Page 12 - Like No Business I Know

Movie Time

reading about the lives of movie actors and actresses. Now, as I have
been led to understand, that curiosity will not abate in the future. In
three hundred years, the conduct of Clark Gable and Elizabeth
Taylor will still be hot topics. But presentation of that information
will have advanced far beyond our newspapers, television and
movies. More direct methods of re-experiencing events will be
available, utilizing sensory reconstruction for virtually total accuracy
of reproduction. Don’t ask me how; I am, after all, living in this era,
not the future—and glad of it, I can tell you! It doesn’t sound very
nice to me.”
Shifting uncomfortably on the sofa, Heidi remained puzzled.
“I suppose this makes sense to you, but let me get it straight: what
do I have to do to get those—those rewards?”
“Not very much. A microscopic null-interval transmitter will be
implanted in the back of your brain. All you have to do is will it to
start sending your sense impressions whenever you come into contact
with show business people. It cannot function without your
acquiescence; some sort of built-in protection of the carrier’s privacy,
I guess. That’s why you have to agree to participate.”
Heidi stood up. This was getting too kooky for words. But the
money... “Look here. Suppose I believed you. Even if there were
some sort of time travel or communication of historical events, why
would they bother with me? You could offer this deal to an aide in
the White House or the United Nations. What about all the great
artists and authors and composers in history? Intimate details of their
lives ought to be of greater interest and importance than the silly
scandals and displays of temperament in Hollywood.”
Mrs. Lachesis shook her head sadly.
“Yes, I know. That occurred to me, as well, when I was recruited.
But, as I said, transmission is very costly. The people controlling the
technology cannot make money offering the public the sights and
sounds of events of true historical significance. What sells is—or will
be—called ‘Movie Time’ in the future. You see, nothing will have
changed in the next three hundred years.”
The script-girl shrugged. She was past thirty and her career as an
eccentric dancer had ended following an accident at the Palladium.
Prospects for a woman in her position were limited. A discretely-
supplied supplement to her income would definitely make life more

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