America 1982-Chapter 260 - 3: Two Salaries Equals Ingratitude_3

"Wolfe, I can’t understand why you would do this. I trusted you so much. I entrusted you with everything when BT Television was just starting from scratch. You built it up with your own hands, only to lead people to SBG in the end. Why?"

Forty-two years old, Wolfe Tuck, the former vice president of CBS’s KCVB channel in Los Angeles, had graduated from the University of Southern California. Working his way up from a production assistant to executive producer, and finally to vice president, he had personally created a hit business talk show, "The Ned Show," which had even won an Emmy Award.

He was considered one of California’s top television producers and furthermore, he was a Black man.

Recruiting him for BT Television was not a matter of offering more money or shares; the man had ideals. Tommy’s vision of a Black television network was the reason he was willing to switch companies and bring his old crew over, helping Tommy construct the entire television network framework.

What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was that Tommy only wanted him to help get the television station started, rather than truly creating some insightful Black programs according to the vision they had discussed when he was poached.

Insightful, what a joke! Back in the sixties, there was a television network that produced insightful and educational programs for Black audiences, aiming to raise political awareness among the Black community and help them understand their rightful entitlements, but it wasn’t long before the owner of that network was incarcerated on charges of funding the Black Panther party to purchase weapons, and the network soon folded.

Seeing Tommy’s pained expression, Wolfe Tuck spoke with a bit of shame, "Tommy, even if I had to make the choice countless times, I would still want to stand with you."

"Yet, the fact is, you left me, and what’s more, you went to our rival company. They merely promised to give you a Black television network like BT’s, and you abandoned me," Tommy said forcefully, rubbing his face and burying it in his hands as he spoke in a muffled voice.

Wolfe Tuck pursed his thick lips before saying to Tommy, "Your approach to BT, the program design, all indicated that you truly wanted to create a Black television channel that was different from the past. That’s what attracted me to resign from CBS and join BT. You wanted to enlighten them, to guide them, and all of that is great, but... I can’t keep waiting for you forever. You said you would produce all programs independently; you could buy some shows. There is no need to produce everything yourself—it wastes far too much time. I don’t know if Miss O’Connor has conveyed my thoughts, I don’t know what to say anymore. A weekly salary of two thousand dollars, an attractive share of the equity—I really shouldn’t have resigned, but I have to say, I don’t want to be just someone who collects a paycheck without contributing; your plan to produce everything is too crazy and requires too much investment, and moreover... if the ratings aren’t high, it could easily result in a shutdown. I don’t want it to be a flash in the pan, and just as it happens, SBG also wants to launch a channel for the Black community, so..."

Hearing his words, Martin whispered to Mr. Page, "He has a job where the boss pays him two thousand a week for doing nothing, and then he betrays the boss, right?"

Mr. Page nodded slightly.

"Can I curse this guy out now?" Martin glared at Wolfe Tuck, saying to Mr. Page:

"This isn’t about racial equality anymore. This Mr. Hawk must believe in Black supremacy, paying a ’Black bastard’ a two-thousand-dollar weekly salary to do nothing, and then that bastard betrays him? I must swear to wake... no, lend me some gloves, I want to shock his balls into clarity, let him see the life Black people are living outside."

"What we’re doing is a great cause, striving for perfection. In my vision, all BT programs would be produced by Black people, with Black people involved. This could even help many Black people find jobs. If we were to buy programs, what difference would it make from other networks?" Tommy lowered his hands and looked at Wolfe:

"I’m feeling irritable right now, Wolfe. You’re still my good friend, but I don’t feel like talking at the moment. I’ll invite you over another day."

Wolfe sighed, "Tommy, I can talk to SBG, try to convince them. They’re willing to consider merging their Black television network with BT Television, even letting you be the major shareholder, if you agree."

"Thank you for the kind offer, Wolfe." Tommy chuckled bitterly, "You mean my BT Television, without even having its first broadcast, has become history? That’s SBG, the sixth largest broadcasting network in America... I’ve said it. I don’t want to discuss these issues anymore; I’m tired."

"Tommy, if you insist, I’m willing to take everyone back..." Seeing Tommy’s pained and tired expression, Wolfe couldn’t help but feel compassion.

As soon as he heard the other party was willing to come back, Tommy immediately made a gesture of twisting his ring. Noticing that, Page gently nudged Martin’s shoulder, "Time to work."

"Nigger! Didn’t you hear my boss say he’s tired? Get the fuck out! Or do you want me to * you on his behalf next? You’re a fucking disgrace to black people! Mr. Hawk pays you two thousand bucks a week, you don’t have to do anything, and yet you’ve turned it into an excuse to attack him? Nig*er?" Martin immediately stepped forward, standing over Wolfe Tuck, nearly touching noses as he spat out his words:

"Are you staying here waiting for me to find you a high school girl with a perky ass and big tits? Let me tell you, you won’t get anything, Ni*ger!"

"Martin! What are you doing! Apologize to my good friend Wolfe!" Tommy yelled angrily at Martin:

"I gave you this job because I wanted to understand black people through you, not for you to make me lose all my black friends, Page! Take Mr. Tucker out of here!"

Before Wolfe Tuck could react, he was met with a greeting from a black person who appeared out of nowhere. It had been a long time since he’d dealt with the lower class of black people, and he was somewhat at a loss amid Martin’s relentless nigger onslaught, not even knowing how to respond. Speechless, he was led out of the meeting room by Page.

"How did I do, boss?" Martin looked at Tommy, "With people like him, you should curse them every time you see them, and let Mr. Page put on gloves and shock his *** like crazy!"

"Martin, I understand your anger, but Wolfe is my friend, do you get it?" Tommy said to Martin.

Martin looked toward the door and then at Tommy, "I don’t understand, did I curse the wrong person? It was Mr. Page who told me to curse him. Of course, I’m willing to curse that bastard. He doesn’t know how to be grateful. Do you know how hard it is for a black person to scrape by these days? I went from a barber to a bodyguard, you can see how tough the world is."

At that moment, Page pushed open the door of the meeting room and looked at Tommy, "Mr. Hawk, is this guy’s trial performance up to par? If he’s not good enough, I can go to Long Beach and catch another one for you."

"Not bad. Martin is a man full of justice. His probation is over. Oh and by the way, from now on Barber work for TV station employees, as well as hairstyle design, should be handed over to him as well. We should give Martin the chance to improve his hairdressing skills." Tommy got up, patted Martin on the shoulder with an encouraging smile, and then walked outside:

"I need to talk to the new employees about the TV station’s direction. Martin can take a break because they’re all white. If there’s anyone to yell at, I’ll do it myself."

When the meeting room was left with only Page and himself, Martin walked towards Page with a smile, "Does this mean I can earn two salaries? I’ve fallen in love with this job. Honestly, a generous boss like Mr. Hawk is not easy to find these days..."

"You can, but I suggest you volunteer to give up one of them." Page took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, saying seriously to Martin.

With a puzzled face, Martin asked, "Why? I have to curse those ungrateful niggers for the boss and cut the employees’ hair. That’s two jobs."

"If you want to take two salaries, in the boss’ eyes, that’s the same as being ungrateful." Page exhaled a puff of smoke and said earnestly to Martin.