Page 49 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 2

CLOWN 1: Wrong! Now, if it’s not right, what’s left?

HALFWIT 2: Left?

CLOWN 1: Right! Now, what’s wrong?

HALFWIT 2: I feel dizzy.

CLOWN 1: Then it’s time for you to be rotated out. (spins
HALFWIT 2 again; he sprawls against WOMAN 2)

WOMAN 2: Hey, watch out, you clod! (she pushes him against
WOMAN 3, who also pushes him away; he finally falls over and is
picked up by the other HALFWITS; laughter and confusion)

RIVAL 1: You see, he is striking at the roots of power. The others
don’t see how dangerous his Big Idea is. They think they can share
power, as if it were a bunch of bananas.

RIVAL 2: Why don’t you speak out against it?

RIVAL 1: It’s a waste of breath, but I’ll try. (louder) I have a
question!

UTOPIAN: Yes, you back there in the corner: what is it?

RIVAL 1: As you all know, we have a chief down there in the valley.
He is old, and I suppose he didn’t want to leave his affairs in the
hands of others to come climbing up here to this cave. Did you
choose this place deliberately to exclude him—and the other elders,
too? If your Big Idea is so wonderful, why don’t you put it before our
leader and get his support? Or are you afraid he won’t like it?

UTOPIAN: Ah, well, that is a good question. (muttering from
others)

ENTREPRENEUR: Yes, what about the elders? They have the
most experience in dealing with our problems. What do they say?

DEFEATIST: It doesn’t matter what they say.

INTELLECTUAL: Never mind him: he doesn’t think anything will
work, old or new.

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