Young Rock (TV Series)
Working the Gimmick (2021)
Stacey Leilua: Ata Johnson
Photos
Quotes
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Dwayne Johnson (Age 10) : Dad, how come our car is nicer than where we're staying?
Rocky Johnson : 'Cause the fans don't drive home with us, Dewey. They need to see me leave the arena in style. That's called working the gimmick.
Dwayne Johnson (Age 10) : Hmm, interesting.
Rocky Johnson : Cars, the clothes, the jewelry; they need to think who I am inside the ring is who I am outside the ring.
Ata Johnson : That's why we can't hang out in public with Uncle Iron Sheik.
Rocky Johnson : That's right. And get this: one day, you work the gimmick hard enough, it'll become real.
Dwayne Johnson (Age 10) : It will?
Rocky Johnson : Sure will. Soon, our house will be as nice as our car. Then I gotta buy a better car.
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Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : When is Dad getting back with the car?
Ata Johnson : When the wrestling convention is over. He's getting paid to sign autographs. We could use the money.
Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : We could also use the car. I'm boxing pizzas after school. You're cleaning houses, like, five towns away, and we both have to take the bus.
Ata Johnson : What's wrong with taking the bus? There was a man sitting across from me playing the flute yesterday. It was beautiful.
Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : Karen will think I'm poor if she sees me riding the bus.
Ata Johnson : Who's Karen?
Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : Can't we just get another car? Look, I got some money saved. I can get us one.
Ata Johnson : How much money?
Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : $103.
Ata Johnson : Dewey, you won't be able to get a car for that. But, you know what you could do?
Dwayne Johnson (Age 15) : Borrow the other 16,000 from you?