carrier steaming north to the Straits. From that height he could see the earth’s curve across the horizon and the long lines of waves moving toward shore—there was a sense of rhythm and harmony in the scene.
14
Lisa and Marc waited for Ray outside the hall until an usher insisted that the concert was about to begin. Lisa saw Ray slide into a chair near the back between the third and fourth movements of the Schubert. He joined them at intermission.
After the concert they walked across the road to a coffee shop.
“I hated to be late, but I had something to take care of. I really liked the Schubert. Kubric used it as the theme music in Barry Lyndon.”
“I remember that,” said Marc.
Lisa nodded her head, “Must have been before my time.”
“Kids,” said Marc, “high culture is lost on them.”
“But we do understand the use of media. Do you want a critique of your interview on the six o’clock news?” she asked Ray.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Well, I don’t know about the hat,” she said with a broad smile letting him know that what was to follow wasn’t a serious observation. “It makes you look a bit like Smokey the Bear. Initially, I thought I was watching a report on the dangers of forest fires. It was only when I saw the marina in the background that I realized that you were talking about last night’s fire.” Then, modulating her voice to suggest the serious nature of her comments, she continued, “Actually, you projected a convincing image of intelligence and competence….”
“Come on, Lisa,” interrupted Marc, “it was more than image. Perhaps it wasn’t image at all. You’ve got the real person, intelligent and competent, explaining what happened in a clear and thorough fashion—thorough given that we only had a sound bite.”
“You’re really bothered by the idea of packaging, aren’t you?” Lisa asked. “You mentioned it at dinner last night.”
“I really am. I’m bothered by the fact that the packaging is more important than the content. It’s like the label on the side of a potato chips bag that says the product is sold by weight, not by volume. Translation, ‘Don’t be surprised if the bag is half-empty.’ I am tired of elected officials who are half-empty—the top half.”
“Now, Marc,” launched Lisa, “just because I am in the business doesn’t mean I like or approve of the way media is used to package politicians. But take Ray as an example,” she paused and put an arm on Ray’s shoulder, “his media image is important. It’s important that people know that he is bright and competent. If he weren’t projecting those qualities, it would be important for us to help him make those qualities apparent to the viewers. Fortunately, he does all the right things quite naturally.”
Lisa turned to Ray. “Can you tell us about the victim? You were careful to say as little as possible on air ‘pending notification of next to kin.’”
“As I said in the interview, the divers found the body. It was caught in some weeds at the mouth of the channel. Wasn’t a very pretty picture. The body was badly burned, with some deep lacerations from boat props. And his right hand was severed at the wrist. We didn’t recover the hand.”
“Could you identify the body?” asked Marc.
“We had a pretty good idea right from the start. The guy who manages the marina, Jack Harris, told us who owned the boat, and Jack thought the victim had been around most of the day. And the people whose boats were moored near his said they had seen him on the boat in the evening. Once we got the body out of the water, Jack and a couple of other people identified him.”
“So you’re having a problem finding family members to notify?” asked Lisa.
“Earlier we were, but I finally got hold of his brother in Chicago before I came over here. Wasn’t able to reach him until this evening—hate to give bad news by phone, but what can you do?”
“So the victim had no one in
14
Lisa and Marc waited for Ray outside the hall until an usher insisted that the concert was about to begin. Lisa saw Ray slide into a chair near the back between the third and fourth movements of the Schubert. He joined them at intermission.
After the concert they walked across the road to a coffee shop.
“I hated to be late, but I had something to take care of. I really liked the Schubert. Kubric used it as the theme music in Barry Lyndon.”
“I remember that,” said Marc.
Lisa nodded her head, “Must have been before my time.”
“Kids,” said Marc, “high culture is lost on them.”
“But we do understand the use of media. Do you want a critique of your interview on the six o’clock news?” she asked Ray.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Well, I don’t know about the hat,” she said with a broad smile letting him know that what was to follow wasn’t a serious observation. “It makes you look a bit like Smokey the Bear. Initially, I thought I was watching a report on the dangers of forest fires. It was only when I saw the marina in the background that I realized that you were talking about last night’s fire.” Then, modulating her voice to suggest the serious nature of her comments, she continued, “Actually, you projected a convincing image of intelligence and competence….”
“Come on, Lisa,” interrupted Marc, “it was more than image. Perhaps it wasn’t image at all. You’ve got the real person, intelligent and competent, explaining what happened in a clear and thorough fashion—thorough given that we only had a sound bite.”
“You’re really bothered by the idea of packaging, aren’t you?” Lisa asked. “You mentioned it at dinner last night.”
“I really am. I’m bothered by the fact that the packaging is more important than the content. It’s like the label on the side of a potato chips bag that says the product is sold by weight, not by volume. Translation, ‘Don’t be surprised if the bag is half-empty.’ I am tired of elected officials who are half-empty—the top half.”
“Now, Marc,” launched Lisa, “just because I am in the business doesn’t mean I like or approve of the way media is used to package politicians. But take Ray as an example,” she paused and put an arm on Ray’s shoulder, “his media image is important. It’s important that people know that he is bright and competent. If he weren’t projecting those qualities, it would be important for us to help him make those qualities apparent to the viewers. Fortunately, he does all the right things quite naturally.”
Lisa turned to Ray. “Can you tell us about the victim? You were careful to say as little as possible on air ‘pending notification of next to kin.’”
“As I said in the interview, the divers found the body. It was caught in some weeds at the mouth of the channel. Wasn’t a very pretty picture. The body was badly burned, with some deep lacerations from boat props. And his right hand was severed at the wrist. We didn’t recover the hand.”
“Could you identify the body?” asked Marc.
“We had a pretty good idea right from the start. The guy who manages the marina, Jack Harris, told us who owned the boat, and Jack thought the victim had been around most of the day. And the people whose boats were moored near his said they had seen him on the boat in the evening. Once we got the body out of the water, Jack and a couple of other people identified him.”
“So you’re having a problem finding family members to notify?” asked Lisa.
“Earlier we were, but I finally got hold of his brother in Chicago before I came over here. Wasn’t able to reach him until this evening—hate to give bad news by phone, but what can you do?”
“So the victim had no one in
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