Scene 1. Blast Pattern

Lilly resists any further medical examinations and demands that Roc immediately take her home. Outside the college clinic, a considerable crowd has gathered to see the young genius physics student that bought a new form of light down from ‘heaven’. Lilly had Roc push them out of the way as Trish drives up. Liz and Roc help Lilly into Trish’s car. Trish has to drive slowly to avoid running over the crowd around the car. The crowd now includes newspaper reporters and celebrity magazine photographers, all trying to take pictures of Lilly. To their disappointment, Lilly wraps a blanket around her face and body. Only her horns are visible out the top of her blanket-roll in the back seat.

At last they are home. Trish, Liz and Roc help Lilly into the house. She is gradually gaining control standing and walking. They seat her in a chair, the three standing staring down at her. Roc considers the exhausted Lilly and announces, “Maybe we should wait until tomorrow for ‘question and answer’.” Trish and Liz both nod and leave.

Roc faces Lilly again, “Is there anything you want to say now?” Lilly shakes her head ‘no’, trembling again.

Meanwhile The Professor holds a news conference, as much for college dons, regents, students and donors as for the press. He does not take credit for Lilly’s discovery, he says that he only helped Lilly construct parts for the apparatus from her plans. It is clear from the questions that many have already realized the political, commercial, and military value of these discoveries. And, of course, everyone wants to know what is next. The Professor honestly states that he does not know.

Several of the ‘donors’ are of note, an Industrialist, that goes by the moniker, ‘The Chief’, An army officer that is only known as, ‘The General’. Also in at the conference is the Professor’s superior, the Physics department head, affectionately known as ‘The Head’ and a psychologist that works for the school and the general hospital, known as, ‘Foxworthy’. All of these men, as well as many others, have Lilly in their sights. And they all note Lilly’s physical and mental vulnerability, and perceive these weaknesses as an opportunity to exploit her.

The next day Lilly is better, she has regained her balance and her normally calm demeanor. Roc hides the envelopes of interview requests from her. She appears at the living room doorway, bright and smartly dressed. She announces, “I am going to school today!” Roc shakes his head ‘no’, “I am afraid that is not possible. I’ll call your teachers so that they can send you their assignments.” “You will have to study at home for a while, until the foo-foo blows over and the ‘cads’ give up on watching the house.” “People have short attention spans, I don’t think you will have to wait very long.”

Lilly collapses onto the couch and kicks off her shoes, “I guess you are right.” “But would you call The Professor, I do need to talk to him, and apologize to him.”

Roc nods, “He might want to see you, is that okay?”

Lilly nods, “He is a prince, he did everything that I asked him to do.” “So I owe him ‘big-time’.” “Anything he wants!” “And you too.” “You know that I have not told you everything but you are such a gentleman and you don’t ‘probe’.” “Please understand that it is not because I don’t trust you.” But if I say it out loud, you will think I am even crazier than you already know that I am. “I know you won’t ‘rat me out’ to the ‘Psych-Squad’.” But others have a way of finding these things out for their own nefarious purposes, and I’ll end up disappearing, and dissected!

Roc calls The Professor's office. The Professor’s office telephone exchange tells Roc that The Professor is out of town for a few weeks, but that he will be calling in and picking up his messages. Roc leaves his name, his relationship to Lilly, and his telephone number. About an hour later, The Professor calls and talks to Lilly on the phone for a half an hour. Roc cannot resist listening in. He is horrified by Lilly’s half of the conversation. Lilly and The Professor arrange to meet at Lilly’s house, after dark to avoid the ‘paparazzi’ and their cameras.

Roc prepares the guest rooms. He expects that overnight guests may be a staying at the house for a while, since Lilly can’t leave. The Professor appears at 9:00 pm. Roc leaves them alone to talk, not wanting to hear any more of their frightening words. They talk for two hours. Roc offers The Professor a guest room, but The Professor says he has too much to do and cannot stay the night. The Professor leaves the house and somehow sneaks past the press sentries that are stationed around the house.

The next morning Roc tells Lilly that he is dropping out of the team this season to take care of her. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, “Please Roc, No,” “It isn’t necessary and it won’t help me.” “The only thing that will help me now is for me to leave the house and hide somewhere the press can’t reach.” Roc is shaking his head, but Lilly is persists, “You know this is the only thing I can do for now.” “If you try to help me, you too will be dogged by the press and dragged further into this mess.” “The best thing for you to do is to go and play ball.” “The league and your team is already set up to handle the press.” “The press’s fascination with your involvement in this affair will encourage more people to come and see you play.” “The Professor has offered me a place to stay.” “There I can continue my college studies and even do a little research.” “I’ll be paying my way through college by transcribing The Professor’s papers,” “I am doing some of that now anyway.” “Please don’t try to guess where I am or tell anyone that he is helping me, or even that I am still alive.”

Roc stares at Lilly, She has thought this through, and hopefully, it won’t be for long.

Lilly looks down, “I would not have done this ‘demonstration’…” “Put you all through this…” If I thought there was any chance it would really work.” “Now I am ‘damned’.” “It is up to me, alone, to atone.”

“The Professor wants me to meet someone, an industrialist. The industrialist has asked The Professor if he can put my invention into production. He is a friend of The Professor’s and they have collaborated on several products in the past.” “The Professor trusts him, and that means a lot to me.” “Maybe getting this thing out and available to everyone will make it ordinary and commonplace,” “and take the heat off of me.” “I have agreed to meet with this ‘industrialist’ at his factory.” “The Professor recommends that I reside at the industrialist's factory for awhile.” “The industrialist has a lot of places for people to stay, secure, while they are working for him.” “You can even come visit me there and stay over.”

Roc finally gives in and agrees with his stubborn wife. He then starts packing for his pro-circuit games, “At least I can come visit you between the games,” “I have more time off during the season, traveling ‘the pro-circuit’ than during the summer when I am at training camp.”

Scene 2. Pieces

Lilly, The Professor and Roc are seated on one side of a large oak conference table. The conference room is attractively furnished, around the sides of the room are soft, dark colored, curtains. Behind the curtains are the display boards and stages used for holding new product demonstrations and press releases.

A door at the side of the conference room opens and in walks a handsome, boar-man. He stands straight, and looks fit and confident in his fashionable business attire. He is very neat and carefully groomed. His tusks are polished ivory-white and glisten. He stands a moment and poses, then he carefully regards the seated group. He then flashes them his eyes closed, signature smile.

Lilly reflects, His unique smile is no doubt a significant factor in his company’s success. The Professor and Roc stand, Lilly remains seated and appears to be downcast, Oh great! More Attention on me! And more questions that I can not truthfully answer!

The Chief speaks, “Good morning, My name is Percival, but everyone here simply calls me ‘The Chief’. I think originally this title was a pejorative from employees that did not like my management style, but the has name stuck. So if you ask for Percival, no one around here will know who you are talking about.” The Chief smiles and chuckles, trying to break the ice with the solemn group. The Chief then looks to The Professor, “Professor! Great to see you again, my friend! You always say you are going to visit, but you never do.” “What brings you here today?”

The Professor responds, “Chief there is someone here that I would like you to meet.” The Professor smiles and looks down at Lilly. “She is an inventor, with some product ideas I think you will find interesting.” “Chief, I would like you to meet my student, Lilly, and her husband Roc.” The Chief is momentarily distracted, spotting the famous ball player, Roc, “You are Roc the ball player, aren't you?” Roc nods. The Chief’s attention then immediately returns to Lilly.

Of course, The Professor and The Chief have already been in contact. The Chief was at the demonstration at the invitation of The Professor. The Chief is already familiar with, and very interested in, Lilly’s inventions. Practical electric illumination has been a goal of industry for many years, without success, except for the arc-light. And Lilly demonstrated low-power electrical illumination on her first try, a stunning first success.

The Chief looks down at the seated Lilly. She is staring down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with anyone and feeling very self-conscious.

The Chief cuts to the chase and speaks directly to the vacuous Lilly, “My dear, I was at your demonstration.” “Very impressive for many reasons,” “beyond all of the drama of the lights.” The Chief looks up at the Professor, “All of that drama was your idea, wasn’t it.” The Chief returns to Lilly, “I would very much like to be the first to offer you license agreements to develop and produce your inventions such as the ones you displayed,” “and perhaps, the ones you haven’t yet shown us.” “That new vacuum pump of yours, alone, will revolutionize production of many existing products,” “and make practical the production of many other new products.”

Lilly awakens, suddenly her eyes are wide open. She looks up at The Chief, meeting his small, glistening, intense eyes for the first time, He already knows that the mercury vacuum pump is the key to it all!

Scene 3. Factory

The Chief continues, “Before we proceed further here, I would like you all to go on a tour of my factory. I would like you all to see the all of products I am currently producing. I would like to believe that we here are making life better for everyone in the world.”

“My office assistant will drive you around in my electric cart, so you don’t have to walk the length this large facility, and for your safety.” “I have arranged for you all to have lunch in my cafeteria after your tour.” “We’ll meet up again here after that.” “I apologize that I cannot join you for the tour, but I must attend to this factory regularly, to keep it running smoothly.” “I do hope that you all have the time for this and will join me afterward.”

‘The Assistant’ is a very sharp, middle-aged, fox-woman, with cat’s-eye glasses hanging from her neck. She is dressed in a smart, tailored, dark business suit. Lilly stares at her, You can look great in things like that if you’re thin! The woman introduces herself as ‘Ellie’. ‘Assistant’! My Butt! She is obviously The Chief’s Second in Command!

The Professor later tells Roc and Lilly that ‘Ellie’ is actually an engineering school graduate and an experienced production engineer. She is personally responsible for working out problems with several of the company’s critical products. She is an expert in many technologies and is directly credited with the company’s success with all of its diverse product lines. Despite her technical successes, she insists that she only be addressed as ‘The Assistant’, to avoid taking the spotlight away from The Chief, whom she has served for many years.

Lilly is manipulated, by The Professor and Roc, into setting in the front passenger seat of the electric cart, next to Ellie. Roc and The Professor then sit in the back seats. The Professor is seated in the left rear seat, to balance the weight with Lilly in the right front seat. The factory tour revives Lilly. She stares down at the cart and wonders what the electric motor uses for bearings, and how the ride could be so smooth and quiet. Indeed, so quiet that none of the workers can hear Ellie driving up behind them, so Ellie has to be careful not to hit any of them, occasionally beeping the cart’s horn. Lilly is ever interested in technical things so she is fascinated by the numerous large machines they see throughout the factory, designed to quickly produce large quantities of items for mass distribution, and eventual sale, to the people of the world.

Of course, Lilly cannot resist sneaking glances at Ellie. Ellie is sitting straight and beautiful, as she narrates the tour. Lilly looks down at herself, reflecting, Roc dressed me in the best clothes that I have that still fit me. Lilly is wearing a simple solid color pink blouse and a pink skirt. But Lilly’s jacket dates to before her pregnancy and it barely fits over her broad shoulders and there is no way that it can be closed in the front, over Lilly’s large chest, in contrast to the sharp, thin, middle-aged, fox-driver. I wonder if I can look as good when I am her age?

The plant produces a large variety of consumer and industrial goods. Lilly snickers, Production equipment producing production equipment! Lilly’s sees where arc welders similar to hers are being fabricated. The sleek new models make her old welder look as obsolete as she knows it is.

After driving around the huge factory, they pull in to the cafeteria parking lot and walk in to a large, modern eating area. The food service is in the back and workers are walking out holding trays of food. Everything looks and smells good. As the group is filing in to the food service area, Ellie motions to Lilly and whispers to her, “Come to my office when you finish here.” “Alone.” “I have something for you.”

The group makes small talk over lunch, to avoid sharing the big events with the larger world just yet. They then walk back to the conference room to continue the meeting. The Professor begins, “Chief, I have a favor to ask,” “do you have a place where Lilly can stay for a while, away from all of the public attention she has been getting?” The Chief acts as if this is no problem, “We have suites and guest houses where people stay while they are working here.” “Lilly, do you mind staying in one of the factory guest suites for a while? They are close to your dedicated work area, this allows you to start working on your ideas immediately, or any time you want.” “Theses suites will also you get you away from unwanted public attention as they are inside the factory grounds, and the factory closed to the public.” “Of course your family can visit you here and you are free to leave at any time,” “but you are welcome to stay with us here, until the commotion dies down.” “Ellie will bring you, or buy you, any personal items you need or would like.” “All of your living expenses will be paid, for as long as you stay with us.” “And you will immediately be paid an hourly consulting fee for all of your time here.” “Of course, this would be in addition to your licensing royalty, that will be paid from sales, once your inventions are sold.” “I’ll have the papers drawn up so you can review the contract.” “You should have the contract proposal reviewed by a contract specialist though.”

Lilly is thinking, I should rope one of those weaselly-lawyer customers from Rod’s restaurant into taking a look at my contract, rather than looking at my butt!

Trish is a business accounting specialist, I’ll ask her to look at the contract too.

“I think I have people to help me review your contract proposal.” Lilly, at last, smiles with some confidence.

Lilly looks at Roc and shakes her head, “I will start staying here tonight.” “My coming and going from home is too disruptive, for you and the kids,” “but bring them with you on the next visit, so they won’t forget that they have a mother.” Roc nods, as he has already lost his argument with Lilly about this arrangement.

Scene 4. Employee

Roc and The Professor both stand up to end the meeting. They both give parting words to The Chief and depart, leaving Lilly to face Ellie and The Chief, alone. She looks at them and then holds her head from both sides, distraught again. The Chief then speaks, “We can start any time you are ready.” “If you would like to rest now, Ellie will show you to your quarters.” “We don’t have to do anything until you are ready.” “I know you were upset on the day of the presentation, so we will be checking up on you periodically, to see if you’re okay.” “You are also welcome to explore the factory, but it is necessary to have someone escort you, many areas here are very dangerous, as you saw. These areas require safety equipment to be worn to enter.”

“Ellie, Please show Lilly to her suite and see if she finds it satisfactory.”

Ellie, gestures to Lilly and they walk out together. Once out of earshot of The Chief, Lilly looks at Ellie as they walk, “What did you want to talk about?” Ellie smiles, looking kindly at Lilly, despite her sharp fox features, “Let’s go by my office.”

Elle’s office is very large, with a large desk at one end, bare except for a green blotter, a pen holder and a clock. There are also several workstations in the room, These all have papers and items that are likely prototypes of products. The workstations were left with the daily work still in progress. Lilly observes, It is at these workstations where she really works.

Ellie motions for Lilly to take a seat. Ellie looks around to the different chairs and picks a relatively large, wheeled, secretary chair for Lilly. The fat-person chair?

Ellie then walks to her desk and opens a drawer and takes out a small card. She then walks to a locker and pulls out a hard-hat and a reflective vest. “Try on the hard-hat and see if it fits over your horns. I only have this one and it is for a Minotaur. You will need to wear it on any factory floor. The vest is for walking outside on the roads and walkways, to avoid being run over, especially at night.” “We really need those new lights of yours around here.” “Use this temporary card for the cafeteria and for entering restricted areas.” “Just show this card to the guard.” “Have them call me if there are any problems.” Security will issue you a photo-badge tomorrow.”

Ellie then pulls around another wheeled chair and sits facing Lilly, “I would really like to know more about you and how you ended up here.” “Once you are comfortable, maybe we could share some stories.” “I would like do ‘women talk’ once in a while. Most everyone here is male, and while it is fun to tease them, I miss the companionship of other women.” “There is so much that men just don’t see or care about.”

Lilly reflects, I would rather discuss my crazy dreams than confess my female activities, especially to someone I have just met. Let’s see, it’s either the Psych-Squad or prison...

Lilly remains silent and Ellie does not push it. Ellie stands, “Let me show you to one of the suites and see if it is to you liking.” “I know it isn’t home, but maybe it will do for now.” “I can get you some decor items if you choose to personalize it.” They walk up several flights of stairs. The stairway access door leads to a long hallway. The hallway has a row of identical doors resembling a hotel hallway. Ellie produces a key and unlocks the first door, “This is where guests to the facility stay if they don’t want to stay at a hotel in town.” Lilly looks around the room. The room has a 'suite' type layout and is set up to hold small meetings. The living room has a small table with four padded chairs, one on each side, and several more chairs along the wall. The suite has a small kitchen alcove in the back of the meeting room and a door leading to the front bathroom. The bedroom is a door off to the side, with its own bathroom and a large walk-in closet. The bedroom has a king-sized bed, has a moderate sized desk and a dresser. Wow, this suite is almost a big as my master apartment. Lilly nods approval to Ellie, “I’ll have Roc send over my things.” “Already done.” There is a knock at the door, an attendant sets several large suitcases into the room. I guess Roc is still mad at me for arguing with him and he has finally shipped me off!

Ellie continues, “The cafeteria has breakfast after 7:00 am, you can call and have anything brought up to the suite.” “Also have the cafeteria send you a menu each week.” “It changes every week with weekly specials.” Ellie then smiles at Lilly, thin and deviously, “In the afternoons, they have a good variety of pizzas!” Lilly frowns, looking down at her substantial form, Is it that obvious?

Ellie gives Lilly her business card with her telephone extension number, along with a large folded map of the factory layout, “If you need anything, or have any questions, please call me.” “Let me know when you want to started so I can arrange for your help from the staff.” “Here is the suite key.” “The suite door is always locked, so don’t lock yourself out!” “If you do, there is an open phone downstairs.” “Call the main switchboard to connect to me or anyone else here.”

Ellie then excuses herself and walks out of the suite leaving Lilly alone. Maybe I’ll call Roc and have him come over and ‘console’ me... I can’t do that, I made a promise not to ruin his life...

Although it is still early, Lilly is exhausted and flops face down onto the bed. I think I’ll order a pizza from the cafeteria. Ellie said that they deliver.

Lilly grumbles again, I hate being alone.

Then she sports an evil grin, But The Professor is ‘fair game’.