The Adding Machine

Shrdlu is seated in the foreground, beside a river and a meadow with gentle farmland in the background. Zero appears, looking around himself in appreciation. While at first he appears to be fearful of Shrdlu, once he recognizes him they are overjoyed to see one another. Zero likes their new surroundings, and Shrdlu assures him they are allowed to stay and get comfortable. Zero kicks off his shoes, confiding that the act feels “nuts” to him. Shrdlu explains they are in the Elysian Fields, where only the “most favored” stay, and he is devastated that he has yet to be punished for his wrongdoings. This lack of justice is “maddening” for Shrdlu to endure; he cannot find his mother, and he cannot hear the beautiful music everyone else says they hear all the time in the Fields.

Zero hears Miss Devore calling to him; he is at first afraid it might be his wife, but grows happier to find it’s his old work colleague. She says she’s been in pursuit of him for days, but he couldn’t hear her; she killed herself a few days after Zero was put to death. Shrdlu gives them some space to speak to one another alone, and before long they have confessed to harboring fond memories of one another, particularly centered around the store picnic. On that night, Zero drove Miss Daisy home and they both recall wanting to kiss each other, and fantasizing about getting married while they were adding figures. Daisy and Zero share a first kiss, and suddenly they can hear the music. They begin to dance without inhibition, but while Daisy gains momentum, Zero slows and comes to a stop. 

They dream about life together until Shrdlu returns and shatters the illusion, as Zero becomes uptight about his friend seeing them in a compromising position. Shrdlu is confident they can get married if they wish, but Zero is convinced there’s a catch. He refuses to mix with unrespectable people; he and Shrdlu moan about the quality of the people in the Elysian Fields, who would rather pursue artistic hobbies or daydream than endure a hard day’s work at a regular job. Daisy wants to stay, but Zero announces he must leave immediately. He puts his shoes back on and takes off in one direction while she wanders despondently away from him.