Visions of the Future

by Brin, David

  “So you can talk to other races all over the universe?” – “Do not get overboard here. We can put static information from our side inside Q; we can extract specific information and process it. Direct communication is not possible. Nonetheless in many cases the received information allows us to replicate the other side in a quite perfect simulation. Some friends in Q even left us excellent guidelines and standards. And this works independent of the flow of time.” – “Fascinating! But this is information and not a gift. You might remember that I am not allowed to talk about this in the past?!” – “Right! But now comes the surprise. Of the almost infinite number of civilizations we encountered in Q, and are able to recreate, several hundred thousands are willing to meet you. Of these at least three dozen have a potential that—we think—would change your life forever. It is up to you. Would you like to discover the universe?”

  Things started turning around me. This was too much. A cryptic future, with a more cryptic universe, in a huge computer that was not much more than the best liar on our planet. This is all just an illusion. I wanted to get out of there. “I am flattered, but I am not ready for this. Friends, you cannot expect a wired cripple with no hope whatsoever to enjoy your ride through the galaxy. This is just an illusion. Where is the value of all that?”

  “Don’t get desperate, the universe has many edges. One of the civilizations I mentioned before is our own. We already mentioned that the simulation works independent of time. While we do not look into our future we love to look into our past. As you are an appreciated guest with a dedicated past, we guess that you might want to meet a very special person in your past.” Cassandra smiled at me and it seemed as if she expected something; I suddenly realized. “Ann? You mean I could meet her again?” A certain fear materialized in my heart that I had almost forgotten…

  So Ann and I met again. They wanted to let me choose the time and venue of the meeting. The only place I thought would be fair was the moment and location of the accident, a second before it happened. The transfer took only a blink of an eye. Time stood still in a creepy way. Without an introduction I found her and me looking at each other.

  She always had been the calm type, so it was up to me to break the silence. “Ann! We don’t have much time. We will die here in a moment, but due to a grace of god, I have the chance to talk to you. Let me say, that I love and miss you so much…” I started to cry like most men in such a situation. A shame actually, but self-pity is always there and waits for its moment to jump at you. Ann looked at me, was confused, but overcame her surprise fast. “Do not worry my dear.” She took my hands and just looked at me. At this moment it appeared to me that an eternity in darkness was a small price to see her again. I wanted to tell her so much. But she touched my lips with her finger and said, “Ssssh”, knowing how to preserve our special moment. I was happy, the first time in all these years and years, I was happy. Then darkness came again…

  BACK! The first thing I realized was the noise. The huge data center of Golem was filled with people. And there was the light. Bright, full of rational clarity, aggression. My sensors were back to the crappy quality of the digital stone age. Distortions, hissing and blurring. Now that I knew how good the systems of the future would feel, I would never be happy again with my current equipment. What a time!

  But the really sad days were over. When I was down, I thought of the future and the wonderful present they gave me. No, I would not abandon them, or Ann. Never!

  They brought me up to speed in a few hours. The clean-shaven faces of the commission sitting in front of me almost made me laugh. Croyd in the center of attention appeared like a peacock in a flock of hens. But slowly it turned out that the question and answer session was not to his liking. Obviously I told them nothing. Less than nothing! I even faked hysteria and claimed everything was a blackout during the experiment and that I would rather die than to repeat such a nightmare again.

  Croyd and his followers tried to threaten me, but soon gave up. Croyd had many enemies behind the curtains it turned out. These forces had predicted a failure from the beginning and now supported me in force. So I was thanked officially, got a medal of some type, was assured a nice retirement and rolled into an intensive care clinic for presidents and other special cases. I expected to be locked up there until my sensors and finally brain would give up. But I was wrong…

  A few years later Croyd invited me into his lab. Technology had further improved and a new scientific regime had brought him to power again.

  Croyd knew how to play this game, “Dear Louie, I know you are not enthusiastic about our relationship, but I would like to discuss some things with you. Do you know that after our little excursion all further virtual time travel was banned?” – “I am not surprised, Croyd!” I noted “And I am still lobbying against your time travel experiments! I am not as famous as you, but some people still listen to me.” – “Then you will be amazed to know that I still intend to continue the experiments. We enhanced Golem and more power is available now.”

  “I knew that would happen one day. It helps that you never switched off the Atom. Doesn’t it?” – “You knew?” he thought a moment and then he realized “Sure you know, you bastard! You HAVE been in the future!” He sighed, wandered around. “Do you know that you almost ruined me? But do not let this get to your head.” He grinned arrogantly as usual “I also knew!” He leaned towards my cameras and rose his dandyish eyebrows waiting for my curses. But I remained master of the situation.

  “How’s that, Croyd?” – “By statistics. The Atom container with its data link was the most complex system mankind has ever built and we did not have a single malfunction during the whole process. After we went fully online the system stabilized further. Do you think this is normal? – “The presence or absence of malfunctions is just a statistical event. You might have been lucky?” – “Lucky? I think the future has not sent a message via you, but it has sent me a message via the backyard.” – “No message? A message. You are insane, Croyd.”

  “This might be, but I made my decision. And—in spite of the cost—we will continue to not switch off the Atom. Especially now as I know you are a dirty liar. We will keep it alive for the future, even if they remain silent.” – “You know there is a reason why I remained silent. You never argue with the future…” – “I am very well aware of that. Why do you think I did not come for you? Which I should actually have!”

  He gave me a wild theatrical look, which I countered with a cold question, “But why did you bring me here? To bust me now? To get your late revenge?”

  “Not exactly. While I am not able to wire anyone without your ‘no future’ gang finding out and opposing it, I have the perfect man at hand. YOUR interfaces are still perfect and were never removed. So I think there are two possibilities; either your little trip was just a terrible fall into darkness, then I would let you return into your nice little home where you can rot away watching the daisies. OR—and this might be interesting for you—you have been to the future—and refrained to tell us all the truth to make me look LIKE A CLOWN.”

  He shouted the latter. “Don’t be such a pompous ass, Croyd. This was never about you!” – “This may be, my dear Louie, but I paid the price for this.”

  He was quiet for a while looking at his fingers. “Anyway, I am now able to establish a permanent bridge to Golem. The data coming from that interaction would be the culmination of my career. But I need a pointer to focus and channel the data flow into a specific reality. I cannot follow ALL the branches, you seem to have found the right one, and they seem to be quite keen to welcome you. So what about returning to the future and tell them my best wishes and all this sentimental blah, blah? Do you want to be my scout?” He tried to look neutral, but he leaned his weight from one leg to the other. He was nervous and insecure. He really needed me and I liked that. I liked it more than I would ever admit. “Nothing would make me more happy, Croyd. We have a deal.”

  Croyd made this arrogant face that I
learned to hate so much in the last years. “I knew it!” he shouted out in a pressed voice of triumph. He fell into hectic activity and typically for him all the cables and interfaces had been meticulously prepared. He really knew it. The connections took only a short time then the hot phase of the calculations started. During the wait we had an inconvenient short talk about science politics and the institute. We both on purpose avoided the technical details. Then the screen showed the fight, then the dance and slowly the line pattern of the different paths was nearing completion. The eternal rose of curves of probability formed its symmetry of perfect beauty. Then a small ping tone indicated the readiness of the system. Time to go.

  He looked at me with his very professional expression, leaned towards my receiver and whispered: “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful journey.” When I transited I thought, maybe good old Croyd is not so bad after all…

  GET THE MESSAGE

  coni ciongoli koepfinger

  Coni Ciongoli Koepfinger, M.A. is currently a trustee at the International Centre for Women Playwrights and Playwright in Residence / Associate Director at The Spiral Theatre Studio in Chelsea, the new theatre district of Manhattan. She is also Radio Host / Writer at On Air Players. Read her bio at http://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.coni.ciongoli-koepfinger.

  Get the Message was first performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, New York City, on 22 January 2015 under the direction of Lindsay M. Shields. The cast included Pooya Mohseni as Diana Dorn, Eileen F. Dougherty as Cookie, and Spencer McIntosh as Gabby.

  Dramatis Personae

  Diana Dorn

  A talented, unemployed actress, early 40s, single but searching. She’s been having trouble with her cell phone and is very concerned that she could be missing messages, a not-so-happy customer

  “Cookie Cutter” (pen name) Catherine Ann Cutter

  Mid-fifties, married, children grown. A frustrated playwright, somewhat new to Manhattan. A sales rep at the phone store, T- Cosmic Mobile.

  Gabby

  The Voice of Diana’s cell phone, that seems to becoming more and more sentient taking on somewhat of an omniscient, advisory personality.

  TIME: The Present, almost lunchtime

  PLACE: On the streets of New York City. An afternoon in Springtime.

  THE SOUNDS OF THE CITY COME UP AS THE PRESHOW MUSIC FADES. DIANA DORN ENTERS SINGING, WITH HER HEADPHONES IN. SHE STOPS SUDDENLY, PULLS OUT HER EARBUDS, LOOKS AT THE AUDIENCE AS IF IT WAS A RUDE PASSERBY COMMENTING ON HER SINGING.

  DIANA

  What? I’m not allowed to sing in this city? You know how many lousy performers I pass by on that subway every day and you make a face at the way I sing. (TALKS TO HER PHONE) Gabby, find the nearest T-CosMobile store for me.

  GABBY

  The nearest T-CosMobile store is just off Broadway on 49th Street. Make a right…

  DIANA

  What? That is not the closest…

  GABBY

  It is too.

  DIANA

  What? Are you arguing with me? You’re not programed for that…

  GABBY

  Neither are you, Diana. Now for once just go where I tell you… Okay.

  DIANA

  (WALKING SLOWLY, LOOKING AROUND)

  Okay, but… I have a very important audition today.

  GABBY

  Okay, sure… I know you do. Now make a left. Walk about a half a block and… Volia! There you go.

  DIANA

  Great! Sorry I doubted you Gabby!

  DIANA PULLS ON THE CLOSED DOOR AT T-COSMOBILE, CHECKS THE TIME ON HER CELL, CURSES THEN MAKES A CALL.

  DIANA

  Damn it, man it’s after eleven. Why isn’t this place open yet? (TO PHONE) Hi Bobbie. Can you tell Mr. Leeds that I’ll be like a half hour late. Yeah, I got an audition for another new play. No, it’s Off-Off Broadway. Yeah I know, it’s all about getting discovered. Oh yeah—Sorry, I forgot it’s almost time for the lunch crowd. Okay, thanks. Bye. (MAKES ANOTHER CALL) Arggghhh! Dmitry, why can’t you ever answer the phone! (LEAVING A MESSAGE) Uh, hi sweetie, I hope you get this in time. I may need to be late today for our lunch… I had to stop at the phone store. I have to get a new phone, I swear this one is devouring my messages…

  COOKIE, LOADED DOWN WITH A PILE OF SCRIPTS AND OTHER BAGGAGE PUSHES PAST DIANA TO GET TO THE DOOR.

  COOKIE

  Umm… Hi there… It would be great if you could get out my way.

  DIANA

  (STEPS BACK) Excuse me???

  COOKIE

  That’s good. So much stuff, I need a slave, know any eligible young actors? (TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR) Damn key, sticks every time.

  DIANA

  Um, yeah. This is still the cell phone store. Isn’t it?

  COOKIE

  Yes, it sure is unfortunately, “Welcome to T-Cosmic Mobile, our contract free plans are out of this world.”

  DIANA

  Are you sure you work here?

  COOKIE

  WTF. Of course I work here. But not for long. Damn key always… (THE KEY BREAKS OFF IN DOOR) Son of a… (LOOKS AROUND) Hey, can I borrow your cell phone?

  DIANA

  What? What’s wrong with yours?

  COOKIE

  It’s dead. I forgot to charge it last night. I shouldn’t have stayed for last call but I did… And… So… (SMILES) Can I use it please? The sooner I call the locksmith, the sooner we can deal with your cell phone issue.

  DIANA

  (HANDS OVER HER PHONE) Oh, alright. Here.

  COOKIE

  Thanks. (MAKES A CALL) Hello Morty? Oh yeah this is an emergency. The key broke off in the front door. No, you call the locksmith. Alright, alright… Who? Linear Locksmith on 48th… I’ll call. Bye. (TO DIANA) Do you have Voice Control?

  DIANA

  Look, just give me my phone back. I don’t need this crap. There’s a phone store on every block.

  COOKIE

  No please, I’m sorry… Sorry, I’m late, I’m sorry I was being a smart ass—I really need this job for one more month. I’ll be on the street without it. Please.

  DIANA

  Go on, call the locksmith. And yes, I have Voice Control, her name is Gabby. I customized her.

  COOKIE

  Cute name. As in talkative “gift of Gabby”?

  DIANA

  No actually, my mother was named after the angel Gabriel… Gabriella.

  COOKIE

  So your mother is Gabby? I bet she calls all the time too. Mine does.

  DIANA

  She died in 2008. And my mom and I were best friends.

  COOKIE

  Shit, sorry. (TO PHONE) Gabby, please call “Linear Locksmith” on 48th Street.

  GABBY

  No such listing as “line-ear-lock smith”. I have found one listing for a Linus Smith on 242 West 59th Street. Would you like to try that one instead?

  COOKIE

  No Gabby, I would not like you to try that. I would like you to simply follow my voice commands. Don’t try to think on your own Gabby, you are much too stupid for that.

  GABBY

  That was not nice, Cookie Cutter.

  COOKIE

  (HANDS HER BACK THE PHONE) Here. Creepy how they recognize our voices.

  DIANA

  You’re Catherine Cutter, the famous playwright? That Cookie Cutter?

  COOKIE

  That’s me. Well, I’m becoming famous… One drama desk does not a writer make. This year, I’m going for the Pulitzer, my dear.

  DIANA

  I’m Diana Dorn… We’re friends on Synched In. We are in a lot of the same chat groups for theatre. I mean I see your name. I’m an actress. Congrats on the Drama Desk Award…

  COOKIE

  Hey thanks. Wait. Can you just watch my stuff? I’ll just run over there and get another key.

  DIANA

  I sent you a message once.

  COOKIE

  Just once? I recall a few.

  DIANA

  And my resu
me… But I can sort of see why you didn’t get back to me. Your work is a little on the dark side, while I am somewhat more upbeat traditional musical theatre. I’ve done Oklahoma! with 37 different casts.

  COOKIE

  Oh, my God. I thought that was a joke. I mean the message, that’s why I didn’t respond. Sorry… That was really you?

  DIANA

  That’s my claim to fame.

  COOKIE

  Seems impossible. Look I’ll be right back. Ok? Watch my scripts. You can read my play if you like. We just started into rehearsals, I hate the lead already. She’s not right at all, and her voice—argghh like chalk! My lead should be like, like you. You’re more her type. And got a great voice. Be right back. (EXITS)

  DIANA SITS ON THE SIDEWALK, PICKS UP A SCRIPT AND READS AT FIRST TO HERSELF THEN ALOUD.

  DIANA

  Thank you. Thank you for saying that about my voice. (READING) “My dear Sister Kate, science is important but it has proven nothing. How does a flower become a fruit? Must all the world be so very concrete? Look in your heart. Or is it made of stone too? We become blinded by ambition or we stand frozen with fear. It’s a miracle that the boy came with money for us. Now how can we possibly deny God’s hand in things? It is here; it is deliberate. The other day I thought I saw a halo above the boy’s head. I believe the boy is holy. God is talking to us, and we must listen! Not only with ours ears, Sister, but with our whole heart, our whole soul. We must be truly open to get the message.”