Changes

Dagny returned to the Taggart Terminal and learned, first of all, that Taggart Transcontinental now operated under the so-called Railroad Unification Plan, under which all the nation's railroads would "work as a team," pool their revenues, and be paid according to the track they owned. Dagny was disgusted with the plan, primarily because it meant that Taggart Transcontinental was essentially stealing from other, more efficient railroads. The cost to the company was that the Director of Unification, one [[Cuffy Meigs]], could peremptorily order service cancellations in order to prepare special trains to haul, among other things, [[grapefruit]].

Dagny returned to the Taggart Terminal and learned, first of all, that Taggart Transcontinental now operated under the so-called Railroad Unification Plan, under which all the nation's railroads would "work as a team," pool their revenues, and be paid according to the track they owned. Dagny was disgusted with the plan, primarily because it meant that Taggart Transcontinental was essentially stealing from other, more efficient railroads. The cost to the company was that the Director of Unification, one [[Cuffy Meigs]], could peremptorily order service cancellations in order to prepare special trains to haul, among other things, [[grapefruit]].

Later in July, Dagny was asked to participate in a special [[radio]] program, hosted by the noted radio host Bertram Scudder, to assure the public that she had not been among the vanished ones, and extol the "noble decision" by Henry Rearden to sign away his rights to Rearden Metal. Actually, she was peremptorially ordered to do so by Lillian Rearden, who said that if she did not appear, then Lillian would reveal to the world that Henry and Dagny had been lovers. Dagny was not surprised, because by that time, she had learned the real reason for Rearden's action: the government had learned, from Lillian Rearden through James Taggart, all about Dagny and Henry's affair.

On that very day, James asked Dagny to participate in a special [[radio]] program, hosted by the noted radio host Bertram Scudder, to assure the public that she had not been among the vanished ones, and extol the "noble decision" by Henry Rearden to sign away his rights to Rearden Metal. Dagny refused. Later that day, Lillian Rearden came to see her. She said that if she did not appear, then Lillian would reveal to the world that Henry and Dagny had been lovers. Lillian also revealed the real reason for Rearden's action: the government had learned, from Lillian Rearden through James Taggart, all about Dagny and Henry's affair.

Dagny attended the program, but decided to avenge herself and Rearden by describing their affair in detail, and telling the radio listeners that Henry Rearden had been forced by blackmail to place his invention in the [[public domain]]. Scudder threw the microphone to the stage when she said that, but the damage was done.

Dagny attended the program, but decided to avenge herself and Rearden. She described their affair in detail. Then she told the radio listeners that Henry Rearden had been forced by blackmail to place his invention in the [[public domain]]. Scudder threw the microphone to the stage when she said that, but the damage was done.

She returned to her apartment to find Henry Rearden listening to the now-silent radio. He thanked her for her performance, and then noted that she had used the "past" (actually, the pluperfect) tense to describe their affair. This indicated to him that their romance was over. He politely asked who the new man in her life was, and she sardonically asked, "Who is John Galt?"

She returned to her apartment to find Henry Rearden listening to the now-silent radio. He thanked her for her performance, and then noted that she had used the "past" (actually, the pluperfect) tense to describe their affair. This indicated to him that their romance was over. He politely asked who the new man in her life was, and she sardonically asked, "Who is John Galt?"