Flowers for Algernon

Strauss

BURT. He didn’t do too well on the tests

From a man with a 68 I.Q. you don’t expect the responses youd get from Dr. salk

NEMUR. Its a serious scientific experiment

I know Charlie is not what you had in mind, Professor, for the first of your new breed of intellectual supermen, but most people of his low mentality are hostile and uncoorerative. They’re usually dull, apathetic and hard to reach

NEMUR. He’ll be the first human being to ever have his intelligence increased by sugery

Exactaly. Where will we find another mentally dissabled adult with his tremendous motivation to learn?

NEMUR. What could happen?

I think he does. We explained very carefully when we interviewed him

(charlie in hospital bed, shake Charlie generally)

Charlie… Charlie

NEMUR. Is anything the matter?

The anaesthetic hasen’t quite worn off … Charlie… (slap gently)

CHARLIE. When is the … operation

(laugh) Its all over Charlie (take pulse)

CHARLIE. Over?

Ye. You’ve been asleep eighteen hours (to others) pulse normal

CHARLIE. You done it while I was sleeping?

Yes (stethoscope to esars, cheack charlies heart)

CHARLIE. That’s a funny thing to do

We put you to sleep

CHARLIE. You was all dressed up like the doctors on the TV

(to NEMUR) Respersation normal (move to foot of bead make note)

CHARLIE. Then whut did I need the operation for

So that when you learn something, it sticks with you. Not the was it was before

NEMUR. Just do it.

Id like to check his motor responses. Do you feel able to walk, Charlie

CHARLIE. I could allus walk good

Would you take him for a walk down the corridor, Burt?

CHARLIE. Kin I go back to work soon, Doctor

You want to?

NEMUR. Should we send him back to work

I think. In a few days. He seems perfectly fine

NEMUR. The progress reports?

He’ll have to come to the laboratory after work. I can see him for therapy and Burt can continue the tests. Two hours a night should do it… and the progress reports he’ll do on his own time

NEMUR. After all, he’s had a serious operation

He may be tired for a while but I think, on the whole, its better for him to remain in his own environment. We mustn’t change his life completely.. all at once. He feels at home at the bakery. His friend are there

NURSE. Doctor, may I change the bed?

(Nod)

NEMUR. Suppose he doesn’t want to come for the tests?

Charlie? Charlie will want to. Besides, we’ll pay him. There’s money in the budget for that

NEMUR. We don’t want his friends acting as though he were some kind of freak

Which, of course, is what we may have made for him

NEMUR. That’s not a scientific attitude, Doctor

Forgive me. I sometimes slip back and think like a human being.

NEMUR. will help untold numbers of people

Yes, yes, of course. It just seems that a man’s life is a more delicate thing to deal with then a mouse’s (exit R)