उपयुक्त साधने

By:                Kim Ji-Youn

Place:            Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Date:             6-9-98

Topic:           Abortion

Message:       A child, both before and after birth, is a sacred trust.

Characters:  Alan and Judy

Setting:         Evening, Living room, couch, TV set

Alan:   You definitely, beyond a doubt, make the best apple pie in the world… (With a mischievous glint in his eye)…second only to my mother’s that is…

He laughs and ducks as Judy hits him with a sofa pillow.  They then settle down quietly watching TV for a moment.

Judy:  Honey, I’ve been thinking for a week about my pregnancy…and I’ve decided to abort this baby.

Alan:   What?  Hold on.  (He turns off the TV with the remote control) WHAT did you say just now?

Judy:  I said I want to have an abortion.

Alan:   Honey, how can you make such an important decision just like that…and without even consulting with me?  Don’t I have a say in this?

Judy:  Okay, I am sorry.  I should have discussed it with you first, but you see, I was afraid that you wouldn’t agree with me.

Alan:   Well, of course, Judy.  This baby is as important to me as you are. How can you destroy the fruit of our love?  Does this mean you don’t love me any more?

Judy:  No, of course not!  I do love you.  But think about it.  We’re just married.  We’re not ready for a child yet, financially and mentally.  We already talked about this before our marriage—we agreed we wouldn’t have our first child for three or four years, remember?  This is just not what we planned.

Alan:   Yes, true, but the fact is that now you’re pregnant, and our baby is growing in your womb at this moment.  We have to change our plans accordingly.

Judy:  But what about my career?  Alan, listen… I’m just starting out on my career and I have to put a lot of time and effort into it.  And I’ve already registered to do my Masters program next year.  Don’t you see?  It’s just not possible for me to do this and take care of a child at the same time!

Alan:   Don’t you think you are being a little self-centered?  I would never have thought you capable of killing your own baby! 

Judy:  I think YOU’RE the one who’s being self-centered!  You never think of me and my career, because you’re nicely settled in yours!  What does it matter to you that my life goes down the drain before it even starts?  And now you want to make me out as a murderer, before the child is even a human being!

She rushes to the door in angry and frustrated tears.

Alan:   (Angry)  Judy!  I’m still talking to you!

FREEZE—DISCUSSION—UNFREEZE!!!

Alan:   Don’t you think you are being a little self-centered?  I would never have thought you capable of killing your own baby!

Judy:  I think YOU’RE the one who’s being self-centered!  You never think of me and my career, because you’re nicely settled in yours!  What does it matter to you that my life goes down the drain before it even starts?  And now you want to make me out as a murderer, before the child is even a human being!

She rushes to the door in angry and frustrated tears.

Alan:   (Angry)  Judy!  I’m still talking to you!

Judy disappears through the door and Alan sits distraught with this head in his hands.  A moment later Judy comes quietly back into the room with a shopping bag in her hands and stops beside the sofa.

Judy:  (Softly)  Alan, what’s this?

Alan:   You won’t need it anymore.

Judy takes a pretty baby suit from the bag.

Judy:  When did you buy this?

Alan:   This morning I was at the department store and just happened to pass the infant section.  And well, I when I saw this, I couldn’t help but buy it…

Judy, clearly deeply touched, sits down next to him, the baby suit in her hands, thinking for a brief moment.

Judy:  (Softly and gently)  It’s really cute.  And I think our baby will look just great in it.

Alan, who was still staring down at the floor, suddenly looks up at her in surprise and bewilderment.  She smiles at him shyly.

Judy:  I know I was wrong, Honey.  I did actually feel guilty about the abortion.  I was just too busy thinking about my own future.  But when I see what a loving father you already are, how much you really want this child…you’ve suddenly made everything clear to me—not through your arguments, but through your love for our child.

Alan puts his arm around her and folds his other hand over hers and the baby suit.

Alan:   I’ll tell you what—since you’ve got that grant, and we both already have some savings, we won’t be suffering too much financially.  I’ll reduce my hours to part time, and help care for the baby while you study.  How does that sound?

Judy:  (Loving tears in her eyes)  It sounds more and more like a brilliant, loving father and a selfish stupid mother.  Do you think the baby, or even you, will be happy with such a stupid mother?

Alan:   (Lovingly and jokingly)  Oh, I suspect we’ll manage…providing the apple pies keep coming!

She laughingly hits him again with a sofa pillow.

--The End--