WOMEN: The Show

by
Chiara Atik

Chiara Atik
15 Essex Street, #22
New York, NY, 10002
310-647-7805
EPISODE 1

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy snuggled around their mother,

who sits in a chair and reads aloud a letter. Should be
recognizable from every Little Women movie or book
cover in existence.

MARMIE
“Give them all my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by
night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times, that when I come back to
them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women.” Now, my little pilgrims.
Back to your sewing and knitting, and when father does return, he shall scarcely believe
how fast his four girls have grown.

Marmie kisses Beth on the head, exits.

JO
He is so full of it.

MEG
Oh, how convenient, caught up in “the war.”

JO
“Oh, hmm, yeah, sorry girls, won’t be home for Christmas. Also won’t be sending any
money. But, you know, be good. Also, can you send me a new scarf? Bye, be good.

MEG
Isn’t the war like. Mostly over now? I mean it’s mostly over.

BETH
I think so.

MEG
It’s just like, admin stuff?

BETH
That’s, yeah.

MEG
Like the slaves are free, we’re pretty much done down there, was my understanding.

JO
Clearly he’s just taking his time in Washington cause it’s cold as balls here in
Massachusetts.
 2.

MEG
Also: what is with all the “little women” stuff?

JO BETH
RIGHT? So weird.

MEG
That really creeps me out!

JO
It’s creepy!

MEG
BOTH of them, every two seconds, it’s like, Ohhhhh, have you grown up yet? Are you
grown up yet? Are you a little woman yet? Hmm? How are my little women doing?

AMY
Yeah, PLEASE stop talking about my womanhood. I am twelve.

BETH
They just don’t understand how hard it is to --

(she coughs, sort of violently, then picks right

back up)
be our age these days. Like what did they have to do? Grow up and get married? Okay, big
deal. We have to really grapple with our lives.

MEG
Yeah! Like, I don’t even know if I want to get married? I mean I do want to get married,
but like. I dunno, have I done everything I’ve wanted to do already? Like in my life? On
the other hand, you know, I’m 19 and the clock is ticking, if I want to have three babies by
the time I’m 25, it’s like, tick-tock I DON’T HAVE FOREVER but it’s really hard to meet
someone these days, I mean, guys: we don’t know a single person of the opposite sex.

BETH
It’s weird.

AMY
No one. Like not even any cousins.

MEG
Yeah, no, I’ve literally never talked to a guy in my life.
 3.

JO
There’s me! You guys can think of me as a brother!

MEG

(fondly, dismissively)
Oh, Jo. You’re so funny.

JO
Well, I know what I want to do with my life.

BETH
What, Jo?

JO
Be a writer.

MEG
You mean a reporter, who reports on the war?

JO
No...

BETH
You mean a poet, who writes poetry?

JO
No...

AMY
Then what are you going to write about?

JO
Well, I thought I could mostly just write about...myself.

MEG
Yourself.

JO
Yeah just like. My life and my thoughts.

AMY
Your thoughts!

BETH
Thoughts about what?
 4.

JO
I dunno.The food I eat. What I think about current events, and politics, and books, and,
like. The weather.

MEG
Jo, why would anyone ever want to read all of that?

JO
Well, because. I really think I could be the voice of my generation. Or at least...a voice, of a
generation.

MEG
Jo, that’s not a thing.

BETH
Amy, what do you want to be when you grow up?

AMY
Mostly just pretty, I guess.

(looking up, seeing her sisters’ reactions)

I mean. An artist?

MEG
Nice!

BETH
Good for you, Amy.

MEG
That’s a great goal.

JO
What about you, Beth? What do you want to be?

BETH
Oh, I don’t know...

AMY
Don’t be shy, Beth.

JO
Come on!

MEG
We all told you ours!
 5.

BETH
No, I just. I really don’t know. I look into my future and I just see a blank slate. Like. Kind
of a dark. Slate.

JO
Hmmm.

MEG
I guess your future is just going to be a surprise!

JO
I just wish that something exciting would happen soon because I don’t know how I’m
going to become a famous writer if all I have to write about is sitting around the house all
day with my sisters, I mean no one can make a career out of that.

Beth has a mini-coughing fit. They all watch her.

AMY
Beth!

BETH
What?

AMY

(super annoyed)
Get a glass of water!

TRANSITION MUSIC.

Lights up, and this time, the girls are sitting in a line on a
bench, mimicking the various Girls-posters -- very
contemporary, slouchy posture.

A beat.

JO
Do you guys want to put on a play?

BETH
Uhm...

AMY MEG
Not really. I dunno, I’m not really in the mood.
 6.

JO
Come on, you guys! You love putting on plays!

MEG
...do we, though?

AMY
Jo, you love putting on plays. And you love playing all the male leads, while we play the
non-speaking female roles.

JO
But our swashbuckling adventures are the best! And Meg, you make the best romantic
heroine!

MEG
Ugh, I feel so cheesy doing it. It would be different if I was like, playing opposite a guy.

JO
Okay, but, you do play opposite a --

MEG
I mean a real one.

JO
So, if we had an actual boy you guys would want to perform my latest piece?

MEG
I don’t know, Jo, you’re so insistent --

AMY
Not really!

BETH
I’m feeling a little low-energy?

JO
WELL you’re in luck, because it just so happens I have a surprise for you. Ladies and
gentlemen --

MEG
Just ladies.

JO
I would like to introduce you to our new neighbor: Laurie.
 7.

From behind a curtain or hidden away somewhere, Laurie

emerges with a flourish. The girls are alarmed.

MEG
Are you kidding me right now.

BETH
Jo!

AMY
How long has he been back there, Jo, we’ve been sitting here for hours?

LAURIE
Hi guys. I’m Larry.

JO
Laurie --

LAURIE
Larry.

JO
-- just moved in next door and he’s here for the whole winter!

MEG
Jo, you can’t just bring some GUY over --

JO
He’s not some guy! He’s Laurie!

LAURIE
...Larry.

MEG
Well, we don’t know him! I mean who knows what he could do to us --

LAURIE
Oh, well --

MEG
We don’t know anything about him.

BETH
He could be a bad person.
 8.

MEG
He could be some sort of freak.

LAURIE
Depends on who you ask!

JO
Meg. Didn’t you say that it was your deepest wish to meet a guy? Any guy?

MEG
Well, yeah --

JO
Didn’t we all say we wanted something excited to happen?

MEG BETH
I guess. Yeah.

JO
Well, then here is our chance. Laurie is an amazing actor --

LAURIE
I played “Feste” in the college production of Twelfth Night --

JO
It’s just going to be really, really great to have another guy around!

BETH
A guy around.

JO
A guy around!

MEG
Fine. Fine.

BETH
Welcome, Laurie!

LAURIE
It’s -- yeah, no. Laurie is good. Really excited to work with you guys, great to get onstage
again, keep limber, until I go back to school. I go to school in Boston -- well, not Boston.
Cambridge.
 9.

MEG

(ignoring him)
And it will be really --

LAURIE
Harvard. It’s Harvard.

MEG

(still ignoring him)

It will be really nice to have a real boy playing Rodrigo.

JO
Uh. Meg. I’m Rodrigo.

MEG
But we have Laurie --

JO
Yeah.

MEG
He’s a guy, so I figured -- isn’t the whole point...?

JO

(menacingly)
I’m Rodrigo.

MEG

(intimidated)
Ok.

TRANSITION MUSIC.

MARMIE, JOHN BROOKE, and MR. LAWRENCE are

sitting in a makeshift “audience” and as the girls and
Laurie, dressed in random homemade costumes, bow.
Laurie is not wearing a shirt.

MARMIE
Wonderful!
 10.

MR. BROOKE
Bravo!

MARMIE
Well done, indeed!

The girls start disassembling whatever makeshift set

they’ve constructed, taking off their costumes, etc. The
following bits of dialogue should move pretty quickly, as
quick vignettes between characters as the others busy
themselves in the background.

MR. LAWRENCE

(to Marmie)
I’m not sure I entirely approve of my grandson cavorting in this manner with young ladies!

MARMIE
On the contrary, I think it’s nice for boys and girls to play as equals. It reminds them that
when they go out into society they should still consider each other as such. Besides! It’s all
innocent fun, isn’t it, Amy?

AMY

(adjusting her boobs, or doing something

otherwise uninnocent)
Oh. Uh-huh!

Jo and Laurie are taking off their costumes. Jo is wearing a

fake beard.

LAURIE
Hey...

JO

(slapping him on the back)

Hey!

LAURIE
You were really great out there.

JO
Aw, thanks, dude! Hey, how about that sword fight, huh?
 11.

LAURIE
Right? When you went like THAT and then I went like THAT and then you were like, aw,
wait, no, that. So good.

JO
SO good.

LAURIE
Bur seriously when you get onstage there’s just this light around you that is. Just, really
beautiful to watch.

JO
Oh, no way, man, thanks!

LAURIE
I’ll never forget what it was like to watch you.

JO
Cool. Well. Right back atcha!

Jo changes her shirt.

LAURIE
Uh, I should -- do you want me to leave??

JO
Huh? Oh. Whatever. Just us guys, right??

She laughs. They move upstage, and in their place come

MR BROOKE and MEG.

MR BROOKE
Miss March?

MEG
Oh, hey....

MR. BROOKE
Mr. Brooke...young master Lawrence is my pupil.

MEG
Right, yeah, hi.
 12.

MR. BROOKE
I very much enjoyed your performance this evening.

MEG
Oh my god, no, I was so bad --

MR. BROOKE
Bad? No!

MEG
I dunno if you noticed, but I like, skipped a line at one point?

MR. BROOKE
That -- no, I didn’t --

MEG
Top of Act 2?

MR. BROOKE
It entirely escaped me!

MEG
And, I dunno, I just feel like I wasn’t really clicked into it today, you know? Also the
audience kind of sucked.

MR. BROOKE
I hope I’m not speaking out of turn when I say this, but I found you very charming. I
found you very charming indeed.

MEG
Wow. That’s like.

MR. BROOKE
Was I too forward? I do beg your pardon, Miss March.

MEG
No, that was like. The nicest thing a guy has ever said to me. And I’ve met like, two guys
at this point! That’s really. Thanks.

He bows and leaves. Next we see BETH and MR.

LAWRENCE.

MR. LAWRENCE
And you, little girl? What’s your name?
 13.

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
What?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
What?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
What?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
What?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
What?

Beth explodes into a coughing fit. Mr. Lawrence watches

her for a while, then hobbles away with his cane.

Marmie enters urgently, with a letter.

MARMIE
Girls!

The girls instantly gather around the chair.

MARMIE

(completely alarmed)
Your father has been wounded in Washington. I must go to him!
 14.

MEG
Well, I don’t really know what to tell you, we can not afford a train ticket.

JO
I’ll get the money.

MEG
How, Jo?

JO
Don’t worry about how -- but I’ll get it!

Jo exits in a flourish. Beth has a coughing fit. Everyone

watches her.

BETH

(casually)
I dunno, I think I’m coming down with something.

TRANSITION.

Meg, Beth, and Amy in the living room. Meg is going

over the household accounts. Beth is coughing,
throughout.

MEG
Okay, I think that if we’re really careful and cut corners, I dunno, we might be able to
come up with some extra money. It’s just a matter of budgeting. 5 cents a week for coal,
god, that’s really gone up. Milkman is 3 cents a week, a dollar twenty five on groceries --
seems like we could cut back there.

(Beth coughs. Meg and Amy tense up, but

don’t otherwise acknowledge.)
I had put away some money for some fabric, cause I figured it might be nice to have a
second change of clothes, you know Sally Moffat has like, six dresses it’s insane. But. I
guess we can keep wearing the same outfit every day, it’s fine. It looks like we’re spending
15 cents a week on flour --

Beth coughs again.

AMY
I can’t with the coughing.
 15.

MEG
Beth honey, I know you're feeling sort of yucky and I'm genuinely so, so, sorry about that
but we're actually trying to like, save our household right now so if you could keep the
coughing to a minimum, that would be really --

BETH
Yes, absolutely.

AMY
Like right now it’s at like, a six? And we need it at like, a two --

BETH
Two. Yes. Not a problem. I’ll just keep it in.

MEG
Okay, thanks A dollar twenty five on groceries seems like kind of a lot, I think we can
probably cut back on that.

AMY

(boredly)
Sure.

MEG
Like, butter. Butter is nice but I feel like we can probably do without?

AMY

(boredly)
Fine.

MEG
And we certainly don’t need bacon, that saves us 15 cents a week. If we could make bread
once a week, as opposed to twice --

Beth coughs.

AMY
BETH.

MEG
Beth, can you please just. Maybe go somewhere else?
 16.

BETH
But I wanna help, too, I thought I could --

AMY
It would really be a big help if you just go outside.

BETH
It's just that it's like. Twenty degrees outside and Marmie said I should probably like, take it
easy today, cause it sort of seems like this cough is getting worse not better --

MEG
You know, I actually think the fresh air might be good for you? A little fresh air?

AMY
Yeah, you are looking a little pale lately. Don’t take this the wrong way, I’m literally only
saying this because I’m your sister, but you could use some color on your cheeks.

MEG
I mean, she’s not wrong.

BETH
Okay.... If you guys really think this is the best way I can contribute --

MEG
Totally.

AMY
It would be really helpful.

BETH
Sure. No problem. I’ll just --

AMY

(dismissing her)
Thanks, B!

Beth sadly exits.

MEG
It says here we’re spending 30 cents a week on...limes? That’s weird and unnecessary,
we’ll cut that --

AMY
Oh, no no no no no.
 17.

MEG
What?

AMY
I need the limes. We need the limes.

MEG
For...what?

AMY
I need them.

MEG
Limes.

AMY
Yes.

MEG
For what.

AMY
Stuff.

MEG
What.

AMY
Stuff.

MEG
Amy.

AMY
My art.

MEG
Your art.

AMY
I need them for my art.

MEG
You need them for your art.
 18.

AMY
Yes.

MEG
You need limes for your art.

AMY
Yes.

Beat.

MEG
I’m having a hard time understanding how limes are directly related to --

AMY
Meg.

MEG
What.

AMY
Are you an artist.

MEG
Well, no, but that --

AMY
Are you. An artist.

MEG
....no.

AMY
Then you don’t. Understand.

MEG
Okay.

(beat)
It’s just that there’s a war on, and citrus is sort of hard to --

AMY
The limes stay.

MEG
....okay.
 19.

TRANSITION MUSIC: Beth, cold and sickly,

approaches Mr. Lawrence’s house. She knocks on the
door.

Beth knock on the door of Mr. Lawrence’s house.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who’s there?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who?

BETH
Beth.

MR. LAWRENCE
Who?

Beth coughs.

MR. LAWRENCE
Oh, it’s you. Come in.

Beth enters.
 20.

MR. LAWRENCE
Well? What is it you want, child?

BETH
I came to see if it would be at all even remotely possible for me to maybe perhaps borrow
some money, which I realize is a totally creepy and unrealistic request so, I’ll just go now --

MR. LAWRENCE
Miss March, wait! I am not in the business of running a charity. Why is it that you’re
asking?

BETH
It’s for my parents. They would never ask you because they're super liberal and I know
you made most of your money from like, cotton plantations and not to get political but
outsourcing out jobs like that is literally the reason we don't have jobs for our service class
I mean who is going to hire them for 5 cents an hour when you can get slaves to do it for
free? So then you have high levels of unemployment and the creation of a welfare state,
while the rich are just getting richer. Oh, also slavery is wrong.

MR. LAWRENCE
You would take my money, though my politics are so misaligned with yours?

BETH
I mean to be honest I don’t really mind racism in old people, I just kind of see it as
something temporary to deal with.

MR. LAWRENCE
Such impudence! Aren’t you afraid of me, little girl?

BETH
Yeah, no, I’m definitely scared of you, yes.

MR. LAWRENCE
I think your mother does you a great disservice by letting you speak your mind so freely.
But I’ll give you your money, if only because you remind me of my own daughter.

BETH
Really?

MR. LAWRENCE
Yes. Her name was also Elizabeth. She was a sprightly young thing. Of course, she died.
But don’t worry. That’s not going to happen to you!

TRANSITION. Mr. Brooke approaches Meg.

 21.

MR. BROOKE
Oh, Miss March!

MEG
Oh, hey.

MR. BROOKE
Lovely day, isn’t it?

MEG
Is it? I guess.

MR. BROOKE
Is something the matter, Miss March?

MEG
Oh, no, I’m fine.

MR. BROOKE
I’m very glad to hear it. I was just --

MEG
I mean, I‘m just a little stressed.

MR. BROOKE
Oh! How unfortunate!

MEG
Yeah. Family stuff.

MR. BROOKE
I hope you know you can confide in me, should you need a confidant.

MEG
Okay, well, basically the gist is that my dad’s sick --

MR. BROOKE
No.

MEG
Yeahhhhh, in DC. And my mom wants to go visit him obviously but like. We're a little
hard up, I guess?
 22.

Like, harder up than I thought because they never have honest conversations with us about
money, which like, I get, they don't want us to worry about anything but then it's like, are
you really doing us any favors by shielding us from the reality of this? I don’t actually
think so.

MR. BROOKE
I am greatly distressed to hear of this.

MEG
Yeah, thanks. I mean it’s just hard when it’s like, your parents.

MR. BROOKE
Miss March, may I speak frankly?

MEG
Oh! Uhm. Yeah.

MR. BROOKE
I am a man of simple means. I have no great fortune to my name -- surely, you will have
noticed this.

MEG
Oh. I mean, yeah, no, I figured. With the tutoring.

MR. BROOKE
But I want you to know that I would do anything -- anything -- if it meant easing your
burden by even the slightest amount.

MEG
Oh! John, that’s --

MR. BROOKE
Mr. Brooke.

MEG
Mr. Brooke, that’s. Really so nice to hear right now, you don’t even know.

MR. BROOKE
I know I must first speak to your mother and father, but --

MEG
Oh my god.

MR. BROOKE
Do I have any reason to hope that some day, you might --
 23.

Laurie enters.

LAURIE
Hey guys.

MR. BROOKS MEG

Master Lawrence. Hey. Laurie.

LAURIE
Jo around?

MR. BROOKE MEG

I haven’t seen her. No, Jo is not here.

LAURIE
Cool, cool.

He stands there. They stand there. He stands there.

MR. BROOKE
Well, I must be off --

MEG
Yeah, I should go check on Amy.

MR. BROOKE
Lessons await us.

MEG
She’s kind of a hot mess right now, so.

MR. BROOKE
I hope to meet again soon, Miss March.

MEG
Yeah, that would be. I mean I’m around, so.

MR. BROOKE
Til then.

LAURIE
Bye!

TRANSITION Music.
 24.

Amy, Meg, Beth, and Laurie are onstage. Marmie

swoops in.

MARMIE
Girls! Girls. I have news. Mr. Lawrence has arranged for me to travel to Washington by
train this very night -- it seems that Beth has convinced him!

MEG
Beth! That’s great.

AMY
Wow, really cool, Beth.

Beth gives a bashful little cough.

MARMIE
But where is Jo? I haven’t seen her all day! Not chopping wood by the shed, or whittling,
or practicing her calisthenics...

LAURIE
Yeah, I don’t know, I’ve been waiting for her. We kinda had plans. Not a big deal, just.
You know, another guy might take it a little personally that --

Jo enters with a flourish.

JO
MARMIE, YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY. I GOT THE MONEY. I just had to sell ---

(she takes off her cap/shawl/whatever to

reveal a hideous short haircut)
My hair.

MEG
Jo!

AMY
Ew!

BETH

(coughs)

JO
What do you think?
 25.

MEG
You really...chopped it off!

JO
Yeah. I mean. I had to. For the family.

AMY
Jo, there are like, three dollars here. That is like. A negligible amount of money.

MARMIE
Oh, my brave little Jo.

AMY
This was basically a completely unnecessary thing to do.

LAURIE
I think she looks amazing.

JO
Really?

LAURIE
Really. I mean, is ravishing too strong a word? Okay, I’ll say it: ravishing.

Mr. Brooke enters.

MR. BROOKE
Mrs. March? I’ve come to accompany you to the station.

MARMIE
Mr. Brooke, how kind!

MR. BROOKE

(to Meg, meaningfully.)

I’m a kind kind of guy.

MARMIE
Girls!

(they gather around her)

Amy! Mind your lessons! Beth, take care of that cough! Meg, see to the household. And
Jo! My dear, brave little Jo. Get yourself a nice hat. Oh girls, I shall miss you! But I know
you’ll make me proud, as always, of my little women!

TRANSITION.
 26.

Jo sits in a tub/wash basin, eating a cupcake. Meg sits

nearby, talking to her.

MEG
It’s not like I like being the responsible one. Not like I like being the who has to buckle
down. You know Sally Moffat’s ball is coming up? Yeah, uh-huh. I’d love to go. I’d love
to really let my hair down, have a glass of punch -- hell! Maybe have two glasses of punch,
find some guy, some random guy and just. Do a quadrille with him, all over the ballroom.
Sometimes, being good all the time, feels really bad.

JO
Yeah, but that’s just your journey.

MEG
Right. I know. I just sometimes wish my journey took me outside the house a little bit
more, you know?

JO
Don’t worry, Meg. Any day now, I’m going to sell my manuscript, “Moods on the
Moors.” He’s an Algerian Pirate. She’s a prim Yorkshire school teacher, with a secret --

MEG
Yeah, yeah, I remember the plot from your monthly reading series. In our living room.

JO
The point is, once Moods on the Moors sells, I’ll make millions of dollars and buy as an
apartment in New York where we can live together and put on plays and talk about my
writing and never be apart for the rest of our lives.

MEG
Yeah! Maybe...! What’s on your arm?

JO
Oh, I don’t know, a tattoo?

Amy enters.

AMY
Guys, I don’t want to be dramatic, but ....Beth seems sick.

JO
Like, sick, or sick sick?

AMY
Define sick sick.
 27.

JO
Like, sick is your usual run of the mill coughing and palor and fainting spell, nothing that
some warm broth can’t cure, and sick sick is like, call the doctor, actually wait don’t even
bother with the doctor because it’s probably too late and she’s going to die.

AMY
I would say....more of the latter?

MEG
Beth? Are you okay?

Beth enters, coughing. She coughs for a really, really,

really, really long time. Finally:

BETH
No!

TRANSITION MUSIC (Chopin’s funeral march). A

somber scene. In the center of the room lies Beth, gravely
ill. Meg and Jo are keeping vigil around her.

After a moment, Amy creeps onstage...but not in the room.

AMY
Knock knock!

MEG
Yeah?

AMY
It’s me! Amy!

MEG
Yeah, Amy?

AMY
I just wanted to see if we’re all here?

JO
What do you mean?

AMY
Like. Is everyone still.....with us?
 28.

JO
Yes.....?

AMY
Like, Beth. Beth is still --

BETH
Yeah, I’m still alive.

AMY
Oh, hi Beth!

BETH
Hi.

JO
....Do you want to come inside, Amy?

AMY
Oh, no! That’s okay.

JO
You can come inside, there’s nothing to be--

AMY
No, no, I get kind of. And I have a lot of like. Work to do. I don’t really want to get sick. I
was just checking in. But I’ll just be downstairs. Working on my art. If anyone needs me,
or dies, that’s where I’ll be.

MEG
Bye, Ames.

Amy exits. Beth coughs, weakly.

MEG
Beth, honey? How do you feel?

BETH
Uhm. Pretty bad.

MEG
Awwww.

BETH
Pretty feverish. And weak.
 29.

MEG
Poor baby.

BETH
Also just like, sad.

MEG
Yeah.

BETH
I maybe would have liked to do more with my life. You know.

MEG
I know.

BETH
Like see another town. Make a friend outside of my nuclear family.

MEG
Yeah.

BETH
Maybe get married some day.

MEG
Yeah, well, that was probably not realistic.

BETH
I know.

MEG
Listen, do you think you have, and it’s fine if the answer is no, but like, some sort of an
ETA?

BETH
What?

MEG
Like maybe just a ballpark range of when you might be. You know.

BETH
Oh.

MEG
I mean just so we sort of know what we’re in for, in terms of like. Kind of waiting around.
 30.

BETH
Oh, right.

MEG
Cause we’re kind of putting things on hold right now --

BETH
I know, I feel really bad --

MEG
No, no, don’t feel bad! Just like. Be aware.

BETH
Right. Yeah. I was kind of hoping to hold on til Marmee returns?

MEG
Ah.

BETH
Just to say one last goodbye to her...

MEG
I mean that might be a few days....

BETH
Oh.

MEG
So how about you just keep us posted? Like, if you get a sense of timing, let us know?

BETH
Okay.

MEG
But like. No rush, okay?

BETH
Okay. Thanks.

JO
Beth, I think I know what might majorly cheer you up.

BETH
Okay....
 31.

JO
How about I perform, just for you, my one woman show. “Jo’s Boys:” Gender, Racial
Politics, and Coming of Age in Post Civil War America.

BETH MEG
I dunno, I’m feeling pretty sleepy... Ugh, Jo, that sounds really grating --

JO
It begins: a stormy night, in Germantown Pennsylvania. The labor pains of my mother
were blood curdling. The sin of woman as sure as --

TRANSITION.

Later that night. Meg is knitting by Beth’s side. Mr.

Brooke enters.

MR. BROOKE
Ah, Miss March!

MEG
Oh, hey....

MR. BROOKE
I hoped to find you alone, but, perhaps I can come back another --

MEG
No, now’s good!

MR. BROOKE
But --

MEG
Beth’s asleep.

BETH
Actually, I’m --

MEG
YOU’RE ASLEEP.

Beth glares at her for a moment. Then, fakely, but

dutifully, closes her eyes.
 32.

MEG
She’s pretty delirious --

MR. BROOKE
Yes, I see --

MEG
Probably pretty close to the end now, actually --

MR. BROOKE
I am so sorry --

MEG
Yeah, but like at least she’ll be at peace, and this is been really hard on all of us, actually --

MR. BROOKE
I can only imagine.

MEG
In some ways it will be good when this is all just over, anyway you wanted to talk to me
about something?

MR. BROOKE
Yes, uhm. Yes -- Miss March. As you know, I am a man of simple means --

MEG
Right, yeah.

MR. BROOKE
And I don’t have much hope for advancement --

MEG
I mean, this job market.

MR. BROOKE
But I am a hard worker. And if you’ll have me, I shall work every day of my life to make
you happy.

MEG
That would be -- I mean, yeah, that sounds great.

MR. BROOKE
So, you’ll have me?

MEG
Yeah, I will have you! Ahh!
 33.

MR. BROOKE
This has made me very happy!

MEG
Oh, MR. BROOKE --!

Jo enters.

JO
Hey guys.

MR. BROOKS
Miss March.

MEG
Jo. Hi.

JO
You guys seen Laurie? We’re supposed to go ice skating and I want to get down to the
pond before the ice melts.

MEG
Hmmm, yeah, not here.

MR. BROOKS
I don’t know where he is, no.

JO
Well, Christopher Columbus.

Beat. She stands there. They stand there. She stands there.

JO
Wait a minute -- is this like. Is this like, a thing?

TRANSITION MUSIC.

Middle of the night. Beth is asleep in bed. Amy creeps on,

but again, not in the room.

AMY
Beth. Beth. Beth. Beth. BETH. BETH!!!

BETH
WHAT?!
 34.

AMY
Oh, hi!

BETH
Hi??

AMY
I just wanted to see if you were --- awake.

BETH
Now I am!

AMY
Yes, cool, cool.

Beat.

BETH
Amy.

AMY
Mmm?

BETH
Do you want to come in.

AMY
Oh, no, no no no, I should really.

BETH
You can come in, I’m awake now --

AMY
Yeahhh, no, I should really get some sleep.

BETH
Okay.

AMY
It’s like. 2 am.

BETH
Right.

AMY
I’ve got to get to bed I have like. A lot going on right now.
 35.

BETH
Okay.

AMY
But, night night, B! Glad to see you’re hanging in there.

BETH
Yeah, thanks. Bye.

Amy exits. Beth, awake, in bed. She looks around the

room. She coughs. She coughs again. She then begins
cough-beatboxing for a few beats. She shrugs.

TRANSITION MUSIC.

Jo is sitting by Beth’s bed, holding court.

JO
I mean, I’m happy for her, I am. Sure, I thought that we had big plans to move to the city
and make names for ourselves. Sure, she talked a big talk about career, and not being
defined by gender, and about how heterosexual relationships are inherently coercive. And
sure, I thought that if she did one day leave us it wouldn’t be for like, literally the first guy
we ever meet. But ultimately, I respect her right to define womanhood on her own terms.
It’s just that, Meg’s getting married, and Amy has her art, and you’re going off to --
wherever you go--

BETH
Yeah, we’ll see, I guess.

JO
The point is, where does that leave me?

BETH
Oh, Jo. This has been so hard on you.

JO
I just feel really lost right now.

BETH
I know.

JO
It’d be one thing if it was like, just you dying. Or just Meg getting married. But you dying
AND Meg getting married is just like, a lot.
 36.

BETH
I feel really bad.

JO
No, don’t feel bad. Just be aware.

Laurie enters.

LAURIE
Jo, do you have a second to talk?

JO
Sure, Laurie, what’s up?

LAURIE
Uhm, maybe we could go somewhere --

JO
What?

LAURIE
Somewhere a little more.

(Jo and Beth look at him, blankly.)

You know that path through the woods behind our houses, maybe we could walk along
that, it’s a little more. For what I want to talk to you about it’s a little more. All the flowers,
and the trees --

JO
I dunno, my allergies are really --

LAURIE
Oh, right, yeah --

JO
I’m like, dying.

(look from Beth/realization)

I mean -- sorry, Beth.

BETH

(coldly)
It’s fine.
 37.

LAURIE
Well, maybe we could go...in the living room?

JO
Eh, Amy’s working on some site-specific installation, there are limes everywhere --

LAURIE
The kitchen?

JO
Meg’s baking prototypes of her wedding cake?

LAURIE
Is there anywhere we could go for some privacy??

JO
What’s wrong with right here?

LAURIE
Well.

He makes some jerky head movements towards Beth.

JO
What, Beth???

BETH

(a “Who, me?” cough)

LAURIE
Uhm.

JO
Come on, Bro. Anything you can say to me, you can say in front of Beth.

NOTE: Blocking-wise, it would be great to have Beth, in

her bed, smack in the middle of Laurie and Jo at this point.

LAURIE
Okay. Well. Uhm. Where to start? I’m in love with you.

JO
Oh, dude.....
 38.

LAURIE
I have been since the first time I saw you chopping wood out in the back. Jo, we’re perfect
for each other -- we like all the same things, we think the same way -- heck, we even swap
clothes from time to time! So why not give this a try?

JO
Give what a try?

LAURIE
Marriage!

JO
Laurie...

LAURIE
I mean, can you picture anything better? We’ll be like brothers.....who are married! Jo, I
know that you aren’t exactly the type of person Grandfather had in mind when he asked me
to find a nice young girl to settle down with. But I know that as long as I live, I will never
find another woman like you. I really think. Like, I just think it’d be cool. So. That’s my
spiele. What do you say, Jo? Will you marry me?

A beat.

BETH

(a cough that says Awk-warrrrd)

JO
Laurie. I’m sorry. I’m just not that into you. Or. Men.

LAURIE
Yeah, you say that now.

JO
Laurie ...

LAURIE
Come on, Jo! I like you so much.

JO
I’m really sorry, Bro.
 39.

LAURIE
Yeah, no, it’s like, totally cool, I was just like. Throwing it out there in case you -- but it’s
fine. I should go though. Like, to Europe maybe. I mean this was really my backup plan, I
was like, “Oh, I wanna go drink my way through Europe but maybe I should ask Jo to
marry me? Cause maybe that could be an option.” But, no, back to Plan A. So, uhm, catch
you later! Beth: uhm, I hope I’ll see you when I get back? But, if not -- it’s been real. Uh.
Yeah. Laurie: Out.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Meg and Jo are sitting by Beth’s

side. Amy, again.

AMY
Hiiiiii. How’s it going in there?

BETH
Still alive.

AMY
Just checkingggg. I’ll be here! If you need me to get you anythingggg! And leave it by the
door! I’d be happy to!

BETH
Thanks Amy.

MEG
How are you feeling, Bethy? Still pretty yucky, huh?

BETH
Yeah, pretty bad.

Marmie swoops in, followed by Mr. Lawrence.

MARMIE
Oh, Beth! My poor poor child!

BETH
Marmie!

MEG
Oh, cool! Nice for a parent to show up.

MR. LAWRENCE
When I heard the child was taken ill, I immediately went to Washington to fetch Mrs.
March myself. How is she now?
 40.

MARMIE
She is feverish and weak, but I am sure now that Marmie is close by, she’ll revive! Oh, my
darling girl!

MR. LAWRENCE
And where is my grandson?

MEG
Oh, in Europe, because Jo didn’t want to marry him, because apparently in her world,
being adorable and having tons of money isn’t enough reason to marry someone, I dunno!

JO
Oh, I’m sorry for not following suit and flinging myself at the neighbor!

MARMIE
What is she talking about?

JO
Oh, surprise! Meg’s engaged.

MARMIE
Meg!

MEG
Oh, wow, Jo, really sorry to take the attention off of you for TWO SECONDS.

JO
At least I’m not capitulating to the shackles of my gender!

MEG
I’m not capitulating to the shackles of my gender I’m in LOVE, you’re just jealous.

JO
I’m not jealous I’m DISAPPOINTED in you.

MEG
Oh go write a monologue about it!

AMY
While we’re airing grievances, would it kill either of you to come down to the living room
every now and then to see how I’m processing things? Clearly I’m having a VERY
difficult time with all of this!

MR. LAWRENCE
Mrs. March, is this how you manage your girls?
 41.

MARMIE
“Manage” my girls?

JO MARMIE
Amy, haven’t you noticed that no one in What do you mean “manage” my girls, are
this family takes art seriously? Take my they sheep?
writing for instance --

MEG
Oh my god, can we have a conversation that DOESN’T conveniently lead up to another
discussion of YOUR WRITING?

MR. LAWRENCE JO
Not sheep, but ladies, one would hope! Well I’m sorry for having aspirations other
than being a WALKING WOMB!

MEG MARMIE
I’m not a womb! I’m not a walking womb, And why should ladies be taught to hold in
YOU’RE a walking womb! their emotions and their feelings when men
are allowed to brawl on the streets
whenever they so please?

JO
How am I a walking womb? You’re clearly the walking womb.

AMY
Uh, guys....

MEG JO
You’re the walking womb! You are clearly the walking womb!

AMY
GUYS.

EVERYONE
WHAT?

AMY
...Beth is dead.

They all look over. It’s true. Beth is dead.

 42.

JO
Huh.

TRANSITION MUSIC.

Marmie, in all black (or, I mean, whatever) enters onstage

to find Jo crouched next to an old trunk (if possible),
putting away some old dolls. She is crying.

MARMIE
Jo, dear!

JO
Oh, Marmie!

MARMIE
Oh, my dearest girl. I know Beth’s death has been especially hard on you --

JO
No, it’s not that.

MARMIE
Oh.

JO
It’s just that I’m sort of at a place in my life right now where like, I feel ready to become
the kind of person I’m supposed to be, but I’m just feeling a little bit stuck in terms of
figuring out who that person I’m supposed to be actually is.

MARMIE
Ah.

JO
I can’t help but feeling like everyone is just farther along in their lives than I am and that
makes me feel bad.

MARMIE
Jo, in times of trouble, I often find that it is more helpful to look outwardly rather than
inwardly. Perhaps rather than focusing on what you don’t have, you could focus more on
what you do have: a loving family, a comfortable home, two very devoted sisters.

JO
I mean, I guess.
 43.

MARMIE
I think I have a solution for your woes of the heart.

JO
Force Meg to annul her marriage and come back to us?

MARMIE
...No. A change of scenery. I could write to my friend Mrs. Walker to see if she’ll have
you on as governess in New York.

JO
New York City?

MARMIE
How would that be?

JO
Oh, Marmie! Thank you! I just feel like everything in the last few months was sort of
leading me to this point. This is going to be really, really good for me, I think

MARMIE
I think so, Jo. I really think it will be.

Meg, enormously pregnant, waddles onstage.

MEG
Hey Jo. Thanks for your letter. It seems like you’re having a really great time in New
York, that’s good, that’s really good. I hope you’re “finding yourself,” or whatever,
whatever that means, I dunno, I never really did that, but, I guess I’m not a writer, so.
Things here are fine. I’ve been pretty busy, you know, caring for our grieving mother.
She’s started eating again, though. In case you were curious. About how she’s doing. I
check on her every day even though to be honest the stairs are getting pretty difficult, what
with me being 8 months pregnant and all. But we all have our burdens! At least, some of
us do. Hahahaha, no, I’m kidding, I’m kidding, I’m so glad you’re taking this time for
yourself. I heard from Amy! She’s having a really good time in Rome. I only wish that
next time someone would send me the “We’re all going on vacation” memo! Hahaha, I’m
kidding, I’m so happy for you both.

Mr. Brooke enters, flustered.

MR. BROOKE
Darling?
 44.

MEG
What.

MR. BROOKE
My love, happen you to know where my boots are?

MEG
I dunno, in the hallway?

MR. BROOKE
Not my overboots, my work boots.

MEG
Then I don’t know.

MR. BROOKE
They were by the door.

MEG
Okay?

MR. BROOKE
But they’re not there any more.

MEG
Really don’t know what to tell you.

MR. BROOKE
Maybe I left them by the shed?

MEG
Ah!

MR. BROOKE
But if I left them by the shed.....then what did I wear to walk back to the house?

MEG
Hmmm.

MR. BROOKE
Perhaps they are in the front hallway, though that seems like a silly place to --

MEG
John?
 45.

MR. BROOKE
Yes?

MEG
Kind of writing a letter here.

MR. BROOKE
Oh!

MEG
So how about I finish up here....and if you still haven’t found your boots, I’ll help you
look for them.

MR. BROOKE
Right. Yes. I’ll go look for the boots.

He exits.

MEG
Marriage is interesting. Probably not as fun as New York, I bet you’re meeting a lot of
guys in New York, huh? Are there a lot of guys in the boarding house, I bet there are a lot
of guys in the boarding house, I bet you get to sit around with them and smoke cigars and
go for unchaperoned carriage rides, I mean not that you should do that but if you do do that
you should just, you know, be safe about it, and definitely confide in me because I won’t
judge, I just want to know you’re using your head about things. Anyway I should go.
Cook dinner. Very exciting, I know. You’re probably so bored reading this, like, oh my
god, get a life, well, we can’t all go off on exciting adventures! I mean most of us can,
apparently, but me! Ha ha, I’m kidding, I’m happy. Okay. Take care of yourself. Be safe.
Tell me everything. Meg.

TRANSITION. Jo is walking while writing. Bhaer is

walking while reading. They run into each other. Jo’s
papers go everywhere.

JO
Oh my god!

BHAER
I am so sorry!
 46.

JO
No, it’s fine, it’s my fault.

BHAER
I should have watched where I was going.

JO
I write and walk, I need to stop doing that. You know, I recognize you from the boarding
house but I don’t actually know your name?

BHAER
Friedrich Bhaer. And you are?

JO
Jo March, very nice to meet you!

BHAER
You are governess to Katie and Minnie, ja?

JO
Yes! I am. Well. Technically, that’s just my day job? I’m actually a writer.

BHAER
Yes, I can see that! You know, I knew you were a writer from the first time I laid eyes on
you.

JO
Really?? How?

BHAER
The tell-tale ink stain on your finger.

Jo looks down at her finger. It is completely,

exaggeratedly stained with ink.

JO
Oh! Meg would be so embarrassed if she saw me right now.

BHAER
Meg?

JO
My sister. She always gets mad at me for walking around looking like a --

BHAER
Writer.
 47.

JO
Right! It’s why I’m in New York. To gain some life experience to write about. I’m from
Concord, Massachusetts, nothing really happens there.

BHAER
Ja. I’m from Germany, nothing happens there either. We’re just a quiet, peace-loving
country.

JO
Oh, my sister Amy was just in Germany!

BHAER
It’s pleasant, but I, too, wanted some life experience.

JO
And did you find it?

BHAER
To a certain extent.

JO
Well, Beth always said that the best things happen when you least expect them, so.

BHAER
Beth?

JO
Oh, another sister.

BHAER
You have a lot of sisters!

JO
Just the normal amount, I think!

BHAER
I should introduce you to my acquaintance, Clovis. He’s a writer, perhaps he could give
you some advice.

JO
Uhm, that would be amazing??? Thanks!

BHAER
And I would be happy to take a look at your work, if you’d be so kind to let me read.
 48.

JO
Oh. Uhm, I dunno, I wouldn’t want to impose, or anything --

BHAER
It would be no imposition, I’m happy to help a young writer --

JO

(immediately handing him a HUGE stack of

bound paper)
Okay well here are some short stories to start. Some of them are pretty broad, but, I dunno,
I’ll give them to you anyway, in case you want to read those. There’s a play in there, I
mean, just to give you a sense of my voice? The early stuff is kind of bad. But. I mean I
think there’s some good stuff in there, too, and you’ll get a sense of how I’ve matured in
my later work and -- okay, okay, I’m gonna stop talking! Laurie says I always give too
much of a preamble.

BHAER
Laurie...another sister?

JO
Uhm. Kind of!

BHAER
I look forward to reading it. All of it.

JO
Oh, and, probably not looking for specific notes right now? Just. General impressions.

BHAER
Right.

TRANSITION. Europe. House music starts to play. Amy

enters, with a glass of champagne. Laurie enters. He is
maybe wearing eyeliner, gel in his hair -- anything to
suggest that he’s going through a bit of a wild phase in
Europe.

LAURIE
...Amy? Amy March?

AMY
Oh my -- hi!
 49.

LAURIE
Oh my god!

AMY
What are you doing in Italy?

LAURIE
What are you doing in Italy?

AMY
I’m here with my Aunt March!

LAURIE
It’s so crazy to see you here!

AMY
I know, I haven’t seen you since --

LAURIE
Since --

AMY
Oh, since Jo --

LAURIE
Right.

AMY
Turned you down for marriage, right. Sad.

LAURIE
I can’t believe you’re -- this is so crazy!

AMY
I know! So what’s -- what’s new with you? What’s been going on?

LAURIE
Nothing! Nothing’s new. How about you?

AMY
Same old same old. My art’s been really taking off since we’ve been here --

LAURIE
Really?
 50.

AMY
Oh yeah, it’s like. A whole new level.

LAURIE
You look. Different.

AMY
You look different!

LAURIE
No, you look different.

AMY
I don’t think so, I think you look different.

LAURIE
I don’t look different, you look different!

AMY
You look realllly, reallllly diff--

LAURIE
YOULOOKDIFFERENT!

AMY
You do! You do you do you do you do you do!

LAURIE
Do you want another drink?

TRANSITION MUSIC. Back to New York. A smoky,

dingy....parlor? CLOVIS, a 19th Century Hipster, is
smoking a pipe (actually: he’s fake smoking a pipe) and
talking to Jo.

CLOVIS
So you’re a writer? That’s cool, me too.

JO
Yeah! Listen, if you ever want to like, swap pages some time, or, I dunno, do some sort of
writer’s group -- informal, of course. I would really love any type of feed --
 51.

CLOVIS
Yeah, I dunno, maybe. I feel like I’ve done the whole writer’s group thing and I sort of
need to listen to my own voice right now? Like, Clovis, what is the story that you need to
tell? These other people don’t know. You know.

JO
So what is the story that you want to tell?

CLOVIS
Right now I’m really into exploring sexual degradation and acts of violence within the 4th
regiment infantry.

JO
Wow.

CLOVIS
Yeah, I mean, I go there. What do you write about?

JO
Oh. Well. Honestly, since I’ve gotten to New York I’ve started to feel really inspired
by....my sisters, actually. Just. What it was like for us growing up, our girlhood in
Concord, what we talk about, what our lives are like, our hopes and dreams --

CLOVIS
So you basically just write about women?

JO
I guess.

CLOVIS
Hahahahah, okay, good luck with that.

Bhaer enters.

BHAER
Ah! Miss March! Do you have plans for this evening?

JO
There’s a warm glass of milk with my name on it waiting for my upstairs, why?

BHAER
There’s a party tonight on the Lower East Side.

JO
Isn’t that a really bad neighborhood?
 52.

BHAER
It’s actually gotten a lot better in recent years.

CLOVIS
It’s transitioning.

BHAER
Soon you won’t be able to walk on the sidewalk with all the mothers and prams.

CLOVIS
Ew.

BHAER
Someone’s rented out an entire tenement and I hear there’s even going to be a fiddle player.

CLOVIS
Bohemian.

BHAER
What do you say, Miss March? Care to get some life experience tonight?

He holds his hand out to her. She takes it.

JO
Okay. Yes!

CLOVIS
Sure, fine, let’s go.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Amy and Laurie. A few glasses

of punch in.

LAURIE
And when it comes down to it, I just think that like, we are The North, and we need to
remember that.

AMY
Yeah.

LAURIE
Like, we have a responsibility to like. Everyone. In the country.

AMY
Everyone.
 53.

LAURIE
And like, sure, now it’s us, but someday things could be different. Someday it could be
like, The West. You know? Like The West has all the power, and, we have to pay
reparations to The West, you know? I mean it could happen.

AMY
It could happen.

LAURIE
It could happen. We just don’t know. So. Do unto others as you would like them to do
unto The North.

AMY
I never really thought of it that way before.

LAURIE
I mean, it makes sense.

Beat. They start making out.

TRANSITION MUSIC. A cool tenement party

somewhere on the Bowery. Clovis approaches Bhaer and
Jo with glasses.

CLOVIS
Punch?

JO
Oh, I don’t know! My parents are really into the whole temperance thing, they’d kill me if
they found out.

CLOVIS
Okay.

JO
On the other hand, maybe I should try it, you know, for the life experience.

BHAER
Well, I suppose, though --

JO
You’re right, I should totally just do it.
 54.

CLOVIS
Cheers.

BHAER

(raising his cup)

Prost!

JO
Everything’s copy!

Holding their pinkies out, they down the punch like a shot.

BHAER
Care to dance, Miss March?

JO
Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know the steps.

BHAER
Don’t worry. It’s incredibly simple to pick up.

BIG DANCE NUMBER to ICONAPOP’s “I LOVE IT,

which eventually, abruptly transitions to:

MEG

(carrying a baby)
So how’s New York. Bet it’s pretty exciting out there. In the big city. Bet you’re up at all
hours, doing exciting things. I’m up at all hours too, of course, you know, milk train. I’m
feeling fine, though, thanks for asking. Little tender. Little sore. Few stitches in places I did
not anatomically know I had, but that’s fine. It’s all been worth it, I mean, no, has it been? I
don’t know, it’s a little early too tell, I mean, no, it’s a blessing, I don’t know, I’m very
tired.

Mr. Brooke enters, with another baby.

MR. BROOKE
Darling?

MEG
What.
 55.

MR. BROOKE
I think Demi is hungry.

MEG
Well it’s not time to eat.

MR. BROOKE
Right, but. I think he might be hungry?

MEG
Well it’s not a 24 hour kitchen, John, the cook is taking a little break, okay?!

MR. BROOKE
Right. We’ll check back.

MEG

(back to her letter)

Motherhood is interesting. Probably not as interesting as New York. Oh my god has
anyone offered you opium? I hope you said no! Unless it came from a reputable source and
you were with people you trusted, in which case I say, what the hell, you only live once.
Anyway. Hope you’re doing well. I’m doing. Not as well. I really miss you. And Amy.
And Beth. Any everyone. I wish you would come home. I mean, no, you have to live your
life, I totally get it, I wish I had done more of that! But. Don’t forget about your sisters, Jo.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Jo, in New York, next to a

packed suitcase, reading a letter. A knock on the door.

JO
Come in?

BHAER
Miss March, I’ve just finished your manuscripts. They showed -- varying degrees of talent
-- but the one about your sisters, Miss March, that one is a work of genius! A bit treacly,
perhaps. The bit about the sister dying was sort of cheap. But it has staying power!

JO
Oh. Cool.

BHAER
I thought you’d be happier.
 56.

JO
It’s just that I got a letter from my sister Meg and she sounds....more manic than usual?
And Amy just sent a telegram about meeting “someone special” in Europe and that she
“hopes I won’t judge.” I think my sisters really need me. I think I’ve got to go home.

BHAER
Of course. Of course!

JO
I’m sorry, Friedrich. It’s been great getting to know you. I hope that whatever good thing
you’re waiting to happen to you in New York happens soon.

BHAER
Yes. Quite. I...hope so too.

TRANSITION

Meg is juggling her two babies. Marmie is decorating the

house with garlands. Jo is lounging.

JO
Man, it is so nice to be back at home, I just needed a breakkkkk from the city, I mean. I
don’t know if you guys really understand the pace of life there? It is like, intense.

MARMIE
Is it, dear?

JO
Yeah I mean, you have no idea, like, the stress, it’s like, you’re constantly rushing around,
dinner at so and sos, the hip new opera that everyone is talking about, someone’s having a
wassailing party on the same night of someone else’s funeral, and it’s like, can I just have a
night in??

MEG
Yeah.

JO
And the food! Oh my god. Guess when the last time I had a meal that was not at a
restaurant was. Guess.

MEG
I don’t know.

JO
Guess! Come on.
 57.

MEG
I really have no --

JO
When do you think the last time I had a meal that I prepared myself.

MEG
Last week.

JO
NOPE.

MEG
Okay.

JO
Guess again!

MEG
Last month.

JO
NOPE!

MEG
Okay.

JO
It was -- do you give up?

MEG
Yes.

JO
Should I tell you?

MEG
I could sort of go either way on that.

JO
Three months ago.

(beat)
Is that --?!
 58.

MEG
Wow.

JO
Totally inSANE or what? I literally have not cooked a meal in three months. I’ve eaten out
every. Single. Meal. I mean that’s! Can you believe that?

MEG
No.

JO
I mean I’m like, getting fat!

MEG
A little.

JO
New York, man!

MEG
Yeah.

JO
Honestly, Meg, you are so lucky, it’s just like. So peaceful here.

MARMIE
It’s been a little too peaceful, I daresay. The house has seemed so forlorn without the
voices of my little women!

JO
I know, Marmie.

MARMIE
Oh, I am glad to have you back, my Jo. I only wish Beth and Amy were here, too.

She hugs Jo.

JO
Marmie?

MARMIE
Hmmm?
 59.

JO
Is that how you’re decorating the mantle?

MARMIE
Yes? I gathered some spruce from the woods, and thought the garlands made a fair
prospect.

JO
Ah.

MARMIE
Do you...not like it?

JO
It’s fine!.... It’s a little. Twee? I don’t know in New York everyone was doing holly this
year, that’s kind of the “in” thing, but. No, no, don’t feel bad, it’s like. Cute.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Meg and the babies.

Meg is on-stage with the babies. Maybe she is sort of

cooing to them.

MEG

(singing)
Hush-little-babies don’t say a word! Momma’s gonna buy you a mocking bird. And if that
mocking bird don’t sing. You’re out of luck, cause we can’t afford a diamond ring. And if
we could afford a diamond ring. We’d probably spend that money on some clothes. For.
The family.

MR BROOKE
My darling?

MEG
What.

MR BROOKE
I just came in to see if the babies were asleep?

MEG
Yes.

MR BROOKE
I assumed they most likely were asleep, given the late hour --
 60.

MEG
Yep.

MR BROOKE
But then I thought, well, it is so late, that perhaps they have woken back up again!

MEG
Nope!

MR BROOKE
But then I thought --

MEG
John, they’re asleep.

MR BROOKE
Yes! Yes. So they are. What a picture you three make! My children. Nestled in the arms of
my little woman!

MEG
Nope!

MR BROOKE
Pardon?

MEG
Nope, don’t call me that,

MR BROOKE
What --?

MEG
Ever. Little woman. Nope. Nope nope.

MR BROOKE
But you are my little --

MEG
I am really tired tonight, I think I might turn in, if it’s all the same with you. So.
Goodnight!

MR BROOKE
Darling, wait!

MEG
What? What is it?
 61.

MR BROOKE
I have a Christmas present for you.

MEG
It’s not Christmas --

MR BROOKE
No, I know, but. I got so excited about it I don’t think I can wait til then.

MEG
Is it the fire poker I asked for because we really need --

MR BROOKE
Here.

He hands her the package. She takes it. She opens it. Beat.

MEG
It’s a locket.

(beat)
It says Demi and Daisy on it.

MR. BROOKE
Right, but, more importantly...

He turns the locket over.

MEG
It says Meg on the back.

MR. BROOKE
Right.

MEG
I am really mean to you, like, all of the time.

MR. BROOKE
You’re nice to me!

MEG
I’m mean it’s just that you have a hard time telling the difference.
 62.

MR BROOKE

(consoling her)
I know you love me!

MEG
Most of the time!

MR BROOKE
That’s. Good enough!

MEG
Okay. Good enough.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Jo and Marmie are sitting.

JO
When did this get so depressing?

MARMIE
What, dear?

JO
I dunno. It feels different, doesn’t it?

MARMIE
It is different, my little one!

JO
I mean I know that. I get that. But it still. The house seems so small. And empty. I thought
I’d come back from New York and everything would be the same but. It’s not.

MARMIE
It’s not. But then, you’re different, too, Jo.

JO
No, I’m not! It’s everyone else who’s gone and changed. I am completely, reliably the
same as ever. I mean I have a more sophisticated palate, maybe, but that’s like. It.

MARMIE
You’ve matured.

JO
Whaaaaat?
 63.

MARMIE
You have!

JO
Noooooooo.

MARMIE
You have! You came back because you thought your sister needed you, that shows a
regard for others that was not there before!

JO
I mean, I was concerned.

MARMIE
And I think being away from home has made you appreciate it’s value.

JO
Yeah, but I mean. Too little too late, right? I mean I’m here but everyone’s sort of moved
on, so what does it matter.

MARMIE
But look what a fine little woman you’ve become!

JO
Ugh.

MARMIE
Don’t depair, little one. I think there’s hope for you, yet.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Jo, Marmie, Amy, and Mr.

Brooke are sitting around.

JO
We could play cards?

MEG
God, no.

MARMIE
No, I’m not good at that sort of thing.

MR. BROOKE
I’m too full.
 64.

Beat.

JO
We could take a walk?

MR. BROOKE
It’s so cold...

MEG
Have you been outside?

MARMIE
I’d just as rather stay here.

JO
Oh! I learned this great game in New York, it involves improvisational theater. We divide
into two teams, and one team has to act out --

MEG
Actually, a walk sounds kind of nice --

MR. BROOKE
It’s not too bad out, I think!

MARMIE
Cards! I’d love a rousing game of cards right now!

Just then, there’s a knock.

MARMIE
See who’s at the door, Jo!

Jo goes and opens the door, to reveal AMY.

JO
AMY!

AMY
Hi Jo! Meg, Marmie!

They all rush to hug her, ad lib “Hi, Amy’s!” and “Amy!”

AMY
Hi John!
 65.

MR BROOKE
Please! Call me Mr. Brooke!

AMY
Mr. Brooke! It’s so nice to see you again!

MEG
You didn’t tell us you were coming home!

AMY
Well, I wanted to surprise you!

JO
This is an amazing surprise, Amy!

AMY
I’m glad you think that, Jo, because, I have another surprise. I’ve...brought someone with
me!

MARMIE
Who?

AMY

(calling off-stage)
You can come in now!

Laurie enters, sheepishly.

JO
Laurie!

MEG

(realizing immediately)
Oh my god!

MARMIE
I can’t believe it!

MEG
You guys!!!
 66.

LAURIE
You’re not mad, Jo?

JO
Mad?! How could I be mad that you two ran into each other at the train station?

LAURIE
Oh. Uhm.

MEG
Jo...

AMY
Jo, we’re. We’re together.

JO
Yeah?

LAURIE
Like. Together.

JO
Oh. Oh.

AMY
Jo...

JO
No! This is so. Awesome! I mean, did I see this coming? No, not particularly. But that’s
just because we were always buds and Amy was like, twelve when we met.

MEG
Okay, Jo.

JO
But this is great! And I’m just. Glad you’re all here! And everyone’s home now.

AMY
Okay. Good. Good!

LAURIE
Just as long as it’s not awkward!

Everyone laughs, wildly.

 67.

TRANSITION MUSIC. Jo onstage. Laurie approaches.

(Maybe holding Meg’s baby?)

LAURIE
Hey.

JO
Hey, Laurie!

LAURIE
So this isn’t awkward, right?

JO
No!

LAURIE
The whole Amy thing?

JO
No no no, not at all.

LAURIE
Cause it’s literally only because you said you were a lesbian, otherwise --

JO
Making it a little awkward, bro.

LAURIE
Right. Right. But you’re okay?

JO
Okay. Great. Glad to hear it.

He starts to leave.

JO
I mean it’s a little sad, that my remaining sisters have all coupled up now, and the
traditional narrative of my gender dictates that I, too, need to find a romantic partner in
order to have a happy ending instead of pathetically sleeping in a twin bed at my mother’s
house for Christmas. But I’m fine.

LAURIE
Okay.

JO
God. We really are little women now, aren’t we?
 68.

LAURIE
Yeah. Weird.

He exits. Jo, alone onstage. FLASHBACK MEG, AMY,

and BETH come on.

FLASHBACK BETH
What do you want to be when you grow up, Meg?

FLASHBACK MEG
A mom. I’ll be the best mom in the world! I’ll have infinite patience, and I’ll play with my
kids all day long and they will think I am so fun. And a night my husband and I will get a
babysitter and go to the opera because we aren’t going to become the type of parents who
don’t have a life outside of their kids, we’ll retain our own sense of identities and be madly
in love.

FLASHBACK BETH
Yeah, that sounds good. How about you, Amy?

FLASHBACK AMY
Mostly just pretty, I guess.

FLASHBACK BETH
What?

FLASHBACK MEG
Amy, that’s not good, you should have other goals.

FLASHBACK AMY
Why? I want to be pretty and happy and meet a rich guy and have a nice life, that’s what I
want.

FLASHBACK MEG
Yeah but.....

FLASHBACK BETH
It’s complicated.

FLASHBACK MEG
You have to want something more, too.

FLASHBACK AMY
Okay, then. An artist?
 69.

FLASHBACK MEG
Okay.

FLASHBACK BETH
Sure, that sounds good.

FLASHBACK MEG
How about you, Beth?

FLASHBACK BETH
Oh, when I grow up, I’m going to be laksjiiwofnsldnls.

FLASHBACK AMY
Oh, Beth!

FLASHBACK MEG
Such a good idea.

AMY
How about you, Jo?

JO
I just want to be a writer.

FLASHBACK BETH
Jo’s going to be famous one day.

FLASHBACK SISTERS
Ding-dong! Merrily on high
In hev’n the bells are ringing
Ding dong! Verily the sky
Is riv’n with angels singing.

(as they exit)

Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!

Mr. Brooke, and the other male cast members come

onstage, with a Christmas tree in tow, which they set up in
the middle.

MR BROOKE
E’en so here below below
Let steeple bells be swungen
And “io io io!”
By priest and people sungen
 70.

ALL MEN
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!

Meg, Marmie, Amy enter, with garlands, Christmas

ornaments, with which they decorate the tree.

WOMEN
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!

ALL
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers
May you beautifully rime
Your eventime, ye singers
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!

They exit. Transition music. Bhaer enters, approaches

Carl.

BHAER
Excuse me? I’m looking for the March house, could you point me in the right direction?

CARL
I surely can, stranger, for I have lived there all my life. It’s just around the bend.

BHAER
Oh! Then, you must know Miss March?

CARL
I certainly do. Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth are my sisters! I’m their brother, Carl March.

BHAER
That’s funny...she didn’t mention having a brother.

CARL
Funny! In town, we’re known as the four March sisters....and their brother, Carl.

BHAER
I see.

CARL
I have literally been a part of this the entire time.

BHAER
Well. Wunderbar. I’ve come a long way to see Miss March and give --
 71.

CARL
You mean Mrs. Lawrence?

BHAER
Pardon?

CARL
It’s not Miss March anymore. She just returned to Concord as Mrs. Lawrence, she married
the neighbor.

BHAER
Oh.

CARL
Yeah, surprise!

BHAER
I see.

CARL
Do you want me to take you to her?

BHAER
No, no, that’s okay. Just. Will you give her this for me?

He hands Carl a bound book.

CARL
Yep, sure.

BHAER
Much obliged, uh---

CARL
Carl.

BHAER
Yes. Fare thee well!

CARL
See ya.

TRANSITION MUSIC.

Amy, Laurie, Mr Brooke, Meg, Marmie, and Jo are sitting

around the Christmas tree, holding babies, chatting, etc.
 72.

AMY

(holding a baby at length)

Oh, Meg. They’re so small!.

MEG
Awww, thanks, Ames.

AMY
So. Small.

Carl enters.

EVERYONE
Hey Carl!/Carl!/Where you been?/Hi Carl!

CARL
Hi guys. Amy, this is for you.

AMY
What is it?

CARL
I dunno, some guy gave it to me.

AMY
This isn’t for me, it says Jo March.

CARL
Oops.

MARMIE
What is it, Jo?

JO
It’s...a copy of my book, Carl, who gave this to you??

CARL
Some guy.

JO
What!

CARL
I dunno, some guy!
 73.

AMY
Carl!

MEG
Carl, this is why we hate you!

CARL
He was some guy! He had some accent!

MEG
“Some” accent?

CARL
I dunno!

JO
Carl. Was it German? A German accent?

CARL
Sure, okay.

JO
Oh my god.

She runs offstage.

MARMIE
Jo! Where are you going?

MEG
Jo it’s snowing!

AMY
Take this umbrella!

Amy throws Jo an umbrella. TRANSITION MUSIC. It’s

snowing. Professor Bhaer is slowly walking away.

JO
WAIT! Professor!

BHAER
Miss March.

JO
You got my book published.
 74.

BHAER
I did not get it published, you did. I merely made sure it got to the right person.

JO
That was so, so decent of you. My whole life, I’ve wanted to be a writer.

BHAER
Congratulations, now you are. And, congratulations on your recent nuptials.

JO
My recent...no! No, that was my sister Amy! My younger sister. I’m not married!

BHAER
You’re not?

JO
No!

BHAER
That....changes things.

JO
Listen. I’m not into the whole “men” thing, at least I didn’t think I was. Still not completely
on board, to be perfectly honest, but before you I’d never met a guy that I felt I could stand
to be around as much as I can stand to be around my sisters. Which is, on its own, a little
bit limited, depends on my mood, but THE POINT IS. If you think you could be happy in
a sexless -- but not loveless! -- relationship with me, I think that I could be very happy with
you. Could you be okay with that?

BHAER
Well....for the purpose of wrapping things up quickly and efficiently, let’s just go
with....yes! Miss March! You have made me so happy!

JO
Oh, Friedrich!

BHAER
But I have nothing to give you, my hands are empty!

JO

(slipping her hand into his)

Not empty now.