In Memory of Geoffrey & Ivan

Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned that the performance of this play is subject to royalties and no public performance of this play or excerpts may be given in any form, including radio, film, television or stage without the written permission of the author and/or his agents and only upon application.

This play is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the author or his agent's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
 

Any application for performance must be made to:

RICK RAFTOS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
P.O. Box 445, Paddington
NSW, Australia, 2021
Telephone 61 2  9281 9622
Fax 61 2   9212 7100
raftos@raftos.com.au
 

Copyright © Steven Dawson 1988.

Characters

 Milly
 Kate
 David
 Mrs Brentwood
 

First Performance
February 19th 1988
Browns Lane Theatre Company
 

Milly   Lyn Gall
Kate   Wanda Budurka
David   Scott Moon
 

Directed by Ian Thompson
 
 

This play was commissioned and performed by the Browns Lane Theatre Company in January 1988.

SCENE ONE

DAVID, MILLY AND KATE ENTER AND STAND FACING THE AUDIENCE. DAVID CENTRE; MILLY AND KATE DOWNSTAGE LEFT

MILLY
When we first met David we were all in Year 10.

KATE
Rotten, horrible year.

MILLY
It wasn't that bad.

KATE
Yes it was, I was there, remember?

MILLY
Anyway, we met David.

KATE
New kid.

DAVID
Just moved into the neighbourhood.

KATE
A real cutie, don't ya reckon?

MILLY
S'pose.

KATE
"S'pose?” What? Are ya blind as well as stupid?

MILLY
Shut up Kate.

DAVID
They were standing together.

MILLY
We're always standing together.

KATE
Safety in numbers, Milly. Besides, the minute we split up the meatheads move in.

MILLY
Start sayin' nasty things about the other one.

KATE
So we stick together, alright?

MILLY
Alright.

KATE
Anyway, it's the new kid.

MILLY
His name is David.

KATE
Oooh. [CALLING TO HIM] David!!

DAVID
What?

MILLY
Katie!

KATE
What?

MILLY
Give it a rest.

KATE
Well, excuse me.

DAVID
They were always going on like that.

MILLY
We were always going on like that.

KATE
We weren't.

MILLY
We were, Katie.

KATE
Oh.

MILLY
He looks gorgeous.

KATE
I wanna have his baby!

MILLY
Katie, that's disgusting! Well, a little disgusting anyway.

KATE
Get her.

MILLY
Let's go talk to him.

KATE & MILLY WALK OVER TO DAVID

KATE
Hi, wanna go out with me? Or her? Or both of us? Either way we always compare notes afterwards so you can't win.

MILLY
Kate!!! Look, I have to apologise for my friend here and I use that term loosely. She's just a bit...

DAVID
Yeah, I know what you mean.

KATE
I am not "Yeah, I know what you mean". Stop ganging up on me.

DAVID
Sorry.

KATE
[SOUTHERN ACCENT] Wha' that's alright. Ah'll forgit about it this time, seein' as how yo' new aroun' heah an' all.

DAVID
Thanks. I take it your name's Katie?

KATE
Yeah, that's right ...oh and this is Milly.

MILLY
Thanks Katie.

KATE
It was nothing.

MILLY
Exactly.

KATE
So, what do you think of the place?

MILLY
Katie, he's only just got here.

KATE
Well, first impressions can be very accurate, especially round this place.

DAVID
It looks okay.

KATE AND MILLY LOOK AT EACH OTHER THEN SING THE TUNE FROM TWILIGHT ZONE

You don't agree?

KATE
Well, let's just say that it ain't exactly "too much fun to have in one day".

MILLY
More like Canberra nightlife.

DAVID
C'mon, it's not that bad is it?

KATE
Wanna bet? C'mon Milly. We'll be late for the Gronk.

DAVID
"The Gronk"?

KATE
Maths teacher. Real Neanderthal.

MILLY
You know, knuckles dragging along the ground.

KATE
Hairy neck.

BOTH
Bleah!!

KATE
[GRABBING MILLY'S ARM] C'mon, bye David.

MILLY
Bye.

DAVID
See you 'round.

KATE
Like a rissole. We don't want a spunkarella like y'self wandering around unprotected with this lot. I mean, there's a lot of sex-crazed girls around the place and it's our sacred duty to make sure we get there first.

KATE AND MILLY DASH OFF TO CLASS. DAVID STANDS SMILING FOR A MOMENT, THEN HIS SMILE FADES, HE SIGHS; PICKS UP HIS BAG AND EXITS
 

SCENE TWO

MILLY STANDS ALONE CENTRE

MILLY
I can't believe it. I think I'm making a jerk of myself. I wonder if he's noticed. Probably not. Although he does come and sit next to us at lunch. Naturally Katie is a bit of a problem.

KATE
[YELLING OFFSTAGE] What a spunk!!

MILLY
Honestly, the girl has no shame.

KATIE ENTERS

KATE
I heard that, you dag! Don't you talk. You're the one dripping doggy drool all over him.

MILLY
I do not!

KATE
You do so. When he walks past you, you foam at the mouth. Every time the lunch bell goes off, you just can't wait to see him. It's like a regular Pavlova's Dog. Ring, ring, drool, drool.

MILLY
I don't drool. And, anyway, it's Pavlov's Dog, you dork!

KATE
Yeah, well, I thought we were mates.

MILLY
We are.

KATE
Well, you're getting real chummy with him all of a sudden.

MILLY
Well, it's not my fault we get on, OK. And I like him. Look Katie, don't make life hard for me huh? You and me are still best mates. I just like him that's all. It's not serious.

KATE
Yeah, right.

MILLY
Do I look like that sort of person?

KATE
No. You look like that sort of half-sucked mango.

MILLY
[MOCK EXASPERATION] Why do I put up with this?

KATE
'Cause I'm so adorable and 'cause you need someone like me to drag you back to earth. [THEY BOTH LAUGH] Just don't forget I'm still here, OK? I can get pretty savage when it comes to guys.

MILLY
I'll remember.

KATE
See you in class.

KATIE EXITS

MILLY
[TO AUDIENCE] I read somewhere once, maybe I heard it on the telly,  I don't know, but anyway it said that everyone in their life has someone who's their one special friend. Someone they can trust totally and talk to and it's like they understand you...can know what you're thinking...in your head and mind. I don't know...it sounds pretty stupid...but you're supposed to be able to do the same thing to them...y'know? Total friends.

KATIE ENTERS

KATE
It's hopeless

MILLY
What is?

KATE
Him...David.

MILLY
So?

KATE
So? What I'm saying is, I don't think he's interested.

MILLY
Maybe he's just shy.

KATE
Well he's had three months to get unshy.

MILLY
What do you mean?

KATE
Nothing.

MILLY
What?

KATE
Well, I think he might be...[LIMP WRIST]

MILLY
You think he's gay?

KATE
Uh-huh.

MILLY
Don't be stupid.

KATE
Well.

MILLY
Maybe he doesn't want to get involved.

KATE
Look, that's not it and you know it. I don't know why you didn't suss it out months ago. I thought he told you everything.

MILLY
Not everything. Besides, he's too nice to bring up something like that.

KATE
Being nice's got nothing to do with it...oh well, maybe you're better off anyway. You'd probably end up catching some horrible disease.

MILLY
That's a horrible thing to say.

KATE
Sorry. So what are ya gonna do now?

MILLY
Go to class, I guess.

KATE
No, I meant about David.

MILLY
Well, if he's not interested, he's not interested, I s'pose.

KATE
Why don't you ask him?

MILLY
Katie! It's got nothing to do with us.

KATE
Just our luck...and it's only taken us six months to work it out. I don't know why we didn't wake up to it before...what a waste!

MILLY
Maybe it's us.

KATE
What d'you mean?

MILLY
Maybe he's just not interested in us.

KATE
Are you kidding?

MILLY
Well, it might be true. Maybe he's got a girlfriend stashed away somewhere. We never really see him after school. A girlfriend would explain everything.

KATE
Well, you don't find out nothing lessen you ask. [LOOKS OFFSTAGE] Oh, oh, here he comes. I’m going to the library. You want anything? No? Good.

KATIE EXITS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS DAVID ENTERS

DAVID
Where's old trout-mouth going?

MILLY
She knows you call her that.

DAVID
I should hope so. I've been saying it to her face for the past four months.

MILLY
She's gone to the library, I think.

DAVID
Straight to the books with the big print, and lots of pictures.

MILLY
So, where you been for the past two days? I haven't seen you in class.

DAVID
Sorry, I don't get down to metalwork much these days. Finished your boiler?

MILLY
Very funny. Really, where have you been? No-one knew where you were.

DAVID
The teachers did.

MILLY
Well, I guess somebody forgot to tell me 'cause I wasn't informed.

DAVID
I just had a bit of a cold, that's all.

MILLY
Are you okay now?

DAVID
Never felt lousier.

MILLY
Are you sure you're over the cold?

DAVID
Listen Florence Nightingale, blow out your lamp, I'm fine.

MILLY
Positive?

DAVID
Positive! So stop drawing up plans for the iron lung and give your mouth a rest. You'd better go drag Fang out of the Library. She'll be eating a few Year Sevens for lunch.

MILLY
Oh, she can wait. Can't we sit and talk for a bit?

DAVID
Sure. What do you want to talk about?

MILLY
I don't know. Lots of things. We never talk very much. Oh, I know I'm always nagging but you never tell me anything about yourself.

DAVID
It ain't that important. We're friends. That's all that matters.

MILLY
I know, I know. Then answer me just a few questions and I promise I won't hassle you about it again.

DAVID
Okay, okay. Ask away....but no dirty stuff, okay? I've just eaten.

MILLY
Promise. Okay...here goes. [DEEP BREATH] How come you're here? I mean in this school. It's halfway through term. Why didn't you finish off the year at your old school?

DAVID
We had to move. My parents were fighting with the neighbours.

MILLY
How come?

DAVID
Oh, you know...the usual things neighbours fight about. Someone chopped a branch off someone's tree. Someone else's dog kept barking.

MILLY
They moved because of that? Boy, that happens everywhere.

DAVID
Yeah, well this was a little nastier than that. Anyway this other house came up so Mum and Dad said okay and we moved here. End of story, next question.

MILLY
What are your hobbies? I mean, I know you don't play sport.

DAVID
I used to. I can't be bothered much now. I get a bit of asthma you know? Slows me down. I used to do a lot of bike riding. Trail bikes. But I had a bit of an accident a couple of years ago and it's kinda put me off riding for a while. Anything else?

MILLY
Umm...[MUMBLING] Do you have a girlfriend?

DAVID
[TEASING HER] Pardon?

MILLY
Do you have a girlfriend?

DAVID
For what it's worth, no I don't have a girlfriend. Happy?

MILLY
It's not for me. There's just some people around here who were curious that's all.

DAVID
And we all know who that is, don't we? Anyway, I would have thought you could tell by now. I can't be bothered with it.

MILLY
Nothing else?

DAVID
What do you want?  A signed statement?

MILLY
No, it's just that when you didn't seem interested we thought that you might be.....

DAVID
Oh, I get it. You thought I was...

MILLY
I didn't say that, I wasn't even thinking it.

DAVID
Thinking what?

MILLY
Nothing, let's just drop the whole thing. I'm getting depressed.

DAVID
That's the smartest thing you've said.

MILLY
[PAUSE] Well?

DAVID
What?

MILLY
Are you?

DAVID
Am I what?

MILLY
[STRANGLING HIM] Arrrgghh!!

DAVID
[LAUGHING AND FIGHTING HER OFF] Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.

MILLY
You know, I've never met anyone like you before. You're so....

DAVID
Adorable?

MILLY
I was going to say "different".

DAVID
Different?  You mean like The Gronk?

MILLY
No, stupid. I mean different to the rest of the dregs around here.

DAVID
Listen, if I ever get to be anything remotely like this lot, take me out in the backyard and shoot me.

MILLY
Look, can't you be serious for once?

DAVID
Nope! So little time, so much to do.

MILLY
There you go again. I mean it!

DAVID
Look, this is getting boring. I gotta go. Bye.

DAVID EXITS AS KATE ENTERS

MILLY
Go where? David! Honestly, Katie I just don't understand guys.

KATE
Welcome to the real world. I just got grabbed on the bum in the canteen by this Year Eight kid who doesn't even look like he can shave yet!

MILLY
I was talking about David.

KATE
Boy Blunder?  He's a lost cause.

MILLY
I asked him you know.

KATE
Asked him what?

MILLY
You know, if he was gay.

KATE
Milly, you didn't! Are you crazy?

MILLY
Well, you told me to.

KATE
Telling's one thing, doing it's another. [PAUSE] Well, what did he say?

MILLY
Nothing. He fobbed me off as usual.

KATE
Well kid, you're just gonna have to face facts. He's gotten bored with you and moved on I reckon.

MILLY
Have you looked at him lately? Look at how skinny he's gotten.

KATE
Do you think he's anorexic? He doesn't eat much at lunchtime.

MILLY
Well if he has to look at you I'm not surprised.

KATE
You're so sweet.

MILLY
Just my natural charm. Seriously Katie, have a good look at him, he doesn't look well.

KATE
Yeah, well I reckon it all sounds a bit fishy. Better keep away from him. Give him a bit of breathing space. The Dynamic Duo haven't been the same since he came here anyway. I don't know why you bother with him.

MILLY
I kinda remember you had the hots for him before as well.

KATE AND MILLY FREEZE AS DAVID ENTERS

DAVID
I guess I've known now for what? Six years? They told my parents first, I thought that was pretty lousy but it doesn't bother me now...Okay, so maybe it does bother me every now and then but you gotta learn not to get depressed by things; you gotta try to block it out, otherwise you just end up sick and that's what I been trying to steer clear of, getting sick. Healthy mind, healthy body. You see for a while I had no idea. I felt great. No worries mate. Then I started to get these headaches. I thought I was reading too much and straining my eyes you know? After that came the sweating, I'd wake up some nights and the sheets were literally soaking wet, then I'd get hot and throw the blankets off and then I'd get so cold I couldn't get warm. I ended up with pneumonia; four weeks in hospital just lying there feeling lousy. Then they tell me the good news, I'm anti-body positive. Terrific! It was as big a shock to me as it was for Mum and Dad. It felt like a numbness just set into the whole family. I came good after that, no troubles. But somehow things have a way of being found out, especially where we used to live. Someone from the hospital knew the people next door and so word just naturally  got around that David Brentwood had the big A. At first it was just looks, you know; curious, pitying, meaningful. My friends stopped coming round or their parents made them stop, even Mum and Dad's friends stopped dropping in. I felt real sorry for them about that. It's not like it was them. One night someone threw a brick through the front window. We started to get the hint after that. It's funny how it takes something like this to show people in their true colours. I stopped expecting sympathy a long time ago. Now I just try to tune it all out. It's not easy, believe me. Mum and Dad take it a bit harder I guess. They moved from a house where they'd always lived just because no-one knew how to respond to this, to me. I can turn off but they can't. I don't get involved any more. It feels a bit like walking in limbo sometimes. And I don't listen to people talking about things they don't know about. It makes holding on just that little bit healthier, that little bit easier.

KATE AND MILLY APPROACH DAVID

MILLY
So for god's sake eat something, okay? You're getting skinny as a rake.

DAVID
Alright, alright.

MILLY
We're only looking after your welfare.

KATE
Oh bull! We've got a reputation to maintain and it's hard to look your best when you're hanging round with Skeletor.

DAVID
I get the picture.

KATE
You betta! [GERMAN GUARD] Uddervize ve haf vays of makink you eat. [SHE DRAGS DAVID OFF] Schultz!  Fetchen der rubber hose.

MILLY
I've been watching him now for nearly four months. He hasn't lost much more weight, but something's changed inside of him. I don't know what it is. And he doesn't seem to care about anything, he's away from school for weeks and then when he comes back it's as though nothing's happened. He's always got some excuse, it's asthma or bronchitis or the 'flu or something and it can't be, not all the time like that. But he just shrugs it off and looks at me like it's none of my business but it is isn't it? I'm supposed to be his friend...I AM his friend...but he won't let me get close to him.

KATE ENTERS AND SPEAKS TO THE AUDIENCE

KATE
It's called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome...or AIDS if you like. It's a virus that damages the body's immune system. That's the part of you that fights off disease. When you haven't got an immune system or if it's not working properly then you're liable to get what's called an  opportunistic infection. With AIDS it's usually pneumonia or sometimes a type of skin cancer called Karposi's Sarcoma. There are lots of other diseases that can also kill you but these two are the most common. Sometimes you might recover from one only to catch another. The virus is unpredictable, it could take years to mess up your body or it might be only a matter of weeks until death. AIDS isn't a very funny disease. I know it's easy to sit back and make jokes and call people names and pass judgement on people you don't even know, but when you've seen someone dying from it then it's not very funny. And one day, it might affect all of us.

KATE EXITS. DAVID ENTERS

DAVID
What's up Milly?

MILLY
Nothing. Why should it be?

DAVID
Don't say that. I know when you're lying. Your chin does the tango. So what is it?

MILLY
Look, why does something always have to be the matter? I just don't feel like talking that's all.

DAVID
Whoa! I gotta get a picture of this. Another great moment in history. Milly actually doesn't feel like talking.

MILLY
Cut it out David, please.

DAVID
Hey, Milly I'm sorry. Don't get yourself all worked up.

MILLY
I'm not! Oh look, just leave me alone.

DAVID
What's wrong?

MILLY
You tell me what's wrong David. You talk to me but you never tell me anything. You stay away from school for weeks and then when you come back you won't tell me why and if I try to ask you make me feel like I'M doing something wrong.

DAVID
I'm sorry Milly, I didn't know I was doing it to you. I've just got a weak chest that's all, my Dad has it and so do I. There's no big deal about it, come on, cheer up. Do I look that sick?

HE FEINTS A FEW BOXING PUNCHES

MILLY
No....I guess not.

DAVID
So don't worry any more, you dill.

MILLY
Okay. Boy I must look awful. I think I'll go to the toilets and wash my face.

DAVID
Two flushes should do the trick.

MILLY
Are you kidding? They use Blue Loo in the ladies. I'll come out looking like a geriatric on pension day.

SHE STARTS TO LEAVE THEN TURNS

I'll talk to you later?

DAVID
You bet, see ya.

MILLY
Bye.

SHE EXITS. DAVID TURNS TO THE AUDIENCE

DAVID
I try to be calm inside and keeps things like they were but I just can't. I feel like I'm on some sort of trip that I didn't want to go on in the first place and I know that it's going to be hard and I'm so gutless that I want it to be easy. I just want everything to be normal. I want to be with the people I love, the people who matter. I want to tell her but how can I? I don't want anything more to change and if I tell her I know it will, she'd fall apart, I've already seen it happen to my family. It  frightens me more than anything. So how can I tell her? Because people do change and I can't handle it any more.

DAVID IS SUDDENLY STRUCK WITH A SHARP PAIN IN THE HEAD

**  The use of this next scene is optional and should be updated to current statistics.

KATE AND MILLY ENTER AND ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE OUT OF CHARACTER

KATE
It's suppose to have originated in Africa.

MILLY
A virus thought to have been spread from monkeys.

KATE
Into the human population.

MILLY
Over 5 million infected in Africa alone.

KATE
More than 50,000 dead in the past five years.

MILLY
A virus that changes its shape constantly...just when you think you've solved its structure.

KATE
It was spread into the United States through tourists visiting the African continent and taking the disease back home where it can have a gestation period of up to...

MILLY
8 years...

KATE
From the initial contact...

MILLY
10 years...

KATE
Of spreading the disease...

MILLY
10 years...

KATE
Into an epidemic throughout the world.

MILLY
Thousands of cases known throughout Australia.

KATE
Over three thousand already dead.

MILLY
More than 50,000 suspected to be carrying the virus.

KATE
Some may never get sick.

MILLY
The lucky ones.

KATE
So that they spread it around without ever knowing that what they're doing is well on the way to...

MILLY
Knowing the facts saves lives.

KATE
What to do and what not to do.

DAVID
I've been reading about dying. There's supposed to be these five stages that a person who's faced with death or dying goes through. Denial.....anger..... bargaining ....depression and then acceptance. Some people have the lot, some only go through one or two, and it's not always in that order either. I've been lucky and missed out on most of them. It's just the bits in between that I have a hassle with.

KATE EXITS. DAVID WALKS PAST MILLY

MILLY
David? [HE CONTINUES WALKING] David please.

DAVID
What?

MILLY
Don't do this.

DAVID
You're only doing it to yourself. Don't accuse me of anything, okay?

MILLY
Okay...David, I'm sorry.

DAVID
Just forget about it. I gotta go.

MILLY
Don't go. I said I was sorry. What else do you want?

DAVID
Nothing.

MILLY
[CLOSE TO TEARS] Can't we still be friends?... Please?

DAVID
OK, forget about it.

MILLY
How about a hug?

THEY HUG

DAVID
Happy now?

MILLY
Yep. [PAUSE] I saw your mum at the gate.

DAVID
What?

MILLY
Yeah, she musta been waiting for me.

DAVID
What did she want?

MILLY
Nothing much. Just to say hello I guess. I thought she must have been a real dragon the way you don't talk about her but she was really nice.

DAVID
Did she say anything?

MILLY
About what?

DAVID
About anything.

MILLY
She just said hello. That's all.

DAVID
Well don't worry about it.

MILLY
I'm not. Who's worried? David, what's up?

DAVID
Nothing.

MILLY
There must be the way you keep trying to avoid me, and it's not just because of the other day so what is it?

DAVID
I told you there's nothing the matter.

MILLY
Listen to you! You're lying to me and I know it. You're being pretty weak if you won't tell your friend when something's wrong.

DAVID
[ANGRY] Alright Milly, you wanna know what it is? You really wanna know? Okay, then sticky beak, I'm sick, I'm really sick ...and...I'm probably gonna die. Is that what you wanted to know? Are you happy now? And do you wanna know why I'm gonna die Milly, do you? Do you? Well I'll tell you, it's what you wanna know so much. I'm gonna die because....I've got AIDS. That's why I'm sick. Because I've got AIDS. You wonder why I didn't tell you that? You're so bloody worried about knowing everything. Well now you know everything. Oh no, I'm sorry you don't know everything, there's something else haven't told you. I have to leave today, I won't be back at school anymore. You won't have to put up with my face staring up at you anymore and you won't have to worry that I'm not telling you anything anymore cause I won't be here.

MILLY SLAPS HIM ACROSS THE FACE

Goodbye Milly. Thanks for being so understanding.

HE EXITS. MILLY STANDS THERE STUNNED AS KATE ENTERS

KATE
Gees, he's in a bit of a tizz isn't he? You two have  a fight or something?

MILLY
Katie...he's got AIDS.

KATE
What?

MILLY
[SLOWLY] He's got AIDS. He just told me.

KATE
You're kidding me? I don't believe it.

MILLY
It's true I tell you. Why would he lie about something like that? How could he do this to me? How could touch me knowing he had it? He could have given it to me. I could have it now and never have known it.

KATE
Didn't I tell you?

MILLY
What?

KATE
That he was gay. I knew all along. I knew there was something more. Where's he gone now?

MILLY
Home. He says he's not coming back to school.

KATE
Good riddance, I say. Who needs some poofter spreading disease all over the place. God, just think of how many times he's touched us. The air's probably crawling with germs right now.

MILLY
He should have told me. He should've said something instead of hiding it like he did. Warned me or something.

KATE
He lied to you. He lied to all of us. Just wait till everyone hears about this.

MILLY
If he was sick before he came here then he shouldn't've come. I don't understand it. We could all have it now, couldn't we? He could've infected all of us!

KATE
I don't know. Maybe.

MILLY
It's not right. He should've said something.

THE GIRLS EXIT AS DAVID ENTERS AND STANDS CENTRE

DAVID
I've been trying to listen to this tape. It's a relaxation tape or something. It's supposed to calm you down. They give it out to people like me....but the trouble is, I can't relax. I guess I'm on a 20 minute delay. Just as I'm starting to calm down, the tape ends and the rotten machine switches off and frightens the shit out of me. I've been sitting around the house for weeks now. There are blotches coming up on my legs and back...doesn't look that bad but...they're pretty new. This relaxation tape is a joke though. Full of really tacky music and insects in a swamp. Midnight in the Mangroves. It'll never make it on MTV.

DAVID EXITS AS KATE AND MILLY ENTER. MILLY IS HOLDING SOME PAMPHLETS ON AIDS.

KATE
Look you gotta stop moping round. People are beginning to wonder if there's something wrong with you too.

MILLY
You shouldn't've told everyone about him. That was really slack.

KATE
Why not? They've got a right to know, haven't they? He shouldn't've been walking round infecting everyone.

MILLY
I wonder how he's going.

KATE
Who cares? He lied to you didn't he? Now that's slack. Let him suffer. Serves him right anyway. Besides, it's not your problem anymore. He's gone so you don't have to worry. It'll be like old times, the Dynamic Duo, you and me. Three's a crowd anyway. He was just getting in the way. Pushing in where he wasn't wanted.

MILLY
Maybe you're right.

KATE
Of course I am. You're better off without him.

MILLY
I guess so. I just can't help wondering what he's doing.

KATE
Probably out with all his boyfriends.

MILLY
How come you're being so nasty? I thought you liked him?

KATE
Nah. I just knew he wasn't good enough for you that's all. People can change you know. So what are all the pamphlets for anyway?

MILLY
I thought I'd find out a little bit about it.

KATE
What for? What do you need to know all that stuff for. You're not going to get it. It's only for poofs and druggies.

MILLY
I still wanna find out.

KATE
You want something to read. Read Dolly.

MILLY
But why shouldn't I read about AIDS?

KATE
Because it doesn't affect you, ya dork. You're not gonna see Boy Blunder again so why waste your time? Anyway, how's your knowing about it gonna help him?

MILLY
I still wanna read it.

KATE
Suit yourself. I'll talk to you later on.

KATE EXITS. MILLY READS THE PAMPHLET. DAVID ENTERS. HE HAS SEVERAL PURPLE BLOTCHES ON HIS FACE AND LEGS. HE WEARS A WHITE DRESSING GOWN. HE IS READING FROM A SMALL WHITE CARD

DAVID
"Karposi's Sarcoma: A tumour of the walls of the blood vessels. Usually appears as pink to purple, painless spots on the skin but may also occur internally in addition to or independent of the skin lesions..."

HE LOOKS AT HIMSELF

How many of you little bastards are hiding in there, huh?  Come out, come out, wherever you are.

HE CONTINUES TO READ

DAVID
"...originally seen in elderly men or in equatorial Africa, it is now occurring in young men and is rapid and frequently fatal in its course. Death usually occurs  from major organ involvement...". Everyone wants to get in on the act. Well, come on you suckers. There's still life in the chook yet.

KATE ENTERS AS MRS BRENTWOOD. SHE CARRIES A TRAY WITH A GLASS OF WATER AND A BOTTLE OF TABLETS

MRS BRENTWOOD
There you are, sweetheart. I was looking for you. How are you feeling?

DAVID
If one more person in this house asks how I am, I'm gonna start moving the furniture around.

MRS BRENTWOOD
Alright, alright. Sorry I asked. Did you eat anything this morning?

DAVID
Just the dog.

MRS BRENTWOOD
[SMILING] I never liked that dog, anyway. You should get out in the sun a bit. Go and sit out in the backyard for a little while maybe?

DAVID
The sun's getting too strong. I'll end up looking like a pizza.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I just don't want to see you cooped up in the house all day, that's all.

DAVID
Mum, I think I know what's good for me, okay? Nothing's gonna change, you know.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I know, sweetheart. Whatever you think is best.

DAVID
I'll be alright

MRS BRENTWOOD
Maybe you could give one of your friends a ring. That'll cheer you up.

DAVID
What do I need cheering up for? I said I'm alright.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I know, Davey. I just thought you might like someone besides the family to talk to.

DAVID
And who did you have in mind?

MRS BRENTWOOD
Why don't you call Milly? I'm sure she'd love to hear from you.

DAVID
Did she ring?

SHE NODS

DAVID
I've told you, I don't want to speak to her. I don't want to speak to anyone.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I thought you two were friends.

DAVID
We were. But I want to do this my way. Okay, mum? It's my decision and this is the way I want it. Besides, I don't want anyone around me.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I thought you might have changed your mind by now.

DAVID
She's just like everybody. She doesn't want to know about it. So I haven't changed my mind either. Why should I?

MRS BRENTWOOD
She doesn't understand.

DAVID
I don't care about her. I don't care about anyone. I'll take care of myself, okay? And if they can't handle it, then that's their problem, not mine. Besides, I haven't seen her breaking down any doors to come and see me.

MRS BRENTWOOD
Maybe she's frightened.

DAVID
[CALMLY] I don't care, okay? I just don't care.

MRS BRENTWOOD
I don't think she's the only one who's frightened.

MRS BRENTWOOD TAKES THE GLASS FROM HIM AND EXITS. MILLY ENTERS AND STANDS CENTRE.

MILLY
I didn't know anything about it. If I'd done a bit of reading before then maybe I wouldn't have jumped the gun. It says that it's a virus....just like the flu only it can kill you. You can't even get it from casual contact. it has to be passed on when you exchange body fluids. I don't know why I acted the way I did. I was so scared. All he ever did was hold my hand and now I've left him....the best friend I ever had. I hit him. I thought he betrayed me and so I hit him. It was easy to blame him for the way I was feeling. I didn't think how he was hurting. I just naturally assumed he'd done something wrong to me. He said he couldn't tell me. I know why now. He knew how I'd react just like everybody. Now I don't know how I'm ever gonna say I'm sorry...

SHE TURNS TO HIM

Hello, David.

DAVID
Hello Milly. [PAUSE] So, don't I rate a hug at least?

SHE HUGS HIM TIGHT

It's okay. You can let go now. You're cutting off my circulation.

MILLY
Thanks for letting me in.

DAVID
Sorry I'm not more presentable. Maybe I should have smashed some of the light bulbs.

MILLY
It's good to see you David.

DAVID
It's good to see you, too, Milly. I've really missed you.

MILLY
Same here.

DAVID
What? You've missed you too?

MILLY
No, I meant......[HE SMILES] Smart arse.

DAVID
Thanks.

MILLY
I'm sorry.

DAVID
What for? For waiting so long? It didn't bother me. Besides, it was my choice, remember? But I'm glad you're here now.

MILLY
No, it's not just for this week. I'm sorry for all the weeks when I could have come. I needed time to think. To get my head straight about a few things.

DAVID
What sort of things?

MILLY
David...I didn't know how to deal with this. I still don't. It wasn't what I was expecting. I mean, I knew you were sick with something but I would never think...never have thought it would be something like that.

DAVID
It's alright, Milly.

MILLY
No, it's not, David. You see, no-one I know has ever...I mean, it just doesn't affect everyone, you know? And no-one I know has ever died. Anyone...of anything... so...I was confused, I guess. About a lot of things.

DAVID
What about now?

MILLY
Not as much. Not after seeing you now. Nothing matters now...except that you're alright.

DAVID
Well, I can't say that I'm ready to tackle buffalo, but I'm okay for the moment. Just as long as nothing nasty gets into the system.

MILLY
I have to go now. I'm expected home. Can I come back and see you again?

DAVID
Are you sure that you want to? It's not going to be easy.

MILLY LOOKS HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYES

MILLY
Yes, I'm sure.

DAVID
Then come back whenever you want.

MILLY
I will, but there's one more thing I have to do first.

SHE HUGS HIM AGAIN AND HE RETURNS THE AFFECTION. DAVID EXITS. KATE ENTERS.

KATE
Well, are you coming to the pictures on Friday or not?

MILLY
No, I'm not Katie. In fact I don't think I'll be going anywhere with you again.

KATE
What's up with you?

MILLY
It's just like I said. I don't want to hang round with you anymore.

KATE
What have I done?

MILLY
Nothing much. I just decided you aren't the kind of person I want to know.

KATE
Ah, what are ya on about?

MILLY
I thought we were really good mates, Katie, I really did. But then I got to thinking about some of the things you said.

KATE
Whaddya mean?

MILLY
About David, Katie. See it took me a while to realise what it was you were doing. I knew that you liked David, but when you saw that he liked me a bit more than you, you couldn't handled it and you got nasty. I knew you were just jealous but that didn't bother me. I thought maybe you'd change, maybe you'd get over it. When we found out about David you helped to make it easy for me to hate him.

KATE
Oh, bull!

MILLY
You did Katie. I didn't know how sick he was until I saw him and that's all I've been thinking about since. I couldn't hate him but you've kept right on trying to make me, trying to push him out; trying to make room for yourself. I didn't see that he was suffering, I didn't notice that you were dragging me away from someone who needed me. Because you didn't care about anyone but yourself.

KATE
So I'm suppose to just sit back while my best mate gets AIDS, am I?

MILLY
We were only worried about how it affected us. Now I know a few more facts about it. Things you don't know and probably couldn't care less about. No matter what anyone else reckons about it, I know how I feel. It's something I decided about myself, without you, without David. You and I Katie, we're like everybody else. When we don't know about anything we act without thinking. Sometimes because we're afraid. Well I'm not afraid anymore. I can change because I know he's going to die. Maybe when it happens I won't be able to be there but as much as I can I'm gonna be by his side as long as he wants me there. And Katie maybe you could be there too.

KATE
No way! Let him rot.

MILLY
Goodbye, Katie.

MILLY EXITS AS KATE STANDS CENTRE. SHE TAKES THE RIBBONS OUT OF HER HAIR AND SPEAKS, NO LONGER IN CHARACTER

KATE
Three weeks later David got pneumonia. His body weighed just 35kg. His skin was almost transparent and he was in constant pain as his muscles began to shrink over the joints. He was hospitalised now and could only be moved around in a wheelchair. He was far too weak to walk...

MILLY ENTERS PUSHING DAVID IN A WHEELCHAIR. HE IS VERY GROGGY AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS LESIONS ACROSS HIS FACE. HIS SPEECH IS SLIGHTLY SLURRED

Through all this, Milly visited him every day. At times the pain would be so bad that he would have to be injected with morphine. It was now only a matter of time.

MILLY
I thought you might like to come out in the sun today. It's too nice a day to sit inside, don't you think?

DAVID NODS

I asked the Sister. She said it was okay but not for too long. Do you want to sit and do nothing or do you wanna talk?

DAVID
Talk. I have to make up for the dull nights when I lay in that bloody bed twiddling my thumbs.

MILLY
Did your mum and dad come in today?

DAVID
Uh-huh. I think they enjoy sitting around doing nothing and eating my grapes.

MILLY
Well, what do you wanna talk about today. And please, let's not get into the saga of the bed pan again. The last thing I need is to be grossed out by tacky talk.

DAVID
I don't care. I'm sick of talking about me. What about you?

MILLY
What about me?

DAVID
You never tell me anything about you...or about Katie.

MILLY
[EVASIVELY] That's because it's all so boring.

DAVID
Boring? Tell me about it. I live it every day.

MILLY
I wanted to ask you something.

DAVID
What?

MILLY
I was gonna ask you what you think about.

DAVID
I don't know. Lots of things. How it's gonna go. What I'll be thinking about then. What it feels like...when I'm gone. How does death feel. What's gonna happen to everyone else when I'm gone...and when I can't think of something else...I go travelling.

MILLY
Where to?

DAVID
Somewhere in my head. I close my eyes and I think myself on some beautiful beach with golden sand and crystal blue waters with no-one around. A beautiful warm day...and I see myself inside this crystal prism...just floating above it all...feeling all of it...just letting it all flow through me...it's my special place.

MILLY
It sounds lovely.

DAVID
It is.

MILLY
David? [PAUSE] Is there anything you wish you could have done?

DAVID
Lots of things.

MILLY
Like what?

DAVID
I don't know. Too many...I would like to have grown old. To have met someone and fell in love...to be in love ...to make love.

MILLY
But I thought you would have done that at least.

DAVID
Done what?

MILLY
Isn't that how you got... It?

DAVID
It? No, that's not how I got "it". You never did ask me, did you? You thought I got it from having sex with someone.

MILLY
I guess I did. We all did.

DAVID
And I bet you thought I was gay because I didn't want to get involved.

MILLY
Kinda.

DAVID
Uh-huh. Well, actually, I got it years ago. After my bike accident. I had a transfusion a year before they started checking blood. That's how I got it.

MILLY
But aren't you angry...about getting it from someone?

DAVID
Look, Milly...maybe for a little while...but then I got to thinking, if some poor person gave it to me by accident then maybe they got it from someone else...and all of us are going through this together. I keep hearing about all these innocent victims who have it, babies and everything, but I don't think there's such a thing as a guilty victim either. No-one deserves this...no-one...so what's the point in being angry with them. No, I stay calm...and I keep an open heart. That's enough...it's getting cold. And I'm getting tired. Let's go in.

MILLY
Okay.

THEY EXIT. KATE AS MRS BRENTWOOD ENTERS.

MRS BRENTWOOD
Dear Milly, this is just a letter to let you know that David died early this morning. He had had a very bad night after you left. The hospital called us in at about 10.00 when his condition had deteriorated.

MILLY RETURNS READING THE LETTER

They'd given him a lot of morphine to ease the pain and at about midnight he slipped into a coma. His father and I sat with him just holding his hands. We know that you would have liked to have been there but it wasn't to be. I thought you would like to know that David came out of his coma for just a brief moment, spoke a few words and then left us. I wanted to tell you before you made your daily trip into the hospital to visit, which we all appreciated, and had made David more than happy in the past few weeks. You brightened up his day so much and for that we will always be grateful. We'll let you know about the funeral arrangements but I wondered if you would care to say a few words about Davey at the service. It would mean a lot to us and....to Davey. Thank you so much for your love and friendship towards our son. We will miss him a great deal. Yours sincerely, Trish and Michael Brentwood.

SHE GOES TO EXIT THEN TURNS AROUND.

P.S We just thought you'd like to know Davey's last words were "The beach is beautiful here".
 

EPILOGUE

MILLY
David, Hi, it's me, Milly. It seems ages since I talked to you. I've been really busy since school broke up but then I expect you already know that. There's such a lot I still have to tell you. You know I think about you every day and in the stupidest places. Yesterday, I was walking down the street and suddenly I just stopped dead still with the realisation that you aren't here anymore. It was like I was struck by lightning or something. I must have looked really out of it just standing there so still, all alone like that. You would have laughed at me I know.  But I still can't get used to your not being here any more. The bell rings and I think "I can't wait to  see David" and then I remember. Anyway, the  reason I'm talking to you now is I've just finished doing a course over the last couple of weekends, me and a whole lot of people, volunteers. It's to provide support to people with AIDS. It's really amazing, over half of them are women. Y'know, mums who've lost their sons, nurses, nuns, even someone's Grandma. They all want to help in some way. I wish I'd known back then, when you were sick, what I know now; that when someone close to you is sick with something like this, then that's when you show your love most. When you can look beyond the illness, no matter what it is and see someone holding out their hand for a friend. And David, that's when I've learnt. It's not that much, it wouldn't mean a thing to some people but it's important to me, and I guess if someone wants to put their hand out to me, if they think I'm worth it, if that's what they call unconditional love for your fellow man, then I guess I can provide that. Oh yeah, there's just one other thing I wanted to tell you. I wanted to thank you for everything, for showing me your courage, your strength and your love. I’m so glad I got the chance to know someone like you. I may have only known you for a little while but to me, David, it was a lifetime. I'll miss you but I'll always remember you....always....
 

END