As Sophia sits on her bed…
Her finger hovers over the FaceTime button.
Then calls her boyfriend, Jackson, who’s on a business trip in Seattle.
Jackson
I miss you so much.
Sophia
Fine, but Jackson…
Sophia
I have something to tell you.
Jackson
Sophia…have you been crying?
Sophia
I think I might be pregnant.
Sophia nods and trembles.
Sophia
You need to know something, Jackson.
Jackson
You’ve been cheating on me?!!!
Jackson
Well, you and I have never had sex—
Jackson
So you did *not* get pregnant because of me.
Jackson
So, you’re not cheating, and it’s not me…
Jackson
Are you going to say you got pregnant from a toilet seat?
Jackson
How stupid do you think I am?
Sophia
Jackson, I swear to you…
Sophia
I have no idea how this happened.
Sophia
You have to believe me.
Sophia
Have I ever lied to you before?
Sophia looks at Jackson pleadingly.
Jackson
Okay, let’s back up here.
Jackson
You said you *think* you’re pregnant.
Jackson
Have you been to the doctor to confirm it?
Jackson laughs, too loudly.
Jackson
Well, then, it’s some kind of mistake.
Sophia
But I’ve taken three different pregnancy tests.
Sophia
Yvette told me I should do that.
Jackson
You told *her* before you told *me*?
Sophia
Listen, I know you can’t stand Yvette—
Jackson
Only because she can’t stand me—
Sophia
But she’s my best friend.
Sophia
And she’s a biologist.
Sophia
She knows about this kind of stuff.
Sophia
So, I bought tests from three different companies…
Sophia
Like she told me to do.
Sophia holds up the pregnancy tests so Jackson can see them.
Then she starts sobbing again.
Sophia
And they all say I’m pregnant.
Jackson
Okay, yes, all signs point to you being pregnant…
Jackson
But you should still go to a doctor to be sure.
Sophia
Yvette said I should wait until she gets back from her conference tomorrow.
Sophia
She said there might be an explanation…
Sophia
For why the tests would be positive.
Jackson
You know, the more I think about it…
Jackson
The more I think I’m being played.
Sophia
But why would I tell you about this at all…
Sophia
If it wasn’t true?
Then shakes his head in confusion.
Jackson
Listen, I’ve gotta go.
Jackson
I need to clear my head…
Jackson
And think about what I’m going to do.
Sophia
Jackson, the wedding…
Sophia
I’m sending the invitations out next week.
Jackson
Yeah, well, maybe we need to wait on that.
Jackson
Maybe I’ll call you later.
Jackson hangs up the phone.
He goes over everything he and Sophia have ever done physically…
There’s no way the baby could be his…
*If* Sophia’s even pregnant at all.
But why lie about being pregnant?
Unless the three pregnancy tests are wrong…
Unless she slept with someone else.
But why tell him she’s pregnant…
If it’s someone else’s child?
And his mind just keeps spinning round and round.
Sophia is still reeling from the results of her pregnancy tests and her call with Jackson…
When she sees a shadowy figure in the hallway.
Terrified, she picks up a large vase…
And is ready to throw it…
When she sees her best friend Yvette step into the bedroom.
She lets out a sigh of relief…
Then sets the vase back down and sits on her bed.
Sophia
I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow?
Yvette
I decided to leave the conference early.
Sophia
You should have rung the bell.
Yvette
I let myself in with my key…
Yvette
I was afraid you might be sleeping.
Sophia
But it’s only 9 p.m…
Yvette sits down on the bed next to Sophia.
Yvette
Yes, but someone in your condition…
Yvette
Needs lots of rest.
Sophia
Yvette, I don’t understand…
Sophia
I can’t possibly be pregnant!
Yvette
Can I see the tests?
Sophia takes the three tests off her dresser and hands them to Yvette…
Who looks at them excitedly.
Yvette
Of course, we’ll want to confirm it at my lab…
Yvette
But it definitely looks like you’re going to have a baby.
Sophia
Jackson thinks I cheated on him…
Sophia
But I swear I didn’t.
Sophia
You believe me, don’t you, Yvette?
Yvette
Of COURSE I believe you!
Yvette
You would never cheat on Jackson.
Yvette
He’s such a jerk to accuse you of that—
Yvette
Why would you want to marry someone who’s so jealous?
Yvette
He doesn’t deserve you.
Sophia
Do we have to go over this again?
Sophia
I’ve told you — when I met Jackson, I just knew…
Sophia
That he was the love of my life—
Sophia
That he was my soulmate.
Sophia
But now it looks like he might call off the wedding…
She gestures at the pregnancy tests.
Tears spill down Sophia’s cheeks again.
She looks imploringly at Yvette.
Sophia
You said there might be an explanation for this.
Sophia
What could it possibly be?
Yvette gets up from the bed.
She walks around the room in circles a few times…
Then stops and faces Sophia.
Yvette
Sophia, there’s something I haven’t told you.
Yvette
It’s about those pills I gave you.
Sophia looks confused for a moment.
Sophia
You mean those vitamins?
Yvette
They weren’t vitamins.
Yvette
They were part of a project at my lab.
Sophia’s jaw drops in shock.
She looks down at her stomach.
Sophia
Experimenting on me?
Yvette smiles forebodingly.
Yvette
You make it sound so clinical…
Yvette
It’s not like that.
Yvette
I’ve been working on a project called ‘Double X.’
Yvette
It’s going to change the world, Sophia!
Yvette
And you’re going to go down in history…
Yvette
As the one who started it all.
Sophia looks in horror at Yvette.
Sophia
What have you done to me?!!
Yvette
Something wonderful…
Yvette
Something miraculous!
Yvette
You see, I’ve found a way to bring about pregnancy in a woman…
Yvette
Without using sperm.
Yvette
So, women who want to become pregnant…
Yvette
Won’t need men at all!
Yvette
They can just take a pill and become pregnant—
Sophia can’t believe what she’s hearing.
Sophia
But you did this to me without my knowledge…
Sophia
Without asking my consent!
Yvette
It was for the greater good, Sophia.
Yvette
You’ll come to see that.
Suddenly, Sophia is very frightened.
She grabs her phone and tries to text Jackson…
But Yvette knocks the phone out of her hand.
Then Sophia tries to run out of the bedroom…
But Yvette grabs her and pushes her back onto the bed.
Then she pulls a cloth out of her pocket…
And places it over Sophia’s nose and mouth.
In an instant, Sophia’s world goes completely dark.
She looks around, taking in her surroundings
She’s in a dimly lit, windowless room…
Filled with colorful artwork…
And bookshelves full of books.
The sheets are luxuriously soft, the mattress extremely comfortable.
Just then, Yvette enters the room, holding a cup of tea.
Sophia shrinks back in fear.
Yvette sets the tea on the nightstand and sits on the bed…
Yvette
Don’t be afraid, my dearest Sophia.
Yvette
It’s for the best—
Yvette
This way, I can monitor you at all times.
Yvette
Don’t you like the way I decorated your room?
Yvette
You have all kinds of books to read…
She gestures to a 48-inch TV screen on the wall—
Yvette
And I’ve hired a chef to cook you the most nutritious meals.
Sophia
I don’t care how nice it is!
Sophia
Let me out of here!!!
Sophia leaps up out of bed and rushes to the door…
But of course, it’s locked.
Yvette takes her by the arm, leading her back to the bed.
Yvette
You shouldn’t upset yourself like this—
Yvette
It’s not good for the baby.
Yvette
Have some tea, my dearest.
She’d forgotten about the baby!
She puts a hand on her stomach.
Sophia
Did you really create a pill that can make women pregnant?
Yvette
Yes, and not only that…
Yvette
I was able to mix two X chromosomes together in the pill…
Yvette
To make *sure* that the baby is a girl.
Yvette
It took long hours of work in the lab…
Yvette
But it was worth it.
Sophia
But…what about Jackson?
Yvette gives Sophia a triumphant smile.
Yvette
You won’t need Jackson—
