For Sale - Silence story
Successful businessman Pennington has an affair in a dingy motel, and is then contacted and blackmailed by a Mr. Briggs, who, in a very business-like fashion, outlines his demands. But it seems that Briggs has underestimated his opponent, and the tables might be turning. Directed by: Peter Sykes. Story by: David Ambrose, based on a story by Don Knowlton.
5 total · 1 choice · 3 major · 1 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| blackmail | choice | The plot of the story is that Mr. Brigg recorded Pennington having an affair in a hotel and then blackmailed Pennington to keep the thing private. In a surprise twist, Pennington recorded his and others' conversations with Mr. Briggs and then turned the tables on that villain. |
| data privacy | major | A point underlined by the narrator was that new technology, i.e. miniaturized microphones, threatened the presumption of privacy in any and all conversations. This was illustrated by Pennington collecting compromising information on Mr. Briggs by hiding a tiny microphone pin in the chair he had used. |
| entrepreneurship | major | Pennington revealed that he planned to leave his executive position at a computer firm to launch his own venture and bring to market a miniature recording device that he'd helped invent. |
| extramarital affair | major | Pennington had an affair behind his wife's back. |
| early computer | minor | A desk-sized computer console, fitted with numerous buttons and topped with three small monitors, was a conspicuous feature of Pennington's office. |