Character: VERA, Mitzi’s Mom, early 50s
(Lights up on Vera, feeling awkward and defiant, standing at a podium.)
VERA: Well, I just want to thank the Elders here at Highline Four Square Church for letting me come before you and say my peace. First off… lemme just confirm… that I’m not a good Christian. I do best, what I can. But I’ve been lapsed ten years or so. Don’t know why, exactly. Nothin’ phenomenal happened. Just stopped drivin’ in this direction. Seemed like a time management issue more’n anything else. ‘Cause Mitzi was turnin’ thirteen and it got too hard to drag her ass down here for Sunday school, and I’m not excusing myself, I’m just… explaining. Because now I’m back, talking to you about my girl… (hesitates, then just says it) She’s twenty-two and she needs a late-term abortion, which her insurance won’t cover and we can’t pay for. So. (angry) Any of you wanna snicker? Wanna tell me it’s just what I deserve, go right ahead, and I’ll slap you straight to the hereafter.
(Vera hadn’t intended to get so confrontational, she mentally re-groups, tries to be more civil.)
‘Cause, personally, I’m against abortion. For most people. But like it explains on the pink flyers, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill… (her patience wanes again) Look, I’ll just be honest. I came here to beg. We need $10,000 and we don’t got it. And I’m going around my community, groveling like a bum, ‘cause it’s easier than watching my pregnant kid sit there catatonic in my living room. I’d rather be anywhere but there. Even here, among all you snot-nosed Christians. So. Here I am. You got $10,000 or some fraction you’d care to give us, come on down after Pastor Mike completes this service. That’s it. That’s all I got.
