The Normal Heart Page #4

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- My pleasure.

- You're very handsome.

- MAN:
He knows.

(FAINT MUSIC PLAYING)

What the f*** is this?

Was this your idea, Ned?

- I'm looking. What am I not seeing?

- Keep looking.

What we put for our return address.

Do you mean because the word "gay"

is on the envelope?

F***ing-A, yes, instead of just our initials.

We can't send these out.

Excuse me,

if we want anybody to show up for this dance,

we have to get these out tonight.

We could go through and scratch out

the word "gay" with a magic marker.

- Oh, honey, 10,000 times?

- Why not?

Bruce, I have sympathy for kids living at home

on Long Island with their parents,

but the guys who are getting these, I mean...

Look at you. You live at home. You live alone.

You own your own apartment.

Your mother lives in another state.

Okay, what about my mailman?

Oh, you don't expect me

to take you seriously.

- Yes, I do.

- Okay, ladies, behave.

Look, it's getting late

and we still haven't elected a president.

Neddy, I think that it should be Bruce.

Everybody knows him,

everybody likes him and everybody...

Because he's popular

and everybody's afraid of me?

ALL:
Yes!

I mean, look at him. He's gorgeous.

And all the kids on Christopher Street

and Fire Island,

they'll feel a little bit more comfortable

following him.

- Just like high school.

- Yes!

All right. All those in favor of Bruce Niles

as our first president, raise their hand.

I don't think I want this.

Oh, come on. You're gorgeous

and we're all gonna follow you.

F*** you. I accept.

Well, f*** you. Congratulations.

(CHEERING)

(TRUMPET PLAYING)

Felix, let's move somewhere far away,

just the two of us together on a desert island.

Don't you dare stop for one single second

what you're doing.

I appreciate you not yelling at me

about what The Times isn't doing

and my not being more political.

Why don't you?

It's a relief not having

to have to talk politics to someone.

- That's not the reason.

- No?

It's because you're too good to be true.

Because I've been waiting for a lover like you

my whole life,

and you haven't showed up until now,

and I'm scared shitless

that I'm gonna do something to f*** it up.

- Am I crazy?

- Of course.

That's why I'm here.

Now we're getting warm.

(FORGET ME NOTS PLAYING)

(APPLAUSE)

Did I look okay?

Could you tell

that I was wearing all this makeup?

You looked great.

- NED:
You have got to go see Emma.

- (HUFFS)

Can we just forget about this?

I'm all right.

And if I'm not, I don't want to know,

because no one will hire me,

and if I can't work, I just as soon be dead.

I haven't lost any weight.

I can still cover it up.

- I told you not to tell him.

- Sorry.

You're already afraid to kiss me?

That's not true.

(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY)

It's okay. I'm afraid to let you.

I love you.

I'll walk him down.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

BRUCE:
Okay,

he's the third guy I've been with.

Reinhardt, Craig,

and I don't know what I'll do if Albert has this.

You're gonna fight.

We'll fight together.

You're my best friend, Ned Weeks.

You're my best friend

and I've never met anyone like you before.

- What do you mean "like me"?

- Like you meaning...

Where I'm from, I mean, I didn't even

see a Jew until I was in the army,

let alone a man that was smart, funny.

(CHUCKLES)

Decently good-looking.

My friends stopped hanging out with me

because they say I depress them.

So be it.

And you,

you don't look that Jewish.

Well, you don't look gay, so I guess

we could both pass for white people.

(LAUGHING)

(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY)

I love Albert.

Bruce, look at me.

I love him.

Albert's gonna make it.

And what if he doesn't?

Let's get you home.

(DISTANT SIREN WAILING)

(BRUCE RETCHING)

- I'm a mess.

- Yeah.

(PANTING)

(RUNNING WATER)

- Classy moment.

- Yeah.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(THUDDING)

(GROANS)

Okay.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

When I finally get you where I want you,

I don't want you anymore.

Hey, Bruce, I'm in love, too.

(DISTANT SIREN WAILING)

Holy sh*t!

Queen control.

It really works when it wants to.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Oh, hey, Felix, this is Dick Lombardo.

Hi.

I finally got us someone on our board

who isn't a disco dummy.

Well, maybe tonight.

- I'll see you.

- Nice to meet you.

NED:
Come on, babe.

(I WILL SURVIVE PLAYING)

(FEEDBACK)

(MUSIC STOPS)

(ALL GROANING)

We are all so happy you joined us tonight!

(ALL CHEERING)

We are proving that we are more

than just looks, brains, talent and heart!

Together, we raised

more than any gay group ever in this city!

And I want to call over Mr. Ned Weeks.

(CHEERING)

Don't be shy!

We did it!

We will now reveal

just how much we raised together.

In three, two, one.

$53,000!

(CHEERING LOUDLY)

MANI $53,000!

Gay Men's Health Crisis, come on up!

Felix, honey, come up please. Come up.

I love you.

Let's dance!

(MUSIC RESUMES)

(PIANO PLAYING)

MEN:
(SINGING) Someday he'll come along

The man I love

And he'll be big and strong

The man I love

And when he comes my way

I'll do my best

To make him stay

He'll look at me and smile

I'll understand

And in a little while

He'll take my hand

And though it seems absurd

I know we both

Won't say a word

Maybe I shall meet him someday

Maybe Monday

Maybe not

Still I'm sure to meet him one day

Imagine if we had this when we were young.

No fear, no shame.

Maybe Tuesday will be my...

I was imagining all those years with you.

He'll build a little home

Just meant for two

From which I'll never roam

Who would, would you?

And so all else above

I'm waiting for the man I love

Felix Turner,

would you like to move in with me?

Yes.

- Yes?

- Yesterday.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yes! Yes!

(WOMEN CHEERING)

I'm waiting for the man

I love

NED:
We are all walking time bombs

waiting for whatever it is to set us off.

(LABORED BREATHING)

Come on. We're almost there.

NED:
If this article

doesn't scare the sh*t out of you,

gay men may have no future here on Earth.

Our continued existence

depends on just how angry you can get.

- (BELL DINGS)

- (POUNDING ON DOOR)

They turned us away

from four emergency rooms.

- Come in!

- I think he's lost his mind!

- Ned, where can I take him?

- Put him on the couch there. I'll call Emma!

- God damn it!

- I'll get some water.

- NED:
How long has he been like this?

- A couple hours.

(LABORED BREATHING)

NED:
Well,

I'm glad you asked me that question.

What do I think?

I know that the government

is intentionally ignoring this epidemic.

You're accusing the government

of the United States

of a conspiracy to murder all gay men?

Yes.

Yes, you can say that.

Yes, Sarabeth, I am. Yes.

That is a powerful accusation.

This is an epidemic and it's being ignored

by the United States government.

- Intentionally?

- Intentionally being ignored.

This is a national emergency.

This is an epidemic. It's a plague!

You can't go on national TV and

accuse the government of murder, Ned.

Why not?

Because one day,

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