Roger (40) and Lisa (42), the parents of Becky(14), are in the kitchen, having a cup of late night herbal tea, and discussing their daughter. Roger is a journalist and Lisa is a C.P.A.
Roger: You what?
Lisa: I made an appointment at the gynecologist. For Becky.
Roger: For what?
Lisa: To be fitted for a diaphragm.
Roger: What are you thinking? She's only 14. She doesn't need a diaphragm.
Lisa: Not now. But I want her to be prepared.
Roger: She doesn't have a boyfriend. Why are you pushing her?
Lisa: I'm not pushing her into anything. Face reality, Roger.
Roger: What reality?
Lisa: I lost my virginity at 16. And that was 30 years ago. Kids are doing it, Roger. Younger and younger. I had to go to a clinic by myself. I took the bus to Far Rockaway, and there were pregnant teenagers in that waiting room. I'm not taking any chances with Becky.
Roger: But she's not ready. She's a baby. She's innocent.
Lisa: Get a grip, Roger. She's surrounded by it. It's in the air. It's on the street. It's everywhere.
Roger: We don't let her watch R rated movies.
Lisa: It doesn't matter. I want her to know how to protect herself. I want her to know we love her and we care about her. And we're not going to treat her like a baby. We're going to respect her. And she can be open and honest with us.
Roger: Open and honest. This isn't Jerry Springer, Lisa. I don't want open and honest. I don't want her to be having sex.
Lisa: I don't want her to have sex either, Roger. But kids are. Loads of high school kids. Most of them.
Roger: Where are you getting your facts?
Lisa: I've heard it. I've read it. My friends tell me. Roger, I want her to be safe.
Roger: Don't assume that she's gonna go out and find a guy. She's not like that. She hangs around with lots of kids, lots of guys. It's better that way.
Lisa: Spare me. She may not be dating now. But she will soon.
Becky walks into the kitchen from her bedroom upstairs.
Becky: You're talking about me, aren't you? I heard you.
Lisa: What did you hear?
Becky: If I want birth control, I'll get it myself Mom.
Roger: Your mother is trying to protect you.
Becky: I'm not a baby. And I don't need you protecting me.
Lisa: We need to talk about this, Becky. Girls your age are having unprotected sex. And I don't want you to.
Becky: Great. Some girls are having unprotected sex, so you assume I'll be one of the stupid ones.
Lisa: It's not like that.
Becky: Just cause you were one of those 60s hippie chicks who danced at Woodstock, Mom.
Lisa: Becky, your father and I love you. And we trust you. But I know what it's like to be a teenager.
Becky: You do not. There was no AIDS when you were in high school. And you were into that free-love thing. C'mon Mom, you were smoking pot and weaving shawls. You're clueless.
Roger: Lisa, what we did wasn't always the best thing. We made a lot of mistakes.
Becky: So let me make my own mistakes. If and when I have sex, I'm not going to prepare for it with a family meeting. I'll do it my own way in my own time and I'm not going to make a public announcement. And I'd appreciate it if you would stop dishing about me behind my back.
Lisa: I made an appointment for you, Becky. And we're going to go. You need to be checked and informed and educated. You're not going to put yourself at risk.
Roger: Leave her alone, Lisa.
Becky: When I want birth control Mom, I'll go get it, alone.
Becky walks out of the room.
Roger: I don't know why you had to start with her, Lisa. Why can't you just leave well enough alone?
Lisa: Well enough isn't enough for me. And it shouldn't be good enough for you either.
