Act 1 Scene 4

Act 1 Scene 3 (revised)

Act 1 Scene 2 (revised)

Act 1 Scene 1 (revised)

Act 1 Scene 5

Scene 6

(Paris and Dottie are sitting on a bench in the park)

Paris- “I’m not sure how I feel. I’m super excited and yet, I feel sick to my stomach.”

Dottie- “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Paris- “Dottie, the last time I was with him was when we were born in the hospital 13 years ago and I was too young to even remember that.”

Dottie- “But you’ve talked to him and your dad over the phone before, haven’t you?”

Paris- “That was once when I was twelve and my Granny didn’t let me talk to them very long.”

Dottie- “Let me see the letter he sent you again.”

(Paris hands over the letter to Dottie)

Dottie- (reads letter aloud) “ ‘Dear Sister, I can’t believe that we’re going to meet for the first time since we were born! I have been looking forward to this day since I was three. J I saw the picture that you sent of yourself and I thought myself very privileged to be the brother of such a lovely girl. I can’t wait to see you when I get to New York. Love, Kenneth.’ That is such a sweet letter, Paris. You have nothing to worry about.”

Paris- (stands up and starts babbling) “I suppose, I still just can’t help feeling nervous. It’s not just Kenneth, my dad is coming too, and what if he doesn’t like me, I mean he’s used to Kenneth, but obviously not me. And what if he disapproves of my dancing, Granny told me he’s a religious man. What if he says I can’t dance anymore and you know that I could never give up my dancing. I mean, of course I want to please my dad, but…”

Dottie- (standing up and grabbing Paris by the shoulders firmly) “Paris! You need to stop worrying so much. Everything will be fine. Just calm down.”

Paris- (breathing deeply then sits down again. Silent for a while.) “I should probably go, Granny will want my help cleaning the house. You know something, my Granny is really uptight about their coming and I’m not really sure why. Maybe she’s nervous about meeting Kenneth, though I can’t imagine why.”

Dottie- “Well you’re nervous too.”

Paris- “True. Well, I should probably head home. See you later. Bonjour, dearest.”

Dottie- “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

(Paris and Dottie hug each other and then start laughing while walking off stage)

End of Scene 6

Act 1 Scene 4

Scene 5

(Roger arrives at airport with Kenneth. Barbara meets them.)

Roger- “Where is Paris?”

Barbara- “She’s at home with the babysitter. (bending down to Kenneth) Hi there Kenneth! How are you?”

(Kenneth hides behind Roger’s leg)

Roger- “Why is Paris at your house? You were supposed to have brought her with you packed and ready to go! Our next flight leaves in twenty minutes!!!”

Barbara- “Roger, she’s never met you before. What sort of a first impression will you be giving her when you take her away from the only home that she has ever known especially since she is so young. She won’t understand.”

Roger- (in a restraint but angry voice) “You have no right to do this Barbara.”

Barbara- “Roger, she does not know who you are. If you take her away from me she will hate you. Do you really want that?”

Roger- “Come on Kenneth, we need to get to our next plane.”

Kenneth- “but I wanted to meet Paris!”

Roger- “Come on Kenneth, or we’ll miss our flight.”

(Roger carries Kenneth as he begins to cry and whine)

Exit Roger and Kenneth

End of Scene 5

Act 1 Scene 3 Revised

Scene 4

(Grandma Barbara is playing with toddler Paris when phone rings)

Barbara- “Hello?”

Roger- “Hi, I was calling just to remind you that I will be flying up tomorrow to pick up Paris.”

Barbara- “Oh……um…….well I don’t know, are you sure that your ready? Only three years old, that’s still a lot of work.”

Roger- “Of course I’m ready!!! I’ve already missed too much of her life. I should have never given her to you.”

Barbara- “You did the right thing giving her to me. She is happy with me. I do think that it is too early to take her though, because she will not understand why she has to leave the only home she has known with me.”

Roger- “I should have known that you would try to keep her, but this is my child and you cannot keep her from me or I will take you to court!!!”

Barbara- “You do that and I will tell the judge that you should not be allowed to have any children at all!”

Roger- “How so?”

Barbara- “You were once a drug addict and it is not that hard to get addicted again, especially when you are depressed.”

Roger- “I haven’t had one lick for four years! They will not hold it against me.”

Barbara- “How’s Kenneth?”

Roger- “He’s just fine and don’t think for one minute I will ever give him to you. He’s perfectly happy with me and wants to meet his sister. So if you have any feelings you will allow me to come and get Paris without making a big fuss!”

Barbara- (starting to cry) “But Paris is happy with me and you’re a complete stranger to her. Why would she want to go with you?”

Roger- “I am a complete stranger and I want to change that, but you won’t let me get near my own daughter!”

Barbara- “She is not ready for that much change in her life!”

Roger- “It was your idea to make that change in the first place. I’m coming up tomorrow to get my daughter whether you like it or not!”

(Both hang up. Paris climbs onto Barbara’s lap; Barbara holds her tight.)

End of Scene 4

Act 1 Scene 2 Revised

Scene 2

Diane- (waking up and weakly tries to move, but cannot; feebly gasping) “Roger? Roger?” (becoming more panicked) “Roger!?!”

Roger- (speaking up from the other side of the bed and coming to take her hand) “I’m right here, honey.”

Diane- (wide eyed and terrified) “I’m so afraid. I’m so afraid. I never wanted to believe in heaven or hell, but there’s just no avoiding it. I’m so afraid.”

Roger- “Shhh, don’t be scared.”

(Dies with eyes open facing towards the audience)

Roger- (falls apart crying and taking Diane’s hand)

Doctor- (takes carotid pulse) “She’s gone. I’m really sorry for your loss.”

Exit Doctor

Roger- (crumpling up beside Diane shaking with sobs while holding her hand)

Barbara- “Oh! My only little girl…gone!” (turns her head away sitting down and cries)

Roger- (still sobbing) “ I can’t raise two children without her! I can’t, I can’t.”

Barbara- (long silence then looking up, she walks to the bed taking her daughters hand contemplating) “I could take Paris.”

Roger- “Paris? Take my little girl? Do you think I’d let you take her after only twelve hours!”

Barbara- “I only wonder what you will do when she becomes a teenager.”

Roger- “I’ll figure something out.”

Barbara- “Paris needs to have a woman in her life and you can by no means fill that place in her life.” 

Roger- “Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do, I know very well, but…..I can’t just give her up right away.”

Barbara- “I understand Roger, but if you really have Paris’s best interests in mind, you will realize that a woman is more important than a man in a girl’s life.”

Roger- “And I suppose that you would like to take her? (Angrily sarcastic)

Barbara- “Well, it would make sense. I know the feelings of a girl and will be able to understand. Besides, she would feel outnumbered with you and Kenneth both being boys. And how are you going to manage to take care of two infants at once? Changing diapers, feeding them, and giving them the individual attention that they need. That is an awful lot to ask of one person; especially as you have no experience.”

Roger- “Well, I guess you can take her until they are a little older. Then she’s mine.”

(Barbara goes over to the incubator and picks up the crying Paris) 

Barbara- “Shhhh. Nana loves you, everything will be alright.”

                                                    

End of scene 3