After wibbling and wibbling over an upcoming scene, and talking to both Jim and Pam about it, I've decided to proceed with a scene I've written, as-is. It involves using Goethe as a sounding-board for Kempelen. We know for a fact that Goethe did see Kempelen's machine (he wrote Charles-Auguste about it) but I have the scene taking place at Kempelen's house -- and it's far more likely that Goethe was only one of the countless thousands who strolled past the machine when it was displayed in Frankfurt and Leipzig during its 1783-85 tour. It's highly unlikely that Goethe was anywhere near Vienna at the time, and Kempelen was old enough that he wasn't really traveling anymore. Still, there's not a historical figure (or character so far in the story) who is better suited for the conversation, and what the scene needs to accomplish: a discussion of the unification of art and science.

So? Screw it. I'm throwing the facts under the bus on this one and going for what the story needs. The audience needs to see the speaking machine demonstrated, the story needs a parry-riposte on art versus science, and von Kempelen needs to get off the self-pity pot. I'm writing historical fiction, so there.

And to soothe my conscience, I've updated the parameters of the About the Story page:

Clockwork Game is a mostly-true story, a dramatization of actual historical events, retold with as little conjecture as possible. I have, however, taken what I consider small liberties to make the story flow more smoothly. I have condensed certain events, and occasionally places, into representative moments that capture the spirit of the story more than the true letter of its history. Some characters, whose names and histories were lost to the predations of time, had to be created almost entirely from whole cloth. Strong--but not ironclad--proof exists for the actions depicted in certain scenes. And, of course, dialogue and personalities had to be invented, based on whatever writings were available.

All this being said, I am doing my best to remain faithful to the facts and personalities of the individuals, and will note any purposeful deviations, and my reason for doing so.

Man, I take this shit way too seriously.

Edited to add: Know what the dumbest thing is? Another week after I wrote this, I deleted Goethe from the story entirely. He's gone. And know what? The story's much, much better for it.