MM opening bills. Diotima lolls nearby. She smokes. br br MM Diotima- br br D What? br br MM Why do prices always go up? br br D (shrugs) Some people say it's natural. br br MM Do you think that's true? br br D Yes and no. The real reason, of course, is.... br br MM What? I'm listening- br br D - gravity. They go up because of gravity. It's a law. br br (silence) br br MM Really? Diotima, I thought gravity made things go down. br If what you say's true, shouldn't things get cheaper? br br D Quelle naivete! You're forgetting one thing. br It's a topsy-turvy world. Gravity used to make things go down. br Now it makes things go up. Prices included. br br MM Hm. Then it has nothing to do with greed? br br D Nope. br br MM Or need to maintain a profit margin? br br D Unh-unh. br br MM Or the singling out of necessities to profit by? br Like food, a roof, medication, transportation? br br D Absolutely not! br br MM Or high overhead, getting passed on to the consumer? br br D Where do you get these ideas? That's just silly. br br (silence; Diotima smokes) br br MM Diotima- br br D What? br br MM Where do babies come from? br br D What a question. Test tubes, of course. br br MM Oh. br br D Why? br br MM Just asking.