To Love or To Run?

'I stand here, train ticket in hand. Gary to my right, Mike to my left. Both on one knee! Mum, hyperventilating behind me. What's going on? Is this really happening to me? Things like this never happen to me! Maybe I'm dreaming? Of course its a dream! I'm not in the restaurant, I'm tucked up in bed, having an awful dream! I must have had a cheese sandwich before going to bed, and what I am experiencing now its the result of said cheese sandwich screw... Sorry! Stop it! Screwing with my mind!'

Everyone is still holding their positions, Miranda breaks character.

'Let's see how long they can hold still before someone falls?'

Miranda shuffles over to the nearest table and takes a seat, the rest of the gang stay in their positions until Stevie breaks character. She bursts out laughing. The rest follow.

Miranda looks to the audience, 'And they're meant to be professionals! Didn't even last 30 seconds!'

She resumes her position and everyone returns to character. 'Where was I? ... Oh yes! I am in bed, this is just one horrible dream! When I click my fingers, I will wake!' She clicks her fingers. Nothing happens. Everyone is still stood in their positions!

'Quirky?'

'Miranda?'

'Ouch!' Miranda squeals as Gary pinches her. 'What was that for!?' Miranda had been daydreaming. She was sat in the restaurant, everyone, except Gary and Mike had left.

'You've been sat there for a very long time! Just staring into space! Are you okay?' Asked Mike, waving his hand in front of her face. Gary sits in front of her, gently pushing Mike out of the way. He grabs her hands.

'Miranda, I know you probably think I only asked you because Mike did, but I honestly didn't. I asked you because its what I want, and because I hope its what you want too!'

Miranda rose and started to pace the room, Mike and Gary looked to each other, scowl and sit at different tables. Miranda looks down the camera. 'What would you do? Yes you! The one looking around the room, thinking, she cant possibly be talking to me, you, what would you do?' She mouths the word 'HELP'.

'Quirky? I'm so sorry to have put you in this situation! Just say the word and I'll go, you'll never have to see me again!' Said Mike as he gathered his things.

Miranda again looks down the camera, she is now stood, leaning on the fireplace.'He's playing the sweet and innocent card, trying to make me feel guilty!' She took a deep breath and softly asked Mike a question. 'Mike? Why did you come back? Africa was a wonderful opportunity, why give that up for a woman you've only known a few weeks?' Mike went to answer but she interrupts him. 'Gary! Why now? You've had fourteen years to ask me to marry you? Is it really what you want?' Gary goes to answer, Miranda carries on talking. 'Now I know that my allure has become unbearable, but seriously? Guys? This is just silly!'

Gary stops her. 'I said why I asked you! This is all I want, you and me, no more just friends, I want us to be together, and if marriage is what I have to do...'

Miranda breaks her hands from his. 'There it is, see, what you have to do! You don't want to do it, you feel you have to!'

She walks over to the bar, Mike follows. 'I came back from Africa because I couldn't cope!'

'The heat?' Laughed Miranda.

'No Quirky, because I didn't have you!' Mike kissed her.

'Hey! No fair! Kissing is against the rules!' Shouted Gary, as he ran to them.

'Rules? There are no rules Gary, I'm not a board game!' She looks to the camera. 'That was quite clever!'

Gary again pushes Mike out of the way. 'Miranda please, I know its taken me a while to realise it but better late than never right?'

Mike helps himself to a whiskey. 'Grovelling suits you!'

Miranda becomes flustered. 'You too are as bad as each other! I think I'm better off on my own, maybe Wick is still the best option. Get away from you both. Allow us to get on with our lives.'

'You can't go to Wick, it will bore you to tears, who will you have catapillar duck races with?' Said Gary with puppy dog eyes.

'How do you know she will be bored?' Defended Mike. 'It might be the best thing for her to do!'

Miranda looks to the camera. 'Am I here? I think I'm here?!'

'I have known her for over 14 years, I think I might know what she likes by now!'

'You couldn't even tell she was in love with you!' Mike slumps down onto the sofa. Miranda and Gary's faces turn to shock. 'Are you that stupid? She's in love with you! I was just a stop gap, its always been you!'

'Marple!' Miranda tries to comfort Mike but he moves away, she sits next to him. 'I'm afraid I have no fight left in me, I know that speech the other day wasn't meant for me, you thought it was Gary, didn't you?' Miranda nodded. Mike kissed her and leaves. Quickly looking back in. 'Goodbye Quirky!'

Gary is doing a small dance. Miranda puts her head in her hands. 'Does that mean I've won?'

Miranda looks at Gary with a puzzled look. 'Gary, I'm not a game. You do not win or lose! You do not pass Go and you do not collect £200! I'm not a prize to be won Gary!'

He walks over to her and takes her hands once again. 'I'm sorry. I'm nervous. All I want is for you to be happy, if that's with or without me! You are all that matters!'

Miranda is hesitant. 'I can't Gary!' She breaks away from his grasp and runs out of the restaurant.

We follow her as she runs into the shop, Stevie is in the back making a cup of tea. 'I will be with you now!'

Miranda locks the door just in case Gary followed her, then sulks into the bean bag. 'Stevie! Stevie! STEVIE!'

Stevie runs out of the back and tries to lift Miranda up. 'Big one! Come on, up you get! What's happened?'

'Mike's gone!' She sobbed as she picked a novelty lolly from the shelf behind her.

'Have you've made a decision?' Stevie pushed. 'When are you and Gary getting married?'

Miranda looked up from her lolly. 'Gary wasn't serious about getting married, he just did it, on a whim.'

'Is that what he said!?'

'No, not I'm so many words. He said that he wants to be with me, and if that means ...' Miranda is interrupted by Gary banging on the door.

'Miranda! Please! I really am sorry! Let me in!'

Stevie walks towards the door, Miranda rugby tackles her. 'No, don't let him in!'

Gary continues to bang on the door. 'Miranda I want to be with you, I want you to be my girlfriend, my wife! Miranda please!'