Object
Ralph Offenhouse's Stock Portfolio (Cryonics Holdings)
A personal financial dossier of Ralph Offenhouse: mental images of receipts, account statements, and old stock certificates coalesce into a tangible, urgent object. Ralph reaches for market numbers and demands communication to check holdings; his voice tightens and hands clench as he imagines losses. The portfolio functions as an active, motivating presence in the guest lounge, driving his requests for The Wall Street Journal and contact with banks.
3 appearances
Purpose
To record and evidence ownership of publicly traded securities and related assets, enabling valuation, transaction authorization, and contact with financial institutions to manage or protect investments.
Significance
Serves as the immediate MacGuffin that propels Ralph's panic and need for control—an anchor for his pre‑transfer identity and social power. The portfolio's perceived loss fuels emotional conflict, motivates urgent action, and frames the cultural dissonance between 20th‑century survivors and the Enterprise crew.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used