Back in Los Angeles, Dunn called his assistant George Paxton and David Simon, who was already working at Dunn Films, to a meeting.
Dunn briefly explained the current state and hidden issues within the American gymnastics world, instantly sparking outrage from David Simon, whose sense of justice was overflowing. As a former crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun, he'd often worked alongside special task forces, practically making him half a cop. Hearing Dunn's words, he felt a deep connection and a burning hatred for the injustice.
George Paxton, on the other hand, stayed calm and glanced at Dunn. "So, what's your plan?"
"Investigate! Dig to the bottom of it!" Dunn's face was serious, his tone firm. "Trash like this, worse than animals, has to face legal punishment! Sure, we're in Hollywood, part of the entertainment world, but justice under heaven is one family! The sports world might ignore their scandals, but I, Dunn, won't!"
His righteous words hit David Simon like a wave, stirring something powerful in his chest. He looked at Dunn with both respect and admiration. "I'm in—first one to agree! If this is real, if those people are really preying on girls as young as six or seven, it's not just a disgrace to sports—it's a disgrace to the whole country!"
Dunn nodded solemnly. "Exactly. If these rumors are false, great. But if they're true, we've got to expose every last bit of it! Justice doesn't vanish; it just gets delayed. Now's the time—I'm here to make it happen!"
David Simon was practically buzzing with excitement after hearing Dunn's resolve. He slapped his chest and said, "Alright, boss, tell me what to do! I'm good at digging up evidence!"
Dunn raised a hand to calm him down and spoke slowly. "This is a big deal. From what I know, the U.S. Gymnastics Association and a bunch of big shots in the sports world are quietly protecting these people. Investigating this won't be easy—we're up against some serious pressure."
David Simon smirked coldly. "I don't buy it. There's no way evil can thrive on American soil! I love that spirit from Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich—never compromising. I've got that in me too!"
Dunn waved a hand. "It's complicated. Spirit alone won't cut it; we need solid prep. I'm setting up a special investigation team. George, you're the leader, fully in charge. David, you're the deputy, handling the nitty-gritty of the investigation."
Both George Paxton and David Simon looked stunned. From the sound of it, Dunn was ready to go big!
Sure enough, Dunn continued in a measured tone. "We can't rush this—prep has to be thorough. David, you've got connections. Bring in a few trustworthy, justice-driven friends. Plus, we're hiring professional private investigators for the deeper stuff."
"Private investigators?" David Simon blinked. "That's gonna cost a pretty penny, right?"
Dunn brushed it off with a grand gesture. "Money's on me! For the sake of those girls' healthy futures, for the sake of what's right, what's a little cash? I've already decided—every year, I'm giving this team a million bucks for expenses!"
George Paxton, who'd been with Dunn for years, barely reacted, but David Simon was trembling with excitement. Funding justice out of his own pocket? That was downright noble!
In the U.S., undercover investigations happen all the time, but they're usually backed by solid organizations—government agencies, nonprofits, or media outlets chasing a scoop. Someone like Dunn shelling out his own money for something that didn't even involve him? That was saint-level stuff.
Ignoring David Simon's starry-eyed look, Dunn said steadily, "If we're doing this, we're doing it right! No half-measures—we hit hard! If we're in, we take down every last one of those monsters! That means you've got to gather as much evidence as possible, talk to as many victims as you can. The bigger the scope, the louder the impact, the stronger the public pressure."
David Simon, familiar with investigations, frowned. "If we go that route, it's not gonna be quick. Could take three years, maybe five."
Dunn replied, "That's the only way to guarantee a knockout blow! If the scope's too small or the data's weak, they'll have room to wiggle out or cover their tracks. Like I said, if I'm stepping in, I'm rooting out every tumor in gymnastics! We're giving the kids their clean slate back!"
George Paxton suddenly chimed in, "Women's rights groups have a lot of clout and reach across industries. If we can get their support, our odds go way up."
Dunn nodded. "Good call. I'll reach out to the feminist alliance. You two start building the team. Be careful, though—don't tip anyone off."
David Simon gave a firm nod. "Got it!"
After the short meeting, Dunn kept George Paxton behind. David Simon's sense of justice was strong, but George was his real right-hand man.
"George, this investigation might get dangerous," Dunn said, his brow furrowed.
George cracked a joke. "Guess we'll need to hire some ex-special forces bodyguards for the team, huh?"
Dunn chuckled, then waved a hand and lowered his voice. "If this works, the impact'll be huge. It'll boost our Hollywood career too. But if we expose the puppet masters and they strike back…"
George replied coolly, "Simple. If it succeeds, Dunn Films gets the credit. If it flops, it's got nothing to do with you."
Dunn nodded, satisfied, and patted his shoulder. "Just like always—stay careful!"
By April, the summer movie season was kicking off, and the promotional storm was in full swing. Leading the pack were Disney's Pearl Harbor and Dunn Films' Unsinking!
Pearl Harbor had been greenlit first and locked in its release date ages ago—May 25th for North America. Universal Pictures, handling distribution for Unsinking, had suggested to Dunn that there was no need to butt heads with Disney. Pearl Harbor was coming in hot, so why not dodge it? Even Universal's own blockbuster The Mummy Returns had shifted to May 4th to avoid the clash.
Dunn flat-out refused. What kind of international joke was that? Unsinking was directed by James Cameron with a $200 million budget! Give way to Michael Bay's messy, half-baked Pearl Harbor? No chance!
It had to be a head-on showdown!
And so, Hollywood's most explosive face-off was born. Disney's Pearl Harbor hit theaters on May 25th, and Dunn Films' Unsinking? Same day—May 25th!
Point versus point! Mars crashing into Earth! If you're gonna fight, fight to the finish!
This release schedule basically screamed to all of Hollywood that last year's "friendly reconciliation" between Dunn and Michael Eisner was nothing but a farce.
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