The L-Shaped Room Page #3

Well, what's he going to do about it?

- I'm sorry?

- The young man. The proud father-to-be.

What's that got to do with it?

Well, it's not

an unimportant aspect, is it?

I don't see it's an aspect

that concerns you, Doctor.

Oh, now...

Just a minute.

Let's get ourselves tidied up, shall we?

Right from scratch.

It's not like buying

a pound of sugar, you know?

And I'm not just a nosey old man.

I've got a position to protect.

All I'm saying is this:

if he could be persuaded to marry you,

well, it... it would be a better solution.

And I'm asking you, can he be persuaded?

It's not a question of him.

I can't be persuaded.

I don't want to marry him.

Oh.

I see. Right.

Well... we've got that bit straight.

What stage are we at?

- Stage?

- How many months?

Oh. Er, two and a half.

Good. Next question.

Er, have you ever been pregnant before?

- No.

- You're quite sure? Now's the time to say.

- I'm quite sure.

- Some of you girls aren't, you know?

You'd be surprised how many colds

go on for nine months

and then weigh six-and-a-half pounds.

Right.

Now you're parents,

they know you've come to see me.

No, they don't.

Oh, they know about the baby, though?

I've written to them, yes.

- And?

- That's all.

I didn't expect any reply from them.

I know my parents.

Well, parents are pretty much the same

the world over, you know?

Are they?

You don't know my mother.

She even thinks colours are immoral.

As a child I was always in mourning.

What about your dad?

My father likes to think he lives

on another level from most people.

What is happening to me

is not possible in his life.

Well, they sound a very enlightened pair.

So you're going it alone.

Not always a wise choice, you know?

I don't have any choice.

That's a bit of an overstatement,

isn't it?

I don't have any choice.

So you want some advice from me?

Monica, how's Charles fixed for this week?

You'll have to see my colleague

and he's rather busy.

'Wednesday, 3:
15, Doctor.

'That's the only one

unless we have a cancellation.'

Well, book Miss Fosset in there, will you?

F-O-S-S-E-T, of course, French.

Do I have to see another doctor?

Er, yes. It's, er, just the way

these things are done over here.

It's just a formality.

What sort of formality?

One second.

What sort of formality?

He countersigns a certificate

to say that you're psychologically unfit

to, erm, go through with it.

And, er, the rest is pure routine.

I arrange for you

to go into my private clinic

and after a couple of days

everything's back to normal.

Er, what's a good time for you?

When have you got a free afternoon?

Free afternoon?

Yes. Are you, er, working

or studying or on holiday or what?

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