(Rick and Mindy are still in the bar. Billy walks in with his date and Rick alerts Mindy.)

Mindy: (jumps up, yelling)
Daddy! Daddy! I was just coming to look for you! I’ve got the most wonderful news! (even louder) Rick and I are in love! (The whole room falls silent and looks at the foursome. Mindy turns to face them.) Well we are! (Everyone laughs and applauds.)

(Back in the ballroom, Phillip and Beth enter from outside. Alexandra watches them and sees a shadowy figure peering in the door after them. Trish Lewis and a very drunken Ross [who thinks he’ll always lose to Alan] join Phillip and Beth. Alexandra continues to watch them from across the room.)

Ross:
Phillip, Phillip, my favorite nephew. How are you?

Phillip: (notices his uncle has had a few drinks)
Ross! Uh, probably as well as my favorite uncle seems to be right now.

Ross:
This is some great party. (Guzzles his champagne.)

Phillip:
Uh-huh. Hi Trish.

Trish:
Hi Phillip. Beth, you look beautiful tonight.

Beth:
Thank you, Miss Lewis.

Trish:
No, please call me Trish.

Beth:
Trish.

Ross: (has gotten another glass of champagne to guzzle)
How are things going with you and Alan? I mean, is everything okay?

Phillip:
Yeah, actually better than I expected.

Ross: (slurring his words)
All right. You be careful. I learned a lot about Alan while you were in New York, so…

Phillip:
Like what?

Trish: (interrupting)
Uh, Ross, I love this song—please let’s dance?

Ross:
No, no, I want to talk to, uh, Phillip and his lovely bride to be and I also want to do a little more celebrating.

Trish:
Let’s do that later. Excuse us. (She starts to drag him away.)

Ross:
Yeah, we’re gonna do that later.

Phillip:
All right. Well, listen, don’t dance too far away, because I’ve got an announcement to make in a minute.

Ross:
All right. (They exit.)

(Rick, Mindy, Billy and date back in the bar.)

Mindy: (in mid-story)
…So, Rick and I were out on the dance floor just dancing you know, just kinda getting into the music, and then—bingo—it hit us! We knew we were in love.

Rick:
Mindy, I don’t think your dad wants to hear all the details.

Mindy:
Well, Rick, you’re gonna have to get used to the fact that I tell my daddy everything—well, almost everything.

Billy:
Young lady, is there something you’re holding back on me?

Mindy:
Daddy, aren’t you happy for Rick and me?

Billy:
Sure I am, darlin’. Hey, I think it’s about time you got yourself a level-headed, normal boy. As far as I’m concerned, that Spaulding boy was nothin’ but trouble.

Mindy:
Daddy, don’t go badmouthing Phillip. He’s still a friend.

Billy:
Yeah, and he’s also a Spaulding. As far as I’m concerned, Spauldings and Lewises don’t mix.

(Phillip and Beth in the ballroom.)

Phillip:
Well, it looks like the orchestra’s taking a break. What do you say we make our announcement?

Beth:
Are you sure you’re ready for this?

Phillip:
Am I? I’ve only suggested it about 10 times, right? I’m READY. Okay?

Beth:
Let’s do it.

Phillip:
Okay. (He leads her to the top of the stairs overlooking the room and asks for everyone’s attention. The crowd quiets.) Excuse me, I’d like to make an announcement.

(Alexandra—still lurking—watches from the back of the crowd and notices Bradley standing in the outside doorway.)

-[COMMERCIAL]-

Phillip: (nervous and excited)
Everybody, can I get your attention for a second? (All eyes on them.) Uh, recently, I asked Beth Raines if she would do me the great honor of becoming my wife. I’m happy to announce that she said yes! (Crowd applauds.) Thank you. We’re planning a ceremony here in Springfield for all our friends and our family, and we want to hold it on March 16th. Oh—that’s also her birthday. So, if you all would just set that date aside, we look forward to seeing you all there. That’s it. Thank you.

(The crowd applauds as they walk down the stairs and cross the room. Rick and Mindy join them and offer their congratulations and Alan watches from a distance.)

Mindy:
It’s about time you guys went public!

Phillip: (excited)
You! (points to Rick) You keep March 16th open, because you are my best man.

Rick: (teasing)
Oh, man. March 16th I have a midterm. (Mindy playfully slaps him on the arm.)

Phillip:
I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to hear midterm!

Beth:
Mindy, would you be my maid of honor?

Mindy:
Me?

Beth:
Uh-huh.

Mindy:
You want me? After all the terrible things that I’ve said and—

Rick: (interrupting)
Just say yes, okay?

Phillip:
Say yes.

Mindy: (sincerely)
I’d love to.

Beth:
Oh, I’m so glad! (They hug.)

Lillian: (approaches)
Sweetie, I’m so happy for you. (Looks at Phillip) I’m happy for you both—so happy.

Beth:
Thank you, Mama.

Lillian:
And you know, March 16th is very close to now, so it would be wonderful if you could come home and we could take care of all the details and get all the business done.

Beth:
Mama, I don’t have to be home to do that.

Lillian:
Sweetie, listen, you and Phillip are gonna have each other forever and I’m not gonna have you anymore. And you’ve been gone a long time. Please, just a few days. It would mean so much to me.

Beth:
Mama, I—

Lillian:
Come talk to me. (She leads Beth away to talk.)

Alan: (approaches from behind and grabs Phillip’s arm)
Phillip.

Phillip: (turns)
Well, how did I do?

Alan:
I didn’t know you were going to make a formal announcement.

Phillip:
I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to wait any longer, you know.

Alan:
This is hardly the appropriate time or place.

Phillip:
Dad, all our friends are here. How could there possibly be a more appropriate time or place?

(Across the room, Alexandra approaches Bradley at the door.)

Alexandra:
Won’t you come in? This open door is causing a draft.

Bradley:
I was just leaving.

(Alan catches sight of them and excuses himself. He heads toward the door but misses Alex—she has ducked out of the way. He goes outside and calls for Bradley, but he’s gone.)

Alexandra: (inside, to herself)
Oh, Alan. What a tangled web we weave.