Ben Bova - The Starcrossed

Leaning back in his cushions, Gabriel said, “You know all the flak they’ve been throwing at me about the scripts for ‘The Starcrossed’? Well my original script— the one that little creepy censor and Earnest tore to shreds—is going to get the Screen Writer’s award next month as the best dramatic script of the year.”

“Ron, that’s great!”

Gabriel crowed, “And the Guild is asking the Canadian Department of Labor to sue Badger for using child labor—the high school kids who wrote scripts without getting paid!”

“Can they do that?”

Nodding, Gabriel said, “The lawyers claim they can and they’re naming Gregory Earnest as a codefendant, along with Badger Studios.”

‘The suit won’t affect Titanic, will it?” Brenda asked, looking around.

“Can’t. It’s limited to Canadian law.”

“That’s good; B.F.’s had enough trouble over “The Starcrossed.’”

“Nothing he didn’t earn, sweetie,” Gabriel said.

“Maybe so,” Brenda said. “But enough is enough. He’ll be getting out of the hospital next week and I don’t want him hurt anymore.”

Gabriel shook his head. “You’re damned protective of that louse.”

Oxnard glanced at Brenda. She controled herself perfectly. He knew what was going through her mind: He may be a louse, but he’s the only louse in the world who’s my father.

“Has the show been cancelled yet?” Gabriel Asked.

“No,” Brenda said. “Its being renewed for the remainder of the season.”

“What?”

Oxnard said, “Same reaction I had. Wait’ll you hear why.”

“What’s going on?” Gabriel asked, suddenly a-quiver with interest.

“Lots,” Brenda said. “Titanic is receiving about a thousand letters a week from the viewers. Most of them are science fiction fans complaining about the show; but they have to watch it to complain about it. The Nielsen ratings have been so-so, but there’s been a good number of letters asking for pictures of Rita and personal mail for her. She’s become the center of a new Earth Mother cult—most of the letters are from pubescent boys.”

“My god,” Gabriel moaned.

“Goddess,” corrected Oxnard.

“Also,” Brenda went on, “Rita’s apparently got her talons into Keith Conors, the TNT man. So the show’s assured of a sponsor for the rest of the season. She’s got him signing commitments ‘til his head’s spinning.”

With a rueful nod, Gabriel admitted, “She can do that.”

“The New York bankers seem pleased. The show is making money. The critics hate it, of course, but its bringing in some money.”

“I’ll be damned,” Gabriel said.

“Never overestimate the taste of the American public,” Brenda said.

Oxnard added, “And the show’s bringing money into my lab, as well. People are seeing how good the new system is and they’re showering us with orders. We’re working three shifts now and I’m expanding the staff and adding more floor space for production.”

Gabriel gave an impressed grunt.

“What Bill doesn’t seem to realize,” Brenda said, “is that it’s really his holographic system that’s created so much interest in ‘The Starcrossed.’ Nobody’d stare at Rita Yearling for long if she didn’t look so solid.”

“I don’t know about that,” Oxnard protested.

“It’s true,” Brenda said. “All the networks and production companies have placed orders for the new system. Everybody’ll have it by next season.”

“Then there goes Titanic’s edge over the competition,” Gabriel said, sounding satisfied with the idea.

Not quite,” Oxnard said. “What do you mean?”

How to phrase this? he wondered. Carefully, Oxnard said, “Well… I made a slip of the tongue to a reporter from an electronics newspaper, about computerizing the system so you can animate still photos…”

“You mean that thing about getting rid of the actors?”

“Somehow B.F. heard about it while he was recuperating from his seizure,” Brenda took over, “and made Bill an offer to develop the system for Titanic.”

“So I’m going to work with him on it,” Oxnard concluded.

Gabriel’s face froze in a scowl. “Why? Why do anything for that lying bastard?”

Oxnard shot a glance at Brenda, then replied, “He was sick. Those New York bankers were pressuring him. So I agreed to work with him on it. It impressed the bankers, helped make them happier with a small return on ‘The Starcrossed.’ ” Call it a present to a prospective father-in-law , he added silently.

“You oughtta have your head examined,” Gabriel said. “He’ll just try to screw you again.”

“I suppose so,” Oxnard agreed cheerfully.

But Gabriel chuckled. “I think I’m going to drop a little hint about this to some of my acting friends. They’ve got a guild, too…”

Brenda said, “Do me a favor, Ron? Wait a month… until he’s strong enough to fight back.”

“Why should I?”

“For me,” she said. He stared at her.

“For you?”

“Please.”

He didn’t like it, that was clear. But he muttered, “Okay. One month. But no longer than that.”

Brenda gave him her best smile. “Thanks, Ron. I knew you were just a pussycat at heart.”

Gabriel shook his head. “It’s just not fair! Dammit, Finger goes around screwing everybody in sight and comes up smelling like orchids. Every goddamned time!l He works you to death, Brenda, sticks you with all the shit jobs…”

“That’s true,” she admitted.

“Leaves me high and dry…”

“You got your award,” Oxnard said.

“Can’t eat awards. I need work! There’s nothing coming in except a few little royalties and residuals. And your mother-humping B.F. has spread the word all over town that I’m too cranky to work with.”

Oxnard broke in, “Come to work with me, Ron.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Sure,” Oxnard said. “Listen to me, both of you. Why should you have to put up with all this lunacy and nonsense? Ron, how long can you stand to be trampled by idiots like Earnest and that Canadian censor? Come to work with mel I need a good writer to direct our advertising and public relations staffs. You can be a consultant… work one day a week at the lab and spend the rest of the time free to write the books you’ve always wanted to write.”

Before Gabriel could answer, Oxnard turned to Brenda. “And you too. You’re a top-flight administrator, Brenda. Come to work with me. Why should you give yourself ulcers and high blood pressure over some dumb TV show? We can be a team, a real team—the three of us.”

She looked shocked.

Oxnard turned back to Gabriel. “I mean it, Ron. You’d enjoy the work, I know.” He looked back and forth, from Gabriel to Brenda and back again. “Well? How about it? Will you both come to work at Oxnard Labs?”

In unison they replied, “What? And quit show business?”