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

Act 1 Scene 1 Revised

If you could please leave any comments about Roger's first line would be wonderful. We want to change it, but don't know what to do with it. Thanks!

Act 1 scene 1

(Roger and Barbara are backstage speaking through microphones behind closed curtains)

Barbara- “Hello?”

Roger- “Hi Barbara? This is Roger, we are at the hospital and Diane had the twins. They also found out that she has a weak heart chamber. It is really bad and they don’t think there is much chance of her living. You should probably come down to see her while you can.”

Barbara- (in a stern and strained voice) “How much time are the doctor’s giving her?”

Roger- “A day at the most. Since we didn’t know her heart was weak, it has worsened and the strain of having Kenneth and Paris was too much.”

Barbara- “I’ll fly down as soon as I can book a flight.”

End of scene 1

Act 1 Scene 3

Act 1 Scene 2

Act 1 Scene 1

Introduction Video