The scene opens in the living room of another, slightly different house. An older Melanie is there bringing a cup of coffee to Meg, sitting in a chair. Meg looks heartbroken and is shaking her head over what she has done.
MEG: I can’t believe we fought like that. Melanie, I have to go back, I have to apologize… ( She gets up and prepares to leave)
MELANIE: Whoa, where ya going Meg? You finally get smart and you want to go back? To what?
MEG: I don’t know, it’s just not…
MELANIE: It’s not like what all the books say. Handsome prince comes in, carries off princess, they have a bunch of kids and everybody’s happy forever and ever. Well, I sure don’t see any princesses here, do you? What rule says you gotta be like the books? Some wives rule book telling how ya gotta be?
MEG: (Laughing grimly) Oh, of course, Rule 237, subclause A, wives should expect to live happily every after when their prince comes in.
MELANIE: (Also laughing) Yeah, that wives rule book, gets us in trouble every time. Seriously, Meg, why do you need to go back?
MEG: I need to take care of the children, and the house and…
MELANIE: And Paul? Honey, it would do him good to take care of himself for awhile. He depends on you too much.
MEG: (Surprised) Paul? No, No, No, I depend on him too much. I don’t know how I’d make a living or what I would do. I’ve never had to support myself. I’m scared Melanie.
MELANIE: And you’ve got a right to be. Just don’t let scared have you making decisions you’ll regret.
{Meg paces around the small living room. }
MEG: Melanie, what should I do?
MELANIE: I don’t know. What do you think you should do?
MEG: I want to see if I can be a writer. I made promises here, though. I made a promise to Paul, to stay with him through better or worst. It makes me feel like my word means nothing if I leave.
MELANIE: Meg, sometimes you gotta do for yourself. This stuff of ’til ‘death do you part’ was a promise made by a teenager. Now would you expect a teenager to make a committment to anything else for the rest of their life? No, so why should you worry about a promise you made when you were young?
MEG: You make it sound so logical, but it’s not. {Meg stops pacing and looks out the window. She is in deep in thought as she worries over about what she should do.} {In a low voice,} I’m going. I don’t know what I’ll do after this retreat, but I have to go or wonder what if for the rest of my life.
MELANIE: I’m proud of you Meg.
MEG: (With an wry look,) I’m glad somebody is proud, cause I’m not.
Melanie leaves the room for a moment and comes back with a large jar.
MELANIE: It ain’t much, but here’s some money to help you out. Call me, okay?
MEG: Yeah, I will. (The phone starts ringing) I bet that’s Paul. (Meg reaches and hugs Melanie.) Thanks for your help. I don’t agree with you about everything, but I have to do this.
Melanie stands looking at the door, her shoulders dropping, looking lonely.
MELANIE: Go out and do it for us both. (She turns and answers the phone and the scene ends)