WEBVTT - QUESTA - Act 1 0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:00.940 One, two, three. 0:00:01.240 --> 0:00:02.400 Taylor Reid. 0:00:02.820 --> 0:00:04.059 Cuesta. 0:00:04.280 --> 0:00:04.700 Yes. 0:00:05.110 --> 0:00:05.460 Yes. 0:00:08.250 --> 0:00:16.270 Cuesta by Victor Bumbalow. Fade in. Black postcard. It reads 1991. Exterior, 0:00:16.390 --> 0:00:17.650 New York City, Chelsea. 0:00:17.880 --> 0:00:18.209 Evening. 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.520 A quiet residential area. Brownstones and small apartment buildings. It's 0:00:23.540 --> 0:00:27.319 an hour after the rain. The street, fairly deserted, is 0:00:27.380 --> 0:00:30.980 glistening with colored lights reflecting off it. For a second, 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:34.460 the street sparkles with a make-believe look to it. This 0:00:34.560 --> 0:00:38.880 image is interrupted as Paul turns the corner. He is attractive, thin, 0:00:39.280 --> 0:00:42.980 and in his early 30s. He is running, scared. He 0:00:43.120 --> 0:00:45.690 instantly slows down when he sees a woman coming down 0:00:45.700 --> 0:00:48.530 the block toward him. He crosses the street, trying to 0:00:48.590 --> 0:00:51.950 control his heavy breathing. Paul and the woman pass each 0:00:52.010 --> 0:00:54.570 other on opposite sides of the street. When he is 0:00:54.670 --> 0:00:56.690 sure she can no longer see him and no one 0:00:56.730 --> 0:01:00.120 else is on the street... He rips off his baseball-like jacket, 0:01:00.420 --> 0:01:02.880 wipes his shirt with it, and buries it in a 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:06.399 street corner garbage bin that is already filled. He cleans 0:01:06.440 --> 0:01:09.759 his dirty hands on his jeans. A car turns a corner. 0:01:10.190 --> 0:01:13.350 Paul shies away from it. He then turns another corner 0:01:13.510 --> 0:01:16.330 onto a heavily trafficked street and picks up his pace. 0:01:17.110 --> 0:01:21.429 Exterior street continuous. Paul passes a store window and sees 0:01:21.490 --> 0:01:24.890 his reflection. His face and shirt have blood on them. 0:01:25.430 --> 0:01:30.100 He stares at himself. Dissolve to exterior, head of a 0:01:30.140 --> 0:01:34.459 young man, same time. The young man is perhaps 21. 0:01:34.459 --> 0:01:37.840 Some blood drips from his mouth. His head lies in 0:01:37.880 --> 0:01:40.520 a pool of blood coming from the back of his skull. 0:01:41.120 --> 0:01:41.420 Red. 0:01:42.080 --> 0:01:45.330 Such a vivid red, in contrast to the pale face 0:01:45.390 --> 0:01:49.390 and the dark concrete. The face is attractive. The face 0:01:49.450 --> 0:01:53.470 of an all-American boy. The eyes are still open, startled. 0:01:54.320 --> 0:02:00.430 two old and worn shoes step into the frame. Cut 0:02:00.510 --> 0:02:05.890 to exterior street a moment later. Paul is running. Exterior, 0:02:05.910 --> 0:02:10.230 a deserted alley a second later. Daniel, early 40s, is 0:02:10.310 --> 0:02:14.020 staring at the body. He is a black street person, very, 0:02:14.160 --> 0:02:17.860 very thin. Daniel is effeminate when he wants to be 0:02:18.180 --> 0:02:21.260 and ever so butch when he needs to be. The 0:02:21.300 --> 0:02:23.030 real Daniel disappeared years ago. 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:25.360 Don't touch anything. 0:02:26.260 --> 0:02:30.470 He slowly backs away from the body. Exterior, in front 0:02:30.490 --> 0:02:33.250 of Trucking, a gay bar in the village, moments later. 0:02:33.830 --> 0:02:36.030 A few people in front of the bar watch Daniel 0:02:36.090 --> 0:02:40.750 as he walks into Trucking. Interior Trucking, continuous. Daniel enters 0:02:40.790 --> 0:02:45.120 the bar. It is the weekend, so it's fairly crowded. Immediately, 0:02:45.139 --> 0:02:46.740 a bartender comes over to Daniel. 0:02:48.639 --> 0:02:51.000 Somebody just got killed in the alley, and I saw 0:02:51.040 --> 0:02:51.440 who did it. 0:02:51.820 --> 0:02:56.370 That grabs the customer's attention. Word spreads. Some laugh, like 0:02:56.389 --> 0:02:58.950 it might be a joke. Some folks leave, maybe to 0:02:58.990 --> 0:03:01.120 take a look. Some just study Daniel. 0:03:01.570 --> 0:03:03.440 Shouldn't someone call 911? 0:03:03.440 --> 0:03:04.940 The bartender just stands there. 0:03:05.520 --> 0:03:07.200 If you won't prove, go look for yourself. 0:03:07.380 --> 0:03:10.240 The bartender backs away from Daniel to do just that. 0:03:11.419 --> 0:03:15.600 Exterior Chelsea, a little later. Paul is hurrying down another street, 0:03:15.700 --> 0:03:18.660 trying to be invisible to a passerby. He turns a 0:03:18.700 --> 0:03:21.460 corner and runs up the steps of a brownstone and 0:03:21.500 --> 0:03:23.720 rings the intercom. The intercom answers. 0:03:24.910 --> 0:03:26.210 It's me. Are you alone? 0:03:27.050 --> 0:03:27.330 Yes. 0:03:27.830 --> 0:03:28.110 Why? 0:03:29.250 --> 0:03:34.630 Interior, one-bedroom apartment in the Brownstone building, moments later. Susan, mid-twenties, 0:03:34.880 --> 0:03:39.040 whose open-heartedness can be intimidating, goes to answer the door. 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:41.840 As soon as she opens the door, Paul pushes past 0:03:41.880 --> 0:03:43.480 her and starts ripping off his clothes. 0:03:44.100 --> 0:03:44.820 What the hell? 0:03:44.980 --> 0:03:47.860 Paul is half out of his mind, hyper and desperate. 0:03:48.140 --> 0:03:50.160 His speech is rapid and disjointed. 0:03:50.440 --> 0:03:51.320 We've got to get rid of these. 0:03:51.760 --> 0:03:52.380 What happened? 0:03:53.740 --> 0:03:57.200 Give me something to wear. No, I better shower first. 0:03:58.700 --> 0:03:59.640 When will Nicholas be back? 0:03:59.980 --> 0:04:00.660 In a few minutes. 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:04.080 I don't want him to see this. Get me a 0:04:04.100 --> 0:04:04.740 plastic bag. 0:04:05.140 --> 0:04:07.090 Susan runs out of the room to get a plastic 0:04:07.120 --> 0:04:08.100 bag for his clothes. 0:04:09.930 --> 0:04:10.410 Then a drink. 0:04:10.570 --> 0:04:11.290 I need a drink. 0:04:11.570 --> 0:04:12.090 You shouldn't. 0:04:12.110 --> 0:04:13.660 I need one. 0:04:14.250 --> 0:04:16.950 Susan comes into the room with the plastic bag. Paul 0:04:17.010 --> 0:04:19.250 grabs it out of her hands and starts throwing his 0:04:19.350 --> 0:04:20.510 bloodied clothes into it. 0:04:21.200 --> 0:04:22.660 What happened? The drink. 0:04:22.940 --> 0:04:25.600 Paul is now down to his underwear. He checks his 0:04:25.640 --> 0:04:28.520 body for blood. Susan goes to a cabinet and pours 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:29.120 Paul a drink. 0:04:30.000 --> 0:04:34.779 I think he's dead. Who? The man in the alley. 0:04:35.180 --> 0:04:36.660 Oh, Jesus fucking Christ. 0:04:36.750 --> 0:04:39.380 Paul grabs the drink out of Susan's hand and gulps it. 0:04:39.790 --> 0:04:41.790 He keeps aimlessly moving around the room. 0:04:42.510 --> 0:04:43.270 What alley? 0:04:43.830 --> 0:04:47.650 I didn't mean it. You believe me, don't you? 0:04:51.560 --> 0:04:53.260 Paul, what are you talking about? 0:04:53.279 --> 0:05:00.020 I killed him. What? I could have stopped, but I didn't. 0:05:01.020 --> 0:05:03.790 I kept hitting, banging his head. 0:05:04.200 --> 0:05:06.630 Susan, in shock, is just staring at Paul. 0:05:08.630 --> 0:05:12.630 We were in the alley near trucking. Sex sometimes goes 0:05:12.730 --> 0:05:16.210 on there. Don't look at me like that. It's the 0:05:16.230 --> 0:05:20.089 only kind of sex I can handle these days. He 0:05:20.130 --> 0:05:21.980 was younger than me. Bigger. 0:05:22.540 --> 0:05:22.880 Drunk. 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:28.850 He was finishing peeing. I looked at him and he smiled. 0:05:29.529 --> 0:05:32.310 He started calling me names. Then he started hitting me. 0:05:32.810 --> 0:05:33.170 Hard. 0:05:34.410 --> 0:05:38.610 Somehow I tripped him or he tripped. There was blood 0:05:38.670 --> 0:05:41.790 coming from his head. He must have fallen on a 0:05:41.850 --> 0:05:46.190 rock or something. And I jumped on him. And I 0:05:46.480 --> 0:05:50.210 grabbed him by the shoulders and kept banging him. Then 0:05:50.270 --> 0:05:51.779 somebody came towards us and I ran. 0:05:54.380 --> 0:05:55.700 Maybe he's still alive. 0:05:56.580 --> 0:05:57.100 He's not. 0:05:58.820 --> 0:06:02.140 We've got to call the police now. It was an accident. Self-defense. 0:06:02.339 --> 0:06:04.480 Susan quickly goes over to the phone and picks it up. 0:06:05.170 --> 0:06:08.130 Did you hear me? I kept banging his head. 0:06:08.930 --> 0:06:12.789 Susan looks at Paul's pleading body and puts down the phone. 0:06:13.690 --> 0:06:17.740 Interior shower. Minutes later, Paul is scrubbing his skin violently. 0:06:18.500 --> 0:06:22.760 Interior Susan's living room, a moment later. Susan's husband, Nicholas, 0:06:22.820 --> 0:06:25.100 comes into the room with a grocery bag. He's an 0:06:25.160 --> 0:06:27.440 early 30s New Yorker man on the move. 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:32.339 One grocery store and two delis later. Natural cashews. 0:06:32.920 --> 0:06:34.520 He looks over to his upset wife. 0:06:35.560 --> 0:06:36.300 Hey, what's the matter? 0:06:38.120 --> 0:06:38.739 It's my brother. 0:06:38.760 --> 0:06:40.370 He's in the shower. 0:06:41.200 --> 0:06:43.000 Why is he in our shower? 0:06:43.620 --> 0:06:47.070 Exterior, street in front of trucking, same time. The scene 0:06:47.150 --> 0:06:49.779 is lit from the lights of cop cars and an ambulance. 0:06:50.279 --> 0:06:52.700 The young man is now in a body bag. He's 0:06:52.740 --> 0:06:56.660 being placed in the ambulance. Daniel, holding court, is with 0:06:56.800 --> 0:07:01.390 detectives and some onlookers. Interior, Susan's living room, moments later. 0:07:01.890 --> 0:07:04.270 Susan is with her husband. Paul comes into the room 0:07:04.290 --> 0:07:04.870 and looks at them. 0:07:05.750 --> 0:07:07.730 Paul, this is serious. 0:07:08.690 --> 0:07:09.250 You told him? 0:07:09.650 --> 0:07:11.920 That you got hit drunk and got sick all over yourself? 0:07:12.360 --> 0:07:15.460 Paul is relieved that his sister has lied. They exchange 0:07:15.500 --> 0:07:15.760 a look. 0:07:17.740 --> 0:07:19.340 I'll bring your clothes back tomorrow. 0:07:20.980 --> 0:07:25.179 You told us you weren't drinking anymore. You said AA 0:07:25.220 --> 0:07:26.240 was working for you. 0:07:27.860 --> 0:07:33.170 Interior Police Station, night. Detective Ralph Salvadori, a 45-year-old with 0:07:33.200 --> 0:07:36.930 a weight problem, and his younger partner, Detective Bernadette Kronick, 0:07:37.330 --> 0:07:39.750 are with Daniel, who is enjoying a cup of coffee 0:07:39.850 --> 0:07:44.190 and a donut. Daniel is giving instructions to the sketch artist, Jason. 0:07:44.550 --> 0:07:48.100 Are you being cooperative tonight? It's a kinder, gentler me. 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:49.980 What were you doing back there? 0:07:50.420 --> 0:07:50.700 Pee. 0:07:51.500 --> 0:07:52.260 It's my pissoir. 0:07:53.280 --> 0:07:56.760 Anyway, the two boys were fighting. I thought I'd better 0:07:56.780 --> 0:08:00.840 take a look. What a good citizen I am. His 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:01.780 nose is whiter. 0:08:02.660 --> 0:08:05.820 The sketch looks nothing like Paul. In fact, it looks 0:08:05.860 --> 0:08:07.100 more like the dead young man. 0:08:07.720 --> 0:08:10.220 Do you think I could have another donut? Maybe a cigarette? 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:14.400 He had thicker, blonder hair. Straight. 0:08:15.500 --> 0:08:18.870 Paul's hair is not blonde. Chronic hands Daniel a donut. 0:08:19.490 --> 0:08:23.750 Many, many thanks, darling. What a cute little body you have. 0:08:24.730 --> 0:08:28.690 Interior, Susan's bedroom, later that night. Susan and Nicholas are 0:08:28.730 --> 0:08:30.880 getting ready for bed. Susan looks out of it. 0:08:31.630 --> 0:08:35.920 Your brother's using Kevin as an excuse to drink. He's 0:08:35.980 --> 0:08:37.439 playing the widower again. 0:08:37.460 --> 0:08:39.439 Let's just go to bed. 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:41.660 It's been two years since Kevin died. 0:08:42.610 --> 0:08:43.970 You have some compassion. 0:08:43.990 --> 0:08:47.470 Kevin was my best friend. I lost someone, too. 0:08:47.490 --> 0:08:48.949 I know. 0:08:49.690 --> 0:08:52.250 Susan goes into the bathroom to get away from her husband. 0:08:53.050 --> 0:08:57.090 Interior bathroom continuous. Susan closes the door and tries to 0:08:57.150 --> 0:09:03.820 control her shaking. Dissolved to interior Paul's studio apartment that night. Paul, 0:09:04.040 --> 0:09:07.059 looking like a frightened child, is sitting up in bed 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:12.510 in his darkened apartment. He is dazed and clutching his pillow. Interior, 0:09:12.650 --> 0:09:16.510 close-up of Lori's face a few days later. Lori is 0:09:16.570 --> 0:09:20.170 a sensual-looking woman in her early to mid-forties. She looks 0:09:20.230 --> 0:09:24.030 tired and appears almost drugged. She is staring at something. 0:09:24.870 --> 0:09:29.860 Dissolved to Interior St. Anthony's Church a second later. Lori, 0:09:29.940 --> 0:09:33.140 wearing black, is staring at the coffin holding her son. 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:36.180 It is in the aisle next to her. Near the 0:09:36.200 --> 0:09:39.219 coffin is a smiling picture of a young man. It 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:42.450 is the dead boy from the alley. the muffled sounds 0:09:42.570 --> 0:09:45.320 of the mass ending, and the organ playing are heard. 0:09:46.059 --> 0:09:49.120 Next to Lori are her sister, her brother-in-law, and her 0:09:49.280 --> 0:09:53.450 uncomfortable teenage nephew. Father Dunn, in his late 70s, is 0:09:53.500 --> 0:09:56.870 blessing the coffin. He is assisted by Father James, a 0:09:56.910 --> 0:10:00.440 younger priest in his 40s. Father Dunn and Father James 0:10:00.540 --> 0:10:03.719 lead the coffin, wheeled by the pallbearers, down the aisle 0:10:03.800 --> 0:10:07.240 to the church's exit. Lori and her family take their 0:10:07.280 --> 0:10:10.240 place behind the coffin. The rest of the people file 0:10:10.280 --> 0:10:14.760 behind the family. It's a very small group of mourners. Interior, 0:10:14.920 --> 0:10:18.830 Lori's kitchen, late that evening. Lori is wandering around the 0:10:18.870 --> 0:10:22.819 room aimlessly. Father James sits at her kitchen table in 0:10:22.860 --> 0:10:27.059 a t-shirt and pants. He exudes too much sexuality for 0:10:27.100 --> 0:10:27.620 a priest. 0:10:28.380 --> 0:10:31.250 Father Dunn's eulogy was ridiculous. It has nothing of will 0:10:31.309 --> 0:10:31.530 in it. 0:10:32.750 --> 0:10:34.990 I should have done it. I'm sorry. 0:10:35.110 --> 0:10:37.189 Oh, and his idea of angels, it. 0:10:37.270 --> 0:10:41.210 Father Dunn's spirituality has a touch of Disney to it. 0:10:41.340 --> 0:10:43.360 How the hell did those people get my number? 0:10:44.559 --> 0:10:45.780 Your name was in the paper? 0:10:46.140 --> 0:10:49.700 They called it another gay bashing. I told them they 0:10:49.740 --> 0:10:52.960 won't be calling here again. My son was not one 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:56.700 of them. He wasn't gay. You know that. 0:10:58.400 --> 0:11:00.220 But I think some of the police think he was. 0:11:00.460 --> 0:11:01.660 No, they don't. 0:11:02.760 --> 0:11:06.290 The way his car was parked, the witness said he 0:11:06.309 --> 0:11:08.210 was just back there peeing. 0:11:08.330 --> 0:11:11.569 Gay, my ass. How we would laugh whenever I made 0:11:11.610 --> 0:11:12.710 fun of my boss, Richard. 0:11:13.990 --> 0:11:15.090 You gotta get some sleep. 0:11:17.350 --> 0:11:18.850 Why did God do this to me? 0:11:19.990 --> 0:11:20.870 Was it because of us? 0:11:22.170 --> 0:11:22.720 I doubt it. 0:11:26.550 --> 0:11:27.390 Can you stay all night? 0:11:29.130 --> 0:11:32.740 You know I can't do that. But I'll stay a while. 0:11:35.580 --> 0:11:38.380 Your collar is very selective in what kind of comfort 0:11:38.420 --> 0:11:38.960 it can give. 0:11:41.460 --> 0:11:45.880 Exterior, Chelsea Street, Day. Celia, a white drag queen whose 0:11:45.940 --> 0:11:48.720 name is Carl when he's not in drag, is sitting 0:11:48.780 --> 0:11:51.660 on a stoop. Next to him is Daniel. They are 0:11:51.700 --> 0:11:55.040 sharing a sandwich, watching the traffic, and giving the once-over 0:11:55.080 --> 0:11:57.540 to the various nannies wheeling their white babies. 0:11:59.140 --> 0:12:01.980 If I was the witness, I'd at least gotten myself 0:12:02.080 --> 0:12:02.860 on television. 0:12:03.220 --> 0:12:05.160 As what? The ugliest bitch around? 0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:07.920 As the cutest boy there ever was. 0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:10.240 You were that once, darling. 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:12.780 But I preferred a dress. 0:12:13.380 --> 0:12:15.840 Hmm. I lied. 0:12:16.860 --> 0:12:19.040 My murderer looked nothing like the description I gave. 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:23.610 I saw the flyers. He looks like Brad Pitt. 0:12:23.679 --> 0:12:28.230 You got it. That's who I was describing. I love 0:12:28.250 --> 0:12:28.910 that little white boy. 0:12:29.350 --> 0:12:30.030 I'm over him. 0:12:31.290 --> 0:12:32.770 I'm on to the Johnny Deep. 0:12:33.670 --> 0:12:33.949 Dab? 0:12:34.170 --> 0:12:34.650 Whatever. 0:12:35.250 --> 0:12:38.050 You got no loyalty. It's a severe character flaw. 0:12:39.710 --> 0:12:40.410 Why'd you lie? 0:12:41.070 --> 0:12:41.790 I had my reasons. 0:12:42.590 --> 0:12:43.230 He give you money? 0:12:43.250 --> 0:12:43.309 No. 0:12:44.350 --> 0:12:45.670 Who do you think I am, a criminal? 0:12:46.170 --> 0:12:48.790 Celia is watching a couple of nannies wheeling their babies. 0:12:49.910 --> 0:12:51.929 It's an explosion of babies. 0:12:51.950 --> 0:12:57.410 Everybody's getting them these days. Old people, gay people, lesbian people. 0:12:59.540 --> 0:13:03.200 Interior Paul's studio apartment day. Paul sits on a high 0:13:03.260 --> 0:13:06.660 stool near his kitchen counter. He is as disheveled as 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:10.179 his apartment is. The room is fairly large. One can 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:13.420 see what an attractive space this once was, or could 0:13:13.460 --> 0:13:16.190 be again. Susan is straightening up the room. 0:13:17.350 --> 0:13:18.330 You don't have to do this. 0:13:18.550 --> 0:13:20.130 Susan's not paying attention to him. 0:13:22.350 --> 0:13:23.360 Why do you think he did it? 0:13:24.450 --> 0:13:24.670 Who? 0:13:25.770 --> 0:13:28.890 The witness. His description. You've seen the flyers. They look 0:13:28.929 --> 0:13:32.010 nothing like me. Maybe he's going to blackmail me. 0:13:32.290 --> 0:13:35.350 Maybe he wasn't a witness. Just somebody who's looking for attention. 0:13:36.050 --> 0:13:37.330 Maybe I should just go to the police. 0:13:39.350 --> 0:13:39.530 No. 0:13:39.990 --> 0:13:40.190 No. 0:13:40.470 --> 0:13:42.309 It might be too late for that. 0:13:43.890 --> 0:13:44.250 The mother. 0:13:46.140 --> 0:13:48.660 I read he's a hairdresser in the village. But the 0:13:48.700 --> 0:13:50.199 funeral's in Jersey at St. 0:13:50.260 --> 0:13:50.600 Anthony's. 0:13:50.640 --> 0:13:51.830 Please, please stop it. 0:13:52.090 --> 0:13:56.630 I can't. I've been thinking. Thinking. It's a blur to me. 0:13:57.670 --> 0:13:59.689 I was in such a rage. I need to know 0:13:59.750 --> 0:14:03.130 if he was dead when I jumped on him. What 0:14:03.150 --> 0:14:04.190 the hell difference would that make? 0:14:05.390 --> 0:14:06.950 It was self-defense. 0:14:07.690 --> 0:14:08.750 But I kept pounding. 0:14:09.850 --> 0:14:13.209 Silence. Susan sits down, holding in her tears. 0:14:14.600 --> 0:14:16.559 I should have gone right home after it happened. I 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:17.640 should have never told you. 0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:23.350 You had to. We never kept secrets from each other. 0:14:23.370 --> 0:14:25.230 All we have is each other. 0:14:26.930 --> 0:14:27.830 You have Nicholas now. 0:14:28.190 --> 0:14:29.920 I know, but I can't help it. 0:14:29.930 --> 0:14:35.670 I need you more. Remember all those dreams we had 0:14:35.730 --> 0:14:36.910 after Mommy and Daddy died? 0:14:38.370 --> 0:14:40.090 They were always so similar. 0:14:40.110 --> 0:14:44.890 When we used to tell them to each other... some 0:14:44.930 --> 0:14:49.350 of our loneliness would disappear, remember? Let's... Let's pretend we 0:14:49.390 --> 0:14:50.990 both had a similar nightmare. 0:14:51.250 --> 0:14:51.840 That this was. 0:14:51.860 --> 0:14:55.840 That what this was was just a nightmare. 0:14:56.720 --> 0:14:58.960 Paul sits at the edge of his bed, holding his head. 0:14:59.600 --> 0:15:01.880 The phone starts ringing. The machine kicks in. 0:15:02.620 --> 0:15:03.400 Hi, it's me. 0:15:03.780 --> 0:15:04.619 Shit, get it. 0:15:05.080 --> 0:15:07.650 Susan, who is nearer to the phone, gets it. Paul 0:15:07.690 --> 0:15:09.430 stands up and tries to get himself together. 0:15:09.450 --> 0:15:10.870 Hello? 0:15:10.890 --> 0:15:11.130 Hello? 0:15:11.910 --> 0:15:12.690 Hey, it's Ron. 0:15:13.070 --> 0:15:14.950 Oh, hi, Ron. How have you been? 0:15:14.970 --> 0:15:17.350 I'm good. It's my birthday. 0:15:18.090 --> 0:15:20.650 Well, happy birthday to you. 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:21.170 Thank you. 0:15:21.670 --> 0:15:22.420 Tell him I'm dressing. 0:15:22.580 --> 0:15:27.180 He's dressing. He's dressing. I heard that the restaurant is great. 0:15:27.200 --> 0:15:28.960 Yeah. Yeah. 0:15:29.020 --> 0:15:29.680 Things are going good. 0:15:30.120 --> 0:15:31.880 Paul goes over to get the phone from Susan. 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:33.750 Sorry I'm running late. 0:15:34.590 --> 0:15:36.990 That's all right. Just get here when you can. 0:15:37.010 --> 0:15:37.250 All right. 0:15:37.270 --> 0:15:38.330 All right. 0:15:38.370 --> 0:15:40.430 I'll meet you there. Let me go. I'll see you 0:15:40.450 --> 0:15:40.750 in a few. 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:41.920 He hangs up. 0:15:43.270 --> 0:15:45.490 You are not in shape to go to a birthday party. 0:15:45.810 --> 0:15:48.570 I have to. Bradley's going to be there. He just 0:15:48.590 --> 0:15:50.290 got out of the hospital and I have to talk 0:15:50.330 --> 0:15:51.190 to him. It's important. 0:15:51.670 --> 0:15:53.880 Paul starts rushing, looking for something to wear. 0:15:54.620 --> 0:15:58.480 Please don't worry about me, okay? I'll figure something out. 0:15:58.780 --> 0:16:03.160 But I have to see Bradley. I do. I just 0:16:03.230 --> 0:16:06.210 wish it wasn't such a blur. Why can't I see it? 0:16:07.220 --> 0:16:11.460 Interior, an upscale Tribeca restaurant, evening. Ten gay men of 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:14.989 various ethnic origins are seated at a table. Eight of 0:16:15.050 --> 0:16:17.450 them seem to be having a good time. The group 0:16:17.510 --> 0:16:19.970 includes Ron, who is in his 30s and seems to 0:16:20.010 --> 0:16:23.270 be its leader. Paul is sitting next to Bradley, who 0:16:23.330 --> 0:16:26.930 obviously has AIDS, given the lesions on his face. They 0:16:26.980 --> 0:16:28.920 are out of sync with the rest of their friends, 0:16:29.000 --> 0:16:32.080 having a serious conversation. They get up and head for 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:35.220 the men's room. The other men notice, pause for an instant, 0:16:35.610 --> 0:16:39.030 Then resume their conversations. A man at the next table 0:16:39.110 --> 0:16:42.330 has been staring at Bradley. Paul and Bradley enter the 0:16:42.370 --> 0:16:45.240 men's room. Interior men's room continuous. 0:16:46.600 --> 0:16:49.359 I'm sorry. I just couldn't walk into a hospital again. 0:16:49.380 --> 0:16:50.000 I know. 0:16:50.760 --> 0:16:51.800 I shouldn't have been mad at you. 0:16:52.580 --> 0:16:54.080 But I felt like shit and I was bored. 0:16:55.060 --> 0:16:57.660 And I thought we could distract ourselves by talking about 0:16:57.740 --> 0:17:00.860 old movies. Our gang would know the difference between Joan 0:17:00.960 --> 0:17:02.160 Crawford and Golda Meir. 0:17:04.690 --> 0:17:05.790 I didn't want to see you there. 0:17:06.590 --> 0:17:10.630 Well, after Kevin died, you volunteered at GM's... At the YMCA? 0:17:11.810 --> 0:17:12.129 Okay. 0:17:12.990 --> 0:17:17.409 After Kevin died, you volunteered at GM's... I. 0:17:17.410 --> 0:17:19.220 Don't want to say that motherfucking H! 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:22.900 All right. What was the thing that you had trouble 0:17:22.920 --> 0:17:24.160 with last night? Stanima. 0:17:24.180 --> 0:17:26.060 Stanima. 0:17:27.680 --> 0:17:28.800 He's got great stanima. 0:17:31.440 --> 0:17:34.520 After Kevin died, you volunteered at GMHC. You were in 0:17:34.540 --> 0:17:37.220 the hospital all the time taking care of people. I 0:17:37.240 --> 0:17:39.060 thought it was so great given what you've been through. 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:40.840 That great guy is gone. 0:17:41.200 --> 0:17:44.439 No, he's not. He's standing right in front of me. 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:46.030 But.... 0:17:47.420 --> 0:17:49.600 I'm not the last person you love who's going to 0:17:49.619 --> 0:17:50.580 be in the hospital with. 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:54.260 This fucking disease. You do love me. 0:17:55.980 --> 0:17:56.320 Maybe. 0:17:58.420 --> 0:17:59.680 I should be more understanding. 0:18:00.740 --> 0:18:01.880 I'm sorry, I really am. 0:18:03.140 --> 0:18:07.400 No, no... I should have been there for you. I'm 0:18:07.420 --> 0:18:08.200 the one who's sorry. 0:18:09.880 --> 0:18:11.080 Are we in competition? 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:12.700 Of course. 0:18:13.869 --> 0:18:16.930 They look at each other and instantly hug. There's a 0:18:16.950 --> 0:18:17.590 knock on the door. 0:18:18.010 --> 0:18:18.810 We'll be right out. 0:18:19.310 --> 0:18:22.590 Bradley opens the door. The guy races in, really having 0:18:22.630 --> 0:18:22.910 to go. 0:18:22.930 --> 0:18:23.030 Sorry. 0:18:23.270 --> 0:18:23.669 Do I know you? 0:18:23.690 --> 0:18:24.630 No. 0:18:35.170 --> 0:18:36.990 Well, you've been staring at me all night. 0:18:38.010 --> 0:18:38.550 I'm Bradley. 0:18:39.270 --> 0:18:42.850 All Bradley's friends are watching. The man turns away from Bradley. 0:18:43.250 --> 0:18:44.810 The woman at the table bends her head. 0:18:45.570 --> 0:18:46.950 You people aren't very friendly. 0:18:47.790 --> 0:18:50.129 Paul proudly watches Bradley as some of the guys at 0:18:50.150 --> 0:18:53.100 their table begin laughing. The man raises his hand. 0:18:53.150 --> 0:18:53.410 Check. 0:18:54.430 --> 0:18:58.359 Interior, Richard's Beauty Salon, the next day. It's the last 0:18:58.400 --> 0:19:01.679 holdout in the village. An old-fashioned beauty salon in an 0:19:01.820 --> 0:19:05.320 area that is getting trendier. It's a favorite of local people. 0:19:05.800 --> 0:19:09.560 A mixed crowd. Richard is the owner. He's a well-put-together 0:19:09.640 --> 0:19:13.520 gay man in his mid-40s. Shy and soft-spoken, he is 0:19:13.580 --> 0:19:17.590 a kind-hearted survivor. Lori is one of his employees. His 0:19:17.630 --> 0:19:20.820 other employee is Beth, a purple-haired girl in her 20s. 0:19:21.310 --> 0:19:22.630 Lori is cleaning her station. 0:19:23.390 --> 0:19:25.530 I went to the demonstration the other night. 0:19:26.630 --> 0:19:27.429 It's ridiculous. 0:19:27.950 --> 0:19:29.169 My son was not gay. 0:19:29.520 --> 0:19:31.840 But the killer thought he was. 0:19:33.070 --> 0:19:34.139 Let's not talk about it. 0:19:34.490 --> 0:19:35.210 I'll leave you alone. 0:19:36.060 --> 0:19:37.800