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A Simple Procedure: A Play in One Act
Setting: A hospital room in a suburban teaching hospital. There is a chair to the right (stage right) of the bed with a large stuffed bear in it. There are a few books and a box of chocolates on the bedside stand. The door to the room is stage left.
Characters: Sarah Williams, 72 years of age. She is dressed in a blue gown and a matching robe.
Ken Porter, MD, 38 years of age. He is wearing a wrinkled white coat.
At curtain up, SARAH is lying in bed, watching the television that is located over the audience. KEN enters the stage after knocking; he does not wait for SARAH's permission. He is carrying SARAH's chart.
Sarah: Come in; oh, you did.
Ken: Ms. Williams?
Sarah: Mrs. Williams. Sarah Williams.
Ken: Dr. Porter.
Sarah: Nice to meet you.
Ken: Dr. Janson asked me to see you.
Sarah: She did?
Ken: Yes, she wanted me to examine you.
Sarah: Well, she's already done that. Not to mention every medical student who's walked through those doors.
Ken: I am not a medical student.
Sarah: And all of the residents. I've lost count how many have been here in the past 3 days.
Ken: I am not a resident.
Sarah: You know, I may just start charging them to examine me. What would be a fair price?
Ken: What?
Sarah: A fair price? Let's say a quarter to feel my … This is my liver over here, isn't it?
Ken: Yes.
Sarah: Well, a quarter for the liver. And for my heart, it would be 50 cents. So they could listen to the murmur. That's what it's called, isn't it?
Ken: Yes.
Sarah: Then 50 cents for the heart.
Ken: I'm only interested in your liver.
Sarah: But if you want, I'll …
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
