Not The Nature Of Reality

Yes. It seems to be finished.

Vello strides onto the stage.

Well? Any questions? asks Vello.

Is it finished? asks someone.

It is, says Vello. 

Was that real broken glass? asks someone else.

That would be telling, says Vello.

You said any questions, calls out someone.

Not questions on the nature of reality, says Vello. I meant questions about this year's choice of excerpts. 

No one has any questions.

It's always awkward when no one has a question 

Hedley's mother decides she will ask one.

Were the excerpts chosen at random? asks Hedley's mother.

Well spotted, Hedley's mother, says Vello. Yes they were chosen at random. The first two scenes were contiguous, but there was a gap between them and scene three.

And you were happy with that? asks Hedley's mother.

Of course I was happy with that, says Vello. Any more questions?

Why wasn't the cloak real? asks Hedley.

Intelligent question, Hedley, says Vello. The cloak was not real because Cacambo was not expecting to have to produce it.

But what about AI? asks Hedley.

Who do you think is in charge of our AI effects? says Vello.

The German Colonel? asks Hedley.

Close, says Vello. It was Candide. And being involved in the action, he was unable to fiddle with his AI equipment and come up with a cloak. Thus Cacambo decided you would have to imagine one.

Good old-fashioned improv, says someone.

Exactly, says Vello. Now you've all had enough thinking time. How many AI effects were there? 

The audience is quiet, totting up AI effects in their minds.

The horses, the flickering old lady, the arbour,  the red ear tips, the blood and the herring.

Or not the herring.

And not the broken glass. 

That did look real. And they swept it into a dustpan. You heard it tinkle.

Then there was the cloak. Or there wasn't.

Anyone? asks Vello.

Eight, suggests someone.

Nine, says someone else.

Seven, says Hedley.

Correct, says Vello. Seven is the answer. Come backstage afterwards to claim your prize, Hedley.

Not everyone is happy.