Irrational Man

1

Kant said human reason is troubled by

questions that it cannot dismiss,

but also cannot answer.

Okay, so, what are we talking about here?

Morality? Choice?

The randomness of life?

Aesthetics? Murder?

I think Abe was crazy

from the beginning.

Was it from stress? Was it anger?

Was he disgusted by what he saw

as life's never-ending suffering?

Or was he simply bored

by the meaninglessness

of day-to-day existence?

He was so damn interesting.

And different.

And a good talker.

And he could always

cloud the issue with words.

Where to begin?

You know, the existentialists

feel nothing happens

until you hit absolute rock bottom.

Well, let's say that when I went

to teach at Braylin College,

emotionally, I was at Zabriskie Point.

Of course, my reputation,

or should I say a reputation, preceded me.

I hear Abe Lucas is gonna be

joinin' the faculty this summer.

Really?

That should put some Viagra

into the philosophy department.

He's this really interesting guy,

but he looks totally wasted.

I kind of like the burned-out look, though.

Oh, my God, me too.

Well, yeah, and he has affairs

with some of his students, I heard.

- Really?

- Yeah, like full... Yeah.

Abe Lucas is teaching

my Ethical Strategies class

for summer session.

- Have you read any of his papers?

- Mmm-hmm.

He's very radical.

Very original.

You either love him or hate him, really.

Faye Cohen knows someone who knows him,

but she says, he had a serious depression

when his wife left him.

The story is,

she ran off with his best friend.

Really?

'Cause, actually,

what I heard through the rumor mill

was he had a breakdown

when his best friend was killed.

He was a TV crew guy in Iraq

and he got beheaded.

Isn't that gruesome if it's true?

Jesus, I haven't even met the guy yet,

and I'm already jealous.

Jealous?

I love that you're jealous.

That makes me feel desired.

Oh, God, you don't have to worry.

Everybody on campus desires you.

- Oh, come on.

- But I have you.

I don't know, suddenly the thought of you

coming under the spell

of some charismatic professor...

Oh, God, you don't have to worry.

I'm under your spell.

Good. Let's keep it that way.

- Yeah?

- Mmm-hmm.

Excuse me.

Uh, do you know where Jessup Hall is?

Yes, Jessup Hall is that building

over there, the red one.

Uh-huh, all right.

Thank you.

Doctor Reed?

- Oh.

- Professor Lucas.

- Professor Lucas, welcome to Braylin.

- Thank you.

- Are you okay?

- Yes.

- I'm sure you've had a long trip.

- Mmm-hmm. It was, yeah.

- Well, um...

- Thank you.

We've just concluded our spring semester,

and summer's always very active at Braylin.

Uh-huh.

We're all very happy to have you here

in the philosophy department.

Mmm, thank you.

This is it.

Now, the faculty housing

is pretty much spread out,

but, you know, everything you can get to.

It's within walking distance of the campus.

And you're really gonna like Newport.

It's beautiful here, but it gets

a little crowded in the summer.

That can be a drag.

It's a small house,

but it's really comfortable.

Um, right over here is the living room,

and there's a little kitchen that way.

And there's a little dining room

right next to that.

Upstairs...

This way.

Bathroom to the right.

And this is the bedroom.

It's small, but really comfortable.

And there's an office over there.

I think you'll really love

the philosophy department, you know?

It's in this old,

beautiful part of the campus.

And there's a more modern wing,

that's got state-of-the-art

stuff for science,

and computer technology,

if you're into that.

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