The Rented Bride

By

by Daris Howard
All Rights Reserved
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Dramatist Personae

Marina - A nice looking, very businesslike lady of about 40.  Has started a temp agency, is working to get it going, but has very little money.

Mr. Dickson - A man of about 45 years.  Married, but flirty and unprofessional.

Lisa - Marina’s assistant.  Around 30 years old.  Man crazy.

Jason - Single dad with six children.  About 50 years old.

Sarah - Jason’s oldest daughter, 17 years old, and very serious and somewhat skeptical.

Amy - Jason’s second oldest, about 14.  She is quieter, gentle natured, and has an inner sense of people and situations.

Diane - Jason’s third oldest, about 12.

David - Jason’s fourth oldest, about 10.

Lucy - Jason’s youngest daughter.  She is 4, almost 5.  She is somewhat feisty.

Emily - Marina’s daughter.  She is 4, almost 5.

Judge Janey - An ornery lady of about 50.

Bailiff - Man or woman.

Daniel - Good looking guy about 30 years old.


Scene Synopsis
Act I Scene 1: In Marina’s business, Work Right Temp Agency.  Marina is annoyed at Mr. Dickson flirting with her and obviously hates men.  After Mr. Dickson leaves, Jason comes in and wants to hire a wife.  This infuriates Marina and she throws him out.

Act I Scene 2: Outside Marina’s business.  Jason, dejectedly sits on a bench.  Marina can’t get her car to start, and reluctantly asks Jason to give her a jump.  He tells her she needs more than that, she needs a new fan belt.  They discover they have daughters at the same preschool.

Act I Scene 3: In Jason’s home.  They have towed Marina’s car there for him to put on a new fan belt and Marina meets the rest of his children.  When Lucy asks if Marina is going to be her new mom, Marina explodes, thinking Jason has offered to help for ulterior motives.  She gradually realizes he is just kind, and that he needs a wife because the family court judge won’t let him adopt Lucy without one.  She starts to like him, but with her verbal assault, a lot of damage has been done to any relationship.

Possible Intermission

Act II Scene 1: Jason’s home.  Marina and her daughter Emily have joined Jason’s family for an outing to the movie theater.  Marina continues to show she likes Jason, but he is still sure she couldn’t like anyone like him.

Act II Scene 2: Marina’s office at work.  She does not have her mind on her work.  Her partner, Lisa, sees this.  Lisa can’t believe Marina likes a man.  Jason brings Emily over from daycare and Lisa is shocked to meet him.

Act II Scene 3: Marina’s office at work.  She is preparing to go to a Halloween event with Jason’s family.  Their relationship continues to build.

Act II Scene 4: Jason’s home.  His family, Marina and Emily, and Lisa have just finished Thanksgiving dinner.  They all express thanks for what means the most to them, which is each other. Jason expresses his concern about the upcoming visit with the judge and Marina tells him she wants to come.

Act II Scene 5: Jason’s home.  They have just come in from their visit with the judge and Marina is livid about how the judge treated him.  She offers to marry him, but he turns her down.  She angrily leaves, and Amy pursues his reasons more and realizes it isn’t because her father doesn’t love Marina.

Act II Scene 6: At Marina’s home (in front of curtain).  Marina, angry, comes in with groceries.  Amy comes in, freezing, from riding bike.  She helps Marina realize that her father loves Marina, but doesn’t feel he is in her league and that she is only marrying him to save Lucy and in essence be a rented bride.

Act II Scene 7: Jason’s home.  Everyone is trying to find Amy.  Amy comes in, followed by Marina.  Marina strongly tells Jason she offered to marry him because she loves him.  He finally believes that she does and asks her to marry him.

Act II Scene 8: In the judge’s chamber: Judge Janey finds out that she has really misjudged Jason and she signs the paper not only for him to adopt Lucy, but for him and Marina to adopt each other’s children

Act II Scene 9: In Marina’s office.  Marina talks about her good life with Jason and how she hopes Lisa will find someone.  After Marina leaves, Daniel comes wanting to hire someone to teach him to dance.  Lisa gladly volunteers.



The Rented Bride

Act 1 Scene 1

{The scene is an office of the Work Right temp agency.  It can be as elaborate as desired or nothing more than a desk.  Marina is behind the desk, and her secretary, Lisa, is beside the desk.  Mr. Dickson is talking to Marina.}

Mr. Dickson: {Flirting} So, how about we have lunch sometime and discuss my employee needs.

Marina: {Very cold and businesslike} Aren’t you married, Mr. Dickson?

Mr. Dickson: Well, yes.  But what does that have to do with it?

Marina: I think it would be very inappropriate for me to have dinner with you, and I feel anything we could discuss there, we could discuss just fine here in my office.

Mr. Dickson: {Trying to act like he wasn’t flirting} Yes, of course.  Well, I will be on my way.

{As he leaves, he looks at Lisa and rolls his eyes as if indicating that Marina is a tough woman.  He exits.}

Marina: You know, Lisa, men are all a bunch of jerks.  They have one thing on their mind.  This world would be a better place without them.

Lisa: I don’t know.  I kind of like men.

Marina: As far as I am concerned, you can have all of them.  I want nothing to do with them ever again.

Lisa: I don’t think we have any other customers coming, so do you mind if I leave a little early tonight?  

Marina: No, I don’t mind.  I will finish up and be on my way, too.  I can’t wait to get home and snuggle up in a blanket with a good book.  I’ve never seen it this cold in the end of September.

Lisa: Jack is taking me to a movie, so I’ll just snuggle up close to him.

Marina: Whatever.

{Lisa leaves, and Marina is reading a paper when Jason comes in.  She doesn’t notice him, so he talks to get her attention.}

Jason: Excuse me.

Marina: {Looking up} May I help you?

Jason: I was wondering how a person goes about possibly hiring a temp.

Marina: {Pushing a paper across the desk} Here, fill out this form.

{Jason works on it for a moment, then pushes it back across to her.}

Jason: Okay, I have it done.

Marina: {Taking the paper and looking at it} Let’s see.  You want a . . . {She pauses} You want a wife? {Getting annoyed} This is not a dating agency!  This is a temp service.

Jason: I know.  I just wanted to hire someone to be my wife.

Marina: {Angry} What kind of a place do you think we are?  You men are all the same.  You only have one thing on your mind.

Jason: {Not catching what she is saying} What do you mean?

Marina: What do you think I mean?

Jason: I don’t know.

Marina: You men are all so disgusting.

Jason: If you feel I’m disgusting, you could just work out the arrangements, and she wouldn’t even have to meet me.

Marina: {Confused} Be your wife and not meet you?

Jason: Not if she doesn’t want to.

Marina: {Calming slightly} So you just need a maid or someone to help around your house?  We can do that.

Jason: No.  Actually, I just need to be able to say I have a wife.  I just thought maybe you knew a lady that really didn’t want to ever marry, and she could just claim she was my wife, and I could pay her a wage each month.

Marina: {Sarcastically} Oh, is this like one of those stupid Christmas shows where you have to be married to get an inheritance from a rich uncle?

Jason: No, it’s . . .

Marina: Oh, you’re a foreigner and you need a wife so you don’t get deported.

Jason: No.  It’s kind of a personal thing and a long story.

Marina: {Getting up from her desk and coming around and taking Jason by the arm and pulling him to the door} Personal, huh?  Well, you can just take your personal thing and your long story and leave.  Thinking you can come to a temp agency and hire a wife is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.

Jason: But I . . .

Lisa: {Coming in, at the sound of Marina’s angry voice, with a coat on ready to leave} Is there a problem?

Marina: No.  This gentleman, and I use the word gentleman very loosely, was just leaving.  Isn’t that right?

Jason: {Nodding, dejectedly} Yes.

Marina:  {Taking him by the arm and leading him forcefully to the door}   Goodnight, and goodbye, sir.

Jason: {Resigned} Goodnight.

{Jason leaves.  Marina just shakes her head.}

Lisa: Did I hear right what that man wanted?

Marina: Yes.  He wanted to rent a wife.  And I thought I had heard everything.  Hire a wife.  What an idiot!  

Lisa: I know.  I know.  You think men are all big jerks.

Marina: And idiots.

{The lights fade.}


Act I Scene 2

{This scene can be played in front of the curtain or even in front of the stage.  There is a bench, and maybe a lamp post by it.  Jason flops on the bench, dejected, looking at the ground.  Marina comes on and passes behind him to the opposite side of the stage and goes off.  A moment later she comes back on, just barely onto the stage and kicks behind the curtain like she is kicking her car, which is as if it is behind the curtain, unseen to the audience.}

Marina: Stupid car! {She looks around and sees Jason sitting on the bench.  She walks toward him.} Hey, you.  Would you have a car that you could give me a jump?  My car battery seems to be . . . {As Jason turns to her, she stops, her voice betraying disappointment.} Oh.  It’s you.

Jason: Sorry to disappoint you. {Slight pause}  Are you having trouble with your car?

Marina: I think the battery is dead.  When I tried to start it, it just clicked and then died.

Jason: It could be the battery is dead, but it also sounds like you might not be getting a good connection.  I could look at if you would like.

Marina: {Reluctant, but resigned to the fact she needs some help} I hate to be any trouble.

Jason: I know.  It’s such a long walk over to your car. {He laughs, but she doesn’t even smile, so he gets more serious.} It’s no trouble.  I mean, I’m already here. Anyway, let’s look at it.

{She leads him to the side of the stage.}

Marina: {Pointing just off stage} This is it.

Jason: Would you pop the hood?

{She goes off stage, and then Jason acts like he is lifting the hood just off stage.  Jason acts like he is looking into the engine as she returns to his side.}

Marina: Do you know a lot about cars?

Jason: Only enough to get me into trouble.  I took some mechanic classes in high school, but cars have changed a lot since then.

Marina: {Sarcastically} They had cars way back then?

Jason: {Joking} Yeah.  They weren’t that complicated, though. {Pantomiming with his hands and feet} We just stuck our feet through holes in the floor and started pushing ourselves along past the dinosaurs.

{He laughs, and she smiles, then she tries to hide it by acting disgusted.}

Marina: Can you see anything?

Jason: Yes, actually, it is fairly obvious what is wrong.  Your battery is dead, but it is because your alternator isn’t charging it.  You have no fan belt.  It must have broken the last time you drove it.

Marina: What do you mean?

Jason: {Acting as though he is pointing} Well, you see these wheels here?  This one goes to the fan, this one is the engine, and this one is the alternator.  A belt goes around all three, and as the engine turns, it turns the other two.  The alternator, in turn, supplies the charge to the battery that provides the voltage you need to start your car and keep it running.

Marina: So if you gave me a jump would it run?

Jason: For a short time, but as soon as your battery ran out of power, it would die, probably leaving you stranded somewhere.

Marina: How hard is it to fix?

Jason: It isn’t that hard if you get a fan belt and have the right tools.  A person just has to undo some bolts to loosen it, wrap the fan belt around, and tighten it back up.

Marina: I don’t have money to take it to a mechanic.  How much would you charge me to do it?

Jason: I wouldn’t charge anything, but I’d have to get it home where I had my tools,

Marina: I don’t take charity.  I would insist on paying you.

Jason: Then I guess you will need to get someone else.  Going through life taking pay for everything I do to help others isn’t me.

Marina: Let me get this straight, you will do it for free, but if I try to pay you, you won’t do it?

Jason: That’s what I mean.

Marina: Well, then, I will get someone else to do it.  I don’t want to owe a favor to anyone, especially someone who thinks he can rent a wife.

Jason: As you wish. {Looking at his watch.} Well, I must be going.  I need to pick up my little daughter at Sunshine Day Care.

Marina: {Grabbing his arm} What did you say?

Jason: I said I need to pick up my little daughter at Sunshine Day Care.

Marina:  Wait a minute.  You have a daughter there?

Jason: Yes.

Marina: So do I.

Jason: Maybe that’s why you look familiar.  Maybe I have seen you drop her off or pick her up or something.

Marina: {Pulling back just a little} Hold on.  You have a little daughter?  I thought you came in to rent a wife.

Jason: I did.

Marina: But if you have children, why do you need a wife?

Jason: Now you are the one not making sense.  Why would I need a wife if I didn’t have children?

Marina: So you are wanting someone to watch your kids?

Jason: No.  Actually, I can take care of them myself.  She wouldn’t have to do anything, other than to say she’s my wife.

Marina: That makes no sense.  And what happened to the children’s mother?

Jason: {Pauses briefly, then continues with emotion} She passed away from cancer a couple of years ago.

Marina: {Feeling like she’s over stepped her bounds} Oh . . . I’m sorry.

{Jason seems to be trying to hold back his emotions.  Finally he speaks after looking at his watch again, seeming to have already said more than he wanted to.}

Jason: Anyway, I better go get my daughter.

Marina: What’s her name?

Jason: My daughter or my wife?

Marina: Your daughter?

Jason: Lucy.

Marina: Lucy?  Is she the little red haired {this could be changed to fit the child} girl?

Jason: Yes.

Marina: Oh my heavens!  My daughter Emily talks about her all the time.  Lucy and Emily are, like, best friends.

Jason: Your daughter is Emily?

Marina: Yes.

Jason: Wow!  It is a small world.

Marina: Wait a minute.  Is she your daughter or your granddaughter?

Jason: {A little bit annoyed.}  She’s my daughter.

Marina: I didn’t mean to imply that you’re old; it’s just that she’s young and you’re . . .

Jason: {Laughs and speaks like an old person} Speak up Dearie, I can’t hear you.

{Marina smiles, but then once again acts disgusted to cover it.}

Marina: Well, you’ve got to admit that most people with a five-year-old are a bit younger.

Jason: Yeah.  I suppose in some ways that is my problem.

Marina: What is?

Jason: {Quieter and more serious.}  Oh, nothing.   {Looking again at his watch and getting nervous about the time} Well, I better be going, Lucy will be waiting for me.  

Marina: Hey!  I really need to get over and pick Emily up.  Is there any way you’d give me a ride?  I’d be glad to pay you.

Jason: I’d be glad to, but forget the pay stuff.  

Marina: But I don’t want to owe anyone.

Jason: You wouldn’t owe me anything.

Marina: But surely if I can’t pay you there is something I can do in return.

Jason: Okay, how about . . . I don’t know.  How about brownies?  I like brownies.

Marina: {Laughing and for the first time being somewhat friendly} Sounds like a deal.

{They walk off together as the lights go dark.}


Act I Scene 3
This is the living room/dining room of Jason’s home.  There is a dining room table on stage left.  Center stage has a couch and one or more easy chairs around it.  Jason, Marina, Lucy, and Emily come in together from stage right.

Marina: Thanks for paying for the tow rope and the fan belt.  I’m sorry it’s been so hard to find the right things.  

Jason: After not finding the right belt at the first two parts stores, I was afraid we might be out of luck.  I’m glad that third store was still open and had the inventory from the Stone Age.

Marina: Is my car really that old?

Jason: It’s pretty old, but that’s not horrible. {Laughing}  Just keep it a few more years and you can sell it as an antique for a premium.

Marina: I’m sorry I didn’t have the money to pay for the stuff.  I don’t carry much cash and I got rid of my credit cards after my ex ran ours up and then left me with the debt in the divorce.  I promise I’ll pay you back.

Jason: That’s a lot of brownies. {He laughs} Seriously, don’t worry about it.  I’ve been wanting to have a tow rope, and the fan belt wasn’t that much.

Marina: It was nice of you to let me drive your nice, warm van while you drove my cold car.

Jason: I figured it would be better for you and the girls to be warm, and besides, it is a bit easier to have you drive the lead car when you haven’t ever done towing before.

Marina: Sorry about those jerky starts.

Jason: Not a problem.  Why, when Katherine and I were first married, she hadn’t had any experience in things like that, but she quickly learned. {He is suddenly quiet} Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days, even though we were so poor and had so little.  At least we had each other.

Marina: You miss her?

{Jason sadly nods, then there is a commotion off stage as the other children arrive, and Jason tries to change the subject to something happier.}

Jason: So, are you ready to meet the rest of my family?

Marina: There are more?

Jason: Yes.  I have five children.  My oldest, Sarah, was picking the others up after an after school play practice today because I had an appointment I had to be to. {The other children all come in.  Jason signals to each as he introduces them.} So, Marina, these are my other children.  Sarah is 17, Amy is 15, Diane is 12, and David is 10. {Pointing to Marina} Children, this is Marina Patterson, and her daughter, Emily.

Marina: Nice to meet all of you.

Jason: {Turning to Marina} You must be hungry.  You will eat with us won’t you?

{Emily is hungry and is nodding her head vigorously.  Marina notices, but is somewhat unsure.}

Marina: I really don’t want to be any trouble.

Jason: It’s not trouble.  {Laughs}   We’ll just add a little more water to the stew. {Turning to the children} Come on, children, let’s get dinner on.

Sarah: What are we eating?

Jason: There is a stew in the crockpot, and we have rolls.  Amy, it would be nice if you would mix up some grape juice.

{Jason and all of his children, except Lucy, exit.}

Lucy: {Turning to Emily and speaking loud enough that Marina hears} Is your mom going to marry my dad?

Marina: Marry your dad?  Why would I marry your dad?

Lucy: So you could be my mom.

{Jason comes on carrying a crockpot as others bring the rolls, cups, and other things, setting them all on the table.}
 
Lucy: {Tugging on her father’s sleeve} Daddy, can Emily stay overnight at our house?

Jason: {Turning to Marina} You’d be very welcome.  It may take me quite a while to fix your car.

{The other children come in during the next lines, shocked at Marina’s insinuation and anger.}

Marina: {Instantly angry} Oh, that’s how it is, is it?

Jason: {Confused} What is?

Marina: You promise to help me fix my car so you can trap me here for the night.

Jason: Why would I trap you here?

Marina:  Why would any man try to trick a woman into coming to his house.

Jason: {Defensive}  Now, wait just a minute.  If you are thinking what I think you are thinking that I think I was thinking about, then you are wrong, Marina.

Marina: I don’t like you being so familiar.  You should call me Miz Patterson.  And as for what I think, I think that all men are the same, and you are nothing but a stupid old, conniving jerk.  You better understand that I want nothing to do with you, and, in fact, I feel uncomfortable being around you because you’re too. . .

{Marina suddenly stops as she sees that her words are cutting Jason hard and that the children are all in shock at her outburst.}

Jason: {Quietly, smarting from the hurt} Yes, I know.  I’m too old, too fat, too ugly, and have too many children.  I’ve heard it all before.  In fact, you wouldn’t be the first to say it just today.

Marina: I’m sorry, I just. . .

Jason: {Turning to his children} Will you children please go ahead and eat and make sure that Miz Patterson and Emily are taken care of?  I need to go work on her car.  As soon as you are done eating get right to your homework.  I will come in later so we can do our family time before bed.

Amy: But, Daddy, you haven’t eaten.

Jason: I’m not feeling all that hungry right now.

{Jason exits stage left, and a moment later he comes in with his coat on, a tool box in his hand, and a head lamp on his head, and heads off stage right.  Everyone stares at Marina.  Finally, Amy breaks the silence.}

Amy: Daddy said for us to eat.  We should eat.

{The children start to sit down.}

Lucy: Here, Emily, you come sit by me.

Sarah: {Harshly} Here, Miz Patterson.  You can sit by Emily.

Marina: {Unable to look anyone in the eye} I’m sorry.  

Sarah: {Harsh and sarcastic}  Yeah, right.  You and all of the other women who treat Daddy like dirt.

Amy: Sarah, that’s not very nice.

Sarah: And she wasn’t very nice to Daddy.  

Amy: And she apologized.

Sarah: Not really.  Not to Daddy.

Marina: I’m sorry about how I treated him.  Your father seems like a nice man, but all of the men in my life have been no good, and our first meeting still leaves some lingering questions.

Sarah: {Still defiant} Not only is Daddy a good man, he is the best man in the world, better even than any woman I’ve ever met.

Amy: She said she’s sorry, Sarah.  Let it go and let’s eat before the food gets cold.

Marina: Maybe everyone would be more comfortable if I went out to see if your dad could use some help.

Amy: No.  Please.  Daddy wouldn’t want you to be hungry.

Marina: But he’s going hungry.

Sarah: {Slightly more forgiving}  Amy’s right.  I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have gotten so mad.  Please eat with us.

{Marina slowly nods, and they all sit down.  Sarah and Amy dish up the stew for everyone.  They pass around the rolls and pour drinks and all.  It’s still a little tense, but everyone loosens up as they eat.  Marina tries to get a conversation going to help.}

Marina: This stew is really good.

Amy: Daddy made it.  He often gets up early and puts something in the crockpot or something so dinner will be ready when we get home.

Marina: And these rolls are great.

Sarah: Daddy made them, too.  They are homemade.  We had hot bread and rolls last night.

Diane: Daddy’s hot bread and rolls are the best.

David: His scones are even better.

Marina: I don’t think I’ve ever had scones.  What are they?

David: Fried bread dough.  You haven’t lived until you’ve had that.

Lucy: I like it better when Daddy makes lasagna.

Amy: Or homemade pizza.

Sarah: With extra cheese.

Marina: Your father sounds like a talented guy.  Is there anything he can’t do?

Amy: He can’t find a wife.

Sarah: You know Daddy doesn’t like you talking about that.

Amy: Well, it’s true.

Sarah: Maybe it’s because Daddy is strange.

David: Daddy isn’t strange.

Sarah: He likes math, doesn’t he?

Diane: He teaches math.

Sarah: See?  That makes him strange.

Amy: Says the math-anxiety drama queen.

Marina: I have never been fond of math either.

Diane: Daddy’s constant tutoring is the only reason Sarah passes her class.

Marina:  So where does he teach?

David: At the university.

Marina: He’s a professor?

Sarah: Yes.

{As everyone finishes eating, Amy leaves and comes in with a pan of brownies.}

Amy: So, who’s up for brownies?

Marina: Let me guess.  Your dad made them?

Amy: Actually, no.  Brownies are Sarah’s specialty.

{Everyone takes one.  Marina takes a bite.}

Marina: They’re really good.

Sarah: They’re made from a mix, but a person has to know what brand to buy.  And Daddy likes brownies.

Marina: So I understand.

{They finish and all help clean, even Marina.}

Amy: We can do it.

Marina: I’d like to help.  Maybe I can show that I’m not such a horrible person.

{Amy and Sarah look at each other, and nod.}

Sarah: Okay.

{As they finish, Sarah, Diane, and David start doing their homework at the table.  When everyone is settled, Marina speaks.}

Marina:  So, Amy, you said your dad can’t find a wife.  Why does that seem so important to everyone?

Lucy: So that mean lady in the long black dress won’t take me away.

{Marina is momentarily stunned by this.}

Marina: {Still stunned} Take you away?  What lady in the long black dress?  What are you talking about?

Sarah: Daddy doesn’t like us talking to other people about it.

Marina: Why?

Sarah: Daddy says we don’t need to bother others with our problems.

Amy: And he’s embarrassed about what he thinks are his inadequacies in dating.

Sarah: Amy!

Amy: Well, it’s true.

Sarah: He’s never said that.

Amy: But it’s true just the same. And I feel we should tell Miz Patterson why he’s trying to get a wife.

Sarah: Why?

Amy: I don’t know.  I just do.

Diane: And you know that Amy is always right on what she feels to do.

Sarah: But Miz Patterson doesn’t even like Daddy, and she’s not even nice to him.

Marina: For heaven sakes!  You can’t just say something like a lady in a black dress will take someone away and just leave it at that.

{Jason comes in, blowing on his hands, shivering from the cold.}

Diane: Daddy, are you cold?

Jason: I’ve never seen the temperature drop like this in September.  It’s near zero out there and that breeze just bites through a person. {Turning to Marina} Sorry it’s taking so long on your car.  Between the rust and the ice, I am having trouble getting the bolts to turn, but I have chipped off the ice and sprayed them with rust remover so they should loosen. {He takes the head lamp and puts it in his coat pocket, takes his coat off and lays it over a chair, then turns to Sarah, who is at the table.} Sarah, do you need any help on your math?

Sarah: No, Daddy.  It’s just more practice of what you taught me yesterday.

Jason: {To the other children.} Do any of the rest of you need any help?

Children: {Ad-libbed} No, Daddy.

Jason: Okay.  I need to finish working on Miz Patterson’s car, so let’s do our family things.  Lucy, can you get the scripture reader, please?

{Lucy scurries off with Emily following her.  A moment later they returns with a big book and hand it to Jason.}

Lucy: Here it is, Daddy.

Jason: Everyone have a seat.

{He sits and pulls Lucy onto his lap.}

Lucy: Can Emily sit on your lap, too?

Jason: If she wants to, and if it is all right with her mother.

Emily: Momma, may I?

{Marina acts surprised that Emily would want to, but smiles and nods.  Jason pulls Emily onto his lap beside Lucy.}

Jason: So, what story should we read tonight?

Lucy: Daniel in the lion’s den.

Jason: Okay. {He opens the book and reads, flipping pages as he goes, like a picture book.  Emily starts to get drowsy.} A long time ago there was a man named Daniel.  He was the most trusted advisor to the king, and that made all of the other advisors jealous.  They all knew that Daniel trusted God and prayed a lot, so they talked the king into passing a law that a person couldn’t pray or they would be thrown in the lion’s den.  Daniel still prayed and was arrested.  When the king realized he had been tricked into creating a law to destroy Daniel, he was very angry, but there was nothing he could do.  Once Daniel was put in the lion’s den, the king fasted and prayed all night for Daniel’s safety.  The next morning, when the king went to check on Daniel, he found that God had protected him.

Lucy: That is my favorite story.

Emily: I like it, too.

Lucy: I always pray that God will protect me from that mean lady.

Jason: Lucy, it’s not nice to call her that.

Lucy: {Reprimanded, quietly}  Yes, Daddy. {Brightening}  Can we sing a song?

Jason: Which one would you like?

Lucy: Can you sing that one that you sang to me the night I cried because the mean lady, um, I mean the lady in the black dress said she’d take me away?

{Jason looks at Marina, embarrassed by Lucy’s sharing that statement, and also about singing the song.}

Jason: Let’s not do that one tonight, Lucy.  Let’s sing something we can all do.

Lucy: Please, Daddy?  I’m feeling kind of sad.

Jason: I would rather not ruin Miz Patterson’s ears.

Lucy: Please.

Jason:  {Looking at Marina in embarrassment} I’m sorry.  Sometimes when I’m rocking my children I make up little lullaby songs.

Marina: I’d like to hear it.

Jason: I’m not the best singer.

Amy: It’s a pretty song, Daddy.

{Marina even smiles encouragingly.  Jason slowly nods, takes a deep breath and starts to sing.  As the song starts, the lights dim with a spot on Jason with Lucy and Emily, and one on Marina.  As Jason sings.  Marina begins to smile, and it is obvious that her heart is growing tender watching Jason and the love he has for his children.  Emily falls asleep gradually as Jason sings.}

Don’t Cry My Little Sweetheart

Jason:
Don’t cry my little Sweetheart, I love you.
And I’ll be here to guard you through the night
Don’t cry my little darling, oh how I love you
And I’ll be here until the morning light

Sweet dreams my little sweetheart, I love you
Your future will always be so bright.
Because I will be here watching over you
To make sure that everything is right

And sometimes into every life the storms will come
And into every life some rain will fall
But you can know that you will always have someone
To love you and help you through it all

So
Don’t cry my little Sweetheart, I love you.
And I’ll be here to guard you through the night
Don’t cry my little darling, oh how I love you
And I’ll be here until the morning light

Sweet dreams my little sweetheart, I love you
Your future will always be so bright.
Because I will be here watching over you
To make sure that everything is right

And when the time comes that you’ve grown and moved away
You’ll always still be here in my heart
And every night when we kneel down to pray
You’ll feel that we’re not that far apart.

So
Don’t cry my little Sweetheart, I love you.
And I’ll be here to guard you through the night
Don’t cry my little darling, oh how I love you
And I’ll be here until the morning light

Sweet dreams my little sweetheart, I love you
Your future will always be so bright.
Because I will be here watching over you
To make sure that everything is right

And then someday after I am gone
And you have some little sweethearts of your own
When you sing you’ll feel me sing along
And know that you are never alone

So
Don’t cry my little Sweetheart, I love you.
And I’ll be here to guard you through the night
Don’t cry my little darling, oh how I love you
And I’ll be here until the morning light

Sweet dreams my little sweetheart, I love you
Your future will always be so bright.
Because I will be here watching over you
To make sure that everything is right

{When Jason finishes, the lights come back up and there is a brief pause before Jason speaks, as everyone enjoys the peacefulness of the song.  Emily is sound asleep in his arms, and Lucy is quite sleepy.  Marina looks like she might cry.}

Jason: Well, you kids better get to bed, and I need to get back out and finish Miz Patterson’s car.

Amy: It looks like Emily is asleep.

{Jason looks down at Emily in his arms, sees she’s asleep, and turns to Amy}

Jason:  Amy, please get me a blanket so I can let Emily sleep on the couch until I can get their car fixed.

Marina: Actually, Jason, I was thinking maybe we could just stay overnight if the invitation is still open.

Jason: Well, of course you are welcome.  But I don’t want you to do something you don’t feel comfortable with.

Marina: I’m perfectly okay with it.

Jason: {Turning to Lucy} Lucy, could you get some of your pajamas for Emily, and I’ll be in to help you say your prayers. {Lucy leaves, and Jason turns to Amy and Sarah.} Amy, Sarah, could you prepare my room for Miz Patterson and get a blanket and pillow here on the couch for me?

{Sarah and Amy nod and exit.}

Marina: Oh, Jason, I don’t want to take your room.  I can sleep here.

Jason: No, no.  My room is more comfortable, and besides, I might be going in and out working on the car, and I don’t want to wake you. {Laughing} But be aware that Lucy likes to come climb in bed in the morning.

Marina: {Laughing, too} Emily does, too.

Jason: {Standing with sleeping Emily in his arms} Well, we better get Emily in bed.

{Jason and Marina exit.   Presently, Amy comes in and stretches the blanket on the couch and fixes the pillow.  She works to make it nice.  As she finishes, Jason and Marina come back in.  Amy goes off briefly, then all of the children, except for Emily and Lucy, come wandering in, hearing part of this conversation.}

Jason: Well, I better get that car finished.

Marina: {Grabbing his arm} Actually, I was thinking that, maybe, if you didn’t mind, I would call my assistant and tell her I won’t be in tomorrow, and I could spend the day here at your house with Emily and Lucy.

Jason: You are very welcome to do that.  Feel free to make yourself at home.  But you don’t have to take care of Lucy.  I pay a monthly fee to Sunshine Preschool whether or not she goes.

Marina: So do I for Emily.  But I just feel it might be nice if they could sleep late and have a play day.

Jason: You are very welcome to do so, Miz Patterson, and I promise to do my best to keep some distance between us so you don’t feel uncomfortable here.

{Marina realizes what he is saying, and that it was because of what she said.  She knows this is now the opposite of what she wants.}

Marina: Oh, you don’t need to do that.  And you can call me Marina.

Jason: It’s okay.  I understand why you said what you said.  You are right.  It’s probably better for us to keep some formality and distance between us. {He reaches for his coat without looking at it, turning to the children, and he doesn’t see Marina’s disappointed expression.  Marina grabs his coat while his attention is turned.} Children, please finish up what you need to do and get right to bed.  I need to finish fixing Miz Patterson’s car.

{Jason’s hand closes around nothing and he turns and sees his coat is not there.  He looks around, but doesn’t see it for a moment, but then sees Marina is holding it.  He reaches for it, but she pulls it back out of his reach.}

Marina: I was thinking that since we are staying over and staying here tomorrow, you could just work on the car tomorrow and stay in and get warm tonight and have some warm food.

Jason: {Reaching again for his coat} But I don’t want you to feel trapped here.

Marina: {Stepping back and keeping his coat out of his reach}  I don’t anymore.

Jason: {Reaching again for his coat} I’m afraid I have an appointment to take the children to a movie tomorrow night, and  I’ve already sprayed the bolts with rust remover and need to finish the job before it freezes. {Marina reluctantly gives him his coat.  He takes it and turns to his children.} Hurry to bed, children.  It is getting late, and you need your sleep.

{Jason hurries off stage right with Marina staring after him.}

Amy: {To Marina} You like him, don’t you?

Marina: {Trying to act normal} I think, perhaps, I have misjudged him.  He seems different from the other men that I’ve known in my life.

Diane: Sarah told you he likes math.

Sarah: I don’t think Miz Patterson is talking about math, Diane.

Marina: No, it doesn’t have to do with math. {Very serious and looking directly at the children}  But there are still some questions that I have that are unanswered.  Why is it so important that your father finds a wife, who is the woman in the black dress, and why is she planning to take Lucy away?

Amy: I think we should tell her.

Sarah: All right, but if Daddy asks, I’ll tell him it was your idea.

Amy: The lady in black is a judge.

Sarah: The judge of the family court to be exact.  She says if Daddy doesn’t have a wife by Christmas, she will take Lucy from us and put her in foster care.

Marina: {Shocked} But how can she do that?

Sarah: She will refuse to sign off on the adoption and force Family Services to find another home for her.

Marina: Lucy is adopted?

Diane: Not yet.  But Daddy is trying to.

Marina: But I thought she was your sister.

Sarah: {Defiant} Well, of course she’s our sister.  Just what did you mean by that?

Amy: Sarah, she wasn’t trying to say anything mean.

Marina: No, I wasn’t.  It’s just that, sometimes I’ve seen that adopted children might fit in a little different in a family, but she seems just like the rest of you.

David: But we’re all adopted.

Marina: {Again, shocked} You are?

Amy: All of us except for Lucy were adopted before Mother passed away, and Mother and Father started working to adopt Lucy.

Sarah:  But when Mother got sick, Father and Mother were too busy fighting the cancer to finalize the adoption, and they were spending all of our money trying to get Mother well.  But after Mom died, when Daddy finally started trying to finish the adoption again, the judge told him she didn’t feel a man could raise children alone, and gave him until Christmas to have a wife or she would take Lucy away and put her in foster care.  I think she would take the rest of us away if she could.

Marina: {Quietly as if to herself} Now it all makes sense.  That is why he came to my agency.

Sarah: What agency?

Marina: Oh, nothing.  It’s just when we first met, I was so mean to your father because I didn’t understand.

Amy: I think we should all finish up and get to bed like Father said.

Marina: I think I’ll stay up and visit with your father.

{The children all start to go off as the lights fade.}


Act I Scene 3
{The lights come up and Jason comes in stage right blowing on his hands and shivering.  One of his hands is wrapped in a somewhat dirty/oily rag that also has blood on it.  He turns his back to the kitchen stage left as he takes off the head lamp and puts it in his coat pocket and then takes off his coat and puts it over the back of a chair.  As he is doing this, Marina comes in behind him, so she is very close to him.}

Jason: {Looking at his watch.} Wow!  1:00 in the morning.

{When he turns around, he jumps as Marina’s presence surprises him.}

Marina: I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you.

Jason: I just thought you would have gone to bed long ago.

Marina: I couldn’t bear the thought of being in a nice warm bed while you were outside freezing, fixing my car, so I thought I’d help out what I could.  I’ve been washing dishes and stuff.

Jason: That’s very nice, but you didn’t have to do that.  I don’t want you thinking you owe me for helping you.  Even the thing about the brownies was just a joke.

Marina: I still plan to make you some.

Jason: I can guarantee they won’t go to waste. {He laughs and pats his stomach.} Actually I take that back.  They will go to my waist. {Slight pause, and then getting more serious} Anyway, I have the new fan belt on, and the charging light is off, indicating it is all working okay.  But when I tested all of the electrical things . . .

{Marina notices the bloody, dirty cloth wrapped around Jason’s hand.}

Marina: What’s wrong with your hand?

Jason: {Glances at his hand then puts it somewhat behind himself} Uh, nothing.

Marina: If it is nothing, then why is it wrapped up?

Jason: It’s nothing big.

Marina: Let me see it.

Jason: It’s really not a big deal.  I couldn’t get the bolt to turn, and when I pushed it hard, it finally gave and my hand slipped, and I skinned my knuckles on the radiator.  I’ve had mosquito bites worse than this.

{Marina continues to step toward Jason and he continues to back up toward the couch.}

Marina: Then let me see it.

Jason: I’m fine.

Marina: Then let me see it.

Jason: Seriously, I’m fine.

Marina: Seriously, let me see it.

{She reaches for his hand, and he tries to back up and falls on the couch.  She drops on her knees by him and grabs his hand before he can pull it away.  He reluctantly lets her unwrap the old rag.}

Jason: It’s just a little scratch.

Marina: A little scratch that bled a half pint of blood on the cloth. {She gets it unwrapped and looks at it.} You call this a scratch?  It’s almost to the bone.

Jason: I’ve had worse.

Marina: And what’s the black stuff on this cloth?

Jason: Oil.

Marina: You wrapped a wound with an oily rag?

Jason: It’s what I had.

Marina: What you need is a nurse, and maybe a psychiatrist.  You’re crazy and you’ll be lucky if you don’t get gangrene.

Jason: That’s kind of a worst case scenario.

Marina: Worst case scenarios are the story of my life.

Jason: I’ll just wash it.

Marina: I think not.  I will wash it and bandage it.

Jason: I can do it myself.

Marina: Just like you wrapped it with an oily rag?  Where do you keep disinfectant?

Jason: Like what?

Marina: Like peroxide.

Jason: It’s in the bathroom cupboard.

Marina: I’ll get it and some wash water and be right back.  Don’t move!

{She exits stage left and Jason calls after her.}

Jason: I can do it myself. {Presently Marina comes back on.} Seriously, I can do it myself.

Marina: {Setting down the bowl of water, gauze, and alcohol} And seriously, if you are going to injure yourself working on my car, I am going to bandage your hand.

{As she cleans his hand, he grimaces.}

Jason: Ow!

Marina: Don’t blame me.  The cut is full of oil that I need to scrub out. {No one speaks for a bit, as she cleans and he grimaces.  She eventually looks at him and speaks kindly.} By the way, I don’t think I ever really said thank you for fixing my car.

Jason: {Smiling} You’re welcome.  But I need to finish telling you about it.  It is working well, but when I checked the electrical things, the heater fan didn’t work.  I found it has a blown fuse.  It must have received an electrical surge when the belt broke or something.

Marina: Actually, it hasn’t worked for about a year, and I was afraid it would cost a lot, so I never took it to a car repair place to be fixed.

Jason: {Shocked} What did you do last winter?

Marina: I wrapped Emily up in a warm blanket and scraped the window every few miles.

Jason: That’s not good.  Why, that’s . . . {He pauses and looks at his hand.} That’s more dangerous than wrapping a scratch in an oily rag.

Marina: That might be true if it were just a scratch.

{She puts on a generous amount of alcohol on a clean rag and puts it on his wound.}

Jason: Ow!  What were you in your past life, a torturer? {Marina continues to dab more alcohol on.}  Ow, that hurts!

Marina: {Sarcastically} I don’t know why it would.  It’s just a scratch.

Jason: What was that you put on it?

Marina: Alcohol.  The Peroxide bottle was empty.

{Marina finishes and quickly wraps up Jason’s hand in a bandage.  She stands back up, and Jason looks at her and smiles, somewhat shyly.}

Jason: Thank you, Miz Patterson.  Maybe I kind of do need a nurse.

Marina: {Smiles} You’re welcome.  And you don’t need to call me Miz Patterson.  You can call me Marina.

Jason: It’s okay.  Like I said, I understand why you wanted me to.  And it is probably is better to keep things more formal between us, considering everything.

Marina: What everything?

Jason: Oh, you know.  My age and everything.

Marina: I’m sorry about what I said earlier.

Jason: Don’t worry about it.  It’s true, and you weren’t the first to say it, and you won’t be the last.  Besides, after the reason we first met, I can’t blame you.

Marina: So why don’t you explain why you came in wanting a wife?

Jason: I’d rather not.  It’s embarrassing, and besides, it was a stupid thing to do.

Marina: There’s nothing stupid about loving and protecting your daughter.

{There is a long pause as Jason looks at her.  She realizes her mistake, understanding she wasn’t supposed to know.  He turns away and speaks quietly.}

Jason: The children told you?

Marina: Yes.  Don’t be upset with them.  I insisted that they tell me.

Jason: I’m not upset with them.  I just don’t want to burden anyone with my problems, and the thought of possibly losing Lucy is hard on all of us.

Marina: Have you tried some online dating sites?

Jason: Yes.  I tried a couple of normal ones, but the women all seemed more interested in a free meal and some things I’d rather not mention, rather than in a true relationship.  I even tried a religious group, and their profiles talked about how spiritual they were and how they wanted a sincere relationship, but when I met them, they were exactly same women who had written on the other sites about wanting a wild time.

Marina: Surely there is someone.

Jason: {Discouraged} I doubt it.  If you think about it, women my age have raised any family they plan to have.  One I asked out told me she would consider me if I would put my children back up for adoption.

Marina: Really?

Jason: Yes.  Can you imagine that?  I told her if I didn’t have children I wouldn’t be out making a fool of myself trying to date.

Marina: What about younger women?

Jason: Younger women who have children, who might like a father for them, don’t want someone like me who is {he pauses and is emotional} old and fat and ugly.  I’m sure you understand that.

Marina: I really didn’t mean that.

Jason: Oh, it’s not just you.  The judge says it, too, and she’s my age.

Marina: The judge says that?

Jason: Yes.  I have to meet with her once every month for her to check on my progress.

Marina: So, what does she say to you?

Jason: She asks me how my dating is coming.  I tell her I am trying, but not having any luck.  Then she’ll say, “What do you expect?  You’re too old, too fat, too ugly, and have too many kids for a woman to want you.”

Marina: I can’t believe she says that.

Jason: As I left the court yesterday, I realized she’s right.  No one is ever going to want me.  I thought and thought about what I could do.  That was when I had the stupid idea that maybe I could hire a wife.  But, as you said, what women would even want to do that?

Marina: The judge is wrong.  You’re a nice guy.

Jason: Women don’t want nice guys. {Short pause}  Anyway, that’s why I don’t like to talk about it.  You have your own problems and don’t need to be burdened by mine.

Marina: Amy said you don’t like to talk about it because you are embarrassed at your lack of dating skills.

Jason: {Laughs} And she’s right.  Amy is an interesting little girl.  She has the ability to sense things that aren’t said even more than what is.

Marina: Let me get you some dinner, and then I want you to tell me about your children.

Jason: I’m not all that hungry.

Marina: It’s probably because you’re too cold.  How about some hot chocolate?  I have some warming on the stove.

Jason: That sounds good.

{Marina goes off stage left and comes back with two cups.}

Marina: It’s homemade.

Jason: That especially sounds good.  I usually just heat up water and we add the powder.

{They sit in chairs at the table.  Marina pulls hers a little closer to him, but he doesn’t catch on what she is doing.  They start to sip the hot chocolate.}

Marina: So tell me about your children.

Jason: Like what?

Marina: Like how you adopted them, their personalities, and everything.

Jason: My wife, Katherine, and I had tried to have children and tried to adopt for years, but had no luck in either endeavor.  Amy was the first one we adopted, and her situation was unique.  I don’t quite know how to explain her family except to say they’re rednecks.  They love hunting and backwoods stuff.  But Amy loved classical music and things like that and didn’t really fit in, and she also has strange gifts of sensing what people think and feel.  One day, when she was barely five, she came to my wife and begged for piano lessons.  My wife was willing to teach her for free, but most students Katherine taught for free didn’t appreciate it and wouldn’t practice, so she told Amy that she needed to come work for an hour for each lesson.  Amy not only loved the piano, but she loved working here.  She helped my wife with dinner, cleaning, sewing, you name it.  She also helped me in the garden and enjoyed that.  Pretty soon she pretty much lived here, even staying overnight when her family was on hunting trips.  But then her family decided to move away.  Amy was heart broken to leave us.  But on moving day, she had an appendix attack, and we were the ones who rushed her to the hospital.  The family moved, and they suggested we adopt Amy so we could take care of her.

Marina: They just left her and let you adopt her?

Jason: They felt it would be better for her to be on our insurance, and though they loved her, they knew that it was probably in her best interest.  We still keep in touch with them, and let them know the milestones in her life.  

Marina: So, who was next?

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