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*Janice 36 She/Her, Coma Moms Eldest and only Daughter
*Derrik 27 He/Him, Coma Moms Youngest and only Son
*Harriet Beverly 67 She/Her, Coma Mom
*Dr. Johnathan Caughman 42 He/Him, Coma Moms Doctor
*Cathy 23 She/Her, Coma Moms Nurse
(Setting is a hospital room, white sheets on a bed in the middle of the room, with 4 chairs, 2 against a wall by the door, 2 on either side of the bed, medical equipment by the bed.)
(Harriet Beverly is in a coma, on the hospital bed, her daughter, Janice in the chair farthest from the door, by the bed.)
JANICE: I’m so sorry mom. I’m just so sorry.
(Cathy walks in.)
CATHY: Ma’am, do you have any other family members you would like to call to... discuss your options?
JANICE: Wh- What? No. Uh, I’m sorry, yes actually. My brother Derrik. Derrik Beverly, I don’t have his number, but I assure you he’s in your system.
CATHY: Um, all right Ma’am, I’ll look him up.
JANICE: Just Janice.
CATHY: Hm?
JANICE: You keep calling me Ma’am, Janice is just fine.
(Cathy walks out.)
(Derrik walks in.)
DERRIK: Hey big sis, long time no see.
JANICE: Yeah? And whose fault is that?
DERRIK: Hers, and her selfish choices.
JANICE: Don’t you dare talk about mom like that.
(Derrik paces the room.)
DERRIK: Would you rather me blame you? For leaving to go to college so far away from us, I was only 9 and my sister was gone.
JANICE: Why do you always bring this up? It’s not all about you. We’re here because we have to decide what to do with mom. That’s why I had them call you.
DERRIK: Pretty sad you don’t have your own brother's number.
(Janice glares.)
JANICE: Pretty sad the hospital does.
(They stare at each other for a moment.)
DERRIK: So, we’re here to unplug her. That’s an easy choice.
JANICE: No, it’s not. The doctor should be here soon, just shut up and listen when he gets here.
(Dr. Johnathan Caughman walks in and shakes hands with Derrik then Janice.)
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: Hello, Mrs. Beverly and, may I ask your name sir?
JANICE: Janice is just fine, and it’s Ms., this is my brother, Derrik.
DERRIK: I can speak for mysel- (Said in quick annoyed tone but was cut off by Janice.)
JANICE: Dr. Caughman, thank you for coming to talk to me, us, personally, so what are our options?
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: I’m sorry I don’t have good news for you. Your mother, Harriet, is brain dead. The most viable option would be to stop life support-
(Derrik now leaning against the wall interrupts.)
DERRIK: Cool, where do I sign?
JANICE: (Yelling) DERRIK GET OUT, IF YOU’RE GOING TO ACT LIKE THIS, GET. OUT.
(Derrik rolls his eyes and snickers to himself.)
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: I’m sorry, should I come back...
JANICE: No. Continue, please.
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: The most viable option would be to stop life support, in time she would pass, or we can look into treatment facilities, for permanent residency.
(Pause of silence with both siblings looking at the floor)
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: May I ask, who is her Proxy?
DERRIK: What is a Proxy?
JANICE: I am, I’m her Proxy. Derrik, you of all people should know. Mom is... was, yours. Or were you too out of it to even remember signing the papers?
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: Okay! Well then, Janice, it is your decision. But you may discuss it with your brother. Let us know of your decision and we’ll make arrangements. Cathy will be back in momentarily.
DERRIK: Janice, why? Why do you always bring it up? Everytime I see you, I can’t catch a break with you. I haven’t even met your daughter.
JANICE: I don’t care whatever mixed up story you have in your head, it’s not my fault you’re a junky and I’m not having that around my daughter. Ever. Get clean and then we can talk but it’s not on me. So, stop blaming me for your problems.
DERRIK: Just drop it.
JANICE: I didn’t pick it up.
DERRIK: Might’ve.
(The siblings have a long silence)
DERRIK: What are you gonna do about mom?
JANICE: She’s dead. She’s breathing infront of us but she’s dead. I can’t afford a facility, and we both know you can’t. I don’t think we have another option.
DERRIK: You.
JANICE: What?
DERRIK: You said we just you, you’re the one she assigned her Proxy.
JANICE: Don’t act like this isn’t a shared decision. Let alone the fact you were ready to unplug her the minute you walked in.
DERRIK: What will I do, what am I supposed to do, when she’s gone? I got no one. I’m alone.
JANICE: She left you her house. Don’t destroy it please.
DERRIK: How do you... nevermind. Okay.
JANICE: So, we shut off life support, are we agreed.
DERRIK: Yeah. We can let her go. She’s already gone.
(Derrik sits on the chair furthest away by the door, and they sit in silence waiting for Cathy.)
(Cathy walks in silence holding some medical things.)
JANICE: Can you get the doctor and tell him we made a decision?
CATHY: Sure thing ma’am.
JANICE: Janice (Said in an annoyed tone.)
(Cathy hustles out.)
(Dr. Johnathan Caughman walks in with 2 sets of paperwork)
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: So, we’ve made a decision?
DERRIK: Okay. We decided to unpl- take off life support.
DR. JOHNATHAN CAUGHMAN: Okay.
(They sign the paperwork she passes, the end.)