“Psst, psst, John.”

“Yes, Bette.”

“Quick, look, Sondheim is behind you.”

“Cool.”

“Turn slowly, John, we don’t want to scare him off.”

“Calm, Bette.”

“John, should we ask for his autograph or too gauche?”

“Autograph sure, Bette, after all, he is a living legend. Wouldn’t we be fools, not too?”

“You are, so, right, John. You go, I’ll follow.”

“You want me to ask, Bette?”

“Please. I’ll trip over my words.”

“Okay, Love, your Playbill, please.”

“Here, John, and right under his photograph.”

“You got it. I’m off.”

“Oh, John.”

“Yes, Love.”

“Tell Stephen how much we love

his music and lyrics. Don’t forget to put emphasis on lyrics.”

“Okay, Love.’

“Oh, John.”

“Yes, Love.”

“Shouldn’t we think of something clever to say?”

“Because he is the Master of Clever?”

“Exactly, John.”

“…I’m waiting, Love.”

“Oh, darn, I wish I had more time.”

“Well, Bette Baj, you don’t”

“That’s it!”

“What?”

“My name. Stephen will love it.”

“I don’t follow.”

“You’ll see. Do you mind if I ask him?”

“Not at all, Bette, I was starting to get a little nervous.”

“Okay, here we go.”

“I’m right behind you, Bette Baj”

“Excuse me, Mr. Sondheim.”

“Yes, hi.”

“Hi. Would you mind signing my Playbill?”

“Not at all.”

“Right under your photo, if you’d please.”

“I can do that.”

“That’s funny; a line from ‘A Chorus Line’.”

“Yes… And your name is?”

“Yes, Bette is my name.”

“Is Bette with an ‘e’ or ‘y’?”

“An, ‘e’, Stephen.”

“I prefer Bette with an ‘e’, don’t ask me why Bette.”

“That is clever, Stephen.”

“Hi, Mr. Sondheim.”

“Mr. Sondheim. I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend, John.”

“Nice to meet you, John.”

“And you, sir. Bette and I love your music…ouch, Bette, and your lyrics.”

“Thank you.”

“Your welcome, sir.”

“Bette?”

“Yes, Stephen.”

“How tall are you, may I ask?”

“You may, I am four foot ten inches.”

“There we are, Bette, short and sweet.”

“Ah, that’s nice, thank you, Stephen.”

“So, guys, are you enjoying the show?”

“We are, Mr. Sondheim.”
“That’s good. Well, I’ll be heading back and it was nice meeting you.”

“Oh, Stephen.”

“Yes, Bette.”

“My last name is Baj and pronounced, ‘bye’.”

“As in goodbye, Bette?”

“Yes Stephen, that’s right.”

“Well, Bette, do I have your permission to give your name to a future character. I could have fun with that.”

“Oh, Stephen that would mean the world to me. I’d be honored.”

“My pleasure, well then, bye Bette Baj “

“Bye, Stephen.”

“And, bye to you, John.”

“Bye Mr. Sondheim.”

*