Almost, Maine - Daniel (Man) and Hope

I know this isn't going to be very easy, but I was just out there all alone in the world, and I got so scared, because all I could think about was how I had no place in this world, but then I just outta nowhere realized that there was one place in this would that I did have, and that was with you, so I flew and I took a taxi to get to you, I just had to come see you, thank God you're-... Oh-... wait-.... I'm sorry. You're not-... I'm-... I'm so sorry-... Does Daniel Harding live here? I'm looking for Daniel Harding.

You're // looking for-

Didn't answer him. No. Yeah. And thats why I'm here. To answer him. I mean, I didn't answer him in the first place because I didn't have an answer at the time. I mean, I was going to college, and then...the night before I'm about to go off into the world to do what I hope and dream, he asks me, "Will you marry me?" I mean, come on! I was leaving in the morning...what was I supposed to do?

I don't know.

What?

I hope you find it, Hope. Your place in this world. Bye.

Danny...I didn't // rec -

I know.

I didn't // rec-

I know.

I didn't even // recognize you!

I know.

You're so...

I know.

Okay

I-...

Danny: I'm so sorry I // never -

Shh...It's okay. 'Cause you know somethin'? You're early.

The last time I saw him, he asked me a very important question and I didn't answer it, and that's just not a very nice thing to do to a person.

Well, that's being a little hard on yourself, don't you th//ink?

Looking for Daniel Harding, yeah. He lives here. I thought. But...ooooh... he doesn't does he? Oooh I am so sorry. I'm so embarrassed. "Who is this woman and what is she doing here?" I just honestly thought he'd be here. Always. Do you know him? Big guy, big strong guy. Wrestled? Heavyweight? All-Eastern Maine? Strong? Do you know him? // Played hockey, too?

Well...-

No! That wasn't my answer! I just...went off into the world, and that's not an answer, and I think-...

What?

Yeah. This place is a little farther away from things than I remember.

Why did you do that?

Because I could only fly as close as Bangor and I needed to get to him as fast as I could.

Why?

What?

You're early! You said you'd be back with an answer before the sun came up, and Jeezum Crow, the sun's not even close to being up yet! It only went down a few hours ago. Look how early you are! That's good of you. So, a taxi all the way from Bangor.

Oh, don't even answer that. That was-. I know that's a horrible question to ask a person who lives in a small town, as if everybody in small towns knows everybody else, agh! can't believe I asked that. I don't live here anymore, but when I did, I hated it when people assumed I knew everyday in town just because it was small. It was worse than when they'd ask if we had"...plumbing way up there?" 'cause, you know, people in small towns really don't know each other any better than in big towns, you know that? I mean, you know who you know and you don't know who you don't know, just like anywhere else. I'm so sorry to have bothered you. I was just so sure-. When his parents passed away, he kept the house, I heard. He lived here. He stayed here, I thought. He was one of those ones who stayed. I didn't stay. I went away.

Most people do.

Goodbye, Danny. Yes. Yes.

*Scene End*

Yup.

To tell me...?

Yeah...Well...thank you.

For what?

I don't know.

Goodbye, Hope.

Goodbye. Agh! I'm so...sorry to have bothered you...It's just, I was all alone out there in the world with no place in it, and I realized what I'd done to him, to Danny, and that with him was my place in the world-...Wait...You called me Hope. How did you know my name? Danny?!?

Hello, Hope.

Honey? Dan? Hon? Who's there? Hon?

Just somebody... needs directions.

Well-. I don't know if-. I mean, we were kids. Yes. I did. I do. I feel like I dashed his hopes and dreams.

Oh, come one. You give yourself too much credit. He was young. That's all you need to get your hopes dashed: Be young. And everybody starts out young, so...everybody gets their hopes dashed, and besides...I don't think you really dashed his hopes. 'Cause if you dash somebody's hopes-well that's...kind of a nice way to let 'em down, 'cause it hurts...but it's quick. If you'd have said, "No," that woulda been "dashing his hopes." But you didn't say, "No." You said nothin'. You just didn't answer him. At all. And that's...killin' hope the long, slow, painful way, 'cause it's still there just hangin' on, never really goes away. And that's...kinda like givin' somebody a little less air to breathe every day. Till they die.

He asked me to marry him.

Oh. And you...

Because I want to answer a question he asked me.

Oh?

I mean, I told him I'd have to think about it, that I'd think it over overnight and that I'd be back before the sun came up with an answer. And then I left. Left him standing right...there...and then...I didn't make it back with an answer before the sun came up or...at all.

That sounds like an answer to me.

Yeah.

That's a hundred and sixty-three miles.

I can't believe-... I took a taxi here. From Bangor. To see him.

That's far.

I think he thought I'd say, "Yes."

Well, a guy's probably not gonna ask a girl that question unless he thinks she's gonna say, "Yes."

It's awful late to be asking for directions.

Yeah- Suzette listen, I'll be right in.

Yeah. And I guess he did too. I never thought he would. I guess I lost track... You gotta hold onto people or you lose 'em. Wish there was something you could keep 'em in for when you need 'em...Oh, there he is, perfect! Boy it's cold. I forgot.

Yeah.

...small.

Yeah. I, uh, lost a lotta hope. That'll do a number on you.

I know, and....I'm afraid he probably waited up all night, hoping for me to come by, and I just want to tell him that I know now that you just can't do a think like not answer a question like the one he asked me, you can't do that to a person. Especially to someone you love.

You loved him?