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.

JOANNE

Oh, yeah. It’s kind of hard to miss it when it’s screamed in your face pretty regularly. Did you see what Randall Terry is calling Christians to do? Where’s that clipping? I had to save it, it was so outrageous. Here it is. He wants the pro-life movement “to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good.”

JESSICA

I know. And I’m sorry you have to put up with Christians who are so lacking in grace and love toward their enemies.

JOANNE

It certainly makes it hard for me to see Christians as anything but scary.

JESSICA

I hope you know, though, that most Christians aren’t anything like that.

JOANNE

I used to believe that, but I’m not so sure anymore.

JESSICA

Can I get really personal and ask how you feel about God?

JOANNE

Oh, boy...maybe you’re right. I’m not sure I am ready for this.

JESSICA

Fair enough. I won’t say anything more about it then.

JOANNE

No, wait...I’m sorry, Jessica. I promised that I’d try to stay open-minded with you.

JESSICA

If you’re not ready to get into this side of things yet, I’ll understand, Joanne. It’s really important for you to know that the last thing I want to do is make you feel judged. That’s not my job.

JOANNE

What is your job, then?

JESSICA

Beats me. I’m just an intern, remember? What do I know? But you did say you wanted to talk about this, so I guess that means my job is to listen.

JOANNE

Ooh, you’re good. Ok, listener, you asked for it, you got it. The ugly little story of me and God. You’re asking me to go back a long ways to remember what that relationship was once like. I grew

up in a loving, Christian family. Church and Sunday school were places I felt very comfortable. And I loved church camp every summer. I haven’t thought about those times for so long. I suppose I’ve never really felt like there was a God except back then, when we were a family...

JESSICA

What happened to change those feelings?

JOANNE

I’ve never really thought about this before, but I can see now that that’s when I stopped feeling God in my life.

JESSICA

You lost me, Joanne. What happened?

JOANNE

Oh, it was nothing unusual. My parents got a divorce and us kids were split up between the two of them. It happens all the time, right? Maybe that’s why I never really identified it as being the moment when I stopped caring about God in my life. From then on I’ve never felt the kind of peace and fulfillment that I had back then, going to summer camp and being with my family… when we still were a family. I suppose there’ve been moments when I thought he was going to make another grand appearance, but I was never able to make him stay for long. Lately, though...I don’t know what’s going on, but my heart just hasn’t been in my work here. I can’t really explain it...but there’s the answer to your question about me and God.

JESSICA

When you could feel God’s presence in your life, did it seem like he was helping and guiding you?

JOANNE

Yes, I used to believe that he was always there with me.

JESSICA

What do you think about this idea? Maybe he never left you. It only seems that way because you’ve left him.

JOANNE

Yeah, I thought you’d be taking me to that question. I don’t know, Jessica. If that is true, then I’m not sure I can turn back to him. I’m not even sure he’d want me to at this point.

JESSICA

That’s where you’re wrong, Joanne.

(The medical soundtrack comes up again as the lights fade. When the lights return Joanne, Mark and Denise are having dinner together at a restaurant. They are just seating themselves at a table.)

MARK

I don’t know. We’ve never eaten here before, but I heard that the steaks are so fresh the calves are still crying for their mothers.

JOANNE

Oh, Mark, please! Talk about killing an appetite.

MARK

Sorry, sorry...just trying to get more for me.

(To Denise)

When did you say Rob was getting back?

DENISE

His conference ends Sunday, but he won’t be able to fly back until Monday night. So Sam and I are going on a date tomorrow night. There’s some new fright-fest movie he wants me to see.

JOANNE

A horror movie?

DENISE

Hey, if it gets my son and me to spend some time together, I’ll suffer through it. And sometimes they’re a lot of fun.

JOANNE

Probably puts our work into perspective a bit.

DENISE

Yeah, well, that’s one way of looking at it.

MARK

Joanne was telling me about the new intern you found for her. She sounds like quite a kid.

DENISE

What intern?

JOANNE

Didn’t you do the screening on Jessica? I just assumed that you did, but maybe someone else took care of it.

DENISE

I guess they must have, cause I never heard about her. An intern? Are you sure that’s a good idea?

JOANNE

Well, she’s not really an intern. It’s not that official. She’s just doing some observing for her social work degree. She’s got some pretty strong ideas about what we’re doing at the clinic and it’s been...I don’t know...I’ve just been enjoying talking with her. She’s so mature and focused, and while we don’t always agree, I never feel threatened or defensive when we voice our different opinions. I’m not used to that kind of pro-life advocate.

DENISE

Whoa! You’re telling me you’ve got a pro-life intern and someone actually screened her through to you? How in the world did that happen? This is not a good idea, Joanne.

JOANNE

It’s okay, Denise. I like her and I’m going to let her do this. You’d like her, too.

DENISE

Maybe you should try to fix her up with Sam.

JOANNE

Sorry, Denise. I don’t think Sam is quite her type.

MARK

Oh, good. Here comes our waitress.

(Mary enters and approaches their table. She is the client from the first scene.)

MARY

Good evening. Can I get you anything to drink?

DENISE

Gin and tonic.

MARK

I’d like to have a look at your wine list, please.

MARY

Here you are, sir. And for you, ma’am?

(She looks at Joanne, recognizes her.)

Oh, God. You’re the one who... You lied to me.

JOANNE

(overlapping)

I’m sorry. Do I know you?

MARY

No, of course you don’t know me. If you knew me you never would have told me to kill my baby.

DENISE

Honey, this isn’t the place for this. If you have a problem with the choice you made—

MARY

You said it wouldn’t hurt. It’s only a mass of tissue. My boyfriend would be relieved. There wouldn’t be any bad side-effects.

MARK

Please, Miss. This isn’t the place. My wife doesn’t deserve to be attacked like this.

MARY

You’re right. I’m sorry. She shouldn’t have to hear about the baby that cries for me every night. The baby I find outside my window with its legs and arms ripped off.

DENISE

That does it. I’m out of here. Let’s go, Joanne.

MARY

(As Mark, Joanne and Denise hurry out of the restaurant.)

You said I’d be okay...why did you say I’d be okay? Why did you say I’d be okay?

(Lights fade and medical soundtrack comes up. Lights up on Joanne’s office. Joanne and Jessica are talking about the scene in the restaurant.)

JOANNE

That image of her baby in the night...I can’t get it out of my head. Do you really think she sees that every night?

JESSICA

I’m afraid so. That’s what’s in all the literature on post-abortion syndrome.

JOANNE

Can I confess something?

JESSICA

Only if you feel you can trust me with it.

JOANNE

That’s just it. I do.

JESSICA

Thanks. That means a lot to me. So, what’s really on your mind?

JOANNE

I know you might find this hard to believe, but...well, to be honest with you, Jessica, when I started helping out here fifteen years ago, nobody cared that I didn’t have a degree in counseling. I was effective with the clients and that’s all that really mattered. I...uh, I’ve actually kind of avoided the whole post-abortion issue. It’s helped make my job a lot easier. I know that sounds really insensitive, but I guess I’ve just focused on other things. The positive sides of abortion.

JESSICA

The positive sides. Like what?

JOANNE

Like a woman’s right to choose what she does with her own body. Come on, Jess. No matter how you feel about abortion, as a woman, you can’t lose sight of how important that is for us.

JESSICA

When you say that every woman has a right to choose, does that include a woman in the womb? Does she have a choice?

JOANNE

Don’t give me that one. It’s not a human being. It’s not even born yet. It’s nothing.

JESSICA

That’s not what you said yesterday. If it’s nothing, it wouldn’t have a heart. It wouldn’t be beating. Why can’t an unborn woman have the right to a choice, too?

JOANNE

But she doesn’t have a voice. She can’t talk. She can’t tell me anything that she wants. The pregnant woman is the one who’s living with the situation. And if she’s not ready to be a mother, then she shouldn’t be forced to become one. There are just too many factors that can make this a terrible time for that woman to deal with a baby in her life.

JESSICA

But, Joanne, that woman was pro-choice in bed, too. She made a choice to sleep with someone and now she has to face the consequences of that choice.

JOANNE

What about the man and his responsibility? She wasn’t alone in that bed.

JESSICA

Agreed, but he’s not the one who’s pregnant. Why can’t we teach women how to be more responsible for those consequences?

JOANNE

What if the woman was being responsible? She used birth control, but for some reason it failed. Is that her fault? Should she have to suffer the consequences of an accident?

JESSICA

Well...I look at her, long-term. What’s going to happen to her? She thinks she can just cover this up. I mean, pregnancy is nine months, but abortion is forever.

JOANNE

But having the baby leads to eighteen-plus years of commitment for most mothers. And I can’t imagine how hard it would be for a woman to carry a baby for nine months, deliver it and then hand it over to another woman to raise. I think it would be much more difficult for a woman to give a baby up for adoption, than to get an abortion before any kind of emotional attachment can take place.

JESSICA

Oh, Joanne...do you hear what you’re saying?

JOANNE

Yes, of course I hear what I’m saying, I’m--

JESSICA

You’re saying that “I can’t have this baby and give it up, but I can take its life.” It sounds like we’re talking about selfish reasons, rather than thinking about someone else.

JOANNE

Well, maybe the woman has a right to be selfish about her own body.

JESSICA

(after a pause)

I just keep thinking of the woman who has the abortion and regrets it the rest of her life, who carries an empty crib in her heart forever. And the child who’s never given the chance to experience life. Who’s speaking up for her? You’re right when you say she doesn’t have a voice. She doesn’t, that’s why we have to speak for her.

JOANNE

Okay, what kind of life is that child going to have if it’s unwanted to begin with?

JESSICA

Were you a wanted child, Joanne? I mean, did your parents plan to have you when they did? I’ve heard that most babies born today were unplanned by their parents. Two kids are fighting and one

says, “yeah, well, you were just a mistake.” Her sister runs to Mom and asks if it’s true, “Mom, was I a mistake?” Mom laughs and says, “Honey, you were all mistakes!”

JOANNE

Alright, alright, point taken. But what if they’re born into an abusive family situation? Is that really doing the child any favors?

JESSICA

Do you know many adults who were abused as children?

JOANNE

Yes, I know a lot of them. Their childhoods were terrible.

JESSICA

How many of them do you think wish they had never been born? This is an imperfect world, Joanne. We all know that, but does that mean we should continue to kill people because there’s a chance they’ll be unhappy children. Some of the most productive, sensitive, creative and happy people had abusive childhoods.

JOANNE

We’re back to the baby again. That’s all the anti-abortion movement really seems to care about. What about the mother? We know about her. She’s here already...living, breathing, suffering. What about her? Are you going to be there for her when she’s having this baby on her own? Who’s going to help her survive financially and emotionally when her parents and boyfriend turn their backs on her?

JESSICA

Joanne, there are crisis pregnancy centers all over the country that are there for those women every step of the way. If they don’t have someone to be in the birthing room with them, a counselor is there to help them. If they need maternity clothes, the center helps them out. If they need to look for a job, the center helps provide daycare. And the centers don’t abandon the women after the baby is born. They continue to help and support those women and their babies. They even set them up with sponsor families so the woman doesn’t have to spend holidays alone. There are a lot of wonderful people out there, who are putting their money, time and energies where their mouths are. In fact, there are more of these crisis pregnancy centers in America than there are abortion clinics, but the clinics still kill more babies than the centers are able to save because all we ever see in the media are the pro-choice issues. The only pro-life information the media seems to

care about is the action of radicals who have become desperate to end abortions. But let me ask you this, Joanne. If the pro-choice movement is so concerned about the woman, then why don’t

they tell her about the dangers of having an abortion? Aside from the psychological effects of post-abortion syndrome, what do you do about all the women who are never able to have babies when they do want them? You, of all people, should be able to understand that!

JOANNE

What!?

JESSICA

I’m sorry.

JOANNE

How do you—

JESSICA

I shouldn’t have said that –

JOANNE

Who are you?

JESSICA

Please, Joanne…I didn’t mean to –

JOANNE

Who are you?

JESSICA

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

(Jessica runs from the room. Joanne is a mess as she tries to absorb what Jessica has just said. After a moment, Denise enters with a case file.)

DENISE

Knock, knock. I was just looking at the file on the gal from the restaurant and – hey, what’s the matter?

JOANNE

I don’t know. I’m sorry. Jessica and I were just talking and things got a little out of hand.

DENISE

I warned you that she was a bad idea. When did she leave?

JOANNE

Just before you came in.

DENISE

Huh. I didn’t see anyone, but I had my nose in this file. Did you know that there were some complications with –

JOANNE

(going quickly to the door)

Excuse me, Denise, but I’ve got to find her.

(As Joanne leaves the office the scene transitions into a sound-collage of Joanne walking through a park, listening to children playing and mothers talking to their children. She has been unsuccessful at finding Jessica. She sits on a park bench and seems to be going through a painful moment of regret and loss. As the playground sounds build, Joanne reaches a point of physical collapse and the lights black out. The playground sounds are drowned out by the final moments of the medical procedure. It should now become clear that the procedure has been an abortion. Then lights come up on a hospital bed where Joanne is recovering from her breakdown. Mark is with her.)

MARK

Can I get you some water?

JOANNE

No thanks. I’m sorry about this, Mark. I feel fine. They really shouldn’t have called you away from your appointments.

MARK

You may feel fine now, but if you blacked out then I want to be here to make sure we find out why. The last time this happened—

JOANNE

I know, but come on, don’t you think the chances of me being pregnant again are a little too slim? And even if I am, blacking out is a sure sign we’re on the path to another miscarriage. I can’t deal with that again, Mark, I just can’t. Not now.

MARK

Let’s not jump to any conclusions, okay? The doctor should be here any minute. Let’s just wait to hear what she’s learned.

JOANNE

I’m sorry. This has been a tough day to be thinking about something like this.

MARK

What happened?

JOANNE

Maybe later, Mark. I’m way too messed up right now to try and make sense of anything.

MARK

Just let me know when, alright? I love you, Jo, and whatever’s going on, remember that, okay?

JOANNE

Thanks.

(The Doctor enters.)

DOCTOR

How’s she doing, Mark?

MARK

She’s pretty tough, Doc. It takes more than a power outage to keep her down.

JOANNE

I really do feel fine. So what do the tests show?

DOCTOR

Well, let’s just cut to chase, shall we? You two have some big decisions ahead of you.

MARK

What are you talking about?

DOCTOR

(as she backs toward the door)

Oh, decorating before or after. Names. To spank or not to spank.

(Carol exits.)

MARK

Well, score one for you. Is it okay if I smile?

JOANNE

Oh, Mark. How can we even think about this? I’m forty and we’ve already had three miscarriages.

MARK

But you can’t give up hope, Joanne. This could be the one! Please?

JOANNE

I can’t handle this right now. I know you’re right, but what if this one is just like all the others. No, Mark! I will not go through that again. I can’t!

MARK

You’ve got to give the baby a chance, at least.

JOANNE

(trying desperately to convince herself)

It’s not a baby yet. It’s just a tissue, a tiny glob of cells.

MARK

Come on, Joanne. You know that’s not true. If you’re pregnant, then you’re pregnant with our baby and it will never be anything but that. Even if God doesn’t want us to have this baby either, it will still have been our baby. And I will love it just as much as I’ve loved the other three. So please don’t deny our child’s existence. It’s here...now. And we owe it to that child to give it a fair chance.

JOANNE

Not right now, Mark. I don’t know what I believe today, so please don’t force me to make a decision yet.

MARK

Fair enough. Look, I love those kids, but I love you even more. I want us to make the right decision, but I also want you with me on this 100%. You’ve clearly got some things to work out, and knowing you, you’re not going to want much help with it, so take as much time as you want,

know that I’m here to help if you need me, but also know that I can wait until you’re ready. Just let me know.

(He leaves. After a moment, Joanne picks up the phone and dials a number. As the phone starts to ring, the lights fade. The phone continues ringing in the blackout. The lights come up on Joanne’s office. She enters and answers the phone on her desk.)

JOANNE

Hello? Oh, hi, honey. You just caught me. How’s the conference going? Well, at least it’s warm there. Oh, the usual morning sickness, which isn’t helping me make a decision about all this. I know, Mark, but I’m still not ready. I’m getting close, though, okay? I tell you what…you’ll be the first to know. How does that sound? Alright, I love you, too. No, I still haven’t been able to get a hold of her. I keep trying, but apparently she doesn’t have an answering machine and she’s never home when I call. Oh, I know, but I really feel like I need to talk to her. Yes, I will. See you in a few days, love. Bye.

(She gets settled at her desk and starts looking over some paperwork. After a moment, there’s a tentative knock on the door.)

Come in.

(Jessica enters.)

JESSICA

Hi.

JOANNE

Jess! What a surprise. Please come in. I’ve been trying to reach you for days. I wanted to apologize –

JESSICA

No, Joanne. You don’t need to. I pushed you too hard and said things I never should have. It’s my fault. I’m just glad you still want to see me.

JOANNE

Of course I do. Believe it or not, I’ve really missed having you around here. And I’ve got something I really need to talk to you about.

JESSICA

I bet I can guess. There’s a little rumor running around about you…a blackout and a surprise.

JOANNE

You’re not kidding. Big surprise!

JESSICA

So, tell me...How do you feel about this?

JOANNE

Oh, Jessica, I wish I knew. To be honest, before you showed up I don’t think I would have hesitated to terminate. Yes, I’ve wanted a child for a long time, but at my age and with my history of miscarriages, it just wouldn’t have made any sense to continue with the pregnancy. Now, I’m just not as sure as I used to be. So, thanks a lot for turning me into an emotional wreck.

JESSICA

In this case, it was my pleasure. What do the doctors say?

JOANNE

Oh, the usual. There are risks, but they feel like the risks are worth taking. Of course, they’re not the one taking them.

JESSICA

Well, I can understand why this would be such a hard decision for you, but can I ask you something?

JOANNE

Uh oh, here we go. You’re going to be really profound and make me even more confused, aren’t you?

JESSICA

Not if you don’t want me to.

JOANNE

Well, of course I want you to. Why else would I have been trying so hard to get back in touch with you? So bring it on. Ask.

JESSICA

How badly do you want to be a mother?

JOANNE

Oh, boy...How do I explain this one? Have you ever felt like you were meant to be someone or do something and then things happened to change all of that?

(Jessica nods.)

I’ve always felt that way about having a baby, but a long time ago I was stupid and did something that changed all that. When I was about your age, I had an abortion. I think I started working here as a way of proving to myself that what I did wasn’t a mistake. I set out to convince myself and a lot of other women that abortions were a good thing. You know, they call me “tough-as-scar-tissue” Joanne around here. And that’s really how I felt...until just recently. All the years of

working here paid off for me. I was able to numb myself and convince myself that this was all for the best. But somehow the scar tissue has become sensitive again and the pain of lost chances has come back. I want this baby so badly, Jessica, that it would kill me to lose it.

JESSICA

Then don’t kill it, Joanne. If God is healing the scar tissue of your heart, then maybe other things are being healed, too. Wouldn’t it be a tragedy to destroy the gift of a second chance?

JOANNE

God again.

JESSICA

Believe me, Joanne, God knows that you’re sorry about what happened. That’s why you’re getting another opportunity to be the mother you were always meant to be.

JOANNE

I wish I had your confidence that all this was true.

JESSICA

You can have it. That’s why I came to you. But now it’s time for me to leave again.

JOANNE

What? Why? We’ve hardly gotten started together.

JESSICA

(She walks toward the door.)

I’ve finished what I needed to do here. You see, in addition to convincing you to have this baby, I came here to give you confidence in yourself and in God.

JOANNE

What are you talking about?

JESSICA

You can do this, Joanne, because you’re not alone. You’re never alone. You’ve got to trust in that and know that God forgives you. And I forgive you, too…Mom.

(Jessica exits. Joanne has been sitting immobile during these last lines. After a stunned silence, she runs to the door calling Jessica’s name, but she is gone. As the truth of what has happened sinks in, Joanne begins to weep, then gently, lovingly, she places her hands over her stomach. As the lights fade, the medical procedure soundtrack crossfades into the sound of a baby just being delivered and letting forth a cry of life.)