THE SCAR

Joanne has been working for the past 15 years as a counselor in a women’s clinic. Her life takes a conflicting turn when a young intern named Jessica walks into her office. It quickly becomes apparent that these two women have a special chemistry and a quick friendship is forged. But when Jessica begins probing into Joanne’s past that friendship is threatened. Jessica reveals that she has strong pro-life convictions and is there to change Joanne’s perspective on abortion. It is eventually revealed that Joanne’s abortion 20 years ago was not the simple, pain-free choice she has been leading people to believe that it was. As Joanne faces the fact that she is once again pregnant, she also once again faces the choice that is her right, but that may also prove to be her greatest struggle.

In the final scene, Jessica gives Joanne the hope she needs to go through with the pregnancy – for in that last encounter between the women, Jessica convinces Joanne that this pregnancy is God’s gift of a second chance. She further assures Joanne that she will not be alone and that she is forgiven for her past choices. And then she disappears and Joanne quickly discovers that Jessica had never actually existed, except for a brief time 20 years ago when she lived in Joanne’s womb.

This play attempts to take the audience behind the scenes and into the heart of an abortion advocate. Once there they become witness to both the intellectual debate and emotional journey that lies at the core of this controversial issue.

The Scar has roles for 4 women (2 roles are doubled) and 1 man. The running time for this one-act is approximately 45 minutes.

JOANNE 40, counselor in a women’s clinic

JESSICA 20, an intern

MARK 42, Joanne’s husband

DENISE 35, Joanne’s co-worker

MARY 20, a client at the clinic

DOCTOR

(Mary and the doctor can be played by the same actor.)

(In blackout, the sound of a medical procedure. It is unclear what procedure is taking place, but it sounds fairly low-key. There is a disconnected, dreamlike quality to the sounds, giving the impression of something being remembered. The lights come up in a small counseling room in a women’s clinic. In one chair is the counselor, Joanne. She is 40 years old and has been counseling women for the past fifteen years. In the other chair is Mary, a twenty-year-old college student. She has just learned that the result of her pregnancy test was positive.)

MARY

What do I do now? Joanne?

JOANNE

Huh? Oh, I’m sorry, Mary.

(She consults her clipboard to “re-group”.)

Yes, I’m afraid you guessed correctly. You are pregnant and now you have some big decisions to make. I’m glad you came to see me about it. I’ve had a lot of experience with young women in your situation. Why don’t we start by examining your options.

MARY

I...uh, I’m sorry...I’m still kind of in shock. I mean, I was pretty sure I really was pregnant, but I was still hoping that it was something else.

JOANNE

Why don’t you tell me what you think your choices are?

MARY

I don’t know…I can’t think clearly right now. What do you think I should do?

JOANNE

Well, I can’t tell you what to do, Mary. This has to be your decision. But let’s talk about the options and maybe the path you need to take will become clear to you. Are you up for that?

MARY

I think so. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea…options.

JOANNE

Option number one...you can go ahead and stay pregnant and in 36 weeks or so, you’ll have a baby. How does that option strike you?

MARY

Scary! I’d have to take time off from school and I really don’t want to do that. My boyfriend and I have talked about a family after school, but this is really bad timing. His father just died last week and I don’t think he could handle this right now. Abortion, though...I’m not sure I could do that.

JOANNE

Let’s not talk about that option yet, okay? We don’t want to rule out anything until you know what all your options are and can then decide which one fits into your life the best.

MARY

Okay, so what’s the next option?

JOANNE

Adoption. You go ahead and deliver the baby and then it’s given to a new set of parents. You wouldn’t even have to see it.

MARY

But I’d still have the problems of missing school and having everybody know about this, wouldn’t I?

JOANNE

Yes, but it’s still a valid option and you should give it some serious thought.

MARY

Is there anything else I can do besides, you know…

JOANNE

I’m afraid not, but you need to understand what an abortion can do for you before you make a choice one way or the other. Your life is the most important thing right now and you need to decide what’s best for you. Mary, we can make this problem go away and you won’t have to worry about causing you and your boyfriend any more stress.

MARY

I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know...I can’t kill my baby--

JOANNE

Mary, there’s one thing that’s important to understand. All that the test told us is that you have the potential for a baby, but right now it’s just tissue, a tiny glob of cells and so there’s no baby to kill yet. But if you wait too much longer, that tissue mass will grow and the stress on you and your body will grow, too. That’s why you need to make a decision soon.

MARY

But isn’t it...I don’t know...wrong? The church says that it’s a sin.

JOANNE

Where do you think the church is going to be when you have a baby? Are they going to pay for the food and diapers and day-care? Are they going to help you graduate? They can afford to preach against abortion because they don’t have to live with the consequences of having a baby before they’re ready to have one. You do. Have you talked to anyone else about this? Your parents?

MARY

No way! They’d kill me. Well, I mean...I just don’t think they’d understand.

JOANNE

(gently)

Maybe not…. Well, we can make this go away for you and no one will need to know about it.

MARY

Is it expensive? I don’t have very much money right now.

JOANNE

Well, we’d really like to make it free to everyone. We really would, but there are expenses involved that we need to cover. If you compare this cost, however, to the cost of raising a baby...then this is really pretty inexpensive.

MARY

Does it hurt?

JOANNE

I won’t lie to you and tell you that you won’t feel a thing, but it’s really not that bad. It’s a lot like a cramp, you know, like when you’re having your period. The best news is that you’ll be able to go home in a matter of hours.

MARY

And I won’t have to tell anyone?

JOANNE

This is completely confidential. No one will ever know that you were here. You’ll have a whole new future that’s yours alone. And sometime down the road, when you’re married and ready, you

JOANNE (Cont.)

can have a planned pregnancy and have a baby that you really want, instead of this... I mean, you really need to think about the child, too. Imagine a child not having all the things that you had. Don’t you think that this is really best for everyone?

MARY

You’re probably right, but what about side-effects? Will I have any problems having a baby in the future?

JOANNE

(after a slight hesitation)

You’ll be fine. Trust me. You’ll have such an overwhelming feeling of relief when it’s all over. You won’t have any problems at all.

(The medical procedure heard at the opening returns. When the lights come up and the sound fades, Joanne is alone in the counseling room. She is staring off, lost in her thoughts. After a moment her phone rings, breaking whatever reverie she was in.)

JOANNE

Hello?...Hi, Denise...Sure, come on in.

(After a moment, Denise enters. She is another counselor at the center, younger than Joanne.)

DENISE

So how’d it go?

JOANNE

Fine. The same old routine. “Have the baby? Not me! Adoption? How could I? Abortion? Guess so.”

DENISE

Whoa, what’s wrong here? Where’s the old, tough-as-scar-tissue, Joanne?

JOANNE

I don’t know, Denise. I just don’t know anymore. Something’s not right and I can’t figure out where these new feelings are coming from.

DENISE

I don’t get it. You’re having doubts? You’re the one who convinced me that this was not only a lot safer for women, but was also a crucial factor in preserving their rights.

JOANNE

Yes, but are we really preserving their rights when we …

DENISE

Joanne, the girls who come in here don’t know what’s best for them. You know as well as I do that most of them can hardly take care of themselves, let alone a baby.

JOANNE

All I’m saying is that there are other options. I’m just starting to wonder if this is the right one.

DENISE

Of course there are other options, but do you really want to see a bunch of unwanted, abused, abandoned kids running around out there. And don’t forget about all the progress we’ve made as women in this country now that --

JOANNE

I know, I know...

DENISE

Listen, Joanne, why don’t you call it a day? Get out of here, go shopping, look around at all the women who are doing what they want to do because of us.

JOANNE

You’re right. Of course you’re right. I just need a breather.

DENISE

There she is, folks, back from the depths of anti-abortion hell! Go on get out of here. You’ll see. Things will look different tomorrow.

(The medical procedure soundtrack comes on. When the lights come back up, Jessica, another twenty-year-old student is seated in the client chair. She is very relaxed and comfortable in these surroundings, although there is an air of eager anticipation for the meeting she is about to have with Joanne. After a moment, Joanne enters the room.)

JOANNE

Good morning...I’m sorry, I didn’t realize there was someone waiting for me. I’ve been running late all morning and....I hope you haven’t been waiting long.

JESSICA

Please...don’t worry about it. I just got here myself. Anyway, I’m a good at waiting.

JOANNE

Well, let me get my thoughts together here. I’m Joanne, by the way.

JESSICA

I know. I’m Jessica. And I’ve been--

JOANNE

Jessica, Jessica...I don’t have a Jessica written down for this morning.

JESSICA

That’s because I just showed up. Your schedule was free for an hour this morning, so I was told to come on in and we could meet. Start your day off on the right foot. Someone out there said it was just what you needed.

JOANNE

Okay... But I can’t believe they didn’t tell me about you. Oh well, you’re here now, so let’s go ahead and get started. How old are you, Jessica?

JESSICA

Twenty and I’m a student at the university.

JOANNE

Have you ever been here before?

JESSICA

No, but I’m pretty familiar with what you do.

JOANNE

Which is what?

JESSICA

Sorry?

JOANNE

I’m just curious to hear what you think happens here. What is it that we “do”?

JESSICA

I was told that a lot of women come to you when things get screwed up. That you do your best to help them out. I have some friends who recommended you to me. I’m a social work major with a minor in gender studies.

JOANNE

Really? I wish they’d had gender studies when I went to school. Maybe then I’d understand myself a little better.

JESSICA

I know what you mean, like why is it that I can work so hard to have a tough, determined exterior and fall to pieces when I watch a movie like “A Walk to Remember.”

JOANNE

You, too? I loved that movie. I actually went with a friend who had cancer.

JESSICA

Oh, no! That’s like going to see “Titanic” before you go on a cruise.

JOANNE

Tell me about it! I think we used up an entire box of Puffs that night. Of course, that’s nothing new for me – I can cry over a silly commercial.

JESSICA

Like those Hallmark commercials. I love the one where the son calls home just to say,

BOTH

“I love you.”

JOANNE

That one gets me every time. So have you discovered the answer yet?

JESSICA

To what?

JOANNE

Why we can be so strong, yet fall to pieces.

JESSICA

Oh, not yet, but I’m getting closer.

JOANNE

Well, it’s certainly a popular topic these days. I mean, why we act the way we do, why men act the way they do.

JESSICA

Well, you know what they say…”Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.”

JOANNE

Exactly! Have you read that yet?

JESSICA

Oh, yeah, but I still haven’t figured out what planet I come from.

JOANNE

I know what you mean… it’s kind of hard to lump us all into one group. I’ve got my husband reading it, though. I’ll be interested to see what he thinks.

JESSICA

I wish I had more time to get the full major, but with all the field work and interning involved with our social work major, there’s only time for a minor. But you’re right...you would have loved it.

JOANNE

Well, Jessica, you don’t seem to have much stress about being here today, so let’s just cut to the chase. What makes you think that you’re pregnant?

JESSICA

Pregnant? No, I’m sorry. That’s not why I’m here.

JOANNE

It’s not? Then is something else wrong. I don’t understand.

JESSICA

I just wanted to meet you and see if you’d mind letting me shadow you at work...you know, like an intern.

JOANNE

Well, I don’t know...I’ve never had an intern before …

JESSICA

I promise I won’t be in the way.

JOANNE

… and this is a pretty touchy business.

JESSICA

I’d sign whatever confidentiality forms you need me to. Please? This would mean so much to me.

JOANNE

Well, what would this involve? We couldn’t pay you anything.

JESSICA

Oh, I don’t want any money. I just want the chance to spend some time with you, observing your work, maybe talk about some of the sessions with you. If I’m getting in the way or making you uncomfortable, you just say the word and I’m outta here.

JOANNE

This can be a pretty stressful business at times. We see all kinds of young women in here. Are you sure you’re up to that?

JESSICA

Absolutely. Believe me, I’ve seen my share of stress and I’ve learned how to handle it. I feel really focused about what I want to do and how I want to do it. I just need the experience I can only get by being here with you.

JOANNE

I’ve gotta say that you do seem to have your act together. A lot better than I did at your age. Your parents must be proud of you. Where did you say you were from?

JESSICA

Ah, the question that’s always the death of the party. Sorry, but my parents don’t know anything about me. I’m one of those abandoned- baby statistics...I think. No one’s ever been able to give

me a clear answer to “where did I come from?”

JOANNE

You’re right...that would tend to bring down a party. Well, I tell you what, Jessica, I wouldn’t normally say “yes” to something like this, but I have a good feeling about you. Let’s give it a try and see how it goes. You may be just what the doctor ordered.

JESSICA

I am...and you won’t be sorry. Can I start tomorrow?

JOANNE

I don’t see why not. It was a pleasure meeting you, Jessica.

JESSICA

Thanks. I’m really looking forward to this.

JOANNE

I think I am, too. See you tomorrow.

JESSICA

I’ll be here.

(The medical procedure fades up and the lights fade out. Lights come up on a park bench where Joanne’s husband, Mark, is waiting to have lunch with Joanne. He is reading “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.” After a moment, Joanne hurries on, sees Mark reading, and quietly sneaks up on him from behind. Just as she is about to kiss the top of his head he says:)

MARK

You’re right. This is a great book. I can’t believe I never read it until now.

(Turning to her, he puts his arm around her neck and kisses her.)

JOANNE

How do you always know when I’m here? I didn’t make any noise this time. I know I didn’t!

MARK

Anticipation heightens the senses.

JOANNE

Yeah, right. You probably just saw my reflection in your glasses.

MARK

Another moment of potential mystery, gone. But can you guess what lies in this little lunch bag?

JOANNE

Chicken salad sandwiches, Doritoes and Diet Coke.

(Mark looks stunned.)

Honey, it’s grocery day...that’s all we had left in the fridge.

MARK

You are so good...and chipper! This is a pleasant change. No hysterical women today? No more attacks of “what-am-I-doing-with-my-life?”

JOANNE

Not yet...I just had a nice start to the day. Met someone who’s going to be observing me for awhile, kind of like an intern.

MARK

Really? Since when did you start doing that? I thought the clinic was pretty careful about outsiders.

JOANNE

Yeah, they are, but she must have checked out okay because she’d been sent into my office to wait for me.

MARK

And you’re alright with this? She doesn’t seem like a potential problem?

JOANNE

No, I think she’ll be fine. In fact, I think it’ll be nice having her around for awhile. She’s so young and bright. I don’t know...I felt really comfortable with her. It was like...no, that’s stupid, never mind.

MARK

What?

JOANNE

No. It’s cliched and you’ll laugh at me.

MARK

So? I need a good laugh after reading this book. Come on... “It was like...”

JOANNE

I felt, for awhile there, like a mother. It would have been real easy for me to believe...I’m sorry.

MARK

Don’t be.

MARK (cont.)

(He holds her.)

Listen, we did all we could. You know that. Thinking about “might-have-beens” won’t help.

JOANNE

I know, but all the same...it felt so real, so right. I can’t help it, Mark. Sometimes I get such a strong feeling that my children are out there watching me and waiting for the chance to talk to me like Jessica did today.

MARK

Honey, does thinking about the miscarriages as children really do you any good? Maybe God just didn’t want us to be parents.

JOANNE

I doubt God had anything to do with it.

MARK

Well, you keep telling me that I’m all the child you can handle. So let it go, okay?

JOANNE

I’m trying, Mark. I’m really trying.

(The medical sounds comes up as the lights fade. When the lights come back up, Joanne has just wrapped up a session with a client. Jessica was observing in a corner of the room.)

JOANNE

(at the door, speaking to someone in the hallway)

It was my pleasure. Take care.

(Joanne turns to Jessica.)

So, what did you think? Was it what you expected?

JESSICA

Yes and no. You were very good at making her feel comfortable with you, but I expected that. I guess I was a little surprised by how easily you were able to convince her that she needed to abort her baby.

JOANNE

Fetus.

JESSICA

Right, sorry. Still learning the lingo.

JOANNE

I didn’t necessarily set out to force an abortion on her. You saw us discuss the options and it

became clear that her best option was to terminate the pregnancy.

JESSICA

How can you be so sure that was the best option, though? Don’t some women end up in worse shape after an abortion?

JOANNE

That’s what the anti-abortion movement wants you to think, and yes, they do struggle with their decision after it’s all over, but when you weigh that against what their life would be like if they’d had the baby...well, a baby doesn’t usually go away and bad thoughts usually do...You seem to be having some trouble with this. Go ahead, tell me what you’re thinking. I promise I won’t kick you out of here because you disagree with me.

JESSICA

Are you sure about that?

JOANNE

You’re not going to start screaming in my face, are you? Calling me a murderer?

JESSICA

If I do, then you have every right to send me through that door with a swift kick in the pants.

JOANNE

Alrighty, then…as long as we’ve got the rules laid out, let’s hear what’s on your mind.

JESSICA

Ok, what about the alternatives like adoption? There are huge waiting lists, couples who are desperate for a baby.

JOANNE

True, but it’s a very difficult process finding good parents these days. Would it really be doing the baby a favor to put it with bad parents?

JESSICA

But you can hand-pick the parents who will raise your child.

JOANNE

But think of the effect those nine months will have on a young woman trying to get through school. This is such a critical time in that girl’s life. Having a baby right now could really get her off onto the wrong track.

JESSICA

But you don’t know that for a fact. Lots of women are able to put those nine months behind them, probably a lot more easily than dealing with the after-effects of an abortion.

JOANNE

What makes you say that? I thought you said you had friends who I helped.

JESSICA

Uh, no…I said you were recommended to me as someone I could learn a lot from. Are you sure you want to keep talking about this? I don’t want to seem judgmental and this is obviously a very sensitive issue for us.

JOANNE

Yes, it is...but, to tell you the truth, Jess, I need to hear some of the other side right now, especially from someone who will talk and listen, not accuse from behind a closed mind.

JESSICA

No closed minds here.

JOANNE

I just get so frustrated and defensive when my personal integrity is being attacked. And let me tell you, around this place all I ever get to hear are the party lines that continue to support the woman’s right to an abortion, no matter what.

JESSICA

Nothing wrong with women’s rights.

JOANNE

Well I hope not, otherwise I’d have to take advantage of that swift kick in the pants.

JESSICA

Oh, please, not that!

JOANNE

Ok, so tell me…it seems pretty clear that you have problems with what we do. If so, why are you even here?

JESSICA

You’re sure you want me to answer that? I mean, are you really ready to listen?

JOANNE

I hope so...I want to.

JESSICA

Alright, then, but please keep in mind that whatever I say, it’s not meant as a judgment, ok? I’m in no position to condemn you, Joanne, nor do I want to.

JOANNE

Understood, so tell me already!

JESSICA

Well, it’s kind of hard to get into this subject without coming to some mutual agreements on the sanctity of human life, don’t you think?

JOANNE

Granted. And for the record, I believe in human rights.

JESSICA

But you don’t believe that a … fetus … is a human yet.

JOANNE

Actually, I do. I mean, the medical evidence has pretty convincingly presented the fact that the fetus is a developing human being that feels pain at an early stage.

JESSICA

Then I don’t understand the dilemma you’re in. If you and the pro-choice folks admit that this is a baby that’s being aborted, then why are abortions supported.

JOANNE

We have a fundamental need and obligation in our society to provide women with every means of protecting herself from the things in life that can harm her.

JESSICA

And if a woman believes that having a baby will cause her harm in any way, then she should be allowed to get rid of it?

JOANNE

At its most basic level, yes. But this is old news, Jess. Pro-choice advocates have been defending this argument for over 30 years now.

JESSICA

Then you’ve probably heard the pro-life arguments for children being a gift from God.