Scene 9 – Marrissa is wearing white and lying on a hospital trolley. She looks slightly nervous. Chris enters looking smug.
Chris: How did you manage to get away from your husband?
Marrissa: I said I was staying at a friends.
Chris: Will she back up this story.
(Marrissa sits up and looks annoyed)
Marrissa: She won't need to. Eric is hardly suspicious.
Chris: Not even now you're pregnant?
Marrissa: That won't be a problem for much longer will it. How much longer will it be?
Chris: Just half an hour. I have some questions first.
Marrissa: Go on.
Chris: The baby isn't Eric's?
Marrissa: What bearing does that have?
Chris: If he is then perhaps he should have some say.
Marrissa: (laughs) Well he isn't.
Chris: Does the father know?
Marrissa: No and I don't want him to.
Chris: Would he encourage you to keep the baby?
Marrissa: I'm not sure.
Chris: I always thought Ben was the type to have children.
Marrissa: (looking shocked) Ben?
Chris: The gentleman with whom you've been having an affair.
Marrissa: You know him?
Chris: We've just become how shall I say, acquainted.
Marrissa: How?
Chris: That's not really any of your business is it? You have been having an affair with him, haven't you?
Marrissa: You already know the answer, if you've been talking to him.
Chris: So Ben is the father?
(pause)
Chris: (gently) Marrissa (beat) I just want to make sure that you're making the right decision, many women have affairs. If you wanted to have the baby Eric would never know it wasn't his.
(Marrissa grabs Chris' collar and pulls his face towards her)
Marrissa: (said through gritted teeth) I don't want the baby!
Chris: (pulls himself back and straightens his clothes) Well it always pays to be sure darling.
Marrissa: (annoyed) Don't call me darling!
Chris: I would have thought you were used to lots of men calling you darling.
(Marrissa slaps Chris around the face)
Marrissa: (shouting, angrily) Get out, Get Out, GET OUT!
Chris: You're not doing yourself any favours by not facing up to your situation Marrissa. You're pregnant, and if you don't make peace with you're situation then this abortion will haunt you for the rest of your life.
Marrissa: (spitting words out) Make peace! It was your idea.
Chris: If you don't want the baby then an abortion can be the right plan. But only for the right reasons.
Marrissa: (snarling) And what in your opinion are the right reasons?
Chris: Rape. Being too young to cope with a child. Not being able to afford a child.
(Marrissa snorts)
Chris: (quietly) Have you been raped Marrissa?
Marrissa: (insulted) No I have not! If you must know I was having an affair with Ben but that ended months ago. Since then I've had other (beat) liaisons.
Chris: Do you know who the father is?
Marrissa: (quietly) I think so.
Chris: You're unsure?
(Marrissa nods)
Chris: How many have there been?
Marrissa: Two.
Chris: Their names?
(a female nurse enters with the anaesthetic equipment and puts a mask on Marrissa)
Nurse: We're just put this mask on Mrs. White. In a moment you'll start to feel groggy.
Marrissa: Chris?
(Chris takes hold of her hand)
Chris: I'm here Marrissa.
(Marrissa falls unconscious)
