A Dramatic Reenactment

Dramatis Personae

Matthew - A fellow on a quest for Masculine Enlightenment.
John - His father.
Mary - Mother of Matthew, wife of John.
Joe - A friend of John.
Andy - Another friend of John.

The Scene: A nice bar. John, Joe and Andy are sitting and talking at the bar. They have had a few after-work cocktails. Mary and Matthew enter right, John spots them as they do.

John: Matt, Mary, over here!
Matthew and Mary approach the group. Joe and Andy each greet Mary with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and shake hands with Matthew.
Mary: Hello, Joe. Hi, Andy.
Matthew: Hi. Hi.
John: Matthew's going to France.
Joe: That's great, when are you going?
Matthew: Um, February.
Mary: He's going to Bordeaux. That's wine country!
Andy: That's great! What are you going for?
Matthew: I have a friend who's teaching English there, so I'm going to visit them.
John: How do you know her again? Did she go to G.W.?
Matthew: No. I know her through Bluefly.
Andy: Wait, wait, wait, wait! It's a girl?
Matthew: Uh, yeah, but...
Andy: OH! Well!
Matthew: Well, no. It's not --
Andy: How long are you staying there?
Matthew: Not long. Just a week.
Andy: So wait, Matt's going to France -- the city of Love--
John: France is a country.
Joe: Wine country.
Andy: Well it's the same thing. He's going in February. There's going to be nothing to do but drink wine...
Mary: Matthew doesn't drink.
Andy:(to Matthew) You don't have to drink.
Mary:(defending her son) Matthew's not like that, Andy!
Andy:(to Matthew) wait, where are you staying?
Matthew:(reluctantly) At... her apartment...
Mary: Are you staying with her!?
Matthew:(trying to keep his head above water) Well, she's got a roommate!
Andy: Is it a guy?
Matthew:(sighs.) No.
Andy: So what's the problem? I tell you what, John, Matt might not come back!
Joe and John laugh
Joe: You'll get a postcard: "I'm stayin'!"
More laughter. Mary is getting impatient.
Mary: Let's go eat.
John: Okay, let's go. Joe, Andy, I'll talk to you later.
John puts on his coat. He and Mary exit. Matthew begins to follow, but is stopped by Andy, who offers Matthew his hand. Matthew shakes it.
Andy: Hey Matt... Good luck in France.
Blackout.

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Yeah, I know how it looks.