Page 10 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 1

HALFWIT 3: What fellows?

(HALFWITS momentarily assume hand positions of “The Three
Monkeys”—hear, see, and speak no evil)

CLOWN 2: There you have it: it’s here and it’s not here. These are
obviously experts in the local geography, so we should take their word
for it.

CLOWN 1: Fine! Now, why don’t you both go and not go into that
cave?

CLOWN 2: Well, there may or may not be snakes in there.

CLOWN 1: Aha! I’ve caught you out! You forgot that there may and
may not be snakes, instead of, or even as well as, snakes or no snakes.

CLOWN 2: In that case, I’m definitely not going in there.

CLOWN 1: Why not?

CLOWN 2: Because the odds are two to one that snakes are in that
cave, waiting to bite me in the vital parts.

CLOWN 1: How do you figure that, you fool?

CLOWN 2: You claim three possibilities: snakes, no snakes, and
snakes and no snakes. Two of the three have snakes.

CLOWN 1: But two of them also have no snakes!

CLOWN 2: Well, if you prefer those odds, then you should feel fairly
confident about going in there and not getting bitten in the vital parts.

CLOWN 1: Let’s see: three cases, two with snakes and two without.
It looks pretty even to me.

CLOWN 2: Like I said, there may or may not be snakes in there.

CLOWN 1: Bah! You’re too logical. Why don’t we just act on
impulse? Where’s your spirit of adventure?

CLOWN 2: Right! Let’s go!

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