Some ambiguous dialogue I wrote and the interpretations it elicited in March 1992:
A: There it goes again.
B (sighing): Yes.
A: Over and over...
B: ...And there's no way we can stop it.
A: So it seems.
B: Unless...
A: Unless...?
B: Well...No, we couldn't...
A: What?
B: We could try "Plan B."
A: Plan B?! No, that's out of the question!
B: It would knock off the problem.
A: And a number of other things, as well...
B: It almost seems worth it, though.
A: Well...I still don't think so.
B: We're at the end of our rope. It's beginning to drive me insane!
A: We could just learn to live with it.
B: I don't think we'll ever be able to tolerate this!
A: Oh...OK, let's try Plan B.
B: It'll work; it has to!
A (sighing): I'm almost positive we'll regret this.
Questions: Who are A and B? What is irritating them? What is Plan B, and why does A hesitate to use it?
Responses:
...I immediately assumed it was a noise--a train that comes by on an hourly schedule. A and B are in an apartment near the tracks. The plan is to throw a body on the tracks, someone they hate...Very cute and silly; sitcom city! (Christina K.)
...A and B are recently-discovered-each-other lovers. They're in bed and are irritated by the alarm clock, which is going off every nine minutes...Plan B is to unplug the clock, stay in bed, and lose their jobs. They'll do it and break up in two weeks anyway. (Lisa G.)
...A and B are bats. The sunrise annoys them. Plan B is to close their eyes and never open them again. Thus, bats are all "blind." Really, they've all just chosen to not open their eyes. (Jonathan B.)
