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P.A. When we were last together we ‘solved’ the problem of translating thoughts into action by going to bed. That was a precise solution of a precisely defined … what? It was apparently ‘defined’ by being terminated. But that act defined it – in the sense of ending the discussion. It occurred to me later that we were behaving as if we had become aware of human speech, as a child might become aware that grownups are not merely making noises with their mouths, but are communicating with each other or engaging in some prelude to communication. Such an ‘event’, now used as a free association, can be reviewed in the light of increased experience. The ‘re-view’ can itself be turned to good account.
ROLAND I see what you mean. My complaint is that it does not seem to me that the review is turning our experience to good account.
ROBIN If your discovery, unwelcome though it may be, leads us to reconsider the wisdom of continuing the activity – in this instance, discussion – surely that is a gain.
ROLAND Maybe; maybe not.
P.A. Exactly – maybe; maybe not. That is a risk we have to take. It is the price that we pay for being responsible human beings exercising our freedom to choose. We may choose wrong. I am haunted by the memory of the young officer who, admiring me for what he considered to be my bravery, refused to surrender and was, inevitably, killed. His enemies had no choice except to kill.
ROBIN I remember a young fellow who did surrender. It seemed to me he was in a hopeless position and was right to surrender. He never recovered from the discovery that he saved his life rather than die for his country. I knew him when he was a charming young man – little more than a boy – but after his surrender his capacity
for gaiety was … well, I can only describe it as ‘dead’. He never recovered; he became more and more depressed, introspective and withdrawn till finally he could not stand it and killed himself.
ROSEMARY One of my friends, not very good-looking, couldn't bear to think