“What do you mean, Irene?” asked Judy.
“Because I’d just about decided to do the golden hair wash commercial. That is, I thought if Clarissa used the stuff, she could do the commercial for me. And with all the publicity she’ll be getting, people will be eager to see her. But now that I know that sponsor uses subliminal advertising, I wouldn’t think of working for those people,” Irene exclaimed.
“What’s more, Mrs. Meredith,” Mr. Lenz observed, “if the golden hair wash people don’t give up the use of subliminal advertising, no major network will have anything to do with them.”
“That’s right,” Irene sighed. “And I did so want to be on one of the big networks. It isn’t just the extra money. It’s being able to entertain so many more people—especially you,” she confided with a fond look at Judy. “You won’t see me on your TV at home until I do.”
“It’s a shame,” Judy sympathized. “But you’ll get there sooner or later. And when you do, I hope you’ll repeat Sleeping Beauty.”
“I’d like to,” Irene said, “but how can I unless we find Clarissa?”
Judy shook her head. “We haven’t anything, not even a picture of her for the papers, and so far they haven’t been able to locate any minister named Valentine in West Virginia. Peter says it’s probably not her real name.”
“You’ll find her,” Mr. Lenz said. “But if she goes on the air for golden hair wash, she’ll be giving up more than she can possibly gain.”
“Peter said there were thieves of the mind,” Judy said, “and I’m beginning to understand what he meant. You wouldn’t know it if they flashed those faceless phantoms on a film you had made. It would be their film, wouldn’t it? They could do that—”
“Not without warning the viewers,” Mr. Lenz interrupted. “The public does have that much protection. The technique has been used in horror films, but the viewers have been warned.”