Randy’s House

by

John M. Clum

Copyright John M. Clum

7 Creekview Lane, Durham, N.C. 27705
Phone/Fax:919-489-0911/email jmclum@aol.com
 An early version of RANDY’S HOUSE was first performed by
Theatre Conspiracy in Washington, D.C. in April, 1995, directed by
Jason Palmquist, and by Manbites Dog Theater in Durham, N.C., in May
1995, directed by Enoch Scott And the Unitarian Players of Baltimore
in November, 1995.
The revised version of RANDY’S HOUSE was first produced by
Theatre on the Square, Indianapolis, in April, 1999, directed and
designed by Ron Spencer, with the following cast:
Sam........................................................................Michael Wallace
Rick...............................................................................Steven Riser
Hunter...........................................................................Brad Melloy
Marian.................................................................Catherine Mobley
Bailey.............................................................................Dave Harold
Tom.............................................................................David R. Wald
Taylor.......................................................................Chris Goldfarb
Randy.............................................................................Tom Forman
Randy’s Father...................................................Edward Castaldo

An earlier version of the play was published in STAGING GAY LIVES.

Thanks to Ron Spencer, Ed Hunt, Rex Jones, Gordon Massman, Jeff

McKinney, Jeff Storer, Erin Cressida Wilson, Charles Randolph-
Wright, and, as always, Walter Melion.

For Joey Zacharias, its muse.

Copyright 1999, John M. Clum. All rights reserved. Permission to quote,

reproduce, or produce must be secured in advance through John Clum’s
representative, Katherine World (phone 919-383-3028/email
kworld1949@aol.com)
 CHARACTERS

RICK MARTINEZ. Mid thirties. Handsome Latino. A doctor. Bright. Fiercely committed to
what he believes and protective of the people he loves. His armor is his sense of humor.

SAM CHAMBERS. Late 30's. A professor. Nice to a fault. Believes the best of everyone.
Gentle.

TAYLOR CHAMBERS. 17. Sam's son. Tries to be the nice guy he thinks people expect, but
there are hidden depths.

HUNTER TUCKER. A heterosexual version of Sam. Almost like something out of Frank
Capra. A small town newspaperman who married the owner's daughter. Truly believes he can do
some good.

MARIAN TUCKER. Late 30's. A survivor, but an angry conservative. Wants the world to be the
way she imagines it, as tidy as her kitchen. Has little respect for her husband's liberalism. Is
trying desperately to ignore what is happening to her only son. Teaches school because she's too
driven to stay home, but teaches at a private Christian school.

BAILEY BOONE. 60s. Marian's father. Tough Southern patriarch. Has been a powerful figure
in what was once a small town but is becoming a suburb. Not one of those Tennessee Williams
monsters. This one rules by his total self assurance and sense that whatever he does is right. And
he's charming.

TOM TUCKER. Seventeen and deeply troubled. Haunted since he witnessed his lover's rape
and death.

RANDY. Seventeen.

RANDY'S FATHER.

The setting is a town in Cobb County, Georgia.

Time: 1993

The play is in one act with a running time of approximately 90 minutes.

 Some Notes on RANDY’S HOUSE

Humor is important. This isn’t tv melodrama.

This play is based on specific events which took place in Cobb County, Georgia in 1993. From
what I hear from my southern gay students who have been raised in conservative Christian
families, things haven’t changed a whole lot since then.

RICK should be Latino. If a Latino actor is not available, perhaps Asian. A wry sense of humor
but not a nellie queen. Rick has fought for everything he has, particularly his pride. He was
thrown out of his college fraternity for being gay, and disowned by his parents, but through
ambition and feistiness, and the help of some older gay friends, got through medical school and
is now a doctor to people with AIDS.

TOM: Obsessed with what he saw happen to Randy, guilt ridden at not stopping it, and frustrated
by the silence he must keep about the most important things in his life. One must have the sense
in the first two scenes that he could explode at any minute from rage, guilt at what he saw and
couldn’t stop, and terror. He is only happy with Randy and, later, with Taylor.

MARIAN: I really like Marian. She’s tough, she’s terribly wrong at the beginning, but she comes
around. She can’t be played as a villainess. My experience is that Southern actresses understand
her and love her -- a Steel Magnolia. She spends the first half of the play being what her father
wants her to be. Then she grows up.

Marian and Rick have a lot in common and their developing friendship is one key aspect of the
play. You should have a sense that in a different world, Sam and Hunter, Marian and Rick, would
make ideal couples.

BAILEY: Again, the temptation is to play him as a villain. He is one, but these old Southern
bastards have real charm. Jesse Helms has a wonderful wry sense of humor. People who know
him like him, believe it or not. Bailey lets other people be bad cop for him and do his dirty work.
Like many old Southern men, he is invested in an ideal of manhood that does not allow for
Hunter’s gentleness, which he sees as softness, or homosexuality, which is a violation of
everything manly.

RANDY’S FATHER. Can be just a light and a voice. Productions have tried doubling him with
Bailey, but it confuses people.

I think Tom’s and Randy’s nudity is terribly important in the graveyard scene. Not only for the
sense that these boys are in a sexual relationship, but for the sense of violation when Randy’s
father appears. That image of them naked and cowering in the light of Randy’s father’s flashlight
and then Randy alone in the light should be memorable. They can cover their genitalia with their
hands if you are going to get in trouble, but we should know they’re naked.
RANDY starts out as a Southern kid who is torn as many teenagers are between his gayness and

1
wanting to be like other people. He also knows something awful is going to happen if his family
finds out.

TOM is a bright, nice kid used to being popular. Since his mother’s death, he has had to adjust to
living with his father, whom he has barely seen since he was ten, and his father’s lover. He now
finds himself in an environment he doesn’t like and ostracized by his peers because he’s the new
kid in school and because of his father. Above all, he’s lonely.

Tom and Taylor. Do they become lovers? Tom is desperately looking for love he doesn’t find at
home, a replacement for Randy. Taylor knows he’s attracted to men and women, but not sure he’s
ready to love anyone. Maybe they connect sexually briefly and both grow from the experience.
They’ll always be close in some way. You don’t need to worry about subtext – they both say
what they feel.

The kiss between Sam and Rick that Hunter sees is also terribly important.

I strongly prefer the play to be performed in one act without an intermission.

2
 RANDY'S HOUSE

The setting of the play can be very fluid with simple set pieces moved on and off by the actors. Or
all the areas set on a unit setting. Whichever, KEEP THE PLAY MOVING WITH NO BREAKS
BETWEEN SCENES.

1. Marietta Georgia. Cobb County Council Meeting. August, 1993.

A table in the center where BAILEY, the chair, sits.

BAILEY
The resolution to ban all funding for the arts in the county in order to prevent the spread of
homosexual art passes four to one. The next resolution to be considered reads as follows:
“Resolved that the gay and lesbian lifestyle is incompatible with the traditional family values to
which the people of Cobb County subscribe.” We’ve decided to open the floor for general
discussion before the Council votes.
(SAM raises his hand.) Yes.

SAM rises and addresses the meeting

SAM
My name is Sam Chambers. I teach at Emory and live here in Marietta with my partner, Dr. Richard
Martinez, and my son, Taylor. I should be angry at what is happening here tonight. But I'm only sad. You
talk like my family is bringing something alien and evil into your community. We’re not. We saw a house
that we loved, that we wanted to fix up and make our home. Like many of you, we commute to the city,
work long hours, and want to come home to someplace nice. We raise a kid and send him to a school
we're happy he's in. We lead the same kind of ordinary, some would say dull, lives you do. Quiet nights,
work on the house on weekends. You say you don't want people like us in your community. You don't
know us!
I would like to invite -- dare -- any of you to come spend an evening in our home. It sure would
put an end to your worries that awful things are going on. In the meantime, don't damn us without any
evidence. Thanks for your time.

SAM sits down next to RICK. RICK looks daggers at SAM. HUNTER raises his hand.

BAILEY
Yes, Mr. Tucker.

HUNTER (rises):
I'm Hunter Tucker. As editor of the Ledger, I know most of you and most of what happens in this
community. And I know we're better than we are looking tonight. I’m a newspaperman. I'm trained not to
speak without solid evidence. We're all judging people before any offense has been committed.
Sam, I'm going to take you up on your invitation. Furthermore, I invite your and your family to spend an
evening in our home. I'm sure more joins us than separates us.

HUNTER sits down. MARIAN looks daggers at him.

3
 BAILEY
The Council will now meet in closed session to vote. I will announce the result shortly.

BAILEY exits. MARIAN moves away from HUNTER. RICK rises and addresses audience.
RICK
A real Frank Capra moment. The newspaper editor and my lover doing their liberal schtick. I would have
preferred a grenade myself. But then Sam and I are the gay version of CNN Crossfire.

SAM comes forward stands next to RICK

SAM
It's not that simple.

RICK
That's Sam's favorite phrase. Find the complexity. He's an English professor. Find the niceness in people.
He should have lived with Hunter. I belong with Cruella deVil over there, Hunter's wife -- the one
mentally shooting daggers at her husband.

SAM
Then you'd have to deal with her father. (to audience) That's him at the table running the show.

RICK
Like father, like daughter. She wants us in her house about as much as I want her in ours.

SAM
Believe me, this is the only way we can make progress.

RICK
Bullshit!

SAM
You’re right. Crossfire.

RICK
My name is Rick Martinez. I'm a doctor. I spend my days prolonging the lives of people who have a
disease I can't cure. I can't cure families either.

SAM
There's nothing wrong with our family.

RICK
The good folks around here don't agree with you.

SAM (to audience)

Here is Cobb County, Georgia.

RICK
The conservative side of the Atlanta suburbs. Atlanta is as gay a city as you'll ever see. Rainbow flags
proudly flying in all the best neighborhoods. On the East are suburbs with more gays.

4
 SAM
Farther East is Decatur where the lesbians live.

RICK
On the west are lots of Baptists and what's left of the Ku Klux Klan. So we, of course, moved west.

SAM
Tell them why we moved here.

RICK
We saw a great old house. One we could afford to buy and fix up.

SAM
Not one of those Atlanta bungalows, but a real old Southern Gothic house. Right out of Faulkner

RICK
Unfortunately, so were the neighbors.

SAM
Anyway that's where we are.

RICK
Now tell them why we’re here.
SAM
Well, a local theater put on a play suggesting that gay people weren't so bad and that straight people might
learn to like us.

RICK
Horror of horrors! The righteous folk went into a feeding frenzy. Banned funding for the arts and tonight
are having this meeting to vote on a resolution condemning "the gay lifestyle."

SAM
What is a lifestyle anyway?

RICK
There are worse words than lifestyle, darlin'. I didn’t want to come tonight. I knew it would throw me
into a fury. But Pollyanna here thought we could do some good.

SAM
We’ve got to believe that.

RICK
Why? So we can get kicked in the face? Anyway, surprise, surprise!! The resolution passed.

BAILEY (returns to table)

I am pleased to announce that the resolution has passed unanimously.

BAILEY leaves with MARIAN. HUNTER follows.

SAM
It's just a resolution, not law.

5
 RICK
Right! Hasn't the last fight made you a bit more cynical.

SAM (to audience)

We just fought for custody of my son, Taylor.

SAM
After Taylor's mother and I separated --

RICK
Sam loved the closet.

SAM
No I didn't. Or I would have stayed married.

RICK
Married right after college. Stayed married till he was thirty.

SAM
So?

RICK
Sam was the only English professor in the politically correct eighties to think homosexuality was
unfashionable.

SAM
I'm sorry to say he's right. But I came around and came out. And we've been together for seven years. My
ex-wife died last spring in a car crash. Awful California drivers. Her parents fought like hell to keep
Taylor.

RICK
The lawyers really played dirty.

SAM
Too dirty. They lost, thank God. And, whatever these people say, we're a family.

RICK
This story is about families -- families into which you're born and families you make yourself. It's about
us and the Tuckers -- those folks at the meeting? Well, as you'll see, we made visits to each others' houses
just as Sam and Hunter wanted, but not quite the way they envisioned.

SAM
Behind the scenes, three teenage boys – their hormones and their first lessons in love - were changing our
lives. Our Taylor and Hunter and Marian’s son, Tom. And a boy we never met, Randy.

SAM and RICK exit.

********************************************

2. Tom Tucker's bedroom

6
Tom and Taylor on the floor playing a video game.

TAYLOR
I give up. You're too good.

TOM
I play all the time. By myself.

TAYLOR
That's not much fun.

TOM
It's OK.

TAYLOR
Don't you know anybody at school?

TOM
Everybody. But they don't want to know me.

TAYLOR
I thought you were new here.

TOM
We've lived here forever.

TAYLOR
So....

TOM
I went to a private school. I had to leave.

TAYLOR
Oh.

TOM
Don't you want to know why? Everybody around here does.

TAYLOR
It's up to you.

TOM holds up scarred wrists.

TAYLOR
I'm sorry.

TOM
You didn't do it.

TAYLOR

7
 I know, but. Shit, I don't know what to say.

TOM
Randy -- my best friend -- shot himself. Last summer. And I....

TAYLOR
I'm glad you didn't succeed.

TOM
Are you?

TAYLOR
Yeah. I need a friend around here.

TOM
So do I.

TAYLOR
I'm treated like a leper. And it's going to be worse after tonight.

TOM
Why?

TAYLOR
Don't you know what's going on?

TOM
You mean about the homosexuals moving in?

TAYLOR
The homosexuals? That's my father and his partner.

Silence from TOM who looks a bit shell shocked. After a pause.

TAYLOR
Does that bother you?

TOM
No. Really.

Sound of a car approaching. Car doors, etc.

TOM
My folks are back.

TAYLOR
The meeting must be over. I'd better get home.

TOM
Taylor, are we friends?

8
 TAYLOR
I said so, didn't I.

TOM
I hope so.

*******************************
3. The Tucker kitchen.
HUNTER, MARIAN, and MARIAN's father, BAILEY, enter

BAILEY
That was the most damn fool thing I ever saw you do. What got into you?

MARIAN
I'll make some decaf.

BAILEY
Decaf, hell. I need a stiff drink.

HUNTER
I could use one myself.

HUNTER goes and pours two drinks. Gives one to BAILEY and keeps one for himself.

BAILEY
I thought you must have had a few before the meeting.

HUNTER
I don't think talking about this is going to do any good.

BAILEY
You should have shut up a couple of hours ago.

MARIAN
How are we going to get out of this?

HUNTER
I don't plan to get out of anything.

BAILEY
This town is about to blow to pieces and we can't afford to take the wrong side.

HUNTER
I'm trying to bring people together.
BAILEY
Not those people.

HUNTER
They seem perfectly decent folks to me.

9
 BAILEY
They don’t even have the decency to keep quiet. Inviting them over. I think you’re cracking up.

HUNTER
It won’t hurt to meet them.

MARIAN
Please. I'm not in the mood to move.

HUNTER
No one's going to have to move.

TOM and TAYLOR come in.

TOM
I want you to meet my friend Taylor. This is my mon and dad, and my granddad. (Handshakes, etc.)
Taylor just moved down the street.

MARIAN
Oh, yes? Which house?

TAYLOR
It's not actually down the street. We're over on Wisteria.

TOM
Randy's house.

MARIAN and BAILEY look at each other.

HUNTER
We just met your father at the town meeting.

TAYLOR
Oh, yeah? What happened?

HUNTER
I'm sure your father will tell you.

TAYLOR
Bad news, huh?

BAILEY
Most people don't think so.

TAYLOR
I'd better be going. It's past my curfew. Nice to meet all of you.

HUNTER
Nice to meet you, Taylor. (No response from BAILEY and MARIAN)

10
 TOM
See you tomorrow?

TAYLOR
Sure.

TAYLOR and TOM exit.

BAILEY
That's all we need.

HUNTER
He seems like a nice kid.

MARIAN
You think everyone is nice.

HUNTER
Maybe. I try to.

BAILEY (to MARIAN)

You'd better nip this in the bud.

HUNTER
Nip what?

MARIAN
Let me handle this.

HUNTER
He's our son. Yours and mine. Not yours and Bailey's.

BAILEY
(Ruefully) We know.

HUNTER
What's that supposed to mean?

TOM returns

MARIAN
From now on, no visitors without my permission.

HUNTER
Marian, this is the first visitor in...

MARIAN
...What do you know about this boy?

TOM

11
He lived in California with his mother. She died. He just moved here to live with his father.

MARIAN
Did he talk about who his father lives with?

TOM
No. What's the big deal?

MARIAN
You cannot be friendly with that boy.

HUNTER
I see no reason why they shouldn't....

BAILEY
I sure as hell do.

HUNTER
KEEP OUT OF THIS! Tom will find out what he needs to know about his friend in good time.

BAILEY
Son, were you listening at all tonight?

HUNTER
I didn't feel very good about what I heard tonight. And I don't feel too good about what I'm hearing in
here.

BAILEY
You're opening one hell of a can of worms, Hunter. And there may be no one around you can call a
friend.
HUNTER
If that happens, I reckon you'll have something to do with it.

BAILEY
I certainly won't protect you. We're businessmen, remember. And we're dependent on the good will of the
people around here if we're going to keep in business.

HUNTER
We run a newspaper. That's not just a business.

BAILEY
Don't preach to me about the high calling of journalism. Nobody has to read a newspaper any more. We
reflect the values out here or we're out of business.

HUNTER
Values?

MARIAN
Dad is right and you know it.

12
 BAILEY
You're getting yourself into a no win situation. Sleep on it. You can still get out of this gracefully.

MARIAN
I'll see Dad out. You had better have a talk with your son.

TOM
I'm right here, Mom. Don't talk as if I'm not here.

MARIAN (laced with irony)

I know you're here, Tom.

BAILEY
Tom, son, would you go up to your room for just a minute or two?

TOM
Gladly. Sir.

TOM exits

BAILEY
That resolution tonight is serious business. A lot of important people are behind it.
HUNTER
And some aren't.

BAILEY
The point is, I'm behind it and I don't care about those who aren't.

HUNTER
I see.

BAILEY
Marian and I don't want any more trouble with that house on Wisteria.

HUNTER
What do you two have to do with that house?

BAILEY
If I find out he's with that boy, I'll have him out of here and into military school before he knows what hit
him.

HUNTER
I think I have some say in that. I'm his father.

BAILEY
Then act like it for God almighty's sake! Lay down the law!

HUNTER
Whose law? Yours?

13
 BAILEY
I'm going home

MARIAN
I'll see you to your car.

MARIAN and BAILEY exit

HUNTER (calls)
Tom!

While HUNTER waits for TOM, he tries to control his anger and think through what he is going to
do. After a pause, TOM enters.

TOM
Why are they always mad at you?

HUNTER
Let's talk about Taylor now. OK?
TOM
Sure.

MARIAN reenters. Stands by the door.

HUNTER
I want to handle this, Marian.

MARIAN
And I want to hear how you handle it.

HUNTER
Fine.

TOM
What did Taylor do?

HUNTER
He didn't do anything. Look, Taylor lives with his father and his father's -- friend --

MARIAN
Lover. Male lover.

TOM
I know.

MARIAN
You know. And do you know about Taylor?

TOM
What?

14
 MARIAN
Is he homosexual too?

HUNTER
There's no reason to assume that.

MARIAN
I'd bet on it. We’re not going through this again.

HUNTER
LET ME HANDLE THIS! Sam, Taylor's father, I'm sure is a decent man who is trying to raise his son
decently. But there are a lot of people who don't want people like Taylor's father and his friend living out
here.

TOM
That's crazy!

HUNTER
His father's friend is a doctor who treats AIDS patients. That scares people too.

TOM
So what?

MARIAN
So we'd rather you not be too close to Taylor.

TOM
He's my friend!

MARIAN
I don't want that boy in this house. And you are forbidden to go to that house.

HUNTER
Marian!

TOM
This isn't going to happen again!! I belong there!!!

TOM runs out of the room.

HUNTER
What the hell did that mean?

MARIAN
I'd like to burn that house to the ground.

HUNTER
That's a bit extreme.

MARIAN
Is it? First Randy's death. Then Tom breaks down and tries to kill himself.

15
 HUNTER
He was in shock. And grieving.

MARIAN
You know as well as I that people didn't think it was normal.

HUNTER
Your father didn't think it was normal.

MARIAN
Now we have that gay couple and their boy in that house. All Tom needs is to latch on to that boy and be
seen all over with him.

HUNTER
Are you worried about Tom or what people will say?

MARIAN
You know the two are connected. Randy's parents were smart to leave.

HUNTER
Probably in disgust, given the monumental lack of compassion they received.

MARIAN
It wasn't something people here wanted to deal with.

HUNTER
People! Who the hell are these almighty people? I wish you'd worry less about people and more about
what's right for us.

MARIAN
Like inviting those men to dinner?

HUNTER
It won't kill us.

MARIAN
If they stay, more will come.

HUNTER
You sound like old Lester Maddox trying to keep Blacks from eating his fried chicken. Seeing old Lester
out at the meeting tonight was the perfect touch.

MARIAN
Old Lester was elected governor after that.

HUNTER
Let's hope times have changed.

MARIAN

16
 Not that much.

HUNTER
They seem like nice men. I don't want anything bad to happen to them.

MARIAN
They're asking for it.

Phone rings

MARIAN
I'll check on Tom.

HUNTER answers phone

HUNTER
Hello. Yes, Dale................Well, I'm just trying to keep an open mind...........The paper has taken no stand
on the issue........I take it that's an ultimatum........Well, I'll take that under advisement.............You've been
good loyal clients, Dale.............I'll let you know.......Good night.

HUNTER hangs up. MARIAN enters.

HUNTER
That was Dale Wilson. The threats begin. Support the resolution in my editorials, keep away from those
people, or his store will pull their advertising.

MARIAN
Really. Tom's gone again.

MARIAN moves forward as lights dim on kitchen.

*********************************************************

MARIAN
I know you think I'm the monster in this story. I don't care. Yes, I'm a fighter. Every household needs a
fighter and God knows Hunter doesn't want the job.
I've lived all my life here. I teach at the Christian school. I like the fact that the people here are
united by their beliefs, their values -- yes, values --
We want things to stay the same. For us and for our children. Change isn't always progress. Look at the
news!
It looks like I don't love my son. He doesn't love me! Tom was always a stranger to me. He acted
like he knew he had come to the wrong house, but didn't want to be rude about it. After Randy's death he
became a living accusation. But what can I be accused of? Everything I did was to protect him, to make
him see that this is the good life. It is. He'll see it some day.
He's gone to that house. Well, I'll be the bitch they think I am and drag him out of there.

MARIAN exits.
**********************************************************
4. SAM AND RICK’S LIVING ROOM
RICK and SAM enter.

17
 RICK
Just for the record, it's you I'm pissed at. Their venom was to be expected. But to try to suck up to those
redneck bastards!

SAM
I just want to see if we can live here in peace.

RICK
Oh, really! Those crackers will see your little speech at the town meeting as an act of war.

TAYLOR enters

TAYLOR
What happened?

SAM
Where were you tonight?

TAYLOR
Up the street. Tom Tucker's.

RICK
Son of the Tuckers?

TAYLOR
Oh, Yeah! Sounds like the meeting was a bust.

RICK
Didn't the Tuckers tell you?

TAYLOR
They told me to ask my father. So what happened?

SAM
Our kind are officially unwelcome in this county.

RICK
The County Council has given everyone a hunting license on faggots and dykes.
TAYLOR
Great. Did anybody fight back?

SAM
Oh, yeah, a few brave souls.

RICK
And a few stupid ones. What the hell are we doing here?

TAYLOR
Rick's got a point. What the hell are we doing here?

SAM

18
We liked the house, remember. And we're sending you to the best public high school in the area.

TAYLOR
So this is for me! Great!! So I can go to a school where I'm treated like a leper.

SAM
You didn't tell me there was trouble at school.

TAYLOR
I haven't been attacked -- yet -- but they make it clear I'm not welcome.

RICK
Shit! Nothing changes! Now that they've passed their little proposal, the real fun can begin. People get
real excited about cultural purification. And they pass their hatred on to their kids.

TAYLOR
What am I supposed to do?

SAM
We see about getting you into a private school.

TAYLOR
That won’t change anything.

RICK
Or we move.

TAYLOR
Maybe I should go back to California.

SAM
Back to your grandparents?

SAM, clearly hurt, starts out of the room.

TAYLOR
I'm sorry, Dad. I want to be with you guys, but I hate this. I lose Mom. I lose my friends. You guys have
been great, but I want a life.

RICK
The joys of suburban living.

SAM
You wanted this too.

RICK
I had misgivings. I'm the only “ethnic” person out here who's not mowing people’s lawns. That's a little

19
bit unsettling. Then there's the matter of hating fags. But now that you’ve invited them all to dinner,
they're sure to love us.

SAM
Let's just drop that.

TAYLOR
What's this dinner bit?

RICK
Oh, this is the best part. Old Sam invited anyone who wanted to see how normal we are to drop by. And
the editor of the newspaper took him up on it. Wifey almost imploded when he suggested we visit each
others' houses. I don't blame her. And her Daddy who owns the paper almost had a stroke. Even they
didn't relish watching the death throes of liberalism.

TAYLOR
Are you crazy?

SAM
I have to begin from the premise that these are decent people.

RICK
Who want to run you out of the county. Christ, inviting them over!

20
 SAM
Look, this was a mistake. I'm sorry. We'll get a place in Atlanta or
Decatur. On the safe side of the tracks. OK?

TAYLOR
Shit! I don't want to move again.

SAM
You can't have it both ways.

TAYLOR
I know. Can we just think about it for a day.

SAM
Rick?

RICK
Sure.

SAM
OK. Motion tabled. I need a drink.

RICK
So do I.

TAYLOR
Me too.

SAM
Forget it.

SAM goes to kitchen.

RICK (to TOM)

So give us the inside story on the Tucker household.

SAM (off)
Talk loudly so I can hear.

TAYLOR
Tom is in my class. He called me up and asked me over. We studied math
and played games on his computer. He's a nice kid. Sad, though.

RICK
I'm not surprised.

TAYLOR
He doesn't have any friends either. He just stays in his room all the time.
Like Norma Desmond.

21
 RICK
Don't go camp on us, Taylor. Your grandparents will repossess.

SAM
So. Details. What happened tonight?

TAYLOR
His parents and grandfather came home from the meeting. Mrs. Tucker
and the old man were really pissed.

RICK
They were probably as pissed about hubby's niceness as I was about my
hubby's performance.

SAM (returning with drinks and coke for TAYLOR)

Then they discover their son has been playing with the son of the house
of sin.

TAYLOR
Yeah, the mother and grandmother didn’t even say hello. At least Tom’s
Dad tried to be friendly.

RICK
But he works for her father, who owns the paper and just about
everything else around here.

TAYLOR
Tom's a nice kid. He really needs a friend. So do I.

RICK
I have a feeling his mother won't be keen on you two being buddies.

TAYLOR
Yeah. I'm sure of that. There’s more. I shouldn’t tell you this...

RICK
Dish, child!

TAYLOR
Tom tried to slash his wrists last year -- after his best friend shot himself.

RICK
Jesus! It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure this one out!
TAYLOR
Yeah. I wondered about that.

SAM
What do you mean?

RICK
And you teach people how to analyze stories? Duh!!!

22
 TAYLOR
Wait! It gets worse. Randy -- the friend -- lived here.

RICK
Oh, shit! We are in for it.

SAM
You’re being melodramatic.

RICK
Who isn’t around here?

Sound of a brick crashing through a window. Alarm system goes off.

SAM runs out.

RICK
Ta dah!! Let the games begin!!!

SAM
That’s not helpful.

RICK
Sorry. Martha Stewart hasn’t had a show on this yet. I'll turn on the
outside lighting. What was it?

TAYLOR (has brought in brick from other room)

A brick. With a note. (TAYLOR unwraps note and reads it) "Get
AIDS and die, faggots." People really say that? "Get AIDS and die!"

RICK
Oh, yeah. All the time.

SAM
That hate! It doesn't scare me. It infuriates me. And the most infuriating
thing is that it makes me hate. I don't want to feel like this.

RICK
It's a hell of a lot better than swallowing their bullshit and hating
yourself.
TAYLOR
Can we please turn off the alarm?

SAM does so.

SAM
Now what?

TAYLOR
I'm going out and take a look around.

23
 TAYLOR goes to the front door. RICK stops him.

RICK
Are you out of your fucking mind? Didn't you see Deliverance?

TAYLOR
No.

RICK
We all should have seen it before we decided to move here.

SAM
I'm worried about what’s next. Today a brick, tomorrow a burning cross,
Sunday guns.

RICK
I'm getting our gun.

SAM
You know I don't approve.

RICK
Tough!

RICK gets gun from kitchen. Returns.

TAYLOR
Should we call the police?

RICK
You must be kidding!

TAYLOR
Yeah. Right. Maybe we ought to put up a For Sale sign before they torch
the place.

RICK
Our version of the white flag? No fucking way! We stay!

SAM
Whoa! A minute ago you were screaming "What am I doing here?"

RICK
That was before the brick. There are lots of reasons to leave this God
forsaken place, but this is still America, isn't it? Land of the free? Home
of the brave? Well' we're free to live here and I hope we're brave enough
to hold our ground.

SAM
You're sure on your soapbox tonight.

24
 TAYLOR
Rick's right. We really shouldn't run from this.

SAM
Not so fast! Your mother was terrified that if she died and you had to live
with us, you'd get beaten up, ostracized, by other kids. Your grandparents
sued for custody to avoid that.

RICK
They also didn't want you living with fags.

SAM
There was that, too. So we stay.

RICK
We stay. And no more pretending these are nice people who want to get
along with us. This is war. Sam?

SAM
This goes against my nature...

RICK
Sam!

SAM
I will keep my mouth shut in public places.

RICK
Good boy. Batten down the hatches.

SAM
How do we handle the terrorists?
RICK
You and I probably should sleep in shifts. One of us should stay
downstairs and keep watch.

SAM
What are we going to do if they come back?

RICK
Sound the alarm. Make a shitload of noise. And keep the gun where we
can get at it.

SAM
I'll take the first shift. (to TAYLOR) And you've got school. Don't try to
sneak the tv on either. Sleep.

TAYLOR
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Goodnight Daddy. Goodnight Rick.

RICK

25
 Let’s not turn into the Waltons.

TAYLOR kisses RICK and SAM. Exits.

RICK
That's the first time he's done that.

SAM
Sometimes I think he's your son more than mine anyway.

RICK
Ours now.

SAM
I don't want the kid to have any more traumas. He's lived through a lot
this year. His mother dying, the custody battle with her folks.

RICK
Taylor will be all right. But those other boys. Poor Randy. Sad, sad, sad.

TAYLOR runs in. Stops in middle of room. Listens.

TAYLOR
Somebody's outside.

RICK
Front or back?

TAYLOR
Back.

RICK grabs gun)

Taylor, come with me. Sam, you stay here. I want to catch this asshole.
It may be the one who threw the brick.

SAM
You guys are crazy.

RICK and TAYLOR go out front door. SAM watches from inside
room. RICK and TAYLOR return with TOM held at gunpoint.

TOM
Please. Put the gun down.

TAYLOR
Tom, what were you doing out there?

TOM
I had to talk to you.

TAYLOR

26
 This is my father, Sam.

SAM
And you are.

TOM
Tom Tucker.

RICK
Oh, yes.

TAYLOR
That's Rick Martinez, my father's partner.

RICK
Why are you here, Tom?

TOM
My mother said I couldn't see Taylor anymore.

RICK
So you dashed right over.

TOM
I'm on your side.

RICK
Against your family?

TOM
Yes.

RICK
Why did you have to run over to tell us this tonight?

TOM
Randy? The boy who lived here?

SAM
What about him?

TOM
He was everything to me.

SAM (to RICK):

That's what--???

RICK
You’re catching on, Mr. Ph.D.! He killed himself, right?

27
 TOM
He had to.

TAYLOR
What happened?

TOM
Randy was my best friend since we were little kids. I always loved him
more than anyone. Last year we started having sex. It was wonderful. We
couldn’t get enough.

RICK
Who can?

SAM
Shhhhhh.

TAYLOR
Did anybody know?

TOM
Wait! Last September, the night before school began, we went to this
graveyard that was our secret place. Our families thought we went to
some concert in Atlanta. We thought they thought that.

*************************************************
5. The Graveyard

RANDY enters the graveyard area downstage with sleeping bag.

TOM joins him. They strip to their boxers and climb in sleeping bag
together. Then they take off boxers and throw them by their clothes.

TOM
I love it here.

RANDY
It's OK.

TOM
Just OK?

RANDY
It's sort of creepy.

TOM
But it's ours.

RANDY
We're the only ones who think so.

TOM

28
That's all right. Nothing of this belongs to anyone else. Us. Here. We
own this.

RANDY
It’s a fucking graveyard, Tommy. We own squat.

TOM gets out of sleeping bag. Sits hugging his knees.

RANDY
Come back in here, Tommy.

(RANDY sits up, puts his hand on TOM's shoulder. TOM recoils).

TOM
Summer's over. I wanted tonight to be special.

RANDY
I know. It's just that I can't keep up with you.

TOM
You like it as much as I do.

RANDY
I mean feelings.

TOM
That's OK. I love you, Randy. It's OK.

RANDY
No it isn't. School starts tomorrow.

TOM
So what? Nothing has to change.

RANDY
Bullshit!

TOM
We can still get together on weekends.

RANDY
I don't know, Tommy.

TOM
Why not?

RANDY
My father says I've got to date. Get a girlfriend. Get laid.

TOM
That's stupid. You don't have to.

29
 RANDY
Yes I do. You'd better too.

TOM
Why?

RANDY
Why do you think? They know.

TOM
Your parents?
RANDY
My Dad. Your Mom too. Did you see how she ignored me tonight?

TOM
She ignores me!

RANDY
I saw your granddad downtown today. I said hello. He turned and
crossed the street. He used to take us fishing!

TOM
He was thinking about something else. You know how he is.

RANDY
They know, Tommy. I know they know. And my father’s acting funny. If
they’ve told him, he’ll kill me!

TOM
They don’t know. We've been careful.

RANDY
Tommy, we don't have girlfriends. Everybody knows we haven't screwed
anyone.

TOM
Yes we have.

RANDY
Listen, Tommy! We can't fuck up our lives. I want a decent life with a
job and a home.

TOM
And a wife and kids?

RANDY
Maybe. That's what's expected if you're going to live around here.

TOM
That's not a good reason.

30
 RANDY
I know. I don't know.

TOM
Maybe we should just go home now.

TOM gets up.

RANDY
Tommy, come back in here. Please!

TOM gets back in sleeping bag. They snuggle together.

TOM
I love you, Randy. I can't give you up.

RANDY
I don't want to give you up either. But they're going to catch us, Tommy.

TOM
I don't give a shit anymore.

RANDY
Don't be stupid.

TOM
I don't.

RANDY (Sits up quickly)

Someone's coming.

TOM
Nobody ever comes out here.

RANDY
Somebody's coming now. I swear. Listen.

TOM
Shut up and they won't find us.

A flashlight beam hits the two of them from downstage.

VOICE (RANDY'S father):

Get out of that bag, both of you. Now! I've got a gun.

RANDY
Daddy? How did you....

RANDY'S FATHER enters from down right. We only see his back
throughout the scene.

31
 FATHER
Shut up. Just get out of that bag.

TOM and RANDY get out of the bag trying to keep themselves
covered.
FATHER
Tom. You get on your clothes and go home.

TOM
What are you going to do?

FATHER
I said get out of here! And if you come back or ever try to get in touch
with this piece of shit, I will call your parents and tell them what I saw
tonight. Hell, I’ll put an ad in their fucking newspaper. Then I’ll come
after you with this.

RANDY’S FATHER cocks his rifle. Tom run’s out. RANDY, who has
been frozen in the light, moves toward his clothes.

FATHER (to RANDY)

You stay put.

(RANDY stands naked in the light)

RANDY
How did you know we were here?

FATHER
Shut up! You piece of faggot shit. I'm going to teach you a lesson.

RANDY backs away from his father, falls on sleeping bag. The
flahslight goes off. Darkness. Light on TOM as he puts on his clothes.

TOM
I ran to another corner of the graveyard and put on my clothes. I could
faintly see, but I could hear as if it was coming loud through a speaker, I
could hear Randy’s father beat the shit out of him. I was going to run to
get help, but I couldn’t move. I was too scared of what Randy’s father
said to me. So I stayed huddled in the corner of the graveyard. I was
going to go back when it was safe. Then I could faintly see, but hear even
louder Randy’s muffled cries when his father . . .

TOM can’s say the words. Is silent for a moment, then

He left the gun next to Randy’s body, lying next to him where I had been.
Before I could get to him, Randy put the end of the gun in his mouth and
fired. I ran back, grabbed what was left of Randy, and heard myself let
out a sound so loud all of the county must have heard. Next thing I know
I was in the hospital.

32
 ******************************************
6. SAM & RICK's Living Room

When lights come up on living room area, TOM is back with

TAYLOR, SAM, and RICK

RICK
Did Randy's father know you saw?

TOM
I don't think so. They moved away right after.

TAYLOR
And you never told your folks?

TOM
No one is supposed to talk about anything ugly around here. Randy
killed himself. Period.

SAM
Holding all this in must have been awful.

TOM
I've spent a year feeling like I was going to puke. I dream of Randy's
father's voice behind that light. And the gun. And Randy's....

TAYLOR puts his arm around him to comfort him.

TAYLOR
It's OK.

TOM
It's my fault. He'd be alive if we hadn't....

RICK
You didn't kill him. Don't blame yourself. Or Randy.

SAM
Taylor, take Tom into the kitchen and get him something to drink.

TAYLOR and TOM exit to kitchen.

SAM
What were you saying about Deliverance?

RICK
The kid looks absolutely haunted. Sam, we have to take care of him.

SAM
If we decide to make a cause of this kid, we're really declaring war.

33
 RICK
War has already been declared. You want everything to be nice, Sam. It
isn't.

SAM
So what do you propose?

RICK
People fall into your lap. Tom has fallen into ours. We have a
responsibility.

SAM
To do what?

RICK
We let the kid know he's got friends. That's all.

SAM
Around here that's called recruiting.

RICK
Whose side are you on?

SAM
I'm simply stating facts.

RICK
That's not a fact. It's a prejudice. We're not closeted priests fondling our
charges. We're out, remember? And doing the honorable thing. Can you
in good conscience leave this kid to be a basket case?

SAM
I'm worried about Taylor.

RICK
So am I, but I'll bet the ranch that Taylor will not want to fold on this.

SAM
It's not his fight.

RICK
Maybe it is his fight. Ever think of that?

SAM
What does that mean?

RICK
Maybe he's gay. Ever talk about it with him?

SAM
Not yet. He just got here a couple of months ago.

34
 RICK
Never? Never told him the facts of life? Never warned him about safe
sex?

SAM
No. I guess I assumed his mother did.

RICK
You must be kidding! She didn't want to believe he had eyes for anyone
but her.

SAM
That's...

RICK
...tasteless and beside the point. Sorry. Talk to Taylor.

SAM
I just can't broach that subject yet.

RICK
Yet? He's almost seventeen.

SAM
I know. But...

RICK
Are you afraid the spirits of his grandparents and the ghost of his mother
will steal him away? Afraid you'll corrupt him?

SAM
Yes, damn it! I am afraid of being blamed if...

RICK
You don't want him to be gay!

SAM
Would you?

RICK
I made my peace with that subject a long time ago. I thought you had
too.

SAM
I have.

RICK
Bullshit! This explains your need to have those shitheads approve of you.

SAM

35
 I want their respect. Don't you?

RICK
I only want them to leave us alone. Jesus! You're still ashamed.

SAM
That's not true.

RICK
Oh, yes it is! I've had enough of this discussion for one night.

RICK starts off. Stops.

RICK
One final word. Tom needs to love someone. And be loved. We'll soon
know if Taylor's -- perish the thought!! -- one of us. Goodnight, asshole!

RICK starts off again. Doorbell rings.

RICK
Gosh, I wonder who that might be? You answer. You're their pal.

SAM
What do we do about Tom?

RICK
We're not going to start hiding people in closets. We tell the truth.

SAM
You're such a fucking boy scout.

RICK
I'm the boy scout????

SAM
Now behave.

RICK
I promise not to fire the first shot.

SAM goes to the door. HUNTER and MARIAN are there.

SAM
Come in.

HUNTER shakes RICK's hand. MARIAN stands in silent

disapproval.

RICK (to MARIAN):

So you just couldn't wait to take us up on our invitation.

36
 MARIAN
It's a bit late for irony.

RICK
Oh, it’s never too late for that!

MARIAN
Is our son here?

SAM
He's in the kitchen with my son. I understand you met Taylor earlier.

HUNTER
Yes. We did.

MARIAN
I'm surprised you didn't send him right home. It's almost midnight on a
school night.

RICK
He wasn't in condition to go right home.

MARIAN
What does that mean?

SAM
He was rather upset. He was worried about Taylor's safety, I think.

MARIAN
We told him he was not to be friends with Taylor.

SAM
So we heard. May we ask why?

MARIAN
Do I really have to spell it out?

RICK
Yes.

MARIAN
I don't believe you're his father.

RICK
Actually I’m his wicked stepmother. What are you?

HUNTER
This isn't the time for a fight. We just came for our son.

SAM
Taylor is a good kid. He'd be a good friend for Tom.

37
 RICK
From what I understand, Tom doesn't have any friends.

MARIAN
He'll never have any if he hangs around with your son.

SAM
Taylor has always been very popular.

MARIAN
He won't be here. People aren't going to let your son in their house. Or
their children in yours.

RICK
I can imagine who will stir up "the people."

MARIAN
They're already stirred up.

SAM
We know. We just had a brick sail through the dining room window.

HUNTER
I'm sorry.

MARIAN
Maybe you'll take the hint.

RICK
I respect your honesty, Mrs. Tucker. I really do. Your values reek, but
you don't beat around the bush.

MARIAN
Please get our son. We’re taking him home

RICK:
I’ll get him.

RICK exits to kitchen

SAM
Rick is very angry about what happened tonight. At the meeting.

HUNTER
I can understand that.

MARIAN
May I ask what you intend to do?

SAM

38
 We intend to stay.

TOM and TAYLOR enter with RICK

MARIAN
I see. Tom, we're going home. Now.

TOM
I’m staying here. These people are my friends. I'm not going to turn my
back on them because you want me to.

MARIAN
This isn't the place to discuss this.

RICK
Oh, dear! Not enough Ethan Allen?

MARIAN
I hate this house. I hate your being here. I hate your poisoning this town.

TOM
Maybe you'd like them all to do what Randy did!

MARIAN
Keep Randy out of this.

TOM
Randy and I loved each other.

MARIAN
I am not having this discussion.

HUNTER
It is late...

MARIAN
EVER!! I knew this house would poison everything.

SAM
Tom and Randy happened before we came on the scene.

MARIAN
So this has already been discussed tonight? Has it, Tom?

TOM
I told them. I had to tell someone.

RICK
Whoa! Wait a minute! You knew about Tom and Randy?

MARIAN

39
 Of course I knew.

TOM
Oh my God! (TOM has to sit down. TAYLOR stays near him.)

HUNTER
I'm sorry, but I'm a bit lost here.

MARIAN
As usual, you're a bit naive. Tom and Randy were having -- what would
you gentlemen say? -- an affair?

HUNTER
Were you, Tom?

TOM
Yes. All that summer. We loved each other. We...

MARIAN
Shut up, Tom.

HUNTER
Oh my Lord. Why didn't I see it?

40
 MARIAN
Because you didn't want to see it.

TOM
How did you know?

MARIAN
You changed so much.

TOM
I was happy!

HUNTER
Why wasn't I told?

MARIAN
And what would you have done? Been wonderfully warm and
supportive? That was the last thing we wanted.

HUNTER
We? Of course. You told your father, but not me. It's none of his
business! But of course everything is his business. The paper, the county,
our life.

TOM
Randy thought he knew! Oh, my God! He told Randy's father!!

MARIAN
This conversation is finished.

TOM
Why didn't you talk to me?

MARIAN
What did you want me to tell you? That I get sick thinking about it? That
I was mortified? That sometimes I think Randy did the right thing?

TOM
Then why didn't you give me a gun?

TOM, crying, runs out into kitchen. TAYLOR runs after him

HUNTER
I'm going to my son.

HUNTER exits into kitchen.

RICK (to SAM)

You might check on ours.

41
 SAM exits. MARIAN sits stone still.

RICK (after a silence)

I'm going to have a brandy. Want some?

MARIAN
Yes. Please.

RICK gets brandies.

MARIAN
None of this had to be talked about. With anyone.

RICK
I see. If the faggots hadn't moved down the street into Randy's house,
you could pretend that nothing ever happened.

MARIAN
They were boys experimenting with something dangerous. Who could
have known Randy was so mixed up?

RICK
What about Tom? And the suicide attempt?

MARIAN
That's none of your business. And I refuse to be made the bitch in your
woman - hating homosexual fantasy.

RICK
Oh, lady! I don't hate women. I like them a lot. I just hate bigots.

MARIAN
I'm not a bigot. I believe in certain things -- absolutes. There is right and
wrong. I still believe that.

RICK
And Hunter.

MARIAN
Hunter thinks he lives in Mister Roger's neighborhood.

RICK
You and Hunter sound like me and Sam.

MARIAN
Don't try to equate your life with mine.

RICK
Too bad, darlin'. You might have had a friend.

MARIAN

42
 Please. I'm tired.

RICK
I'm tired too. And I'm not interested in your problem with gay people. I
just don't want it to be our problem. Like you, I'm perfectly willing to be
as much a monster as I need to be to protect my turf and my loved ones.
And, lady,
I can outbitch you any day. Because there is one big difference between
us. I enjoy being a bitch!

A pause. MARIAN looks at RICK. He looks back.

MARIAN
Noted.

RICK
Good.

MARIAN
Some people think you got this house under false pretenses.

RICK
How's that?

MARIAN
You two had separate phone listings in Atlanta.

RICK
I didn't want calls from his students and he didn't want calls from my
patients. You thought we did that to put one over on the citizens of this
fair town?

MARIAN
Some people assumed that.

RICK
How do you know all this?

MARIAN
My father is Chairman of the bank that sold you the house.

RICK
And somebody didn't do their homework.

MARIAN
That somebody is out of a job.

RICK
Daddy's merciless.

MARIAN

43
 That's one way to look at it.

RICK
What's another?

MARIAN
My father holds the line.

RICK
One thing puzzles me about you people. You're crystal clear on what
you're against, but I can never figure out what you're for.

MARIAN
What are you for?

RICK
My family. The people I love. I'll fight to the death for us. You can't
make us ashamed of our life together.

MARIAN
A lot of people think you should be.

RICK
Sam's a fine man. I didn't trust anyone when I met him. I had been
disowned by my parents, thrown out of my fraternity in college and
fallen in love with a few guys who hated themselves too much to love.
Sam showed me that love is possible.

MARIAN
Obviously he didn't show that to his wife and son.

RICK
Leaving them was very hard for him. But he was gay and deserved a real
marriage.

MARIAN
So he left his wife and child for you.
RICK
Yes. And I'm not about to be judged for that.

MARIAN
I didn't say a word.

RICK
You didn't have to. A look is worth a thousand words. Jesus! It never
ceases to amaze me how you righteous people get your kicks being
horrified.

MARIAN
Don't stereotype me.

44
 RICK
Excuse me! What have you been doing to us? Sam and I are as
committed a couple as there is in Cobb County. That's our choice. We
both love Taylor. We don't have sex with him. We leave incest to you
family values people. And Tom is safe from me. I'm not into teen age
boys.

MARIAN
And Taylor?

RICK
What? Is he into teenage boys? I don't know. Ask Tom.

MARIAN
How would Tom know?

RICK
I'm sure Tom has asked Taylor. Or will.

MARIAN
That's hitting below the belt.

RICK
Like you I believe in putting all my cards on the table. Were Randy's
parents encouraged to leave? Were there financial rewards?

MARIAN
This is really none of your business.

RICK
My guess is the pot was sweetened to get Randy's folks and all other
traces of Randy out of here.

Pause

RICK
I'll take silence as assent. And after all that money and effort, a bunch of
faggots move in and gussy up the place. And then, horror of horrors, your
son is back over here. Delicious!

MARIAN
I'm glad you're enjoying this.

RICK
Oh, I am! I love getting the goods on righteous people.

MARIAN
I'd appreciate it if you would get my husband and son. We should be
going home.

RICK

45
Just one final question. Did you know Randy's father raped him that
night after he chased Tom off? And left the gun for Randy to use?

MARIAN
Did Tom tell you that or are you guessing?

RICK
Tom told us.

MARIAN
I think he made that up.

RICK
Tom saw it.

MARIAN (stunned, but trying not to show it)

I seriously doubt that happened.

RICK
Do you really? Well, I guess we're all caught up now. I'll get Hunter and
Tom.

RICK exits. MARIAN starts to cry but stops herself. HUNTER

enters.

HUNTER
Tom’s pretty shaken up. Rick's giving him a tranquilizer. He's staying
here tonight.

MARIAN
I beg your pardon. He is not staying here.

HUNTER
The boy’s hysterical. Rick's a doctor, remember.

MARIAN
If Tom needs a doctor, he can go where he's always gone.

HUNTER
To your old family doctor? Are you sure you want him to have a report
on what transpired here tonight?

MARIAN
Since when do you worry about that?

HUNTER
I don't.

MARIAN
What do expect me to say, Hunter? Touche? You win?

46
 HUNTER
Never that, Marian. Never that.

MARIAN
Being around the boys has certainly steeled your nerve.

HUNTER
I don't consider a physician at the C.D.C. and a named chair professor to
be boys. At any rate, they didn't steel my nerve, as you put it. That
meeting your father engineered did that. And your merciless behavior
toward Tom.

MARIAN
You know no one here would accept what was going on with Randy.

HUNTER
It was no one's business but ours.

MARIAN
Don't be naive.

HUNTER
You would sacrifice your son for the sake of appearances? It's disgusting!

MARIAN
Not half as disgusting as..... Are you staying here too? Is the bed big
enough for all of you?

HUNTER
Oh, Marian, you're off form tonight. Surely you can do better than that.

MARIAN
But you think my son is staying here despite any protest or objection.
There are laws, Hunter.

HUNTER
Call your father, as I'm sure you will. He'll find one or two, or bend a
dozen. Meanwhile Tom either stays here -- under a doctor's care I might
add -- or I take him to an emergency room. There's no law against his
being here.

MARIAN
I don't want him here.

HUNTER
I do.

MARIAN
I want to go home.

47
 HUNTER
I'll drop you off

MARIAN
Where are you going?

HUNTER
I don't know. To think.

MARIAN
About what?

HUNTER
I hate what I've seen and heard tonight. I have to think about what that
means for me.

MARIAN
Are you thinking about leaving me?

HUNTER
Marian, I need to figure out what's left for us.

MARIAN
You need to figure that out? I figured it out a long time ago. We do what
we have to.

HUNTER
Have to? By whose law?

MARIAN
If we separate, you may just lose everything. The paper, your son.
Everything.

HUNTER
You and Daddy would see to that, wouldn't you? Why do you want to
keep me?

MARIAN
Because I refuse to face the mockery of having you leave me. I refuse to
have people think I failed at this marriage.

HUNTER
You haven't failed. You've worked very hard at it. It's just that it shouldn't
have been such work.

MARIAN
What should it have been Hunter? Pleasure?

HUNTER
There are couples who enjoy each other.

48
 MARIAN
Like Sam and Rick? Or Tom and Randy?

HUNTER
I don't know about Sam and Rick. Or Tom and Randy. Though I should
have known.

MARIAN
What would you have done about it?

HUNTER
I don't know. Maybe nothing. Tom was happy for the first time in his life
the year before Randy died. Finally we had a happy kid. Then Randy's
death and he was worse than ever. A time bomb.

MARIAN
He thinks I'm partly responsible for Randy's death.

HUNTER
Are you?

MARIAN
I told Daddy that I thought Tom and Randy -- He had a man to man talk
with Randy's father.

HUNTER
Who beat and raped his son and left the gun for him to kill himself. My
God! You're partly responsible for that brutality. You and your father.

MARIAN
I don't believe it happened that way.

HUNTER
You'd have made a great Nazi. It did happen. Randy was as good as
murdered. Did you feel any sorrow for that boy? He just about lived with
us since he was five.

MARIAN
Not after what he did.

HUNTER
He didn't do it alone, Marian. Whatever he and Tom did they did
together. Do you feel as little for Tom? Would you care as little if Tom
had succeeded in killing himself last fall?

MARIAN doesn't answer.

HUNTER
All this time I've worried that you were holding in your feelings about
last fall. You weren't feeling anything, were you?

49
 MARIAN
Oh, I was feeling something. Such anger and humiliation I thought I
would burst.

HUNTER
You're merciless, Marian. Like your father. Like so many of the good
folk whose opinion means so much to you. I hate that Southern hardness.

MARIAN
As much as I hate softness?

HUNTER
Humanity is not softness Marian. This is a nightmare. I've got to get out
of here.

MARIAN
So do I.

HUNTER
I'll drop you off home.

MARIAN
I'll walk.

HUNTER
As you wish.

MARIAN
You will not leave me.

HUNTER
That will be my decision, Marian. Not yours or your father's.

MARIAN exits

HUNTER
Sam, Rick.

SAM enters

SAM
Rick's upstairs with Tom. He'll be OK.

HUNTER
We're leaving. Thanks.

SAM
Are you going to be OK?

HUNTER
Don't worry about me.

50
 SAM
We'll get Tom to school.

HUNTER
Thanks. I'd like to look in on Tom before I go.

SAM
Sure. Go ahead.

HUNTER exits. SAM flops on couch. RICK enters

RICK
Hunter's checking on Tom.
SAM
I know. Everything all right up there?

RICK
Tom's out like a light. For a few hours, at least.

SAM
And Taylor?

RICK
He's pretty tired. He'll sleep.

SAM
And you?

RICK
I'll live. I can deal with the Marians of this world. I admire her will,
however misguided. I can deal with the bigotry. If it gets out of hand
there's always the city to hide in. What I can't deal with is your
ambivalence about being gay. If you aren't clear on that, where are we?

SAM
I'm clear on us. But Taylor? I don't know if I want him to go through
what we went through.

RICK
You fought it for so long, Sam. Through two years with a shrink and ten
with a wife.

SAM
I fought it because I didn't think what we had was possible. Now that I
have it, I'll fight with all I have to keep it.

RICK
Are you sure?

SAM

51
Yes I'm sure. I'm sorry about what I said before. Taylor should be so
lucky as to find a Rick Martinez.

RICK
I'm spoken for. Though there are moments I regret it.

SAM
I can be an idiot. And you're right. I love you.

RICK
Likewise.

RICK's beeper goes off.

RICK
Shit. That's all I need. I'll take it in the study.

RICK exits. HUNTER enters.

HUNTER
The boys are asleep.

SAM
Rick just got paged. He may have to go to the hospital.

HUNTER
I'd better go too. I really need to get out and think about all this.

SAM
I understand.

RICK enters during following speech.

HUNTER
How could she know all that and not tell me? She and her father put the
gun to that boy's head.

SAM
Marian and her father are just products of this place.

HUNTER
They're more responsible than that, Sam. They don't get off that easily.

RICK
I've got to go to the hospital. One of my patients is in crisis. One more
piece of information -- Marian's father got Randy's parents out of here --
money and threats.

HUNTER
I’d like to get the whole ugly story in the paper.

52
 RICK
Even if your father-in-law let that happen, would any of your readers
give a shit?

HUNTER
I’ve got to believe some would.

RICK
I hope you’re right. Gotta go.

RICK kisses SAM. A long kiss. HUNTER watches. RICK exits.

HUNTER
I'm truly sorry about all this.

SAM
So far it's only words and a broken window. Worry about your son.

HUNTER
Thanks, Sam. Good night.

HUNTER shakes SAM'S hand. SAM hugs HUNTER. HUNTER

awkwardly returns the embrace, then exits.

HUNTER exits. SAM sits on sofa, eyes wide open.

During next scene, SAM dozes off.

**************************************************
7. TAYLOR's Bedroom.

Lights out on him, up on bedroom. TAYLOR is asleep on the floor,

TOM is on the bed. TOM wakes up. He looks at TAYLOR on the
floor.

TOM
Taylor, are you awake?

TAYLOR
Yeah. Isn’t the drug working?

TOM
It did for a while. What was your mother like?

TAYLOR
She was OK. Very protective.

TOM
Did she talk to you?

53
 TAYLOR
Too much sometimes.

TOM
Do you miss her?

TAYLOR
Sure. She was very brave. And devoted. But I'm real happy with Dad and
Rick.

TOM
They're great. Rick is incredible. You’re lucky.

TAYLOR
I guess so.

TOM
She knew all the time, Taylor. She never said a word to me.

TAYLOR
You never said anything to her either.

TOM
You know why I didn't! She'd have sent me away.

TAYLOR
But you want to get away.

TOM
Not to where she'd send me. She'd send me off to a military school or
something.

TAYLOR
She just wants you to fit in.

TOM
Her way. I don't want to fit in here.

TAYLOR
Let's get some sleep.

TOM
You'll stick with me?

TAYLOR
Yeah. We'd better stick together. It's us two against just about everybody.
You ever take self defense?

TOM
No. I don't think --
TAYLOR

54
 You're going to. We'll start this weekend.

Pause. Then TOM gets out of bed and cuddles up next to TAYLOR
on the floor.

TAYLOR
Tom? Either you get back in the bed or I'll sleep in it.

TOM
I just need to hold you.

TAYLOR
I'm not Randy.

TOM
I know. Randy couldn’t have taken care of me. He was too scared.

TAYLOR
He had reason to be. Sounds like he loved you as much as he could. I
know it doesn't seem that way now, but you're lucky.

RANDY
What do you mean?

TAYLOR
The important thing is really feeling something for someone. More than
just a stiff cock. I'd like to feel something like that.

TOM
Has anyone ever given you a stiff cock?

TAYLOR
Sure. Too many people.

TOM
Guys?

TAYLOR
Some. Some girls.

TOM
I've only been turned on by guys.

TAYLOR
Maybe that makes things easier. Less confusing.

55
 TOM
Have you ever had sex?

TAYLOR
No.

TOM (Puts his arm around TAYLOR's waist)

Would it be such a big deal if we --

TAYLOR (Sits up)

Now? It would screw things up big time. And things are pretty screwed
up already.

TOM
I know. What's going to happen tomorrow?

TAYLOR
How?

TOM
When I have to go home. And face her.

TAYLOR
I don't know. You're going to have to do it sometime.

TOM
I could disappear.

TAYLOR
How far could you get with no money?

TOM
People have done it.

TAYLOR
The best thing you could do tonight is get some sleep. You'll have a
clearer head tomorrow.

TOM
Can't we sleep together? Just sleep. I promise.

TAYLOR
Just sleep. Sure. But we might as well use the bed.

TOM and TAYLOR curl up on the bed.

TOM
Have you ever been like this?

TAYLOR

56
 No.

TOM
Do you mind?

TAYLOR
I guess not.

TOM
I hope you'll feel more someday.

TAYLOR
So do I.

TOM
For me.

TAYLOR
I want us to be friends.

TOM
So do I. That too.

TAYLOR
You go too fast.

TOM
Randy said that too.

TAYLOR
I believe it.

TOM
Thanks.

TAYLOR
For what?

TOM
This feels good.

TAYLOR
Yeah. I’m really tired.
TOM
Sleep. It’s OK.

TOM and TAYLOR go to sleep. A light change. RANDY enters the

bedroom. TOM wakes up.

TOM

57
 Randy? My God! What are you doing here

RANDY
I live here, remember.

TOM
Still?

RANDY
Yeah, but I can go now. You don’t need me anymore.

TOM
I’m not sure of that. I’m so sorry, Randy. I should have saved you.

RANDY
You couldn’t have stopped him, Tommy. He’d have killed you.

TOM
I could have stopped you.

RANDY
I couldn’t have lived with them, with myself. I’m not as strong as you.

TOM
Me?

RANDY
Yeah, you. You’ll see.(looking at TAYLOR. Pulls covers back for a
better look) You lucked out.

TOM
He's not interested...

RANDY
Bullshit! Be patient. He'll take care of you, Tommy.

TOM
I hope you’re right.

RANDY
Of course I’m right. These guys are your family now. They’ll watch out
for you but you’ve got to watch out for them too.

TOM
I will.

RANDY
I mean it. Tonight. This place is going to blow – to go up in flames.

TOM
Oh, my God.

58
 RANDY
Now you’ve got to show your strength. Gotta go. I loved you as much as
I could.

TOM
I know.

RANDY
It wasn’t enough.

TOM
I know that too. Now.

RANDY exits. TOM sits up in bed. The sound of broken

glass. The whoosh of a gasoline-created fire.

TOM(To audience)
Did I dream Randy? No. I've dreamt him every night for a year.
This was different. He was different. And he was right. There was
the broken glass and that whoosh -- like in a movie. Bright flash. I
could hear Sam screaming. And me screaming. It was all heat and
fire. I couldn’t let anyone else I loved die.
Was Randy right about Taylor? I hope so.

**********************************************************
*******
8. The Tucker's Kitchen

Marian is on the phone to her father.

MARIAN
No, Daddy, don't come over. ....... Please. DON'T! I've got to go through
this one alone ...... No, there's nothing you can do ......... NO MORE,
DADDY. HAVEN'T YOU DONE ENOUGH? ......... I'm sorry ..... I
know. I agreed with you. But not to this! ...... But that was
words! ............ No, I'm not talking out of both sides of my mouth. .....
Tommy was there, Daddy. He's in the hospital. ........ Don't say that.
Tommy could have been killed.......... I know, but he was hysterical. Rick
is a doctor. ..... Hunter is in with him.
With them. .........They didn't want me in there, Daddy. ........Tommy
hates me. Hunter despises me. Those men think I'm the wicked witch of
the west............... No I don't care. Yes I do care. Am I ......... Silly?
What's
silly? ........ I don't know. We'll have to talk about that. ..... No. I mean
Hunter and I will. And Tom ........... I don't know what I feel for him. For
either of them ...... Don't Daddy. I love you. You know that. But my home
is a mess and I've got to put it in order .......... I AM NOT CRACKING
UP!!!

59
 HUNTER enters. He is exhausted.

MARIAN
Hunter's here. I've got to go. ....... Do you want to tell him that?........ I'll
tell him. Goodnight, Daddy. Sorry I woke you.

MARIAN hangs up phone. She sits. She puts her head down on the
table and cries. HUNTER looks at her. He does not move to her.

HUNTER
The Molotov cocktail went through the living room window. Sam was
asleep on the living room couch. From what I understand, Tom got
Taylor out then ran back in to get Sam. Taylor ran in after him. They got
Sam out He’s pretty badly burned but he’s got a good chance of pulling
through. Tom and Taylor got some burns, but they’ll be all right.

MARIAN
The house?

HUNTER
The fire department took its own sweet time getting there. The house is
gutted. You got your wish.

MARIAN
Stop. Please. Can Tom come home tonight?

HUNTER
Rick's finding out if they can be released. He'll bring the boys here.

MARIAN
One big happy family.

HUNTER
Not very happy right now. Tom wants Taylor to stay here if they get out
tonight.

MARIAN
And Rick?

HUNTER
I don't know. I offered.

MARIAN
And you?

HUNTER
I'll sleep here. Somewhere. Perhaps you want to go to your father's.

MARIAN

60
 I'm staying here.

HUNTER
With all these horrible people in your house?

MARIAN
I've been thinking all night. I believed everything that happened was
because of what those boys did.

HUNTER
Sin and retribution.

MARIAN
Yes.

HUNTER
It was Randy's fault he was raped and led to kill himself? It's Sam's fault
he was almost killed tonight?

MARIAN
It makes less sense now.

HUNTER
Tonight I saw two men kiss. I've never seen that. My system went cold --
like it didn't know how to take in that data. It was a loving kiss. I can't
imagine feeling that for a man. But it is love, Marian. I don't understand
it, but it is love. I want to understand, for Tom's sake. I want to feel more
for Tom than I do.

61
 MARIAN
Every fiber of my being tells me it's wrong.

HUNTER
Can you love Tom?

MARIAN
I don't know.

HUNTER
Do you want to?

MARIAN
Yes.

HUNTER
That's something. What was the message from "Daddy?"

MARIAN
He wants you to help cool things down.

HUNTER
That's what he's thinking about now? Jesus! Doesn't he care at all about
Tom?

MARIAN
He thinks that Tom shouldn't have been there.

HUNTER
I see. Blame the victim.

MARIAN
You're to play it down in the paper. There was a fire. That's all.

HUNTER
And a man was almost burned to death. Our son could have been killed!

MARIAN
He wants you to keep out of this.

HUNTER
Or?

MARIAN
He didn't say.

HUNTER
There are other papers.

MARIAN

62
 There's no story.

HUNTER
I'm afraid there is one. And Daddy's involved.

MARIAN
You don’t know that for sure.

HUNTER
I’m afraid I do. I ran into Dennis Pugh, the assistant D.A., at the hospital.
The license number Tom saw belonged to Jimmy Foster's pickup. He
works at the print shop. The fire was set with a solvent they use there.

MARIAN
And?

HUNTER
He's not a good soldier. He doesn't want to go down for this by himself.
He's willing to testify against the person who paid him to do it.

MARIAN
Oh my God!

HUNTER
Marian, your father will get around it. A jury will never convict him in
this town. Too many people don't think what he did was wrong.

MARIAN
Does he know?

HUNTER
I’m sure he does

MARIAN
No matter what happens, he'll always believe he's right.

HUNTER
He shouldn’t get away with this Marian.

MARIAN
He said he thought you'd try to be a hero.

HUNTER
Better to try to be a hero than to settle for being a shitheel.

MARIAN
You'll lose. You're not ruthless enough.

HUNTER
Did he say that?

63
 MARIAN
No. I did.

HUNTER
Maybe I should say "Thank you." But I know I can no longer play fair
and win. The viciousness that is unleashed in the name of values! It's
sickening!

MARIAN
Please, for God’s sake, get off your high horse! I'm sick of it all. Daddy's
constant sermons on the evils of the world. Your goodness. Tommy's
wounded look. I just want it all to be over.

HUNTER
It isn't going to be. They're going to stand their ground.

MARIAN
And Tommy's going to stand it with them.

HUNTER
I think so. More power to him.

MARIAN
And you?

HUNTER
I'll cheer them on. Help them when I can. But I'm an outsider.

MARIAN
And Tom isn't an outsider?

HUNTER
With them? You know he isn't.

MARIAN
But he's an outsider with us?

HUNTER
He has been for quite a while, I'm afraid. Hasn't he?
MARIAN
Yes. He has. So our son is on the other side.

HUNTER
There needn't be sides.

MARIAN
My father disagrees.

HUNTER
Do you have to agree with him on this?

64
 MARIAN
I don't know!

HUNTER
That's a start. But do you really have the guts to fight him?

MARIAN
I don't know.

TOM enters with TAYLOR and RICK. They are all in scrub suits.
TAYLOR and TOM have bandages on their arms where they were
burnt. HUNTER hugs TOM who tries to break out of the hug.

HUNTER
Tom, are you feeling all right.

TOM
No I'm not feeling all right. Taylor is spending the night here.

RICK
I wouldn't agree to this but I really have nowhere for him to go now.

HUNTER
It's fine. Isn't it, Marian?

MARIAN
Sure. This is Freedom Hall

HUNTER
Why don't you boys go on to bed. You must be exhausted.

TAYLOR
Good night, Rick.

RICK
Good night, son. They hug. And thanks, Tom.

TOM
Thank you. TOM hugs RICK.

TOM and TAYLOR exit

RICK
I rustled up some scrub suits for the boys. I'll do something about clothes
for Taylor tomorrow.

HUNTER
Don't worry about it. He can borrow some of Tom's. Do you need a place
to stay?

65
 RICK
I'll go back to the hospital. To be with Sam.

HUNTER
Do you want anything? Coffee?

RICK
I’ll get some at the hospital.

HUNTER
Please. Have some now.

RICK
You’re sure it’s no bother?

MARIAN
Yes. Please sit down.

RICK
Thank you.

HUNTER
I'll check on the boys.

HUNTER exits.
MARIAN gets up and pours coffee. RICK looks at MARIAN.

RICK
Are you all right?

MARIAN
What do you think? My home has fallen apart.

RICK
Really? Mine has burned down. And Sam’s in the burn unit.

MARIAN
How is he?

RICK
Do you really care?

MARIAN
I don't know.

RICK
That's honest. He's badly burned. Smoke inhalation. And shock.

MARIAN

66
 I'm sorry.

RICK
You might be interested to know that Tom was the real hero. I'll always
be grateful to him.

MARIAN
How bad are his burns?

RICK
Tom's? He'll be OK. Some scar tissue, maybe, but they can fix that.
Tom's pretty used to scar tissue.

MARIAN
Oh, really? I've done that to him, I suppose.

RICK
This place has done that to him.

MARIAN
You people love to be martyrs. You're totally innocent and we bigots are
out to crucify you. Right? We're supposed to think it's all just great.
Come on in everybody with your rainbow flags and pink triangles and
leather and earrings promiscuity and disease. Make a mockery of
everything we believe in. And if we don’t like it, we’re Nazis, or worse.

RICK
God, I'm tired of this. We, you might have noticed, do not wear earrings
or leather. And it would be none of your business if we did. I watched
one brave young man die tonight alone. Yes, of AIDS. His parents
wouldn't come to the hospital. They thought his illness and death were
his own fault. Then I got the news about my home and family. Our home
was firebombed by hateful bastards who think like you. Strange as it may
seem, I think that's a hell of a lot worse than earrings, leather and
consensual sex. Fuck you, lady! Fuck you all!

RICK finally breaks down. He throws his coffee against the wall. He
sinks down onto the floor sobbing. MARIAN looks at him a moment.
She gets up and moves toward him, not knowing quite what she is
feeling or what to do. She pulls some tissues out of her pocket and
awkwardly offers them to him.

MARIAN
I don't know what I believe anymore. I don't know what I feel anymore. I
hate this ambiguity, this confusion.

RICK
Your son could have been killed in there! That would have simplified
your life.

67
 MARIAN
Don't think I didn't think that. And hate myself for thinking it.

RICK
That’s a start.

MARIAN
I don't like the things I've felt. They're part of me. And not so easily
gotten rid of.

RICK
I know. You breathe them in the air around here.

MARIAN
I'm sorry about your -- Sam -- and the house. It's wrong.

RICK
It sure as hell is.

MARIAN
Earlier tonight I said I hoped your place would burn down. I'm sorry for
that too.

RICK
You think you gave someone the idea?

MARIAN
I think a lot of people had the idea.

RICK
I'm sure of that.

MARIAN
Do you still plan to stay?

RICK
I swore at age twenty that I'd never be run out of anyplace again.

MARIAN
You're an ornery cuss, aren't you?

RICK
Some people have to be.

MARIAN
Exactly. (MARIAN gets sponge and starts cleaning up coffee and
mug. RICK helps.): We're probably going to have to move.

RICK
Why?

68
 MARIAN
Hunter wants the world to know about what happened tonight. And what
happened to Randy. Daddy will fire him.

RICK
Even if that hurts you and Tom.

MARIAN
Daddy’s given up on Tom. And I'm supposed to keep Hunter in line.

RICK
Jesus! And if you don't?

MARIAN
We've got my teacher's salary.

RICK
He really would disown you too?

MARIAN
What were you saying about unconditional love?

RICK
It's not one of the traditional family values?

MARIAN
It's not at the top of my father's list.

RICK
I've always believed if you're dumped on by the family you were born
into, make another one.

MARIAN
That's not so easy around here.

RICK
I know. I see what my patients go through. Don't you ever get pissed off
at your father? Haven't you ever told him to bug off?

MARIAN
I thought lightning would strike.

RICK
It struck us.

MARIAN
It will strike again. It could strike us. He's the voice of the people around
here, Rick. They don't do things for him because of his money or power.
They do things because they agree with him.

69
 RICK
Like beat people to death. Like violate a boy and leave a gun for him to
blow his brains out. Like set fire to a house full of people. Somebody's
got to stand their ground.

MARIAN
That's just what they say.

RICK
I know. I heard them.

MARIAN
I kept thinking, if only Randy and Tom . . . If only you hadn’t moved
here. . . What is it we wouldn’t have to deal with? This. What we’ve
done. That poor boy. (MARIAN cries. RICK gives her a Kleenex from
the batch she gave him). Thank you. I've got to stand up for Tom.
RICK
Really?

MARIAN
He’s my son! I’d like him to think we’re family.

RICK
Better late than never.

MARIAN
Exactly.

RICK
Daddy isn’t going to like that.

MARIAN
I’m going to have to face that.(after a thoughtful pause)
Taylor is welcome to stay here as long as you need him to.

RICK
Thank you.

MARIAN
It will be good for Tom to have Taylor here.

RICK
Even if ---

MARIAN
Even if... I can’t believe I said that.

RICK
Either can I. Sam may not agree with me, but I think it would be good for
Taylor too.

70
 HUNTER enters.

HUNTER (to RICK)

Are you OK?

RICK
Yeah. We were just having a heart to heart.

HUNTER
Really?

MARIAN
We haven't scratched each others' eyes out.

HUNTER
So I see.

RICK
I'd better get back to the hospital. Hunter has the number where I can be
reached.

HUNTER
Give Sam my best.

RICK starts to leave.

MARIAN
I'll bring the boys to the hospital after school.

RICK
Thanks.

MARIAN
And you and Sam can use the guest room. Until the house is rebuilt.

RICK
Let's not get carried away.

MARIAN
We owe you that much.

RICK
We might have to take you up on that.

RICK exits.

HUNTER
I didn’t expect that.

MARIAN

71
 I’m surprising myself tonight. I want to check on Tom.

*****************************************************
9. TOM's bedroom.

MARIAN moves from kitchen to bedroom area. TOM and TAYLOR

are snuggled together asleep in the bed. MARIAN sees them and
gasps audibly but quietly. She watches for a long moment, then goes
and maternally pulls the covers up, tucking the sleeping boys in. Tom
wakes up.

TOM
Oh, my God! What are you doing?

MARIAN
I was just tucking you in.

TOM
You haven't done that in years.

MARIAN
I felt like doing it tonight. OK?

TOM
He was really upset. He cried himself to sleep.

MARIAN
In your arms.

TOM
Yes.

MARIAN
We need to talk.

TOM
You can't stop my feelings.

MARIAN
I know. Nor can I stop mine all at once. Didn't you read The Merchant of
Venice in school?

TOM
What's that got to do with ---

MARIAN
Oh, everything! Somehow it came to mind tonight as I was thinking
about things. I've taught it for years and never really thought about it.
"The quality of mercy..." I've been .... merciless. I was raised to be
merciless. I want to change that.

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 TOM
Good!

MARIAN
But you have to be merciful too. It's not so easy, believe me!

TOM
I know.

MARIAN
When I figured out what was going on with you and Randy, instead of
talking to you, I told my father. And he told Randy's father.

TOM
You helped kill him.

MARIAN
I know that now. The quality of mercy, Tom. Please hear me out. I was
wrong. I'm sorry. I'm almost forty and I've never stopped being Daddy's
daughter. I don't know how your father has put up with it, but he has. In a
way I was angry at him for putting up with it. Now, before it's too late, I
want to be your mother. We both have to want that.

TOM
I can’t change how I feel in a second.

MARIAN
It’s hard. I know. Can we talk again?

TOM
Tomorrow.

MARIAN
Yes, tomorrow.

MARIAN gets up. Starts to leave.

MARIAN (Quietly. Really to herself.)

I think I envy you.

TOM
What?

MARIAN
Just foolishness. Good night.

TOM
Good night.

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MARIAN tucks the blanket around the boys. Touches TOM’S head,
then TAYLOR’S. Exits.

TOM
Did you hear that?

TAYLOR
Yes. Give her a chance, Tom.

TOM
I will. I can now. Randy’s dead once and for all. Thank you.

TAYLOR
I should be thanking you. You saved Dad’s life. And mine.

TOM
You’ve saved my life too, Taylor. I only wish.....

TAYLOR
Listen a minute. Tom, I’ve had a lot of surprises the past few months.
Mom’s death. Moving out here. All this tonight.

TOM
I’m sorry if I. . .

TAYLOR
Wait! I’ve never been loved before, except for Mom and Dad -- and
Rick. And this isn’t the way I thought it would happen. Right now this
feels good. I don’t know about the future. But I know we’ll always be
something to each other.

TOM
That’s enough for now.

The boys embrace.

MARIAN tucks TOM's blanket around him and leaves. She returns
to the kitchen. HUNTER is now sitting at kitchen table with a drink.

**********************************************************
*******
10. The Tucker's Kitchen

MARIAN
I could use one of those.

HUNTER
Coming right up.
HUNTER fixes drink for MARIAN. They sit at table.

MARIAN

74
 I looked in on the boys.

HUNTER
And?

MARIAN
They're sleeping all tangled together. More like bear cubs than lovers.
But that may be wishful thinking.

HUNTER
I know that's going to take some getting used to.

MARIAN
It helps to know it's not easy for you either.

HUNTER
I'd like to think it's our problem, not theirs.

MARIAN
Problem? Caught you!

HUNTER
I was raised here too.

MARIAN
I know. We've got other problems. Like living on my salary.

HUNTER
I don't plan to be unemployed.

MARIAN
I'm glad to hear it. What are you going to say Daddy?

HUNTER
I'm not going to say anything. I'm going to write the story and run it. If
he wants to fire me after that, fine.

MARIAN
He will. But that's all right.

HUNTER
You're joining me on my liberal high horse?

MARIAN
I've always liked a good fight.

HUNTER
I noticed. Here comes Round One. Your father's car just pulled into the
driveway.

75
 BAILEY enters

BAILEY
I imagine Dennis Pugh has talked to you.

HUNTER
Yes.

BAILEY
Pugh’s being taken off the case. There have been some procedural
irregularities.

HUNTER
We assumed there would be.

BAILEY
Nothing will happen.

HUNTER
There's always investigative journalism.

BAILEY
You don't think your expose will appear in my paper.

HUNTER
It will appear somewhere.

BAILEY
You're going to risk your livelihood for those two? You're crazy. Marian?
(MARIAN doesn't answer for a moment) Marian?

MARIAN
Daddy, I've spent most of my life accepting without question everything
you believed and said. Like you were Jehovah. I don't any more. And,
frankly, I've come to dislike Jehovah. I don't know what I believe about a
lot of things, but I know that what happened was wrong. Very wrong.
And that I want to get to know my son. His friend Taylor will be staying
here for a while.

BAILEY
That boy is here now?

MARIAN
Yes. He's in with Tom.

BAILEY
Then Tom's coming with me. (Calls) Tom! You get down here!!

BAILEY starts for Tom’s room. TAYLOR blocks the doorway. TOM
holds on to TAYLOR’s shoulders.

76
 BAILEY
Get out of my way, boy!

HUNTER
Go home, Bailey! Tom’s had enough trouble for one night.

BAILEY stops. Looks to Marian, who is silent. He looks back to see

TAYLOR hold TOM in a protective embrace.

BAILEY (to MARIAN)

You’re going to allow this?

MARIAN
You don’t rule this roost anymore, Daddy. We’ll decide what we allow.

BAILEY
You are no longer family to me.

MARIAN
That's up to you, Daddy. We're not going anywhere.

BAILEY exits. He's hurt, but he exits through house like a wounded
general.

MARIAN
Are you boys all right?

TOM
I'll be all right. Taylor?

TAYLOR
Don’t worry about me.

HUNTER
We’re not going to be safe here.
TOM
We've got to stay. We've got to fight them.

MARIAN
I'm afraid we do.

TOM
You really have changed tonight.

MARIAN
Some.

TAYLOR
He wouldn't burn this place down.

77
 HUNTER
I wouldn't put it past him. It's the saddest thing about human history --
that you've often got to protect yourself from the good people. Can you
sleep?

TOM
No. You, Taylor?

TAYLOR
No.

MARIAN
Do you want to something to eats?

TOM
I’m kind of hungry. Taylor?

TAYLOR
I could eat.

MARIAN
Well, come on down.

TAYLOR
Thanks.

TOM and TAYLOR go into kitchen with HUNTER and MARIAN.

RICK comes forward.

RICK (to audience)

A pretty picture after an ugly night. I’ve seen too much nastiness to give
up my cynicism. No one should be punished for loving the way Randy
and Sam have been punished -- and all the gay kids who have been
thrown out of their homes or, worse, killed themselves as Randy did and
Tom tried to do. Marian’s enough of a fighter to know the fight isn’t
over. Her father’s never going to change, but other people might.
It’s all about family values, right?
Good night.

The final tableau is everyone – RICK, SAM, HUNTER, MARIAN,

TOM, TAYLOR together in the kitchen posed like a family photo.
Flash. And Blackout.

THE END

78
for the program . . . .

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE
In the summer of 1993, the Cobb County (Georgia) Council,
which had gained some members of the christian right during the
previous election, tried to stop all public funding for “homosexual art” in
their county. When they realized that such a law might be easily
challenged (Perhaps some realized how much art they were banning.
Given the proclivities of King James, their bible might even be suspect.),
they decided to ban all public funding for the arts. Not satisfied with that
measure, they passed a resolution condemning “the gay lifestyle”
(Georgia’s sodomy laws were still on the books, so sex was still illegal).
Since neighboring Atlanta has a large and very visible gay population –
just about every small town southern gay boy and girl hightails it to the
big city as soon as he or she can – the Cobb County Council was drawing
a line in the sand to stop these awful people from moving into Atlanta’s
northwest suburbs. At one of the many turbulent open meetings, a gay
man did get up and invite the assembled virtuous folk to visit his home.
This quixotic gesture was the inspiration for the play. Since then
Mecklenburg County, NC, which includes Charlotte, passed a measure
banning funding for the arts because of a production of ANGELS IN
AMERICA. Another NC county threatened such a measure if a theater

79
produced the musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES!
And, yes, the homes of lesbians and gay men have been torched
in Cobb County and elsewhere.
Tom and Randy’s stories are a compendium of horror stories I
have heard over the years from my gay students. And, yes, I still hear
horror stories. I have also heard stories from the PFLAG members who
have written me after various productions of RANDY’S HOUSE of
public school teachers and principals silently watching while gay
students were beaten up on school property. The daughter of the actress
who played Marian in a production of the play at Arkansas Tech
University was horrified to find her eight year old daughter expelled
from her public school classroom because her mother was appearing in
“an evil play.”
As Hunter says, “You’ve often got to protect yourself from the
good people.”
Thanks to Robert Senensky and all the folks who made this
production possible.
John M. Clum

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