HOYT HILSMAN

                             The Visit       

 

A living room. 

SUSAN, late 30s, is vacuuming The doorbell rings. She doesn't hear it. It rings again. Still doesn't hear it. Loud knocking. She hears it, shuts off the vacuum cleaner, goes to the door, and opens it. 

VICKY, a middle-aged lady wearing glasses and carrying a clipboard, is at the door. 

SUSAN: Sorry. I didn't hear the door. 

VICKY: That's perfectly all right. I wasn't waiting long. 

SUSAN: Can I help you? 

VICKY: Yes, my name is Vicky Prospect, and I'm from the clinic. 

SUSAN: Oh, all right. Hello. 

VICKY: Hello. Are you Susan Whitfield? 

SUSAN: Yes, I'm Susan. 

VICKY: I'm just here to check up on you. It'll only take a couple of minutes. 

SUSAN: How nice. Come on in. 

VICKY: Thank you. 

SUSAN: Sorry, it's kind of a mess. I'm just getting back to my housekeeping. 

VICKY: Oh, no. You have a lovely home. 

SUSAN: Thank you. Would you like a cup of coffee? Tea? 

VICKY: Maybe just a glass of water. It's awfully hot out there.

SUSAN: It sure is. Susan exits for a moment. 

(VICKY looks around the room. SUSAN returns with a glass of water.) 

SUSAN:  Here you go. 

VICKY: Thank you. 

SUSAN: Please. Sit. 

VICKY: Thanks. (beat) So. How are you feeling? 

SUSAN: Fine. Just fine. 

VICKY: That's good to hear. No symptoms? 

SUSAN: Not really. Maybe a little tired, that's all. 

VICKY: That's pretty common. No pain? 

SUSAN: Maybe for a day or two afterwards, but nothing more. 

VICKY: No bleeding? 

SUSAN: No. 

VICKY: Cramps? 

SUSAN: No. 

VICKY: Stomach upset? 

SUSAN: Nope. 

VICKY: That's good to hear. 

SUSAN: Yeah, I feel fine, really. I'm even getting back to yoga. 

VICKY: Good for you. I hear yoga is really wonderful. 

SUSAN: It sure is. Not just for the body, but for my mental health also. 

VICKY: Well, that's very nice to hear. 

(beat) 

SUSAN: So...is there anything else? 

VICKY: Yes, I do have a few more questions. 

SUSAN: Okay. 

VICKY: How long have you been married? 

SUSAN: Uh...twelve years. 

VICKY: And you have two children? 

SUSAN: Yes. A boy and a girl. 

VICKY: How old are they? 

SUSAN: My son is eight and my daughter is six. 

VICKY: And what does your husband do? 

SUSAN (hesitating): Uh...he works at First City Bank. 

VICKY: What is his position at the bank? 

SUSAN: Uh, sorry...why are you asking these questions? 

VICKY: Oh, it's normal. Just part of our follow-up. 

SUSAN (considering, then...): He's a vice president. 

VICKY: Very nice. And was your pregnancy planned or unplanned? 

SUSAN: I beg your pardon. 

VICKY: Were you and your husband planning to have another child? 

SUSAN: Well, not exactly. But why.? 

VICKY: We just need to get a little background for our records. 

SUSAN: We wanted very much to have another child. 

VICKY: That's good. Very good. And would you say you are happy in your marriage? 

SUSAN: Now wait a second. I don't think that’s appropriate. 

VICKY: You don't have to answer. It's just part of our routine follow-up in these kinds of cases. 

SUSAN: What kinds of cases? What are you talking about? 

VICKY: Your recent procedure. 

SUSAN: What difference does it make if I'm happy in my marriage? Which I am, by the way. 

VICKY: I'm sorry, Mrs. Whitfield, but I do have to ask. These questions are part of the follow-up. 

SUSAN: Why? 

VICKY: Because it's required by law. 

SUSAN: You're kidding. 

VICKY: I'm afraid not. 

SUSAN: The law requires that you know whether I am happy in my marriage? 

VICKY: In the case of this procedure, I'm afraid so. 

SUSAN" All right, all right, if it's the law, but it doesn't make any sense to me. 

VICKY: Sometimes the law doesn't seem to make sense. But it's still the law. (beat) Now are you saying you don't want to answer the question? 

SUSAN: Not if I don't have to. 

VICKY: No, you don't. 

SUSAN: Then I won't. 

VICKY: All right. I just make a note that you didn't want to answer that question. 

SUSAN: What does that mean -- you're making a note? 

VICKY: Nothing. I'm just making a note. 

SUSAN: What for? 

VICKY: For the follow-up. Don't worry. It doesn't mean anything. 

SUSAN (sighing): Okay. But you know I'm kind of busy. I have to pick the kids up from school. 

VICKY: Don't worry. I only have a few more questions and then I'll be on my merry way. 

SUSAN: Okay. 

VICKY: Now you said you have two children, correct? 

SUSAN: Yes, I told you. Eight and six. 

VICKY: And why did you decide not to have another child? 

SUSAN (trying to control her anger): I...we...didn't decide to not to have a child. I had a miscarriage. 

VICKY: Well, that's what we're are trying to determine, Mrs. Whitfield. 

SUSAN: What? 

VICKY: Whether you actually had a miscarriage. 

(beat) 

SUSAN:  So that's what this is about. 

VICKY: Yes, it is. 

SUSAN: You think I had an abortion. 

VICKY: I'm not saying that. I’m just doing a follow-up. 

SUSAN: You're not from the clinic, are you? 

VICKY: Not technically. 

SUSAN: So who are you? 

VICKY: I'm from the County Department of Social Services. 

SUSAN: Social Services? 

VICKY: Yes, in the case of this particular procedure, we are required by law to interview all patients afterwards.  

SUSAN: How did you get my name? 

VICKY: The clinic gave us your name. 

SUSAN: I thought medical information was supposed to be private. 

VICKY: Not in the case of this procedure. In these cases, the clinic is required by law to provide information about the patient. 

SUSAN: Why do you keep calling it a "procedure"? I went to the clinic because I was having a miscarriage, okay? I went to the clinic for treatment. 

VICKY: Can you tell me a little more about that treatment? 

SUSAN: I was bleeding. I needed medical care. They treated me. 

VICKY: How did they treat you? 

SUSAN: I don’t know. They stopped the bleeding. They gave me some medication. That’s all. 

VICKY: What kind of medication? 

SUSAN: I don’t remember. 

VICKY: Was it misoprostol by any chance? 

SUSAN: I don't know. It might have been. 

VICKY: Did you know that misoprostol is used to induce abortion? 

SUSAN: No, I didn't know that. But I didn't have an abortion. I had a miscarriage. 

VICKY: So you did not take the medication before you miscarried? 

SUSAN: No. Are you suggesting I induced the miscarriage? 

VICKY: I'm just asking the questions required by law. 

SUSAN: Listen, Miss Whoever-you-are, I have just lost a child. And you're blaming me for that? 

VICKY: I'm not blaming you for anything. I'm just doing my job here. 

SUSAN: And what exactly is your job? 

VICKY: I'm required by law to investigate any possible cases of abortion, which is an illegal procedure in this state. 

SUSAN: I did not have an abortion. I had a miscarriage. Whatever medication they gave me was after I miscarried. 

VICKY: Well, it is true that that particular medication is also used in the case of miscarriages, but it is also used to induce abortions. 

SUSAN: I did not have an abortion. 

VICKY: Perhaps, but you do understand that I have to do the follow-up. 

SUSAN: No I don't. I think it's ridiculous and actually horrible.

VICKY: You're entitled to your opinion, but the law says differently. 

SUSAN: The law is an ass. 

VICKY: Perhaps. But considering the fact that you have two children already... 

SUSAN: What’s that supposed to mean? 

VICKY: Maybe you didn't want another. Children are expensive, after all. 

SUSAN: That's ridiculous and insulting. 

VICKY: How about your husband, did he want another child?

SUSAN: Of course he did. 

VICKY: Are you sure? 

SUSAN: Absolutely sure. 

VICKY: Are you religious, Mrs. Whitfield? 

SUSAN: That’s none of your business. 

VICKY: It might be. 

SUSAN: Why? 

VICKY: Because if you were religious and your religion forbids abortion, then that fact might be seen in a favorable light. 

SUSAN: What do you mean "a favorable light"? 

VICKY: In case the investigation proceeds any further. 

SUSAN: So now I am being investigated? 

VICKY: I didn't say that. But you are aware that participating in or facilitating an abortion may be punished by up to five years in prison. 

SUSAN: You're going to put me in jail for having a miscarriage? For losing a child? 

VICKY: Only if you or your doctor caused the miscarriage. 

SUSAN: I did not "cause" this miscarriage. No one did. I had a miscarriage. 

VICKY: Are you willing to testify to that under oath? 

SUSAN: Absolutely. 

VICKY: And your husband? 

SUSAN: Of course. 

VICKY: Because if he participated or had knowledge... 

SUSAN: Don't threaten my husband! 

VICKY: I'm not threatening anyone, Mrs. Whitfield. I'm just advising you that you may be in some jeopardy, as well as your husband. 

SUSAN: You are an evil person! 

VICKY I beg your pardon? 

SUSAN: You and your investigation are horrible! You barge into my home a week after I have lost a child, and you make all kinds of wild accusations.

VICKY: I'm just trying to establish the facts under the law. That's my job. 

SUSAN: Well it's a terrible job. 

VICKY: There's no reason to get so worked up. 

SUSAN: No reason? You're threatening to send me and my husband to jail! 

VICKY: I'm not threatening anyone. 

SUSAN: Oh, no? Then what the hell are you doing? 

VICKY: Like I said, I'm conducting an investigation that is required by law. I'm also here to offer you advice. 

SUSAN: Oh, yeah? Like what kind of advice? 

VICKY: I think it would be advisable for you and your husband to retain a lawyer. 

SUSAN: What for? We haven't done anything wrong. You are really going to send me to jail for having a miscarriage? 

VICKY: All I am saying is that in cases like this it is advisable to seek some legal advice. 

SUSAN: So we are supposed to spend thousands of dollars on a lawyer because you think I might have had an abortion,  which I didn't? 

VICKY: If that's true, then you have nothing to worry about. 

SUSAN: Of course it's true. 

VICKY: Nevertheless, you could still probably benefit from some legal advice. In fact, I could recommend an attorney if you wish. 

SUSAN: Great, and you probably get a kickback, right? 

VICKY: I not going to answer that question. 

SUSAN: This is unbelievable! 

VICKY: I certainly understand your feelings. And my sympathy to you and your husband for the loss of a child. 

SUSAN (sarcastic): Thanks a lot. 

VICKY: But it is at times like these that you have to think about the welfare of your family -- and your children. 

SUSAN: What about my children? 

VICKY: Well, I'm not saying this would happen in your case, but I have seen situations in whichchildren were removed from the home if it was deemed unsuitable. 

SUSAN: You would take away my children? 

VICKY: Only if the home is deemed unsuitable. 

SUSAN: And what does that mean...unsuitable? 

VICKY: If the home were found to present a threat to the welfare of the children. 

SUSAN: Like if their mother had a miscarriage. 

VICKY: No, but in the case of a voluntary abortion, the home might be deemed unsuitable. 

SUSAN: Jesus Christ. 

VICKY: I'd appreciate it if you didn't blaspheme. 

SUSAN: Sorry, I didn't mean to offend your "Christian sensibility." 

VICKY: Do you have something against Christians? 

SUSAN: No, I don't. I am a Christian. 

VICKY: Then you probably know that the Bible forbids abortion. 

SUSAN: Okay, I don't see anything in Bible about abortion. And I certainly don't wait to debate religion with a person like you. 

VICKY: I’ll ignore that crack. All I am saying is that I have seen cases like this one where Social Services removed the children from the home and placed them in foster care. 

SUSAN: Get out! 

VICKY: But...I haven’t quite finished... 

SUSAN: I don't care. Get out of my house! 

VICKY: All right, but I'm going to have to file a report about this. 

SUSAN: Go ahead. File your stupid report. And be sure to say that you threatened me and my family with your ridiculous investigation. 

VICKY: I'm sorry you feel that way, but there is no need to be nasty. 

SUSAN: Leave. 

VICKY: All right, I’m leaving. (goes to the door) Goodbye. 

SUSAN: Goodbye! 

(Susan slams the door behind her. She lets out a scream and pounds her fist against a chair. After a moment, she grabs her cell phone and dials.) 

SUSAN: Honey, it’s me. You won't believe what just happened. 

CURTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            The Estate

 

An elderly ATTORNEY sits at a office desk. After a moment, a knock on the door. 

ATTORNEY: Come in. 

JOSH, age forty, enters 

ATTORNEY: Hey, Josh. How are you? 

JOSH: Okay. 

ATTORNEY: Have a seat. 

JOSH: Thanks. 

ATTORNEY: First of all, I'm so sorry for your loss. 

JOSH: Thank you. 

ATTORNEY: Greg was a terrific guy. He was my client for years, even before you two met. 

JOSH: I know. He spoke very highly of you. 

ATTORNEY: It's a terrible loss. I know it must have been very hard for you. 

JOSH: It was. Especially the last few months. It was really tough to see him go through all that. 

ATTORNEY: How are you doing? 

JOSH: Ok. You know, one day at a time. 

ATTORNEY: Of course. Anyway, I'm glad you came in. We do have some things to settle about Greg's estate and all that. 

JOSH: So I brought all the documents you asked about. His will, the deed to the house, pension statement, death certificate. 

(JOSH hands the documents to the ATTORNEY.) 

ATTORNEY: Good. (scanning briefly) Looks like everything is here. 

JOSH: Greg was pretty organized. He had everything laid out. 

ATTORNEY: Excellent. 

JOSH: So where should we start? 

ATTORNEY: I guess we should start with the will. 

JOSH: Okay. 

ATTORNEY (looking it over): This all looks pretty standard. He's leaving the bulk of his estate to you, plus a few keepsakes to his niece. 

JOSH: Yes, he was very fond of her. He wanted her to have some family momentos -- paintings, things like that. It was important to Greg. I'm happy she's getting them. 

ATTORNEY: And I see he's giving some money to charity.

JOSH: Yeah. Our church. A couple of organizations for foster kids. That was important to us. 

ATTORNEY: Fine. I'm sure that's no problem. Why don't we take a look at the deed to the house? (looking it over) So you two owned it as community property, which is good. 

JOSH: We talked about that. It seemed like the best way to go. 

ATTORNEY: Definitely. That way you don't have to go through probate. 

JOSH: Right. How about his pension? 

ATTORNEY: Let me see. (looks it over) You should certainly be entitled to survivor’s benefits. 

JOSH: What about Social Security? 

ATTORNEY: Same thing. 

JOSH: He also had a life insurance policy. 

ATTORNEY (looks at it): $250K. That's excellent. 

JOSH: Anything else? 

ATTORNEY: How about the marriage certificate? 

JOSH (handing it to him): Here you go. 

ATTORNEY (looks it over, takes a beat): Hmmm... 

JOSH: Is something wrong? 

ATTORNEY: Possibly. 

JOSH: Like what? We were married legally. 

ATTORNEY: I know, but... 

JOSH: But what? 

ATTORNEY: This new law... 

JOSH: But we were already married. 

ATTORNEY: True. But it is retroactive. 

JOSH How so? 

 ATTORNEY: It invalidates same-sex marriages in this state going back five years. 

JOSH: Can they do that? 

ATTORNEY: Apparently so. When the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples didn't have a constitutional right to marry, they turned the issue over to the states. Our state decided not only to make it illegal but also retroactively so. There are challenges in the courts, but so far they have failed. 

JOSH: So let me get this straight. Our marriage wasn't legal.

ATTORNEY: It was at the time. 

JOSH: But now it's not. 

ATTORNEY: Correct. 

JOSH: And Greg is dead. So what does that mean? 

ATTORNEY: Well, it's complicated. 

JOSH: No kidding. 

ATTORNEY Any agreement made between same-sex spouses becomes invalid. 

JOSH: So like what agreements? 

ATTORNEY: We'll have to take a look. Let"s start with the will. 

JOSH: Jesus Christ. 

ATTORNEY (looking at the will): Yeah, the will was signed after you got married. 

JOSH: Of course it was. He wanted to leave everything to his husband. 

ATTORNEY: Unfortunately, the new law doesn't recognize you as his husband. 

JOSH: What about the house? 

ATTORNEY: Let me take a look. (beat) Damn. 

JOSH: What? 

ATTORNEY: It refers to "spouses." 

JOSH: So? 

ATTORNEY: So no community property. 

JOSH: Which means? 

ATTORNEY: You don’t inherit the house. 

JOSH: Then who gets it? 

ATTORNEY: Closest living relative. 

JOSH: Our daughter. 

ATTORNEY: Oh, I forgot you have a daughter. 

JOSH: Yes, we adopted her after we got married. 

ATTORNEY: How old is she? 

JOSH: Three. Is there a problem? 

ATTORNEY: I'm not sure. Did Greg have any other living relatives? Any siblings? 

JOSH: No. His sister died a couple of years ago. 

ATTORNEY: Did she have any children? 

JOSH: Yeah. The niece I mentioned. Alice. 

ATTORNEY: How old is she? 

JOSH: Eleven. 

ATTORNEY: Well, she might have a claim on the house. 

JOSH: What? Why? If it doesn't go to me, it should at least go to our daughter. 

 ATTORNEY: The problem is that you adopted her after you got married, so she's not legally your daughter. 

JOSH: How can that be? 

ATTORNEY: Like I said. Any legal agreements that were made after you two got married are null and void. 

JOSH: So she's not my daughter either? 

ATTORNEY: I'm afraid not. 

JOSH: What does that mean? 

ATTORNEY: It depends on the court. 

JOSH: The court? 

ATTORNEY: Family court. Them and Social Services. 

JOSH: Social Services? 

ATTORNEY: Yeah. They'll have to investigate to see if the household is suitable. 

JOSH: Suitable? What the hell? 

ATTORNEY: I know, I know. But since you’re now a single Dad and gay... 

JOSH: That's supposed to mean I'm unsuitable? 

ATTORNEY: Not necessarily. But I expect they would take a closer look at your daughter's situation. 

JOSH I love my daughter. We've raised her since she was a baby. And now we're...I'm...unsuitable? 

ATTORNE:Y I know it sounds crazy. 

JOSH: You think? 

ATTORNEY: But under the new law, anyone who is gay will have to prove their suitability to adopt. 

JOSH: But we already went through this whole lengthy adoption process. 

ATTORNEY: That was before the new law, which requires a review of all previous gay adoptions. 

JOSH What? 

ATTORNEY: Did you have a surrogate? 

JOSH: Yes. We went through a surrogate with all the legal adoption requirements. 

ATTORNEY: That could be another problem. 

JOSH: Why? 

ATTORNEY: The state is looking to invalidate all surrogate arrangements. But I wouldn't worry about it. That law is still in the courts. 

JOSH (sarcastic): Oh, great. The courts. That makes me feel a whole lot better. 

ATTORNEY: There’s one other thing.

JOSH: Jesus, what?? 

ATTORNEY: I assume you and Greg engaged in sex. JOSH Of course we did. Now it's not okay for married people to have sex? 

ATTORNEY: Unfortunately, under the new law, anyone who has engaged in homosexual sex over the past five years may be deemed unsuitable as a parent. 

JOSH: You're kidding me. 

ATTORNEY: I'm afraid not. Actually, there is a law from 1861 that makes sodomy a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. 

JOSH: They're not really going to put people in jail for having sex with their husbands. 

ATTORNEY: Not yet. But they never repealed the 1861 law, and some prosecutors are talking about charging people with sodomy. 

JOSH: I don't even want to think about that. But what about my daughter? 

ATTORNEY: With any luck, Social Services will let her stay with you. 

JOSH: And if not? 

ATTORNEY: She would go to live with a relative. 

JOSH: Like who? 

ATTORNEY: I don't know. 

JOSH: Her closest relative is eleven. 

ATTORNEY: Who does she live with? 

JOSH: Her mom and stepdad. Her stepdad is a junkie and her mom is bipolar. 

ATTORNEY: Hmmm... 

JOSH: They wouldn't give her to them, would they?

ATTORNEY: Probably not. How about the surrogate mom?

JOSH: She's a nice lady. But she has five other kids and no money. 

ATTORNEY: Any other blood relatives? 

JOSH: I have no idea. But the thought that Alice would end up with some stranger is just...horrible. 

ATTORNEY: Let's hope that doesn't happen. 

JOSH: What are the chances? 

ATTORNEY: I can't say for sure. 

JOSH: Great. (beat) What if I moved out of state? 

ATTORNEY: I'm afraid that wouldn't work. You'd be a accused of kidnapping. 

JOSH: This is crazy. 

ATTORNEY: In a word. 

JOSH: And we thought we were doing everything right. 

ATTORNEY: You were. 

JOSH: But now this. 

ATTORNEY: I am sorry. 

JOSH So what do I do now? 

ATTORNEY: For now, just wait and hope. 

JOSH: I guess hope is all we have left these days. 

ATTORNEY: Better than nothing. 

JOSH: I'm glad Greg didn't live to see this. It would have broken his heart. We worked so hard to have a normal life. 

ATTORNEY: I know. 

JOSH: All we wanted was to have what everyone wants. A marriage and kids. But they've taken that away from us. And now I have to pick up the pieces. Alone. 

ATTORNEY: He would have been proud of you. 

JOSH: I guess. But it still hurts. It still hurts. 

CURTAIN

 

 

         

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