Implied Consent: Act II, Scene III

MARK (to himself): This presentation leaves me with many questions. Perhaps Miss Grummond or Mr. Roberts will be available to respond to my inquiries.

(At this time, MARK glances in the direction of ROBERTS and VICTORIA, and the audience hears snippets of conversation.)

VICTORIA: How can you presume that I truly think the ideas you said I thought?

ROBERTS: Now, Miss Grummond, there are matters we put forth for the sake of image, publicity, reputation, popular appeal, what have you, that do not necessarily coincide with our most earnest thoughts and motivations. But who said that the public has a right to know the innermost recesses of our souls? Keeping our true selves to ourselves is the foremost way in which we can use our right to privacy. And I know that privacy is a notion you are quite fond of... Now, if you will, Miss Grummond, accompany me, for I would like to further discuss the matter of the case...

(ROBERTS and VICTORIA begin to walk off stage, as their conversation becomes inaudible. MARK realizes that he will not be able to speak with either of them at this time. However, simultaneously, a spotlight appears on OSWALD, who is already at the refreshments tray, drinking his fourth consecutive glass of wine. MARK notices him and sees the chance to ask his questions. He quickly joins OSWALD.)

OSWALD (semi-alert): Ah, a fellow wine-lover, I see! Join me for a glass, will you?

MARK (to himself and audience): Perhaps drinking just one glass will convince him that I am a safe companion, and he will answer my inquiries. (To OSWALD) Certainly. (Takes glass of wine.)

OSWALD: Good choice. Nothing like wine to indulge the senses. This is what life's about, after all. We're only on the Earth for a limited time, as we have become aware of all too closely due to this... incident, so why not make the best of it? Enjoy it while we can. Tomorrow never comes, they say, so why not just live for today?

MARK: And would you say that this... enjoyment... is the very purpose of life?

OSWALD: Heck, why not? The past is gone, and the future does not exist. The present is all that we have, all that we can base our lives on. Why not make it as colorful as possible?

MARK: And are you enjoying yours?

OSWALD: Hmmm... maybe... not quite. I like the wine, though, but wine's not enough. I wish I had more... to indulge myself. Perhaps some additional funds would help... but then I'm sure I'll get a few as a result of Trent's fine work.

MARK (shocked, but doing his best to conceal his horror and continue with the questioning): So, how do you plan to indulge yourself once you obtain this money?

OSWALD: Ah, that. Well, I've always been a fan of races, especially when they involve fast cars with powerful engines. But there's also some pleasure I get in seeing those cars fail, be destroyed, explode, have all their capacity burned out of them in one brilliant flame, leaving them as worthless chunks of metal. Or I like to see them crushed, smashed, battered, so that all of those fine gadgets within them get reduced to bits, with none of their fancy design able to do anything to resist its own futility. It's all futile, in the end: life is, things are, and even the very pleasures we pursue are. The only thing we can do to savor these pleasures is to suck as much life out of them as we can, and relish the outcome. So I'd like to organize the biggest demolition derby in the history of the world, buy out all the most prestigious and finest designed cars in the world, have them run loops for a while, then send in a few monster trucks and explosive devices, and... let the fun begin!

MARK: (slightly trembling from horror): And... what else do you plan to do?

OSWALD: Hire some... master musicians: rappers, dancing girls, pop artists. Have them put on a display of enjoying life while singing about how evil life is and how much they hate it. Have them contort their bodies in a way bodies are not meant to be contorted, but in a way that is fun and makes everyone feel good. Also, buy some... fine substances, like the one we are consuming here, perhaps of greater variety than that. Life is a big party. Enjoy it, get lost in it, succumb to it, and above all, waste it all!

MARK: (to himself and audience) What dreadful designs! (To OSWALD) But why... waste anything?
OSWALD: Because, with my money, I have the right to do what I please.

MARK: (to himself and audience) That does not seem to be a proper justification. Some element is missing or applied wrongly. What is it?

VICTORIA (approaches them): Mr. Mark, I have had enough of the company of Mr. Roberts. I would much more readily have yours. Come with me.

MARK: With pleasure. (They depart from the gathering hastily, and MARK does not say any official goodbyes to OSWALD. His acting should display the extent of his absolute astonishment at what he had heard from OSWALD, and his internal struggle to attempt to understand how it is even possible for a human being to harbor such motivations.)

To read other parts of Implied Consent, go here.