Hilary, Viv, Polly and Anne are sitting in a circle facing each other in the centre of the room. Hilary is purposefully leafing through the medical report but apart from the ruffling noise made by the pages there is an uncomfortable silence. Anne makes the first attempt to break the silence.

Anne Matthews:

So you're the doctor who examined Polly?

Hilary stops looking at the report and pushes her glasses upwards so that they are resting high on the bridge of her nose.

Doctor Harding:

I am. Doctor Hilary Harding. How are you feeling today, Polly?

Polly is clutching her mother's arm. She seems to be terrified by the atmosphere in the room.

Polly Page:

I'm fine, weally I am. Now that Mum is here can I pwease go home?

Doctor Harding:

No, I'm sorry but you have to stay here for now Polly. I have a couple of important things to discuss with you. I know you want to get everything sorted out as soon as possible but we need to have a serious chat now that the lab results have been finalised.

Polly's chin quivers and she develops a slight stutter.

Polly Page:

Look� I� I didn't mean it. I don't want Greg to go to jail or nuffink. I� I wanna go home!

Hilary looks tolerantly across at Polly.

Doctor Harding:

The report is pretty conclusive, Polly. There is nothing for you to be afraid of now that your stepfather is safely locked away.

Polly Page:

But it� It was Jenny. It wasn't Greg. You have to let him go now so we can all go home. It'll be okay now that Mum is home, he won't hit me any more. Then Ian won't be mad at me either and everyfink will be fine.

Polly has obviously not taken Reg's words to heart. Hilary sighs and gives Polly a sympathetic smile.

Doctor Harding:

Whatever your little brother has been saying to you, just forget it. He's an immature kid. I know this is a really strange situation but your Mum already knows about what happened to you and she wants you to go through with it as much as we do. If you won't do it for us then please do it for her!

Polly looks across timidly at her mother.

Anne Matthews:

She's right, sweetie. If Greg has been hurting you then I want to see him locked up for a very long time.

Polly Page:

Are you thure, Mum?

Anne gently pats her daughter's shoulder.

Anne Matthews:

I'm sure, honey.

Polly sighs miserably.

Polly Page:

I'm thorry.

Anne Matthews:

It's okay, honey. Just listen to the nice lady then we can all go home.

Anne takes Polly's hand reassuringly. Polly smiles briefly then turns her gaze back to Hilary.

Polly Page:

If everything is okay then why are you all acting funny?

Hilary looks slightly uncomfortable.

Doctor Harding:

We have a lot of serious things to discuss, Polly. Don't be nervous.

Polly bites on her lower lip.

Polly Page:

Okay.

Doctor Harding:

All right. I think we should begin now. Polly, I want to talk to you about the findings of the tests we did yesterday. Do you remember them?

Polly Page:

You mean when you took the blood from my arm?

Polly rubs absent-mindedly at the small puncture mark on her arm.

Doctor Harding:

I do. Now, do you know why I took a sample of blood from your arm?

Polly shrugs her shoulders.

Polly Page:

You said it was for a test. I dunno what sort of test, though.

Doctor Harding:

Well firstly I was testing to see if you had any diseases. Sometimes you can get nasty viruses from sexual activity, especially if the man does not use protection, and I wanted to make sure that you didn't have any. The second half of the test was to see if you could be pregnant.

Anne has become extremely tense. Viv looks across at her and nods her head imperceptibly. Polly clutches her mother's hand with a fearful look in her eyes.

Polly Page:

Have I got a bad disease? Is that why I keep getting sick?

Hilary replies calmly.

Doctor Harding:

No Polly, you haven't got any sort of disease. Apart from your physical injuries you're as healthy as a horse.

Hilary pauses, trying to think of a way to break the news to the young girl.

Polly senses Hilary's discomfort and looks curiously at the doctor.

Polly Page:

Well then why am I sick? There's somefink you're not telling me!

Doctor Harding:

Polly, there's no easy way of putting this.

Polly seems puzzled. Hilary leans towards the young girl and speaks in a conciliatory voice.

Doctor Harding:

I did a test for pregnancy from the samples that you gave me. I'm sorry to say that it came up positive.

Polly gasps in shock.

Polly Page:

You mean I'm going to have a baby? I'm going to be a mother? But� But I can't have a baby! I'm too young. It's impossible.

Polly's eyes widen in horror and she shakes her head firmly.

Doctor Harding:

Well that is what the test told us. If the test is correct then you are several weeks pregnant. The vomiting that you have been doing every morning is almost certainly morning sickness, one of the usual side effects of pregnancy.

Hilary remains calm, composed and professional as she goes through her explanation but a slight tremble in her voice betrays the fact that she is fairly shaken up. Polly snatches her hand away from Anne and angrily glares at the doctor.

Polly Page:

This is all coz of what Greg did. He poisoned me!

Hilary is taken aback by the vehemence in Polly's voice.

Doctor Harding:

You really shouldn't think of it in that way, Polly. The baby is as innocent in all this as you are.

Polly frowns and stares down at her stomach.

Polly Page:

Can you get it out pwease? I don't want to become a mother just yet.

Doctor Harding:

Well you can have an abortion if that's what you want, Polly. In fact, I would recommend that you do have one because of your age and the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy. But you will need to come to terms with the fact that you are pregnant before we can figure out where you are going from here.

Polly considers Hilary's words.

Polly Page:

What's an abortion?

Doctor Harding:

It's a process in which we get rid of unwanted babies. It's a fairly complicated procedure but to put it in layman's terms we would perform a minor operation and cut the baby out from inside you.

Polly narrows her eyes as she considers this course of action.

Polly Page:

Would you take the baby out straight away?

Hilary sighs deeply.

Doctor Harding:

As soon as we could. Generally, the sooner the baby is removed from your body the easier it is for everything to get back to normal. There are several side-effects with an abortion but I really do think that it is the best option all things considered.

Polly gazes at her stomach and thinks this over carefully for a few moments. Eventually, she turns her clear blue eyes back towards Hilary.

Polly Page:

What happens to the baby? I mean, after you take it out where does it go?

Viv and Hilary exchange worried glances.

Doctor Harding:

I'm sorry but the baby dies as soon as we take it out, Polly. The only place it can survive is in your womb.

Polly is deeply shocked by this news. Her jaw drops open.

Polly Page:

You mean they have to kill the baby?

Doctor Harding:

I'm afraid so, Polly. But it isn't a real baby yet. At this stage it's just an embryo so it shouldn't feel a thing. You don't have to worry, it won't feel pain when it dies.

Polly's look of horror intensifies.

Polly Page:

But they still have to kill the baby!

Hilary nods unhappily.

Doctor Harding:

It's not really alive, Polly. Not yet. It doesn't become a proper baby until it is born so you wouldn't be doing anything wrong by having it aborted. You would simply be doing what a lot of women are choosing to do nowadays and saving yourself the difficulty of an unplanned pregnancy.

Polly is close to tears.

Polly Page:

But if you didn't kill it, it would become a baby. So you would still be killing my baby. She hasn't done anything wrong so why should she die?

Doctor Harding:

Polly, you are twelve years old. You are neither physically nor emotionally equipped to handle a pregnancy at this age. No one would blame you for having an abortion in these circumstances. Trust me, it is the best thing that we could possibly do for you at this point!

Polly shakes her head adamantly.

Polly Page:

But you can't kill her! I won't let you kill my baby. Couldn't you just give her to someone who doesn't have a baby?

Hilary wipes the sweat from her forehead.

Doctor Harding:

The only way that we could take the baby out without killing it is for you to go through with the pregnancy. If you went the full term and there were no complications then the baby would be born in about eight months time. But if we take it out now it won't be able to survive on the outside because it hasn't developed enough to live by itself. Do you see what I mean, Polly?

Polly shakes her head slowly.

Polly Page:

Well can't I keep the baby and wait for eight months until it is born then give her to someone else who wants a baby and who can look after her? That way the baby will live and I don't have to become a mother.

Hilary is lost for words. Anne notices this and takes over from the doctor.

Anne Matthews:

Polly, you can't keep this baby. If it really is Greg's child then� No, of course you can't keep it. Stop thinking up these silly ideas.

Polly lowers her head, unwilling to disobey her mother. Nevertheless she refuses to budge.

Polly Page:

But I don't want them to kill her. It's not her fault that she is there. You can't kill my baby because Greg did something wrong, that's not fair.

Anne sighs exasperatedly.

Anne Matthews:

Polly, will you get this into your head? She's not alive yet! I know that abortion isn't a nice thing to have to think about but you can't go through with this pregnancy. It's a ridiculous idea. You have no idea about the amount of responsibility involved in giving birth to a child.

Polly folds her arms.

Polly Page:

I don't care! I don't want them to kill her. I won't let them kill her.

Polly clutches her stomach protectively. Anne tries again.

Anne Matthews:

Honey, it'll be all right. I understand how tough this must be for you to accept but you honestly can't keep this baby. One day you'll realise that aborting the baby was the best thing that you could possibly do.

Anne tries to hug her daughter. Polly pulls herself away and runs across the room to sit in the chair next to Viv.

Polly Page:

I don't care what you fink. You weren't there Mum. It's all your fault that this happened in the first place! You just went off to work and left me alone to cope with Greg.

Anne is stricken to the heart.

Anne Matthews:

I'm sorry but that's my job, Polly. I wish I could have helped you. You have no idea how much I wish I could have helped you, sweetie. You should have told me about this years ago.

Polly Page:

I tried to but you always took his side. You were always telling me that he was my Dad now so I had to do as he said. I never told you about what he did to me because I didn't fink that you would believe me!

Anne's eyes are wet. Several tears trace paths along her cheek.

Anne Matthews:

Of course I would have believed you, Polly! You know I would believe you over Greg any day of the week. I just wish you had trusted me enough to tell me about it, that's all. It's my fault for being such a terrible mother to you.

Polly runs towards her mother's open arms. Anne hugs her tightly.

Polly Page:

I weally wanted to tell you, Mum. But I couldn't.

Anne slowly strokes Polly's hair.

Anne Matthews:

Why not, love?

Polly sobs through her tears.

Polly Page:

He made me pwomise. He said he'd hurt me if I ever told anyone about it. 'Specially if I told you.

Anne keeps hugging her daughter fiercely.

Anne Matthews:

I'll be all right, sweetie. Please don't cry.

Viv wipes a single tear away from her eyes.

*** CUSTODY SUITE - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 3:55 PM ***

Bob is sitting alone at his desk in the custody suite. His ears prick up at the sound of footsteps echoing along the corridor. Bob frowns as Viv and Anne push open the doors and walk in.

Sgt. Cryer:

What's up, Viv?

WPC Martella:

We would like to see Mr Matthews, Sarge. If that's all right with you.

Bob glances across at Anne.

Sgt. Cryer:

Who's 'we'?

Viv is about to reply when Anne cuts in.

Anne Matthews:

Anne Matthews. I'm his wife.

Sgt. Cryer:

I see. You are aware this isn't strictly routine, Viv?

WPC Martella:

I know that. But Mrs Matthews is very determined to see him and given the circumstances I don't blame her.

Bob rolls his eyes and gets to his feet.

Sgt. Cryer:

Right, but only for five minutes. You realise that I'll have to make a note of this on the custody record?

WPC Martella:

That's fine, Sarge.

Bob leads the two women towards Greg's cell. He opens the door then stands back, letting Anne walk inside. Both Bob and Viv remain in the corridor outside the cell.

Anne Matthews:

Greg?

Greg is lying on his bunk, face downwards. His hand is bandaged. He looks up at the sound of his wife's voice and groans.

Greg Matthews:

So they finally tracked you down? That Martella bitch is really twisting the knife.

Anne walks forward and slaps her husband across his face.

Anne Matthews:

You dirty bastard! What have you done to our family?

Greg sits up. He has obviously been hurt by Anne's words.

Greg Matthews:

Listen to me, darling. It's not� It's not like they told it. I can explain everything if you'll just give me a chance and hear me out.

Anne Matthews:

Stop trying to make excuses for what you have done. I'm sick to death of your lies and your manipulation.

Greg Matthews:

It wasn't my fault, Anne. You have to believe me, even if no one else will. I never meant for it to go that far. It was an accident.

Anne Matthews:

An accident? You raped my daughter, you disgusting pig!

Greg Matthews:

I didn't mean to hurt her. Honestly, I didn't mean to hurt her� It just happened.

Anne shakes her head with disgust.

Anne Matthews:

You're sick. She's twelve years old, you pervert! I can't believe I used to share a bed with you!

Anne hits Greg hard in the chest out of sheer frustration. Greg is badly winded but he manages to gasp out a reply.

Greg Matthews:

You used to share a bed with me? That's a joke. If you did I must have missed it. You were never around, your job always came first. I was just the poor fool who was lumbered with looking after your two little brats. Even when you were home it was always 'let's talk about my career prospects' or 'let's go out for tea with the kids'. You were never there for me. Can you blame me for taking what was on offer?

Anne is completely and utterly outraged.

Anne Matthews:

You're blaming me for this? You're trying to make me feel guilty for what you did to Polly?

Greg Matthews:

Well, admit it. You were never home, were you? You never wanted to sleep with me.

Anne Matthews:

So bloody what? Just because I didn't have sex with you doesn't give you the right to molest my daughter!

Greg stares at the cell floor.

Greg Matthews:

It's what happens Anne. The world isn't a very nice place and� I guess I'm not a very nice person. I think that if you were honest with yourself, you'd realise that anyone can turn out this way. I'm not proud of what I've done but I didn't have a choice.

Anne Matthews:

Bullshit. You could have always chosen not to do it. Stuff you Greg Matthews, you're a piece of filth! You're even worse than your father. I hope you both rot in hell together!

Greg snaps and leaps up off his bunk. He wraps his hands around Anne's neck, pushes her up against the cell wall and slowly begins to choke her.

Greg Matthews:

You treacherous cow! How dare you use that against me!

Anne screams and claws at Greg's hands around her throat.

Anne Matthews:

Get your hands off me! Is this what you did to Polly?

Greg stops throttling Anne and lets his arms fall loosely to his sides. Anne slumps to the floor. Bob rushes into the cell.

Sgt. Cryer:

That's enough. I knew this was a bad idea.

Bob pulls Anne outside and slams the door closed. Anne is panting slightly but she seems to be otherwise uninjured. She takes off her wedding ring and flings it through the open hatch into Greg's cell.

Anne Matthews:

You're a maggot, Greg Matthews! I hope they lock you up with the rest of the filth in the sewers where you belong! You got my daughter pregnant!

Bob slams the hatch closed. Viv starts to escort Anne away from the cells but Polly's mother manages to fire off one last remark.

Anne Matthews:

You'll need a good lawyer 'cause I'll see you in court!

Viv drags Anne along the corridor and out of the custody area. Bob shakes his head and tries to get his breath back as the two women leave. A few moments later, June walks into the room.

WPC Ackland:

What's the matter, Sarge? You look frazzled.

Sgt. Cryer:

Mr Matthews' wife wanted see him. It didn't go down too well.

June smiles grimly.

WPC Ackland:

I'm not surprised. I hope she told him exactly what she thinks of him.

Sgt. Cryer:

Hey June, what's all this about pregnancy? Is there something going on here that I should know?

WPC Ackland:

He got his twelve year old stepdaughter pregnant, Sarge. And boy are we going to make him pay for it.

Continue...