The Masses

Act XX

F22.2: You don't understand. I watched her write it! I know it's all true.

F80.1: You know it's true that she wrote it. You don't know that what she wrote is true.

F22.2: Why else would she write it?

F80.1: Perhaps she simply wanted to. People get bored, you know? The truth is often very plain compared to the fanciful tales people prefer to believe.

F22.2: Plain? The truth is horrifying!

F80.1: Yes, that's one of the fanciful tales.

F22.2: So, you're claiming the truth is not horrifying?

F80.1: Not at all.

F22.2: Then what about death?

F80.1: [mild fear] (slight pause) What about death?

F22.2: I mean, if our idea of what happens after death is merely a fanciful tale then everything we believe is merely a painting on the wall at the end of the road of life to make it look like it goes on forever, which we wouldn't even be able to see if we didn't try to look ahead with our dim foresight. And it is dim or we wouldn't be tricked by our own paltry illusions. And free will is just a positive spin on uncertainty. Or perhaps a mystification of the perfectly causal relationship between feelings and thoughts.

F80.1: Well, that is a bit scary, I suppose.

F22.2: Ah. So the truth is horrifying.

M24.1 (still dead) is removed from the e-garden. M1.11 is inserted, with the cock-harness attached to the cart.

F80.1: Sure, it can be. But it's still plain. It isn't horrifying by default, is my point.

F22.2: Then what about free will?

F80.1: Free will is just a failure to understand why you are predictable.

F22.2: That doesn't mea... wh.. are you seeing this?

M1.11: What is this... feeling?

F22.2: (brief pause) What feeling?

F80.1: Whoah... Did that just happen?

M1.11: Did what happened?

F80.1: A message in the rock just... changed? Or has it always been like that?

F22.2: I don't think so.

M1.11: What message?

F22.2: Ah. Right. You'll need to connect to the rock. Try to imagine an emptiness in your-

M1.11: Emptiness! [lips quiver] That's what this feeling is. I feel like there's an emptiness in my soul.

F22.2: Um. So, that's weird.

M1.11: What's weird?

M80.1: Imagining an emptiness is how you connect to the rock. If you actually feel it without imagining it, well... I don't know how you would connect to the rock.

M1.11: What good would connecting to the rock do?

M80.1: You would be able to see the message that changed (eats an apple).

M1.11: I see a lot of messages. I don't see any of them changing.

F22.2: What? You're already connected to the rock?

M1.11: How would I know?

F22.2: If you can see the messages, then you're connected.

M1.11: Then apparently I am connected, yes.