Love and Marriage

[Noel is counting fliers in the hallway.]
Noel: Did you get enough?
Guy: Yeah.
[Felicity walks up]
Felicity: Hey.
Noel: Hey. Hey.
Felicity: So, uh, the weirdest thing just happened.
[Noel hands stack to guy.]
Noel: Okay, these are for Michelle.
[Noel turns to Felicity]
Noel: My brother’s coming. He just called from JFK. He’s on his way here. I gotta get these fliers out before he gets here. He, uh, he said he had something he wanted to talk to me about. I think he might have proposed to his girlfriend.
Felicity: Really?
Noel: Yeah.
[Hands fliers to guy.]
Noel: All right. These aren’t mine.
Guy: I don’t know whose they are.
Felicity: Um, speaking of proposals, um...
[Shows fliers to Felicity]
Noel: What do you think?
Felicity: Noel, these are great! Maybe your brother can come.
Noel: Ryan’s, like, this big-time computer-graphics designer. You know, he does games and CD covers. I don’t know. I’ll feel like Little League, you know?
Felicity: Noel, it’s not Little League. This is a big deal. And your designs are amazing, and I’m sure he thinks so, too.
[Noel stands up, and they walk to his room.]
Noel: Actually, I’ve, uh…I’ve never shown him anything.
Felicity: I thought you too were close.
Noel: We are! I mean, we talk all the time, it’s just, I haven’t seen him in almost a year, you know? Which is weird for us, because we usually see each other all the time. I guess he’s been busy with work or something. Anyway, he’s this really good graphic designer. It’s because of him that I got into it. He’s always been the, uh, the talented one in the family, you know? Ask my parents.
Felicity: Um, okay, if this is rude, just tell me. But are we done with that topic now?
Noel: What?
Felicity: I mean, we can keep talking about it if you want, but something happened, and I really think I should tell you about it.
Noel: Okay.
[Felicity sits down.]
Felicity: Um…[clears throat] Okay…Javier, um, asked me to marry him.
[Book falls]
Noel: Uh, but what he really meant by that was what?
Felicity: His visa runs out in 10 days, and if he doesn’t marry someone soon, he’ll be deported back to Spain.
Noel: And he just—what? He just figured this out?
Felicity: I—I mean, he said he’d completely understand if I say no.
Noel: Which I assume you’re gonna do. Are you—are you seriously thinking about this?
Felicity: It’s not like a real marriage. I mean, it’d just be on paper, and it would just be really cool to help someone out like that.
Noel: This isn’t exactly like—like volunteering at a soup kitchen.
Felicity: I know.
Noel: Well, okay.
Felicity: Yeah, I’ll just forget about it.
[Knock at the door.]
Noel: Ryan! Hey!
Ryan: Hey, man!
[They hug.]
Noel: How are ya?
Ryan: Okay.
Noel: Good.
Ryan: Ah, good to see you, man. How are you doing?
Noel: Good—Uh-huh.
Ryan: Oo, hey, huh? I see sideburns.
Noel: Yeah, you like?
Ryan: They’re good.
Noel: Ryan, this, is, uh, this is Felicity. Felicity this is Ryan.
Ryan: Ah, I finally get to meet Felicity. I, uh, I feel like I know you already.
Felicity: It’s nice to meet you.
Ryan: Yeah.
Felicity: I actually have to run to McGrath—class.
Noel: Okay.
Ryan: Oh, hey, uh, we should all get together before I leave. Maybe—maybe tomorrow.
Noel: Yeah, yeah, that sounds great.
Felicity: Definitely.
Ryan: Okay.
Felicity: I’ll, uh, stop by when I get back.
Noel: Okay. All right. Bye.
[Felicity and Noel Kiss.]
Felicity: It was great to meet you.
Ryan: Yeah, I’ll see you soon.
Felicity: All right.

[Noel and Ryan are in a bar/restaurant.]
Waitress: Uh, what can I get you?
Ryan: Um…how about the darkest beer you got on tap?
Noel: Yeah. Yeah, I’ll have that, too. Uh, dark—dark beer on tap.
Waitress: Sure. Do you have some I.D.?
Noel: Oh, uh…Yeah, I—I…Uh, I think I left my wallet on, um…
Ryan: You know… this always happens. He’s actually my older brother. He’s just got great skin.
[The waitress laughs.]
Ryan: Yeah. [Chuckles]
[The waitress leaves.]
[Noel and Ryan chuckle.]
Ryan: I forgot how strict they are in New York. Hey, you remember when I had that, uh…that fake I.D. that said I was a reverend?
Noel: Yeah, uh, uh…Oh, Reverend Matthew James.
Ryan: [Laughing] Right. It worked until the bartender at Killian’s Pub asked me to recite the stations of the cross.
Noel: --The stations of the cross.
Ryan: I know. [Laughing]
[Noel is laughing.]
Ryan: [sighs] So…I have something I wanted to talk to you about.
Noel: Yeah, I had a feeling there was some big news coming. What’s up?
Ryan: Well, you, uh…you asked before about Amy.
Noel: You have something you want to, uh, share with me about that? [Smiles]
Ryan: We broke up a year ago.
Noel: What do you mean? I thought—I mean, we talk on the phone, and you say you go out to dinner with her.
[The waitress arrives.]
Waitress: Excuse me.
Ryan: Thanks.
Noel: Thank you very much.
Waitress: Okay, sure.
Noel: All right.
Ryan: Uh… You know, we stayed good friends.
Noel: Oh.
Ryan: Yeah.
[Silence]
Ryan: I, uh…
Noel: What’s up?
Ryan: Turns out I’m gay.
Noel: [Laughing] What?
Ryan: Yeah, I’m gay.
Noel: Yeah, you’re full of it. You’re not gay.
Ryan: Yeah, I am.
Noel: Ryan, w-what are you talking about?
Ryan: You’re upset. I—I—I can tell you’re upset.
[sighs]
Noel: No. No, I’m not upset. That’s not the word. Uh, I’m…[exhales deeply] I’m just, uh…just—I…
Ryan: Surprised?
Noel: Right.
Ryan: Yeah.
Noel: Okay. Okay, if that’s the way it is, then, uh…okay.
Ryan: What are you thinking?
Noel: I just, uh…I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought I did.
[Silence]

[Noel’s dorm.]
Noel: Maybe he’s just going through a phase. You know, maybe he, like—like he’s experimenting or something.
Felicity: I don’t know. I mean…from what you said…it sounds like he’s pretty sure.
Noel: No, no—you didn’t kow Ryan in high school. I mean, h-he was the king of studs. He had more girlfriends than any guy in Boston. Girls loved Ryan.
[Felicity nods]
Noel: And—and through college, too—That’s when he started going out with Amy Leoni. Uh, she was…beautiful and funny and…brilliant. And any guy would kill to go out with her.
[Felicity is listening.]
Noel: This is---No, this is insane, all right? It’s gotta be—it’s gotta be a phase. People don’t change that much overnight. [sighs] I didn’t even invite him to the exhibit.
Felicity: Why don’t you tell him about it tonight at dinner?
Noel: Why would he want to go to dinner with me after the way I acted in the bar?
[Silence]
Noel: Oh, God, I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask. Um…How’d Javier take it when you told him no?
Felicity: Well…I didn’t. I sort of…told him yes.
[Noel’s face drops.]
Noel: Wow. Uh…this day just keeps getting better. Um, that’s good.
[They sit quietly.]

[Cafeteria]
Ryan: Mind if I join you?
Noel: No. No, of course not.
[Sits down.]
Noel: You know, I’ve been calling you all day.
Ryan: Yeah, yeah. I got the messages. I was glad to hear from you.
Noel: Yeah, I, uh…I should apologize about the way I acted last night. I was just…taken by surprise.
Ryan: Hey, I—it’s okay. I, uh…
Noel: I wasn’t expecting it, you know?
[They chuckle]
Noel: I know this is kind of out of the blue, but there’s this, uh, student graphics exhibit, and…well, somes of my stuff has been—has been selected to be in it. –So, it’s—it’s not—
Ryan: You’re—You’re kidding?
Noel: Yeah well…Keep your expectations low. It’s no big deal.
Ryan: Well, hey, I would love to go.
Noel: Good.
[Ryan sighs]
Noel: Another thing about the way I acted last night…I really liked Amy.
Ryan: You know, breaking up with Amy…telling her the truth…[exhales sharply]…was one of the hardest things I ever did, you know? I really love her.
Noel: I’m sorry. That, uh, that must have been tough. You know maybe—maybe you and Amy will get back together someday, you know? Anything’s possible.
Ryan: Noel…look, last night, things ended a little abruptly, but I wanted to tell you about this guy that I’m involved with.
Noel: [Noel chuckles] What?
Ryan: Alex,--he’s—really great. And he flew in this morning, and um, I—I want you to meet him. I-if it’s okay, I-I’d really love to bring him to dinner tonight, and uh…You’ll really like him.
Noel: I’m—I’m sure I will.
Ryan: Good.

[Restaurant]
Alex: Yeah. That’ll be great. Thank you.
Ryan: So, how long have you guys been going out?
Felicity: I guess, like, three months.
Noel: Yeah.
Felicity: What about you guys?
Alex: Ten months.
Felicity: Almost a year.
Ryan: Yeah. Uh, speaking of our year anniversary…Well, it’s, uh…it’s in April. That’s when Alex, and I are gonna have our commitment ceremony.
Noel: What like a party?
Ryan: Actually, no, more like a wedding.
[Felicity nods and Noel looks]
Noel: I’m a little confused.
Ryan: See, gay marriages aren’t recognizied by the law, so—
Noel: Yeah, that part I understand. Uh, what I—what I don’t understand is you arriving in New York, then announcing that your’e gay, uh then announcing you have a boyfriend, then announcing you’re getting married. Isn’t this all happening a—a little too fast? I mean you guys have been together for 10 months. You were with Amy for four years. And now—And now you’re getting committed or whatever you call it?
Ryan: I know it seems fast to you, but that’s because you’re finding out this information all at once, and I am sorry for that.
Noel: I thought you were one of the closest people in the world to me, and—and you never even trusted me enough to tell me the truth.
Alex: It’s not about him trusting you.
Noel: Hey, I don’t even know you, so—
Felicity: Noel—
Ryan: You may not talk to Alex that way.
Noel: What do you think mom and dad are gonna say when you bring this up?
Ryan: You know what’s nuts? I was gonna ask for your support when I told them. Imagine that—you actually supporting me for once in our lives. What was I thinking? I’m going back to the hotel.
[Walks off.]
Noel: I’m going back to the dorm…this is insanity. [Gets up and leaves.]
[Felicity and Alex smile awkward smiles.]
Felicity: I’m gonna marry a gay guy, too.

[Noel is leaving his room when Javier approaches.]
Javier: Hello.
Noel: Oh, hey, Javier.
Javier: Hi Noel. How are you?
Noel: Uh, I’m—I’m crazed and insane.
Javier: That’s good. Is Felicity here?
Noel: No, I haven’t seen her all morning.
Javier: Oh, would it be okay for me to leave this basket for her in your room?
Noel: Yeah, sure.
Javier: Oh, thank you so much.
Noel: It’s a nice gift. Is it for the wedding?
Javier: Oh, no, we’re not getting married anymore.
Noel: Oh.
Javier: It’s just a small token of my gratitude.
Noel: It’s not that small.
[Noel reaches for his keys.]
Javier: Felicity is the most generous, most wonderful person I ever met. And do you know why else I adore her? Because she is a romantic.
[Noels opens his door.]
Noel: She is.
Javier: I can’t tell you how much it means to me that she realized how difficult it is—our situation…Samuel and me. You know, you’d be surprised. You know a lot of people disapprove—crazy. But Felicity…no. She believes in love. You know, I also want to thank you. I know it’s not easy to be on the flipper side of that kind of marriage, you know. It’s so good to support the people you love.
Noel: Actually, I haven’t, uh…I haven’t been that supportive.
Javier: Oh, really? Well, hmm.. Well, then, no muffins for you.
[Javier walks off.]

[At the exhibit]
Noel: The development of the—of the font itself, which—which happens to be the structure came about through a series of trials, uh, that I was able to do through Photoshop. Um…I actually—what I was really trying to explore and examine was, uh…t-the development as—as the font itself as—structure.
[Felicity walks in.]
Noel: Um, and within that structure, the—the computer allowed me to insert, uh…
[Noel sees Felicity and smiles.]
Noel: Enjoy. Excuse me.
[Noel walks over to Felicity.]
Noel: Hey.
Felicity: Hi. So this is exciting…
Noel: Yeah. I spoke to Javier. He came by the dorm with, uh…with some really heavy muffins.
Felicity: That was nice of him.
Noel: Yeah.
Felicity: You were right. I mean, I…[sighs] I should have thought it through a little bit more, and it was just stupid.
Noel: No, it wasn’t at all. It was…impulsive and really sweet and very…Felicity, which I love, so…So I was thinking I should call my brother at the hotel before he goes home. You know, I don’t want to leave things the way they are, so…I’ll be back in a second, all right?
Felicity: Okay.
[Noel kisses her head and walks off to the pay phone.]
[He sees his brother at the water fountain.]
Noel: Ryan?
Ryan: Hey, I, uh..was just about come find you.
Noel: Yeah, I was going to call you.
Ryan: How’s the exhibit?
Noel: Pretty good, I guess.
Ryan: You know, you were a real jerk to Alex last night.
Noel: Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about that. This, um..This whole thing’s just—it’s really thrown me in a way that I’ve never expected. It’s a pretty big deal.
Ryan: Yeah, I know. Until this, I…I never thought that just by being honest, I might lose my family, you know? Might lose you.
Noel: That’s never gonna happen.
[They walk off together.]