Enough Is Enough!
Version 18 – February 25, 2016
Dr. Bob Boland & Team
In this man dominated world, it has taken over 2000 years for women to get the right to vote and the right to abortion. Now in 2016, women live ten years longer than men. Perhaps now WSM - Women are superior to men?
When women vote for women they can achieve women empowerment and control, to bring peace not war to the children of the world. Women do 60% of work in the world and get paid 10% of the income. Enough is really enough!!
The characters:
Bernard – accountant & MD
Kate – wife MD
Doctor
Priest
Palliative nurse
Lawyer
Old research professor
Actor
Politician
ACT 1 - The problem
ACT 2 - The revolutionary contacts - all very dramatic, hilarious and emotionally very determined:
Scene 1 - The new doctor
Scene 2 - The priest
Scene 3 - The palliative nurse
Scene 4 - The lawyer
Scene 5 - The old research professor
Scene 6 - The actor
Scene 7 - The politician
ACT 3 - The decision – two weeks later
Copyright 2016 RGAB/12
Story of the Play
Bernard and his wife Kate live together. Bernard strongly believes in women empowerment and control to bring peace and not war, to the children of the world. But now he is 90 years old and becoming feeble. He feels a bit embarrassed about being so old and still hanging around and believes that EXIT (Euthanasia) should now be legalized in the UK.
As an accountant he did so many things and even became an MD. Now he wonders whether enough really is enough. He is undecided and would like to have legal EXIT around if needed, as a way to be sure to leave only happy memories for his wife and children. With weakness he feels that Dr Alzheimer is coming, so he must act quickly, while he still can, so he (very bravely) asks his wife for her opinion.
His strong wife Kate is firmly opposed to both EXIT and politics, and believes that Bernard can still do so many things that he loves, despite a recent fall and injury to his shoulder. Although an MD, she believes laughter not EXIT, is the best medicine for a healthy happy life.
Bernard felt even more embarrassed and affected by a recent meeting with woman whose husband had just died after seven years of Motor-Neuron disease, while she cared for him at home. His doctors offered no solution except morphine, for suffering and her terrible memories of a helpless husband, who wanted to die, but was refused EXIT, because it was illegal in the UK.
To leave only happy active memories for his family, Bernard is decided on EXIT legality and action. Kate is firmly opposed, and searches for a new solution to avoid an EXIT tragedy for Bernard. So she tries hard with seven very dramatic, almost hilarious contact meetings, to change his mind. The contacts include a new doctor, priest, palliative nurse, lawyer, research professor, actor and a politician.
The final contact is with a wonderful male (not female) politician. But Kate does not believe in politics, and feels she is not good enough to help Bernard for Women Empowerment, which is one of his lifetime dreams.
Finally with new developments, Bernard and Kate find a very creative solution together.
ACT 1 – THE PROBLEM
Bernard & Kate together at home
B: Kate my dear. Enough is enough. I have a problem Kate. I’ve got to resolve it now. I need your advice, please?
K: What is the new problem today, dear. You have a problem every day.
B: I am 90 years old. I feel so old and embarrassed about still hanging around and not being able to do things. I strongly believe in women empowerment, but I cannot achieve it. In this man dominated world it has taken over 2000 years for women to get the right to vote and the right to abortion.
If women were in charge we would by now, all have legal right, like Belgium, Switzerland and some US states, to decide when and how to EXIT. Alas that has not come about in the UK yet. But it will!
K: We are trying hard, dear. Don’t feel guilty. You do your best.
B: Yes, but do you realize that in 2016 in some countries… the mothers want boys not girls. They sometimes let the daughters die. They insist (with the grandmother support) on actually doing crude sex surgery on 12 year old girls. They may not educate the girls but will force them to marry very old men-
K: My problem too.
B: Really? And to accept being beaten as normal.
K: No, I don’t buy that!
B: No available divorce except with family rejection…and so overall they prefer to have sons not daughters.
K: I don’t think it happened to me, dear.
B: No. You were not an African. But in history, there is a wonderful story of Captain Thomas Sankara took in 1983 took over in Burkina Faso, and in only four years, changed all of the women cultural atrocities?
K: Really?
N: Yes, but then in 1987, the old European colonial style governments encouraged Thomas’s best friend, Gilbert Diendere, a former mercenary, to assassinate Thomas, to take over to change everything back to what it was?
K: Why,, dear? Did they really do it?
B: Yes because Thomas had begun to make worldwide visits to the UN in New York and so many other African countries to encourage revolution. He wanted to reject the old colonial influences, and to change the culture for women equality and freedom!
K: The old men would never put up with that-
B: True indeed- And incidentally he wanted all African countries to cancel all debts due to the World Bank and the IMF - International Monetary Fund. Alas too revolutionary for western politics, so they objected, and arranged an assassination.
K: So was it all about money, dear?
B: Yes indeed money is a terrible influence on politics. But now for me, enough is enough!!! We need to change things, like Sankara. Now in 2016, women live ten years longer than men. If you women would vote… every time …and vote only for women …you could achieve women empowerment and legal EXIT. But you won’t! You women are so difficult, dear. Why won’t you do it?
K: I am an MD, Bernard. Not good enough for politics. That is a job for fat old men.
B: Not true, dear. WSM! In 2016 you women are superior to men. With women in control, you could bring peace not war to the children of the world. Enough is enough of this man dominated world. And you should do it while you can. Perhaps even you are getting old!
K: No I’m not! Dammit, I still sleep in the same room as my teeth!
B: I wish I could.
K: But seriously, women are coming, dear. They have just got the vote in Saudi Arabia this week. But of course they are not allowed to drive cars. Only bicycles. Properly dressed of course. Not showing anything off … it might create some entanglement problems.
B: Yes, but you women don’t all vote. And you don’t vote for women to take control. In the world. You vote for the fat old men, who keep you down! But do you realize that you women do 60% of the work, and get paid only 10% of the income.
K: Should we be in control of everything, dear? I have quite enough trouble, just controlling you.
B: Why? You have waited 2000 years. Stop holding back from women empowerment. Men are 97% at the top in both politics and business. They control with C&C …
K: C&C?
B: Yes. Cash and contacts. I am getting old and losing my memory. Enough is enough. You women deserve equality and should take control. Alas I have wanted to help you do it … but … now… I am getting too feeble, and my memory is going.
K: Going where dear?
B: To hell!
K: Too true and your hearing too, but I don’t complain, so why should you?
B: What did you say, please?
K: I said please put in your hearing aid, Bernard.
B: Yes, I will later, But I’ve had two falls and hurt my shoulder in two places.
K. Well don’t go back to either of them again!
B: On the stairs! My right arm is so weak now.
K: Yes dear. And you were just bringing me up some tea, when you fell over on the top step.
B: Perhaps I am just getting Dr Alzheimer. Memory just fading away. I still do some useful things like teaching and helping people with IRS tax problems. But with this weakness, perhaps it may be time for me to get EXIT legalized and then use it?
K: Aren’t you frightened of dying, Bernard? Most people are.
B: Not at all. Lucretius in 30 BC and wrote a book – The Nature of Things. He suggested every human being is formed from a complex distribution of invisible particles and when he or she dies, the particles reform into other forms of life. So, what should people want? Answer: to be alive and be happy, with no fear of the Gods or of death. His advice, seek a simple happy life with freedom from pain and trouble, and enjoy it.
K: Agreed my dear love. Seems still true today after 2000 years!
B: So we have to laugh at death and keep busy while we can. But with this weakness, perhaps it may be the time for me to go?
K: Go where? You sometimes make me furious. Don’t be ridiculous Bernard. Dr Alzheimer is not here with you yet.
B: He is probably too busy, with other people. Alzheimer is everywhere.
K: So just laugh and shut up! My Zander book, says: Every day is a chance to be do new things and be happy.
B: So sorry dear. I just want to pass on quickly, not hang about. I want to leave only happy memories behind. Don’t want to get you upset though. So you do read that lovely book by Zander on ¨¨The Art of Possibility¨¨? Rule 6: Laugh and don’t take yourself too seriously …
K: For you too, Bernard. You have talents, family, cash and love. How can you want to go? Absolutely impossible. Do you need another Gin & Tonic, now?
B: Of course I do, but not yet please. Not yet. I have given it up …until after breakfast.
K: So now what brought all of this on with you today? Something has happened?
B: Yes, you always know my thoughts, almost before I express them – body language is so powerful.
K: Yes, and body language always tells the truth.
B: A key women quality! Makes them WSM. Woman superior to man.
K: Yes, and I can remember things too.
B: Too true. But I now tend to forget … most sad things… and also I do forget most of your kind instructions. But … yesterday, I was helping a women who came to me with IRS tax problems over the death of her husband. IRS tax problems, still my specialty. All free of course, as an IRS official volunteer.
K: Is this a tax or a medical or a sex problem, Bernard?
B: All. Anyway I resolved the tax problem and then somehow she related the story of her husband who just died. He was incapacitated for seven years with Motor-Neuron disease. Can you imagine it?
K: My God!!! Even worse than you. Motor-Neuron disease causes progressive paralysis with no hope of cure.
B: Well, for seven long years she cared for him at home, dressing, feeding, toilet, napkins, undressing etc. The works!!! All done for care in her home.
K: She told you all this? There are always alternatives you know. G&T is yours.
B: Yes alternatives are my thing. But her doctors offered no solution, except morphine for the husband’s pain. They said EXIT was illegal in the UK!
So he became a doped vegetable. She had seven years of suffering with a helpless husband on morphine.
K: Well I hope you don’t follow that alternative. I would be a bit upset.
B: Me too!
K: But perhaps morphine was the best medical practice in those days, for suffering and no possible cure?
B: Surely not. With depression and great pain, and no G&T, he wanted to die. But doctors refused to help. Why? Because it was illegal, so they wanted to protect their medical licenses. No one offered EXIT – Euthanasia to relieve the suffering of them both.
K: EXIT? Doctor assisted dying? Surely G&T is easier?
B. For me up to now, agreed. But now I want EXIT be legally available (like in the book 1984) for those with suffering. No one wants to make suicide too easy for depressed people, because most of them recover and enjoy life again, with a bit of G&T.
K: I do enjoy life myself. But then I am not yet a case of Motor-Neuron disease.
B: Not yet dear. Well I believe in legal EXIT for the terminally ill. Doctor-assisted death with EXIT on grounds of mental suffering should be legally allowed. Stephen Hawking has described keeping someone alive against his wishes as ¨¨ The Ultimate Indignity”.
K: “The Ultimate Indignity”. Does not apply to you, my dear Bernard. Well not yet anyway.
B: Just a bit.
K: Now, don’t rush Bernard, You have eleven more years to decide. Your mother died at 101! Does not apply to you, dear.
B: Alas now it does apply, my dear. But I don’t want to leave you with eleven years of suffering.
K: Well, I have done pretty well putting up with suffering with you for 38 years, Bernard. So just 11 more years of hell is nothing. I have got so used to it.
B: Oh dear. I hope that is a joke. Am I really hell to live with?
K: Only occasionally, Bernard. You have done so many things in your life and you have resolved so many impossible problems. Trouble is with your poor memory, you have forgotten them. Can you remember them?
B: I only tend to remember good old things. Not bad new ones! My motto was always … It’s impossible … so let’s do it anyway!!!
K: Well try to remember, now? You have had such an adventurous life.
B: Too true. I started with some exciting bookkeeping at 16 years of age.