Naked

by steven dawson

David  - The Regular

Robert – The Groom

Scott – The Lover

Paul – The Hustler

Mark – The Visitor

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Any application for performance must be made to:

RICK RAFTOS MANAGEMENT

P.O. Box 445 Paddington

NSW, Australia, 2021

Telephone [02] 9281 9622  Fax [02] 9212 7100

raftos@raftos.com.au

Copyright © 2005 Steven Dawson

Naked was first performed in Melbourne Australia, January 20th 2005

At the Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre

Cast

Adrian Corbett              Mark and others

Ross Farrell                   Bob & Others

Paul Ryan                      Robert & Others

Christopher White        David & Others

Designed and Directed by Steven Dawson

Produced by Out Cast Theatre

ACT ONE

INDUSTRIAL SOUNDS. THE SOUND OF MARIANNE FAITHFUL SINGING “DREAMING MY DREAMS WITH YOU” SOMEWHERE FAINTLY BENEATH FLOWS IN AND OUT

BOB

[VOICE OVER] Are you looking at me? Where are you looking? I want you to look at me while I’m doing this. Do you want to touch me? Do you want to fuck me? Let me fuck you.

LIGHTS COME UP ON MARK SITTING DOWNSTAGE TO THE LEFT. ANOTHER MAN LAYS ACROSS HIS LAP GIVING HIM HEAD WITH HIS BACK TO US. MARK HOLDS THE MAN’S HEAD ONTO HIS GROIN.

MARK

[VOICE OVER] Is this a dream? I can’t tell. I want to wake up. I want to shake myself into consciousness. But maybe it’s not a dream. Please be a dream. Then I can wake up.

THE MAN’S BACK IS TO US. MARK REMOVES A SMALL KNIFE FROM UNDER A TOWEL NEXT TO HIM AND STICKS IT INTO THE OTHER MAN’S NECK.  HE GOES RIGID FOR A MOMENT THEN STARTS TO SCREAM. MARK IS STROKING HIS HAIR AND MAKING “SHOOSH” SOUNDS.  THE LIGHTS FADE DOWN.

MORE INDUSTRIAL SOUNDS AND THE CHORUS OF THE SONG. THE LIGHTS COME UP ON ROBERT,  STAGGERING NAKED DOWNSTAGE WITH HIS THROAT CUT, HIS FACE AND BODY DRIPPING WITH BLOOD. HE IS GROANING AS HE MAKES HIS WAY DOWN STAGE.

ROBERT

[VOICE OVER] He was holding onto me. Attached like some kind of parasite onto my hip. I wasn’t sure whether to shake him off or not. All I knew was it felt wonderful. Being that close to someone. What am I doing here?

HE SLOWLY SINKS TO THE GROUND AND LETS OUT A LONG HOWL OF EXTREME PAIN AND ANGUISH. LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK

DAVID

[VOICE OVER] Where are you from? What’s your name? Can you feel me?

THERE ARE SCREAMS OFFSTAGE. LIGHTS COME UP ON DAVID STANDING CENTRE IN A QUEENLY POSE. HE LOOKS OFF, WORRIED. THE LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK.

SCENE TWO

LIGHTS UP ON DAVID SITTING TO THE SIDE.  HE STANDS UP, REMOVES THE TOWEL HE IS WEARING AND SITS AGAIN WITH THE TOWEL IN HIS LAP. LOOKS EXHAUSTED. HE IS TALKING TO SOME IMAGINARY PERSON OFF STAGE. MARK SITS OPPOSITE HIM.

DAVID

Yes. I know, Neville. That sauna was like the land that deodorant forgot. She reeked of a strange concoction of lavender, spearmint and cattle. I didn’t want to fuck her. I wanted to wash her. Looked like right a nutter as well so I’ve only myself to blame. I couldn’t help myself. You know my penchant for tall skinny things. Most times they’ve got dicks to die for. Most times. The last one, well I wanted to skip rope with it! It’s just not fair. What? No. Of course not. Don’t let me keep you. Sweetheart, you go for it. If there’s someone in this place who actually shows signs they want to fuck you then don’t play hard to get because it’s obvious the world is coming to an end. Yes, we’ll chat later.

HE WATCHES HIS FRIEND GO OFF. BOB RUSHES IN. HE STOPS CENTRE AND LOOKS AROUND. HE SEES DAVID, TURNS AND STARTS RUBBING HIMSELF THROUGH THE TOWEL.  DAVID LOOKS UP.

DAVID

Jesus.

BOB GOES OVER TO HIM AND STANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. HE CONTINUES TO RUB HIMSELF.

DAVID

You know, much as I hate to break up this little cabaret act you’ve got going there, sweetheart. I’ve got some bad news for ya’. I’ve already had you.

BOB

Really?

HE DROPS HIS TOWEL AND STANDS FACING HIM, STROKING HIMSELF.

DAVID

Oh fuuuuck off!

BOB GATHERS UP HIS TOWEL AND LEAVES. DAVID LOOKS AT MARK.

Kids, huh?

MARK

Yes.

DAVID

You better watch out for that one, sweetheart. She’s a rental. Bad news.

MARK

A what?

DAVID

You’re new.

MARK

What? Oh. Yes. I suppose I am. This is my first time.

DAVID

A virgin? How exciting.

MARK

No. I mean, first time in a place like this.

DAVID

So did I. The first time you walk through the door it’s so exciting. The sights, the sounds, the smell of ammonia. After a few times you notice the stains all over the place and it’s just plain scary. So, why the late interest?

MARK

Don’t know. It’s complicated. I’m kinda looking for someone.

DAVID

Aren’t we all.

MARK

Not like that.

DAVID

I see. Staking out the ex boyfriend or something? That’s always goes down well in here. Limp wrists at fifty paces. I’ve seen so many flapping wrists in this place they could sell it as a wind farm.

MARK

Not quite.

DAVID

You don’t want to talk about it? That’s cool.

MARK

You sound like a movie.

DAVID

Tell me one thing that isn’t like a movie.

MARK

Real life.

DAVID

Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. Real life is more like a movie than anything else. The sad thing is few people are ready to admit it’s a real b-grade adventure and most people have lost the plot before the second reel. Well, most of the queens I know anyway.

MARK

Okay.

THERE IS A PAUSE

DAVID

My name’s David.

MARK

Mark.

DAVID

Nice to meet you, Mark. I’d get up and shake your hand but the heat’s made my arse flaps suction to the tiles.

MARK

That’s okay.

DAVID

Who are you looking for?

MARK

I’d rather not say.

DAVID

You’re not a celebrity stalker, are you? Because I gotta say the only celebrities that come through this joint are bottom of the list ex-telly actors from the seventies and I can tell you they’d be ever so grateful if someone took an interest. Terrible thing, getting old. You used to look at these guys when they were young and it would get you so hot but by the time they get to places like this the magic and the muscle control has definitely diminished. But hey, like I always say, there’s always someone for everyone. Even ugly people can get a root occasionally. I remember this one guy and seeing him on the street you wouldn’t give him a second look. He was pretty average looking, not that I consider myself a looker but there was this faded look on his face……

THE LIGHTS START TO FADE ON THE SCENE LEAVING ONLY MARK IN LIGHT

MARK

I met him at my high school formal. He wasn’t from my school. He was one of the girl’s dates. They were sitting two tables away but I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. I kept sneaking glances. I watched his every move. How he ate. When he got up to go to the toilet. When he went to the bar for another soft drink. We were still at school and no alcohol. When he got up to dance with her. Badly. All of them dancing badly, like some awful Happy Days moment. But his moves were special. And when I say special we’re talking minibus window licker special. He had all the wrong moves and no rhythm to go with it. I thought he was fascinating. He must have been about 6 feet 1, at least from where I was sitting. He had really blond straw-like hair. Like he was a surfer or something but with a good haircut. You couldn’t be sure but he looked like he had a good body under that dreadful rental suit. I watched his eyes when she placed her hand on his and there was no reaction. I knew he felt nothing. He sat there like someone had just dropped a napkin over his wrist. She wanted something more. He wanted out of there. I couldn’t leave my seat. My friends were trying to get me to get up and have a dance but I couldn’t leave my seat in case he did something that I missed. My bladder was fit to burst but I still couldn’t move. Every time he would look over my way I’d quickly look elsewhere. What pretty lights. What a fascinating table cloth. Where do you get these from? Where is that waiter? It must have been one of the few times that I looked away but the next thing I knew he as gone. I wanted to kill myself. Fuck. I hung around for another half an hour and then left. There was no way I was to get a taxi around here at this time of  night I ended up walking home. About 2 mins from my place this car pulls up along side of me. I look straight ahead. The car beeps its horn. I keep walking. I look straight ahead. It’s not the safest area to live in I’m not about to wake up tied up in someone’s boot. Or not wake up. The car horn is insistent. Finally I look to my left. He’s driving this big old piece of shit car that looks like a tank. Mind you, it’s still the piece of shit I’m not driving. He asks if I want a lift. I tell him I’m not far and that’s okay. He insists. Even on that dark night my face must’ve been glowing red. I get in beside him and the car is so big there must’ve been  at least 3 feet between us. I tell him it’s just down the road a piece. Every few minutes I tell him to take a left and then a right. All the while we’re talking about absolute shit. One thing he did let loose was that his date was just his neighbour and they’d known each other since they were 10. He was school captain at another school and this was his dad’s car. With the directions I kept giving him we passed my house about 4 times and I’m sure he noticed but he didn’t mention it. I was just rabbiting on and listening to him occasionally. I was making him laugh…a lot. In class I was always the clown. We stop outside my place.

LIGHT COMES UP ON SCOTT IN SILHOUETTE

SCOTT

Do you like the movies?

MARK

I like nothing else. [TO AUDIENCE] I go about 3 times a week. Usually by myself. It’s all I spend any money on. I’m a bit of a nerd in that way.

SCOTT

What sort of movies do you like?

MARK

I like anything except scary movies?

SCOTT

Okay.

MARK

What sort of movies do you like?

SCOTT

I like scary ones.

MARK

Really? I like scary ones too.

SCOTT

But you just said you like anything except scary ones.

MARK

That’s because I love scary ones. They’re great. I love them. They’re fantastic. Give me a scary movie any day. [TO AUDIENCE] I’m digging a huge bloody hole here. [TO HIM] Love, love, love ‘em.

SCOTT

You wanna go to the movies sometime?

MARK

Yeah, okay. Sure. Sounds good. Sounds like fun. Yep. Yep indeedy. Why not. Let’s do it. Sounds like a date. I mean. Not a date obviously cause you’re a guy…and…I’m one too…a guy. Oh my god. Does anyone have a rope. That would be good.

SCOTT

Good. There’s a movie marathon at the Classic in two weeks. All horror.

MARK

The films of Stephan Elliot, uh?

SCOTT

What?

MARK

That’s okay. I’m making a joke? All horror?

SCOTT

Should be fun.

MARK

Yeah. A real laugh riot.

SCOTT

You wanna go?

MARK

Love to…I mean, sure. Why not?

SCOTT

Alright. I’ll pick you up about 10.30pm? Bring a blanket.

MARK

Blanket?

SCOTT

Yep. That way you can get comfortable. I mean we’re gonna be there together the whole night.

MARK

We are?

SCOTT

I told you. It’s a movie marathon.

MARK

Of course it is.

SCOTT

I’ll bring my doona.

MARK

Of course.

THEY MOVE ONE OF THE BLOCKS TO THE CENTRE OF THE STAGE TO USE AS CINEMA SEATS .

He picks me up right on 10.30 and he wasn’t joking about the doona. It was a double. I’ve got my single bed Indiana Jones I’ve had since I was 10. I felt like a right twit. We’re standing in line like kids at camp and he doesn’t give a fuck. Must be that school captain air he has about him.

DRAMATIC MUSIC. MARK WATCHES IN WIDE EYED TERROR WITH THE DOONA OVER HIS FACE FOR MOST OF IT. SCOTT LOOKS AT HIM COWERING AND SMILES.

SCOTT

You okay?

MARK

I’m great. My ears are just cold that’s all. And my eyeballs.

SCOTT

Okay. You know, if you want we can leave. I’m starting to feel pretty tired anyway.

MARK

But we still have Flesh Eating Zombies and Die Dearest Die to get through.

SCOTT

I think I’ll cope. You ready to leave?

MARK

Only if you’re sure.

SCOTT

Yeah.

MARK

Wimp.

SCOTT

That’s me.

MARK

He drives me home. You wanna come in for a while?

SCOTT

Aren’t your parents home. We might wake them up.

MARK

They’ll be dead to the world. And if you feel tired you can always crash on the bean bag lounge in my bedroom.

SCOTT

Sounds good. Maybe just for a little while.

MARK

We go into my room and straight away he lays on my bed. I mean right across it. There’s no room for me. I sit on the corner of it and he moves up towards the pillow to make more room. I’m so tired I lay down and I’m facing his chest. He shuffles down and… [SCOTT TAKES HIS HAND. THEY LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD FOR A MOMENT] …we’re about 5 inches from each other’s face. I smile at him. He smiles back and his arm reaches over me and holds me.

SCOTT

Are you okay? You look a little scared.

MARK

Flashback to the movie. I’ll be fine

SCOTT

I see.

MARK

His fingers start to stroke up my bare arm.

SCOTT

I smile at him and lean in a little bit.

MARK

I’m starting to shake.

SCOTT

He’s shaking all over. I lean in further and plant a soft kiss on his mouth.

MARK

Just the softest kiss. I should have freaked out.

SCOTT

I thought he’d freak out.

MARK

But I didn’t.

SCOTT

No, he didn’t. His eyes went wide and then he kissed me right back.

MARK

A beautiful kiss. I move in closer to him and kiss him harder. I want to devour his head.

SCOTT

We shouldn’t do this.

MARK

No, we shouldn’t.

SCOTT

You wanna stop?

MARK

No, we shouldn’t.

SCOTT

Okay.

MARK

We kiss some more.

THEY KISS PASSIONATELY

SCOTT

I need to take my jeans off. They’re getting too tight.

MARK

Stretch cargos with an acid wash. Something’s bound to give. Yeah, you better. They can get pretty uncomfortable. I better take mine off too.

THEY QUICKLY JUMP UP AND PRETEND TO REMOVE THEIR TROUSERS

MARK

Are you gonna stay the night?

SCOTT

Yeah. Alright.

MARK

Because I better get you a blanket and that bean bag lounge can get a little uncomfortable as well.

SCOTT

It’s a nice bean bag but I think I’ll be fine right here.

MARK

Sure.

SCOTT

I mean if that’s okay with you.

MARK

I’ve never been in bed with another man.

SCOTT

Neither have I.

MARK

Oh.

SCOTT

Just lots of other boys.

MARK

Oh?

SCOTT

Joking.

MARK

Oh. His hand reaches down and touches my cock through my y-fronts which is rock hard by this stage.

SCOTT

He reaches down and touches my cock which is also rock hard.

THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SQUEAL WITH DELIGHT

MARK

He slides down further so his legs are hanging off the side of the bed.

SCOTT

The head of his cock is poking out from the top of his undies so I pull them down a bit and the whole thing sort of flops into my mouth. I take him right down to the hilt and love it.

MARK

I can’t believe how great this is. I want to try it on him. I want to feel what it’s like to have his in my mouth. I start to tear the rest of the clothes off him and myself. I grab his big cock and shove my face down onto it. It tastes salty but beautiful. We get down to business and we go at it for hours. Sucking then kissing, sucking then coming then kissing. I came 3 times.

SCOTT

Four times.

MARK

Four times.

SCOTT

I came three.

MARK & SCOTT

Wonderful.

THEY HOLD EACH OTHER’S HANDS

MARK

Jump forward 5 years. We’re both out of high school and working at good jobs. We’re living together. Different city. Different friends. Different worlds. I’m so in love with him and he with me that nothing will break us up. We don’t even look at other people.

SCOTT LOOKS AWAY

SCOTT

Jump forward 5 years.

THEY LET GO OF EACH OTHER

MARK

We fight sometimes

BOTH

But not that much.

SCOTT

And we still make love.

BOTH

But not that often.

MARK

Then we stop.

SCOTT

But we still love each other

MARK

And the sex isn’t so important. I love him being with me.

SCOTT

And him with me.

HE SITS FORWARD

But I haven’t been with anyone else. I don’t know what the rest of the world’s like. I haven’t had other cocks. He has a lovely cock but I want to know what…

MARK

There was nothing ever said but I didn’t think we had to say anything. It was implicit. No screwing around. I didn’t need anyone else. Why would he?

SCOTT

I did something.

MARK

What?

SCOTT

While you were away. I did something.

MARK

You did something?

SCOTT

Uh-huh. With… someone else.

MARK

You had sex with someone?

SCOTT

I did it once.

MARK

Once is enough. Who? Where?

SCOTT

Some bit of rough. It was late one night when you were out of town a few months ago. I needed something new. I went to the sauna.

MARK

This sauna.

SCOTT

This sauna. Some bit of rough.

BOB ENTERS WEARING A BASEBALL CAP. HE  STANDS NEAR THEM. 

Even had the nerve to ask for money. Said he was a struggling uni student. I paid him. Not because I had to but because I didn’t know better and I felt sorry for him.

BOB TAKES SCOTT BY THE HAND

BOB

I promise it’ll be worth it.

HE GUIDES HIM BEHIND THE BOX. BOB DROPS TO HIS KNEES AND REMOVES SCOTT’S TOWELS. HE SIMULATES GIVING HIM A BLOW JOB.

MARK

How could you do this to me?

SCOTT

It was a one off. I was horny.

MARK

Then you jerk off! I do when I’m feeling horny and you’re not around. You jerk off.

SCOTT

Do you think of me when you jerk off?

MARK

Don’t change the subject! You cheated on me.

SCOTT

Once! I did it once!

MARK

How could you be unfaithful? I thought you loved me. Don’t you love me? Have you gone off me? You don’t want us to be together?

SCOTT

Once!

MARK

Once is enough.

SCOTT

Once was enough.

BOB

Let me fuck you.

BOB TURNS HIM AROUND SO HE STANDS BEHIND SCOTT. THEY ARE BOTH FACING THE AUDIENCE.

SCOTT

I don’t…

BOB DROPS HIS TOWEL

BOB

It’ll be fantastic. You want my cock inside you. I can tell. You can’t wait to have a cock inside you.

MARK

You let him fuck you.

BOB PUSHES HIM OVER THE BENCH AND STARTS TO SIMULATE FUCKING HIM.

BOB

You feel me?

SCOTT

Yes.

BOB

You feel me?

SCOTT

Oh yes. Wait. Are you wearing a condom?

BOB

I like it natural. I like it bareback. Doesn’t it feel better? You don’t have to worry. I’m clean.

SCOTT

But…

BOB

Feel my cock inside you. Feel how big you make me?

SCOTT

Yes.

BOB

Tell me how much you want me to fuck you.

SCOTT

Yes. Fuck me. Fuck me!

BOB

Yeah, yeah. You want me to come?

SCOTT

Yeah.

BOB

Yeah?

SCOTT

No, don’t. Don’t come inside me.

BOB

I’m coming.

SCOTT

No don’t.

BOB HOLDS SCOTT’S HEAD DOWN AND SLAMS INTO HIM. SCOTT LETS OUT A GROAN AND FALLS FORWARD, SOBBING  WITH BOB ON TOP OF HIM. BOB PULLS BACK, GRABS HIS TOWEL AND WALKS AWAY. SCOTT WRAPS THE TOWEL AROUND HIMSELF AND SITS BACK DOWN NEXT TO MARK.

SCOTT

I feel guilty.

MARK

Good.

SCOTT

I feel sick.

MARK

Good.

SCOTT

No. I mean I feel sick.

MARK

What do you mean?

SCOTT

[YELLING] I mean I feel sick!!

MARK

I take him to a doctor.

SCOTT

I’m losing weight.

MARK

I can see that.

SCOTT

You don’t care.

MARK

What shit are you talking? Of course I care. Don’t try that on me. I don’t deserve the guilt trips. I should have kicked yo out on your arse 3 months ago when you told me you fucked that guy. The only reason I didn’t is because I do care so shut the fuck up!

SCOTT

I’m sorry.

MARK

Too late for sorrys. Let’s just get this sorted. Then we can deal with the other shit.

SCOTT

Okay.

MARK

Okay. Then they tell us he’s positive and his kidneys are going. Too much information to process. Positive.

SCOTT

How can they go so quickly?

MARK

Opportunistic infection. Starter for ten. Take lots of drugs. This will stop the fucker in its tracks.

SCOTT

But it doesn’t. I can’t fight them off.

MARK

Yes you can.

SCOTT

I want this to be easy for you.

MARK

So you’re giving up now? No. Not yet. We’ll both decide when it’s time to give up.

SCOTT

But I hurt all over.

MARK

I’m sorry.

SCOTT

No, I’m sorry.

MARK TAKES HIS HAND

MARK

Shut up or I’ll smack you.

SCOTT

Your answer for everything.

MARK

Saves time.

SCOTT

Something we don’t have much of.

MARK

And we didn’t.

SCOTT

I ran the pipe through the garage one day and started up the car.

MARK

I found him and got him to hospital just in time.

SCOTT

I’m sorry.

MARK

Stop saying that.

SCOTT

I just want it to stop.

MARK

No you don’t. You don’t get to decide. You fight it. You don’t leave me. You don’t leave…us. You don’t get sick. You traitor! You deceiver! No. You stay with me. Then we can go together. But don’t you dare walk away from me. Don’t you dare die…don’t you dare die without me.

SCOTT

Ssshhh. Let me go. Let me go to sleep now.

MARK

No. Don’t go. Don’t go to sleep. Stay awake. Just a few more hours. Just a few more years.

SCOTT

You stay here. Dream of me. Dream of me holding you. Every night I will kiss you. Every morning I will kiss you. All night with my arms around you. No more scary movies. Just you and me on the bed kissing. Can you feel me?

MARK

Yes. I can feel you. I feel your kiss. I feel…

THE LIGHT FADES OUT ON SCOTT AS HIS HAND DROPS AWAY

Scott?...baby. Are you still with me? [PAUSE] He went to sleep 2 weeks ago. His family came to say goodbye. His friends came to say goodbye. He would be sorely missed. But I…I  buried him alone. I didn’t want to share that moment. You see? No-one’s here for you anymore. They didn’t want to see a traitor die. They didn’t care. It’s just me and you. It’s just me and…

[SCREAMING] How can a whole person just disappear? That’s a whole person walking around on the earth then gone. I don’t feel his arms around me at night. I try. I try to imagine them there and I smell him on everything. The pillows I’m too scared to wash. The clothes I’m too frightened to throw away. The photos I’m too angry to look at. I walk around the house and I don’t know what I’m doing. Where do I go?

THE LIGHTS FADE

SCENE THREE

DAVID IS LYING ON A BENCH ON HIS STOMACH FACING THE AUDIENCE. TWO MEN STAND BEHIND HIM WEARING MASKS IN SILHOUETTE. ONE OF THE MEN IS FISTING HIM. [WHICH ACTUALLY GOES INTO THE BOX DAVID IS LAYING ON] DAVID’S CHIN IS RESTING ON HIS FOLDED ARMS. DAVID LOOKS BEHIND HIM TO THE MAN

DAVID

Are you sure we haven’t met before? You seem somehow…familiar to me. No? [THEY STOP AND LOOK AT HIM] Not to worry. As I was saying this place has changed so much since the first time I came her. You don’t want to know but I think Gough was still in power. In fact there’s a funny story behind that. The night he came to power I was here. I mean right here. In this exact same position too I think. Whilst he was saying “It’s time” I’m saying “time gentlemen.” Isn’t that funny? [BEAT] Suit yourself.  My, you have big knuckles. Are you a tradie or something? I love tradies. Love those little blue King Gee work shorts and hairy legs. Have you got hairy legs? I can’t…quite…see. Bet you look hot in your work shorts. What sort of tradie are you? Plumber? I’m thinking. Snaked any good drains lately? Laid any pipe you wanna talk about? Show us your plumber’s crack [BEAT] Okay, so you’re not a tradie. Sorry. Mind the watch dear. Bloody diver’s watch. So I‘ve been coming here for years. I used to go to the city one but the management were shit and the clientele shocking. Stone creatures to a man. I come here once or twice a week and you know every night is different. I know you’d think after that many times it’s all the same but I can assure you it isn’t. There’s always something going on and the things those younger guys get up to…well, they get wilder and wilder. You never would’ve caught me doing stuff that when I was their age. Drugs, nasty sex. It’s quite outrageous sometimes. Sometimes I don’t know which way to look. Little to the left dear. I think that was my kidney. That was a joke. Suit yourself. Where’s your sense of yumar, Kimmy? Sorry. Do continue what you’re doing. [THEY BOTH GO AT IT MORE AGGRESSIVELY] Of course you never had any of this sort of thing in my day. In far North Queensland you had nothing. The odd blow job from a dirty old man down at the local park and that was it. Slim pickings. No, it wasn’t easy. I come from a big family. They’re all big families up there. Catholics with no sense of rhythm. Well there’s bugger all else to do when you stuck amongst the pineapples and paw paws. Seven kids. What a nightmare.

THEY BOTH STOP, EXHAUSTED. DAVID LOOKS BEHIND HIM.

Sorry. Did I say something wrong? Why have you stopped?

THE MAN PULLS OUT A BOXING GLOVE.

That’s not funny.

THEY MOVE UPSTAGE AS DAVID WRAPS THE TOWEL AROUND HIMSELF AND MOVES DOWNSTAGE TO THE SIDE BENCH. THE MEN MOVE THE OTHER BENCH UPSTAGE AND EXIT.

Bugger. I guess some people don’t like to vocalise during sex.

ROBERT ENTERS. HE IS VERY UNSURE ABOUT THIS PLACE. HE LOOKS AROUND.  THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

DAVID

Hello.

ROBERT

Hi.

DAVID

Lost?

ROBERT

Sorry?

DAVID

I was saying you look lost?

ROBERT

Do I?

DAVID

Yes. Actually I think it’s safer to say you look like a bunny in the headlights.

ROBERT

I guess I do.

DAVID

Is this your first time here?

ROBERT

Is it that obvious?

DAVID

Kinda. You don’t have to worry. No-one’s going to rape you and they so rarely pounce on you first go.

ROBERT

Oh, good.

DAVID

Unless you want them to.

ROBERT

What? Oh. No.

DAVID

That’s all right then. Although sometimes you get the odd pair of Veloci-raptors that try and ambush you sideways but those are rare and you’ll hear hips snapping as they pounce. Usually gives you time to run away. Excuse me for saying so but you look a little skittish.

ROBERT

I guess I am.

DAVID

May I ask why?

ROBERT

I’m supposed to be getting married tomorrow.

DAVID

Really?

ROBERT

I just managed to escape from my bucks party. Gave them the slip about an hour ago.

DAVID

So, what…have you just come in here to rest? You know what sort of place this is?

ROBERT

Yes I do.

DAVID

And you’re getting married tomorrow?

ROBERT

Yes I am.

DAVID

I see. Can I ask you something?

ROBERT

Okay.

DAVID

What are you doing here?

ROBERT

I need to check something.

DAVID

What? If your tie’s straight? Are your highlights even? You can just look in a mirror for that.

ROBERT

No, nothing like that.

DAVID

Ah. I see.

ROBERT

See what?

DAVID

One last fling before you fall into the abyss, right?

ROBERT

Something like that.

DAVID

Well, that must be exciting for you.

ROBERT

To tell you the truth it’s all a bit weird.

DAVID

You don’t say. You know, you really could’ve just gone to a bar or something.

ROBERT

I didn’t want to be seen.

DAVID

Well, that’s obvious but I’m thinking a bar might have been a little more discreet and less challenging.

ROBERT

And a little more open for someone to recognise me. Besides, at a bar people tend to ask lots of questions.

DAVID

Unlike now? You don’t have to answer them, you know. You can always tell people to fuck off.

ROBERT

I suppose I could.

DAVID

Suppose nothing. Tell ‘em. If there’s one thing this world needs more of, it’s queens being told in no uncertain terms to fuck off. Not all but some. Possibly myself included. Or a good old fashioned smack in the gob. People seem to think just because they’re gay they’re above having to deal with the real world. I’ve always said a little violence can save a lot of time. Do you mind if I ask you something else? I promise this will be my last.

ROBERT

No, not really.

DAVID

Have you ever been with a man before?

ROBERT

Does it look that obvious?

DAVID

To a professional like me…yes. But I have been known to be wrong on the odd occasion. Those occasions being the picking of boyfriends

ROBERT

I have been with someone before.

DAVID

Oh good. So you’re not a complete novice.

ROBERT

It was a long time ago. When I was a teenager. So was he.  He was the cousin of one of my friends. 13 years ago.

DAVID

Unlucky for some. Must have been memorable. And you’ve waited all this time to do it again?

ROBERT

It was.

DAVID

Was what?

ROBERT

Memorable.

DAVID

But?

ROBERT

But nothing. That’s it. I just needed to do this.

DAVID

You needed to have sex with a man. Well, it’s always nice to have goals.

ROBERT

I just want to be sure I’m not making a mistake. I mean I love her and everything and the sex with her is good.

DAVID

Please! I’ve just eaten and when it comes to hetero sex images the reflux can be deadly.

ROBERT

But you hear all the time about married guys having sex with other guys.

DAVID

And what street is this you live in? Besides, I hear that’s more a European thing but I could be wrong. So you’re here just to make sure?

ROBERT

I guess.

DAVID

Well, at least you’re honest. Have you told the wife-to-be about your feelings or this little adventure?

ROBERT

No.

DAVID

And you’re not planning to?

ROBERT

Maybe. I don’t know. I just have to know…for myself. I don’t want to put her through anything if I don’t have to.

DAVID

So what happens if you do this and you find you like it too much? Will you call the wedding off?

ROBERT

I still love her.

DAVID

That’s not what I asked you. I don’t doubt you love her. Unless she’s rich and you’re ruthless and you don’t grab me as a Sydney flight attendant with a minor title.

ROBERT

I haven’t thought that far ahead.

DAVID

So...this cousin of your friend you did the nasty with 13 years ago? Are you expecting him to be here? Because I think the chances are pretty remote. Melbourne’s a small town but we’re not all that close. Just takes the odd award ceremony to prove that.

ROBERT

No. I’m not looking for him.

DAVID

Just someone like him, huh? That same kind of feeling? Trust me when I say that trying to get back that first time feeling is like trying to find a politician with integrity. Pretty damn hard. I should know. I’ve been trying for 40 years. What was so special about this guy then? Did he have a dick you could skip rope with?

ROBERT LOOKS AT HIM.

DAVID

Sorry. I’m projecting. Do go on.

ROBERT

It wasn’t like that. I remember it now so clearly. Because it was so out of the blue. This is back out bush where I grew up. I remember you had to walk miles from the railway station. All uphill. It was quit hot. At least 38 degrees.

THE LIGHTS START TO FADE ON DAVID

That really painful dry heat that burns your throat when you breathe in. Really hot summer days of your childhood. Maybe you remember them hotter than they really were but I remember the bitumen on the road was soft. You walk past this huge blackberry bush. Cut yourself to shreds getting at the good ones and they’re so big. Then of all of a sudden the road stops and you’re on dirt track for the next couple of hundred yards. The path narrows and then drops real fast down towards the weir.

Just before the weir wall it gets to about 7 feet. Too deep for a bunch of fifteen and sixteen year olds but where we swam it was only about 5 feet. The water is a dark green. I think I was the first one to jump in. Everyone piled in. After the initial shock the water was beautiful. I’d stand on a rock. I didn’t like touching the bottom. That feeling of soft mud between my toes and under my feet was scary. You never knew what you were stepping on.  A few years later one of my girlfriend’s younger brothers found a human arm in the water just near where we were swimming and it was on the news and everything. I never went down there again.

Someone suggests we skinny dip. Weird when we’re all already in the water. Everyone’s laughing and daring each other. Slowly we all slid our boardies off and threw them to the bank. And to prove you’ve done the deed they’re all throwing little dives, flashing their arses and laughing. I stand on my rock. It feels wonderful having the cool water all around your groin.

Everyone is grabbing everyone’s balls. It wasn’t sexual. It was just goofing off. I felt someone splash behind me. Just as I turned around one of the new guys comes up beside me grabs my balls and laughs. But he holds longer than you’re supposed to. Maybe just that fraction too long. I’m trying to balance on the rock so I grab him back and get a real handful. For a sixteen year old he’s pretty big. He turns and looks at me. He doesn’t push me away. He smiles. We both let go then he dives underneath the water. I can’t see where he’s gone and everyone else is laughing at other things. Suddenly I feel him push between my legs and swim underneath me. I almost fall off my rock. A moment later he comes up next to me again. He looks at me once more, looks at the others then swims away. I can still feel the tingling where he touched me.

After a few hours nearly everyone’s had enough and started the long trek back to the railway station. A few of us are going to stay the night and we’ve brought our tents and sleeping bags. He wasn’t planning to stay but I said there was room in my tent and he said okay.

We get out of the water and lay naked on the rocks letting the last rays of sun bake our skin. I haven’t stopped thinking about him grabbing me and with him lying next to me just a few inches all I want to do now is grab him again. Any part of him. We lay on our backs and I’ve got my eyes closed. I start to feel that familiar sensation in my balls so I turn over in case anyone sees me starting to get a hard on. I lay on my stomach with my head on my arms.

I look across at him. He has his hands behind his head. His eyes are closed. I watch the beads of sweat dripping down the side of his chest onto the towel. My eyes travel further down his stomach and from where I lay I can see the small trail of hair leading downwards to his dick. I can see every crease, every vein. It’s strange. It doesn’t look like it should be there. They never do, I suppose. Just something attached at the last minute.

I look at it for about ten minutes. My hard-on won’t go away. I don’t know why I keep looking. I don’t know why I have a hard on. Is he getting me excited? He can’t be turning me on. I’ve had sex with girls. Well, one girl. A few times. It was good. She turned into a lesbian a few years later but I don’t think it was my fault.

He starts to turn over so I quickly close my eyes and lay there for about minutes until I think it’s safe to open them. When I do he’s lying on his stomach same as me, looking right at me.

The light starts to fade so we get dressed and set up the tents. We’re sitting around the campfire talking crap. He’s making jokes and he’s very funny. I think I laugh more than anyone. He looks over at me across the fire and it’s like he’s telling these jokes just to me. Everything he says has a punch line and my ribs hurt. I finally can’t keep my eyes open any longer but I don’t want to be away from him. I tell them I’m going to hit the sack and I’m hoping he’ll follow me to the tent but he stays behind.

I’m lying awake for about an hour. So much for being tired. Finally I hear just two voices talking and then 15 minutes later, none. I hear footsteps towards my tent. He’s scratching at the tent trying to get the zipper undone. Why did I do up the zipper? He gets it open and I feel him crawl into the tent. I keep my eyes shut and pretend I’m sleeping but my heart is pounding and the blood is pumping through my ears so loud it’s a wonder he doesn’t hear for himself.

I feel him lay down next to me. In fact I feel every move he makes. My eyes are still wedged shut but I can feel him close. I can sense his chest breathing up and down and his little sighs. I think it’s safe to open my eyes in the dark but I forget it’s a bright moonlight outside and there’s plenty of light spilling in through the tent’s thin canvas. I look across at him and he is staring right at me.

 He thanks me for letting him stay in my tent. “No problem” I say. I ask if he’s warm. “Warm enough” he says. Our breathing has made the tent walls moist with condensation. I start to sense everything around us. The close walls, the smell of eucalyptus, the soft ground under the tent…and his body heat.

THE ACTOR PLAYING MARK ENTERS AND STANDS NEXT TO HIM.

MARK

Are you okay?

ROBERT

Yes. Thanks.

MARK

I’m starting to overheat.

ROBERT

Oh. Me too.

MARK

I think I need to have another swim. You wanna join me?

ROBERT

Will the water be warm enough?

MARK

Don’t see why not. It’s been warm all day. You coming? We can skinny dip together.

ROBERT

What about the others?

MARK

What about them?

ROBERT

Should we tell them?

MARK

I don’t really care. I was asking you if you wanted a swim.

ROBERT

I guess.

MARK

You’re not afraid, are you?

ROBERT

Of what?

MARK

Getting wet? Maybe eels biting you on the arse?

ROBERT

Of course not.

MARK

Then come on.

ROBERT

We get out of the tent and walk down the rocks to the river bank. The moonlight’s so bright it makes everything a pale blue.

MARK

I’m taking off my clothes.

MARK STARTS TO REMOVE HIS TOWEL AND FACES THE AUDIENCE NAKED

ROBERT

I watch him out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t mind being naked in front of him before because there were others but this feels different. This is secret. I turn away and start to take my clothes off.

ROBERT REMOVES HIS TOWEL AND ALSO FACES THE AUDIENCE

When I turn back he’s already in the water looking at me on the banks. I try to cover myself up

a bit as I walk into the water and he gives a little laugh.

MARK

You don’t have to be embarrassed. Your dick’s okay.

ROBERT

Thanks. Oh shit. My feet are touching the mud. It feels revolting. He moves towards me and take my hand.

MARK

Come here.

ROBERT

He guides me a little deeper. Great. He’s trying to drown me. Then I stumble and my foot touches a large rock.

MARK

I know you don’t like the mud. I don’t blame you. Fuck knows what’s on the bottom. Decomposing rats and possums probably. There. Better?

ROBERT

Yep.

MARK

The water’s beautiful.

ROBERT

Yes. He still has hold of my hand. You can let go now. I’m okay.

MARK

You sure?

ROBERT

Uh-huh.

MARK

What happens if you fall off the rock? Don’t forget the dead rats.

ROBERT

I’ll be okay. There’s barely room for one. I feel his dick against mine. I’m looking anywhere but at his face. Trees, moon. The tents up the path.

MARK GRABS HIS HIPS

MARK

Oops. Accident. Sorry.

ROBERT

That’s okay.

MARK

Is it?

ROBERT

What?

MARK

Is it okay? My dick’s touching yours.

ROBERT

It’s a small rock.

MARK

Do you want me to get off?

ROBERT

What?

MARK

The rock. Do you want me to get off the rock?

ROBERT

Suit yourself.

MARK

I thought as much. You’re getting hard.

ROBERT

Am I?

MARK

You don’t know?

ROBERT

Cold water always does that to me.

MARK

That’s weird.

ROBERT

Is it?

MARK

Well, yeah.

ROBERT

What makes you hard?

MARK

Well, this for starters.

ROBERT

What?

MARK

Being next to you. Naked.

ROBERT

Oh.

MARK

Want to do something about it.

ROBERT

Oh, no. That’s okay, thanks. It usually goes away by itself.

MARK

That’s not what I meant.

ROBERT

Oh. [TO AUDIENCE] I knew exactly what he meant but in this situation it was easier to play dumb. [TO HIM] I’ve had girlfriends, you know.

MARK

Good to hear.

ROBERT

I’m not gay.

MARK

Well, it takes all kinds.

ROBERT

Are you gay?

MARK

I’m seventeen. Fucked if I know. But I’m not gonna work up a sweat about it if I am. I can think of better ways to do that.

ROBERT

Do what? I don’t think it was my intention but I was starting to sound like the stupidest person on the planet. Do what?

MARK

Work up a sweat.

MARK HOLDS ROBERT’S FACE IN HIS HANDS AND KISSES HIM GENTLY.

ROBERT

What was that for?

MARK

For starters. Let’s go back to the tent.

THEY WRAP THE TOWELS AROUND THEMSELVES. ROBERT EXITS. MARK STANDS  CENTRE.

We made love all night. In the morning I lay with him under my sleeping bag and watch his chest go up and down as he slept. I couldn’t believe I could feel this good. I wanted him to wake up so we could do it all again. I watch his eyes finally open then look at me. He leans in and kisses me. That kiss. [BEAT. HE LOOKS AT DAVID] I can’t forget it and now I can’t get it out of my head. It’s been years but it won’t go away. Even now I have to stop myself from thinking of him. I’m kissing her but way down in that dark far away I can still see his face and feel his lips on mine. It’s not fair on her, I know, but I can’t make it go away.

DAVID

But it’s just a nice memory. They’re always better in hindsight.

ROBERT

Believe me, if I could grind his face out of my head I would.

DAVID

And you think coming here will help you forget?

ROBERT

I want to make sure before I do this big thing that that’s all it’ll be. To make sure the memory was just with him. That I won’t have that feeling again with another man.

DAVID

That’s a pretty sad way to look at it.

ROBERT

Why the hell did I suggest he stay in my tent anyway? Why did I let him touch me? What was I thinking? If I hadn’t gone skinny dipping then I wouldn’t be feeling this way thirteen years later.

DAVID

And you think having sex with another man is going to make you forget him?

ROBERT

Maybe it’ll tell me it’s not what I want. It was just a one off and I shouldn’t feel guilty.

DAVID

The sex was that good?

ROBERT

Yes.

DAVID

I see.

ROBERT

Stupid huh?

DAVID

What? No. Not at all. But what happens if you enjoy it? What will you do then?

ROBERT

I don’t know. But I need to do something to get it out of my head. It’s like a dull ache that just won’t go away. You know?

DAVID

But that feeling you had for him? Do you really want it to go away? Maybe it’s better to just let it stay a memory and accept it. Or were you in love with him?

ROBERT

What? No. I don’t know. I never saw him again. Every time we went down the weir after that he was never there. It wasn’t the same. In fact he ruined camping for me after that. It became a very lonely tent. Cheryl, my fiancé, she even suggested it once. I couldn’t think of anything more horrifying. I didn’t want to have to face that disappointment.

DAVID

Do you mind if I give you a little piece of advice?

ROBERT

You’ve listened to me. I guess I owe you that much.

DAVID

Keep that memory of him for what it was. Just two people who had a moment. You can still love him. Or not. Whatever that feeling was. You don’t have to stop. The memory of that moment is what you can love forever. It’s a rare thing to have something like that. Don’t ruin it all with a dose of reality. You’ve been very lucky. For most of us it’s the hazy fog of quick fumblings with dirty old men in parks or inexperienced teenagers copping a feel when the parents are out. There’s rarely any romance and it certainly isn’t like the movies.

ROBERT

I don’t think I was in love with him.

DAVID

Yes, well, love’s a funny thing. Too many times people confuse it with lust. Sometimes it’s easier to fall in love with the cock and not the person it’s attached to. When it’s a one night stand you don’t care but when you move north a few feet and start to listen to them, start to like them…well that’s a different matter. You lie with them and you feel their every breath. You feel their chest rise and fall and you rise with it. You take their cock in your mouth and you love the taste. You love being that close to some one. You’ll do anything to make them happy. Make them want you just that little bit more and your whole being’s poured into that effort. So much so that there’s nothing left of you. But what happens when it’s taken away? You’ve allowed yourself to become this empty shadow of a thing and you have to build yourself up to a complete human being again. But you aren’t complete, are you? You’re a different person. You’re angry and you’re bitter and resentful. That’s not how you started out. You don’t want to be a different person. You want to be the same, feel the same as before. When that’s taken away…when that’s taken away. Fuck love. It’s easier to suck dick.

HE LOOKS UP.

But I’m projecting once again. Look kiddo. Take it from someone who’s been around the block so many times they’ve dug a trench. One day memories will be all you have and I wouldn’t want to let one of them go in a heartbeat.

ROBERT GETS UP

ROBERT

I think I might take a walk.

HE STARTS TO LEAVE THEN STOPS. HE GOES BACK AND LEANS IN AND GENTLY KISSES DAVID ON THE MOUTH.

DAVID

You’re not going to go around kissing everyone are you? Because if you do people are going to think you’re a little strange. Or a little easy.

ROBERT

Thanks.

HE EXITS

DAVID

Think nothing of it.

A MAN ENTERS AND STANDS TO THE SIDE. DAVID SPOTS HIM AND GOES UP TO HIM

DAVID

Well, hellooooo.

BOB

What?

DAVID

I said hello.

BOB

Oh. Hi.

DAVID

You enjoying yourself?

BOB

Yeah, it’s alright.

DAVID

This place is changed so much, don’t you think. It used to be so lovely here. The men were just that. Men. Not screaming she hounds. These queens all look like they’ve had Market overdose.

BOB

Yeah, I suppose.

DAVID

I say. What’s the difference between an Market barman and a coconut?

BOB

What?

DAVID

You can sometimes get a drink out of a coconut.

BOB

Yeah.

DAVID

You’re not laughing. You’ve heard it?

BOB

Only a thousand times.

DAVID

Isn’t this a warm night? I just thought I’d kill time with a little hanky panky. I’m actually off to see Cosi.

BOB

See what?

DAVID

Cosi. Cosi Fan Tutti. It’s Mozart, dear. Lovely music though I wish the hell these stupid bloody directors would die off and leave the fuckers alone. All this updating into punk and David Jones window display type productions gives me the screaming habdabs. Doesn’t it you?

BOB

I.....

DAVID

Kosky crap with accordions. And of course there’s that prat. Did that dreadful Moulin Rouge and Strictly Bloody Boardroom. Strictly fucking awful, if you ask me. Like it? Hated it!! Two snaps down and thanks, we’ll let you know.

BOB

Yeah. Well, I quite liked it.

DAVID

Still....lovely frocks. Do you like opera?

BOB

Nah! Hate the fat bitch!

DAVID

What? Not Oprah. Opera. I simply adore it. Can’t imagine my life without it.

BOB

You must lead a pretty boring life.

DAVID

I think not. I have plenty of other interests but that is my true passion.

BOB

Oh, yes?

DAVID

What sort of music do you like? No, wait. Let me guess. You’re a Bartok type of person, I can tell.

BOB

Bar-who?

DAVID

Bartok. Very physical, very contemporary, almost violent in a way. Doesn’t just lay there. Moves around a bit.

BOB

Never heard of him.

DAVID

You’ve never heard of Bartok? That surprises me.

BOB

Life’s full of them.

DAVID

Full of what?

BOB

Surprises.

DAVID

No. I meant....

BOB

I know what you meant.

DAVID

Oh, I see. Then what about Schubert?

BOB

What about him?

DAVID

Do you like him?

BOB

Sing me one of his songs.

DAVID

You’re making fun of me. I give up. What sort of music do you like?

BOB

I don’t like classical music. In fact I hate it.

DAVID

You hate it?

BOB

Yeah, I do. And that’s with a passion. But if there’s one thing I hate worse than opera it’s opera queens. So why don’t you run along pet and leave me in peace.

DAVID

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was interrupting anything.

BOB

That’s because I couldn’t get a word in. Not everyone standing around in a men’s club wants conversation. Comprende vous?

DAVID

You should’ve made your feelings known....

BOB

I came here to meet men. Know what I’m talking about? Men. Look a little like me. Sometimes wear moustaches; not lipstick. Drink beer, not banana daiquiris. Guys who can keep their heels on the ground and off the headboard. Now, why don’t you leave me in peace and go find someone who might be less bored with your conversation than I am. What about the one over near the cigarette machine? She looks like a prime candidate for classical. Or show tunes. You could skip hand in hand through the soundtrack section of HMV. He’s probably off to the same do as you are. Maybe he could share your box!

DAVID

I’m sorry, I...

BOB

Fuck off!

BOB STANDS THERE FOR A MOMENT.

[TO AUDIENCE] If you can upset at least one person a day, you know you’re alive.

HE SEES SOMEONE HE LIKES AND SIDLES UP TO THEM.

How’re you doing?

THE OTHER PERSON SAYS SOMETHING TO HIM. HE REELS BACK.

No problem. [BEAT] Queen.

THE LIGHTS FADE.

SCENE FOUR

A MASTER AND HIS SLAVE ARE POSITIONED DOWNSTAGE. OCCASIONALLY THE MASTER GENTLY TAPS THE SLAVE WITH HIS RIDING CROP. THE SLAVE LOOKS AROUND. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS

SLAVE

Banana!

MASTER

Had it last week.

THEY THINK AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS.

SLAVE

Cheese-grater!

MASTER

Steven and Darren already use that one.

SLAVE

Bugger.

THEY THINK AGAIN

SLAVE

Cramp!

MASTER

Actually I quite like that one.

SLAVE

No. I mean I have a cramp!

MASTER

Oh.

STARTS RUBBING HIS LEG. AFTER A LONG PAUSE…

SLAVE

Clownfish!

MASTER

You’re so fucking Disney. Okay, clownfish it is.

HE WHACKS HIM ON THE ARSE. THE SLAVE SCREAMS.

SLAVE

Clownfish, Clownfish!!

THE LIGHTS FADE

SCENE FIVE

ROBERT SITS CENTRE ON THE BOXES.  THE LIGHTING IS QUITE DARK. HE STARTS TO LAY DOWN ON THE PLATFORM. A MAN ENTERS AND STANDS NEAR HIM. HE STARTS TO STROKE HIMSELF THROUGH TOWEL. ROBERT SITS UP. HE TRIES TO LOOK AWAY. THE MAN KEEPS STROKING HIMSELF AND STARTS TO GROAN. ROBERT LOOKS EMBARRASSED BUT INTRIGUED. ANOTHER MAN ENTERS AND OBSERVES THE SITUATION. HE LOOKS AT THE MAN RUBBING HIMSELF THEN AT ROBERT. THE NEW MAN GROANS. THE FIRST MAN GROWLS TO ATTRACT HIS ATTENTION. THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER. THE FIRST MAN GLARES THEN MOANS LOUDER. THE SECOND MAN GROANS LOUDER AGAIN. IT BECOMES A BATTLE OF MOANING AND GROPING THEMSELVES. THEY FORGET ALL ABOUT ROBERT. IT BECOMES A SORT OF WESTERN SHOOT OUT WITH FULL MEXICAN GUN FIGHT BACKGROUND MUSIC.

ANOTHER MAN ENTERS AND CUTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM. HE SITS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO ROBERT AND STARTS TO CARESS HIM. THE OTHER TWO ARE HORRIFIED.

THE THIRD MAN LAYS ROBERT DOWN AND STARTS TO FONDLE HIM. ROBERT TRIES TO KISS HIM BUT THE MAN BACKS AWAY AND WANTS ONLY TO HAVE SEX. THE OTHER TWO MOVE TOWARDS THEM AND START TO FONDLE THE INTERLOPER. THEY MOVE HIM AWAY FROM ROBERT.

ONE OF THE MEN MOVES BACK AND FONDLES ROBERT. HE RESPONDS BY TRYING TO KISS HIM BUT THE MAN BACKS AWAY AND FORCES HIM TO HIS KNEES. HE FORCES ROBERT TO GIVE HIM HEAD THEN STARTS TO BECOME VIOLENT AND ONCE HE HAS CUM THE MAN PUSHES ROBERT AWAY. ROBERT LIES THERE AS THE LIGHTS FADE

END ACT ONE
ACT TWO

SCENE SIX

A MASTER AND HIS SLAVE ARE POSITIONED DOWNSTAGE AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY THE MASTER GENTLY TAPS THE SLAVE WITH HIS RIDING CROP. THE SLAVE LOOKS AROUND. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS A MOBILE PHONE CAN BE HEARD. THE MASTER GIVES HIM A GLARE. THE SLAVE TAKES IT OUT OF HIS JOCKSTRAP. HE LOOKS AT THE PHONE.

SLAVE

Sorry. I have to take this. [ANSWERS THE PHONE] Hello? Yes, hi. No, I haven’t forgotten. Bread, milk and sugar. Uh-huh. I’ll pick them up on my way…no, I don’t want to talk to…Hi sweetie. Yes, daddy will be home soon. I’ll look at the drawings when I get home. Love you too. See you soon.

HE HANGS UP THE PHONE.

Sorry about that.

MASTER GIVES HIM A SLAP WITH THE RIDING CROP.

Sorry, Sir!

THEY LOOK AHEAD FOR A FEW MOMENTS.

You hungry?

HE PULLS OUT A LUNCH BOX FROM BEHIND HIM AND OFFERS THE MASTER A SANDWICH. HE TAKES OUT A SMALL JUICE BOX.

MASTER

Fancy a cup of tea?

SLAVE

Ooh I’d love a cuppa.

MASTER

C’mon

THEY EXIT AS THE LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK

SCENE SEVEN

DAVID STANDS CENTRE. HE IS TALKING TO SOMEONE

DAVID

Hi. How are you? I haven’t seen you in ages. Oh, me...I’m having the best time. Have you been away? You look great. Yeah? Thanks. What? Oh yeah sure. I’m gonna take in a spa anyway. Really good seeing you again. Yeah, bye. [PAUSE] Queen.

Neville? Neville, don’t you walk away from me, you bitch. Yeah I saw. He’s over there. Trying to pretend he hasn’t seen me. There. No, he’s on the gym equipment. On the peck deck. Who the hell comes to this place to work out? Maybe with a bit of luck he’ll forget what weights he’s on, it’ll fly back and he’ll concuss himself. You don’t need you to tell me what a prick he is. I slept with him for two years, remember? I think I know. What do you mean? Of course I’m over it. What do I look like? One of those bitter and twisted queens? [BEAT] I’m sure you’re joking.

Well, did you have a good time last night? Of course you saw me. We went together remember? What am I saying? Of course you don’t. You deserted me five minutes after we got there but you were a bit free range last night. Half a trip and you’re doing Magilla Gorilla impressions on one of the speakers until that guy in the construction hat threw up on your boa constrictor cossie. Why he wore a construction helmet to a jungle party is anybody’s guess. Some people have no idea. Who did you end up with? Oh, well it was a nice helmet. Well, I had a fabulous time. I did. I was ripped to the tits and quite pissed of course after the three triple bourbons and well on the way to giggle valley by the time that half an eccie you gave me kicked in. Someone told me I was trying to hump a chain fence. I don’t believe it myself but there were weird marks on my belly this morning that appear strangely self inflicted. But I had the best time....I think. I walked around and told all the people I know they looked fabulous and all the people I didn’t, they looked hideous. So obviously I’ve endeared myself to a whole new circle of enemies.

Neville, look, look. Over there. Slowly. Don’t let him know.....oh, that was subtle, pet. “Where?!”. Honestly, you’re so discreet. He knows we’re talking about him now. I know we haven’t said anything but that’s what he’s gonna think. He’s started doing different poses now...See. What did I tell you? I hate you. Look at that body. Makes you sick. I’ve been going to a real gym for donks, I’ve starved myself like a Somalian calendar girl and I still look like Lord Howe Island. No, he’s new. I haven’t seen him before. Yes of course I’m sure. I am here  just about every day so I think I know who’s new and who are the same tired old hell-hags and yes, Neville you are included in that group. No, you’re right. I ain’t no spring chicken either but take a look at these drum sticks. Now, shut your cake-hole for a moment and gaze. Isn’t he cute?

Look at those arms. I’m sure you could do major quality damage under them. I think he must be on steroids or something. Of course he is. Look at that chest. That’s just not natural. Although I think maybe he’s overdoing it a bit, poor girl. He’s so pumped up at the pecks he’s starting to lactate. Look. Aren’t those milk stains on his stomach? He could hire himself out as a wet nurse. No, I haven’t caught him in the sauna yet. Why? Because I don’t go in there anymore. Not after that last incident. What incident? Don’t tell me you haven’t heard? Well, I’m not saying anything except that it involved five queens, a curling wand and some Amway cosmetics and that’s the last I speak on that subject.

What? Oh don’t ask. I hate my job. Hate, hate, hate. If I have to do one more rinse and set I may drop a dryer in someone’s shampoo basin. I know I’m the stereo-typical hairdresser but sometimes the bitches that come in make me want to gently comb a chainsaw across their wrinkled old turkey necks. They come in looking like Benji and want to leave looking like Britney. And that’s just the guys! But I have to stay, don’t I. It’s the 14th salon I’ve been hired by in 12 months. No, I don’t think it’s me, pet. So I’ve come in late a few times. So what if I’m sometimes found slumped over the dryer. Has it occurred to anyone that I may not have slept for three days? Just because I choose to do a little raging I occasionally let someone out of the chair looking like their granny’s mirkin, let me tell you, sometimes it’s like pushing kaka uphill with a chopstick. You trying to make a silk purse out of Razorback’s arse! And they’re never satisfied. But what can you expect when they’re all so self obsessed.

Do you think maybe I should take steroids? I don’t know. Maybe that’s going a bit too far. Oh but it’s all those needles, isn’t it? Oh I couldn’t do that. I passed out from that flu vaccine you talked me into three years ago, remember. I could never take injections. What? You’re sick. Thank God I ain’t no diuretic. I.....what? Okay. Diabetic. What did I say? Did I? Pardon e moi. You’re so anal and not even in a nice way. No, I think maybe steroids are out. Well, they shrink everything don’t they and make your voice do strange things. I could end up as Gorilla Woman. There’s a career option. And then you have to do different bits at a time. It’ll be just my luck to have one tit bigger than the other...and you could explode in airplanes, couldn’t you? That’s what I hear.

Oh, God, I feel worn. It’s all your fault, of course. Yes, Neville. Your fault. If you hadn’t deserted me last night when you did I might’ve stayed closer to Ground Control and I might just be in a better mood than I am because I’m certainly not in the mood for this today. Jesus, I torture myself. Still, I have my youth and my looks....well, my looks anyway.

Will you have a look at all these Marys. It’s like Valley Of the Dolls. They all have the same look? Valley of The Dolls nothing. It’s more like The Stepford Wives. Frightening. And they’re getting younger. Either that or there’s a few hundred oil paintings growing old in an attic somewhere. Now....well, I’m so tired of all this. It’s a waste of time. And he was the biggest waste of time of all. Look at him. He’s just dying to see me fall flat on my arse.

Of course I loved him but what can you do? When you’ve slept with someone for two years you can pretty much work out what they’re saying without the help of sub-titles. If in the first few months they say they like you stocky it usually means the day your gut hangs over your Speedos you’re history and if they tell you they want to have a more spiritual relationship it’s just a polite way of saying they don’t want to fuck you anymore! I’ve seen the signs, I’ve heard the lines. Of course I’m bitter. I have every right. Right over there is the cause of all my bitterness. It’s also living proof of brain death in motion. I do so know what love is. Whose side are you on anyways, Snneville?

I’m sick of this town. I want out. Maybe I should go back to Adelaide. This place is so shallow. No-one ever takes anything seriously anymore. It’s all just parties and drugs. They’re all two faced. They say one thing and they mean another. At least in Adelaide you knew where you stood. If they hate you they throw you in the Torrens. They didn’t muck around. And it’s so pretty there. All those churches, the vineyards, the nightlife…The Family, Family First, bodies in barrels in banks...fuck! [BEAT] Where the hell is my brain? I...oh, Hi. I didn’t see you there. Me? I’m okay. Considering you walked out on.....Do I want to what? Have coffee with you? Uh....okay. I’ll just shower up and meet you out front. Sure. [BEAT] Well, Neville? Don’t say anything. I know I’ll just get hurt again. But you know what they say. No pain, no gain. Or is that no brain? I’ll just use him for the sex. But before he dumps me again? Well I’m gonna have the best time!

MARK ENTERS

DAVID

Oh it’s you again.

MARK

Uh-huh.

DAVID

Have you had fun yet?

MARK

Not really. That guy you were talking to before?

DAVID

What guy?

MARK

The one you told to fuck off.

DAVID

More information please.

MARK

You called him a rental.

DAVID

Oh yes. That guy. What about him?

MARK

What did you mean?

DAVID

About telling him to fuck off. I think it’s quite self explanatory, don’t you?

MARK

No. About being a rental.

DAVID

Oh. I’m saying bring your credit card with you sweetheart. He’s on the meter.

MARK

What?

DAVID

He does it for money. You know?

MARK

You mean he’s a prostitute?

DAVID

Sweetheart, a prostitute is at least professional. He’s a rank amateur at best. And I do mean rank.

MARK

I see.

DAVID

Nasty little so-and-so from what I hear. Spins the same lines on the next unsuspecting traveller. Sob stories, the lot. And even worse, not the safest of bunnies, either. Oh, but who am I to pass judgment? If you fancy him don’t say I didn’t warn you.

MARK

I just…

HE STOPS HIMSELF THEN GOERS AND SITS DOWN. DAVID IS TORN BETWEEN GOING TO FIND HIS OLD LOVER OR TALKING TO MARK. FINALLY HE MOVES OVER TO HIM

DAVID

I don’t understand why you’re here.

MARK

I don’t understand, myself.

DAVID

Far be it for me to give people advice but I think perhaps you’re still a little shell-shocked.  This is not the best place to be.

MARK

I just want to see what goes on here. I want to see what it was that attracted him to this place.

DAVID

Would it have mattered where it happened? Unless that’s not the real reason you’re here.

MARK

Why are you here?

DAVID

Old habits are hard to break. I’ve been coming here for 15years. Seen it through the glory hole days and the plague years. Sorry.

MARK

That’s okay.

DAVID

Seen ‘em come and go…literally. And it never ceases to amaze me how people are still looking for that perfect someone but they’ll settle for something a whole lot less if it means they’re home in bed early. Sadly people are all too willing to settle for what’s behind door number one.

BOB ENTERS. HE LOOKS AT THEM THEN WALKS OFF.

I hate that cap.

DAVID LOOKS AT MARK THEN  AT BOB EXITING.

Do you know what your looking for?

MARK

I don’t…

DAVID

Because I’m here to tell you. If you’re looking for something in particular you’ll be bitterly disappointed. My advice?

MARK

What?

DAVID

Go home. You don’t belong here. I know what I’m talking about. And after years dragging my arse down the corridors of this place no-one’s a better judge than me. I’m a great judge of people. Not lovers but people. You’ve got a wounded heart. It takes time to heal. Go home.

MARK

To what? When he died the whole house died. There’s nothing there for me anymore. Just empty rooms.

DAVID

You’re not the only one to lose someone. People die. Friendships fade.  Lovers leave you one way or another. It happens. But don’t hide in the dark. You need to take that sad face of yours outside into the sun. If you need some reason to keep going you won’t find it here. You’ll find it out there with the living.

MARK

I know. It’s just that I feel…numb. All over. It’s like my brain is this remote that guides my body but I’m down to the rudimentary senses. I walk around.  I smile. I talk but I don’t connect. When he found out he was sick he tried to gas himself. I wish I’d tried that. Then I’d be free of this pain. I don’t know how people get through this. I know they do but I’m not like that. I’m not a survivor. I shouldn’t have to be. Deep down there’s this well of nothing. I want to reach down and drag it out with a hook but nothing will shift it. So you see, there’s nothing out there for me. Here at least I might have some purpose.

DAVID

Purpose?

MARK

There’s something I need to do. This place is where the hurt started. Here is where I want to take it away. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to be on my own for a bit.

DAVID

Okay. Just promise me you won’t do anything…crazy or stupid.

MARK

Do I look the type?

DAVID

Honestly? You do. Promise?

MARK

With all my heart.

DAVID IS RELUCTANT TO LEAVE BUT GOES. DAVID EXITS. BOB ENTERS AND LOOKS AT HIM. HE APPROACHES HIM.

BOB

Thank fuck for that.

MARK

Sorry?

BOB

At last, someone under 80. It’s been fucking stairway to heaven tonight.

MARK

Oh.

BOB

Yeah, most of the guys here tonight are fucking ancient. I’m afraid if I fuck one of ‘em I’m gonna break their hip. Just kidding.

BOB GRABS MARK’S CROTCH.

Nice.

MARK

Thanks. What’s your name?

BOB

Why? You doing a survey? Fuck. It’s Bob.

MARK

Bob? Is that really your name?

BOB

Real enough.

MARK

Oh, I see.

BOB

Haven’t I seen you somewhere before? Your face looks familiar.

MARK

Don’t know how.

BOB

You weren’t here last week?

MARK

This is my first time.

BOB

And you weren’t out earlier tonight?

MARK

Uh, no.

BOB

I thought I saw you at the Laird.

MARK

I don’t drink.

BOB

Well, I’m sure I’ve seen your face somewhere.

MARK

Don’t know how.

BOB

Maybe on the street. You’ve got that kind of face.

MARK

What kind of face?

BOB

The kind of face that looks familiar.  Maybe on Commercial Road. Though I can’t stand going there these days. Too many straight cunts. Wog boys walking around in the middle of winter with their shirts off and their slag girlfriends sucking Chuppa-Chups like it’s a strawberry-flavoured dick. I’ve sucked plenty of dicks and they never tasted like strawberries. What a bunch of fucking wankers! [LOOKS AT HIM] So…You wanna play?

MARK

Play?

BOB

Uh-huh.

MARK

Um, What have you got in mind?

BOB

Well, just asking that question alone is an invitation for a fucking?

MARK

It is?

BOB

But I tell you what…we’ll do whatever you want.

MARK

Whatever I want? Really?

BOB

Uh-huh, just as soon as I fuck that arse of yours.

MARK

Oh. But maybe I don’t want to be fucked.

BOB

Everyone wants to be fucked. There’s just degrees of fuckability. Shit. Can’t believe I missed you earlier. You’re a tourist, aren’t you? I love tourists.

MARK

No.

BOB

Then where are you from?

MARK

Oh, around.

BOB

Thought so. Most people are. God, where have I seen that face? Have we fucked? I’ve gotta watch myself. Sometimes I lose track.

MARK

Don’t think so. I think I’d remember you. Why tourists?

BOB

Because they’re always more eager…for…for experimenting. For some unique experience and then once they’ve done it…vroom…they’re out of here and back home to the wife or hubby and no-one’s the wiser. I tell you, that’s the exciting part.

MARK

What sort of experimenting are you talking about?

BOB

Oh, you know. Stuff that’s a little scary. A little risky.

MARK

A little risky?

BOB

Oh, let’s not talk about that yet. [GRABBING HIS CROTCH] Jesus, you’re not even hard yet. What’s the matter? Don’t I turn you on?

MARK

Uh, it’s not that. It just takes me a little while to get worked up.

BOB

I love a mission. Let’s see if we can speed things up a bit.

HE TURNS MARK AROUND SO MARK’S BACK IS FACING THE AUDIENCE

MARK

Don’t you want to go somewhere a little more private?

BOB

Oh no. I like to put on a show. I’m a bit of a show off. And it lets any other interested parties know what’s going under the hammer. Know what I mean? Now, where was I? Oh yeah.

HE DROPS TO HIS KNEES WITH HIS BACK FACING DOWNSTAGE. HE REMOVES MARK’S TOWEL AND STARTS TO GIVE HIM HEAD. MARK STARTS TO GROAN. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS HE GETS BACK UP AND STARTS TO RUN HIS HANDS ALL OVER. MARK GRABS THE TOWEL TO COVER HIMSELF.

BOB

That was just a little teaser but I see I got my work cut out for me. Bet you want to suck my cock too. Don’t you? It may not look like much right now but some of us are growers, not show-ers.

MARK

Oh, really?

BOB

And tell you what…because you’re so cute I’m gonna cut you a little deal.

MARK

What? You want me to pay?

BOB

No, well yeah, kinda. A boy’s gotta eat. And I need just a little something to help me through uni. Books are expensive, you know.

MARK

You go to uni? Which uni?

BOB

Um, Melbourne. Melbourne uni.

MARK

What are you studying?

BOB

Oh just some…thing. Do you want me to cum in your mouth?

MARK

What? Arts? Economics?

BOB

What? Uh…The first one.

MARK

Arts? Which campus?

BOB

Campus?

MARK

Uh-huh. Which campus?

BOB

Oh, the big one. I thought you wanted to play?

MARK

I do. I was just asking you which campus.

BOB

I just told you. The big one.

MARK

What? Parkville? Broadmeadows?

BOB

That last one. Yeah.

MARK

Oh, right. You come here very often?

BOB

I cum any chance I can get.

MARK

So I gathered. How long have you been doing this sort of thing?

BOB

Fuck. You’re a bit of a talker, aren’t you?

MARK

I guess.

BOB

I’ve been coming here for about 12months.

MARK

And do people pay you very often?

BOB

I usually only make the older ones pay but things have been a bit tight this month...if you know what I mean.

MARK

Yes I think so.

BOB

Sometimes I just let the older guys suck me off and they’re always grateful so they give me a couple of bucks.

MARK

And people always want to suck you off?

BOB

Oh no, some guys like to do a lot more but I only get the younger ones to pay the premium if they want to go a few rungs up the ladder. The extra stuff.

MARK

But doesn’t that all get in the way of your studying? How can you be focussed when you’ve got all that other stuff?

BOB

I manage.

MARK

I see.

BOB

Maybe you should put that other towel down.

MARK

Uh…I like to be prepared.

BOB

And yet you’ve never been here. I see. Let’s go over there.

HE PULLS HIM OVER TO THE SIDE BENCH. MARK PUTS THE TOWEL DOWN ON THE BENCH. HE STARTS TO KISS MARK ALL OVER.

MARK

You know, my partner came here a couple of times. Maybe you met him?

BOB

Ah, somehow I doubt it. I

MARK

He came here about 8 months ago.

BOB

Look, I can’t remember who I fucked last week. Let alone eight months ago.

MARK

He had light brown hair.

BOB STOPS

BOB

Did he? That’s nice. If he’s as hot as you, you should’ve brought him along. We could have had a real good time. What’s his cock like? Is it big? I reckon there’s nothing better than a big cock. A guy with a big cock can rule the world. Guys with small cocks just pretend to. Doesn’t matter if it’s cut or not. In fact sometimes I’m in the mood for big, juicy, uncut, fat cocks. You can really go to town on them. I love a big cock I can suck on for hours. Suck ‘em until they spew their juice all over your face. I like to watch the jizz just bubble out of them then wrap my lips around the head and slide the whole thing back down my throat. What about you? You like sucking on big fat cocks?

MARK

I…uh…

BOB

Nothing better. No, that’s not true. Sometimes getting a good bit of head is a wonderful thing. I remember one guy giving me a blow job through a glory hole and he used everything. His mouth, lips, teeth, suction. I closed my eyes and for ten minutes it was like everything was happening just on my groin. I lean back to watch his mouth at work and see it’s not his mouth. The fucker had switched from mouth to his arse without skipping a beat. Now that takes talent. To work your arsehole like a mouth. So I just ploughed him home. I mean, you don’t get talent like that ever day. Shot up his arse like a steam train smoke stack.

MARK

Did you use a condom?

BOB

Jesus, how lame. Whose got time to tear open a packet when you’re 2 seconds from paradise? If he didn’t want one then who am I to worry.

MARK

But what if you’re positive? Have you been tested?

BOB

I told you. I like to live a little dangerous. Walk on the wild side.

MARK

Don’t you think that’s a little irresponsible?

BOB

Sorry? Are you judging me?

MARK

But you shouldn’t…

BOB

Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do! No-one tells me to do anything! I’m not a fucking kid. You’re just like the rest of them. A fucking tease. Who do you think you are? You don’t know anything about me. Do you have any idea what kind of life I’ve had?

MARK

What? Are you now going to give me a sob story? Forget it. We’ve all had troubles.

BOB

What troubles are we talking about in particular? You couldn’t find a car spot? You’ve had a few paper cuts? Well here’s one for ya’. Don’t know if it compares with your problems. My father used to rape me.

MARK

He what?

BOB

Uh-huh. From the age of 10 until I was 14. He used to rape my two sisters and me. He was a drunken fucker. Used to beat up on all of us, mum included. But when she wasn’t around he used to get real nasty. Ugly fat bastard with a small cock. No wonder he was bitter. But he knew just how to channel his anger.

MARK

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…

BOB

Hey, look. It’s no big deal. I’ve moved on. But you shouldn’t be so quick to judge people. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to survive.

MARK

I guess.

BOB MOVES AWAY FROM HIM AND SITS DOWN

BOB

You ever want to be something else? Besides human, I mean.

DAVID

No.

BOB

I always wanted to be a fish. I used to dream I was one. I could close my eyes and I was in the water, swimming hard. Swimming away. All the way out to sea into the dark blue ocean. Straight ahead into the deep blue. That’s me. The water’s all over me like a cool liquid blanket. I swim towards something… something else. Some place else. I watch the other fish swim alongside me close enough to touch my sides then swim off only to be joined by other fish. They’re dolphins. They take care of their own…look out for each other. They’ll take care of me.

When he first put it in me I wanted to scream. I wanted to fly into the ceiling. I can still feel the pain. When he first came into my room I knew what he wanted. He’d been drinking all day and he’d kept arguing with mum. I pulled the covers up when he sat at the end of the bed.  

Two days before I grabbed the wooden chair and kicked the sides out of it. No-one would’ve noticed. I took one of the broken legs and put it under my bed so I could reach it. When he came into my room just after she’d gone to bingo he’d already finished two bottles of grog. This time he didn’t even talk to me. He just looked at me like I knew what I was supposed to do. Turn over and let him fuck me. I could feel his rough hands grabbing at my pyjamas.

ONE OF THE ACTORS COMES UP BESIDE HIM AND LEANS INTO HIM.

DAVID

You know I can do anything I want. Don’t you? She’s gone.

BOB

I didn’t say anything. She wasn’t home. He wouldn’t dare when she was home, even though she knew what was going on. The first time she came home and saw blood on the back of my knees she knew but she didn’t say anything. She’s a useless cunt.

I feel his hands over my mouth while I try to fight him off me. He pulls my head back. I can still smell the beer and his rancid breath whispering into my ear to hold still. I thought he was putting a tree branch inside me. He pushes my face into the mattress.

DAVID

Let me. Let me do this and it’ll be over quicker. The more you fight the more it’s gonna hurt.

BOB

No more.

DAVID

If you don’t let me I’m going to hurt her. If you don’t let me I’m gonna cut her throat in her sleep and then I’m gonna gut you. You don’t want that, do you? You want me to do that then you keep struggling, you little shit.

BOB

I watch the fish on the wall paper and I know one day I’ll be like that fish. One day I’ll swim away. One day I’ll be safe.

DAVID MOVES AWAY

As he holds me down I reach under the bed and grab the chair leg. It’s all a blur after that except that I turned around real fast and smashed the corner of the chair leg into his face. Caught him just under eye. He screams and moves off me fast but the blood pisses down my arm like a river. He falls back against the wall screaming he’s going to kill me.

I got up. I still had the chair leg in my hand. I don’t know what possessed me but I smashed it across his face again to shut him up. He was quiet then. I ran out of the room. I ran out of that room and out of that house and down to my uncle’s place. They let me stay with them. Didn’t say anything. I got the feeling they knew what was going on as well. No-one called the police. But at least I didn’t have to live with him anymore.

THE LIGHTS COME BACK UP ON MARK

I ended up living there four years. Great thing was my parents didn’t ask me to come home. It’s no big deal. I’ve gotten over it. He’s is gaol now. Two months ago he got sent away for 13 years. My sisters and me spent four years getting him there but now I can breathe a little easy knowing that cunt is probably getting his arse fucked on a daily basis and I hope they’re hurting him. Great story, huh?

MARK

Not really.

BOB

Hey, life’s shit. What are you gonna do? So I try not to make judgments about people. Unless they’re really repulsive. But you don’t have to worry about that.

MARK

I don’t?

BOB

No. You’re not too bad at all. In fact you’re just the type I’m into.

MARK

Really?

BOB

Would I lie to you?

MARK

I’ve only met you. You could tell me anything.

BOB

That’s true. Look, if you’re so in love with this boyfriend of yours then why aren’t you with him now? I mean, I don’t want to break up some happy family or nothing. What’s the matter? Doesn’t he rev your engine anymore?

MARK

He’s not around anymore.

BOB

No? Did a runner, did he? Don’t know why. Could’ve done a lot worse.

MARK

He died.

BOB STOPS AGAIN

BOB

Oh, tough break. Sorry.

MARK

He came here and had sex with someone and then seven months later he died. Someone he met. Someone who liked to take risks. Someone…well, someone like you. And I guess you’re right. I didn’t rev his engine anymore. So he went looking. I never strayed from him. Even after the sex had all but died away I never stopped loving him and in some relationships that’s enough. You live in this cliché bubble your love can survive all those little tests. But I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong. Because sometimes loving someone isn’t enough, is it? You need that excitement. You need to take that risk. To not give a fuck about anything or anyone or how what you do can have consequences. And because he was stupid he didn’t know better. He’d never done that before.

So, you see? He meets someone here and he gets this disease. And they tell you there are these drugs that’ll keep him alive but they don’t always work! On some people they just don’t work. And you have to just sit there and watch them fade away into a whisper and then they’re gone.

So he dies. He dies and this other…What did you call them? This cunt? The one who gave it to them…well, he just walks away. He’s done his damage, he’s had his fun, he doesn’t have to think about the end result and he doesn’t have to be there to clean up the mess. So I guess he was a lot like your father. You see, I do understand  the anger, the rage. But what I don’t understand is how that makes it right to hurt other people. People you don’t even really know.

Who are all these idiots that think this thing has gone away? What trigger went off in their heads that told them it’s okay to be reckless again? To do this barebacking shit and just being some macho delusional image of a man is going to help you dodge the bullets. Or that being this young stud makes you invincible and no matter how many times you take it up the arse at some dance party you’re somehow going to be superman. That risk has become the exciting part of sex. When do we start taking responsibility again for our actions?

BOB

I…

MARK

Look, it’s okay. I’m not asking you for answers. I realise that might all be a bit too much for your way of thinking. I was just thinking out loud.

BOB

[GETTING UP TO LEAVE] I think I might get a glass of water.

MARK

[STOPPING HIM] Oh, don’t go. We were hitting it off so well. We’ve shared so much already I feel we have something in common. A bond of sorts. You with your father. Me with my dead lover. We’re both wounded creatures.

BOB

I’ll come back.

MARK

You will?

BOB

I promise. You want some water?

MARK

Thank you. That would be nice. I’m feeling a bit parched. Hurry back.

BOB MOVES AWAY. HE LOOKS RELIEVED TO BE AWAY FROM MARK. THE LIGHTS FADE ON MOST OF THE STAGE. ROBERT ENTERS. BOB AND ROBERT LOOK AT EACH. BOB LIKES WHAT HE SEES. HE MOVES TOWARDS ROBERT AND GROPES HIM. ROBERT CLOSES HIS EYES BRIEFLY. BOB MOVES IN AND STARTS TO FONDLE HIM.  BOB TRIES TO KISS HIM. ROBERT STARTS TO BACK AWAY. HE TRIES TO REMOVE BOB’S CAP. BOB GRABS HIS WRIST TO STOP HIM THEN RELENTS AND TAKES HIS CAP OFF AND PUTS IT ON ROBERT. BOB STARTS TO RUB HIM AGGRESSIVELY BETWEEN HIS LEGS UNTIL ROBERT ORGASMS UNDER HIS TOWEL. BOB TAKES HIS HAND OUT FROM BETWEEN ROBERT’S LEGS AND LICKS HIS FINGERS. ROBERT BACKS AWAY, SLIGHTLY ASHAMED.

BOB

Don’t go away. I think we might continue this. I just need to get some water.

ROBERT

I…

BOB

Ssh. There’s far too much fucking talking around this place tonight. Be right back.

THE LIGHTS FADE AS HE EXITS WITHOUT HIS CAP.

THE LIGHTS COME UP AGAIN AS MARK BUMPS INTO ROBERT, STILL TRYING TO WIPE HIMSELF DOWN. HE CANNOT MAKE OUT WHO IT IS. HE REACHES UP AND TOUCHES THE CAP ROBERT IS BEEN WEARING AND THINKS IT IS BOB. ROBERT KISSES MARK. MARK IS RELUCTANT THEN STARTS TO KISS HIM BACK

ROBERT PUSHES HIM TOWARDS THE BENCH AS THEY BECOME MORE PASSIONATE. THE LIGHTS FADE AGAIN.

THE LIGHTS COME UP ON ROBERT SIMULATING GIVING MARK A BLOW JOB AS IN THE VERY FIRST SCENE. THE LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. MARK LOOKS UP, TALKING TO HIMSELF.

MARK

Is this a dream? I can’t tell. I want to wake up. I want to shake myself into consciousness. Maybe it’s not a dream. Please be a dream. Then I can wake up.

HE REMOVES THE OTHER MAN’S CAP AND STROKES ROBERT’S HAIR.

I want this to be easy for you. I want you to fall asleep and never wake up.

FROM THE TOWEL NEXT TO HIM HE REMOVES A KNIFE. HE CONTINUES TO STROKE ROBERT’S HAIR. HE PUSHES THE KNIFE INTO ROBERT’S NECK. ROBERT GOES RIGID. MARK STARTS TO SOB AND TRIES TO HUSH HIM AT THE SAME TIME.

ROBERT JUMPS UP AND SCREAMS, CLUTCHING HIS THROAT AS BLOOD POURS DOWN HIS CHEST. HE BACKS AWAY FROM THE BENCH. BOB ENTERS JUST AS ROBERT GURGLES AND FALLS TO THE FLOOR DEAD. MARK REALISES THE PERSON HE HAS STABBED IS NOT BOB. BOB RUNS OFF.

DAVID ENTERS. HE LOOKS AT MARK THEN AT THE BODY UPSTAGE. HE MOVES TO IT AND REALISING WHO IT IS HE CLUTCHES HIS FIST TO HIS MOUTH.

MARK LOOKS AT DAVID AND IS WHIMPERING  “IM SORRY.” AS DAVID MOVES TOWARDS HIM MARK PLUNGES THE KNIFE INTO HIS OWN CHEST.

THE LIGHTS FADE.

end