Welcome To Quantum Holidays

CHAPTER 3: THE WORLD TONIGHT

"Good evening and welcome back to The World Tonight. I'm Michael Keller."

The camera focuses in on the news anchor. He wears a serious expression on his chiseled face.

"Stanley Mandeville and his time travel holiday company, Quantum Holidays, have been in the news again, as its holding company, The Mandeville Group, announced record profits today. The news has sparked a strong reaction from politicians and groups from across the world. Reporting from Wall Street is Terry Stanton."

The camera cuts to a man dressed in a heavy raincoat stood on a busy street corner on a cold evening.

"As anticipated, The Mandeville Group posted record profits again this year. What was not expected, however, was just how big they would be. The Group announced to Wall Street earlier today profits of $9.8 billion, up from $2.5 billion last year. The figures confirm Quantum Holidays place as one of the world's largest companies, a little over ten years since it was set up by its President, Stanley Mandeville. While the figures may be good news for the company's shareholders, the success has drawn heavy criticism from some in Washington. Senator Jim Cavendish, spoke from the steps of Capitol Hill, shortly after the announcement."

Footage of an interview recorded earlier that day is played. On the marble steps, a large man with a half-hearted comb over speaks loudly into the two dozen microphones pushed into his face.

"Today, America has glimpsed the true greed of Stanley Mandeville and the Quantum Holidays shareholders. Whilst the rest of the country watches on, he hoards his precious time machines, opening his doors for only the mega-rich who are desperate enough to pay his extortionate fees.

Today, America has glimpsed the true greed of Stanley Mandeville, but I fear that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. I ask my fellow representatives to join with me in breaking Mandeville's monopoly on time travel and let us give this miracle to the American people."

The camera returns to the shivering reporter out in the dark.

"Whilst in the past, Quantum Holidays could count on a strong majority to defend their interests in Congress, in recent months it has seen its block of votes disintegrate as public opinion has slowly turned against the Group. There is now talk of Cavendish and the Anti-Mandeville faction trying to coerce the President into taking action.

But it was not only politicians who disapproved of The Mandeville Group's latest profit announcement today. A small, but dedicated protest gathered outside the New York sales office of Quantum Holidays late this afternoon. The protestors, who call themselves The Time Travel Defence League, held placards and chanted slogans demanding that Mandeville make his time machine technology available to all. They were eventually dispersed by the police, but we managed to speak to one of the protestors."

Amateur footage of the protestors from a wobbly camera is shown. There are two dozen protestors, chanting in unison and parading around the entrance of the building. There is a man with frizzy long red hair and a handlebar mustache, dressed in an ill-fitting cardigan jumper and baggy combat trousers. He stares eerily into the camera.

"He's playing God! That scumbag Mandeville thinks he can decide who gets to time travel whilst he makes billions of dollars."

"So what do you think should be done about it?" asks the reporter.

The protestor pauses momentarily as if dumbfounded by the question. He eventually responds angrily.

"The President should send in the army, that's what should be done. Stick a gun in Mandeville's face, and then we will soon see if he is willing to share his technology with the world."

Once again, the camera returns to the reporter in the raincoat stood in front of Wall Street.

"Extreme words from a small minority perhaps, but the pressure is definitely mounting on Quantum Holidays to open up to the world. Today's announcement of record profits has certainly weakened some of Mandeville's arguments, which are expected to be put to the test next week when he gives an exclusive interview to Caroline Vasquez on Tough Talk.

For now, the shareholders of Quantum Holidays can sit back and watch the money roll in, but for how much longer will they be allowed to keep their monopoly on time travel? Reporting from Wall Street, I'm Terry Stanton."

As Terry speaks, archive footage is shown of Stanley Mandeville attending a business conference. He shakes hands with some fellow dignitaries, makes small talk, and addresses the crowd while the cameras flash. As the report draws to an end and Mandeville waves into the crowd, the camera closes in on him and the footage is slowed down until it eventually freezes on his grinning face.

Back in the studio, the news anchor gives the impression he has been listening intently.

"Thank you, Terry. Now with the weather, it's Kristin."