Historic Background: Popularity of Eugenics grew during the turn of the 20th Century. In 1904 Pennsylvania was the first State to adopt a statute allowing the compulsory sterilization of “mental defectives.” Several States followed Pennsylvania’s example, including Virginia in 1924; however, few doctors performed operations in fear patients would seek prosecution. In 1924 Dr. Albert Priddy, Superintendent of the Virginia State Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded in Lynchburg, VA, petitioned to sterilize his patient, Carrie Buck, age 17. Aubrey Strode, Esq., celebrated champion of civil liberties, carried the case, Buck V. Bell, all the way to the US Supreme court where Oliver Wendell Holmes concluded his opinion with the infamous justification: “…three generations of imbeciles are enough.”

Act 1
1922, Charlottesville, VA. Carrie Buck, living with her foster parents, the Dobbs, must contend with an unexpected visitor, the Dobbs’ volatile nephew, Nathan. Alice Dobbs grows concerned by the seeming friendship blossoming between Carrie and Nathan. The same year Aubrey Strode Esq. bears the loss his beloved wife of nineteen years. Dr. Albert Priddy, a close friend Aubrey’s, urges him to court the young Louisa Hubbard, in town as a field worker for the Eugenics Records Office. Albert also implores Aubrey to get back to work – and write Virginia’s Sterilization Law; he contends his work at the State Colony of The Epileptic and Feebleminded can progress without it. The Dobbs soon visit Dr. Priddy at the State Colony. They are desperate to commit Carrie. She has become “uncontrollable.” In truth, Carrie is pregnant and the Dobbs wish to hide this embarrassment. On Aubrey and Louisa’s wedding day, Albert announces that Colony’s Board wants Aubrey to use Carrie Buck as a “test case” for the imminent Sterilization statute. Aubrey’s quite sure the law will be tested all the way to the US Supreme Court.

Act II
1924. Carrie has since been committed to Albert Priddy’s State Colony. Irving Whitehead had been hired to defend the rights of Carrie Buck as the Sterilization Statute heads for Virginia Circuit Court, in Amherst, VA. Aubrey represents the State Colony and Dr. Priddy. During the trial of Buck V. Priddy, several expert witnesses are called - all of whom support the nature of Carrie’s “feeble-mindedness” and the benefits of sterilization. The new science of Eugenics is explained – that feeblemindedness and other bad traits, such has licentiousness, poverty, criminality – are all inherited. Should those with bad these traits be sterilized, society would be vastly bettered. Aubrey wins his case and prepares for the appeal. Meanwhile, Louisa, unable to have children, is very unhappy. Aubrey comforts her as best as he can. But Albert Priddy had recently died and Aubrey has become even more consumed by the Buck trial. At the State Colony, Carrie, who longs to be free, is also miserable. Dr. James Bell, who has taken over Albert’s position, explains to her that she may be released after her “necessary” operation. Aubrey and Irving Whitehead are called into Bell’s office – where they meet Carrie Buck. Carrie confesses to Aubrey that she had been raped by the Dobb’s nephew – an awful secret she’s ashamed to bear. That night at home, Aubrey confesses to Louisa his own awful secret: his parents died in a mental institution. Louisa is horrified. If the news were public, Aubrey could be victim of his own legislation. In May of 1927, the US Supreme Court delivers their opinion upholding Virginia’s Sterilization Law and Carrie will undergo the procedure. Carrie Buck thanks Aubrey Strode profusely. After her operation, she will be released from the Colony. She is very excited to resume her life – and completely unaware that she will never conceive another child.