Exploiting Hollywood 1980 Chapter 46

   Chapter 46 Highway Robbery

   called Aunt Karen to report his plan, and drove back across America in a Volkswagen.

   Ronald began to say goodbye to his good friends in Los Angeles, leaving their contact information for future contact.

  The first is Cameron, who is now half living in a factory building. The following group of stunt model makers with more seniority than him were turned around by him.

   But they were still convinced by their expressions. Cameron convinced them with his professional ability and professional attitude.

   Ronald asked him for an email address and a phone number. However, people in the film industry often move, or stay with the group for a long time, and they have to ask for the address of their hometown. If you lose contact, you are not afraid, you can pick up.

   "Oh, I didn't know you were Canadian." Ronald was surprised.

   "Yes, my hometown is on the other side of Niagara Falls. Very close to America."

   followed by Gale. She is still busy in the president's office as always.

   "Gail Anne Hurd...Palm Springs, California." Ronald also noted Gail's address.

   Maybe four years in New York, don't lose important old friends.

   "Have you been to Palm Springs?" Gale asked him.

   "I haven't been there, I just know there's a golf tournament there."

   "Having a chance to welcome you to my house, all goes well, Ronald."

  Palm Springs is a famous resort in California, an oasis in the desert, with many springs and unique scenery, and the people living there are rich people.

   "Everything went well, Gail. Mr. Coleman is on set today, please bid him farewell for me." The two embraced and said goodbye to each other.

   Then Demi Moore. This girl is a little unusual, maybe the director will appreciate her.

  Ronald didn't go to meet at his boyfriend's apartment, but hung up on her.

   "Hi. Demi, I'm Ronald, and I'm moving to New York for college. Leave me an address and we'll keep in touch."

   "Oh, Ronald, alright. . . . West Hollywood." Demi Moore gave the address of her boyfriend's rental apartment.

   "You know what? I'm writing a song for my boyfriend Freddie, and he says my lyrics are good, and you might hear my song hit the charts in the future."

   "Really, I didn't expect you to have a talent for writing lyrics, maybe I'll hear it on the radio later."

   "Hee hee. Ronald, don't you want to be a director? Why don't you stay in Hollywood and go to New York, where are there people making movies?"

   "Yes, there are people making movies in New York. I'm going to study film at New York University soon, and I'll have the opportunity to come to Hollywood in the future."

   "Everything went well, Ronald, don't forget me when you become the director."

   "No way, Demi. You're fine too."

   Then Ronald sold the TV and went to the post office to register his mail forwarding address for the next 6 months.

   In the next 6 months, mail sent to his Venice rental address will automatically be forwarded to Stanton to Aunt Karen's house.

   Finally finished the trivial matters, Ronald took the cash and promissory note, packed the duffel bag his aunt gave him, and was ready to leave the next day.

  This duffel bag is still the relic of my uncle Steve who died in the Vietnam battlefield. It is very strong. It can hold a lot of things, both on the hand and on the back.

   "Drip...drip."

   Ronald, who started at 7 in the morning, waited in line at the gas station for half an hour, but the gas line still didn't move. I can only honk the horn and ask the old man in the car next to me.

   "What's wrong? Why is there such a long line at the gas station?"

   "Odd and even number rationing begins today. Today is the 15th, and only odd-numbered cars can refuel."

   "Shxt, I have a double number." Ronald cursed.

  The political crisis in Persia has intensified, demonstrations organized by various forces have been organized one after another, oil exports have stopped, international oil prices have soared, and even the price of gasoline has become higher and higher.

   I didn't expect that California has implemented odd and even numbers to limit refueling. I heard from the brother next door that the government did this during the oil crisis in 1973.

  Ronald is going to turn the wheel, find a hotel for one night, and leave tomorrow.

   "Hey, if you have extra money, there is a way to cut the queue." The old man next door secretly said to Ronald.

   "What can I do? I originally planned to go out of the city today. If I can cheer up, that would be great."

   "As long as you buy a bottle of additives" Brother gave Ronald some popular science.

   It turned out that the oil crisis as early as 6 years ago, the commander-in-chief at that time ordered a price limit for gasoline. The people of America invented an unspoken rule.

  If you need to cut the queue, you can drive in from the maintenance entrance of the gas station, pretend to buy a bottle of gasoline additive, and the gas station can fill it up for you. It is a common practice for people to circumvent the price limit.

   "Oh, thanks, man. But why don't you go?"

   "Hey, a bottle of additives costs 5 yuan and 9 yuan, and you have to tip the repairman. I don't care, the boss won't treat me if I'm late for work."

   Ronald knew that if it could be solved with money, it was not a big problem. Turn a corner into the maintenance entrance of the gas station.

   "I'll buy a bottle of gasoline additive and fill up the gas tank for me." Ronald said the line taught by his brother.

   really works. The mechanic quickly grabbed the bottle of additive and handed Ronald a separate refueling gun. All the equipment prepared during the last oil crisis.

   Ronald smiled and handed a dollar tip.

   "Where's the restroom? I'll go first."

  After a while, Ronald, who came out of the bathroom, saw the mechanic pouring additives into the fuel tank.

   "Hey, hey, I don't need that, just cheer up."

   Maybe the tip made the mechanic overzealous, and he had already finished adding the additives.

   Ronald, who had no time to stop it, took the refueling gun and filled the fuel tank himself.

   "You don't add additives, why do you buy them?" the mechanic gestured and asked.

   "Hey, so you don't know the unspoken rules better than I do." Ronald saw the immature face of the mechanic, it turned out to be a Latino, and he spoke with a strong Spanish accent.

   waved his hand and stepped on the accelerator, drove the car out of the pit lane, thanked the old man for pointing, Ronald got on the highway and drove forward.

  This time, on Highway 40, Ronald plans to take the northern route and go to Yosemite Natural National Park to see the style of the northern state by the way.

  Ronald turned onto Highway 1, which is a coastal road. There are many beautiful scenery along the way, including elephant seals and historical castles, all kinds of scenery are dizzying.

   The most beautiful is probably the beach, the beaches here are all private properties, known as the most beautiful on the west coast of America.

   Outside the mansions, there are white sandy beaches, some horses are pacing on the sandy beaches, and the hostess with all kinds of styles makes people stop.

   Admiring the scenery while driving, Ronald unwittingly drove slowly, not driving 5 miles in half an hour. An uphill followed, and Ronald added a little more gas.

   The car started panting and shaking, not knowing what was going on. It seems that the more you open it, the more wrong it is, and the exhaust pipe starts to emit black smoke.

   The car just drove to the front of a mansion on the beach, Ronald shouted to the hostess through the fence, "Ma'am! Where is a repair shop near here?"

  The hostess in a red one-piece swimsuit turned her head and groaned, expressing dissatisfaction with Ronald calling her a lady.

   She raised her arm and pointed to a small fork across the road, Ronald hurriedly turned the steering wheel and slowly rubbed past with the low gear.

   "What did you put in the gas tank?" the young white mechanic asked Ronald.

   "I've never added anything other than gasoline... oh no, the gas station gave me a bottle of additives this morning."

   "Additives? Is the bottle still there?"

  "Yes", Ronald hurriedly found the empty bottle in the car, there was still a little left in it.

   The "Dieselfueluse" mechanic looked at Ronald, pointing to the text on the bottle, "This is for diesel."

   "Shxt, that **** at the gas station, definitely doesn't know English."

  The mechanic smelled the liquid again. "It doesn't seem to be the smell of diesel additives. I don't know what it contains. It's an old bottle filled with other stuff."

  Is this intentional? No wonder he added the fuel tank while he was in the bathroom. What's the difference between that little **** and those who threw nails on the ground to get your tires repaired?

   This is literally highway robbery.

   "The combustion chamber is damaged, and the carbon deposits are a bit serious. I'm afraid a major operation is needed." The older mechanic next to him said, looking like the young man's father.

   "How much time and how much?"

   "It requires a mechanic, and you have to queue for a day. It's not cheap, it's $300 for you."

   "$300? You're highway robbery, I bought this car for $900."

   The young mechanic shrugged and said there was no way.

   "Or you can sell me this car for 400 fast." Father mechanic said.

   "500?"

  “450.”

   Well, 450, but you guys have to send me back to LA.

   This is the first time to write a book, and I have heard the opinions of the readers. In the second volume, I will continue to learn and improve, and strive to write a more compact rhythm and a more attractive plot. Today is the last two chapters of the first volume, released in one go in the morning, thank you all.

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end