[Gulliver has come before the immortal Struldbruggs]
Immortal Gatekeeper:
Welcome to the immortal world.
[leads Gulliver to a font in the middle of their chamber]
Immortal Gatekeeper:
This is the source of the life everlasting. Drink from this water and you will never fear death. Never.
[offers Gulliver a dish of the water]
Lemuel Gulliver:
But I have to get home. There's a ship in the harbor. I only have minutes before it sails.
Immortal Gatekeeper:
Minutes? What are minutes? You have no need for such petty considerations here.
Lemuel Gulliver:
[narrating]
I was offered immortality... man's dream. With the fear of death removed, I could learn the truths of existence. I could get riches in wisdom. I could read every book ever written. Study the movements of the planets and the stars. I could watch the rise and falls of republics and kings and from the great depths of my knowledge, offer advice to all. I could do anything.
Immortal Gatekeeper:
Drink. Taste immortality.
Lemuel Gulliver:
Why is your hand shaking so badly?
[he sees a Struldbrugg in the corner coughing up blood]
Lemuel Gulliver:
What's wrong with her?
Immortal Gatekeeper:
Nothing.
Lemuel Gulliver:
What's wrong with everyone?
Immortal Gatekeeper:
Drink the water. You will defy nature.
[Gulliver notices that she is not looking directly at him]
Immortal Gatekeeper:
You will outlive the stars themselves. You'll be like a god.
Lemuel Gulliver:
You can't see me, can you?
Immortal Gatekeeper:
I'm alive! The water keeps us alive.
Lemuel Gulliver:
You're blind.
[looks around the room]
Lemuel Gulliver:
You're all blind!
Immortal Gatekeeper:
No, some of us can still make out shape and movement. We'll never die, that's what matters. We'll never die.
Struldbruggs:
[chanting]
Never die. Never die.
Immortal Gatekeeper:
That's all that matters... cheating death!
Lemuel Gulliver:
No... no!
[runs from the chamber]
