Romance of the 1950s and 1960s

A One-Act Play

Characters:

• Sandy – A sharp, practical woman with a vintage flair.
• Burt – A hopeless romantic with a pompadour and a wallet full of dreams.

Scene:

A cozy diner booth with checkered floors, jukebox humming in the background.  Sandy sips a milkshake.  Burt gazes dreamily across the table.

BURT:
Your presence fills my thoughts, Sandy... I can’t get you off my mind.  You’re like the sparkle on my chrome bumper.

SANDY:
That’s sweet, Burt.  But maybe we should take this a bit slower, like a slow dance at prom—no sudden moves.

BURT:
I’m ready to go steady.  I even carved our initials into my dashboard.

SANDY:
Touching.  But before we talk commitment, I’ll need to see your financial statements, credit report, and a background check.

BURT (blinking):
Wait... what?

SANDY:
You know, just the basics.  Like hard-money lenders, it’s about understanding each other’s needs and capabilities.  A good FICO score goes a long way in a girl’s heart.

BURT:
I thought love was blind?

SANDY:
Love is blind, Burt.  But lenders aren’t.  And neither is my accountant.

BURT:
So... dinner Friday?

SANDY:
Sure.  Just send me your tax returns first.

BURT (deflated):
I guess romance isn’t what it used to be.

SANDY (smirking):
It is, Burt.  It now comes with a credit limit and a co-signer.

[Lights dim.  Jukebox plays “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.”]

Here’s Scene Two of the stage play, continuing the humorous and retro-flavored dynamic between Sandy and Burt:

Scene Two: The Drive-In

Setting: A classic 1960s drive-in movie theater.  Sandy and Burt sit in Burt’s convertible.  The movie screen glows in the background.  Burt nervously holds a popcorn bucket.  Sandy has a clipboard.