CHARACTERS
            SALLY        An attractive, community theatre diva.  In a 
                         mid-life crisis.  Late 40's, trying, of course,                 
                         for a younger look.

            WESLEY       A serious, successful young man trying to                
                         find his way.  Acting against his better 
                         judgement, he is presently in the throws of the 
                         passion of theatre, spring, and senioritis (that 
                         is, he's a high school senior).  He's 18.

            RITA         Wesley's mother.  She's wearing her nightgown,  
                         ready for bed.  Late 40's.

                                   Sally and Wesley enjoy a romantic
                                   moment on the couch.  They relax,
                                   basking in the dim afterglow of a
                                   performance at which the lights were
                                   bright upon them.  

                                   He sits on the couch while she reclines
                                   -- her head propped with a pillow, her
                                   legs across his lap.  Wesley holds a
                                   glass of wine.  Sally's glass, and the
                                   bottle, are on the coffee table, within
                                   easy reach.


                                   SALLY
            Ummmmm.

                                   WESLEY
            What?
                           (Sally is swept away by the
                           joy of her evening and the
                           bounty of the moment.  As if
                           to make an existential comment
                           on her life, his life, and all
                           the things that make life
                           worth living, she exhales a
                           long sigh, filled with pure
                           pleasure and relaxation.)

                                   Sally
            This.

                                   WESLEY
            Need another pillow?
                           (He reaches for the pillow, to
                           his right.)

                                   SALLY
            I don't need a thing.
                           (She reaches for her wine and
                           takes a sip and leans back
                           again.)

                                   SALLY
            This is perfection.  Can you smell the azalea blossoms?
                           (His mind is on anything but
                           azalea blossoms, but he tries
                           to feign appreciation.)

                                   WESLEY
            I think so.

                                   SALLY
            So lovely.  So brief.  So...vulnerable.  The mixture of
            dogwood and azalea.  My mother planted those.
                          (She sings.)

                                   SALLY
            "Somewhere in my youth, or childhood."
                           (He turns and moves his lips
                           very close to hers.  They look
                           dreamily into each other's
                           eyes and sing together.)

                                   WESLEY and SALLY
            "I must have done something good."
                          (a bit more distance between
                           them)

                                   SALLY
            That was such a good show tonight.  Wondrous, wasn't it?

                                   WESLEY
            Our best night.

                                   SALLY
            What was wrong with the audience?

                                   WESLEY
            Fuck the audience.
                           (She breaks into laughter over
                           this.  After a moment, when
                           the laughter subsides, he
                           leans over and they kiss.)

                                   Sally
            You're a doll.

                                   WESLEY
            I like you pretty good too.
                          (The phone rings.)

                                   WESLEY
            Don't answer it.

                                   SALLY
            You think I shouldn't answer it?

                                   WESLEY
            Please don't.
                           (He leans over and kisses her
                           until the phone stops
                           ringing.)

                                   SALLY
            You're so amazing.

                                   WESLEY
            So are you.
                           (The phone rings again.  She
                           begins to reach for it and he
                           stops her.)

                                   SALLY
            I think I better.

                                   WESLEY
            Don't.
                           (He tries to kiss her but she
                           refuses.)

                                   SALLY
            It could be one of my children.

                                   WESLEY
            Or your husband.

                                   SALLY
                          (snapping, with confidence)
            It's not him.
                          (She picks up the phone.)
            Hello.
                           (Here, a second location is
                           introduced.  This can be done
                           with lighting, such that the
                           lights come up on Rita.  Or,
                           Rita can bring a chair on
                           stage and situate herself
                           opposite Sally and Wesley.
                           She's nervous.  It also might
                           work if Rita is on stage the
                           whole time, pacing before and
                           between dials.)

                                   RITA
            Sally?  This is Rita.
                           (An abrupt break in Sally's
                           mood.)

                                   SALLY
            Hi!

                                   RITA
            Hope I didn't call too late.

                                   SALLY
            No -- of course not.

                                   RITA
            I knew with the show you'd almost surely be up -- if you were
            home yet.

                                   SALLY
            Sure.  Of course.
                           (Sally rises from the couch
                           and moves away from Wesley. 
                           She keeps her eyes down,
                           focusing fully on the phone
                           conversation. Rita stands up
                           and begins to slowly pace,
                           also looking down -- such that
                           both women are pacing the
                           floor as they talk.)

                                   RITA
            Actually, that's sort of why I called, to see if you were
            home.

                                   SALLY
            Here I am.

                                   RITA
            You didn't have a cast party tonight?

                                   SALLY
            We all went up to Centros.

                                   RITA
            Wesley's not home yet.  You think he's up there?

                                   SALLY
            He probably is.

                                   RITA
            Were there a lot of people still there when you left?

                                   SALLY
            Quite a few.

                                   RITA
            Was Wesley there?

                                   SALLY
            Wesley?  Uh, yeah -- I think he was.  As a matter of fact,
            I'm sure he was.

                                   RITA
            So he's probably still there.

                                   SALLY
            Probably.

                                   RITA
            I'm a little worried about him.

                                   SALLY
            Oh -- I wouldn't.  He'll probably be home soon.  I left maybe
            half hour ago and I doubt they'll stay a lot longer.

                           (Wesley rises and pours
                           himself more wine.  He lights
                           a cigarette and sits down in
                           another chair.)

                                   RITA
                          (anxious)
            You think he was drinking?  I mean, theatre is such a great
            experience for him, but there are some partiers in that
            group.  He's eighteen and he seems awfully adult, but it's
            kind of a fake sophistication, you know?  Kids these days are
            learning things they don't understand.  I mean, he's still in
            high school.  He has school tomorrow morning and here it's
            after--

                                   SALLY
            Now Rita, calm down.