sjsprWriting

The scene opens in on a cold hospital lobby. It is 3am in the Emergency Center of Mercy Hospital. There a two men in the room. One is a doctor, well-built and tall with a bleached white lab coat. The other is a small skinny man in his pajamas. He has thick rimmed glasses and his short brown hair is wildly going in different directions. Pillow marks can still be seen on his cheeks.

Dylan: Either way, somebody’s going to die.

Doctor: It’s not a sure thing…it’s just…more than likely that that would be the scenario.

Dylan: (After a long pause, looking at the ground) I… I don’t have a decision right now.

Doctor: We wouldn’t expect you to, sir. It’d be good if you could let us know by Thursday. (Slight pause) The sooner the better.

The drive back home is quiet. Rebecca looks out the passenger window, leaning on the door. Her left arm is resting on her stomach.

Dylan: Becca. (No answer) Becca… (Still no answer) We’re gonna have to talk about this eventually. The doctor says we should have a decision by Thursday. Becca? Becca please, baby.

Rebecca: (In a light whisper) Don’t call me baby.

Dylan: What? Oh...I’m sorry… Sweetie, please, talk to me. How are you… how are you feeling? What are you thinking? What’s been going through your mind? (No answer. There is a strange quivering in Dylan’s voice) I want… I want to help. And I really want to hear your voice. Please, Becca. I’m…I’m scared too.

Rebecca: I’m tired.

Dylan: I understand. You’ve had a very long day, I’m sure you’re dead tired--- exhausted. I mean I’m sure you’re exhausted… We can talk about it later, if that’s what you want. I didn’t mean to push things. You know what? You can take a nap right here in the car. I won’t bother anymore I promise, if that’ll make you feel better. Becca? Would that make you feel better?

Rebecca: I feel…I feel terrible.

Dylan pulls the car over on the edge of the highway. He leaves the car running and turns the heater up. He turns and faces Rebecca, who is still staring out the window.

Dylan: I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something. I wish I could say something. Is there anything I can say? (No answer) Becca, please! I’m…I’m panicking here! I need to hear your side of things. I need to know what’s going on. Sweetie, I’m scared too! I don’t know what this means for us, for the future, for the…

Rebecca: (Barely audible) I’m keeping it.

Dylan: Keeping it? Is… is that what you want?

Rebecca: (Wiping her tears) It’s what…It’s what I should want. Right? (She looks helplessly at Dylan)

Dylan: I don’t…I don’t know what you should want.

Rebecca: What do you want?

Dylan: I don’t know what I should want, either. All I know is that…I really love you. And I don’t know if I could let you…do this to yourself…if it means…you know…

Rebecca: Either way, somebody’s going to die.

Dylan: It’s not a sure thing! It’s just more than likely, that’s all!

Rebecca: Somebody’s going to die, Dylan! It’s me or the baby! Me! Or the baby! We’ll never have that family we always talked about! We’ll never have a kid together. And even if we do, I won’t even be around to see her! Watch her grow up, teach her to ride a bike! What can I do about that?

Dylan: I don’t know! Becca, I don’t know! We’re gonna figure this out, I promise. I just…need you to be okay. And we can still have a family one day! There’s other ways, I mean, we can always adopt! Wouldn’t you like that? We can adopt a nice little girl and make a family like we always wanted to? Becca? Wouldn’t you love that? (There’s a long pause. Dylan and Rebecca stare at each other for a long time. Dylan speaks weakly.) Becca, I just need you to be okay.

Rebecca: That’s the decision?

Dylan: Huh?

Rebecca: That’s the decision, I said.

Dylan: Is that…is that what you want?

Rebecca faces the window again. The heater malfunctions for a moment and there is a rush of cold air.

Rebecca: It shouldn’t be.

Dylan: Is it?

Rebecca: …yes.

Without another word, Dylan turns and faces the steering wheel. He gently merges into the highway and the car is silent once again.