INTERMISSION, SECOND PART

Introduction.

This is a story based upon my earlier story, "Intermission," in which some events are referred to only briefly or tangentially. In this story, they are discussed in more detail or from a different perspective.

I recommend reading "Intermission" before reading this story. In "Intermission" and in "Intermission, Second Part," my stories end with many important events yet to come. If you want to see those important events, watch the movie.

The events in my stories begin just after the intermission of the movie (as Frank Poole is heading out toward the antenna complex in a space pod). They end as Bowman visits Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite.

This story is drawn to some extent from the movie, but also includes some elements from the novel (including at least one key plot point).

The main character is Dr. Heywood Floyd. In the movie, following intermission, Dr. Floyd appears in only one scene, and even then, only as a pre-recorded message. The final words in the movie are his. In the novel, Floyd sends a message to Bowman, but the message is quite unlike what is described in my story.

In my earlier story, "Intermission," there is a suggestion that Floyd is in trouble. This story deals with Floyd during this difficult time.

For some details, this story follows the movie rather than the novel. In the novel, for example, Floyd is a widower with three kids; but in the movie, he is married and has a small daughter. In the novel, leaks of confidential information begin right after TMA-1 is found; but in the movie, the leaks are contained and it is up to Floyd to clamp down the lid hard so that no leaks will occur.

For the record, the Heywood Floyd in this story is the straitlaced William Sylvester version, not the wiseguy Roy Scheider version from "2010." Sylvester took some criticism for playing the role of Floyd as dishwater dull, showing no emotion except for a few forced smiles and chuckles. Yet his portrayal was actually pretty good as a cool-headed and businesslike astronomer-turned-spacefarer-turned-administrator, which is what Floyd was.

Further, Sylvester's performance in the movie's videophone scene was extraordinary, in view of the fact that there was no actual conversation going on. Vivian Kubrick's performance as the little girl "Squirt" was pre-recorded, and Sylvester pretended to react to her, thereby giving a quite convincing portrayal of an actual video call.

Also, the William Sylvester version of Floyd embraced his responsibility for emphasizing the importance of secrecy, and secrecy was central to his character at every stage; the Roy Scheider version was adamantly critical of hiding information, and denied having anything to do with the consequences of secrecy orders.

1. Mr. Andrews Calls.

Heywood Floyd took a sip from his coffee mug, and made a face. Only warm, he brooded. Not hot. The coffee machine had been acting up, and it was time to authorize a replacement. Floyd took another sip and decided to dump the rest of the contents of his mug into the cafeteria sink. Floyd checked the dishwasher next to the sink, and finding it empty, placed his now-empty mug inside.

"Dr. Floyd!"

Floyd turned toward the urgent voice calling his name. The voice was that of his administrative assistant, and the alarm in his voice was unmistakable.

"What is it, Jan?" Floyd kept his voice even.

"There's a BBC reporter calling for you, he says it's very urgent!"

Floyd strode quickly out of the cafeteria toward his office, with his assistant falling in beside him. "Did the reporter tell you what this is about?"

"He said it had to do with Discovery, and that it was of the greatest importance! 'Absolutely urgent,' he said!"

Floyd reached his office. "Okay, Jan, I want you to go fetch Dave Berger at PR, right away. And ask Marlene and Rachel to come to my office, too. What line is the reporter on?"

"Line three."

"Oh, and Jan, what's the reporter's name?"

"He told me, Dr. Floyd, but I'm sorry, I don't remember."

"That's all right, just go get Rachel and Marlene and Dave. Tell Dave I need him on the double." As the assistant hustled off, Floyd sat behind his desk and moved his phone close. He lifted the receiver and pressed the flashing button for line number three. "Heywood Floyd."

"Good afternoon, or I should say, good morning to you, Dr. Floyd. My name is Harrison Andrews of the British Broadcasting Corporation, News Division. I am calling you from London."

The man had an accent that reminded Floyd of comic actor John Cleese, and it occurred to Floyd that perhaps the man on the other end of the line was John Cleese, or perhaps a comic actor of a different kind, possibly a poser seeking to have a little fun with the Chairman of the National Council of Astronautics. Some impostors had tried to interview Floyd on previous occasions. It was also possible, Floyd knew, that the caller might really be from the BBC. Though legitimate news organizations had all been made aware that requests for interviews or comment ought to go through Berger in the Public Relations department, some go-getters had tried to bypass the PR people and get a statement from Floyd directly. Floyd hoped Berger would arrive quickly; Berger knew all of the reporters, and might be able to verify the caller's identity, and might be able to say whether the call was legitimate or a hoax. Until then, Floyd decided to play it cool.

"Yes, Mr. Andrews, what can I do for you?"

"Dr. Floyd, we at the BBC are planning to broadcast a story by television shortly, concerning the Discovery spacecraft and related subjects. I wanted to give you the opportunity to comment on the story before it is broadcast."

Floyd heard a quiet knock on his office door, and he waved in Marlene Vasquez and Rachel Steeg. He gestured to them to sit down. He decided to ask a question to bring them up to speed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Andrews, did you say the BBC had aired this story about Discovery, or that the BBC was planning to air it?"

"The BBC are planning to broadcast the story, about six hours from now. I can assure you, Dr. Floyd, that if you choose to comment on the story, that the BBC will report your comments fairly. We are most interested in hearing what the Council of Astronautics has to say."

"Mr. Andrews, you say that you want a statement from me about a pending story. Ordinarily, you should go through our public relations department. David Berger should be able to help you." At that moment, Berger appeared at Floyd's office door. Floyd waved him to close the office door, and seat himself in a chair. "In fact, Mr. Andrews, David Berger just stopped by my office. Perhaps you could speak to him now. Would it be all right, sir, if I placed you on speakerphone? In the office with me are Mr. Berger, and two of my department heads, Dr. Marlene Vasquez and Dr. Rachel Steeg. Dr. Vasquez is head of administration, and Dr. Steeg is principal mission liaison. Would it be all right with you if I put you on speaker?"

"It would, yes."

Floyd pressed a button on his telephone to activate the speakerphone, then introduced the man on the other end. "Everyone, this is Mr. Harrison Andrews of the BBC News Division."

"Good day to all of you," Andrews said. "David, I am told you are present; can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can, Harrison," Berger replied. "I recognize your voice. I should explain for the benefit of my colleagues that you and I have conversed in the past and that you have previously presented me with your credentials. May I ask why you chose on this occasion to try to contact Dr. Floyd directly, rather than through my office? You know that is a breach of our understanding."

"My apologies, David. The answer is that it is a matter of timing. Our story is such that we cannot wait for it to go 'through the usual channels,' as it were. We believe the story is of the greatest importance. And we believe that commentary from Dr. Floyd, personally and not by way of a spokesperson, is warranted."

"If the story pertains to the communication difficulties being experienced by Discovery," Floyd broke in, "then you really don't need to speak to me. Those are issues that are being handled quite capably by Dave and his people."

"I quite agree, Dr. Floyd. The communication concerns are indeed a part of the story, but they are not the main part. They are not the lede."

The BBC is going to report a story about Discovery, but about something of greater import than the vessel's communications problems? Floyd glanced at the faces of Vasquez and Steeg. Their expressions told him that they has no idea what was about to come.

Floyd grit his teeth. "What is the BBC's story, Mr. Andrews?"

"Dr. Floyd, the BBC have received reports that we believe to be credible, to the following events: in 1999, the United States discovered an artifact on the Moon. This artifact was, without question, of alien origin, indicating that intelligent life from other worlds had in the past visited the Moon, and very likely had also visited the Earth as well."

Andrews paused.

Floyd spoke. "Stories like that have been floating around for quite a while, now, Mr. Andrews."

"I realize that. But, as I say, this information comes to us from credible sources. In the past, your council has responded to such reports with the most cursory dismissals, and in recent days, has ignored such reports entirely; which responses were quite understandable given that sources were, if I may be forgiven for saying so, loonies. I can tell you, Dr. Floyd, that the BBC have investigated the matter quite thoroughly. We most certainly do not rely upon the words of loonies. We have quite solid evidence that corroborates what I have said about an alien artifact."

"Would you care to share that 'quite solid evidence' with us, Harrison?" Berger urged.

"I'm afraid that I am not in a position to do so at this time. But I can say that the evidence is compelling and that it has been independently confirmed by multiple sources. We know, for example, that the artifact was found buried on the Moon in or near the crater Tycho. Further, shortly after it was uncovered, the artifact emitted a very powerful radio transmission in the direction of Jupiter, which of course is Discovery's destination. Still further, the mission of Discovery had previously been to explore the Jovian system, but after the artifact was found, Discovery's mission was altered to include an important new objective, namely, to determine to what or to whom the transmission was directed."

"Is that all?" Floyd asked calmly.

"No. There is much more. But I would at this time like to ask you, Dr. Floyd, on the record, whether you confirm or deny the discovery of an alien artifact on the Moon?"

No one said anything for several seconds.

Floyd sighed. "Mr. Andrews, I wish to explain something before I answer. My people and I are bound by various confidentiality laws, regulations, and agreements. We cannot respond to such questions, even if we wanted to. Therefore—"

"If you'll pardon me for saying so, that's nonsense," Andrews interrupted sharply. "You have denied similar reports in the past without resort to issues of confidentiality. I want to know, Dr. Floyd, whether you continue to maintain your denials, now that you are dealing with a reputable news organization."

"This situation is different," Floyd responded. "If I understand you correctly, you deem some of your sources to be credible, and it is possible you deem them so because those sources may be one or more persons who are involved with the mission and who have access to confidential information; and if that is so, then issues of confidentiality most certainly are involved. Until I can get an opinion from our legal people as to our confidentiality obligations, I really have no choice but to say that I can neither confirm nor deny your story. But I can tell you this, Mr. Andrews. We will be looking at whether we wish to make a formal response, and what that response ought to be. May we contact you in the event that we wish to speak to you at a later time?"

"You may. David knows how to contact me. Just as a polite reminder, the story will be broadcast at 2:00 p.m. your time. The BBC are currently airing promotional advertisements saying that there will be a report having significant and surprising information related to Discovery's mission to Jupiter. We expect viewership to be quite substantial."