Making The Floating Opera - Act Four
Francesca is perfectly aware that Todd understands her motives. Both are fully aware of the nature of the game. Todd's goal is to get as much sex as possible for as long as possible, which means doling out his limited capital as slowly as possible. Francesca's goal is to get as much sex and as much money as quickly as possible.
Todd's script is nearly complete, but he's been stuck for a year or so in a quandary: is the novel's ending suited to the theatrical medium?
Pressures are converging on Todd to resolve this plot dilemma and complete the script. The financial juggling he's been doing to keep the family afloat has run its course - disaster is only a few months away. His father nags about Todd's willful failure as a provider and sends Todd revisions of his will, with Todd's inheritance conditioned on stranger and more specific provisions and conditions. Francesca makes veiled threats.
On the other hand, a theatrical agent has, at long last, expressed interest in the Floating Opera script. A sale of the script is a ray of hope for Todd and the Mavette family - financial relief and the launch of a new career.
The doctor and Todd have been walking down the reasoning at the end of which lies Todd's cup of hemlock. The morning after one of these sessions, Todd awakens with the solution: suicide.
The script, though, is unfinished. Todd wrestles with his plotting dilemma.
In the novel the protagonist, Todd Andrews, exploits a gas lighting system in the below-decks of a Chesapeake showboat to effect his self-destruction - taking the audience, performers, and crew along with him. Todd Andrews sneaks below decks during a sold-out performance, locates the gas cylinders, opens the valves, lights a single burner on a stove and returns to his seat. His presumption is that the concentrated gas will shortly be ignited, blowing the showboat and all aboard it to charred smithereens.
Next, In Act Five: Todd's analysis of his life insurance policy suggests a change of plans.