Title: 5/95
Author: Shelley Timmer
Last saved by: thewkst
Company: Northwestern College

Code Blue
				___________

				A Romantic Comedy in One Act

				by

				Jeff Barker

								321 Albany NE
								Orange City, IA 51041
								(712) 737-8090
								barker@nwciowa.edu
				Royalty and Rights
				
To obtain rights to produce this play and for a royalty quote, send a request to one of the following addresses: 

Mail:		Jeff Barker
321 Albany NE
Orange City, IA 51041

E-mail:		barker@nwciowa.edu

Cast of Characters

	Sally:  			a college senior, lovably manic.

Eleanor: 	Sally's roommate.  Eleanor is a fine antithesis to Sally, calm, but brightly energetic.

	Brendan:		energetic, sensitive, fun, and even sometimes funny.

				Scene

Sally and Eleanor's apartment.

				Time

The present.

SETTING:  	The dining room/living room area of a typical two bedroom apartment in an apartment complex like those found near most university campuses.  The kitchen doorway is off the back of the dining room area, and the entry way to the hall is off the back of the living room area.

	AT RISE:		The house lights and pre-show music fade out.  
The moment the house lights are out, we hear a SERIES OF CRASHES, like every pan someone owns falling off a counter in tight sequence.  Silence.  LIGHTING on stage suggests characters are moving about the apartment in darkness.)

				SALLY                                        
	(From the kitchen)  
Oops!

(After a moment's silence, we hear ANOTHER SERIES OF CRASHES, worse than the first.  It ends.)

				SALLY (continued)                                       
Eleanor, where did you put the matches?!

				ELEANOR                                        
	(Seated at the dining room table)  
Why don't you turn the lights on, Sally?

				SALLY                                        
	(Exasperated, perhaps SHE doesn't hear) 
Did you move the matches?!

				ELEANOR                                        
They're in the second drawer to the right of the sink, where they have been since the beginning of the school year when I brought them from the grocery store to our very own apartment.  If you could see, you would find them inside a white and blue box that says "matches".

				SALLY                                        
Oh no!

				ELEANOR                                        
What now?

				SALLY                                        
Oh no!

				ELEANOR                                        
Sally, what?

				SALLY                                        
You wouldn't believe this, El.  I suddenly thought I was home.  I don't believe this.  It's my mom who puts the matches in the cupboards above the stove.  I am losing my mind.

				ELEANOR                                        
You're not losing your mind.

				SALLY                                        
Yes I am.  I'm becoming my mother.

				ELEANOR                                        
Don't worry, it's normal for a child to adopt some parental eccentricities.

				SALLY                                        
	(Finally entering from the kitchen, but the stage is still dark)
That's great, El.  You're telling me that I'm doomed to turn into my mother.  Except, having no true romantic prospects on the horizon, I'll not only turn into my mother, I'll end up living with her.  That's fun isn't it.  After two months our PMS'll synchronize and we'll make World War II look like kindergarten.

				ELEANOR                                        
Don't think about it, Sal.  You're gonna be fine.

				SALLY                                        
I have to think about it.  I have to spend every possible second thinking about it, because in one week's time I've got final exams and one week after that I've got graduation and one thousand four hundred and forty two minutes later, I arrive back home.  And as far as I can see, it's forever, do you get my drift?? I've got some major worrying to do.

				ELEANOR                                        
Maybe you'll get a job offer.

				SALLY                                        
Fat chance.

				ELEANOR                                        
Maybe Brendan'll pop the question.

				SALLY                                        
He's too late.

				ELEANOR                                        
What do you mean?

				SALLY                                        
Next time he comes down, I'm gonna tell him I don't want to see him anymore.

				ELEANOR                                        
What!

				SALLY                                        
Because I don't know whether or not he's interested in me, and I've got to get on with my life.

				ELEANOR                                        
Don't be an idiot, Sal.  Three letters a week means he's interested.

				SALLY                                        
Okay, he's interested, but he's not "interested."  I don't know if he likes me as a friend or as a girlfriend or as a possible wife or just as a buddy.  I don't think he . . . I don't . . . I think he won't ever be able to get . . . ever get past the fact  
	(Pause)
that I was his best friend’s girl—that I was Jim's.

				ELEANOR                                        
Have you talked to him about it?

				SALLY                                        
It doesn't matter anymore.

				ELEANOR                                        
You can't really do that can you?

				SALLY                                        
I have to.

				ELEANOR                                        
Sally, he's a great guy.  He's funny and he's sensitive and he's a great friend and he's a . . . piece of home for you.

				SALLY                                        
I'm avoiding home, remember?

				ELEANOR                                        
I mean he knows your history.  And you love him.

				SALLY                                        
And he hasn't so much as kissed me!  He held my hand.  I think he did.  I think it was real hand-holding.  I'm not . . . it's not him, it's me.  I know he's getting signals from me, I don't know how I can expect the man to . . . I'm just not sure I can go through that again.

				ELEANOR                                        
Losing someone?

				SALLY                                        
No.  Losing someone and thinking that it may have been my fault.  Not that I caused it, but that maybe I could have stopped it.
	(SALLY suddenly shrieks.  A pretend bit of over-dramatics, typical of SALLY.)
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  
	(immediately calm)  
That's better.  
	(Pause.  Back to reality.)  
Oh Eleanor, what am I going to do with my life?

				ELEANOR                                        
Have you thought about staying here and going to summer school?

				SALLY                                        
I'd rather die.  
	(forced laugh)  
I'd rather go home.  

				ELEANOR                                        
You could go to grad school in the fall.

				SALLY                                        
This conversation is gettin' real scary, Eleanor.

				ELEANOR                                        
OK, let's forget it for a while.  Have you got the matches?

				SALLY                                        
Yeah.

				ELEANOR                                        
So light the candle.

				SALLY                                        
Yeah, let's think about something else.
(SALLY strikes a match and lights one candle in the center of a black cake.  It's not just brown.  It's black.  It has some printing on the top.  SALLY sits down.  There is a moment of silence.)

				SALLY (continued)                                        
Jim, it's been a whole year since you died, but I want you to know that you'll never be forgotten.  
	(SALLY starts to sing, and ELEANOR joins in.)
"Happy deathday to you.

				SALLY AND ELEANOR
Happy deathday to you.
Happy deathday, dear Jim.
Happy deathday to you."

				SALLY                                        
	(With great tenderness)  
My wish is that someday I'll get a sailboat like the one that Jim . . . always said we'd get someday.  Now you make a wish.

				ELEANOR                                        
No, I don't think so.

				SALLY                                        
No, go ahead.

				ELEANOR                                        
He was your boyfriend.  I'm not sure it'd be right.

				SALLY                                        
But you knew him too and he was still your friend.  Remember that time he came down for a visit and you sneaked him past the front desk up to our dorm room so he could be there to surprise me when I got home from night class.

				ELEANOR                                        
Yeah.  

	(THEY smile at the memory.)  

				ELEANOR (continued)
So I wish for another pleasant surprise for you like the ones Jim used to give you.

				SALLY                                        
	(Reaches out and pats ELEANOR'S hand.)
You're so wonderful.  OK, let's blow out the candle.

(Together THEY count to three and blow it out)

				ELEANOR                                        
	(After a moment)  
Um, can we turn the lights on before we cut the cake?

				SALLY                                        
	(laughing)  
Sure.

(SALLY gets up and crosses to the light switches.  Just before SHE gets there, the LIGHT in the room comes up full.  SALLY stops short.  She looks at the switch, and there is a hand reaching around the doorway.  The hand has turned the lights on.  SALLY screams.)   

				BRENDAN
	(Poking his head around the doorway) 
Surprise!
(BRENDAN steps into the room.  HE wears a light trench coat over a sports jacket and tie.)

				BRENDAN                                        
Hi ladies!  
	(Grinning)  
Hope I didn't scare ya.

(SALLY has turned away from BRENDAN and is bracing herself.  Her heart seems to have not yet returned to its normal rhythm.)

				BRENDAN (continued)                                       
How are you doin' Eleanor?

				ELEANOR                                        
	(Calmly) 
Great!

				BRENDAN                                        
How are ya doin' Sal?

	(SALLY is still somewhat frozen in a foolish, dramatic pose.)

				BRENDAN (continued)                                       
You're looking real good.  
(SALLY still doesn't respond, so after a moment's pause, BRENDAN turns front and plays both himself and in rapid, throw-away style.)
Oh thank you, you're lookin' good too, Brendan.
				BRENDAN (continued)
Oh, so how are you?
I'm fine and you?
Oh fine, fine.  Sure glad to see you.
Hey, I'm glad to see you too.
Hey, well listen, it was great seein' yas, but I'm a working man now, so I gotta run.  
Sorry to hear that.  Well come back more often OK?
Sure, sure will.  Well, see ya later.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.  
	
	(HE turns to go and freezes in an active "leaving" pose.)

				SALLY                                        
	(During this last, SHE has relaxed her pose.)
What are you doing here, Brendan?  I mean, no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, I just . . . wasn't expecting you, that's all.  Not that I'm not glad you're here.  What are you doing here?

				BRENDAN                                        
Just thought I'd drive down and surprise you, that's all.

				SALLY                                        
Did you come straight from work?

				BRENDAN                                        
Yeah, sure did.

(An awkward pause.  THEY remain standing in same positions.)

				SALLY                                        
So how was work today?

				BRENDAN                                        
Good.  Fine.  Boring.  How was school?

				SALLY                                        
	(smile)  
The same.

(pause)

				ELEANOR                                        
You want some cake with us, Brendan?  We were just gonna--

				SALLY                                        
	(Suddenly remembers the cake and panics.) 
Oh, yeah! I'm . . . maybe we'd better save the cake . . . 'til later,  
	(Giving ELEANOR a "Shut up and help" look.) 
Maybe Brendan would like to eat . . . something to eat first.

				BRENDAN                                        
No, that's all right.  I had a Big Mac on the way down.  But cake sounds great.  
(HE takes his jacket off.)

				SALLY                                        
	(Not perfectly sure how to explain.) 
Well, um, but, what I . . . I mean, maybe I . . . we . . . should explain, about the--

				ELEANOR                                        
It's OK, Sally.  Brendan knows what day this is.

				BRENDAN                                        
	(seriously)  
Sure I do.  It's why I'm here.

				SALLY                                        
We already lit the candle and sang.

(BRENDAN steps up to the table and reads with solemn reverence.)

				BRENDAN                                        
"Happy Deathday to Jim."
(Then it hits him all wrong.)
Happy deathday to Jim! What?!

				ELEANOR                                        
	(jumping in)  
You don't understand, Brendan.  She wasn't trying to . . .

				BRENDAN                                        
You are right, I don't understand this.  I'm sorry, I've gotta go.

				SALLY                                        
	(howling)  
I can't take this!

				BRENDAN                                        
Don't start your hysterics!  

	(SALLY stops immediately and does a slow burn at BRENDAN.)  

				BRENDAN (continued)
I'm sorry, I'm just not where you're at on this thing.  That's all.  I've gotta go.  I'll see ya.  Maybe.  
	
(HE picks up coat and heads quickly out.  ELEANOR and SALLY are stunned.  ELEANOR quickly breaks.)

				ELEANOR                                        
Let me handle this.  
	(As SHE reaches the doorway, SHE starts a long, huge bellow.) 
BRENDA H H H N!! YOU GET--

(SHE is stopped abruptly by the realization that BRENDAN has never left the building but is leaning against the wall, just outside the door.)

				ELEANOR (continued)
Oh, I thought you were clear down the hall, by now.  
	(pause) 
Come on in here.  

(HE doesn't move.  ELEANOR gestures with her head for him to get in there.  HE still doesn't move.  ELEANOR repeats this several times with no concrete response.  Finally SHE growls through her teeth like a pretend fierce animal, and BRENDAN moves away from her back into the room.  Awkward pause.  BRENDAN and SALLY are not looking at each other.)

				ELEANOR (continued)                                       
Look, you two obviously have some talking to do.  I've got some homework so I'll be in my bedroom.

	(As ELEANOR passes by SALLY, SALLY grabs her arm and whispers.)

				SALLY                                        
Code Blue!

(ELEANOR gives her a wink and an "Okay" sign, and ELEANOR exits.  Long pause)

				SALLY                                        
You didn't tell me you were coming.  

			BRENDAN 
I didn't know until yesterday.  
	(Pause)

				BRENDAN (continued)
I didn't mean to scare you.  It was dark, so I thought you were out.  I hope you aren't mad that I just came in.

				SALLY                                        
I have never been so mad and so spooked and so relieved and so . . . 
	(SHE can't finish.)

				BRENDAN                                        
So, what?

				SALLY                                        
	(SHE doesn't yet want to say it.)  
I don't know.  It's all right.  Did you get my last letter?

				BRENDAN                                        
Today.  About home this summer?

				SALLY                                        
Yeah, that's the latest.  So what do you mean, "hysterics"?

				BRENDAN                                        
That was nothing.  I didn't mean it.

				SALLY                                        
If you want to see hysterics, come to my house in precisely just two weeks and two months.  
	(SHE does a mock psychotic attack, very loudly.)  
Aargh! Ohghck! Hughghauhh!
(SHE throws a pillow.  ELEANOR comes leaping into the room.)

				ELEANOR                                        
	(Realizing that SHE wasn't really needed.) 
Um, anybody seen my pencil?

				SALLY                                        
It's on your desk.

				ELEANOR                                        
Good idea.  I'll check.  Excuse me.  
	(SHE exits.) 

				BRENDAN                                        
(After looking to make sure ELEANOR is gone, HE whispers.) 
Is she alright?

				SALLY                                        
Oh yeah, she's fine.

				BRENDAN                                        
Is she eavesdropping or something?

				SALLY                                        
	(Realizing to herself)  
Oh, no.  That was a Code Blue.

				BRENDAN                                        
What's a Code Blue?

				SALLY                                        
Just something between me and El.

				BRENDAN                                        
What?

				SALLY                                        
It's nothing.  When did you--

				BRENDAN                                        
	(interrupting)
Come on, Sally, what's the big secret.

				SALLY                                        
It's just a system we've got for each other.  For when we think we might need help or company . . . like if a date is really dying and you don't know what to do or you want somebody to leave or just if you need some help.

				BRENDAN                                        
So why did you want her in here right now? Do you want me to go?

				SALLY                                        
	(Interrupting)  
Oh, no . . . I didn't . . . I didn't want her in here.  She just thought it was a Code Blue.  It wasn't really, I gave her the signal by mistake.

				BRENDAN                                        
What's the signal?

				SALLY                                        
I can't tell you that!

				BRENDAN                                        
Come on, tell me.

				SALLY                                        
	(playfully)
No, how could I use it on you if you know what it is?

				BRENDAN                                        
What makes you think you'll have to use it on me?

				SALLY                                        
Everybody's gotta be a Code Blue sometime.

				BRENDAN                                        
Did you ever . . . did you ever use it on Jim?

				SALLY                                        
Oh, all the time.  We used to use it on him to practice, just to make sure it was still working.

				BRENDAN                                        
Did he know the signal?

				SALLY                                        
No.

				BRENDAN                                        
You never told him.

				SALLY                                        
No, he never knew we were doing it, or if he did he never let on.  That's another one of my thousand little regrets.  I wish I had just five more minutes with him to tell him about Code Blue.  
(Silence, tears well up.)  
The way it works is that you're supposed to act like you're pain.  
(lightheartedness is returning)  
It doesn't have to be a big pain and it doesn't have to last long.  There are thousands of ways to do it.  You can pretend like your foot's asleep or you get a sudden pain in your side or that there's something in the chair that's sticking you and you holler for just a second, you know.  And then the other person hears that in their bedroom, and they come and check on you.

				BRENDAN                                        
So what if you're really in pain?

				SALLY                                        
That's the neat part.  The other person interrupts in some way and then asks a question.  Like Eleanor just said, "Has anybody seen my pencil?" And if it's a real Code Blue, I'm supposed to respond by asking another question.  Then Eleanor can respond to my question, and before you know it we're into a conversation and that keeps Eleanor in the room to help me out.  But if I don't really want Eleanor, then I just answer her question, and so she knows it's not a Code Blue.

				BRENDAN                                        
	(Mischievously, quiet)  
Let's try it again!

				SALLY                                        
What?  A Code Blue?

				BRENDAN                                        
Yeah.

				SALLY                                        
	(This time SHE thinks, then . . . )  
Okay.  
(pause) 
I've gotta think up a pain.

				BRENDAN                                        
Yeah, but don't do it yet, we've gotta be talking about something when she comes out.

				SALLY                                        
Yeah, that's good.  Okay, let's talk about . . . 

				BRENDAN                                        
Um, how about . . . nah . . . 

				SALLY                                        
We could talk about your job.  Tell me about work.

				BRENDAN                                        
Okay.  Have you got a pain?

				SALLY                                        
Yeah.  Are you ready?  Okay.  Now don't crack up and give it away, Okay?  Don't get "hysterical" on me here.

				BRENDAN                                        
Last spring when I finally passed my constitution test so I could graduate and Jim was down and we went out to celebrate and he got a little drunk.

				SALLY                                        
A little!

				BRENDAN                                        
And started telling you what he'd do if ever found out you were going out with anybody else.  And he started pounding his fist into the wall of the restaurant and the plaster was cracking.  
	(A little laugh)
I have this image of you sitting there with your eyes shut tight and you were gritting your teeth making this real high "EEEE" sound to try and get him to stop.

				SALLY                                        
It worked.

				BRENDAN                                        
Anyway, that's what made me think hysterical.  Remembering that.  
(Pause) 
That was one of the last nights we had together, all three of us.

				SALLY                                        
	(Confirming, not self-pitying)  
Yeah, I guess it was.
(Pause)

				BRENDAN                                        
Ready for Code Blue?

				SALLY                                        
Ready.

				BRENDAN                                        
Okay.

				SALLY                                        
	(Turns her head and cries out sharply, loudly)
Ghah!  

				BRENDAN                                        
	(Playing along)  
What's wrong?

				SALLY                                        
Nothing, I guess I just turned something wrong in my neck, that's all.  I'll be fine.

				BRENDAN                                        
Anyway, as I was saying, work is going fine.  It's a good bank and the people are nice--but, I don't know, it seems as if I'm not really sure where I'm headed.  I mean--I don't mean I want a better job or a better paying job or anything like that.  I mean I just want my work to mean something.  Jim and I had all these big dreams.  
	(Mock heroism)  
Our lives were going to count for something, you know.  

(We suddenly hear drawers being noisily opened and shut in the kitchen.  BRENDAN and SALLY exchange smirks.)

				ELEANOR                                        
	(Still in the kitchen.)  
Excuse me SALLY, but do you know where the bottle opener got off to?

				SALLY                                        
	(Again a look at BRENDAN.)  
Um . . . check in the dishwasher.

				ELEANOR                                        
What would it be doing . . . 
	
	(BRENDAN is trying to stifle laughter)  

				ELEANOR (continued)
Okay, I'll check.  Yep.  Found it, thanks.  

(This really cracks up BRENDAN and SALLY, but their laughter is silent until SALLY checks to see that ELEANOR is gone.  SHE is.  THEY laugh out loud.)

				BRENDAN                                        
That's great.  Guys never do that, you know.

				SALLY                                        
What?

				BRENDAN                                        
Have signals like that to help each other out.

				SALLY                                        
They don't?

				BRENDAN                                        
No.  In my whole four years here, I never heard of guys having a system like that.  I suppose they could have and I just didn't ever hear about it.  I know I never did.  Guys 

				BRENDAN (continued)
don't depend on each others as much as girls do, I guess.  At least it doesn't seem like it.  Guys are expected to be independent and self sufficient.

				SALLY                                        
You and Jim depended on each other a lot.

				BRENDAN                                        
Well, we knew each other since grade school, so that's a little different I guess.  I thought I'd die when he quit in the middle of our sophomore year.  But he always said, "I'll be back.  You just wait.  I'm not gonna let you down.  
(pause)  
He was gonna win the America's Cup someday, and I was gonna argue a case before the Supreme Court.  
	(pause) 
Things change.  

(A long silence.)

				SALLY                                        
I'm sorry the cake upset you.

				BRENDAN                                        
No, I'm sorry.  It's my fault.

				SALLY                                        
It's all right.  I see how you could take it wrong.  It was probably a dumb thing to do.  I just wanted to do something special to remember today, but I didn't want to . . . I don't know . . . I didn't want it to be morbid or anything . . . but I don't ever want to forget him.  And I don't ever want life to be the same.

				BRENDAN                                        
I just took it all wrong.  
	(pause)  
I mean, you haven't mentioned Jim for a long time in your letters, and I didn't know how you've been feeling about him.  I thought, well maybe Sally has . . . a new boyfriend, and she doesn't . . . think about Jim anymore.  And then when I saw your cake I just jumped to all kind of conclusions, like that maybe you were trying to bury your feelings about him and just . . . I don't know.  Just stupid stuff.  We just haven't talked about him and I don't know where you are.  Or I didn't . . . 

				SALLY                                        
I don't want to hide my feelings.  I want to feel every bit of the pain every day.  And the feeling I get from my family and my friends, everybody except maybe Eleanor, is that they want me to just forget it and to stop thinking about it.  But I don't want to.  
	(Pause)  

				SALLY (continued)
You know whenever Jim cut himself or got hurt, he had this saying....an expression he used to say.  I'd say, "Does it hurt?"  And he'd say, "Sure it hurts." And then he'd grin at me and say, "So I guess I know I'm still alive."

				BRENDAN                                        
Did you get from me that I didn't want you to talk about him?

				SALLY                                        
Well, you weren't talking about him either.

				BRENDAN                                        
No.

				SALLY                                        
Do you know why?

				BRENDAN                                        
I dunno, I have an idea.

				SALLY                                        
Do you want to tell me about it?

				BRENDAN                                        
	(A bit of embarrassment)  
Yeah, when I figure it out.

(Pause.  SALLY backs off and waits.) 

				SALLY                                        
A couple weeks ago, I was home for the weekend and my mom was telling me about this old guy who used to live next door to us and now he's in a nursing home.  So my mom had been to see him and he recognized her and he said, "Betty, I have one question."  And my mom says, "What" and he says, "Why can't I just die?"  So I said to my mom, "Why is he alive and Jim dead?"  Well, she says "God has his reasons for everything."  Then she goes on to tell me that even though Jim's wreck may have looked to us like an accident, that there are no accidents with God.  Finally, she says that she thinks that God may have taken him home because he wasn't living the way he should have been and that's what God sometimes does with back-sliders.

				BRENDAN                                        
Did that start a fight?

				SALLY                                        
	(A gentle laugh)  
No.  I don't have all the answers.  I don't know how God treats everybody.  Maybe He does that.  But the thing is that after mom told me that, she said that I should be careful not to think so much about it, because it happened a year ago, and I've got to go on.  And that's just the thing.  They've told me that from the start.  Don't think about it.  Don't talk about it.  It'll be all right.  So now I've got a hundred questions and everybody has answers but nobody wants to listen to my questions.

				BRENDAN                                        
Like what?

				SALLY                                        
Like why did Jim die and a ninety-year-old guy that wants to be dead is still alive?

				BRENDAN                                        
And?

				SALLY                                        
	(Pause) 
And was God punishing Jim?

				BRENDAN                                        
	(Is silent)

				SALLY                                        
	(Picking up steam, this builds to a gush of emotion.)  
Or was God really punishing me for some reason?  And would Jim still be here if we had gone to Six Flags that day the way we planned until I called it off because I had to study?  Jim always took care of his car.  What happened?  Why did he go through that guard rail?  Did something malfunction?  Why did it happen then and not when I was with him?  Was he drinking?  Where was he that night?  Why doesn't anybody know?  Why hasn't anybody in his family called me since  the funeral?  Why don't they care about how I'm handling this?

(pause)

				BRENDAN                                        
	(quietly)  
He didn't die from the crash.  He had a heart attack.  

				SALLY                                        
	(Shock.  Confusion)  
What?

				BRENDAN                                        
I've been planing to tell you this ever since I walked in the door.

				SALLY                                        
Tell me what? 

				BRENDAN                                        
The autopsy report showed that he had a congenital heart problem that nobody knew about.  And his heart just gave out.

				SALLY                                        
What?

				BRENDAN                                        
He wasn't drinking.  There was little way that anyone could have known.  It's very, very rare.

				SALLY                                        
You knew all this and you never told me.  
	(Beginning to cry.)
You . . . bastard.  

				BRENDAN                                        
I didn't know, Sal.  Not until yesterday.  I've been thinking lately about . . . 
	(looks at SALLY)

				SALLY
What?

				BRENDAN
About all the loose ends in my life.  So to tie up one of them, I took off work and drove over to Kenton and read the report.

				SALLY                                        
What's at Kenton?

				BRENDAN                                        
A bunch of idiots that don't even know their own filing system.  
	(smile)  
The County Court House.

				SALLY                                        
His family must know.  Why didn't they ever tell me?!  Why didn't . . . why?!

				BRENDAN                                        
	(A single question.)  
Did you ever ask them?

	(Her silence means, "No.")

				BRENDAN (continued)                                       
I've . . . had a whole bunch of unanswered questions too.  Not the least of which is . . . does Sally know . . . that I love her? 
(pause)  
And is it wrong for me to fall in love with Jim's girlfriend?

(Long pause.  THEY must both be sitting on the sofa by this point.)

				SALLY                                        
Does Brendan know how long Sally has hoped she would hear him say those three words?

(BRENDAN reaches over and takes her hand.  SHE looks at his hand, squeezes it tight.  It feels so comfortable in hers.  SHE relaxes back into the sofa and suddenly shrieks very loudly.) 

				SALLY                                        
Ouww!!

				BRENDAN                                        
What?!

				SALLY                                        
Something's sticking me!

				BRENDAN                                        
	(Thinking this a Code Blue, and he's been stiffed.) 
Oh, no!  Are you giving me a Code Blue?

				SALLY                                        
	(Looking underneath her)  
No, no, no.  There's really something there.  
	(SHE finds and holds up a needle and thread.)  
Look, it's one of Eleanor's cross stitch needles.  

	(From the kitchen we hear banging of pans.)

				BRENDAN                                        
	(Looks at SALLY with a sigh of defeat.) 
Too late.

				SALLY                                        
No it's not.

(BRENDAN realizes what SALLY means, relaxes into great joy and relief, and oh so carefully leans in to kiss SALLY.)

				ELEANOR                                        
	(interrupting)
Sorry!  Do you guys feel like having any . . .

(ELEANOR pokes her head around the corner, and we see that SHE has been banging on a pan with a wooden spoon.  SALLY and BRENDAN both say, "No."  SALLY and BRENDAN kiss.  ELEANOR realizes that for the third time, it's not a Code Blue.  But SHE'S thrilled.)  

				ELEANOR (continued)
Well.  I'm hungry.  I'm going to have some cake.  

(ELEANOR lays the pan on the table, sits and picks up the knife as SALLY and BRENDAN embrace, and the LIGHTS fade.)

				END OF PLAY.