Professional Documents
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WAITING AREA
A tall curtain divides the room. The side closest to the door
contains an exam table and some gynecological equipment, which
is several years old.
A bookish YOUNG WOMAN lies on the exam table, her feet in the
stirrups. An OLDER NURSE with gentle eyes stands by the Young
Womans side and holds her hand.
CLINIC MANAGER
(to Yesenia)
Follow me, dear.
Yesenia stands and follows the Clinic Manager out of the waiting
area.
The Young Woman grimaces as Dr. Zef removes the tubing from her
cervix. Her abortion is complete.
DR. ZEF
You did great.
OLDER NURSE
Just a moment longer and then Ill get
you out of those stirrups, okay
sweetie?
The Young Woman nods.
Dr. Zef sits down. He opens the canister and pours its contents
into the metal pan. Dr. Zefs body blocks the blood and guts
from view.
He hunches over the table. Although the embryos remains are out
of frame, it is clear that Dr. Zef is piecing them together.
Satisfied, Dr. Zef pours the contents of the pan into a red
plastic biohazard bag.
He peeks his head around the curtain and nods to the Older
Nurse. The Older Nurse helps the Young Woman sit up and slide
off the exam table.
The Young Woman is gone. The Older Nurse wipes down the exam
table.
Dr. Zef stands over a sink. He pushes a call button on the wall.
DR. ZEF
(into intercom)
Ready for the next one.
The prep room is bare except for a few plastic chairs. It only
serves as a place to change clothes.
There is a knock on the door. The Clinic Manager cracks the door
open. Yesenia quickly turns off her phone.
CLINIC MANAGER
Its time.
MAYA
No, no saves today. You can pick me up
whenever. ... kay, love you.
The room slowly tilts. Dr. Zef grabs the edge of the sink for
balance.
OLDER NURSE
Everything all right?
Dr. Zef shakes off his dizziness and the room returns to normal.
DR. ZEF
Yeah. Fine.
Dr. Zef uses his back to push open the door to the
NARROW HALLWAY
DR. ZEF
Come on, we dont have all -
He is suddenly overcome by nausea and vomits in the hallway.
CLINIC MANAGER
Doctor Zef!
DR. ZEF
I dont know what came over me.
Yesenia peers out the door of the prep room and takes in the
scene in the hall.
YESENIA
Ugh, gross!
The Older Nurse appears behind Dr. Zef and places a damp
washcloth on his forehead.
Dr. Zef leans against the wall and takes a deep breath.
OLDER NURSE
Something you ate?
DR. ZEF
I havent had anything unusual. Feels
more like the flu.
CLINIC MANAGER
I thought you got a flu shot.
DR. ZEF
Well, if preventative measures worked
one hundred percent of the time, wed
all be out of a job.
CLINIC MANAGER
Glad your sense of humor is still
healthy, Doctor.
DR. ZEF
How many more?
CLINIC MANAGER
Just the one. Ill take care of it. Go
lie down.
CLINIC MANAGER
Were terribly sorry for the
inconvenience.
YESENIA
Im already fourteen weeks. I cant
hide this bump forever.
CLINIC MANAGER
I have an opening on Wednesday.
YESENIA
I have to work. Saturdays are my only
day off.
CLINIC MANAGER
Right, tell you what. Just come in on
Saturday, a week from today, and well
squeeze you in.
YESENIA
Youre sure?
CLINIC MANAGER
Absolutely.
Yesenia walks out the front door. Maya sees her and beams.
MAYA
You didnt go through with it!
Congratulations!
YESENIA
How do you know that?
MAYA
Your posture, your expression, the
timing between you and the last one...
Ive been at this for a while.
(smiling)
Im so glad you chose life.
YESENIA
Are you, now.
MAYA
Life is messy, and hard, and amazing.
If theres anything at all I can do to
help, Im here for you.
YESENIA
Youre serious?
MAYA
Yes, of course.
YESENIA
I didnt choose life, exactly. The
doctor barfed in the hallway so I have
to come back in a week.
MAYA
Oh.
YESENIA
Yeah.
An awkward silence.
MAYA
Whats your name?
YESENIA
Yesenia.
MAYA
Im Maya. Id still like to help you,
Yesenia. You dont have to have to come
back. You dont have to have an
abortion.
YESENIA
(hostile)
Engaged, huh.
MAYA
(flustered)
Yes. Actually, todays our anniversary.
YESENIA
You probably have some sickeningly
romantic meet-cute story.
MAYA
No, we met... weird. How about you? Are
you seeing anyone?
YESENIA
Were standing outside an abortion
clinic. Take a wild guess how my
relationship is going.
MAYA
Thats fair. Im just trying to figure
out what kind of support system you
might have.
YESENIA
My family lives in Miami, my job sucks,
and I have the worlds shittiest
apartment.
MAYA
That is not true.
YESENIA
How do you figure?
MAYA
Because I have the worlds shittiest
apartment.
YESENIA
Oh, I doubt that.
MAYA
My refrigerator door closes with a
bungee cord.
YESENIA
My upstairs neighbor is a heroin
dealer.
MAYA
My upstairs neighbors daughter is
learning how to play the clarinet.
Dr. Zef, better but still a little nauseated, walks across the
WAITING AREA
toward the front door. He looks out the window and stops in his
tracks. Yesenia and Maya gesticulate wildly MOS. They appear to
be in a heated argument.
DR. ZEF
(alarmed)
No, no, no.
Dr. Zef rushes behind the reception desk and flips a switch.
YESENIA
You couldnt possibly understand --
Suddenly the sprinklers go off. Maya realizes the hard way that
she is standing directly over a sprinkler head.
Dr. Zef gazes out the window at his handiwork and smiles.
NATHAN
What happened to you?
Nathan puts an arm around Maya and they approach the MATRE D'.
NATHAN
We have a reservation.
The Matre D' looks at Maya and scoffs. The Matre D' turns to
Nathan with an expression that says Are you serious?
NATHAN
Benneson, for two.
MAYA
Over which one of us has the shittier
apartment, of all things.
NATHAN
(jovially)
Well of course you do, darling, its no
contest.
MAYA
I know youre trying to make me feel
better, but a child is going to die
because I said the wrong thing.
NATHAN
(seriously)
Whoa. We dont know that. Okay? You
cant think like that, youll drive
yourself crazy. Theres still time.
MAYA
She did say shed be back in a week.
NATHAN
See? You have a whole week to rehearse
what to say.
MAYA
I guess.
NATHAN
(deadpan)
Now, did you remember to mention the
clarinet?
MAYA
Dammit, Nathan. Stop being so charming.
NATHAN
Cant be helped.