Why Did I Get Married? (He Proposed to Me) is a 2003 American stage play created, written, produced and directed by Tyler Perry. It originally starred Kelly Price as Sheila and LaVan Davis as Poppy. The live performance, featuring Cheryl Pepsii Riley as Shelia, released on DVD on June 27, 2006, was recorded live in Atlanta at The Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology in December 2005. It was released on DVD alongside Madea Goes to Jail and Madea's Family Reunion.
Plot
Act I The scenes unfold with Poppy (LaVan Davis) speaking to his late wife about the state of the cabin in which we find him, and after a premature cessation of cleaning due to his "being tired" he sits and looks through an old photo album. He speaks to his wife again recalling her skills with the children and her ability to discern issues in relationships and keep them strong. Just as he hopes that she is watching over them Diana (Donna Stewart) and Terry (Greg Stewart) arrive.
After greeting Poppy they begin to help him clean, while sharing news of themselves and their marriage including her making partner at her firm. Poppy goes to collect more cleaning supplies at which point Terry tries to draw Diana to a bedroom to make love but she refuses for now wanting to spend some time with Poppy and to greet Sheila (Cheryl Pepsii Riley) when she arrives. After assuring him that she will be more than willing later he convinces her to provide him with an incentive, namely shaking it for him, during which Poppy returns. He teases them both about it revealing his strong belief that a woman's behind has caused wars and rumors of wars claiming it says so in the Bible making them both laugh. They tell him of Sheila's weight gain, some eighty pounds, and discuss other family issues until Mike (Cordell Moore) enters.
Diana had previously voiced her objections to both Mike's presence and existence feeling he is an unsuitable husband for her friend and a very unlikeable man. Mike does nothing to dissuade her of this opinions as when questioned about Sheila's whereabouts answers disgustedly that she is outside bringing in the bags by herself. This shocks Poppy and Terry and infuriates Diana but before she can confront Mike about it Sheila enters with the bags. She greets everyone warmly and they greet her in return, though Poppy reveals some concern about her weight and size he does not speak on the matter, though Mike does in very rude and cruel terms embarrassing Sheila and further enraging Diana as well as prompting shock from Poppy and Terry.
Sensing his wife's displeasure Terry takes Mike to a bedroom to talk with Poppy joining them to attempt to make Mike see the error of his ways. Mike expresses his disgust both with Sheila and the marriage retreat itself despite the fact that it has become a yearly tradition. He further reveals that Trina (Demetria McKinney), Sheila's best friend, an attractive single woman, is also coming and seems unusually interested in her presence. Poppy and Terry grow suspicious but while attempting to talk to Mike about it poppy accidentally informs Mike that terry had cheated on Diana three years previous. Mike, delighted, mocks Terry then demands details. Terry explains that he was in the wrong and how very much he regrets the act but Mike dismisses this. Poppy warns both of them that women always know but Mike again dismisses this. Poppy leaves and Terry entreats Mike to treat Sheila better but Mike startles him by declaring he desires a divorce from Sheila.
Terry makes an impassioned please for Mike to see that he is wrong but Mike remains dubious as we return to focus on the women as they return to the stage. They chat about the state of their marriages, sex and life in general while Poppy occasionally chimes in until Trina arrives. Sheila attempts to get Diana to be nice but she refuses reacting with a harsh coldness to the single woman who after flirting with poppy prompting his return to his own room goes to speak to Mike and Terry.
Diana begins to chase her but recalling a promise not to cause drama or trouble sits back down and idly mentions Terry's infidelity. Disbelieving Sheila scoffs, only to learn from Diana that it is indeed true who proceeds to tell her the details of the incident and the long path of recovery the couple had to travel to rekindle their marriage and love. Diana attempts to encourage Sheila to do the same but Sheila, already depressed and in doubt because Mike has already been caught cheating and refuses to sleep with her because, she feels, that he is disgusted by her weight gain.
After expressing her depression and worry Sheila begins to doubt her ability to fix her marriage but Diana encourages her try but failing that to find her own peace in herself and not let things crush her. As they embrace Troy (Anthony Grant), another single friend arrives. he has along history of an attraction Sheila but has never acted upon it because of Mike, and has also become something of the third wheel of the group as he is known to bring less than satisfactory girlfriends to the retreat. This year however he has come alone except for his guitar which he calls Justine and with which he teases Sheila about being jealous. Embarrassed she tries to defend herself but Troy and Diana continue to tease as Mike, Terry and Trina rejoin the group.
Diana, noting Trina sitting rather close to Mike, forcefully yanks her away while guiding Sheila to take her place much to the annoyance of Trina and Mike who manages not to show. Troy distracts them by pointing his guitar and everyone cries out happily wanting him to play something. Poppy teases them with the guitar for a long moment then begins to play at which point Troy and Trina begin to sing "I Am Glad To Be In That Number" joined by Poppy, Diana, Sheila, Mike and Terry. Excited by the singing, of which Sheila was the focus she attempts to draw Mike into a private conversation but he reveals annoyance breaking her passion for the singing. She gets him alone and tries to convince him to go to counseling. Mike refuses and cruelly insults forcing her to look at herself in a mirror and when she says she is his wife he replies that she is his problem. Hurt and desperate she begins to plead with him offering to do anything to save their marriage. He responds with "Go to Hell." and walks out leaving Sheila crushed and despondent.
Poppy and Troy are in Troy's room as he unpacks and Poppy catches up. Poppy blatantly asks when Troy will settle down and get married. Troy says when he finds the right woman. Poppy and Troy continue to talk about marriage and finding the right woman and Poppy encourages him to continue searching as well as teasing him about his past relationships.
Sheila comes out of the bedroom trying to speak to Mike only to find Diana in the hall watching Mike and Trina sitting very close together on the couch talking privately. Diana is displeased but Sheila tries to convince her it is platonic as Trina and Mike talk about things she knows nothing about. Diana, trying not to hurt her friend, reluctantly agrees to join the two. Trina praises Mike to Sheila who attempts to sit beside Mike but he shifts his body not allowing her near him forcing her away much to Diana's displeasure.
Terry calls the men to set the table for dinner leaving the women alone. Sheila tries to convince to Trina to try with Troy, but she expresses disdain and her plan to marry the right rich man as she believes troy is weak and lacking the wealth she requires. Diana mocks her then confronts her prompting Trina to respond. The men rush in to break things up and Sheila tries to speak to Diana about her behavior as behind her Trina storms out followed closely by Mike. Diana points this out to the shocked Sheila
Later that day Mike and Trina return in very happy moods and when questioned by Sheila about their location Mike begins to fumble words though Trina assures her they were at the lake looking at the boats. Diana continues to express her disdain for both of them. Sheila asks if Mike is hungry, as they had sat around waiting for Mike and Trina to return rather than eating, drawing yet another insult from Mike. Poppy calls him out on it but Mike ignores him so Poppy, in response to Trina's question, tells them that they had been discussed marriage allowing Terry to distract Diana with the state of their marriage. Trina expressed her disgust with Diana and Terry as she believes marriage is fake. Yet again Diana speaks her mind leading to Trina to confront her about her behavior, claiming that she knows that Diana talks about her behind her back to Sheila, embarrassing Sheila.
Diana, showing no concern for Trina or her supposed feelings attacks her in return calling her out about her affair with Mike which everyone else reacts in shock but Diana refuses to be silenced. The men back off as Diana launches in Trina who weakly objects to the accusation. Sheila, ever the true friend tries to defend her only to be yet again insulted by Mike. Sheila calls for silence and says she wishes to leave. Trina gets into Diana's face and when threatened runs to the hall while Mike prepares to pay Poppy for the weekend and Sheila miserably staggers about waiting to leave.
Troy notices a fallen empty condom wrapper and seeing it Sheila calls him out on it. Poppy flees to his room while Sheila points out the state of the wrapper after Mike had tried to claim it was for him and Sheila as he wanted no more kids. Mike covers why trying to push her out the door to which Trina agrees trying to entice Sheila out of the cabin but Diana interrupts calling her out on her cowardice. She also confronts Mike who starts to express violent intent toward Diana but Terry moves between them forcing Mike to back down. Sheila asks Trina about the affair and she coldly replies that it did happen. Shocked to tears Sheila watched in horror as Mike walks past her to put his arms possessively around Trina who surveys the room proudly. Sheila retreats to Diana and Terry who help her sit, while troy moves to comfort her only for Mike to approach forcing him to move aside.
Mike pulls out a set of keys explaining he has rented Sheila an apartment across town. He shocks everyone by saying that he has paid the rent for six months but after that she will be on her own, he has changed the locks to the house and instructed the gate guard not to let her in. Her children are at her mother's implying he is refusing to take them as well. He allows her to keep her vehicle, and seeming to think this wills often the blow gives her a pat on the shoulder which she flinches away from. During this Diana had found some Vaseline and had been preparing to fight but is stopped by Terry as he does not want there to be violence in addition to all of this as Sheila needs her friend now more than vengeance. Reluctantly she agrees then threatens Mike because as a lawyer she will be taking the case and she plans on destroying Mike in court.
Mike attempts to assuage this clear point by offering to take Sheila to her mother's but makes it clear he will not listen to her crying or endure her tears. Trina coldly agrees that he will explain. Sheila feigns agreement moving toward Mike by stumbling past the coffee table which contains a loaded pistol. Diana, having forgotten about it in all of this tries to get terry to agree to take Sheila home instead as Sheila retrieves the pistol and points it at Mike forcing him to flee and the others to attempt to calm her. Trina flees without Mike who runs after her and is seemingly shot in the rear immediately clutching himself there as he frantically exits the cabin while Diana calls for Terry to help Sheila but he is too busy keeping Diana from getting shot by the despondent Sheila.