August 5, 2005
Week 14 - Impossible Dreams 2
Episode 5
Powell steps into Celeste's office.
"Um..." he says, "Harry told me to come talk to you about the layout of the Coyote Man story..."
Celeste glances at him and rubs her teeth. "Yes... I was hoping you could offer me some insight into his personality... his motivations."
"Uh... Well, I've... I've been conducting some interviews with people who saw him... but I still don't really feel like I've... like I've got much of a handle on him."
"Surely you must have some indication regarding his mood?"
"His... his mood?"
"Yes, his outlook... his point of view... It's crucial that I have a sense of his spiritual center before I assign a color scheme to the article."
"I don't know about his spiritual center... um... he seems to really believe he's some kind of superhero... I think he's just crazy..."
Celeste stares at him. "Mr. Powell... has it ever occurred to you that the state we label sane is actually quite inadequate for grappling with the quest for a meaningful life?"
"Uh... what?"
"Think about it carefully. Our brains evolved to solve quite specific problems of day to day survival. Cave men and women did not need to concern themselves with questions of ultimate purpose. We, however, at least most of us, in this part of the world, are assured of shelter and full stomachs. We can concentrate on more spiritual matters. Unfortunately, everything about our biological and psychological make up remains focused on how to find the next banana or slaughter another saber tooth tiger." She rubs her teeth.
"Um... but the article is just about Coyote Man..."
"Perhaps Coyote Man has found a way to transcend this..." She spreads her arms. "This mundane reality. Perhaps by overriding his physical brain's normal functioning, he's found access to a superior spiritual plane. Perhaps he's achieved his own kind of enlightenment."
"He's achieved enlightenment by... by safety pinning on a towel for a cape and attacking electrical workers?"
"There are many paths to truth, Mr. Powell. It's not for us to judge." She glances at her watch and stands up. "In any case, my teeth are still quite achy." She begins to walk toward the office door. "If you'll excuse me... I have an appointment with my dentist."