As the country outside staggers through the last years of the Great Depression, we are inside the plush, executive suite of Pinnacle Pictures chief Don Getty-Luce.

GETTY-LUCE: Farnsworth! You're supposed to be working on that picture-and-sound transmission system for me, for Pinnacle Pictures and the country.

Think what it will mean. Live picture and sound from any event, broadcast all over the nation. Live drama and comedy! Bubbly starlets! Think of the money we'll make!

PHILCO FARNSWORTH: My transmission requires a specific template to properly code the signal so the pictures and sound are recognizable on the other end. It's not the same principal as an ordinary camera where you can just open a lens.

It's technical, dammit! Too technical for the likes of you, G.L.!

Besides, our contract gives me complete control over the research end of things, so you try and be happy for once with your 70% of the royalties and leave me to my..er..puttering around!

Not Hollywood's ability to make money but its machinery for creating movie stars has lured Getty-Luce's next visitor, one of dozens of small-town beauties arriving every day, hoping to be plucked from obscurity to stardom!
GETTY-LUCE: Ah, Kynaston, my dear! Ready for your screen test! Bully!