Lights up on Mike on a couch in his parents house, writing on a piece of paper, dressed in a black suit.

Daniel and Wendy enter. Mike gets up.

Wendy: Mikey,

Mike: Hey Mom, Dad.

Wendy: How are you?

Mike: Good, good. You guys look nice.

Wendy: Well thank you for picking us up.

Mike: Oh yeah no problem.

Daniel: Ok we got everything?

Mike and Wendy: Yeah.

Daniel: You have your speech?

Mike goes back to the couch and picks up his speech.

Mike: Yeah, yeah.

Daniel: We’re you writing it just now?

Mike: No no, just…touch ups.

Daniel: You sure? Cause I don’t want you getting up there and not knowing what you’re saying. You don’t don’t have to talk-

Mike: No, Dad, it’s fine.

Wendy: Are you sure you’re ok sweetheart!

Mike: Yeah I’m…

Wendy: Your grandfather loved you very much.

Mike: I know Mom. Now come on, we don’t wanna be late.

Outside the church. Mike, Daniel, and Wendy walk up the stairs as a reporter attempts to stop them.

Reporter: (into camera) Hi, this Chase Stafford with ABC, I am here outside Saint Paul’s Church with the family of legendary performer and dancer Kevin Saunders, I’m here with his daughter Wendy, her husband Daniel and their son, Kevin’s grandson, Michael. (to the family) I’m very sorry for your loss, how are you feeling this morning?

Daniel: Better without your camera in my face thank you.

The family enters the church. They are one of the first to arrive. The organ plays in the background. A slideshow of photos of Kevin Saunders plays. Mike’s sister, Ashley, comes over to them.

Ashley: Hey guys.

Wendy runs to her and gives her a hug, followed by Daniel.

Daniel: It’s good to see you honey.

Ashley: How are you holding up?

Wendy: Oh we’re doing fine.

Ashley hugs Mike and talks in his ear.

Ashley: Did you do the speech yet?

Mike: (in her ear) I’m working on it.

Ashley: Meet me in the kitchen.

They break the hug.

Mike: I’ll be right back. I wanna make sure the reporters aren’t bothering anyone.

Mike leaves.

Daniel: Ashley, do you think Mike’s ok?

Ashley: Yeah he’s just nervous about the speech I think.

Daniel: I told him he doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want to.

Ashley: Of course he wants to, Dad, at times I thought he was even closer to Grandpa than mom was.

Wendy: What?

Ashley: Oh come on, Mom, you hated being on stage and performing and all that. Grandpa couldn’t talk to any of us about that except Mike. He lives for that stuff. I mean, I couldn’t wait to get out of dance class every week, but you couldn’t drag him out of there if you set the studio on fire. 

Daniel and Wendy laugh

Ashley: Don’t worry about him, he’ll be fine. I… am going to make sure of that right now.

The church’s kitchen. Mike stands over his speech. Ashley enters.

Ashley: Hey man…

Mike is silent

Ashley: Ok, watcha got so far?

Ashley picks up Mike’s paper and reads it

Ashley: (reading) He said he always wanted to go out in style, but instead it was a heart attack? 

Mike is silent

Ashley: Ok… Before we get to whatever the hell that is, are you ok?

Mike: Yeah I’m fine

Ashley: Mike I’m serious. You and Grandpa had something that I don’t think a lot of people have. I just want to make sure you’re okay. 

Mike: Yeah I guess.

Ashley: What do you mean “you guess?” Mike, every Thursday he would come over and teach you a dance combination for some movie he did in like 1954. I got to be honest, you guys were insufferable at the dinner table, always using your French ballet words that none of us knew. And by the way, do you know how hard it is to study when your little brother and his grandfather are one floor above you learning every single tap step known to man?

Mike laughs

Mike: I don’t know what to say.

Ashley: Yes you do. So.. I’m gonna take this…

She grabs the speech

Ashley: …And burn it. And you are gonna get up there, and talk about Grandpa.

Mike: I really hate it when you’re right.

Ashley: Uh-huh

They hug

Mike: It doesn’t happen that often though.

Ashley: Ok come on lets go.

At the funeral service, the organ is playing. The seats are filled. The slideshow plays. Mike gets up to speak.

Mike: Good afternoon everyone. Thank you all for coming. My name is Mike Saunders, Kevin was my grandfather. In a way, I knew him the same way the rest of the world did: As a man in love with dance and performing. A gifted dancer with his own vibrantly masculine style. I don’t remember a conversation that wasn’t in some way about different ways to move the body or affect an audience. You know, I always think it’s a bit corny when people say that the dead are “still with us,” because, you know, how do you know? I don’t, I mean. He might be, and I really hope he is because, if he is with us right now, I would want to tell him he brought all the wonder and joy into my life I could ever ask for. You know (laughs awkwardly), he actually gave me too much. Cause I have all of this wonder and no one to share it with anymore (his smile fades). So if he is with us, I’d ask him why’d he give it all to me then leave me alone?… And if he isn’t here with us… Well that’s okay, because I couldn’t forget him if I tried. Even if they took my brain. He exists in my arms, in my feet, in my shoulders. He once told me “We dance so that our soul can take the driver’s seat every now and again. Can’t let it get too restless in the back of our minds.” God, I don’t know how he did it. I don’t know how a guy was able to tell you that everything was okay just by moving his arms and his legs. I don’t know how a man could have the power of a lion in his legs but the ease and joy in his face at the same time. Grandpa, thank you for showing me what it means to spread joy. I love you.

The lights go down on everything except Mike and the photo of Kevin. Suddenly music starts playing and both Mike and the photo of Kevin start to dance. Perfectly synchronized. They end. Mike looks at Kevin, now still again, and smiles.