Act I, Scene 1

John and Joe in the corn field.

John: So are you going to ask Sally to the dance?

Joe: No, she’ll never do. I need a woman who understands.

John: Understands what?

Joe: Never mind. You won’t understand.

John: So I guess I’m not your girl either.

Joe: Who are you gonna ask?

John: Susan, of course.

Joe: Susan again. I suppose she understands.

John: Yes, she does. And I do too. That’s what we have going.

Joe: That’s great, John. You’re a lucky man, a lucky man-woman-team–like in the Bible.

John: Right. This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Joe: Would Susan approve of that kind of talk? I thought she was a modern woman.

John: We’re all modern women now, Joe. That’s the point it’s reached. We just quote stuff and muse upon it, meaning nothing.

Joe: Yeah. So. Susan’s a nice girl, though.

John: So’s Sally.

Joe: Well, maybe I’ll ask her anyway. I don’t know. No one understands, so I can’t really hold that against her.

John: It could be a double date.

Joe: Yeah. If she says yes.

John: Of course you can come along whatever the circumstance.

Joe: Of course. I mean, thanks.

John: No you don’t, you mean, “of course”–and that’s good. Even if my soul/heart/mind-concotion’s not broad enough to understand Joe Georgia, our understanding means a lot to me.

Joe: Sure. Of course. Thanks.