Act 1, Scene 4

A theatre. A poster for a play featuring Mary Jane Watson prominently displayed outside. The poster has a bar across saying LAST NIGHT! SOLD OUT!

Inside, the play is in full swing. Mary Jane is in her element, her bearing regal, she stalks the stage with the air of one born to be there.

During a break in dialogue, she casts a glance at the audience, scanning it. A few rows back from the front is an empty seat, the only one in the house. Her eyes settle on it for a moment and we see a faint ripple of a sad but stoic smile touch her cheeks before it's her next cue and she's swept up in the drama once again.

The scene ends and the interval curtains descend. MJ runs to the wings to change her costume. One of her female co-stars, Angela, a slightly dizzy blonde, does the same thing beside her.

ANGELA: No Peter tonight?

MARY JANE: Ssh!

ANGELA: Oh give it a rest with your secrecy! You didn't keep you and John Jameson a secret, and he's a celebrity! What's with the hush-hush for you and Pete?

MARY JANE: It's…different with Peter, Angie. Just don't say a word, okay?

ANGELA: Hey I'm reliable – unlike a certain cute photographer! This is your last night before your big TV move and he doesn't even show?

MARY JANE: I'm sure he tried to. Something must have come up.

ANGELA: Something more important than this?!

MARY JANE: You never know.

ANGELA: All I'm saying is, for his own good he better not be blowing you off to hang out with some girl…