Implied Consent: Act II, Scene V

A Play on the Sanctity of Human Life, in Four Acts

This is a part of Mr. Stolyarov's play, Implied Consent. To navigate through the various parts of the play, go here.

(Enter MARK into a conference room where RAYMOND NEVILLE and EVERETT WALTONFORD are seated, examining stacks of papers and conversing.)

NEVILLE: Ah, greetings, Mr. Mark.

WALTONFORD: Mr. Mark.

MARK: Greetings, gentlemen. I have been to the Grummond Mansion and have become familiar with Trent Roberts' arguments, as espoused in his press conference.

WALTONFORD: What Roberts says to the press may not necessarily correspond with what he will say in court. When one treats ideas as not eternal and immutable truths, but as mere weapons, some of which will work for one audience, others for another, we can never quite be sure if the man really believes anything, much less what he believes.

NEVILLE: We know at least one belief that he holds: his utter and inexcusable contempt for ideas. This is why I see it as necessary to craft a firm set of principles of our own which we will support in argument against any kind of attack that Roberts might devise. Perhaps we may think of Roberts as a mosquito; we never know where he will land to perpetrate his malice, but, if we encase ourselves in a full suit of armor, every one of his attempts will be repelled. Our case must then be, like a suit of armor, impregnable to Roberts' wily maneuvering.

MARK: I have come to learn the arguments you have to offer. This will greatly assist my understanding of the case and my ultimate stance on it.