Doc speaks directly to the listener.

DOC
Always liked making things. Made a nativity scene one Christmas when I was eight. Early work, of course. But I was proud of it. Put a lot of effort into it. That's what mastery takes. Effort and time. Ma and Pa never took to my things. (pause) But the children... children always like what I make. Little angels, all of them. (pause) Ma and Pa had the idea I should go into doctoring. Probably 'cause that's what they reckoned would make a decent man out of me! (chuckles) (pause) That and on account of my other interests. (pause) The miracle of birth. Always a blessed day. What keeps me going, really. Newborns. The children's finger painting up at the school. My own whittling. Pediatrics is what saved me. See, I’d do anything for the children.

Doc is looking in on a patient, Irene, who is suffering from an obsession and must be tied down to the bed. She got one of her hands free and did a great deal of self-harm. Doc is confronted by the patient’s mother, Helen, who blames Doc and others in the town. Do not record Helen’s lines, they are included for reference.

DOC

I'm gonna sedate her. Some of these scratches and tears are deep. They need stitches.

HELEN

She don't feel nothin’. She don't feel nothin' but him. God, look what she did, look what she did, thinking of him!

DOC

Still I don't want to cause her any needless pain...

HELEN

No pain? No pain?! It was bad enough when we thought she'd be taken from us but look how she came back! It's your fault!

[Pause. Hammer of a revolver clicks back.]

DOC

Helen. Let's remain calm here. You've been drinking. You're upset, and rightly so. You're not thinking clearly.

HELEN

Why do we do it? Why do we let him do this?

DOC

Point the gun down, Helen. We'll talk about this.

HELEN

I know we're poor. I know we got nothin' for nobody. I know Irene wasn't going any further than me. But that don't make us worthless!

DOC

(getting worried)

You know he chooses whoever he likes.

[HELEN begins weeping, lowers the gun.] 

HELEN

She ain't never gettin' better, is she?

DOC

(pause)

You never know.

HELEN

Ain't there somethin' you could do? If... if she ain't ever gettin' better... can't... can't you...

DOC

I took an oath. "First, do no harm." (pause) ... but... sometimes it's alright to let nature take its course.

HELEN

(softly)

I don't... I don't... I don't think I can...

DOC

It's alright. I'll see to it.