Billy
By Mildred Cram, first published in Harper's Bazaar
The most famous man in the world decides to escape from the constant attention and pressure of his daily life.
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Plot Summary
Billy Bates, a young comedian, is the most famous man in the world. Everyone from rural farmers to city denizens know who he is, and he receives constant attention for it. Even on his one-month break before beginning a new contract, Billy has meetings with reporters, photographs, and famous actresses. Everyone wants to be seen with him or get his latest scoop. Lately, the pressure has been building to a breaking point, and now Billy fears that his return to the stage will be lackluster compared to the glowing reviews of his past performances. After a conversation with some fellow intellectuals, he decides to escape to a remote island called Talufa for six months, where none of the residents even know his name. Upon his arrival, he meets a reclusive scientist named La Sainte who has dedicated his time to finding a solution for humanity when they inevitably run out of fuel. Billy’s excitement about being anonymous quickly fades when he realizes the scientist and other native Talufans really have no idea who he is. He decides to prove his fame to them by putting on a comedy performance, and their positive reactions assuage his fears that he is no longer meant for the stage. Billy waits out the rest of his time on the island until a boat full of reporters and photographers returns to fetch him back to the world. Even though he tries to tell them about La Sainte’s important work, they are only interested in his own story, and eventually he gives in to their attention.
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