Marriage is the most natural state of man, and... the state in

Opening Scene

The late afternoon light filtered through the drapes, casting long shadows across the room. The sound of the city outside seemed to melt into the soft hum of the fan above. The air was heavy with thoughts, as if the whole world had been holding its breath for a moment.

Jack sat at the edge of the old couch, his arms crossed tightly, his grey eyes sharp like swords but distant. His mind was somewhere far beyond the warmth of the room. Jeeny, across from him, sat with her hands gently resting on the table, her brown eyes soft but unwavering, as though they were trying to find something in Jack that he wasn’t sure he wanted to share.

Host: The atmosphere between them was thick with unspoken words. There was a silence, a tension in the air, waiting to snap, like the calm before a storm.

Finally, Jack broke it, his voice gravelly, his words carefully chosen.

Jack: “You know, I’ve been thinking about what Franklin said. ‘Marriage is the most natural state of man, and… the state in which you will find solid happiness.’ What a bunch of idealistic nonsense.”

Jeeny’s eyes softened with a mixture of curiosity and disappointment.

Jeeny: “You don’t believe in it, do you? Love. Marriage. The simple notion that maybe, just maybe, it’s not about selfishness, but about connection.”

Jack: “It’s not about selfishness. It’s about realism. Happiness... true happiness doesn’t come from something as fragile as a relationship. It comes from independence, control, and understanding the world for what it truly is — not what we want it to be.”

Jeeny’s lips parted as she shook her head, her voice gentle but firm.

Jeeny: “You’ve always said the same thing. Independence and control — but haven’t you noticed? People are broken when they live only for themselves. They crumble when they don’t have someone to share with.”

Host: The sunlight dimmed slightly as the clouds gathered above, as though the sky itself was reflecting the weight of their words.

Jack stood up, pacing around the room, his hands running through his hair in frustration.

Jack: “I’ve seen it, Jeeny. Marriage doesn’t always bring happiness. Look at history — look at the failures. How many times have people tied their fates to each other, only to fall apart? Statistically, it’s not about happiness; it’s about compromise and duty. Most people just get stuck. They cling to the idea of love, but it’s not love — it’s habit. It’s comfort. It’s convenience.”

Jeeny rose to her feet as well, her hands trembling slightly, her voice now tinged with emotion.

Jeeny: “You don’t get it, do you? It’s not about comfort. It’s about belonging. It’s about finding someone to hold you when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Someone who understands the depth of your pain and still chooses to stand by you. I’ve seen it, Jack. People who work through the hard times, who forgive when they’re at their breaking points. It’s in real connection, not the illusion of control.”

Jack: “And what about those who get trapped? Who get stuck in a relationship because they think they need it? Because they’ve convinced themselves they’ll be miserable alone, so they settle?”

Jeeny: “No, you miss the point. It's not about settling. It's about choosing each other, despite the mess, despite the fear, despite the pain. Because love, true love, is messy. It’s imperfect, but that’s where the beauty lies. It’s in the struggle, the sacrifice, the commitment to something bigger than yourself.”

The room grew silent, the weight of their words sinking into the space between them. Jack stood still for a long moment, his chest rising and falling with each slow breath. His voice, when it came, was quieter.

Jack: “You really believe that? That people can actually find happiness in something as fragile as marriage?”

Jeeny: “I believe it’s not about the structure. It’s about the people. If they choose each other, if they work for it, then yes, happiness can be found there. I’ve seen it happen.”

Host: The rain began to fall, soft and steady, tapping gently on the windowpane. The world outside was a blur, but inside, the tension remained thick.

Jack’s face softened, the sharpness in his eyes beginning to fade. He turned towards Jeeny, his voice now resigned.

Jack: “And what if I’m wrong? What if it really is about finding that person to lean on, to share everything with?”

Jeeny smiled softly, her eyes warm but sad.

Jeeny: “Then maybe you’ll find your own happiness, Jack. Maybe you’ll see that love is not just about what we can take, but about what we’re willing to give.”

There was a long pause. The room was quiet, save for the soft whispers of the rain. The weight between them seemed to have lessened, but the question still hung in the air, unresolved.

Host: The light outside was fading, but inside, a new understanding seemed to have blossomed, fragile but real. Both of them had spoken their truths, and for the first time in a long while, they both felt heard.

The rain stopped, and a soft glow of twilight filled the room, as though the world outside had cleared for a new day.

Host: “Perhaps, in the end, it is not about whether marriage brings happiness. Perhaps it’s about whether we choose to find it — not in the idea of marriage, but in the connection that binds us all together.”

End Scene