Staceyās date with Steve wasnāt going so well.
Not that it was going badā quite the opposite, in fact. Steve was the perfect gentleman, and paid for Staceyās food and ticket at the cute little 50s drive-in movie theater. But as they watched the corny film, Stacey could see⦠movement⦠in the other cars. And she could hear noises.
Not her and Steve, of course. Steve was focused on the movie, on the date, on their lovely conversation. Even as some of the car windows around them started to fog up, and the noises seemed to escalate beyond just making out, Steve never seemed to notice. But Stacey did.
She remembered that her main priority was still escaping town. Most of all, she was doing everything she could to make sure that she didnāt get stuck in a life here. But right now, for some reason, all she could think about was how to get Steve to kiss her.
She leaned in. She batted her eyelashes. She gave all the signals, but nothing worked. Around her, she could hear distant, muffled moans. But Steve just kept watching the film and making conversation.
The third time she tried to give him the opportunity, leaning in until their lips were close, Steve said outright, "I'm really glad our parents set this up, Stacey. I didn't realize that you had wanted to be such a traditional girl, but when your mother said you turned down scholarships and grants to attend Pleasantville University and get your āMrs.ā degree, I figured we would agree on a lot of things. I want the same thing as you-- for you to be a well-kept housewife living your perfect traditional domestic life. As long as we agree on that, I feel like... why... I'd be PROUD to make you Mrs. Steve Smith."
Something about those words bounced around inside of Stacey's head. She was stunned, her head ringing, but she was smiling. She didn't even hear the words that were leaving her mouth. "M-me too! Glad, I mean! That m-mother... said all that!! A-and I, I, I AM! Y-yup! So, l-like, yes! I mean! I w-would, I'd, like... b-be proud too, I guess! I mean, I WOULD! I mean, g-golly, I'm SO glad we agree on so much-- I totally want to be a traditional housewife!!"
He nodded and smiled, half-watching the romantic film, as though this were the most normal response in the world. Even as she tried to think of what to say nextā was there any recovering, any getting out of this?ā thatās when Steve spoke again. "And that means that you want to wait until marriage? Like your mother said? I want you to know I completely approve, in fact, I admire it!"
She could have said no. She couldāve said that her mother was mistaken, or that unbeknownst to her mother, she had other plans. Staceyās mother had wanted her to be a virgin, deflowered by her husband on their wedding night, so that her body would be helplessly loyal to her new husband. This is where Stacey could have asserted herself. But she didnāt. What Stacey did was blurt out, āOh golly⦠y-yes, thatās exactly right! Iām s-saving myself f-for my husband!!ā
Steve beamed at that. "I was hoping that was the case. I know it's a lot to ask, even in Pleasantville. But I don't just want any girl, Stacey. I want my girl to be a real prim and proper goody-two-shoes. The most obedient, rule-following housewife in town."
Now, Stacey knew what she was saying. She couldn't back down now, it was too late. Fully knowing what she was agreeing to, Stacey sputtered out, "Well, gee-whiz, t-that's me! To a 'T'! Hehe!! L-like, seriously, I've actually always wanted to be the local goody-two-shoes girl in town!"
And so they sat, with Stacey's hands folded neatly in front of her, watching the movie and hearing the sounds of passion around them. And Stacey smiled, knowing fully that she if she kept dating Steve, she would be signing up for a life of chaste, proper obedience.
Golly, she realized suddenly, why does that seem so⦠soā¦
⦠so perfectly SWELL?!?