Assignment 2

A Daughter's Love

Characters

LEE BURTY: Blonde, middle-aged woman. She is strong willed, stubborn, and often only thinks of what she thinks is right for her family. She is the mother to Karen Burty and the daughter to Shirley Burty.

KAREN BURTY: Blonde, sixteen-year-old female. In the play she is in her final weeks (days) of her pregnancy. Karen is a stubborn, smart girl. She is the daughter of Lee Burty and the granddaughter of Shirley Burty.

SHIRLEY BURTY: Early sixties aged woman. Is the one who makes Lee see reason in her errors. She is the mother to Lee Burty, and grandmother to Karen Burty.

JOHN MACDONALD: Canadian, middle-aged man. Neighbors to the Burty family. He is a very kind man and also a semi-fatherly figure to Karen. He is the husband to Janet MacDonald and father to Jake MacDonald.

JANET MACDONALD: Kind, middle-aged woman. She is the wife of John MacDonald and the mother of Jake MacDonald.

JAKE MACDONALD: Minor character. Sixteen-year-old male. He is the son of John and Janet MacDonald. He also goes to school with Karen.

DOCTOR: Minor Character. Delivers Karen’s baby. 

ACT I

Scene 1

Scene opens at the Burty household. The audience can hear the sound of doors slamming and the sound of two female voices yelling.

LEE

Get out of my house!

KAREN

Mom! You can’t just kick me out! I am your daughter!

LEE 

You are no daughter of mine.

Karen leaves the room

SHIRLEY

Lee, don't you think you are being a bit harsh?

LEE

No. No I am not being harsh. She is too young to be a mother. She's sixteen for Christ's sake! As long as she lives under my roof she will not keep this child.

SHIRLEY

Lee-

Karen re-enters the room.

KAREN  

Mom! I know I can take care of this child! I wont give her up for adoption, you don't get to decide that, I do!

LEE 

You will give up this child or you can get out.

KAREN

Mom!

LEE 

Now Karen Jean. Leave! Go to your fathers.

Karen picks up bags

KAREN 

(Talking to herself)

Why doesn't she understand? If anyone would it would be her!

John MacDonald enters, sees KAREN crying.

JOHN 

Karen? Are you all right?

KAREN

(Nodding)

Yeah, I'm fine.

JOHN 

Are you sure? 

KAREN 

Actually, no I'm not fine. My mom kicked me out. She doesn't want me to keep my baby.

JOHN

Why don't you come stay with us? Janet is making dinner, and Jake can make you up a bed.

KAREN 

That would be great. Thank you.

JOHN grabs KAREN'S suitcase and leads her to the MacDonald house.

END SCENE

Scene 2

Lee is looking out of the kitchen window when she sees JOHN leading KAREN to the MacDonald household.

LEE

What is she doing! Karen has no right involving the MacDonald's into our lives!

SHIRLEY 

Lee, you are the one that kicked her out you need to fix this before it is too late. All I can say is think back to how you felt when you were her age.

Scene shifts to the MacDonald dinner table.

JANET

So Karen, how have you been feeling? I remember when I was in my last few weeks of pregnancy, I felt like I was going to pop!

KAREN

Hahahaha! Well, overall I've been feeling great! I've been able to go to school almost everyday and work, which is a plus.

JANET 

What grade are you in again? Sophomore or junior year of school?

KAREN

Yeah, I'm a sophomore.

JANET

I remember being your age. Ahhh, the good old days! Where did you say you are working?

KAREN

Right now I am working at Dairy Queen, Vans Thriftway, and for Ms. Skarsgard across the street. 

JOHN 

You work three jobs and are going to school?

KAREN 

Mmmmhmmm. My maternity leave isn't paid for so I need to save up as much as possible and my insurance doesn't cover very much so the bills from the hospital are going to be pretty pricy.

JANET

That’s strange. I know in Canada, where we are both from, maternity leave is paid for and same with the medical bills because its included in the socialized heath care.

KAREN

I wish that were how it is in the United States.

END SCENE

ACT II

Scene 1

Scene opens up five months prior in the Burty household. KAREN walks into the room and approaches LEE hesitantly. 

KAREN

Mom? Can we talk?

LEE

Mmmmhmmm one second. Okay, what’s going on sweetheart?

KAREN

Well, I don't know how to say this.

LEE

What’s wrong? Are you sick?

KAREN

(Starts to cry)

LEE

Karen?

KAREN

I think I'm pregnant.

Silence follows

LEE

You're what?

KAREN

I'm pregnant. Mom, I don't know what to do. It was a mistake. I was at a party and got drunk. I never thought this would happen to me.

LEE

Everything will be fine honey. Tomorrow I will call Planned Parenthood and make an appointment to get this taken care of.

KAREN

(Confused)

Taken care of? What do you mean taken care of?

LEE

By taken care of I mean get an abortion.

KAREN

(Appalled)

Why would I get an abortion? That’s wrong!

LEE

Have you been watching Fox News again? You didn't actually think you would be keeping this child did you?

KAREN

I don't know. But you can't just decide for me! It is my body, so it’s my choice!

LEE

I am not going to have you be one of those mothers that live off of welfare in order to support her child. 

KAREN

Not all mothers on welfare are like that mom! And in Canada the poverty rate is down because of the Welfare system! 

LEE 

Have you been talking to the MacDonalds again?

END SCENE

Scene 2

Play shifts back to current day. Scene opens in the guest bedroom of the MacDonald home.

KAREN 

(In agonizing pain)

Janet! Please help!

JANET

(Janet rushes into the room)

Karen! Are you all right?

KAREN

I think I am going into labor!

JANET

(Looking at the wet sheets)

John! Call an ambulance!

Audience can hear the sound of JOHN calling 911. Ambulance arrives and takes KAREN to the hospital.

END SCENE

Scene 3

After JANET and KAREN are taken to the hospital, JOHN goes to the Burty house to talk to LEE.

LEE

(Hears knocking at the door.)

Coming!

JOHN

(Door opens)

Hi, Lee. May I come in?

LEE

(Smiling unwillingly)

Of Course!

LEE leads JOHN into the family room.

LEE

Please, take a seat.

JOHN

(Sits.)

I'm sure you are wondering why I am here. Well it’s about Karen.  

LEE

What about Karen?

JOHN

Well, Karen was taken to the hospital about ten minutes ago. She has gone into labor, which Janet and I both think you should be there for. You are her mother after all and as much as you might think she is making the wrong choice, it is her decision.

LEE

John? Am I a bad mother? I only want the best for her.

JOHN

Honestly Lee, I think you need to look at this from a different perspective. You have a strong, caring daughter who I think will grow up to be a wonderful mother.

LEE

It's not that I don't think she won't be a good mother. It’s just that I don't think this child will grow up to be successful. Look at the studies. Many children that come from low-income families grow up not having everything they need.

JOHN

Well, I can see now I won't be able to change your opinion, but your daughter needs you.

LEE

(Looking conflicted, says nothing)

JOHN

Have a good day now. I will see myself out.

JOHN promptly leaves the room; SHIRLEY enters and sits next to LEE.

SHIRLEY

What did Mr. MacDonald want?

LEE

Karen is in labor.

SHIRLEY

What are you still doing here? You need to go to the hospital!

LEE

No. I am not going.

END SCENE

ACT III

Scene 1

Scene continues from last act, SHIRLEY and LEE are in the Burty family room.

SHIRLEY

What do you mean you won't go? It's your duty as a mother to always be there for her child when she needs them. 

LEE

What's the point? I have already failed her as a mother.

SHIRLEY

Lee, think back to when you were her age, and in the same situation. How did you feel?

LEE

I was scared that I wouldn't be a good mother, I was worried about the future and if I would be able to take care of her like I should be. I was also thankful that you were there for me and supported me.

SHIRLEY

Think about what you just said. You were thankful that I was there for you. As a mother should be. 

LEE

Let me grab my keys. 

END SCENE

Scene 2

Takes place at the local hospital. KAREN is in her final stages of labor and desperately wants her mother.

KAREN

(To JOHN)

Where is my mom? I thought she would be here by now!

JANET

(Exchanges a glance with John)

Yeah so did we.

LEE

(Rushing in to the room.)

I'm here! Is the baby here yet?

(Goes and holds Karen's hand)

KAREN

(Looks at her mother gratefully)

DOCTOR

Karen are you ready to push? On the count of three. One. Two. Three!

KAREN

(Breathing heavily)

Ahhhhhgghh

LEE

That's great Karen! One more time!

KAREN

Ahhhhhghgghh!!!

LEE

(Sound of baby crying is heard. Lee starts to cry herself.)

Oh my goodness! I am a grandma! A grandma!

KAREN

(Starts to laugh, A baby girl is put into her arms by the DOCTOR)

DOCTOR

Congratulations! It is a beautiful baby girl!

LEE

Karen, I am sorry I wasn't there for you like I should have been. I truly haven't been a good mother. 

KAREN

It's okay mom. I understand.

JOHN

What made you realize you were wrong?

LEE

Well, the conversation I had with you made me realize I wasn't being a good mother. And also the conversation I had with my mom. She had me think back to when I was in the same situation with Karen. I realized that I did an amazing job raising a wonderful daughter so why can't she? I also wanted to thank you for being there for my daughter when I wasn't. 

Scene ends with the Burty and MacDonald families embracing, creating new friendships that will last for the rest of their lives.

END SCENE