Page 56 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 3

If your knowledge cannot be exceeded,
Then in my own way I have succeeded—

You wore yourself out to prove what I guessed;
You’re all sweaty—my hair’s not even messed.

CLOWN 1: Why, you miserable dog! I ought to throw you down
there just to improve your mind!

(RIVALS enter right)

RIVAL 1: Good afternoon, you two. Have you come here to begin
work on The Big Idea?

CLOWN 2: Work? It’s enough work just getting here and knowing
where it is you’ve gotten to.

CLOWN 1: Anyway, work never ends, so how can it begin?

RIVAL 2: Ah, wise guys! Let me adjust their smiles for them, boss!

RIVAL 1: Now, just calm down and let me take care of this, you
hothead. (to CLOWNS) Well, of course I mean real work, hard work:
lifting boulders and hacking down trees and digging holes; much,
much harder than climbing up this hill.

CLOWN 1: Oh?

RIVAL 1: Certainly. How else do you think this place will get built:
by joking it into existence?

CLOWN 1: Say, that’s a great idea! Even bigger than The Big Idea,
and we can do it all ourselves, right now. Quick, tell me: what did the
boulder say about the tree after they were married?

RIVAL 1: Eh?

CLOWN 2: The boulder said, “Whenever he leaves, I rock myself to
sleep.” (CLOWNS laugh)

RIVAL 1: Why, you—

RIVAL 2: (restraining RIVAL 1) Temper, temper, boss.

55