Roles in this act:
Richard: Hi, Marilyn. What are you doing?
Marilyn: Just sketching. I've been thinking a lot about our responsibilities in the past few weeks.
Richard: I never stop thinking about them.
Marilyn: I've been wrestling with question of whether I go back to work or not.
Richard: I see.
Marilyn: And I'm torn. I really want to go back to work, use my talents, and pursue my career in fashion design like we always thought I would, but now, I want to be with Max as a full-time mother, especially when he's a baby.
Richard: I really understand, Marilyn, but you never have to worry about Max. There's Mother and Grandpa...and I can always arrange my photo schedule around your schedule, if that will help.
Marilyn: It's not the same, Richard.
Richard: Have you discussed going back to work with your boss?
Marilyn: Rita Mae called yesterday.
Richard: Ah! That's what's got you thinking, isn't it?
Marilyn: She wants to know when I think I'll be returning to the boutique.
Richard: And you said...?
Marilyn: I said I'd give her an answer in a few days...that I wasn't sure.
Richard: I'm sure Rita Mae will understand and wait until you're ready to go back to work.
Marilyn: Well, maybe she will, and maybe she won't. Who knows? If I don't accept her offer, maybe she'll find someone else in the meantime, and when I'm ready to go back, there won't be a job for me.
Richard: That's something to consider. You've got yourself to think about, too.
Marilyn: But I am thinking about myself. Don't you see?
Richard: What do you mean?
Marilyn: It's not just the job. It's also... my career as Max's mother. That's the way I look at it. I have two career opportunities at the same time. My career as a fashion Designer and my career as a mother.
Richard: I never really thought about being a mother as a career. I guess you do have two career opportunities and a decision to make.
Marilyn: I hear Max.
Richard: I'll go to him.
Marilyn: No, that's OK. I'll do it.
Roles in this act:
Marilyn: I took him to Philip's office yesterday for a checkup. You should have seen the look on his face when Molly gave him the injection.
Ellen: Oh, did he cry?
Marilyn: No, My dear little boy just looked up at me as if to say, "Mama, what are they doing to me? Help!"
Ellen: How did you feel? Tell the truth didn't you feel terrible?
Marilyn: I sure did. I held him closely. I kissed the top of his dear little head. He looked up at me. He tried to smile. Being with him helped.
Ellen: Helped him? Or helped you?
Marilyn: Being a mother is not easy, if that's what you mean.
Ellen: Speaking of being a mother, I've been meaning to ask you what you were thinking about regarding going back to work. I know Rita Mae called. I can imagine what is going through your head.
Marilyn: I'm sure you can, Ellen.
Ellen: There are so many things to consider. One thing that makes it easier for you is that you have us. Max will always have a family member to watch over him while you're at work. I didn't have that when Richard and Susan were born.
Marilyn: What did you do?
Ellen: I chose to continue with my career as a music teacher. We hired a woman to watch Richard and then Susan, and I continued with my career.
Marilyn: Do you think you made the right decision?
Ellen: I think I did. But when Robbie was born, I decided to give full time attention to raising Robbie. I felt differently at that time.
Marilyn: And you gave up your career as a music teacher?
Ellen: Not exactly. I continued to teach piano lessons at home.
Marilyn: How did you feel about being away when Susan and Richard were babies?
Ellen: I think I did the right thing for them and for myself and for Philip. We needed the money. Remember?
Marilyn: Well, we do too, Ellen. Everything I earn helps us towards getting that house we want and need.
Susan: I can't wait till he's just a little older. Our toy company makes the most wonderful toys for kids.
Marilyn: Max thanks you. I thank you. And Richard thanks you. Now may I please say hello?
Susan: Hello. Hello. I miss Max and think about him all week long. We talk about him at dinnertime.
Ellen: Will you please try to relax? I've never seen you so wound up.
Marilyn: You seem to be enjoying the pressure.
Susan: The truth is, I am. My job is not an easy one, but I really enjoy it.
Marilyn: That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Susan.
Susan: What's the problem?
Ellen: Marilyn's career.
Marilyn: Well, my choice of careers.
Susan: Choice?
Marilyn: My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.
Susan: Why does it have to be one or the other?
Ellen: That's what I said.
Marilyn: How's that?
Susan: Why can't you do both?
Ellen: She's right.
Marilyn: Both?
Susan: Well, that's what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability. It's not easy, but what is?
Ellen: And that's what I did. I did both with Richard and Susan, and I did both with Robbie.
Marilyn: I thought you stayed home with Robbie?
Ellen: I did. But I was lucky enough to have a career as a music teacher which I could continue at home.
Susan: Why can't you work at home, Marilyn? You're very talented. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn't you?
Marilyn: I don't know why I didn't think of it. It seems so simple now. For a year or two I could stay at home with Max and do my dress designs.
Ellen: And you could make your dresses at home.
Susan: Sounds like a great way to solve the problem.
Ellen: That could solve your problem, Marilyn.
Marilyn: I'm going to call Rita Mae at home and ask her come by and talk about it. She wants to see Max, anyway.
Susan: I think that really answers your questions, Marilyn. You can do it. Do your designs at home - here.
Marilyn: And let Rita Mae do the selling at the boutique.
Ellen: And you can both benefit financially.
Marilyn: I'm going to call Rita Mae right now. Oh, Susan, thank you so much for coming all this way from the city to talk to me about it. I hope you don't mind having taken so much time away from your busy schedule.
Susan: Are you kidding? I don't mind at all. As a matter of fact, I came to spend some time with my favorite nephew.
Ellen: I think you should call Rita Mae right now. I think your idea of working at home is perfect.
Marilyn: I don't know what I would do without you. I'm lucky to have you all.
Ellen: We are lucky to have you, Marilyn.
Susan: And so is Max.
Roles in this act:
Ellen: Hi, big guy.
Marilyn: That must be Rita Mae.
Ellen: She sure got here quickly. That's a good sign. She must like you and your work, Marilyn.
Marilyn: I think she's just anxious to see Max. She loves children.
Rita Mae: Hi, Marilyn.
Marilyn: Welcome. It's so nice of you to come.
Rita Mae: Oh, I just wanted to see your baby, Max.
Ellen: Hello, Rita Mae.
Rita Mae: I haven't seen you since the hospital.
Ellen: I'm Ellen Stewart, Marilyn's mother-in-law.
Rita Mae: We met at the hospital. Hello. How are you?
Ellen: I remember. How are you?
Rita Mae: Oh, and there is Max! Oh! My, how he's grown! A little present for Max.
Marilyn: Oh, it's beautiful, Rita Mae! You shouldn't have.
Rita Mae: It's nothing. It's just a little present for Max.
Ellen: Can I get you some coffee or tea a cold drink, Rita Mae?
Rita Mae: Oh, nothing, thank you.
Ellen: Well, I will leave you two to talk. Come on, you big guy. Yes, come on. That's it.
Ellen: It's nice seeing you. Let me know if you need anything.
Rita Mae: Thanks, Ellen.
Marilyn: Thanks, Ellen.
Rita Mae: OK, Marilyn. You sounded like you've made a decision when you called me. I'm all ears.
Marilyn: I have made a decision, Rita Mae. I've decided to stay at home and be a full-time mother.
Rita Mae: I'm disappointed, but I respect your decision. If I had a child as cute as Max, I might do the same thing.
Marilyn: But I haven't finished telling you the other half of my decision.
Rita Mae: The other half?
Marilyn: Yes. I think I can stay at home and take care of Max and continue my career.
Rita Mae: Sounds interesting. Let me hear it.
Marilyn: Do you remember our talks about custom-designed dresses for the boutique?
Rita Mae: I sure do.
Marilyn: Why can't I design dresses for you here at home? And make them here. Have the fittings here, too.
Rita Mae: And I could do the selling and the pricing at the boutique.
Marilyn: Exactly.
Rita Mae: Oh! What kind of dresses would you design?
Marilyn: I've thought about that for some time.
Rita Mae: Yes?
Marilyn: Wedding dresses.
Rita Mae: Wedding dresses? Brilliant idea! There's a big market today in wedding dresses.
Marilyn: That's what I thought.
Rita Mae: I like the idea very much. And if it's successful, we can expand to all kinds dresses.
Marilyn: That's what I thought.
Rita Mae: As a matter of fact, I have a customer for your first wedding dress. My niece is getting married, and I've been trying to find just the right thing for her. Marilyn, you're going to design my niece's dress. That'll be our first one, and then we'll use it to sell others.
Marilyn: Do you really mean it?
Rita Mae: I really mean it. It's a simple idea, and it will work. You can certainly design dresses. I know that. And there's no reason why you can't do it from your home.
Marilyn: I'm so excited! I can't wait to tell Richard!
Rita Mae: If I had a baby like Max, I'd want to stay home and be near him all the time, too. You're making the right decision for Max and for yourself too, Marilyn.
Marilyn: It all sounds so easy.
Rita Mae: Now the hard work begins.
Marilyn: Would you like to see some of my designs that I've been working on?
Rita Mae: I'd love to . Ooh! Oh, that's wonderful! Ooh...
Roles in this act:
Robbie: Morning, Grandpa. Is something the matter, Grandpa?
Grandpa: The editorial in this paper that has my friend Nat Baker real upset. Ah! I'll read it to you. "The old library building on Chestnut Street, which has been vacant for over a year now, was supposed to be made into a community center to serve the senior citizens as well as the younger people of Riverdale. Due to lack of funds for the repainting of the interior of the building and for the furniture needed, the plans for the community center have been postponed indefinitely." Huh! He's coming over to talk about it.
Robbie: Is that a serious problem, Grandpa?
Grandpa: It is. Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. He doesn't have any family with him. He lives alone and depends on places like a community center to be with people - people his own age.
Robbie: But there's the old community center on Elm Street.
Grandpa: It's small, and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. Ping-Pong tables, soda machines and lots of music. It's too noisy for some older people like Nat.
Robbie: I never realized that.
Grandpa: It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. That's why the new community center is a good idea. Part of the building for older people, part of the building for younger people.
Robbie: I see what you mean.
Grandpa: Well, that must be Nat.
Robbie: It could be Alexandra. She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.
Alexandra: Hi, Robbie.
Robbie: Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. Do you want something cold to drink?
Alexandra: I'd love some cola, please.
Robbie: Cola coming up. I really appreciate you coming over to help with my math. My final exam is next Tuesday.
Alexandra: You're so good in all your other subjects. I just can't understand why you have so many problems with math.
Grandpa: Hi, Alexandra.
Alexandra: Hi, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. Don't let me interrupt you.
Robbie: No problem, Grandpa. We're just having some cola before getting to tough stuff - math.
Alexandra: He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: I was the same way.
Robbie: Really, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Really. I didn't like math, I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.
Robbie: But you had to be good at math. You graduated from engineering school.
Grandpa: I was. But not in high school. For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. Then, in college. I became good at it.
Alexandra: Then there's hope for Robbie.
Robbie: I can't wait. You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?
Alexandra: You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie, if you skip it now.
Grandpa: That must be Nat.
Alexandra: Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.
Grandpa: I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker. This is Alexandra Pappas and this is my grandson Robbie, whom I think you've met once or twice before.
Alexandra: Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.
Robbie: Hi, Mr.Baker. We met before.
Nat: Where?
Robbie: In town. At the hardware store.
Nat: I remember now. Right. Hi. Hello, Alexandra.
Grandpa: Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring. Robbie. I know you want to get to it.
Robbie: Stay...stay.
Alexandra: I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.
Nat: Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?
Grandpa: I did.
Nat: It's a serious matter for a lot of us. A serious matter.
Grandpa: It is. Come on out to the patio. We'll talk about it out there.
Nat: Thanks. Nice to meet you...again.
Alexandra: What's the problem?
Robbie: Come on? You'll hear about it.
Roles in this act:
Grandpa: It's certainly a good idea. If I could take a look at the place, I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up. How much paint, how many hours of work...
Nat: That's what I came to ask you to do, Malcolm. If you would supervise the refurbishing, I'll find the people to help do it.
Robbie: I'll help too, Mr.Baker. I can get some of my friends to go around the neighborhood and collect the furniture we need.
Alexandra: I'll help.
Grandpa: Tomorrow. Yes. We'll meet tomorrow morning, right here.
Robbie: Can we help?
Alexandra: I'd really like to.
Grandpa: Sure.
Nat: We might need you to come through with your friends, Robbie. Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture, but to help with the paint job. That's backbreaking work and may be too much for us.
Robbie: I'll do it. I'll talk to them.
Alexandra: And tomorrow morning we'll all meet here to discuss the plan?
Grandpa: Tomorrow morning, it is!
Grandpa: Come in, come in. Please, come in.
Nat: I'd like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm, this Joanne Thompson.
Grandpa: Hello, Joanne. Nice to meet you.
Joanne: My pleasure, Malcolm.
Nat: And this is Abe Lucas. You must remember Abe. He ran the drugstore and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.
Grandpa: Oh, sure I do. Hi, Abe.
Abe: Hello, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: Malcolm, please.
Abe: Hello, Malcolm.
Grandpa: Sit down, sit down. Have some coffee. And I've got some delicious Danish pastry for you.
Nat: Where's your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra? Weren't they going to be here this morning?
Grandpa: I thought so, too. I'm surprised they're not here. Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra. Frankly, I thought they'd be here, but...
Nat: It's OK. I'm sure they meant well, but they probably had other things on their minds.
Joanne: I understand you used to be in the construction business, Malcolm.
Grandpa: I was, indeed.
Joanne: I wonder if you would take a look at the old library and make sure that it is in good condition so that we don't have to worry about any structural problems.
Grandpa: When can I do that? I'd be happy to.
Abe: We've got permission to go inside the old building during the week - Tuesday or Wednesday.
Grandpa: That's fine with me. I can do it either day.
Joanne: That would be very helpful.
Nat: I think the building just needs a good cleaning.
Abe: And a good paint job.
Joanne: Then we have to furnish it.
Grandpa: I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting. They had some ideas about getting the place fixed up.
Joanne: Perhaps they'll show up. In the meantime, let me give you some additional thoughts and ideas I have.
Grandpa: OK.
Nat: Go ahead, Joanne.
Joanne: As I said, mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.
Nat: This place can be developed with one real inter-generational program.
Grandpa: That's an idea I like. A community center with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.
Nat: And programs that don't leave anyone out.
Joanne: It's asking a lot. But we can't do it without talking to the young people. Finding out what they want.
Grandpa: If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.
Nat: Don't be upset, Malcolm. We'll have a chance to talk to them later.
Grandpa: It's not like Robbie. If he says he's going to be here, he's here. I wonder what the problem is.
Roles in this act:
Grandpa: Yes, I remember. You were a great help.
Maxwell: Hi, Mr. Stewart. Hope to be a bigger help on the new community-center project. From what Robbie and Alexandra have told me, you people are making one big story.
Grandpa: Let me introduce you, Mr. Maxwell. This is Nat Baker, who's responsible for this meeting, and this is Joanne Thompson and Abe Lucas, who used to run the drugstore in town.
Maxwell: Robbie and Alexandra told me what you need to fix up the old library. I am planning to write an editorial that I think will help you.
Grandpa: Let's go. What are your questions?
Maxwell: OK. Now, I have...first...a couple of questions here. Have you talked to the community council? And have you had an engineer come in to do an inspection?
Maxwell: OK, what do you need most of all?
Grandpa: People power. Men and women, young and old, to give us their time.
Maxwell: To do what?
Joanne: To help scrub the building interior clean.
Nat: So that we can repaint it.
Maxwell: And you also need bodies to do repainting?
Grandpa: That's right. And we'll also need some ladders and some brushes and some paint.
Maxwell: When do you need the volunteers, and where do they report?
Grandpa: I've got the council to agree to open the building for us on the next four weekends.
Maxwell: How about furnishings? Are there any special requirements that I should list in the paper?
Joanne: Yes. Here is a copy of all the things we need to start with.
Maxwell: Let's see. Four desks. Eight straight-back chairs. Thirty folding chairs. Six table lamps. Three end tables. One piano. This is a good start. These items shouldn't be difficult to come by, once I print the article in the paper. This community has always been very generous.
Grandpa: I agree, Mr. Maxwell.
Maxwell: What you're saying is, in order for this center to succeed, we need to put together volunteers from the various generations of future users.
Grandpa: That's right.
Nat: And without their energy and stamina, there's no way we can complete this project.
Maxwell: I've got it. Now give me some information about how you see the building being used.
Joanne: Here, on the ground floor we have the reception area...
Grandpa: It's here, Robbie. Charles Maxwell lived up to his word. "At the Stewart family home on Linden street yesterday, a group of caring Riverdale citizens gathered to plan the refurbishing of the old library to transform it into a new community center. The original plan by the council was tabled because of lack for funds. The new plan needs you. You could call it a community unity plan. It needs your time and it needs your energy. And it needs your contributions of furniture, paint, brushes, ladders, lamps, et cetera. A list of these items and the volunteer form can be picked up at the Riverdale Press offices. By working together, this community can do anything to benefit its citizens, and we know you will all work together towards refurbishing the old library and making it a new community center. Charles Maxwell, Editor."
Roles in this act:
Robbie: Hi, Mom.
Ellen: Hi, Robbie You're home from school early.
Robbie: Yeah, they're getting the assembly hall ready for the graduation ceremony, so we all got to go home early. Too noisy to study.
Ellen: Well, now that you're here, you can help me with dinner. I need those potatoes peeled and sliced.
Robbie: Mom, give me a break! Alexandra's coming over to help me study for my math final.
Ellen: Well, in that case, you can wash the dishes and clean up after dinner.
Robbie: Can I invite Alexandra to stay for dinner?
Ellen: Of course.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom.
Ellen: You and Alexandra have become good friends, haven't you?
Robbie: Yes. I like her. She's a terrific person. I'm going to miss her when she goes back to Greece.
Ellen: Would you like to give her a little farewell party?
Robbie: Mom, that would be terrific! Maybe we could make it a surprise.
Ellen: Oh, I don't know. Surprise parties don't always work out.
Robbie: Well, we could tell her it's a graduation party for me. When Alexandra arrives, we'll surprise her.
Ellen: Well, I suppose that might work.
Robbie: I'd like to give her a nice going-away present.
Ellen: Fine.
Robbie: There's only one problem.
Ellen: What's that?
Robbie: I'm broke. I should have saved some money.
Ellen: I'm sure Alexandra would be happy with something simple, Robbie.
Robbie: I know. But, well, I'd like to give her something nice to remember me by. Maybe I could borrow some money from you and Dad.
Ellen: It's all right with me if it's all right with your dad.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom. I'll talk to him. Is he still in his office?
Ellen: I think so.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom.
Ellen: Robbie! Good luck!
Molly: Here are the X-rays you wanted, Dr. Stewart.
Philip: Oh. Thank you, Molly. Now, let me check them.
Molly: What do you think?
Philip: I don't see any breaks or fractures. Well, well. Thank you, Molly.
Molly: Thank you.
(Robbie knocking at the door)
Philip: Come in! Hi, Son.
Robbie: Hi, Dad. Am I interrupting you?
Philip: No, no, no, no,. What's up?
Robbie: Can we talk?
Philip: Sure.
Robbie: I need some help.
Philip: Well, that's what fathers are for.
Robbie: Well, before I go to college, I have the whole summer...
Philip: Yes...
Robbie: And I'm planning to get a job for the summer.
Philip: And what sort of job?
Robbie: I applied for a job as a lifeguard at the community pool.
Philip: Sounds pretty good.
Robbie: Yes. I'll be earning pretty good money if I get it. But right now, I'm kind of short of cash.
Philip: Who isn't?
Robbie: And my friend Alexandra is going back to Greece...
Philip: Nice girl. We'll all miss her.
Robbie: Mom says we can her a going-away surprise party.
Philip: Good idea.
Robbie: And I'd like to get her a nice gift...
Philip: What'd you have in mind?
Robbie: Well, a wristwatch, so she'll think of me when she looks at the time. Nothing flashy or expensive. Something simple - but a good one.
Philip: Sounds fine, Robbie.
Robbie: Well, I saw a nice watch. But I'll need a loan. If you could lend me the money, I could pay you back out of my lifeguard salary.
Philip: Well um... I guess your mother and I can manage it. When do you need the money?
Robbie: Would tomorrow be OK?
Philip: You've got it.
Robbie: Thanks, Dad.
Philip: My pleasure, Son. Oh, and Robbie...
Robbie: Yes?
Philip: You'll probably want the family car so you can drive her home after the party.
Robbie: Could I?
Philip: If you drive carefully.
Robbie: I will. Thanks, Dad.
Philip: My pleasure.
Robbie: You're OK, Dad.
Philip: You're not so bad yourself, Son.
Roles in this act:
Alexandra: You ready for the next problem?
Robbie: You know what? I can't look at another number. How about a lemonade break?
Alexandra: Sure.
Robbie: Oh, by the way, when is your plane reservation for your flight to Athens?
Alexandra: Sunday. Why?
Robbie: Would you be able to come over Saturday night?
Alexandra: Yes. I should be finished packing by then.
Robbie: My folks are giving me a little graduation party.
Alexandra: Terrific!
Robbie: I'll pick you up.
Alexandra: That isn't necessary.
Robbie: My dad's letting me borrow the car.
Alexandra: Oh, well, that would be very nice.
Robbie: About eight o'clock?
Alexandra: Eight o'clock is fine.
Robbie: Great! It's a date.
Alexandra: Who's going to be there?
Robbie: Just my friend Mike and a few kids from school.
Alexandra: I'm going to miss all of you. You've been like a second family to me.
Robbie: We're going to miss you.
Alexandra: Maybe you could come to visit me in Greece?
Robbie: I'm counting on it.
Alexandra: Wonderful! Are you excited about graduating from high school?
Robbie: Sure...and a little scared.
Alexandra: Scared? Why?
Robbie: Aren't you a little scared?
Alexandra: I was when I first came to the United States. I'd never been away from home, and I didn't know what it would be like. But then I found out that people are the same everywhere once you get to know them.
Robbie: I'm glad I got to know you.
Alexandra: Thank you. I'm glad I got to know you - and your family.
Robbie: Wouldn't it be nice if we could skip the examinations and get right to the graduation party?
Alexandra: It would be very nice. But that isn't the way it works. So...back to work.
Robbie:
Ahhhh...
(Later...)
Alexandra: Good night, Robbie. Good night, Mrs.Stewart. Thank you for dinner.
Ellen: Good night, Alexandra. Will you be all right?
Alexandra: Yes.The Molinas are waiting for me.
Robbie: Good night, Alexandra. I'll pick you up on Saturday night, OK?
Alexandra: Yes. Eight o'clock.
(Car horn beeps outside...)
Alexandra: I have to run.
(Later that night...)
Ellen: Good night, Robbie. She's really a good friend, isn't she?
Robbie: Yeah.
Ellen: You are going to miss her.
Robbie: Am I going to miss her?
Ellen: That's what I said! You are going to miss her!
Robbie: I'm going to miss her, and my math teacher's going to miss her.
Ellen: Well, you can write to her.
Robbie: It's not the same.
(Saturday afternoon.)
Mike: How does that look, Rob?
Robbie: Great! Pass me the hammer.
Mike: You got it!
Sandra: You're sure Alexandra's going to be surprised?
Robbie: Absolutely. She has no idea that the party is in her honor.
Mike: Millie, did you bring the tapes for dancing?
Millie: They're in my bag.
Mike: What did you bring?
Millie: Some rock 'n' roll.
Robbie: Perfect! Alexandra will love it! I can't wait to see her face when she walks in here tonight.
Mike: What about the cake?
Robbie: My mom's decorating it right now.
Ellen: Robbie, there's a phone call for you. It's Alexandra. She sounds upset.
Robbie (on the phone): OK. Thanks, Mom. I'll take it in there. Hi, Alexandra. What? You what? Oh no!
Roles in this act:
(Saturday night)
Millie: How about some music?
Sandra: No, let's wait till Robbie gets back from the airport.
Millie: Did she say why she had to leave today?
Mike: She told Robbie that her flight tomorrow was canceled, so she had to take an earlier flight today.
Millie: This is terrible.
Mike: Well, that must be him.
Sandra: Why is he blowing his horn like that?
Mike: I don't know. Maybe he's angry.
Sandra: Do you think we should take down the decorations? They'll just make him sad.
Mike: Too late now. We should have done it sooner. Oh, here he comes.
Mike: Hi, How'd it go?
Robbie: OK, I guess. Especially when Alexandra gave me a surprise...
Mike: Yeah? What was it?
Robbie: This!
Mike: Alexandra!
Sandra: Hi! What happened?
Alexandra: I called my parents from the airport. When I told them my friends were giving me a party, they insisted that I stay. So now I'm taking a flight on Monday instead.
Mike: That's great! Terrific!
Sandra: But how did you know the party was for you?
Alexandra: Well, Robbie told me when he gave me this.
Sandra: Oh, it's so pretty!
Alexandra: It's lovely, Robbie.
Millie: All right! Now we can really start the party!
Alexandra: No. Would you mind? I'd like to say something first.
Philip: Hear, hear!
Alexandra: I should just like to thank all of you, my friends, who have made my stay in the United States so wonderful. And to Robbie and the Stewart family for opening their home to me.
Robbie: We should thank you. You're a real friend!
Alexandra: And I also have a little surprise for you, Robbie. A little going-away present.
Robbie: Thank you.
Alexandra: Open it, please. I think you might be amused.
Robbie: OK. I can't believe it!
Alexandra: I guess we were thinking the same thought.
Robbie: You had it engraved!
Ellen: Read it, Robbie.
Robbie: "In friendship, always. Alexandra." I knew we thought alike, but this is too much! Thank you.
Mike: All right! Let's have some music!
Robbie: Miss Pappas?
Alexandra: Mr. Stewart...
Philip: Mrs. Stewart, may I have this dance?
Ellen: My pleasure, Doctor.