The paper in Irvin's hands crinkle and rustle when he flattens them against the podium, squinting against the lights on the stage and completely oblivious of the men and woman on the stage behind him. The nice one had offered to hold his award.
His award. His Nobel. His. My prize in Stockholm I worked so hard He doesn't need the paper in front of him, but it's there as a comfort.
Irvin Thatcher doesn't speak before taking in the audience; a sea of faces he doesn't recognize, and his eyes glaze over.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round -- "
The audience. They have to understand.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round..."
Irvin finds Eugenia's face in the crowd, raising her hand in the most timid and shy of waves. Irvin's song cuts off.
And he waves back.
"A simple little children's song. But it was this song that inspired my concept of Mutually Assured Destruction. We build an A-bomb, they build an A-bomb. We build an H-bomb, they build an H-bomb. Round and round, round and round. Wheels on the bus, leading us towards an unending escalation of new, more powerful, more deadly weapons. Which is what led me to my greatest achievement - the ionosphere particle beam.
"In order to ensure peace on Earth, I built the deadliest weapon in the universe.
"But that's the end of the story. Let me take you back to the beginning -- "
From somewhere behind him: We don't have time to go back to Neverland.
The nice one rushes forward to Irvin's side, starting: "Uh, Doctor Thatcher? There's an urgent situation that needs your attention. Sorry."
Oh. Okay. Back to work. But first, Irvin turns to the podium again. "I would just like to end by thanking the committee -- " he gestures towards the woman and the other man on stage.
" -- And Eugenia, my love. without whom, this achievement would not have been possible." Irvin blows a kiss to his love, beaming. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
The audience roars into applause, and Irvin grabs his Prize from the nice man, expression turning suddenly sour.
"My crew!" Irvin cries, nearly running offstage. "I've got to get my crew to fix the device!"
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-12-20 07:45 pm (UTC)His award. His Nobel. His.
My prize in Stockholm I worked so hard
He doesn't need the paper in front of him, but it's there as a comfort.
Irvin Thatcher doesn't speak before taking in the audience; a sea of faces he doesn't recognize, and his eyes glaze over.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round -- "
The audience. They have to understand.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round..."
Irvin finds Eugenia's face in the crowd, raising her hand in the most timid and shy of waves. Irvin's song cuts off.
And he waves back.
"A simple little children's song. But it was this song that inspired my concept of Mutually Assured Destruction. We build an A-bomb, they build an A-bomb. We build an H-bomb, they build an H-bomb. Round and round, round and round. Wheels on the bus, leading us towards an unending escalation of new, more powerful, more deadly weapons. Which is what led me to my greatest achievement - the ionosphere particle beam.
"In order to ensure peace on Earth, I built the deadliest weapon in the universe.
"But that's the end of the story. Let me take you back to the beginning -- "
From somewhere behind him: We don't have time to go back to Neverland.
The nice one rushes forward to Irvin's side, starting: "Uh, Doctor Thatcher? There's an urgent situation that needs your attention. Sorry."
Oh. Okay. Back to work. But first, Irvin turns to the podium again. "I would just like to end by thanking the committee -- " he gestures towards the woman and the other man on stage.
" -- And Eugenia, my love. without whom, this achievement would not have been possible." Irvin blows a kiss to his love, beaming. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
The audience roars into applause, and Irvin grabs his Prize from the nice man, expression turning suddenly sour.
"My crew!" Irvin cries, nearly running offstage. "I've got to get my crew to fix the device!"