Scene 18

MAX is in his room with all of his plants. He is working with a film projector when ANGELIQUE comes in. She comes in quietly and, not knowing how to get his attention, she taps on his shoulder. He jumps.

MAX

You startled me.

ANGELIQUE

Sorry.

MAX

Shouldn't you be in bed?

ANGELIQUE

Not for twenty minutes.

MAX

Oh.

ANGELIQUE

What is all this?

MAX

It's my—it's where I'm doing my experiments. I was just about to—would you mind turning off the lights?

ANGELIQUE does so and we see a projection of honeybees pollinating a field of wildflowers.

ANGELIQUE

Oh, que c'est magnifique!

MAX

You like it?

ANGELIQUE

Oh, oui!

MAX

Well I am glad someone does. We'll see how the plants react.

ANGELIQUE

How will you know?

MAX

By the number of seeds they produce.

ANGELIQUE

It's beautiful.

He goes over to a wild rose he has sitting in a bag.

MAX

Could you help me for a minute?

ANGELIQUE

Oui.

MAX

Great, you can grab a shovel from over there.

ANGELIQUE

Ah, oui, shovel?

ANGELIQUE goes over and picks up a spade. They transfer the rose bush into a pot.

It's almost like being outside, like being at a picnic. I can almost feel the sunshine. It's beautiful.

MAX

Thank you.

ANGELIQUE

Do you like it here?

MAX

…Yes.

ANGELIQUE

Oui? You don't sound sure.

MAX

There's a steep learning curve working with Dr. Glass.

ANGELIQUE

What is the world like?

MAX

I don't feel like I really know.

ANGELIQUE

I don't remember a whole lot.

MAX

I always felt kind of alone.

ANGELIQUE

But that's where all the people are.

MAX

I know but I-I was never very good at meeting them.

ANGELIQUE

Oh.

MAX

That's probably why I like plants so much. I could never calm my patients. I actually made them worse—couldn't calm them, couldn't comfort them. I completely failed at bedside manner. The profs told me that I had better get into research rather than general practice.

ANGELIQUE

Is that why you came here?

MAX

I loved Dr. Glass's articles. I thought if I could find him, maybe he'd take me on.

ANGELIQUE

So you could hide?

MAX

When I got here and found out what he was doing—if he resolves the research, if he identifies human connection, then there could be hope for me. I could learn how to help my patients, I could do my job.

ANGELIQUE

I sometimes feel like that.

MAX

How?

ANGELIQUE

Like I can never do what everyone wants me to…

Beat.

She looks at her hands.

Look!

She shows him her black hands.

Monsieur wouldn't be very pleased.

MAX gets up and grabs a rag. While his back is turned ANGELIQUE tucks the spade into her nightgown. MAX returns and wipes off her hands.

Merci.

Beat.

MAX

Thanks again for helping me

Beat.

Why did you come—

ANGELIQUE

Ah, well, the monsieur was busy and I was wondering if you could give me something for my head.

MAX

It's hurting?

ANGELIQUE

It's better now. It's late, Monsieur will come to check if we're in bed.

She stands up and struggles a bit to hide the spade and runs off stage.