Scene 7 – Marrissa sits on a doctor's bed wearing a white robe. She looks nervous and unassured. The doctor enters with a clipboard.
Marrissa: (nervously) You have the results?
Doctor: Yes although I don't see why you insisted on having a test. At four months I can tell without one.
Marrissa: (shocked) Four months!
Doctor: (sharply) There were no indicators?
Marrissa: (insulted) NO! If there had been I'd have been here a lot quicker, having the thing sucked out.
Doctor: Mrs. White abortion is not a thing to be taken lightly.
Marrissa: Neither is motherhood doctor.
Doctor: I will have to book you in for a scan in the next couple of weeks. Then we can talk about the possibility of an abortion.
Marrissa: (shocked) Possibility? It is not a possibility doctor, it is a necessity!
Doctor: You must have a reason Mrs. White which myself and another doctor must agree with for the procedure to go ahead. This is not a mess you can pay your way out of. There is a high chance that you will have to go through with the birth/so you had better get used to the idea…
Marrissa: Go through with the birth! That can't happen!
Doctor: You can always have the child adopted.
Marrissa: But my husband cannot know.
Doctor: I was under the impression that Mr. White was aware of the situation. It was him that made the appointment.
Marrissa: He is aware but I need to 'lose' the baby without him suspecting. He needs to think that I've had a miss-carriage.
Doctor: (standing up) Mrs. White I cannot carry on this conversation. Please get changed and on your way out make an appointment with the receptionist for a scan. I can only help you to get yourself physically ready for becoming a mother.
(Doctor exits)
Marrissa: Well a fat lot of use he was!
(A young male nurse enters and starts to clear up the doctor's desk)
Nurse: I hear congratulations are in order Mrs. White (pause) or would it be more adequate to say commiserations? Stitches, stretch marks, crying at night….
Marrissa: (annoyed) Do you have a point?
Nurse: Doctor Nelson will never sign your abortion papers. So you're in rather a stitch right now.
Marrissa: Unless you've got something useful to say why don't you sod off so I can get changed out of this very fetching garment.
Nurse: You don't need anyone to sign your abortion papers. You have the money to do the operation privately.
Marrissa: What's the catch?
Nurse: There are risks, there always are. You could never have children again.
Marrissa: (laughs) That isn't really a risk for me.
Nurse: There might also be other complications.
(Marrissa raises eyebrows)
Nurse: Medical complications. You have to be sure an abortion is really what you want Mrs. White.
Marrissa: (purring) Please call me Marrissa (holds out her hand)
Nurse: (takes hand) My name is Chris, and may I say you lend that fetching garment much class.
Marrissa: How much will it cost Chris, and how long will it take?
Chris: It can be done in a night, but it will cost you £5,000.
Marrissa: Darling I could get a boob job for that.
Chris: Well if you don't pay out you'll be needing liposuction for the excess baby blabber.
Marrissa: How soon?
Chris: It'll need to be as soon as possible. You make your excuses and call me. (he hands her a card and exits)
