It would be Lili inside. That's all that counts, a grief-stricken wife tells her husband as they discuss cloning their dead baby, in the one-act play, The New Birth.
Photo: Stanley Rowin

The first scene of The Clone Show is called "The New Birth." In this excerpt, a husband and wife argue about whether to create a clone of their infant daughter who recently died.

HUSBAND: Are you out of your mind?
WIFE: It would be Lili inside. That's all that counts.
HUSBAND: Her DNA. Her genetic code. That's all.
WIFE: That's enough.
HUSBAND: Margaret, for godsake listen to yourself. Do you really want to go down this road?
WIFE: Don't you understand? Why doesn't anyone understand? I just want my baby back.
HUSBAND: It won't be our baby! You know that! A clone is no different than a twin . . .
WIFE: Yes, a twin.
HUSBAND: But a twin is not the same . . .
WIFE: But a twin is very much the same . . .
HUSBAND: No, they're different . . .
WIFE: I know they're different . . .
HUSBAND: They just look alike . . .
WIFE: But they have so many of the same . . .
HUSBAND: But their spirit, their souls, their personalities . . .
WIFE: —The same potential . . .
HUSBAND: —Are completely different . . .
WIFE: I don't care! And I'm not crazy. I know she wouldn't be our baby. But at least something of Lili would live on in . . .
HUSBAND: Only in our minds.
WIFE: Yes, in our minds. You want me cursing God for the rest of my . . .
HUSBAND: So you'll play God, to keep from cursing . . .
WIFE: Don't you get that superior air. You're just afraid.
HUSBAND: Afraid?
WIFE: Afraid to keep her memory alive. Afraid to mock death.
HUSBAND: Yes, mocking death scares the hell out of me. When I see you like this . . .
WIFE: Like what?
HUSBAND: Inside your own head. Did you ever think of the new baby? Did you ever think of her?
WIFE: What about her?
HUSBAND: She would always be Lili in your mind. She would always have to live up to your great loss, what a terrible burden . . .
WIFE: No, I would love her. I just want to love her . . .
HUSBAND: Then let Lili go.
WIFE: Nooo . . .
HUSBAND: Let her go.
WIFE: I can't. I can't.
HUSBAND: Why not?
WIFE: Because she deserves to make a difference in this world. If she could just have a second chance.
HUSBAND: If you could have a second chance, you mean. Don't deny it. You just don't want to deal with your grief. I know, I've been there . . .
WIFE: Oh yeah you've been down Donnelly's every night throwing back a few. That's where you've been, and don't deny that!
HUSBAND: I-I'm sorry, I'm just trying to clear my mind . . .
WIFE: You deal in your way, I'll deal in mine.
HUSBAND: You're right. I-I'm not . . . I can't stand coming home to this. When there's nothing we can . . .
WIFE: But we can do something. . . . All we need to do is sign the papers.
HUSBAND: They should never have told you this was possible. They should never have opened up this door.
WIFE: Why not? We have the power . . .
HUSBAND: A terrible power . . .
WIFE: No, just a comfort.
HUSBAND:—Over life and death! Don't you see? To make a copy of Lili, they're going to have to destroy another life.
WIFE: No.
HUSBAND: The potential for another . . .
WIFE: How?
HUSBAND: You can't put her DNA into an egg without taking DNA out. The DNA of another baby waiting to be born . . .

Reprinted by permission © Museum of Science, Boston/ Jon Lipsky.

1 • 2