Death Bed Repentance
(At rise: A hospital room where
JEFF lays in bed sleeping. MEGAN
a woman in her mid twenties enters
quietly. She hesitates at the door
then slowly removes her coat to
reveal she's pregnant. She sets her
coat on the back of a chair next to the
door.)
JEFF
Megan, is that you?
MEGAN
Yes sweetheart, I'm right here.
(She walks to his bed, sits down,
and takes his hand.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
How are you feeling?
JEFF
Like I could run a marathon.
MEGAN
(slight smile) I knew you'd say that.
JEFF
But it got you to smile.
(He pauses and reaches up to
touch her cheek.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
I love it when you smile, makes my heart love you even more.
MEGAN
I'd do anything to make you happy.
JEFF
Just seeing you makes me happy. I have a beautiful wife and a baby on the way.
(Jeff pauses.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
How's the baby?
(He lays his hand on her
stomach.)
MEGAN
She's fine, she was kicking this morning.
JEFF
I wish I could have been there.
MEGAN
Next time...you will be. (Trying to sound positive.) I... I talked to the doctor.
JEFF
What's the verdict?
MEGAN
He said that there is a chance that you can come home--
JEFF
Megan--
MEGAN
As long as we pay for the medical equipment and bring in Hospice--
JEFF
Megan, you know they can't do that with my heart the way it is. Its ok, I get to see you everyday and I'm getting the care I need right here.
MEGAN
Why are you being so negative about this? I have the right to hope for a miracle!
JEFF
Honey.
(Jeff reaches up to touch her face but
Megan turns away upset as she
breaks down in tears.)
MEGAN
It's not fair! The doctor said you were doing better.
JEFF
Honey, please don't cry. We knew this was going to happen eventually.
MEGAN
Eventually, yes...just not yet.
(Jeff takes her hand.)
JEFF
The doctors have done everything they can.
MEGAN
Not everything.
(She wipes away the tears.)
JEFF
What do you want them to do? They can't save everyone, sweetheart. They can't predict when a patient's heart is going to fail.
(Megan stands.)
MEGAN
So that's it, your giving up hope?
JEFF
No, honey please--
MEGAN
I'm tired Jeff. I can't sit here day after day watching you slowly slip away. I don't want you to just give up, I don't want to accept this...not yet.
JEFF
What do you want?
MEGAN
(In tears) I want more time.
(Jeff reaches for her, she sits back down
on the bed and lays her head on his chest.
Jeff puts his arms around her.)
JEFF
I... I wish I had more time to give you. I wish I had more time to be a father, to be there when our baby girl is born.
(Megan raises her head.)
MEGAN
Jeff...
(Jeff places his hands on the sides of her face.)
JEFF
(Emotional) You don't think I want what you want... I do. I want to be there to take care of both of you. I want to take away your fears and give you the comfort you need at night. I don't want to miss a moment looking into your eyes and seeing the most beautiful woman I know. I want to be there to hold our baby girl in my arms for the first time, to watch her take her first steps, to hear her say da da, to tuck her in at night. I want to watch her grow up into a beautiful young woman just like you.
MEGAN
Jeff, please don't do this to yourself your not--
JEFF
I've waited three years for this Megan. To have this opportunity. And now I'll never experience it.
(He places his hand on Megan's
stomach again.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
She... she won't even know who I am. Who's going to walk her down the isle on her wedding day, who's going to dance with her during the father daughter dance? I'll never get to watch my little girl grow up.
MEGAN
She'll know who you were--
JEFF
Only through photo's and the memories of others.
(She takes his hand, holding it until
he stops coughing.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
You shouldn't talk that way.
JEFF
Why does this have to happen now?
(He starts to cough some more.)
MEGAN
Your getting too excited, we'll beat this. I think you should get some rest, and stop thinking about it. Everything is going to be fine.
(Jeff takes her hand.)
JEFF
I don't need rest. I'll be fine... I don't want to miss one minute I could be with you.
(Megan looks nervous.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
I know this has been hard on you. I'm sorry. I love you, and I am a very fortunate man to have such a wonderful, devoted wife who is willing to give me the world. You're perfect in my eyes.
MEGAN
(In tears) I'm... I'm not perfect.
(Jeff raises his hand to her cheek.)
JEFF
You are to me.
(Megan buries her head in her hands
and sobs.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
Sweetheart, please don't--
MEGAN
I had an affair...
(Megan pauses.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
The baby might not be yours.
JEFF
What... what are you talking about?
MEGAN
I... I didn't know how to tell you, I was afraid you'd leave.
JEFF
Dang it, Megan!
(Jeff starts to cough and breath heavily.
Megan tries to help him, but he refuses to
allow her to help.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
(Short of breath) Why... why are you telling me this now?
MEGAN
I wanted to wait until she was born to do a paternity test, but then everything happened so fast... I don't want to live with the guilt.
(Megan lowers her head.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
(In tears) I want her to be yours.
JEFF
Did you think that would make everything alright?
MEGAN
Yes. I thought that if she was yours I wouldn't feel--
JEFF
Guilty?
(Megan doesn't look at him.)
MEGAN
Yes.
JEFF
Why did you allow me to go on and on talking like I was some proud father?
MEGAN
I don't know, I guess I wanted to believe it myself. I wanted to see you happy before... I'm so sorry.
(Megan gets up off the bed, and
starts for the door.)
JEFF
Who was it?
(Megan stops but keeps her back to him.)
MEGAN
It was Karl... from work.
JEFF
Karl? Not that jerk, Karl?
MEGAN
Yes.
JEFF
Geez... when did this happen and why Megan?
(Megan sits slowly in the chair next
to the door.)
MEGAN
It was the night I stayed late at work after you got the call from the doctor, about your heart condition. I was afraid I was losing you... I was vulnerable, he offered comfort and... I took it.
(Long pause.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
I'm... I'm so sorry. I should have told you. I'm a horrible wife, begging for mercy, for forgiveness.
JEFF
Three years we've been trying to have a baby Megan, three. And the moment you sleep with another man you get pregnant. How... how can I forgive you if I can't give you anymore chances of trust?
(He pauses.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
(Emotional) I'm out of chances.
(He erupts into another fit of coughing.
Megan walks slowly to the side of his bed.)
MEGAN
I love you with all of my heart. I made a mistake, and if I could, I'd take it back. I was weak, and you're right... its unforgivable.
JEFF
(Weak) Megan.
(Megan turns to look at him.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
I spent everyday for the last six months, holding you longer, loving you more than life itself. I feel like it has all been a waste.
MEGAN
Please don't say that.
(She takes his hand begging.)
JEFF
You made a choice...
(Jeff moves slower in his actions,
his voice is strained, and his breaths
are more shallow.)
MEGAN
Please.
JEFF
(Emotional) I wish... I had more time...
MEGAN
(In tears) She will always be yours.
(Megan places his hand on her stomach.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
Not a day will go by that she won't know who her father was, and how lucky I am to have had such a great husband who didn't deserve me. She'll be just like you, daddy's little girl.
(Jeff starts to cough. Megan breaks
down into sobs.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
God, please... not yet.
JEFF
Thank you...
(Jeff's breaths lessen, he tries
to lift his hand to her face.)
JEFF (CONT'D)
M... M... Megan?
MEGAN
Yes baby?
(Jeff tries to finish but no sound
comes out. He becomes still. and
silent.)
MEGAN (CONT'D)
Jeff?
(Megan buries her head in his chest
sobbing. Lights fade.)
THE END
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