| Oh, Baby |
| Mark and Pauline are a young recently married couple. In this scene, they rediscuss the possibility of having children, which they have previously decided against. Mark: Late 20's, early 30's. Business man, prioritizes success over family. Cares deeply for his wife but has had some difficulty switching mindsets between work, where he is in charge and it's all about productivity, and home, where he is in a partnership and must work to make someone other than himself happy. Pauline: Late 20's, early 30's. Teacher, spends much of her time making others happy which she sees as the only way to be happy herself. Loves and wats children and family. Tries to avoid confrontation but is capable of taking a stance and holding it when important. Note: Although I've given some pretty detailed character description, don't forget to continue to play with it to fill them out. Pauline: Mark, honey... What do you think about Aurora? Mark: Aurora? What, Borealis? Pauline: No, silly! As a name. For the baby. Mark: (Visibly startled) The baby? What baby?!? Pauline: Oh, oh nothing! Nobody's! (flustered, stumbling) It's... It's just--I mean, Sue's having a baby, and we were just talking-- Mark: (Calming down) Oh. Oh, just your sister. (sternly again) But, Pauline, you shouldn't talk like that; you know how I feel about children. Pauline: (Softly, almost sadly. Placing hand on stomach) Well, yes, sweetie, of course, but-- Mark: But? What's there to but about it? We're just not going to be a kid family and that's it. Pauline: Well, I know, honey, you've told me that but I just don't know-- Mark: What can you possibly not know? We've been through this a hundred times, Pauline! Pauline: I know, I just don't understand why-- Mark: What is there not to understand? We don't want children. We agreed on that. Pauline: (Softly) No, we agreed that you didn't wat children and I wanted to make you happy. Mark: What are you saying, Pauline? Pauline: I'm saying that I don't understand why you hate kids. (Becoming angry) Mark: I don't hate kids Pauline, you know that. We just--don't get along. And it would take so much away from us and our lives-- Pauline: We got married so we could start a new life. One we could share. Together. Mark: So? Pauline: So we're a family now. We put each other first. And I think it's just selfish of you to limit that so that you can try to stay young forever and keep living the life you had before. Mark: (Yelling now) That's ridiculous and you know it, Pauline! Look, we're just not having kids. This discussion is closed. Pauline: (yelling, distressed, getting desperate) Well then you'll just have to reopen it! (He turns to look at her, she is almost to the point of tears, her eyes pleading with him for understanding. She turns away under his hard stare. Softly.) I'm--I'm pregnant, Mark. Mark: (Obvious shock, but at the sight of his wife's distress, rushes to her. Comforting.) Hey.. Don't cry, baby. You'll be alright. (Pause. Comforts her.) Don't worry about it. We'll call the doctor in the morning to make an appointment. (She looks up hopefully at this sudden change of heart.) It's a simple operation and in a week or so we can forget about this and just get back to normal-- Pauline: (Pulling away, frustrated) Oh, you really don't understand! I'm keeping my baby, Mark. Mark: What? But we decided-- Pauline: You don't understand! What it feels like--to know... to know that inside of me I have this life... This new beautiful life who completely and totally trusts me, needs me for survival. I can't destroy that. You can't ask me to give up my baby! Mark: Honey-- Pauline: No, Mark. This is one thing I will not give in to you about. I am not giving up my baby! Mark: Look, Pauline... We talked about this. We're just not ready now. Someday, maybe, down the road, we can think about it, but-- Pauline: No. Not someday, Mark. You're going to have to think about this now. I am having this baby. The only thing left for you to decide is whether or not you're going to be there. Mark: What is that supposed to mean? Pauline: It means that if you don't want this with me, then maybe we're too different to make this work. Mark: Pauline, you're overreacting. Please don't do this-- Pauline: Make a decision, Mark. Now. Mark: Why are you doing this to me? I thought you loved me. Pauline: I do, Mark... You know I do. Mark: Then why are you doing this? Pauline: I didn't choose for this to happen, Mark. I didn't plan this. But now that it has... I know what I have to do. And I need to know if you're in this with me. Mark: Pauline--I--I just don't know-- Pauline: Well you're going to have to figure it out. Mark: Pauline, you--you can't be serious about this--You can't really mean-- Pauline: I've never been more serious about anything in this relationship. Mark: (Pause. Weakly, as though he's had the breath knocked from him) Oh my God... You--you are serious... (Long pause. She walks a few steps and turns away from him. After a few moments he follws her and puts his arms gently around her from behind, placing his hands on her stomach.) Honey... I love you... And if this is what you really want, then I want it. And I will stand with you and hold your hand through ever minute of it to make you happy. I'll get up and warm bottles at 2 a.m, I'll have strained peaches thrown at me, I'll change diapers... Anything you want. But please--don't leave me. I love you. And I need you. Pauline: Thank you, baby. Because I don't know if I could do this without you. |