Holding the Man Page #5

some chiro clinics up here.

Really? Ow! Ow!

Hang on,

this is knackering me.

I spoke to Dad

about a business loan.

It would have to be

Melbourne but.

Sydney needs

chiropractors too.

Thanks for coming

all this way.

I wasn't sure you would.

Good to give

the new wheels a run.

Hmm.

Mum and Dad don't want me

to move up here.

All this stuff on TV.

What - gay means AIDS?

For them, I guess it does.

Pathetic!

I knew you'd react like that.

Well, I'll be waiting for you,

John.

If you choose Sydney.

- John.

- What?

Can I kiss you?

Give it a go.

All the times I've come

Here, butnow they're gone

Seasons don'tfear

the reaper

Nordo the wind, sun,

orthe rain

We can be like theyare

Come on, baby

Don'tfearthe reaper

Baby, take myhand

Don'tfearthe reaper

We'llbe able to fly

Don'tfearthe reaper

Baby, I'm yourman

La, la, la, la, la...

You got everything?

Can I have my sign?

- It's mine.

- D*ckhead.

Give it to Lois

for the trophy cabinet.

Yep.

You're doing the right thing.

(Zip closes)

They were gonna guess anyway,

with me selling up

the business.

I'm proud of you.

Maybe I'll be brave enough

to tell mine.

Not the week

of your sister's wedding.

John. I know that.

Hi, Tim. Hello.

TIM:
You gonna give me

a kiss goodbye?

We've got Aunt Mary

staying in your room,

but you should

be comfortable out here.

Oh, you got those? Good.

You gotta update your address,

mate.

They're ancient.

Did you hear we're having

a band at the reception?

Very good, they are.

We'll be in the ballroom

over at Ripponlea.

Did you open this one?

Maybe Mum. She's the one

who kept them for you.

No, it'll be a big show,

don't you worry.

We've got an orchestra

at the church.

(Laughs) That's a bit

over the top, isn't it?

It's a small chamber

orchestra.

So, it's a full nuptial,

communion and all?

- Is she Catholic still?

- It's what your sister wants.

Best wedding I ever went

to was my friend Morna's.

It was a simple

exchanging of vows

in a room full offriends.

It was very moving.

WOMAN, ON PHONE:
It'spart

ofourLook Back scheme.

You donatedbloodin 1981.

It waspooled with 19 others'.

Mr Conigrave,

the patient who receivedit

has gone on to develop AIDS.

We'd like you to be tested.

It's fine. There's no need.

I am positive,

but I was infected in 1985.

You mean you were diagnosed

in 1985?

Yes.

Really, there's no reason

to...

1981?

Mr Conigrave, you're one

ofthe lastto be contacted.

The otherdonors

are all clear.

Not this week, Tim.

You read it?

Wash your hands.

I need some help.

I'm flat-out with relatives

arriving from everywhere

and your father wants

his pre-wedding drinks.

Al fresco is just not me.

Now, can you see how to slice

and twist the salmon,

just like the picture?

TIM:
I've been doing some

volunteering.

Well, I get paid for it now.

It's social work...

for the AIDS Council.

Tell me I've nothing

to worry about.

What a waste.

All that talent.

I'm not dead yet.

I just don't understand

how you've got it!

I mean,

it's just you and John.

- We've both got it.

- Oh, God.

That beautiful boy.

Is it from a donation? Is that

why the Red Cross are writing?

Would you prefer it that way?

Did I say that?

I didn't say that.

I prefer none of it,

thank you!

After the wedding,

after all ofthis,

I think we should tell Dad.

I'm making a mess!

Look at this!

This letter,

it's changed things.

It says I could have been

infected... since university.

John and I, we always

assumed he was first.

I think I was comfortable

with that.

Now it's...

Mum, it's like I've killed

the man that I love!

FATHER:
Now, what's all this

slacking off in the kitchen?

(Indistinct speech)

TIM:
How did it go?

Mum just kept blowing

her nose.

Dad wanted to talk

about my business insurance.

They wanted to fall apart

alone.

MAN:
Drink, gentlemen?

- I can't.

I suppose your parents

assume I infected you.

No. Why would

you even say that?

I told my parents.

Now?

- Why?!

- Because I...

How could you be so selfish?!

You are gorgeous.

Timothy's Aunty Gae told me

about the eyelashes.

- They're false.

(Aunts laugh)

We loved your dog food

commercial, Timothy.

Thanks.

I'm doing social work now.

- And writing another play.

- He's my PR man.

Hey, do you reckon you could

introduce me to Mel Gibson?

(Laughter)

I work for the AIDS Council.

I'm on the hotline

and the van that goes

up and down the Wall.

That's where male sex workers

find their clients,

and we empower them

to have safe sex

and have someone to talk to.

I find it really rewarding.

That's nice for you, dear.

John, I'm stealing you.

Come on, son.

Let's show 'em how it's done.

No.

- Come on.

- No.

- Who's leading?

BOTH:
I am.

I hate to say it

But you have a right

to be free

I know it's the way

it should be

But I'm too far...

Hey! This old bloke's been

asking about you all night.

Here you are, Timothy.

I love you so much

for so long...

NICHOLAS:
(Laughs)

Oh, come on, Aunty Gae.

Hey, Tim. Nice one, brother.

You alright?

I'm here, John.

(Indistinctly)

My lung has popped...

MAN:
Try not to talk, John.

We don't want a coughing fit.

Was it the chemo?

More likely a burst PCP cyst.

You're his boyfriend?

You're staying?

Now, how's that local?

JOHN:
OK.

I'm about to cut now, John.

Right, this is going

to hurt a bit, John.

(John breathes heavily)

That's it, bubbling away.

When the bubbles stop,

we know it's healed.

(Pop music plays on stereo)

(Coughing and wheezing)

(CD skips)

(Coughing)

(Coughing continues)

(Coughing continues)

JOHN:
Tim!

MAN:
Nearly there.

(Wheezes)

MAN:
Good, good.

Just a little bit more.

(John whimpers)

And done.

He'll be in for a few days,

at least.

- You have some rest.

TIM:
I'm fine.

It's seeing him in pain

I can't bear.

He'll need his boyfriend

healthy.

Ifthe lung doesn't stick,

it's going to

need to be surgery,

but only when

he's strong enough.

He'll need you.

Our freezer is chockers.

Penny Cook

has made you minestrone.

Morna has made you minestrone.

Someone has made you...

I'm not sure what that is.

JOHN:
Why'd you bring those?

Penny's comes

with a little pesto

in a separate container, so...

.. let's go with that.

I'm sorry.

Snotty tissue got eaten

by the Simpson fully

automatic.

Didn't you check?

Can't you do anything right?

(High-pitched ringing)

I'm sorry.

I think I forgot the pesto.

(High-pitched ringing

continues)

(Alarm beeps)

TIM:
Will I still be able

to write?

MAN:
Shall we look

at your scan?

TIM:
I've been looking at it.

Toxoplasmosis, isn't it?

- Yes, it is.

- I did a theatre thing once.

Transmits via cats.

I wrote this thing.

I knew I'd get it eventually.

I'm thinking of getting people

together, starting something.

I'm feeling very creative and

I don't want to waste that,

if I'm gonna have

brain damage.

- Lesions don't eat the brain.

- Which is a terrific phrase!

But they do put

pressure on it.

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