"Oh my God, you're even more gorgeous in person!" squealed Jessica, his oriental makeup artist.
Her hands were on his shoulders and he was a bit frightened by her somewhat fanatic gaze in the lighted mirror, but otherwise, he was feeling remarkably calm considering he didn't know what this show business was all about, and why he was here.
"Your skin is absolutely flawless," she said as she stroked his cheeks for longer than was necessary, if indeed it was necessary at all. He was quickly becoming uncomfortable and embarrassed with such close scrutiny of his physical appearance.
"And your lashes, oh my God, they are the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life!" For a second he was afraid she would feel compelled to touch them too and inadvertently poke him in the eyes. Thankfully she refrained from this and instead placed her hands back on his shoulders. "Do you know how many girls would kill for them?"
Murdoch frowned. "That anyone would contemplate such an act over something so inconsequential is unconscionable. That many would is unfathomable."
Jessica appeared puzzled and then she burst out laughing.
"Oh my God! You're so funny too!"
Annoyed at her constantly taking the Lord's name in vain, he made a face to showcase his displeasure. Apparently she didn't notice. Then she picked up a black brush, something similar to what he would use when applying ink for locating fingermarks.
"Well, there isn't much I can do to make you more handsome," she said with a smirk, "so I'm just going to lightly apply a bit of foundation, just so that I can say I did my job. That okay with you?"
"I suppose so."
After Jessica finished this task, a flamboyantly dressed negro with a speech impediment came over to style his hair.
"Honey," said the silver haired man while he played with Murdoch's hair, "you want to keep this simple?" Jayden grinned, "Or can I go wild?" He winked through the mirror.
Uncomfortable again Murdoch fidgeted in his seat and replied, "Simple would be best."
"That's too bad," Jayden said, visibly pouting. He winked again, "We could have had so much fun."
Jayden got to work. Shortly after this he asked, "So tell me gorgeous, you single?"
Murdoch supposed he was asking if he was courting someone. Technically he wasn't, in his time at least, but he didn't think that qualified in this case. And besides, he was hesitant to inform this man otherwise. There was something not quite right about him.
"I am spoken for."
"Not surprised," Jayden said with yet another wink. Murdoch was beginning to wonder if it was a facial tick, similar to his speech impediment. "Still, a hunk like you, must be fighting them off left right and centre."
All of a sudden Murdoch was quite certain this man was a homosexual and fervently awaited the point at which he would stop touching him. What seemed like an interminable time later Jayden was finished.
As Murdoch was examining himself in the mirror, George barged into the dressing room without knocking first and said, "Show starts in five. You pretty enough yet?"
"I believe so," he replied.
"Good." George gestured down the white hallway. "Well, come on then!
"We've all heard of Murdoch's Mysteries, that hugely successful enterprise responsible for many of the innovations we take for granted today, but what do we really know about the man behind the scenes? With the exception of a highly publicized falling out with the now infamous James Pendrick, the answer to that question is probably not much. So it is with great pleasure I welcome the man himself to fill in some of those pesky gaps! Give it up for Mr. Gadget, the one, the only, William Murdoch!"
Uproarious shouts and clapping accompanied this exclamation. Murdoch hesitated, afraid to step into the limelight and towards such ubiquitous noise.
George muttered, "Oh for the love of God!" and then shoved him forward towards masses of shrieking women. That really seemed to be the extent of the audience, with only a scattered male here and there. Vaguely he wondered if they were homosexuals.
Timidly he made his way over to the host, Steve Michaelopolous; timidly he shook the middle aged mans hand; and timidly he sat down in a spacious yellow chair and stared out across at the sea of adoring people.
While the crowd still roared, Steve said, "Thanks so much for agreeing to do this, Will!"
"You are most welcome," he responded with a shy smile.
Finally the noise ceased and it was utter silence. All eyes and cameras were fixated on him. Suddenly he longed to be anywhere but there. Cold sweat threatened to break free at any moment.
The only reason he had agreed to come here was because he had the sneaking suspicion that he must play out this strange tale in its entirety, as if this was like the tail end of The Christmas Carol and once he repented his sins he would be able to return home and stop Julia from marrying another.
In other words, he would just have to toughen up and make the best of the situation.
"You're a self made man," Steve began, "a veritable rags to riches story. I'm sure we'd all like to know, what's your secret?"
He clutched the arm rests tightly, desirous to stop his hands from shaking. He was unsure whether to address the audience or the host and so was continuously alternating between the two. "I am not at liberty to say."
"Fair enough," Steve said, clearly hoping for more than that. "Your nickname, Mr. Gadget, given to you by the public at large," Steve said, leaning across a matching chair, as if attempting to engage Murdoch in deep meaningful conversation. "Thoughts?"
Very keenly did he feel like he was on the wrong side of an interrogation, as if he was a criminal.
"Well," he said swallowing through the lump in his throat, "to be honest I have not given it much thought."
"Gotcha," Steve said, smiling. "Couldn't care less. Nor do I blame you. You're a very busy guy, very tough to track down. And just what exactly keeps you so busy?"
"A myriad of things. Most would undoubtedly be too complex to explain."
Steve nodded knowledgeably. "Hence the Mystery aspect of your company's name. And you yourself, sir, are pretty mysterious. People have been clamouring to know more about you ever since the scandal." Steve grinned, holding up some coloured cardboard squares. "I'm happy to oblige them. So without further ado, it's time for the main event!"
There was another wave of sound from the ocean and Murdoch feared he would be capsized.
"Your work takes you all over the world. Where's your favourite place to travel to?"
Besides Buffalo and Bristol, he had basically never left the country. And since both of those places held negative connotations for him, they were out of the question.
"New Brunswick."
Steve seemed slightly surprised. "Sticking to the home soil. Sentimental reasons?"
"It is where I learned to be the man I am today."
"Do you have any hobbies outside of biking?"
"I enjoy reading medical journals."
"Uh, okay. Anything else?"
"As already established, I am very busy. I do not have time for many frivolous pursuits."
Steve smiled. It was clearly a bit forced. "Of course. Where's your favourite place to bike?"
Mostly he only bicycled as a way to get from one location to another and to keep in shape. While he did enjoy this, he had never really taken the landscape into account.
George had apparently crept around backstage and previously made it to the sidelines facing him. Currently George was mouthing something in his direction, but he couldn't make it out.
"I'm not sure," he replied honestly.
George shook his head.
"Which do you prefer, cats or dogs?"
"Without a doubt, dogs."
"A man after my own heart. Favourite movie?"
George was pantomiming running and a short repetitive downward motion with one raised fist.
"I do not have the faintest idea."
"Okay then, favourite type of movie?" Murdoch still looked clueless. George looked like he wanted to scream. "Horror, sci-fi, drama, romance, comedy...you can stop me at any time here."
"Science fiction I suppose."
It was true for books anyway.
"Why am I not surprised?" Steve said with a grin. "Favourite musical genre?"
Nothing from this era so far.
"Classical."
George slapped himself in the face, albeit quietly.
"Biggest idol or inspiration?"
"There are many. Nicola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison are at the forefront."
"Big shoes to fill. But it is my belief that you have already exceeded some of those gentlemen's greatest accomplishments."
"Oh, I highly doubt that is possible. I only dabble here and there."
"Rich and modest." Murmurs of approval from the audience. "If you could instantly learn to do anything, what would it be?"
"Understand women," he replied without thinking.
That response garnered a few chuckles from the crowd.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are dating the lovely Julia Ogden still?"
"Indeed I am."
Some rumbling in the crowd.
"You guys planning on getting hitched?"
George was clearly mouthing the word no over and over again.
"Eventually, yes. I believe so."
Louder grumbles.
"And what does she think about the whole Pendrick affair?"
"I really wouldn't know."
"Surely you've discussed it?" Steve said, arcing an eyebrow. "She was the one who cleared your name!"
Murdoch cleared his throat to give himself a little extra time to think of an answer. "Be that as it may, Steve, we do not like to dwell on the past."
"No I suppose you wouldn't. You're a very forward thinking guy. How does it feel to be the wealthiest man in Toronto?"
Bewildered.
"Makes me long for simpler times."
"I think we can all relate to that sentiment. What advice do you have for budding inventors and entrepreneurs alike?"
Murdoch thought back to his own dabbles. "Curiousity is a necessity. You must always be willing to improve your mind. Read everything. Do not limit yourself to one particular area. Perseverance is also of great importance. Without that, I would have abandoned most, if not all of my projects. And patience. You cannot rush discoveries. They will happen when they happen."
George gave him the thumbs up.
"Wise words to live by. Okay now for some philosophical questions. If you could witness any event, past, present or future, what would it be?"
The day I marry Julia.
"The day space travel becomes possible."
Steve looked confused and he realized he shouldn't have picked a future event to his time without first knowing the state of things here.
"You mean like human space travel to Mars?"
Steve's reply intimated that men had already been to the moon and Murdoch was awestruck momentarily considering his favourite book as a child was about just such a thing.
"Yes, that is what I meant," he said hastily. "Or even further to...Neptune."
"What do you think about Pluto's removal from the realm of recognized planets?"
He had never heard of Pluto so he simply said, "There are worse things."
"Do you believe in life on other planets?"
"I'm open to the possibility...but I do not believe there are little green men on Mars."
Some more chuckles.
"If you could live forever, virtually or otherwise, would you?"
"No, such a thing would go against God's plan for humanity. Every life must come to an end or life itself would lose all meaning."
"I find your response very interesting considering some of your recent technological offerings." Murdoch gave him another blank look. "Don't play dumb now, Will, you've been venturing into the AI arena lately. Doesn't that go against God's plan as you called it moment's ago?"
"I'm not sure I understand the question."
"You're attempting to create an immortal self aware entity...making a cyber God in essence. How do you reconcile your beliefs with that?"
"If what you say is true," he exclaimed half jumping out of his chair, "I will put a stop to it immediately!"
There was loud murmuring from the crowd. Steve looked to be a combination of bewilderment and doubtfulness. "Forgive me for being skeptical, but I find it hard to believe that you didn't know about this. You are after all the CEO of your company."
"Okay cut it!" yelled George from the sidelines, eliciting an increase of audience rumbling.
"What the hell, man?" said Steve angrily as George came bounding up the central platform.
"Come on, Will, we're leaving."
"Like hell you are!" Steve jumped up to confront George. "I was just getting something juicy!"
"Steve, Steve, Steve," George said shaking his head slowly. He plucked the microphone off of Steve's shirt and held it in his fist. "I know you like to think you're an investigative reporter, but you aren't. You're just a talk show host with an inflated ego. And you just made a major rookie mistake. Never touch politics or religion. And never piss off the friend of the wealthiest guy in the city."
"What now?" Steve grumbled.
"Now you're gonna edit out that live forever crap from the final product or you're not gonna air anything at all...ever again."
"You can't censure me like that! You have no right!"
"Listen pal," George said poking Steve in the chest, "we had an agreement. You broke it. End of story." He turned to Murdoch again. "Let's go. We're finished here."
Murdoch looked to the crowd before leaving the theatre and saw that many of them were upset by his hasty departure. Clearly they had been expecting to meet him in person after the show. He was glad he was spared such an inanity.
Once they were in the helicopter, George rounded on him.
"How did you not get this?" George did the fist and running motion again (since he was sitting it came across more as a waggling of his feet). "Blade Runner! Obviously! You've only seen it like a hundred times! And when did you become so religious?!"
"I always have been."
"Well, it's news to me! You're lucky that wasn't live!"
"I meant what I said, George. I have reconsidered my position on this...AI matter."
George was incredulous. "You can't backpedal now! Deals have been made! Papers have been signed! You'll lose a fortune if you even try! We're in this for the long haul! Get used to it!"
"I do not care how much money is lost. You will put a stop to this blasphemy before it is too late."
"Unfreakingbelievable! He's lost his mind!"
"I assure you, George, I am of sound mind. You will do this or I will find someone else who will."
"How many times I gotta tell you? I don't do well with ultimatums!" Murdoch just continued to stare at him. George sighed. "All right, fine. You win. I'll get right on that...tomorrow. With any luck, you'll have come to your senses by then." He grumbled. "Right now I need a stiff drink."