Scene 5 – Set 6 (Jenny’s Backyard) – Song #7
It's 11:00 in the morning. The scene opens with JENNY in her back yard on a lounge chair. MIKE walks in from stage left and stands next to her door step. Although he doesn't know it, Jenny is not real upset from their previous encounter. Her demeanor is more of an act than a representation of her true feelings. She has Mike right where she wants him – feeling guilty and obligated.
JENNY
Hello.
MIKE
Hi. Thanks for agreeing to talk.
JENNY
I agreed to listen.
Mike nods his head in agreement. He sits down on her doorstep and proceeds with some discomfort.
MIKE
I’m real sorry about last night.
Jenny is not about to let him off the hook just yet. She keeps her stern look. She gets up and stands next to her chair.
JENNY
Why Mike? How could you disrespect me like that? Our relationship is just for fun? You'd rather marry Dracula?
Mike asks the following question as if he were saying, “would you believe…”?
MIKE
Peer pressure?
JENNY
Is your male ego that fragile?
MIKE
Maybe I’m just scared.
Jenny knows this is likely to be true, and she is happy for the discussion. She has Mike right where she wants him.
JENNY
Scared? What, of me?
MIKE
No … Marriage!
Mike knows he is out of trouble. He knows Jenny wants to discuss this topic and she is not about to let the prospect of marriage disintegrate over the “guy incident” that took place the night before. He has Jenny right where he wants her.
JENNY
Mike, marriage is a scary thing. I’m scared too. I wish there were guarantees. I wish I could tell you the future – that things are going to work out fine between us. But marriage is about taking chances together, knowing that we love each other.
Mike shakes his head slightly but surely. Succumbing is a trade off he knows is greater than the crime he committed the night before, but the thought of marriage doesn’t seem so bad at the moment, so he continues to shake his head, scoring points with each nod. Song #7 – “Looking Ahead” begins.
JENNY
I wish I had one wish to wish that we live happily.
I wish I could assure you with a lifetime warranty,
But the fact nobody sells an insurance policy
shows how risky married life must be.
Although we’re
JENNY & MIKE
looking ahead,
still we cannot see
what will come of you and me.
till we are history we
won’t know our destiny.
Your only guarantee
is the sky above and a lot of love from me.
JENNY
I know we have no choice but do our best and hope we’re blessed.
I know that right and wrong is not enough. We’ll have to guess.
We must be brave and take our chances like the rest,
and hope that we find happiness.
Although we’re
JENNY & MIKE
looking ahead,
still we cannot see
what will come of you and me.
till we are history we
won’t know our destiny.
Your only guarantee
is the sky above and a lot of love from me.
JENNY
Your only guarantee
JENNY & MIKE
is the sky above and a lot of love from me.
Jenny and Mike kiss and embrace. The lights go down. The curtain closes. End of Scene 5, ACT I.