Omake (in the future 1973 Oscar awards ceremony)
Difficult conversation:
You were invited by Clint to watch the Oscars, it was entertaining meeting all these famous people, some even recognized you which was exhilarating, but the Oscars themself? to be honest they were kind of boring, at least until the best performance award
Marlon Brando's Oscar
You couldn't believe how many of the crowd booed her during her speech, some even mimicked the tomahawk chop towards her, you were furious as it was exactly what she was trying to stop.
What was the most enraging was John Wayne, who stalked her off stage and then tried to fuckin' beat her. Six security guards were required to stop him, six. That how much he wanted to beat her for speaking up for herself, what a disgusting crook.
You were shaken a bit, but Clint was next to speak, and you knew he would stand up for her, maybe he would berate the crowd for this unjustified abuse.
Clint Speech
You couldn't believe it, Clint just mocked her and her entire cause for protest and then casually moved on with the ceremony.
The rest of the night blurred out, as you were deep in thoughts and arguments and justifications for why he would do it.
You remember going back to his house after with another few selected friends and family for dinner.
You had to ask him to talk in private, and he agreed.
"Before I say anything else, I want to make sure you know that I care about you and respect the hell out of you." you started saying, "Clint, you are my first mentor, a father figure and someone I look up too. When I was in a dark place…" you pause for a bit, trying to get your thoughts back in focus, "you once told me to stand up for myself and for what's right."
You continued, "This is why I want to know, I am genuinely curious, why did you make this joke?"
"Kid, this was just a joke, and it was funny." Clint repiled, when you gave him an unimpressed face he elaborated "Besides Oscars ceremonies are not a place for those kinds of things… and I felt like I had to make people forget about this speech and move things forward."
"Okay, I think I can understand where you are coming from, but that 'joke' was mocking her and belittling her and her protest. It made life harder for those people, You made their life harder, because now less will take them and their cause seriously."
"Maybe, but it's not my problem." Clint replied sharply.
Yeah, I'm not gonna stand down on this.
"I know you followed the
wounded knee stuff on the news, so you gotta know what is happening even as we speak, and maybe it's not a personal problem that is affecting you directly, but it's affecting this whole industry."
"Clint, you always fight for what is right, and I feel like I have to take a stand and say it was not right. Yeah, it wasn't as bad as that psycho Wayne who tried to beat her, but you became a face of mocking the Native Americans, please do not let it become your legacy."
"...You done?" Clint asked you, staring and squinting his eyes.
"Yeah, I think I said almost everything I wanted to say, let me just finish by saying thank you for at least taking the time to listen to me, you don't owe me your attention or courtesy, so thank you for hearing me out, and I hope you will consider what I had to say."
Clint nodded at you briefly, "...Then get out of my house, Bruce."
Ouch.
You turned to leave, "Goodnight Clint."
Silence.
You left the house, it was a hard conversation, and you can only hope that your relationship with Clint will recover.
Maybe he would come around.
With a heavy feeling in your chest, but at the same time a burden removed you took your way home.
