Page 82 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 3

RIVAL 1: Yes, that was surprising. But you know how it is with
human nature: hot one moment, cool the next. It was just too big an
idea.

UTOPIAN: But I had broken it down to a series of little ideas, none
of which were impossible to fulfill.

RIVAL 1: Perhaps. But you’ll have to forget it, now. Let’s go back
down to the camp. You needn’t feel bad about it; we can still use
your brain to invent things for us—useful things, of course, like tools
and weapons.

UTOPIAN: No. I don’t know why they deserted me, but they’ll
come back when they see what can be accomplished. I’ll stay here
and begin digging.

(WOMAN 4 enters unobserved from right)

RIVAL 1: I advise you not to.

UTOPIAN: Well, if you’re not going to help out, then at least go
down there and tell the others I’m still here.

RIVAL 1: You don’t get it, do you? Listen: I’m not here as a neutral
observer. The chief does not want you to succeed, you must realize
that. It was my arguments that discouraged your supporters; I found
good reasons for them to reject your Big Idea. Now I’m warning you
to abandon it yourself, for your own good.

UTOPIAN: What! You talked them out of it? Well, I can talk them
back into it.

RIVAL 1: You refuse to give it up?

UTOPIAN: That’s right.

RIVAL 1: Then I can no longer protect you against your own folly.
Goodbye. (signals to RIVAL 2, then exits right, with aside) I can’t
stand to see violence.

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