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MAN You interest me; may I ask what we are up to?
ROSEMARY Homer spent time writing the Iliad and the Odyssey – a very early answer to the question which is still being asked.
BION That doesn't answer Man's question. It only stresses the fact that ‘a question’ has always existed and still does – we are animals activated by curiosity.
MAN Or belief.
BION We are questioning ourselves about the nature of our behaviour. There are many answers, included among those from the past – if Rosemary is right – the answer given by one of the world's great poets. But in a particular instance, this instance, we can provide an answer, if not one that satisfies us.
MAN Perhaps there is something wrong with our ‘methods’ of investigation + answer.
ROSEMARY Well, you at any rate (turning to Man) should have some answer. You have upset our way of life. Alice and I have certainly been forced into a situation which we had no say in choosing. You were not obliged to invade our country.
MAN How do you come to the conclusion that I am any more a free agent than you are? It is true I had a choice. It so happened that I was compelled to invade your country, but I was free to disobey orders. I had to decide what to do.
BION You mean you had to decide whether you wanted to pay the cost.
MAN Yes, you could say that; but I did not know what the cost would be either of obeying or dis-obeying.