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SEPARATE WAYS

MARCUS
Just tell me he made good on his promise.

CHARLOTTE
He did. Believe it or not. I mean, there were scrapes here and there, but
BALLET CLASSES,
BRAND NEW GLASSES,
BAND-AIDS ON MY KNEE,
GETTING TOYS,
VETTING BOYS,
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.
HE FAWNED ON MY MOM LIKE SHE WAS A QUEEN.
HE TOOK MY HAND
FOR THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE
AT MY SWEET SIXTEEN.

Look, I’M NOT HERE
TO GIVE YOU AN EARFUL,
SO SET YOUR MIND AT EASE.
I SUPPOSE
I JUST NEEDED CLOSURE.

MARCUS
JUST TELL ME YOU’RE NOT ANGRY.

CHARLOTTE
I NEEDED TO SEE YOU TO FIND SOME PEACE.
YOU HAVEN’T CHANGED,
I SEE YOU’RE STILL DERANGED,
BUT YOU’RE HAPPY NOW, AT LEAST.

MARCUS
And you...
YOU HAD A DAD.
FOR THAT I’M GLAD,
IT SOUNDS LIKE LIFE WAS GOOD.
YOUR MERE EXISTENCE
WAS MY SUBSISTENCE.
I HOPED AND PRAYED HE WOULD
CARE FOR YOU LIKE ONLY THE BEST FATHER COULD.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS?

(Music vamps as CHARLOTTE embraces MARCUS tightly. She backs away from him and makes her way to the door. Thinking she’s leaving him, MARCUS turns away and buries his face in his hands.)

CHARLOTTE
(toward the doorway)
Marcus.

(A small boy steps out onto the stage, rubbing his eyes and looking sleepy, just as MARCUS turns around.)

BOTH MARCUSES
Yes?

(A beat as MARCUS takes it in.)

CHARLOTTE
(to MARCUS)
Meet your grandson.

(MARCUS’s hands cup his mouth.)

CHARLOTTE
I want him to have a relationship with his grandfather.

(MARCUS looks dumbfounded. He stands stunned for a moment. He goes to CATHERINE, who sighs.)

CATHERINE
What are you looking at me for?
(cupping his head in her hands, looking into his eyes, kissing him)
Don’t lose her again.

(MARCUS gazes into her eyes. Music starts for “Breathe (Reprise)” as a group of white-robed TRAINEES walk in slowly and stand at the back under a dim light. MARCUS joins CHARLOTTE, who takes MARCUS JUNIOR by the hand. The three exit.)

TRAINEES
BREATHE, JUST BREATHE.

CATHERINE
That's right. Just like that. In through your mouth, out through your nose. Let your gratitude flow out on this next current of breath.

Words and Music by Michael Johnson
© 2022, Zubsongs, Ltd.