first."

Frank said nothing and waved his hand casually.

Hawke was ready to go too.

"Won't you drink with me?" Frank asked.

Hawke said, "I'm going to the shooting range to practice shooting."

I am full of energy now and need to vent it out.

…………

In Brentwood, Edward drives his Cadillac back to Deborah's house after shopping.

The car stopped in the yard, Deborah came out of the villa, put her hands around Edward's neck, and took the initiative to kiss him. The two of them were a little emotional for a while, and the former's hand had already fallen.

Edward grabbed it and asked, "Where's Indio?"

Hearing her son's name, Deborah remembered that she had something else to do, and whispered, "I found something, it's not good."

Edward pulled her into the car: "About Indio?"

Deborah nodded. "He went out to attend a class reunion this afternoon. When I picked him up, I smelled the scent of leaves on him."

Edward thought about Indio's age: "Are you sure?"

"It can't be wrong," Deborah said. "I've lived with Robert Downey Jr. for so long, and these things taste so familiar."

She was anxious: "This is a false start. I'm worried that Indio will be like his father..."

Edward first comforted him, "Don't worry, don't worry." He was not very smart, so after thinking for a while, he said, "Maybe Indio is just curious, and there won't be a next time."

Deborah shook her head. "His grandfather was like that, and so was his father. I'm worried that he will follow that path, too. Normal people get involved in that kind of stuff, and their heads are full of shit."

Edward had seen too many people like this when he was in Compton. The environment had a huge impact on him. He asked, "Did Donny use it in front of Indio?"

Deborah nodded. “Yes, more than once.”

Edward reached out and hugged Deborah: "It's not easy for you to be a mother. Your life is so difficult. It's all Donnie's fault."

These words touched Deborah's heart: "That bastard deserves to die!" She was worried about her son: "I don't dare to talk to Indio about this. Doesn't Indio think of you as a good friend? Why don't you talk to him?"

Edward didn't understand any of this, but at this point he could only bite the bullet and said, "Okay, I'll go talk to him."

“He’s in the rec room,” Deborah said.

Edward got out of the car, entered the villa and went straight to the entertainment room.

Indio was playing video games, and when he saw him coming over, he said, "Let's play together!"

"Okay." Edward played a few rounds of video games with him. After Indio had his fill, he said, "We've been sitting for so long, we should move around."

Indio understood what he meant and stood up to stretch his arms and legs. “Want to compete with me?”

Edward also followed his example and said, "Come on, let's go to the gym."

The two changed their clothes, put on protective gear, and stood on a thick sponge mat.

Indio tapped his helmet and said, "The old rules?"

"Let's change the game." Edward said: "If you kick me, I will answer a question for you. If I kick you, you will answer a question for me."

Indio said, "I am much more flexible than you."

He feinted and then kicked.

Edward pretended not to be able to react in time and was kicked in the leg.

"Yeah!" Indio raised his fists in celebration and asked, "Why are there pictures of my mom and dad hanging in some rooms of my house?"

Edward was almost stunned by the question, but luckily he had some quick wit and said, "Because I want to thank your father."

Indio nodded, "I'm going to attack."

This time Edward dodged his kick, turned around and kicked him down.

When Indio stood up, Edward asked, "Are there any new and interesting things at the party your classmates attended?"

Indio looked around and didn't see his mother. He whispered, "Someone brought a kind of cigarette. They said it was very exciting. I tried it too."

Edward asked, "How does it feel?"

Indio looked in pain: "It's very uncomfortable, very uncomfortable."

"Don't try again if you feel uncomfortable." Edward said, "Don't the video games we play and the Taekwondo we practice bring us happiness?"

Indio thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. He nodded and said, "Okay, I won't try it."

He suddenly felt something was wrong: "Hei Xiaoshuai, you are cheating. You just beat me once, but you asked so many questions."

Edward hooked his finger: "Come on, I'll show you how powerful I am."

Deborah appeared at the door at this time. She saw through the window that her son was kicked to the ground again and again by Edward. Not only did she not go in to stop him, but she secretly cheered in her heart.

She heard everything Edward said to Indio just now.

Edward has good intentions.

When the two men finished their practice and went to take a shower, Deborah quietly followed Edward and threw herself into his arms, saying, "Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you."

Edward enjoyed beating up Donny's son, and now he can hug Donny's wife, so he is in a very good mood: "It's just a small matter, I can solve it easily."

Deborah was particularly pleased with him: "Last time when we came back from the cemetery, you said you wanted Donnie to see how happy I am now?"

Edward smiled with two rows of white teeth: "I want him to know that I take good care of you."

Deborah herself was at odds with Donny, and said, “Let’s pick a non-weekend time when there are fewer people, and go visit Donny together to let him know how happy I am!”

Of course Edward agreed.

…………

Ater Hill Shooting Range, West Los Angeles.

Hawke packed up his guns, changed his clothes, came out of the locker room and entered the gun store.

He found Palmer, the store manager he knew well, and asked, "Has the gun I ordered arrived?"

Palmer said, "We are here. Please wait a moment."

He opened the cabinet at the back, took out a walnut gun case, undid the latch, and gestured for entry.

Inside the box lay an M1911 pistol and two magazines.

This is a special commemorative model specially ordered by Hawke. Its collection and exhibition significance far outweighs its practicality.

The gun body is engraved with patterns, the handle is inlaid with centenary walnut, some areas are silver-plated, and a special commemorative number is engraved by the original factory.

Hawke prepared a gift for Erica.

For Hawke, a gun is a weapon.

But in Erica's eyes, guns also represent a culture.

The two men talked about this gun during their conversation, and Hawke naturally took note of it.

After checking the pistol and Hawke paying the balance, Palmer put the gun away and placed it in a special gun bag.

Seeing Hawke coming back, Palmer handed him a gun and said, "If you need anything, just come to me."

"Thank you." Hawke gave the tip, put on his bag, and left with his gun bag.

After leaving the club and arriving at the parking lot, Hawke put away his gun bag, got in the car, took out his phone and called Erica: "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Erica calmly started to pull the trigger: "I'm so sorry that you have to spend Christmas alone."

Hawke specifically said: "When you practice shooting alone, you always feel like something is missing."

Erica said with a double meaning: "I also want to practice shooting, but I really can't leave..."

Hawke said, "It's okay. I have a special gift for you. I'll give it to you when we meet."

"I'm looking forward to it." Erica's voice sounded real: "I've never looked forward to Christmas gifts as much as I do now."

Hawke received a call and said, "You go ahead and do your work. Someone is looking for me here."

"Okay." Erica hung up the phone.

Hawke looked at the incoming call and found that it was from Josh Hartnett. Just as he was thinking about whether to call back, the phone rang again.

Josh Hartnett said Merry Christmas and asked, "Hawk, do you have a minute?"

Hawke asked back, "What's the matter?"

Josh Hartnett said, "Will and I have something to talk to you about. It's about business. We want to introduce you to a new business."

Hawke remembered that Will, Josh Hartnett’s agent, asked, “New business?”

Josh responded, "About my new movie."

Hawke thought it was about movie marketing: "Beverly Business Club, I have a reception room there, just say my name when you get there."

"Okay." Josh agreed.

Inside the store, a Mexican guy came over and asked Palmer, "Are these the two best shooters in the club?"

Palmer nodded: "Yes, Erica and Hawke are recognized as the top shooters on our side."

The Mexican said, "Let's introduce ourselves to each other sometime."

Palmer asked, "Why, do you want to compete with them in shooting?"

"No way?" The Mexican said confidently, "I'm also a good shooter."

Palmer nodded: "Wait until they come over next time."

(I have had a fever these past few days and feel a bit groggy. I have used up all my saved drafts. The second chapter is not finished yet, but it should be published around noon.)

(End of this chapter)