Play 243: Not Yet

CHARACTERS
MARK, late 20s
JESSICA, late 20s

(They are standing in an apartment, by the door that leads outside.)

JESSICA
Are you sure?

MARK
Yes.

JESSICA
Why can’t I?

MARK
You can, just not yet.

JESSICA
We’ve been going out for four months.

MARK
It’s still a bit soon.

JESSICA
No it’s not.

MARK
I’m not ready for them to meet you yet.

JESSICA
When will you be?

(Beat.)

MARK
I don’t know.

JESSICA
I want to meet them.

MARK
You will soon.

JESSICA
We’ve had dinner with my parents several times.

MARK
I know.

JESSICA
So why won’t you bring me along to meet yours?

MARK
You don’t know my parents.

JESSICA
You’re being too cautious.

MARK
No I’m not.

JESSICA
I’m sure they’ll be fine.

MARK
They won’t.

(Pause, Mark turns away from her and puts his hand on the door-handle and looks like he’s about to leave, but Jessica puts her hand on his shoulder. He turns around.)

MARK
What?

JESSICA
It isn’t that you’re embarrassed to take me to them, is it?

MARK
No, of course not.

JESSICA
Are you sure.

MARK
Yeah, why would I be embarrassed?

JESSICA
I don’t know.

(Beat.)

MARK
You know I love you, right?

(Beat.)

JESSICA
Yeah.

MARK
You don’t have to worry.

JESSICA
Okay.

(Beat.)

But you’ll introduce me to them soon, right?

MARK
Yeah.

JESSICA
Okay.

(Beat.)

MARK
Well, I should go.

(Beat.)

JESSICA
Okay.

MARK
I’ll see you when I get back, okay?

JESSICA
Yeah.

(Beat.)

Sure.

MARK
I love you.

(He opens the door and leaves.)

(Jessica sighs.)

(Blackout.)