Hillary

A radio play, commissioned by C.B.C. radio. Hillary is a young woman whose female relatives have a strong history of breast cancer. She would like to have genetic testing done to see if she has the defective gene which caused her grandmother’s death. Her mother is against it, as this would also indicate whether she has it or not.

Drama. 20 minutes. 4 females, 1 male.

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Excerpt

Hillary © Talia Pura

This excerpt may not be used for any purpose whatsoever. Rights to produce, in whole
or in part, by any group, amateur or professional, are retained by the author.

Scene 2: In Karen’s car

1. HILLARY (NAR): My aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer
five years ago. Two years later a test was
developed that would have told her if it was
caused by a genetic mutation in the BRCA
gene. Our family history is riddled with
ovarian and breast cancer. That made us all
prime candidates for the test. Slowly, family
lines were drawn between those women
carrying the mutation and those who had
escaped the curse. Of course, some preferred
not to know.

2. SOUND/MUSIC: CAR DRIVING. CAR RADIO PLAYING
MUSIC SOFTLY, UNDER:

3. AUNT JEAN: I really appreciate you two giving me a ride
back to the city.

4. KAREN: It’s never a problem, Aunt Jean.

5. AUNT JEAN: Do you think we could stop for a smoke
break in half an hour? I don’t know why
they couldn’t use the old cemetery in the
city like your cousin did.

6. KAREN: My mom’s family came from this area.

7. AUNT JEAN: Well, I hope that’s the last funeral that I
have to attend until my own.

1. HILLARY: It’s so awful that Auntie Beth got cancer
before the test was available.

2. KAREN: It just wasn’t meant to be.

3. HILLARY: She could have stopped it, like Aunt Gwen.

4. KAREN: Oh God, that’s one drastic insurance policy.
I still can’t believe that Gwen cut off her
breasts and had her ovaries removed.

5. AUNT JEAN: Yes, pretty drastic. You know, I was talking
to Gwen the other day and she said, “Oh,
she said, at least now I know that I’m safe,”
she said. Humph. Good thing that test
wasn’t around in my day. Who wants to
know that you’re a ticking time bomb, for
crying out loud?

6. KAREN: Right. And anyway, even if you carry the
gene, it isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get
cancer.

7. HILLARY: It ups your chances one hell of a lot. Didn’t
you ever worry about getting cancer, Aunt
Jean?

8. AUNT JEAN: No, never did. As I was saying to my bridge
club the other day, I says, “half my family
died of cancer, I says, but I guess that the
good Lord saw fit to spare me,” I says, “or
He would have taken me by now,” I said. So
I just live every day as it comes.

1. KAREN: Amen to that.

2. HILLARY: But mom. You could just as easily be facing
a horrible death, as be one of the lucky ones.

3. AUNT JEAN: Lord love us, child. Don’t go scarring your
mother like that. Not after that sad, sad
funeral.

4. HILLARY: But that’s just it. I don’t get why you don’t
want to take the test so you can stop
worrying about it.

5. KAREN: Or start! What would I do differently if I had
that mutated gene? A little mutilating
surgery? No thanks. I’ll just have my regular
mammograms and check ups and try to live
with a little hope.