THE DENOUEMENT

An one act play based upon actual events. The names were changed to protect the guilty.

Cast of Characters

Rod- The man who loved Denise
Denise- The young woman who loved Rod
Oscar- Denise's father
Stella- Oscar's 2nd wife
John- One of Rod's oldest and best friends
Loretta- John's wife, Rod's old and dear friend, Denise's older sister

Sue Friend of Oscar & Stella, married to Sam
Sam Friend of Oscar & Stella, married to Sue

BACKGROUND

Denise's reserve unit has been mobilized for Desert Shield. Although parents of other college students came to the school to say their farewells, Rod had to take Denise to her parents' house.
Once again, Denise persuades Rod to put on a nice shirt and stay for dinner in an attempt to make a good impression. Rod, a former truck driver and Army sergeant, realizes that only a young pre-law yuppie, preferably of Jewish descent, from the right family, will make a good impression. Nonetheless, out of love, he tries to make her happy.

Scene One

Rod wheels the battered pickup bearing his beloved onto the dark circular driveway of Oscar and Stella's mini-estate. A cold light shines from the kitchen through the entranceway.

Denise (Pointing down the hill, next to the storage shed where the Jaguar resides.)
"Park down there."

(Rod, who obviously had been to the house before, since he had dated Loretta in high school, realizes that Denise is trying to hide the truck. But this is nothing new-he says nothing. They walk to the house, Denise in the lead, Rod tucking in his shirt.. Sue greets them at the door."

Sue "Hello Denise, come on in." (They hug.)

Denise "Sue, this is Rod."

Sue "Hello Rod, nice to meet you!"

Rod (With a slight smile.) "Hi, it's good to meet you too!"

Scene Two

A brightly lit kitchen. Introductions have been made all around. Sam greets Rod warmly with a handshake. John Also. Loretta, as usual, greets Rod with a hug. Conversation covers the Middle East situation and the newly-remodeled kitchen. Road as usual in social situations, is a bit reticent, but warmly engages in conversation with Sue, Sam, John, Loretta, and Denise. Stella cooks, her back to the crowd. (If I don't see him, she thinks, he's not here.) Oscar, taking his cue from Stella, also ignores Rod. Stella pulls Denise into the darkened adjoining dining room for a few minutes. Denise walks around the kitchen, approaches Rod.

Denise "Stella says as soon

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