(The stables. Phillip drags Beth in quickly by hand.)
Beth:
Phillip, what are you doing?
Phillip: (lets go of her hand as he approaches the ladder to the loft)
Wait here.
Beth:
You know, Alexandra’s expecting us to go…
Phillip:
Oh, let her expect us. It’s all right.
Beth:
Well, it IS our child’s christening party. We MIGHT want to show up.
Phillip:
We’re going to show up. We’re just going to be a little late. We’ve got something we’ve got to do first.
(Phillip climbs into the loft. Beth walks over by the stall and looks around. Phillip comes right back down, slips something into his pocket and walks over to Beth.)
Beth:
Our favorite hiding place. How many times has this been our refuge?
Phillip:
Oh, too many times. We’ve had to hide so often throughout the years, haven’t we? Not anymore. Not after today.
Beth:
Yeah. (Moving closer to him.) This is it.
Phillip:
Mm-hmm.
Beth:
So, why did you bring me here?
Phillip:
Well, I just thought it’d be nice to make it official, you know.
Beth:
Well, I think it is.
Phillip: (shaking his head no)
No, no, it’s not official. Not official at all.
Beth:
Phillip, nothing could keep me from you and our baby.
Phillip:
Really? You want to prove it?
Beth: (chuckles)
Prove it?
Phillip:
Mm-hmm.
Beth:
Gee, I don’t know what to do for my next act. I’ve walked through fire…
Phillip:
Oh, yeah, sure, you’ve done all the easy stuff. You think you’re going to be able to hang in there when it gets tough?
Beth: (confused)
What are you talking about?
Phillip:
Will you stay with me now that it’s going to be boring. Now that we’re reduced to sharing baby feedings and wondering what we’re going to have for dinner and whether or not to sell the car and what to get your mom for her birthday? Stuff like that?
Beth: (smiles and puts her head down. In a whisper)
Yeah.
Phillip:
Will you let me hold you and tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman I know, when the first wrinkles happen here (he points to her laugh lines), and you know they will. (Pause). You’re going to let me rant and rave when I get to my mid-life crisis and I start thinking that my entire existence has been meaningless? (Beth laughs out loud. Phillip chuckles then gets serious.) Will you let me hear that laugh for the rest of my life? (Beth’s face gets serious as she finally realizes where this is heading.) Will you marry me?
(Beth, overcome with emotion, turns away from him and begins to cry. A panicked Phillip believes that he’s done something wrong.)
Phillip: (Putting his hands on her shoulders)
Beth, what’s the matter? Is it this place? Is this a stupid way to try to propose to you? Because I…
Beth:
No! No, no, no.
Phillip: (Walking around so he can face her)
Well, what? Is it…is it what I said? I didn’t mean it. You know, the wrinkles and the mid-life crisis, I was kidding. We’re going to have fun with that, I promise you we will.
Beth: (turning away from him again)
No, just stop.
Phillip:
Beth, what’s the matter? (She’s still crying. He holds her from behind again.) Hey. Beth, what is it?
Beth: (She turns to him)
This place is fine. It wouldn’t have mattered where you proposed. But this is the right place to do it.
Phillip: (Still fearing the worse)
It’s not the wrong question?
Beth: (Still crying)
No, of course not. It’s perfect.
Phillip:
It’s perfect?
Beth:
Yes.
Phillip: (Relieved and drawing her into a hug)
Come here. (He pulls away and reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out the ring box.) I’ve had this for a long time. You don’t know how long I’ve had this. (He opens the box to reveal the ring.) Want to see if it fits?
Beth:
I’m sure it’s perfect.
Phillip: (Kneeling down on one knee)
Will you marry me?
Beth:
How could you think I wouldn’t? (Phillip pauses.) Yes, that means yes.
(Phillip places the ring on her finger, kisses her hand, and stands up.)
Beth:
Phillip, I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life without you. And I can’t imagine being happier than I am at this moment.
(They kiss and Phillip picks Beth up and twirls her around in the air.)
