Marriage In 4 Acts

Marriage in 4 Acts I've auditioned for parts for years. Some call them first dates, but make no mistake, each is acting for the other hoping for a part in their life play. I'm a perfect gentleman, holding doors, helping you on and off with your coat and pushing your chair in for you. I almost sound like Cary Grant. Almost. We land our parts and launch our play. The engagement scene brings happy tears. The wedding is a blowout extravaganza. Rice is thrown, cans trailing our limo. We live in the city. Taxi and subway. Fun, not a care in the world. Pregnant. We stay in the city until our children force a move to Connecticut suburbs. Wife's role is a stay at home with regrets. Kind of a Sylvia Plath without the talent. I soldier on. I take the train into the city. I stay more and more nights in the city. We grow more and more apart. Finally we agree to a trial separation. I live in the city with the other woman. Not really a ****. Time passes quickly in this act and we are old. The script writes itself as it unfolds. Always just one take, live, in real time. I forget that these are parts we are playing. We're just players upon this stage called life.