Sometimes Gay Means Happy by Angela Theresa Egic (best novel books to read .TXT) 📖

in…unannounced.

VIOLET
I've been at the hospital…in case, you haven't heard.

TORI
I gathered as much. You look terrible.

VIOLET
I don't want to be here. And you definitely know why I am here.

TORI
Let's put together the facts, shall we? I know you didn't come here to tell me you've won the lotto. So, could it be...help me out, Violet.
(moving behind Vi)
I know! To make me feel guilty, perhaps? Is that it?

VIOLET
(meeting her gaze)
If you think that, you must have a guilty conscience. I am surprised, nevertheless, that you have a conscience.

Violet breaks the attitude a bit. She fiddles with a paperweight on the desk.

VIOLET
What's with you, anyway?

TORI
(still angry)
Nothing much. I have to do a newscast, oh, in about two minutes. So?

VIOLET
Nice try. You have half an hour. I checked first.

TORI
Good. Give me a minute to say goodbye and twenty-nine to go over my copy.
(moving to the door)
Leaving me, exactly...NO TIME, to discuss…uh, Victor, and your unwelcome . . . uncalled for visit, today.

VIOLET
Hear me out, Tori. You can give me that much.

TORI
There's nothing you can tell me that I haven't heard a million times already. So, forget it.

VIOLET
Why are being like this? So, bitchy!

TORI
Violet, I mean it. Get out!

VIOLET
Oh, so you think you're the only one suffering, right?! He is my father, too!

TORI
(stoic)
Nice to see you, Violet.
(holding door open)
Give Daddy my best. See you later.

VIOLET
Oh my god! Look at you, Tori! You have everything going for you. Yes, everything! And you cannot even see your own father in his time of need.

TORI
I have everything?! What do I have, Vi? A homosexual father who abandoned his wife and kids after fifteen years?! Where the hell was he in our time of need? Tell me that!

VIOLET
He left our mother, not us. Besides, it was your choice to not see him.

TORI
He hurt me, Violet. His...his...the divorce ruined my life, okay?

VIOLET
Tori, he hurt me, too.

TORI
Well, I'm sorry. But, he hurt me more.

VIOLET
Really? You're hilarious, Tori. You always have to one-up me, huh? Brilliant.

TORI
Why are you still here?

VIOLET
Oh yeah, I forgot. I know how to forgive. You don't. Come on, Sis. He was a good...no, I take that back. He is a good father, Victoria.

TORI
Don't call me Victoria. I don't like it.

VIOLET
Because of Daddy? Tori, really, can you honestly say he treated us bad? Ever?

TORI
No. No, but . . .

VIOLET
But, what?

TORI
Things happened, Vi...very terrible things.

VIOLET
What terrible things?

TORI
You don't remember what it was like…at school…after the divorce?

VIOLET
Sort of. It wasn't good or fantastic. No.

TORI
What did everyone call us?

VIOLET
Lesbians…mostly.
TORI
Why, Violet?

VIOLET
I guess it was pretty known that Daddy was gay.

TORI
Yeah, you told them.

VIOLET
Did I? I was a kid, Tor...it doesn't matter.

TORI
No, I guess not.

VIOLET
So, what is your point? It was hard to be called names; sure, but it didn't make me hate Daddy.

TORI
Something worse...happened, though...to me.

VIOLET
What, Tor? My god, what happened, Sis. You can tell me.

Tori walks away from Violet, composes herself.

VIOLET
Whatever. Just see him…one time. Please?

TORI
It's been too long...

VIOLET
Are you afraid of Daddy?

TORI
No, I'm not afraid.

VIOLET
You're shaking, Tori.

TORI
I am not! I'm just getting angry, that's all.

VIOLET
Great! Then, go head, get angry! Maybe someone will mistake you for a human being!

TORI
He's in stable condition, isn't he?

VIOLET
For now…yeah.

TORI
If something changes, then...

VIOLET
He wants to see you. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Do you feel anything?

TORI
Victor will get over it. Anyway, he has what's his name!

VIOLET
David? Yeah, his lover . . .a wonderful guy, Tori. You'd like him.

TORI
I have no time for you jabs, Vi.

VIOLET
Well, Daddy doesn't have much time, either; I told him you were heartless, that you'd never care.

TORI
Oh please, Vi. As usual, you're being the drama queen.

VIOLET
The man is dying. What part of that don't you get?

TORI
He's in stable condition...that's good!

VIOLET
You don't give a damn. I give up!

TORI
I didn't want Victor to...anything. A heart attack is bad, I know; I didn't wish that on him. I don't hate anyone that much.

VIOLET
Hate? You hate him, now? And Victor?

Nothing has changed! I've been by his side every day, for years...the dedicated daughter. And I love him, Tori, so much!
(almost laughing)
Still, he wants you, just you...his Princess Victoria.

TORI
Stop it, Violet! You cannot blame this on me.

VIOLET
I will never be good enough…to him, at least. I'd give anything to have even half the love he gives you. You don't even want it, do you?
(resolved)
You know what he asks me, every time I see him?

TORI
Of course not.

VIOLET
He says, "How is my Princess Victoria?" or "Turn on the TV, Violet, your sister is on."

VIOLET
(sad)
I love him, Tori and I should hate him, too. He adores you, from afar, and you hate his guts.
(re-igniting anger)
And you have the nerve to tell me he hurt you more! Wow!

Violet heads toward the door.

TORI
Violet, I am sorry you allowed him to do that to you.

VIOLET
(at the door)
No you're not.

TORI
I don't hate him, either. I am just...

VIOLET
He loves you, Tor. His love is unconditional, as it should be. No matter how you've acted.
(one more try)
Won't you give him a moment of your time for that?

TORI
I don't know if I can.

VIOLET
Okay. But please, soon. It has to be soon.

TORI
You scare me sometimes, Violet. It sounds like he's already dead.

Violet realizes Tori doesn't know.

VIOLET
You do know, don't you? You have to know...

TORI
Know what...

VIOLET
My God, Victoria. I don't know how to tell you. I don't know how to say this.

TORI
Just say it, Vi. You say everything else...

VIOLET
Daddy...he's dying.

Tori is shaken, she can see Violet is serious. Tori leans over her desk to keep from falling.

VIOLET
For God's sake, Tori, sit down.

Violet closes the door and helps Tori sit. Violet pulls a chair right beside her and holds her hands.

TORI
His heart . . . is it his heart?

VIOLET
No...Tori. Daddy has AIDS.

TORI
That can't be true.

VIOLET
God, I'm sorry, sis. He's had it for years...I really thought you knew.

TORI
Tell me you're lying, Violet.

VIOLET
No. I'm so sorry. I wish it, too. He just wants to see you before...

TORI
Leave now, Vi. Please, just leave.

VIOLET
Tori, you look pale. I want you to talk to me.

Tori pushes her away and stands in front of her. Violet jumps to her feet, too. She's intimidated by Tori's anger this time.

VIOLET
I can't leave you like this.

Tori goes past her to the door.

TORI
Fine. You stay. I'll leave!

Tori storms out.

VIOLET
Come back, Tori; you're on the air in a few minutes.
(calling after her)
You can't just go like this. Where are you going?! Tori! Tori! Where can we reach you?

Violet goes to Tori's desk and picks up the phone.

VIOLET
Stephen Osborne, please...make it quick!

EXT. LINCOLN CENTER – LATER THAT EVENING

Vivian Beaumont Theatre area of the Lincoln Center complex. Tori is sitting on a cement bench, with 5-year-old Crystal on her lap.

TORI
That was your Grandpa on the video.

CRYSTAL
He's on the TV, just like you, Mommy!

TORI
Well, my Daddy; your Grandpa is an actor. Mommy is a newscaster.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa is the Pied Piper!

TORI
He was pretending to be the Pied Piper. Actors pretend to be other people.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa can't do magic then?

TORI
No, darling. Only pretend magic.

CRYSTAL
Are you sad, Mommy?

Tori cries. Crystal rubs her cheek.

CRYSTAL
Because Grandpa can't do magic?

TORI
I'm very sad, Crystal, because Grandpa is sick. And there's no magic in the world to make him better.

CRYSTAL
In my book, Beauty and The Beast, the Beast turned into a Prince because Belle loved him.

TORI
Yes, he did, darling.

CRYSTAL
If we both love Grandpa, would he get better, too?

TORI
Oh, how I wish it were that easy . . .

Violet and Stephen approach.

CRYSTAL
Look, Mommy! It's my Daddy and Aunt Vi!

Steve scoops up Crystal.

STEPHEN
How's Daddy's girl?!

CRYSTAL
Mommy and me saw Grandpa on video!

TORI
I wanted her to see Victor.

VIOLET
I thought you didn't care about him?

TORI
Don't start this here!

STEPHEN
Sweety, you could've said you'd be at the library. We were very worried about you two.

TORI
I just needed some time alone with Crystal.

Crystal lets out a big yawn.

STEPHEN
(to Crystal)
Are you all tired out, big girl?

VIOLET
How about I take you home, Crissy? We'll get some hot chocolate and watch some TV!

Crystal goes to her Aunt Vi.

STEPHEN
(to Violet)
Thank you.

Stephen gives some money to Violet.

STEPHEN
Money for a cab.

VIOLET
Thanks Steve. Look sis, I'm sorry I've been such a bully lately. But, think about it a minute; it's not easy for me, either.

Violet with Crystal exits. Crystal and Stephen exchange waving goodbye. Once they are out-of-sight, Stephen sits beside Tori on the bench.

STEPHEN
What happened?

TORI
Daddy has AIDS.

STEPHEN
I heard. Why did you run out before your newscast? It's not like you.

TORI
Oh God, Rachel must be livid! I missed both newscasts, didn't I?

STEPHEN
I explained the situation to Rachel.

TORI
Steve, you should've left that to me!

STEPHEN
Everyone was worried sick, I had to tell her something so she didn't alert the National Guard.

TORI
You think?

Stephen gives Tori that look, the knowing look of whom they are speaking about.

TORI
Yeah, sorry, you're right. Hey, how'd you find me, anyway?

STEPHEN
The librarian is a fan. She recognized you and called the studio.
(beat)
What else?

TORI
I miss him, Steve.

STEPHEN
Then see him.

TORI
How? I haven't spoken to him in 14 years.

STEPHEN
Tori, that's not important now. It's the past. How do I say this?

TORI
Just say it.

STEPHEN
It is your last chance to make peace with him, and your past.

TORI
Don't say it like that. It sounds so awful.

STEPHEN
Your father has AIDS. There is no cure. You have to face facts, Tori.

TORI
It's 1988, science improves all the time, Steve.

STEPHEN
Facts, Tori. The statistics say different. Maybe in 10 years or 20 years, but now: no. Your father won't make