Scene 7 – Set 7 (Chapel Vestibule/Chapel Alter) – Song #9
Curtain opens. JENNY and MIKE are about to get married. Jenny is dressed in a white wedding gown. She is standing in the foyer of the chapel on the left side of the stage, attended by her bride’s maids, RONNIE and DIANE. Simultaneously, on the right side of the stage, Mike is standing at the alter inside the chapel. He is with TOM and STEVE, waiting for the bridal party. Jenny and Mike are somewhat in a daze while their friends are conversing about them. Although Mike and Jenny are included in the conversation, they are a bit numb from the trauma of getting married.
At the start of the scene, Mike and the boys are in the shadows. The lights come up only on Jenny and her friends. Diane and Ronnie are working on Jenny’s dress, making some last minute adjustments. An older woman and man, apparently Jenny's parents, hug and kiss Jenny before exiting through the door in the wall that separates the stage. They enter into the darkened chapel where Mike and Steve and Tom are waiting.
RONNIE
Jen, I’m so excited. Are you O.K?
JENNY
Just nervous.
RONNIE
I can’t wait for you and Mike to say the magic words.
DIANE
Ronnie, hold this for a sec, will you?
Ronnie grabs something on Jenny’s dress. Lights fade on the girls. Lights come up on the boys.
TOM
Nervous?
MIKE
Nah. Petrified.
Tom slaps Mike on the back.
TOM
Don't worry. It’s too late to do anything about it.
MIKE
Thanks. I feel better.
STEVE
Come on. You know we're just kidding. If it weren’t for Jenny, you’d be lost. Happy but lost.
TOM
Hey Steve, what time is it? My jacket is so tight I can’t bend my elbow.
Steve tries to look at his watch. He struggles with his shirtsleeve.
STEVE
Sorry. My sleeve is so long I can’t find my watch.
Pause.
Just think. In just a few minutes from now, we’ll hear those glorious words…
Steve and Tom look at one another.
STEVE & TOM
The bar is open!
Although the boys are trying to get Mike to relax, he’s not really paying attention. Like Jenny, Mike is deep in thought. Song #9 – “Meditation, Hesitation Stare” – begins. The boys take a pose and the lights fade on the boys, leaving Mike in the spotlight.
MIKE
Meditation, hesitation stare.
The fear I know cannot be shared.
Moments pass like hours. I’m so alone.
Emotions wild behind this face of stone.
MIKE & STEVE & TOM
Family and friends with me but they can’t see inside of me.
How are they to know the weight I bear?
They only know I’m here today to show how much I care.
Still meditation, hesitation stare.
Lights fade on the Mike and the boys and simultaneously come up on Jenny and the girls. The girls have taken a pose and remain in the shadows. The spot is on Jenny. Jenny sings.
JENNY
I look about me but cannot see.
Voices all around. Few filter through.
I have no regrets or reservations.
Only fear of starting something new.
JENNY & DIANE & RONNIE
Family and friends with me but they can’t see inside of me.
How are they to know the weight I bear?
They only know I’m here today to show how much I care.
Still meditation, hesitation stare.
Lights fade on Jenny and the girls and simultaneously come up on Mike and the boys. The spot is on Mike.
MIKE
This special moment will stay with me.
It will pass but it will last in memories.
But silly of me. You have done the same.
You remember how you felt and changed the names.
MIKE & STEVE & TOM
Family and friends with me, I know you see inside of me.
It’s easy when you share the weight I bear.
You know that though I’m here today to show how much I care.
Still meditation, hesitation stare.
Lights fade on Mike and the boys and simultaneously come up on Jenny and the girls. The spot is on Jenny.
JENNY
Meditation, hesitation shared.
Here and now, and then when you once dared.
Now moments pass like moments should, I’m not alone.
You know how I feel behind this face of stone.
JENNY & DIANE & RONNIE
Family and friends with me, I know you see inside of me.
It’s easy when you share the weight I bear.
The spot comes up on Mike.
JENNY & MIKE & DIANE & RONNIE & STEVE & TOM
You know that though I’m here today to show how much I care.
Still meditation, hesitation stare.
JENNY & MIKE
It’s meditation, hesitation shared.
Lights go down for a couple of seconds. Lights come up on the Jenny and the girls.
RONNIE
How’s that?
DIANE
Perfect. What do you think?
Ronnie and Diane step back to get a better look. Jenny faces them and slightly raises her hands for inspection.
RONNIE
Perfect!
JENNY smiles.
JENNY
Thanks guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
They hug one another. Lights fade on the girls. Lights come up on the boys who are standing at the front of the chapel waiting for Jenny and the girls. The door to the chapel opens. Someone sticks their hand in and gives a “thumbs up.” The boys take notice.
TOM
It’s show time.
Lights go down. Curtains close. End of Scene 6, ACT I.