Scene 6

A galvanized tub is brought on stage. GLASS feels the temperature.

GLASS

Colder.

He dumps in more ice and stirs it with a small bucket. The girls enter.

Unwrap yourselves.

They do so and rub their arms to ward off the chill.

Angelique, your arm please?

ANGELIQUE presents the inside of her arm. The doctor takes a blood sample and then proceeds to take her temperature.

Into the tub.

ANGELIQUE

Into the water?

GLASS

Yes, please.

She steps into the freezing water and yelps.

All the way in now. Good, now let the water take effect.

She slowly sits down. GLASS gently wets her hair using the smaller bucket. He is careful not to pour the water into her eyes. He quickly wraps POUBELLE's arm so that he can take her blood pressure. He also takes a sample of her blood. ANGELIQUE has already started to shiver. The two stare at each other with desperation.

Poubelle, do you feel colder?

POUBELLE

Than when?

GLASS

Than when your sister first went into the water?

POUBELLE

Non.

He checks her vitals. POUBELLE stares at her shivering sister and begins to shiver herself. GLASS is right next to her recording his observations.

GLASS

Derma spasms, temperature remains unaltered—a strictly psychological threat.

Both girls begin to shiver violently. GLASS turns to POUBELLE.

How do you feel?

POUBELLE

Not good, Monsieur.

GLASS

Specifically. Faint? Nauseous?

POUBELLE

Splits, are you okay?

GLASS

That's not what I asked. How do you feel?

POUBELLE

Cold.

GLASS

How cold? Numb? Tingly?

POUBELLE

Take her out now. Monsieur, look. She's turning blue.

GLASS

Answer the questions.

POUBELLE

Angelique?

She goes to move but is hooked up to the blood-pressure machine. GLASS reaches out and grabs her arm to stop her. He looks at his hand.

GLASS

Cold sweat!

He writes in his book.

Secretion of a threatened survival. I bet this is full of endorphins, but you are fine, Poubelle. You—

POUBELLE

Arrête!

GLASS

Sympathetic release. Poubelle, your body is reacting as if you were going to—

POUBELLE

Enough! Enough! Help her.

GLASS

Excellent, Poubelle.

GLASS takes a swab of her skin and puts it in a jar. He looks at his watch.

All right, Angelique, time's up.

ANGELIQUE is barely conscious and the doctor has to help her out of the tub. He helps her to the floor and covers her with a blanket. He unhooks POUBELLE, who rushes to her sister and starts rubbing her feet.

No, stay back! There's no blood in the extremities—it's all gone to the heart. Let the blood come back on its own. There she is, good girl. You did very well. That's it. Come back to us. There we go. Let the pink back into those lips. That's my girl.

ANGELIQUE begins to recover.

POUBELLE

Come on, Splits.

GLASS

You'll be fine. You'll be just fine.

He gives her a Thermos to sip from. She begins to perk up.

Poubelle, come here please.

He takes a blood sample from her arm.

Angelique, dear, let's get you hooked up.

He hooks her up and dumps another bag of ice into the water. He looks at POUBELLE.

Your turn.

POUBELLE unwraps her arms and gets into the tub. She pretends to lower herself down. GLASS turns to take ANGELIQUE's temperature.

Now, Angelique. How do you—

POUBELLE quickly jumps out of the tub and runs towards the door.

Damn it, Poubelle! Get back here!

POUBELLE

Non, you miserable old man! I'm not doing anything you say! I hate you! I hate you and I'm not your rat! We're not children anymore and we're not your lab rats!

She opens the door. MAX is caught listening in the doorway.

Qui êtes-vous?

Beat.

GLASS

Control her.

MAX

Dr. Glass?

GLASS

Control her. Get her in the tub. We need these results!

MAX hesitates.

DO IT!

MAX puts his arms around her in a hug position and drags her to the water. She fights the whole way.

POUBELLE

Laissez-moi! Ne me touchez pas! Who do you think you are? Don't touch me! Don't touch me!

ANGELIQUE

Stop hurting her!

MAX

I'm not trying to. Just settle down!

POUBELLE

Non! You get in that water!

GLASS joins them and they lift POUBELLE into the tub. She yelps from the cold. She drags MAX down with her so that he gets a dose of the freezing water.

Now you know! Maintenant vous savez ce que vous faites!

GLASS dunks her head under the water and holds it until she releases MAX's sleeve. She lets go and he continues to hold her head under for a moment longer. He releases her and she comes up coughing and gasping. MAX looks terrified.

GLASS

There we are.

MAX backs away in horror. POUBELLE rubs her shoulder where it was banged against the tub. GLASS keeps his eyes on her in case she tries to get away again.

You do it to yourself, Poubelle. All you have to do is what is asked of you. It would have taken half the time.

POUBELLE sits in the water. She is shivering and miserable. ANGELIQUE is staring at MAX with curiosity.

Oh, and let me introduce you. These are the twins. Angelique, and you've already met Poubelle. Girls, this is Dr. Street. He is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto medical school. He is going to be my assistant.

MAX

What?

The twins and MAX stare at one another.

GLASS

Now, Angelique… how do you feel?