Preview: Danny gives his "I am a MAN" speech.

Scene 1:

Michelle: Operator, hi, can you give me with the number of the local office of the FBI…yes…can you connect me? That would be great…thank you…Hi…my name is Michelle Bau…Michelle Santos. I'm married to Danny Santos. Yeah…I'm sure you know the family.

Danny: Michelle…I was thinking maybe we…

Michelle (into the phone): Can you hold on just a second. (looks at Danny) I'll be just a minute.

Danny: Uhhh…I'll wait…I'll wait.

Michelle: Uhhh…what were you going to say?

Danny (getting suspicious): Who were you talking to?

Michelle: Just a friend from school. We should what?

Danny: Who were you talking to Michelle?

Michelle: Nobody important. Oh listen…you know when we leave…I was thinking we should probably go shopping…because, you know, the stores are going to close soon…so maybe we…do you know what time it is? Oh look my clock is right there. So…ummm..maybe do you think we could go by the florists?

Danny: Do you think I'm stupid? I know who you were talking to, Michelle.

Michelle: I…uhhh…don't know what you are talking about.

Danny: Michelle…I asked you a really simple question. Who…were…you…

Michelle (interrupts): Look whatever you think you heard, I can explain.

Danny: Look…I don't like being lied to.

Michelle: Well…I…I still don't know what you are talking about.

Danny: Stop it…stop it…stop it. You were talking to Jesse, weren't you?

Michelle: Jesse?

Danny: yeah

Michelle (relief making her laugh): Jesse…you thought I was talking to Jesse?

Danny: This is funny? This is funny?

Michelle (pulling herself together): No…no it's not…because…ahhh…because you're so wrong.

Danny: I'm wrong? No I don't think I AM.

Michelle: Jesse…that part of my life is over alright…

Danny: Then why…

Michelle: You don't have to worry about it.

Danny: Then why were you calling him, Michelle.

Michelle: I…I swear on my mother's grave…I wasn't talking to Jesse. I wouldn't call him and he certainly wouldn't call me. Not after what happened at the lighthouse. Look, what's important to me…what's real to me now…is you and me and this marriage. I made a commitment to you.

Danny (calming down a bit): Well…you said that he was the love of your life.

Michelle: Haven't you ever said anything like that? Something wildly romantic?

Danny (considers that for a moment): No

Michelle: Well…I have. And I'm not going to apologize for it because it was a part of my life. But…if you don't believe me…that…that's your problem. Mine right now is dealing with all these wedding arrangements.

Danny: Don't…no don't…don't change the subject.

Michelle: I thought this was the subject. You know…you and me? Look…I'm adjusting to your family. I'm accepting them…I'm…I'm going the distance here.

Danny: Are you?

Michelle: What does that mean?

Danny: We are about…we are about to take vows Michelle…before God…vows that…that pledge us to each other…that pledge a commitment that doesn't have anything to do with our families. And when you say you're going the distance…I uhhh…I don't know…does that mean you are ready to accept me as your husband? As your real husband?

Michelle: But you are my husband. And if you are talking about something else…then I…I…(she sees the drawing of her that Jesse did and turns it over where she can't see it)…I thought we already talked about this.

Danny: Did we?

Michelle: Yes. Look…I'm giving a hundred percent here. I'm putting all my energy into this marriage.

Danny: A hundred percent? Wow…how do you figure that?

Michelle: Well…that's where we differ.

Danny: Where?

Michelle: Being close…being intimate…is something that's going to take a lot of time. I thought we had decided that we were going to take this slow. That we were going to do it like we were dating.

Danny: Well, we aren't dating Michelle…we're married.

Michelle: Well we are only married because we HAVE to be.

Danny: You don't have to explain the circumstances to me.

Michelle: NO!! I know that. Okay? What you did by marrying me was wonderful…it was generous. It was more than generous…you saved my life. I'm really extremely grateful for that…but…this is really hard to talk about. Ummmm…It's not like I'm that experienced you know. Jesse was my first boyfriend. I just…just need you to be patient with me.

Danny: Okay, look I get what you are saying.

Michelle: Thank you

Danny: Just hold on…let me finish. (sighs) I GET what you are saying…BUT…even though we didn't…even though we didn't get married under normal circumstances…I uhh…well…marriage…the institution of marriage is very important to me. I want mine to work and you are not the only one who has needs. I need…I need to…to feel…married to you. In e…well…in EVERY way.

Michelle: Are you telling me that I…that I…have no choice…that I have to?

Danny (rushing to reassure her): No…no…no…(goes down on his knees in front of her)…no. Let me explain this. I want this to come out right…I don't want to sound like a pig.

Michelle: Danny…I'm listening…so….

Danny: Look you think I don't understand how difficult this is for you…I do…you're wrong…I do. I know that you didn't sign up for me. That…I know I'm not the man of your dreams…I know that…but…I am a…uhhhh…I'm a man. And uhhh…when we…(clears his throat)…when you and I…go into our room at night…you know I just can't turn myself into some sort of automaton with no…feelings…and no…no desires. I just…I just can't do that.

Danny: You know you…you take a shower…and you uhhhh…comb your hair. You rub lotion into your arms…(his hand circles her shoulders)…your shoulders…and you slip into a nightgown. And I'm…I'm sitting in bed pretending…to read or listen to music or whatever…but that's not what I'm doing…I…ummmm…am watching you. I'm trying not to…but…I am. I do. I AM a man. And when you climb into bed with me…beside me…never touching…never touching…I lie there…awake…staring into the dark…aware of everything that you're doing (Danny is becoming breathless)…Of how you breath…of the rustle of the sheets…and it takes every ounce of my being to…NOT…want to reach out to you. I care about you…I DESIRE you…I want to reach out to you…(his breath and lips whisper across her cheek and down to her neck)

Michelle: Ummmm….okay…I…I…I hear what your saying and you know…I…I…understand, I think. (she stutters)…I…I don't want to shut you out…I…

Danny: Just…alright look…just…just don't shut down. Okay…just try to keep an open mind…about me…about…about our marriage…about everything, okay?

Michelle: Okay

Danny: Maybe…maybe in time…after the marriage…after the vows…things might feel different.

Michelle: Maybe

Danny: I know you are trying to make this work. I know that and maybe the sacrament will help…you know? You…could…be surprised, Michelle.

Michelle (clearly already surprised): Yes I could

Danny: And…uh…in the mean time…(he leans in close to her)…until our wedding night…(he pulls back again)…I'm not going to sleep in our room.

Michelle: Oh (in great relief)

Danny: No…you need space and I…well…that's what we're going to do…okay! Sooo…we should go. Can we get going?

Michelle: Yeah…yes…yes (laughs)…we need to get going. Uhhh…so…you know what? You go ahead. I'm just going to grab some books that I want to take back to your house…our house.

Danny: Okay (backing out of the room)

Michelle: Okay

Danny: Okay

Danny leaves.

Michelle (with a panicked look on her face): Oh my God. WHAT am I going to do now?

Meta: Jesse, you know…this marriage between Danny and Michelle is…

Danny (coming into the room with Michelle): a fact. Right Aunt Meta. It's a fact. Jesse. (Not happy to see Jesse at all)

Jesse: I didn't know you were here.

Danny: In person

Meta: If you'll excuse me… (Meta leaves the room)

Danny waits until Meta leaves then turns back to Jesse: This…this is no good, Jesse.

Jesse: What's no good, Danny?

Danny (getting angry…Michelle puts her hand on his shoulder to calm him): What's it going to take for you to get the message…huh?

Jesse: There's a message?

Danny: Am I going to have to write it out in big fat letters in the sky?

Jesse: Go ahead man…

Danny: Back off…BACK OFF…you are stalking MY wife.

Jesse: I'm stalking her?

Danny: It's a really bad habit…you know? Especially for you.

Jesse: Are you threatening me?

Danny: I'm just telling you like it is. Michelle and I are going to be happy together and what ever it takes…right Michelle?

Michelle (hesitant): yeah…I…

Jesse: Save it…you don't have to say anything.

Danny (interrupting): Okay…there's the door…later. Hopefully…NEVER.

Jesse (speaking to Michelle): Look, for your information, I wasn't stalking you. I was just dropping off some of your things.

Michelle: I know

Jesse has "Romeo and Juliet" in his hands…he thumbs through it a bit, then tries to hand it to Michelle: A rose by any other name…

Jesse: I won't be needing that much longer…any more.

Michelle: Thanks

Jesse: You're welcome. Hell of a story…eh Dannyboy?

Danny: Oh I don't know. Nahhhh…I never bought these two…R&J.

Jesse: R and…??

Danny: Nahhh…you know they were kind of young and they didn't know what they were doing. You know?

Jesse: What ever

Danny: Yeah…yeah…they're foolish. Threw their lives away on what they thought was true love.

Jesse: Yeah and you can't really buy true love either.

Danny: Hey…the next time you come across Michelle's things…call ME. I'd love to pick them up, okay?

Jesse: There's nothing left to pick up.

He heads for the door…Manny watch as he leaves…Danny is clearly agitated and keeps hitting the book across his hand.

Danny (to Michelle): Okay…are you okay?

Michelle: Okay! Yeah…why wouldn't I be? Let's get out of here before the stores close.

Danny: yep

Michelle: Why don't you take this to the car for me.

Danny: Okay

Danny (holding up the book): What…uh…what do you want me to do with this?

Michelle (looks at the book for a moment then shrugs it off): It doesn't matter…you can throw it in with the rest of the stuff.

Danny, still irritated, throws the book into the box, picks it up and leaves. Michelle follows but stops at the door…looking back into the room she whispers, "I'll be back…I promise".