Scene 14

Flashback. The two girls enter in their nightgowns. GLASS turns away from the present scene to enter into the flashback.

ANGELIQUE

Une histoire! Une histoire, Monsieur!

POUBELLE

Oui! Si vous plaît!

GLASS

English please?

ANGELIQUE

Please a story, Monsieur?

GLASS

All right, who's turn is it to choose?

POUBELLE

Moi!

GLASS

Then go and choose, Poubelle.

POUBELLE

Any book I want?

GLASS

Any book you want.

POUBELLE

The big one on your desk.

GLASS

It's a biology textbook, Poubelle, hardly a children's bedtime story.

POUBELLE

But you said.

GLASS

Well, it might bore you to sleep.

POUBELLE

It is my turn.

GLASS

Very well, what would you like to read about?

POUBELLE

I want to start where it was open.

GLASS

Very well, let's see here, you've both had your glass of water?

BOTH

Oui.

GLASS

Both brushed your teeth?

BOTH

Oui, Monsieur.

GLASS

Hmm, let's see what we have here. "The heart. The heart is placed behind the lower two-thirds of the sternum and projects—"

POUBELLE

That's not a heart.

GLASS

Yes it is.

POUBELLE

It's wrong. It's ugly.

GLASS

That is a picture of a healthy heart. That's exactly what is inside your little chest, beating away, bum-bum bum-bum—

POUBELLE

Non, that's not inside me.

GLASS

I assure you it is.

POUBELLE

Not me it's not. It's not like on the cards.

GLASS

Cards?

POUBELLE

The ones that Papa gave Maman on Valentine's Day.

GLASS

Oh, real hearts are different.

ANGELIQUE

Why?

GLASS

Because in real life—in real life things aren't quite as… smooth.

ANGELIQUE

I hate this story. Can we read something else, Monsieur? Can we read about the puddle duck again?

POUBELLE

Non, it is my turn. I choose this one.

ANGELIQUE

Pourquoi? It's so boring.

POUBELLE

Because I want to be a scientist like Monsieur when I grow up. Because I want to be just like him.