LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Drama Submission 2005

Andrea Cox

Delivery

Characters 

Karen-student (dumb blond)

Daniel-student/youth minister

Dr. White-creative writing professor

Alissa/Jamie-pregnant student

Mary Kay-student/retired military

Bonnie-sarcastic student

Tara-student

Alissa-student

Jennifer-student

Amy-student

Sherry-student

Lindsay-student

Devon-student

Micah-student and EMT

Andrea-EMT 

Concept: Can a group of diverse peers make it through a tough challenge set for them?

Theme: God gives people the courage to challenge fate and take charge.

[Students are in the hall pacing. Daniel and Dr. White have just returned from looking for help and have joined the pacers in the hallway outside the classroom. A very pregnant Jamie is laying on the table--knees up and shoulders and head supported by jackets, clothing, and book bags. Bonnie is wiping the perspiration from Jamie’s face glancing toward the door anxiously]

Karen: [Enters into the room] How is she? [Her face scanning Jamie’s swollen belly]

Bonnie: [stressed out] How the hell am I supposed to know? I’m not a freaking nurse.

Jamie: [Trying to look at Bonnie and Karen] She is hurting something fierce and lying on a damn uncomfortable classroom table.

Karen: [To Jamie] Just take it easy. The baby will arrive in its own good time and then one day you will be able to tell this story to your grandchildren.

Jamie: [Panting and sweating-she mutters between clenched teeth] Take it easy! I’m about to give birth to a baby on a classroom table without medical help and you want me to take it easy.  [She whispers where only Bonnie can hear her] Oh, please God help me and get some help here in time.

Bonnie: [Wipes Jamie’s face] Daniel and Dr. White went to find some help. [To Karen] Karen, SHUT UP! You’re not helping Jamie and you’re irritating the hell out of me.  Go boil some water.

Karen: Where am I supposed to boil water?

Jamie: Your house!

Bonnie: And bring it back tomorrow!

[Karen stomps out]

[Out in the hall students are pacing and thinking. Dr. White is trying to get help using his cell phone]

Dr. White: [Cell phone to his ear talking standing among the group of students] Can you hear me? [moves away from the students] Can you hear me now? [moves further away] CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? [hangs up cell phone]  Damn it! Does anyone have a cell phone that has more than one bar showing?

[dialogues are private thoughts]

Amy: Man, am I starving.

Tara: Can we just go home?

Alissa: How long does it take to deliver a baby?

Jennifer: Does she have to scream like that?

Daniel: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Sherry: Where are the EMT’s?

Lindsay: What should I cook for dinner?

Devon: I wonder if this affects our participation grade.

Micah: I bet he still makes us take the final exam. Damn.

Dr. White: I need to get a new cell phone that has good service.

[End of dialogue. hear Jamie scream and everyone in the hall turns toward the door]

[In the classroom]

Jamie: I’m gonna die, the baby is coming. I can—[Jamie screams]

Bonnie: For God’s sakes you’re not going to die. With all the technology available now-a-days Dick Van Dyke/George Burns (?) will live to be 200.

[Jamie tries to laugh]

Bonnie: Let me check and see if the guys have found anyone to help.

[Just then Dr. White peeps his head around the corner]

Dr. White:  Help is on the way! [To Bonnie] Mary Kay said she can help. She has some military experience and Daniel said he could help if you don’t mind more people in here.

Jamie: [to Dr. White] I don’t care who the hell’s in here just as long as you get this thing out of me!

Bonnie: Get them in here now if we have to wait for help from Clearlake we may be here awhile. [To Jamie] With their help you would surely die.

[The girls’ chuckle] [Dr. White (head) exits. Enter Daniel and Mary Kay]

Mary Kay: [To Bonnie] How is she?

Bonnie: Why does everyone keep asking me how is she? [raises her voice] Still pregnant! I DON’T KNOW.

Jamie: [To Mary Kay] She is ready to kill her husband for getting her in this situation and this table isn’t getting any softer damn it.

[A series of contractions comes swift and hard. Jamie screams. Mary Kay checks Jamie’s progress]

Mary Kay: It’s okay Jamie. Everything is under control. I learned about this sort of thing in the service.

Bonnie/Daniel: [simultaneously] Thank God. Now we’re getting somewhere.

Jamie: Were you a nurse or one of those Corp man people?

Mary Kay: No, I worked in the motor pool, but I saw this happen in a movie once.

Jamie/Daniel: [simultaneously] God help us all.

[all became silent and then Jamie’s sudden scream tore through the classroom and the hall]

[Outside in the hall]

Micah: [to Karen] I bet it’s a boy.

Karen: Nah, it’ll be a girl.

Jennifer: It’s going to be twins!

Dr. White: The janitors are going to have a time at cleaning up that mess.

Lindsay: Daniel shouldn’t be in there. That is no place for a man to be.

Micah: From the sound of it. It’s not a place a woman either.

[Inside the classroom]

Mary Kay: Holy mother of---

Daniel: Mary KAY!

Mary Kay: The baby is coming.

Bonnie: I can’t do this. [turns to leave]

Daniel: [grabs her arm] Don’t you dare let her down. We need to help Mary Kay anyway we can.

Bonnie: [to Daniel] How can you expect me to help deliver this baby?

Daniel: Mary Kay said she had some experience.

Mary Kay: From watching television, you idiot, and besides in the movies the baby seems to just pop out like jack in the box.

Bonnie: I’m outta here. [slaps Daniels hand to release her]

Daniel: Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee… 2 Timothy 1:6

Bonnie: Okay! Okay, I’ll help her but shut up.

Jamie: [grabs the table edge] For God’s sake help me or leave. [screams and grabs Mary Kay’s shirt] On second thought don’t leave.

Mary Kay: [positioning for delivery] Here we go. [to Jamie] Push with all your strength. I can see the baby’s head. It’s coming.

Bonnie: [to Jamie] You’re doing just fine. 

Mary Kay: One more time. One more push. [Baby arrives]

Mary Kay: [cleans and hand the baby to Jamie] You have a beautiful baby girl.

                                    [Bonnie goes to the door and announces the arrival of the baby]

Bonnie: [to the hallway students] It’s a girl.

Karen: [looks to Micah] Told you!

[Everyone rushes into the classroom--including the arrival of the EMT’s]

EMT’s: We got a call that someone was having a baby. Where is she?

Jamie: She is here. [to the group] I couldn’t have had better doctors.  Thank you!

EMT’s: We better get you to the hospital to be checked out. [they get Jamie prepared and leave]

[class is standing around chatting with one another]

Mary Kay: Oh, Thank heavens that is over.

Bonnie: I couldn’t agree with you more

Jennifer: You both did a great job.

Lindsay: [to Mary Kay] I bet you, Bonnie, and Daniel get to go home while we have to take the final.

[Dr. White claps his hands to get everyone’s attention]

Dr. White: In light of what has happened. There will be no final exam-Class dismissed.