Act 1, Scene 15
Aunt May's house, that night. Peter sits at the dining table while Aunt May pours tea into his cup.
AUNT MAY: Seen much of Harry lately?
PETER: He's…around, yeah.
AUNT MAY: Oh you two. You've been bickering since you were ten years old. I remember…
PETER: (pleading)Please, Aunt May.
May senses Peter's not in the mood for nostalgia right now. She nods to accept his wishes and moves off to wash the dinner plates. Peter spots a letter sticking from underneath an ornament. It's a letter reading FINAL DEMAND.
AUNT MAY: Well it seems to be the only cloud in your sky lately anyway.
Peter reacts.
AUNT MAY: You must think I was born yesterday, Peter Parker! A blind woman twice my age could see you're as happy as you've been in a long time. Do you want to tell me why, or should I just tell you?
Peter grins, finishing his tea and moving to help his aunt with the dishes. They fall into a well-oiled routine born of many years practice, and both look a little happier for the reminder of old times.
AUNT MAY: So it's true. Good for you. Good for both of you.
PETER: You have to promise me you won't tell anyone, Aunt May. It's…difficult for us, and it would be even more difficult if-
AUNT MAY: One condition.
PETER: Name it.
AUNT MAY: Dinner. All three of us. Buys an old lady's silence every time.
PETER: Deal. It can be a double celebration.
AUNT MAY: She's pregnant?!
A plate slips from her hands. In spider-time, Peter stoops, catches it and puts it back into his Aunt's fingers, all before she even registers that she's dropped it or that her nephew has moved. She blinks slightly and frowns, but shrugs off the strange sensation.
PETER: No, she's not pregnant! It's what I came over to tell you – I got a job at the New York Sentinel. A real job. Forty thousand dollars a year.
AUNT MAY: (delighted)Oh my goodness! Peter! I'm so proud of you!
She throws her arms around him and hugs him.
PETER: So I was thinking…I want to get a mortgage.
AUNT MAY: Well it's about time you moved out of that disgraceful little hovel!
PETER: It's not for me, Aunt May. It's on this house. I want to buy it for you.
AUNT MAY: Oh Peter…no...
PETER: I understand why you refused MJ's help, Aunt May, but this is my home. I can't let you lose it. I won't.
AUNT MAY: (weakly)It's not so bad as that…
PETER: You're a terrible liar, May Parker.
AUNT MAY: Peter, I can't let you do this. You've worked so hard and to give it up, Peter…no. I can look after myself. You have your own life now and your own blessings and problems.
PETER: (good naturedly)Aunt May, I'm not taking no for an answer. Don't make me beat you with a stick. Tomorrow we're going to the bank to get things rolling.
AUNT MAY: Are they still offering that free toaster?
PETER: We'll check.
AUNT MAY: I'm so glad you'll be working for the Sentinel and not the Bugle. I can't abide the way they treat that nice boy.
PETER: Spiderman?
AUNT MAY: Who else? Calling him a menace. (she clucks disapprovingly) Shame on them. The Sentinel is finally telling people the truth. It's so good to see Spiderman's finally getting the treatment he deserves.
PETER: I guess it is…