Doing Time on Maple Drive Page #7

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and I can do with it what I want...

and right now,

I want to take it home.

- I wanted to tell you.

- Well, now you don't have to.

I didn't want to go

behind your back.

But you did,

and I can't live like that.

I'll make allowances for you'cause I know

that's the way you were raised, but, uh...

I'm not your parents.

So why lie to me?

- 'Cause I'm afraid.

- Of course you are.

Maybe we're not meant to be parents,

but we have to discuss it, Karen.

First, you have to

come to a decision...

because I've put you first

in this marriage all along.

I love my parents

a lot, but, um...

I'm your husband first,

and they know that.

I'm sorry, Tom.

I'm sorry.

I know.

I want to have it. I do.

Really. I do. I just...

What if I end up being like her?

I don't wanna be like her.

Hey.

It could be worse.

What if I got to be

like your dad?

You know I'm a mess.

I'm gonna worry 100% of the time.

I'll have to take off work for a while.

I told you a hundred times

I'd get an extra job.

And I meant it.

It would help if you

wouldn't be so nice.

Let's go ask your parents how nice I am.

Mom.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for wrecking

the car and hurting myself the way I did.

I know you had to go

to a lot of extra trouble.

And I'm sorry this

wedding thing has happened too.

I know you don't understand.

I don't expect you to, Mom.

But I did want you to know

that I was sorry.

I don't...

I don't understand how anyone

could choose to be like this. It's just, uh...

It is not to be understood.

I didn't choose this.

I am this.

Mom, I didn't

choose to be gay.

Do you think I'd choose to be this different

from everyone else...

that I'd choose to make

you and Dad this upset...

and I'd choose to lose someone

as beautiful and wonderful as Allison?

And what about AIDS?

I mean, suppose somebody

wanted to be gay.

Would they want to be gay now?

I don't know.

And I don't want to know.

Then you don't

wanna know me either.

Hello, Kyle.

W- W-Wait. Don't hang up.

Uh...

I'm really sorry.

And I was calling

to say that... No.

I'm callin'

from a pay phone.

Well, things are a little nuts

at my house right now.

I'll talk to you about that

later if you want.

But, uh...

What I was wondering

is if...

Uh... What I'd

like to know is if...

we could possibly

go for a cup of coffee?

'Cause I really

need to talk to you. Please.

- Hi, Dad.

- Hi.

Whatcha doin'?

Oh, I don't know. Waiting for you

to come home, I guess.

You didn't have to do that.

Look, you have a son

who almost kills himself...

and then write a book about what you're

supposed to do and how you're supposed to react.

- How about that?

- Sorry.

Yeah, it's been hard on you.

It's your bad luck to be

born into a family...

where people don't always know

the right thing to do or say.

I got it.

Homosexual.

There. I said it.

Didn't make me sick or anything.

That's pretty good, Dad.

I- I think the word, uh,

"gay" is a little easier.

I don't like that word.

That's a perfectly good word

that's been destroyed, and I don't like it.

Okay.

Since I have said the word...

uh, can I ask you

a few questions?

Because...

I mean, do you mind?

I'm just...

trying to think

through this properly.

Okay. Go ahead.

I mean...

I've been thinking about this

because I've heard it before.

What do you say

about this thing...

about God

hating homosexuals...

about homosexuals being unnatural or...

or going to hell?

What do you say

about that?

I don't know.

I can't tell you, Dad.

Well, I think we should

look into that, don't you?

No, not really.

I don't believe that.

Well, what you believe

isn't factual.

If you go around telling people that

you're a... that you're a homosexual...

sooner or later,

someone's gonna say this...

and you should know

how to defend yourself.

That's all I'm saying.

I'm not thrilled about this, and I don't

want to give you the wrong idea.

I would rather

you be normal.

I think I am normal.

Don't quibble with me.

You know what I mean.

Yes, sir.

But whatever you are,

you're my son.

And I...

I'm, uh...

That's all.

You're my son.

And I don't think

I want people...

saying things like that

about my son...

without knowing

how to respond.

So we should look into that.

You may not know this,

but Alexander the Great...

who I happen to think

was a damn good general...

Alexander the Great

was a homosexual too.

I love you, Dad.

I love you too, son.

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