When Marie asked Nick if he’d seen the film ‘Sliding Doors’ he lied. In his defence he’d only caught it late on a Tuesday night, years after its release. Marie continued with a plot summary and tried to explain the idea of alternate universes that fork at important events in your life. Nick had found the storyline a little weak; how was the universe to know which of your life’s events were most important? He continued to listen to Marie’s drawn-out thoughts on the theme. “Imagine if I’d ordered a Fanta instead of a Sprite; it could change everything.”
“That was an important event in your life?” Nick asked.
“If it changes the outcome it must be.”
“I don’t think you’ve really thought this through.” Nick couldn’t help himself. “There are infinite events that happen to infinite things during every second that passes. The possible outcomes are endless. Not only that, in the following second, in each of the endless scenarios, there are infinite new forkings. It’d impossible to comprehend the number of universes that would be created.”
“You obviously haven’t seen the film,” Marie replied to the outburst.
“I have seen the film and it’s shit.”
Marie threw her drink in Nick’s face and stormed out of the restaurant.
“Shit,” said Nick, as the soda fell from his upper lip. “That was Fanta.”
“That was an important event in your life?” Nick asked.
“If it changes the outcome it must be.”
“I don’t think you’ve really thought this through.” Nick couldn’t help himself. “There are infinite events that happen to infinite things during every second that passes. The possible outcomes are endless. Not only that, in the following second, in each of the endless scenarios, there are infinite new forkings. It’d impossible to comprehend the number of universes that would be created.”
“You obviously haven’t seen the film,” Marie replied to the outburst.
“I have seen the film and it’s shit.”
Marie threw her drink in Nick’s face and stormed out of the restaurant.
“Shit,” said Nick, as the soda fell from his upper lip. “That was Fanta.”