Company

It’s Robert (Bobby)’s 35th birthday. He shows up at his apartment, only to find himself in the midst of a surprise party, filled with his friends -- Joanne and Larry, Peter and Susan, Harry and Sarah, David and Jenny, and Paul and Amy.Though Robert is single, every other one of his friends is either married or engaged. After the gift exchange, Robert’s friends bring out a birthday cake. Although Robert fails to blow out the candles, his friends assure him that his wish will still come true. Robert, with a smirk, tells his friends that he didn’t wish for anything-- with friends like these, what more could he wish for (“Company”).

The scene disappears, and we see Robert visiting his friends Harry and Sarah. He is surprised to learn that alcoholic Harry is now back “on the wagon” after two arrests for drunk and disorderly conduct; Sarah, a food-lover, is now on a restrictive diet. In other words, they are unrecognizable from their former selves.. Robert watches uncomfortably, as the