↓ Transcript
Emily (shrugging): Gods can be slaves, can't they?
Dee: Doesn't matter, because I'm neither. I am Death, nothing more, nothing less.
Emily: I'm sure you qualify as a god. I'm going to look it up. I'll look them both up. Now.
(She gets out the big family dictionary and opens it on the table with a thud.)
Dictionary definition:
slave
/sleiv/ n & v • n. 1 a person who is the legal property of another or others and is bound to absolute obedience, a human chattel. 2 a drudge, a person working very hard. 3 (foll. by of, to) a helpless victim of some dominating influence (slave of fashion, slave to duty)
(The definitions visibly continue but fade out of focus due to being less and less relevant.)
Emily:
Ok, so you're probably not literally a slave.
Dee: Told you so. Lack of autonomy isn't enough.
Emily (turning to a different part of the dictionary): But I swear you count as a god.
Dictionary definition:
god
/god/ n. 1a (in many religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature, human fortunes, etc.; a deity. b an image, idol, animal or other object worshipped as divine or symbolising a god. 2 (God) (in Christian and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe, the supreme
(Again the less relevant definition fades out.)
Emily:
There! You are a god!
Dee: No! I'm not!
Emily: You are superhuman, you've been worshipped... Nature and human fortunes! Look no further!
Dee: No, no, no, because I don't have power over it!
Emily: You do so! You have power, just not a choice!
Dee: No, I -
Emily: If you stopped doing your job, people would stop dying, wouldn't they?
Dee: Yes, but -
Emily: That's power!