Scene: Inside the Church

(The GUESTS are assembled. MARJORIE, in JENNIE's mind today, enters and stands behind JENNIE.)

[CHOIR]
Let the church light up with the glory
That belongs to every bride and groom
May the first bright day of their story
Be a flower that will ever bloom

[ENSEMBLE]
(with occasional solos)
What happens in a church during the wedding march? What suddenly rises in our hearts, and hurts us?
Is it the effect of the music?
Or is it the sight of two lovers...
Two lovers...
...looking like two very serious children?

(GRANDMA entеrs JOE's memory and stands behind him.)

[JOE]
I hope I'll makе Jennie a good husband

[GRANDMA]
You were always a good boy
[MINISTER]
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony

[SOLO MEMBER OF ENSEMBLE]
(with ENSEMBLE on the first line, and then alone)
A change has come over us!

The simple words
The commonplace words
And the two serious children listening...

A change has come over us

The whispered jokes
The cracks that seemed funny
A few moments ago
Aren't funny anymore
This is no time for the humorous skeptic
Or the gloomy prophet
This is a time for hope

(with ENSEMBLE)

These children desperately
Need our hope
[MINISTER]
If any man can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace

[CHARLIE]
(to himself)
...I... I hardly know the girl. She may turn out swell

[HAZEL]
(to herself)
I know she loves him. She fought his mother. She fought her own father! She loves him, all right

[NED]
(to himself)
The boy has a right to try medicine if he wants. He could always come in with me later, as Jennie says

[MINISTER]
Joseph, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together...

[GRANDMA]
(looking at JOE)
Starting out so foolishly small
It's hard to believe they will grow at all
But winters go by, and summers fly
And all of a sudden, they're men

[JOE]
I will
[MINISTER]
Janet...

[MARJORIE]
Jenny... listen

[MINISTER]
Janet, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?

[MARJORIE]
Wilt thou love him? Comfort him? Honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and foresaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? Jennie?

[JENNIE]
I will!

[MINISTER]
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

[NED]
I do

[MINISTER]
I, Joseph, take thee, Janet, to my wedded wife...

[JOE]
I, Joseph, take thee, Janet, to my wedded wife...

[MINISTER]
To have and to hold, from this day forward...

(MARJORIE walks slowly over to TAYLOR and stands before him, as if she longed to touch him, to be alive with him for a moment. TAYLOR puts his hand to his forehead, hurt by a sudden memory.)

[ENSEMBLE]
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better, for worse
For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
Til death do us part
Til death do us part

[MINISTER]
With this ring, I thee wed

[JOE]
With this ring, I thee wed

[ENSEMBLE]
Two more lovers were married today
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Brave and happy, they start on their way
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well

They have faith in the future
And joy in their hearts
If you look in their eyes, you can tell

How brave and happy and hopeful are they
Wish them well
Wish them well

Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well
Wish them well

Wish them well

(JENNIE and JOE, married, walk up the aisle together as the ENSEMBLE sings exultantly. MARJORIE covers her eyes, afraid of what she can foresee.)