Database: 17. Archived Conversation, 2 November 2014

A transcribed telephone conversation between Ms. M. Lemay and Dr. A. Gramática.

A. GRAMÁTICA Melanie, any progress with Arno?

M. LEMAY Some, yes. But we don't have the right kind of talent here to sequence his memories fast enough.

A. GRAMÁTICA What sort of talent?

M. LEMAY We've learned over the past weeks that Arno was an Assassin. A particularly talented one.

A. GRAMÁTICA Ah. A "gifted" one, you might say?

M. LEMAY Yes. Mild precursor genes.

A. GRAMÁTICA I see. I think I understand. You don't have any researchers in Montreal capable of sustaining long periods in his memories?

M. LEMAY Nobody. We had one researcher last year who was very talented. But it... it didn't work out. I think the episode with John STandish really shook everybody up.

A. GRAMÁTICA Well, don't stress your employees for no good reason. We have our own people working on traces too, so just focus on making quality entertainment for us.

M. LEMAY That's been my dream since I started here.

A. GRAMÁTICA And you're making incredible strides. Did you see the latest write up?

M. LEMAY I did. Very flattering.

A. GRAMÁTICA You see? The world wants this kind of entertainment, Melanie. Curated experiences taken straight from history. Naysayers like to bitch and moan about plugging in and dropping out... spending more time in virtual space than reality. But what if this virtual space WAS reality, hm? What if it was taken from actual history, our history, the story of humankind? How could that be detrimental?

M. LEMAY The educational possibilities are endless.

A. GRAMÁTICA Endless. Exactly.

M. LEMAY Thanks for all your help in the past weeks, Àlvaro. It's been a rough start.

A. GRAMÁTICA You're doing well, Melanie. Very well.

M. LEMAY Thank you.

A. GRAMÁTICA In fact, are you busy the weekend of April 17th?

M. LEMAY That's a few months away. I'd have to check my schedule.

A. GRAMÁTICA Alan Rikkin is having a little party at his place in Cape Cod. He asked me to pass along an invite.

M. LEMAY My God, that's... I'd love to go. If I had plans, they're cancelled now.

A. GRAMÁTICA (Laughs) Great. I'll tell him you'll be there, and we'll get a flight arranged. Do you need one ticket or two?

M. LEMAY Ah, one I think. Unless something exciting happens in the next two months.

A. GRAMÁTICA Great. One ticket, Montreal to Boston, round trip.

M. LEMAY Exciting.

A. GRAMÁTICA Talk to you soon.