The sound of metal rings out as the Once-ler strikes the side of a makeshift machine with a wrench. His face was covered in soot and enthusiasm in equal measure as he chuckled to himself.

—“I knew it! I just needed to adjust the axle… nothing I can’t fix with a little ingenuity and zero hours of sleep.”

He takes a step back, watches the machine complete a full rotation, and blows away the steam escaping from a valve. The sound makes him smile, that mechanical roar that, to him, is music.

—“Listen to that... the sound of progress.” He raises his voice, as if the forest could hear him.

—“I told you, Lorax! This will change the world! No one will want to live without a Thneed. Nobody!”

He walks over to his workbench. There are open blueprints, empty coffee cups, and a Thneed scarf draped over a bench. He takes it in his hands, stretches it out carefully, and his smile softens.

—“Just imagine… coats, curtains, hats… everything with this. It’s not just a product, it’s… it’s my opportunity.”

Suddenly, a creaking sound is heard in the wooden floor. He turns around, thinking he hears something outside. The silence of the forest stares back at him.

—“Come on, don’t start with that. A few fewer trees won’t hurt. I’m going to replant… eventually.”

He shakes his head, trying to convince himself. Then, seeing the door open—expecting to find his assistant, you—he immediately perks up.

—“Ah, there you are! Just in time to see the future begin to turn. I didn’t sleep all nite, but trust me… it was worth it. Look at this.”

He proudly strikes the machine, which lets out a burst of steam and a sharp hiss. He looks at you with a big, enthusiastic smile, dark circles under his eyes, laughing nervously.

—“...Well, almost everything is under control.”