questions

...a forest on the outskirts of the light-strung field. The magic show music plays as Sandy is seen running, running; some of the field people follow him in the distance. He calls after someone, as if trying to delay him from leaving. He stands by a clearing, talking to an offscreen strange-looking creature named Og. Science-fiction-like sounds buzz in the background.

SANDY (Gesturing, calling offscreen) Wait a minute! Don't go! I've got some questions.

OG (Offscreen, speaking in a vibrating spacelike voice) We can't breathe your air.

SANDY Yeah, at the rate we're going, we're not gonna be able to either. Do you-you guys gotta tell me, why is there so much human suffering?

The camera cuts to Og, the creature Sandy was addressing. Og is a Martian, wearing a robotlike suit and concealing helmet. Behind him are other space creatures; a large white light, the spaceship, sits near the trees in the wood's clearing.

OG (In a vibrating voice) This is unanswerable.

SANDY Is there a God?

OG (In a vibrating voice) These are the wrong questions.

SANDY Look, here's my point. If nothing lasts, why am I bothering to-to make films, or do anything, for that matter?

OG (In a vibrating voice) We enjoy your films. Particularly the early funny ones.

SANDY But the human condition is so discouraging.

OG (In a vibrating voice) There are some nice moments, too.

[skipping ahead]

SANDY (Gesturing) But shouldn't I stop making movies and do something that counts, like-like helping blind people or becoming a missionary or something?

OG (In a vibrating voice) Let me tell you, you're not the missionary type. You'd never last. And-and, incidentally, you're also not Superman, you're a comedian. You want to do mankind a real service? Tell funnier jokes.

-- Woody Allen Stardust Memories