Dr. Magic: Six One Act Plays

Excerpt

From "Dr. Magic"

DR. MAGIC. The Zapper did not hurt you, and it will not hurt your wife. You will be increasing the voltage during the experiment but only in small increments. And only at my instruction.

MR. RINGER. Yes, sir.

DR. MAGIC. Aren't you going to ask what the experiment tests?

MR. RINGER. Uh - integrity?

DR. MAGIC. In more clinical terms the experiment is designed to measure "conditioned immunity." As the mild - very mild - voltage is made to increase by the enforcer, the subject becomes immune to it until, with the final zap, the normal subject feels no more voltage than she felt at the outset. (Pause.) Of course, the subject is also being examined on her integrity.

MR. RINGER. My wife is a woman of integrity, Dr. Magic....If she isn't in one of her moods.

DR. MAGIC. There is no place in a scientific experiment for "moods." Remember, Alex, you too are being tested for moral strength: can you, will you, continue following directions even if your wife begins to imagine that she is feeling pain? For, of course, as I've demonstrated, there is no pain in this experiment.

MR. RINGER. "No pain in this experiment..."