INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we’re in New York City with Richard and his wife Marilyn. They are in a large music hall waiting for a concert to begin. While the musicians tune their instruments, Richard and Marilyn feel happy to be together. They hope to have a quiet dinner alone after the concert. But before the concert even begins, their plans have changed.
Act I
Richard: Hmm. Let’s see. Tonight they’ll be playing the Hunt Quarter. Do you remember this piece, Marilyn?
Ma: Of course, Richard. [She hums the melody.] We heard on one of our first dates together. We went to a concert in Central Park.
Ri: It’s was a beautiful night. But then…do you remember?
Ma: It started to rain before the piece was half over.
Ri: And you wanted to stay and listen in spite of the weather.
Ma: I put your new jacket over my head to keep the rain off me.
Ri: As I remember, it didn’t keep you very dry!
Ma: [she laughs.] And you could never wear the jacket again!
Ri: [he laughs.] I think that was the day I knew I loved you.
Ma: Really?
Ri: Well, that was the first day I knew I loved you. Now I know it every day.
Ma: Oh, Richard, this is so much fun, going to a concert…and just being with you.
Ri: You mean being just with me. We don’t have enough time to be together-only the two of us.
Ma: I know.
Ri: But tonight is different. So, What shall we do after the concert?
Ma: Well…how about that nice restaurant down by the Brooklyn Bridge? We can sit at a table for two, and look into each other’s eyes…
Ri: Unless Susan and Harry are there.
Ma: Susan and Harry? What do you mean?
Ri: Well, if Susan and Harry are there, it would be rude for us just to look into each other’s eyes.
Ma: Richard, What are you talking about?
Ri: Look at the couple sitting two rows in front of us.
Ma: Susan and Harry!
Ri: And I thought we were alone.
Susan: [calling] Richard, Marilyn! What are you doing here?
Ri: The same thing you’re doing, I think. Waiting for the music to begin.
Susan: Oh, Richard, I meant that we didn’t know that you were going to be here.
Ma: We just got tickets this morning.
Su: Can you join us after the concert?
Ri: Well…we sort of had some plans.
Susan: Come on, you two. We’re going to a great party.
Ri: Well, I don’t know.
Su: Marilyn, Remember the hat designer I was telling you about? She’ll be there. Come on, say yes.
Ri: Well, Marilyn?
Ma: Sure. Let’s go to the party with Susan and Harry. It’ll be fun. As long as we’re tighter-that’s the important thing.
Susan: Well? Can you come?
Ri: Sure.
Susan: Terrific! We’ll meet you in the lobby after the concert!
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Richard and Marilyn are in New York City at a party with Susan and her friend, Harry Bennett. It’s a nice party, but it’s very crowded. And Richard and Marilyn had not very crowded. And Richard and Marilyn had not exactly planned to a large partly on their evening out tighter. They wanted to be alone. But they won’t be alone until the end of the night, as they head home to Riverdale.
Act II
Susan: Judy, Robert, Anne, and Tom, This is my sister-in-law Marilyn. She’s married to my brother Richard. He’s over there by the food table.
Marilyn: Hi. How do you do? Robert, Judy… [She laughs.] I’m sorry. I’ll never remember all your names.
Robert: Oh, that’s all right. Learning a lot of new names is never easy. It’s nice to meet some of Susan’s family. She talks about you all the time.
Marilyn: Richard and I went to hear a concert. We didn’t know Susan and Harry would be there, too.
Susan: We begged them to come along with us.
Richard: Hi, everybody.
Marilyn: This is my husband, Richard. And this is …
Su: A nice group of my friends. Richard, you’ll have to make your own introductions. I just saw Kathy, and I want Marilyn to meet her.
Marilyn: See you later, Richard.
Susan: [calling] Kathy! Wait a minute!
Robert: Susan tells me you’re a photographer, Richard. I’m the photo editor at an art magazine. Have you seen the exhibit at the photography center? Oh, by the way, my name is Robert.
[Later that evening, Richard and Marilyn are standing at a bus stop.]
Ri: Is this bus going to Riverdale?
Bus Driver: Yup. I’m headed that way.
Richard: Good. Marilyn? After you.
Marilyn: Hmm. The bus is all empty. Do you want to sit here?
Ri: That’s fine. [He sits down.] Well, I think we escaped.
Ma: “Escaped” is the right word. That party might go on all night! Can you believe it? Susan and Harry wanted us to go dancing! I can hardly stand up. I’m so tired.
Ri: It’s almost midnight.
Ma: Yes, but the dance clubs in the city are just getting started. You didn’t want to go dancing, did you?
Ri: Oh, no. Not really. Remember the concert?
Ma: The concert? That seems like yesterday.
Ri: I know. But remember, at the concert we were talking about our plans for the evening.
Ma: That’s night. Weren’t we planning a quiet evening with just the two of us?
Ri: Something like that.
Ma: It didn’t quite happen like that.
Ri: Not yet.
Bus driver: [calling] George Washington Bridge.
Passenger: Oh! Thank you, driver! I get off here.
Ri: Not until right now. You see, here we are. Just the two of us…riding the midnight bus to Riverdale.
Ma: Isn’t nice to be alone? |