So I think you have to marry for the right reasons, and marry the

Opening Scene

The soft light of late afternoon filters through the windows of a small bookstore tucked in a quiet corner of the city. Dust particles dance in the golden glow, catching the light as they drift lazily through the air. The smell of old books and fresh coffee hangs in the atmosphere, warm and inviting.

Jack sits at a wooden table in the far corner, his eyes scanning the pages of a book, but his mind is somewhere else. A steaming cup of coffee sits untouched by his side. Jeeny is seated across from him, leafing through a magazine, but her attention seems divided. The atmosphere is calm, but there’s an undercurrent of something more—a conversation waiting to unfold.

Host: Outside, the world moves at its usual pace, but inside this quiet sanctuary, time feels like it has slowed. The space between Jack and Jeeny is filled with a silent tension, as if they’re on the edge of a conversation that could change everything.

Character Descriptions:

Jack: Male, around 35, tall, with a lean, yet strong build. His grey eyes are sharp, always searching for answers, but often carrying a hint of uncertainty. A man who tends to question things, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. His voice is husky, often tinged with cynicism.

Jeeny: Female, around 30, with a small, delicate frame, but filled with quiet strength. Her brown eyes are full of empathy, always seeking understanding. Soft-spoken yet unwavering in her convictions, Jeeny is a believer in the importance of connection and the value of genuine love.

Main Debate

Jeeny: (Her voice is soft but direct as she lowers the magazine and looks across at Jack.)
"Do you believe in marriage, Jack? Really believe in it?" (She pauses, a small, knowing smile appearing.) "I mean, not just as a piece of paper or a societal expectation, but as something real, something that requires more than just convenience."

Jack: (His lips curl into a half-smile, but there’s a subtle skepticism in his tone.)
"Marriage? I don’t know. I guess it’s a contract. People talk about love and commitment, but at the end of the day, it’s still about stability, isn’t it? It’s a partnership—like any other. People marry because it works for them, not necessarily because they’re in love."

Jeeny: (She tilts her head, her expression thoughtful, but there's a gentle insistence in her voice.)
"That’s exactly the problem. So many people get married for the wrong reasons. They marry because they feel they have to, or because society tells them it’s what they should do. But the truth is, you have to marry for the right reasons, and you have to marry the right person. Otherwise, it’s all just a performance, a show."

Jack: (He leans back in his chair, his fingers tapping the table. There's an almost amused look on his face.)
"And what are the right reasons, then? What’s the formula? You find someone you’re attracted to, someone who ticks the right boxes, and that’s it? Sounds pretty basic to me."

Jeeny: (Her voice is still calm, but there’s a growing passion behind it as she leans forward slightly.)
"No, Jack. It’s not about just attraction or compatibility. It’s about mutual respect, about seeing the other person for who they truly are and still choosing to stand beside them, day in and day out. It’s about building something deeper than just convenience. It’s about love that doesn’t fade when things get hard."

Jack: (He scoffs lightly, but there’s a flicker of something more in his eyes, a hint of vulnerability.)
"Love that doesn’t fade? You mean the kind of love that doesn’t wear off after the honeymoon phase? Because let’s face it, most marriages don’t last. People change, they grow apart. So what’s the point of holding on to something that’s doomed to end? Love doesn’t always save you from reality."

Jeeny: (She leans in, her eyes not leaving his, her voice steady, filled with understanding but also conviction.)
"That’s exactly why it’s so important to marry for the right reasons, Jack. Not just because you’re in love today, but because you understand that love will be tested. It will change, it will evolve. But if you marry for the right reasons—trust, loyalty, and a shared vision for your lives together—it has a better chance of lasting, of growing stronger. Love is not something you get to check off a list and then walk away from."

Jack: (He frowns, taking a long, contemplative sip of his coffee before responding, his voice softer now.)
"So you’re saying that even if things go south, even when the love feels different, you still choose to stay? That’s a pretty idealistic view of marriage, Jeeny. You can’t always control the way people feel."

Jeeny: (Her voice is almost a whisper now, filled with both gentleness and an undercurrent of emotion.)
"I’m not saying it’s easy, Jack. I’m not saying you should stay in a marriage for the sake of it if there’s nothing left. But love—real love—requires something more than just surface-level attraction. It’s about the commitment to keep showing up, even when it gets hard, even when you don’t feel like it. It’s a promise to work through the difficult times together, to rebuild when things fall apart."

Jack: (He shifts uncomfortably, his gaze drifting toward the window, lost in thought.)
"And you think people can actually do that? Stick it out even when everything feels wrong? I mean, what if they’re just too different, too broken to fix?"

Jeeny: (Her voice softens, her eyes filled with understanding, as she lets the silence hang in the air for a beat before responding.)
"Maybe they can’t. But if you marry the right person, someone who shares your values, your goals, your deepest beliefs, then you build something together that’s stronger than just momentary feelings. You build a partnership that can withstand the storms. Not every marriage is perfect, but when you marry for the right reasons, you have something that can weather the imperfections."

Jack: (He shakes his head slowly, his tone quieter, as if contemplating her words.)
"I get it. But that’s a lot to ask from someone. And if you’re not sure about all of that, is it better to just stay out of it altogether, or do you take the risk and try to make it work?"

Jeeny: (Her smile is gentle, her voice a calm assurance as she looks at him.)
"I think if you wait for the perfect person, you’ll never marry. But if you choose someone who aligns with your values, someone you can trust, who can stand by you, then you’re building a foundation that’s worth the risk. Marriage is never about perfection—it’s about choosing to show up for someone, day after day, for the right reasons."

Host: The quiet hum of the bookstore continues around them, and though the conversation has shifted to the topic of love and marriage, something more profound has passed between them. The soft ticking of a nearby clock marks the passage of time, but neither Jack nor Jeeny seems to notice the hours slipping by. They are both in a place of contemplation now, their thoughts intertwined with the weight of their discussion.

Climax and Reconciliation

Jack: (He exhales, his voice soft but thoughtful.)
"Maybe... maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s not just about love in the moment. Maybe it’s about choosing someone who’s worth fighting for, even when it gets tough. I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet, but I can see where you’re coming from."

Jeeny: (Her eyes soften, and her smile is warm, a quiet understanding passing between them.)
"That’s all I’m asking, Jack. To marry for the right reasons—and to be sure the person you marry is someone you can stand by, no matter what."

Host: The light outside begins to fade, but the atmosphere inside the bookstore remains warm and still. Jack and Jeeny sit across from each other, the conversation settled for now, but both feeling just a little closer to understanding what it means to truly commit—to love not just for today, but for the long haul. The pages of the books around them remain unchanged, but in this moment, something in their hearts has shifted.