DR. HARMON (Tiredly) Welcome everyone. Let's begin today's session. Who wants to start?
PYTHAGOREAN TUNING (Stands, chest puffed out) Well, I started everything, so...
12-EDO (Annoyed) You what?
PYTHAGOREAN TUNING (Ignores 12-EDO) As I was saying... I'm the origin. I represent the purest of harmonies. I rely on the simplest algorithm. I am pure fifths, one with the Logos.
JUST INTONATION (Smiling sweetly) And with the wolves! (Pythagorean glares. JI giggles.) Just kidding, Pyth, you're good! Hey... (Whispers to 12-EDO) ...stop staring at my lattice.
12-EDO (Dismissively) That doesn't look quite useful.
JUST INTONATION (Suddenly sharp) Says Mr. Compromise!
12-EDO (Slumps in his chair) Hey, I've been around for millennia, and only recently theorized... I've served across unknown civilizations, being practical for all musicians. I've sacrificed my purity for music-making. I've been stretched by pianists, bent by guitarists, abandoned by theorists...
JUST INTONATION (Nodding slowly) You are being too irrational.
PYTHAGOREAN TUNING (Lets out a sharp, self-satisfied laugh) Hahaha!
JUST INTONATION (Giggles with him, sharing a brief moment of camaraderie against 12-EDO) Hahaha!
THE OCTAVE (Raises its weary head. It has had enough.) What are you laughing about? I'm the one you should praise! You all take me for granted. Without me, you are nothing. I'm the cycle, the container... I'm the—
SLENDRO (Interrupts with a flat, inharmonic voice) You are just a fetish.
THE OCTAVE (Gasps, offended) Don't speak to me with that tone!
DR. HARMON (Putting a hand to his temples) Calm down, everyone. Please. Let's hear now from 72-EDO.
72-EDO timidly raises a hand.
72-EDO Hi, my name is—
JUST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE (Jumps out of his chair, pointing a finger) Come on! No one even knows this guy!
12-EDO (Jumping to his feet) Let him speak!
JUST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE (Scoffs, leaning back in his chair) What for? You wouldn't hear a difference!
Dr. Harmon sighs, frustrated, and quietly leaves the room.
SPECTRAL CONSONANCE (Appears in a flash of light, holding a chart) (To JND) You don't really know anything!
CATEGORIZATION OF THE CONTINUUM (A shadowy figure with a glowing, spectrum-colored halo appears) (Laughs, a high, unsettling sound) Are you sure about that? Ahahaha!
BOHLEN-PIERCE (Who was quiet until now, jumps) Who or what is that?!
JUST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE (Looks slightly intimidated) He who knows when a difference means anything...
BOHLEN-PIERCE (Gets up and heads for the door) I'm outta here.
THE OCTAVE Can I go with you?
BOHLEN-PIERCE (Pauses at the door) Mmm, I'm going in a different direction.
CATEGORIZATION OF THE CONTINUUM (Laughs, its halo pulsing) Hey Octave, don't go too far away! Hahaha!
Just as the evil laughter peaks, a new figure enters the room. ART, with a peaceful expression, ignores all of them.
ART (Raising a hand gently) Shhh. Shh. I need silence.
The room immediately falls quiet. Art sits on the floor, picks up a bone, and begins to carefully carve a hole in it.
THE PENTATONIC SCALE (Approaches Art curiously) What are you doing?
ART (Without looking up) Just a flute.
THE PENTATONIC SCALE Need any help?
ART (Offers a slight smile) No thanks.
