Any time.
Two men begin talking. One is looking for something. The other is reluctant to assist.
J:
(uneasily). I don't know if it is here. Do you see it?
W:
(unconcerned, with his head down). I don't know.
J:
(gesturing). Well, you are looking at something.
W:
Yes, but I cannot describe it to you.
J:
Well, I am in the same place as you. If I describe what I see, can you confirm what I'm seeing? That might be helpful.
W:
(reluctant). I don't know. Maybe.
J:
Come on. All you have to do is say yes or no. Let me know if I find what I am looking for. It isn't that hard.
W:
I guess I could help. I have nothing else to do.
J:
OK, I'll try then.
J:
I see a number of melons. If I tried to gather them up, I could barely hold them together in my arms. One might fall to the ground.
W:
How ripe are these melons?
J:
Just about ripe enough to be eaten. We could eat them tomorrow.
W:
I'm not hungry.
J:
Well you probably will be tomorrow.
W:
I doubt it.
J:
(frustrated). Do you even see the melons?
W:
No.
W:
(still looking at the ground). I still don't see the point of this.
J:
I am trying to find something. Is that so hard to understand?
W:
(confused). Why did you start talking about melons then?
J:
Because that is what I see over there! You don't see them?
W:
I already said I didn't.
J:
(angry). Great. We can't even agree on this one thing. How am I ever going to find what I am looking for? It is impossible! Like pushing one of these melons through a garden hose.
W:
Do you see a hose? I don't see a hose.
Later.
J:
Oh! I remember something!
W:
What is it?
J:
The thing I am looking for! It is about this tall (gestures to W).
W:
Do you know any of the other dimensions?
J:
No. Just this one for now.
W:
How do you that is the height? You could be seeing what you're looking for on its side so its width is the height and now, seeing incorrectly, you have an inaccurate image in your head of what you're searching for. That could hurt you more than it helps.
J:
(defeated). OK, you're right.
Even later.
W:
Yes, finally!
J:
Oh, now you know something. What is it?
W:
I see something!
J:
What do you see?
W:
I see the melons you were mentioning earlier. I guess we weren't actually looking at the same thing then. These melons are quite shiny. I see the light reflecting off of them, the glare.
J:
I followed your eyes to the ground. I knew where you were looking. How did you not see them before?
W:
I guess I was thinking about something else. Or maybe I didn't know what you meant by the word "melon."
J:
(exasperated). How are we supposed to get anywhere interesting if we can't even agree on our initial surroundings? I have a feeling this isn't going to be very productive. I will probably never find what I am looking for.
W:
I still don't see the garden hose. Where is the hose?
J:
There is no hose! That was a figure of speech I used earlier. Some things are real and some things are only language.
W:
I don't follow.
J:
Well, there is reality, an external space we both inhabit simultaneously. I can't communicate directly about this place so I use language to describe what I am experiencing. Language is both visual and oral. (...) Is this even making sense?
W:
Yes. (now excited). Yes! I get what you're saying, finally. So you're looking for something that looks like this? (gestures again to J).
J:
That is close. I think I am looking for something that is more like this. (motions with hands in response to W).
For a number of moments, both are silent, only moving their hands furiously in an effort to communicate.
W:
Oh! I finally get it.
J:
Do you really? Or are you just saying that?
W:
No, I understand. Once you started gesturing, I understood.
J:
So you know what I am looking for? What I am trying to achieve?
W:
If I understand you correctly, then yes.
J:
Do you see it? Can you point me in the right direction?
W:
Towards what?
J:
(annoyed). The thing I am looking for! The one we just talked about with our hands.
W:
Oh, of course. It is over there. (points and smiles).
J:
Where?!
W:
Right over there! You don't see it?
J:
No, I don't. Where is it?
W:
Not the melons, keep looking past the melons. Just look.
J:
(quickly excited). Oh! (now cool again). Well, what do you know, it was right here in front of me the entire time. It is so close. I wonder how I could have missed it.
W:
I know. How did you not see it just then?
J:
How did you not know what I was looking for earlier?
W and J:
(together). I don't know.
J:
Well, at least we can agree on something.
W:
And what is that?
J:
(pauses). You know, I forgot too.
W:
Oh well. At least we both see the same thing.
J:
I'm glad we both see it. Finally.
W:
It took a while, but here we are.
J:
Now, if only we could describe what we both see.
W:
That would take some time, I think.
J:
True. (sighs). It sure is beautiful though, even though we can't describe it at all.
W:
Yeah.
J:
Yeah.
Both are silent again. The crowd moves forward. The two speakers are lost from sight.
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