Married

[Aggie]
You're sure that's what you want, getting married at City Hall, huh?

[Janey]
We're sure

[Aggie]
Because getting a good start—that's the trick of it. To make a good start

Jane?

[Janey]
Yeah, Ma?

[Aggie]
Janey

[Janey]
What?

[Aggie]
It's a big thing
Getting married
You gotta look before you leap
You gotta pick somebody to keep

So that when his hair is mostly gone
And your waist is not so slim
You'll still be with him

[Janey]
Ma, I've known Ralph for over two years now-

[Aggie]
I'm not saying you don't know him
And I'm not saying he don't care
But still, you gotta prepare

'Cause whether or not there's presents and rice
And all that stuff
Soon enough
There's sacrifice

So it's not all roses
And it's not about dreams come true
No matter what I wish for you
It's more about things
You have to do

-and you can't go throwing money around. I hope you got more than your Pa and me—and even if you do, you can't go throwing it around. Especially when the children come

[Janey]
I'm not married, and you got me having children!

[Aggie]
Go ask that friend in California

You'll have kids before you know it
Then your life won't be your own
Even after they're grown
All the things you do without
All the nights you lie awake
For your children's sake

So don't go thinking that it's all just one good time
Oh, there's some good times
But don't go thinking that it won't be an uphill climb
Where you find yourself
Wondering how it ever got to be this way
Wondering how you gotta last another day

Wait
That isn't really what I meant to say

No

It's a good thing
Getting married
It's the thing that people do
Now you found the fella for you

So you'll each wear a groove in your side of the bed
Each learn to ignore things the other one said
And you'll smile when you think about
The day you were wed...

[Janey]
Is that all?

[Aggie]
I guess

[Janey]
You're not gonna tell me about the birds and the bees?

[Aggie]
Don't be fresh

And don't go thinking that's the whole thing, 'cause it's not. Oh, it's important. It's just, after a while... it's not that important

[Janey]
You won't forget to talk to Uncle Win, will you?

[Aggie]
Jane

It's a big thing
Getting married

[Janey]
I'll come home as early as I can to help with dinner

(Janey is out the door.)

(we more to Aggie and Tom's room. Tom enters.)

[Aggie]
How about that, Tom!

Our daughter
Getting married
I always thought the boy would be first

I thought maybe he'd meet
A girl over there
And bring her home
And surprise us all
Then we got that call

(Tom settles into bed. Aggie sits herself down on the foot of the bed.)

At least Janey will be settled with a family of her own
Sure would be nice
To give her a wedding
To start her off right
With a fancy party
That lasts all night

But she says she doesn't want it
And I'm not gonna fight

She's got a good head on her shoulders
And if she doesn't want all the fuss
Then I guess they'll start out like
Us

I warned her about what's down the pike
Oo, I set her straight
Told her what it was like-

(Tom starts snoring)

-to be married