Torch Song Trilogy Page #8

Where do you compare | that with a marriage

Of 35 years?

Come on. I'm not | one of your pals.

I lost someone i loved.

So you felt bad. | Maybe you cried.

35 years i lived | with this man.

He got sick,

I took him | to the hospital.

I gave them a man.

They gave me a place | to visit on holy days.

How could you know | how i felt?

It took two months | before i slept | in our bed.

It took a year

Before i could say | "i" instead of "we."

How dare you?

You're right. | How dare i?

I couldn't know | how it feels

To put somebody's things | in plastic bags

And watch garbage men | take them away.

Or how it feels | when you forget

And set his place | at the table.

The food rots | because you forgot

How to shop for one.

You had it easy!

Do i deserve this?

You have your friends | and relatives!

I had me.

My friends said, | "at least you had a lover."

You lost your husband | in a clean hospital.

I lost mine on the street.

They killed him | on the street.

27 years old laying dead.

Killed by kids | with baseball bats!

That's right, ma, | killed by children.

Children taught | by people like you.

Queers don't matter!

Queers don't love!

And those that do | deserve what they get!

Taxi!

Action!

[Knock on door]

[Knock on door]

I'll get it.

[Knocking]

You must be ed.

How do you do? | I'm the mother.

[Slam]

Nice to have met you.

Whoops.

"Whoops"?

Ed, did you say | "whoops"?

No, ed.

"Whoops" is when you fall | down an elevator shaft.

"Whoops" is when | you skinny dip

In a school of piranha.

"Whoops" is when you | accidentally douche

With drano.

No, ed.

This was no "whoops."

This was an "aaaargh!"

Come on, david.

We're dining out.

Good idea.

Good luck.

Round two.

Mama!

You can come out now.

We got the whole | joint to fight in.

Enjoy yourself. | I'm going to bed.

Ma, sorry i lost | my temper.

I'm glad | you're sorry.

Mama, we've got to | talk about this.

You want to fight.

Did you ever hear | your father and me fight?

No!

Because all my childhood, | i listened to fights.

My father fought | with my mother.

She fought | with my brother.

When i married, | i said,

"I will talk. | I won't fight."

Did you ever hear | us fight? No!

And don't holler.

People say things | they don't mean

When they holler,

And you've said | quite enough.

I won't holler.

We will not discuss | alan or daddy.

Only david.

What do you know | from raising a child?

What's to know? Whenever | there's a problem,

I imagine how you | would solve it.

Then i do | the opposite.

You invited me here | to insult me

And spit on | your father's grave?

Ma!

You live the way | you want.

I don't say a word.

But think about | the boy.

He sees you | living like this.

Don't you think it's | bound to affect him?

David is gay.

He's been here | less than a year.

He came that way.

Nobody comes that way!

What an opening.

Everything by you | is a joke.

The world has | gone insane,

And i'm heading | south for summer.

You make it | difficult to have

An intelligent | conversation.

Do what i do. | Talk to yourself.

David was placed here | to develop

A positive attitude | about his homosexuality.

I don't care!

You won't put me | in my grave

Like you did | your father.

Now i killed my father!

No! He was thrilled | his son was a fairy!

You think that's why we | brought you into the world?

If i had known, | i wouldn't have bothered!

God should tear out | my tongue

I should talk | to my child like that.

You're a good person

And sensitive | like your father.

And i try to love | you for that

And forget this,

But you won't | let me.

You haven't spoken | once

Without saying "gay."

Because it's | what i am.

You could leave it | where it belongs,

But you're | obsessed with it.

Try and imagine | the world

The other way around.

Imagine every book, | every magazine,

Every tv show, every movie

Was telling you | you should be homosexual.

You know you're not.

Stop! You're | talking crazy.

After all these years,

I'm trying to | justify my life.

This is crazy.

Life?

This is a sickness,

But it's what | you've chosen.

Look, i'm gay. | I don't know why.

Since i can remember,

Before i knew it | was different or wrong...

You haven't heard | a word i've said.

You'd rather | i was straight.

Should i lie?

Ed would never | tell his parents.

Instead, he cut them | out of his life!

Is that what | you want?

No, but it doesn't have | to be every conversation.

I'm not editing out | things you don't like.

Can we end | this conversation?

No!

God...

I have taught myself | to sew, cook, fix plumbing.

I can even pat myself | on the back when necessary

So i don't have to ask | anyone for anything.

There's nothing i need | from anyone

Except for love and respect.

Anyone who can't give me | those two things

Has no place | in my life.

You're my mother.

I love you.

I do, but...

If you can't | respect me,

You've got no business | being here.

You're throwing me out?

Ma, i'm trying to--

Throwing me out. | Isn't that nice?

Listen, mister.

You get one mother | in this world. Only one.

Wait. You just wait.

Yeah. Hello.

Ed, it's murray.

Is arnold there?

Well, isn't he at work?

He left after | the first show.

Where would he go?

Where you goin', | boys?

I just got here.

Hello, boys!

Line forms | to the left.

Arnold, come on.

What?

Say good night.

Oh, you. | I had you.

I don't want | to go home.

She's there.

Spring and thomson.

Your mother said | she's leaving.

[Phffft!]

She didn't want | to stay the night,

But she couldn't | get a flight out

Till morning.

She'd stay if | you asked her.

Why did | you get drunk?

Hello? Anybody home?

Sometimes you really | frighten me, ed.

You care talk | about it, huh?

I am upset. | I am uptight.

I am up to my nipples | in southern comfort,

And you're trying | to take ntage of me.

Fine.

I want another chance | with you.

Arnold, please listen! | I'm 40 years old.

You know what that | means, arnold?

It's time for me | to stop jerking around.

The time i've spent | with you and david,

It's been the clost thing | to whatever it is i want.

Are you listening to me?

$2.25

Thanks.

I know you're upset | about your mother.

That's not it.

Maybe it's too soon | after alan.

Leave me alone.

Then what?

Ed, are you | forgetting

Why we broke up | in the first place?

You really think | that you could bring

Your friends here?

Could you introduce | me to your parents

As your lover

And david | as our son?

Ed...

Angel, i just threw | my mother,

My mother, | out of the house.

All she wanted was | not talk about it.

You really think

I'm going to ask | less from you?

We've got | a dedication now

From beulah to michael.

Thinking of you.

I ever tell you | about the time

That alan called in | one of these shows?

You told me.

And how they read | the dedication wrong?

You told me.

Oh, it was | so romantic.

You told me.

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