"Look around. Endless growth forever. Now that we are actually on the very real planet Mars, we don’t need to worry about our energy usage." The astronaut gestures at the windswept cardboard set, with a big wave of their hand.
“Yes. We are the true shareholders… of Destiny.”
A P.A. comes on overhead, and a creaky voice makes an announcement:
“Let’s wrap it up, everyone. Script changes are coming down from the top. We’re not going to fake a Mars landing. We’ve got a new angle. The new instructions are to say that Mars is Chinese.”
The actors stop in disbelief. Frustrated, the director tears up his script. Almost instantly, the grumbling stagehands move in with prop design, wheeling in an enormous Chinese flag and a hammer and sickle plaque.