Sometimes Gay Means Happy by Angela Theresa Egic (books like beach read txt) 📕

has a full lunch and eats it easily.

DAVID
Victoria, you don't . . .

TORI
If you don't mind, Mr. Washburn, I'd prefer you call me Tori.

DAVID
Only if you call me – David. Tori.

TORI
Oh, I brought something for...Victor.
(she sits the bag on table)
It's his favorite…fish and chips. They're probably too cold now.

DAVID
And the flowers you’re embracing like a doll?
(Tori nods)
I'm sure he'd rather you deliver them yourself.

TORI
I was going to; but, I don't think I'm ready for this big of a step.

DAVID
Victor...I mean, Tori. Vic really needs to see you.

TORI
He has you, doesn't he?

DAVID
I know you blame me. I will accept the blame if it will help you. Don't punish Vic, though. He needs to see you.

TORI
Why? What good will it do?

DAVID
A very sick man will feel some joy. Isn't that enough?

TORI
Even if it means I won't feel any joy?

DAVID
You want the truth...Tori?

TORI
Yeah, hit me!

DAVID
You're a spoiled little bitch…and if I had my way you'd never see him again. You asked for truth.
(beat)
Nevertheless, you are his child and seeing you is his only wish. Whether you're happy or not doesn't concern me in the least bit.

TORI
And I don't love him?

DAVID
Well, missy, you have a very strange way of showing it, if you do!

TORI
You have no right to speak to me like this. Who are you, anyway?!

DAVID
The man who loves your father…so, Tori Roth, who are you, really?


TORI
I know who I am, Mr. Washburn. I didn't kill my own...
(beat)
Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore.


DAVID
You think I gave AIDS to Victor?

TORI
Where else did he get it?

DAVID
Here's some shocking information for you, working in the media. Really thought you'd know this.
(beat)
I don't have AIDS, nor am I HIV Positive. Your father was infected by someone else.

TORI
How?

DAVID
Without going into details . . . your father is human. He strayed. He cheated on me and hurt me and himself.

TORI
And you...?

DAVID
The past is the past. I forgave him.
(beat)
I can see the questions in your eyes already. Yes, I can still get AIDS. We didn't know he was infected for a long time.
(more sadly)
I don't regret loving your father all these years, Tori. He's a good man, loving and, well, human. He, too, has flaws. And I know your school girl image of your father is damaged from these truths.

TORI
He damaged it by his actions.

DAVID
Love is risky. It's worth it, though.

TORI
I don't want to hear it. I can't believe you can be so unscathed, calm...

DAVID
It was a long time ago.

TORI
(grabbing food and standing)
Give my father a message, well you? Tell him his daughter said "Rest in peace!"

Tori storms out, David follows and grabs her by the shoulders, turns her around to look at him…harder this time.

DAVID
Wait, Victoria! Please, wait...and listen.

TORI
Let me go! Leave me alone!

DAVID
Listen to me, please! I need five minutes, that's all.

TORI
Five minutes, then...go.

DAVID
I apologize for upsetting you. Nevertheless, I will not apologize for loving your father or being gay. It's what I am and what your father is.
(giving up)
Still, I am not Victor's flesh and blood. He loves you as much as any father can love his child. I think you love him, too.

TORI
Why him?

DAVID
I don't know, Tori...any more than you. Victor is the most giving, wonderful man I've ever known. I want him to live as much as you do.

TORI
You haven't lost fourteen years...

DAVID
No, I haven't. Don't you dare lose another day, missy! Or you will have to deal with me! Capiche?!

This makes Tori smile.

TORI
I'm scared of you, too!
(serious)
How long do I have?

DAVID
You have the rest of his life.

TORI
This is very hard for me to say. Right now, I feel happy he's had you all of these years.

DAVID
Thank you, Tori. And I'm sorry for calling you a spoiled...you know.

TORI
Yeah, I know...I heard you the first time.

DAVID
I get angry, too. It's not easy. Do you want me to go with you?

TORI
No. Thank you, though. I have to do this myself. It's time.

INT. ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL – VICTOR’S ROOM

Victor is looking away from the door, toward a window. He's been crying. Tori enters silently. She stands just inside the door. She has the take-out container in her hands, still. The flowers still clutched to her chest.

She stares at Victor, taking him in. Sadness and joy in her eyes. Victor makes no attempt to turn to Tori.

VICTOR
Did I ever tell you about the Princess I once knew?

Tori lets out a little gasp of shock, hearing his voice for the first time in years.

VICTOR
(Shakespeare style)
She was beautiful…the most lovely young lady with a smile that launched a thousand ships. Her eyes shone in the sky like the brightest star in Heaven.
(soliloquy)
And when she laughed...ah, yes, when she laughed; her voice and happiness soothed my aching soul. The touch of her hand, like an comforting angel chased away all my fears.

Tori turns away from Victor, even though, Victor still has not turned to look at her. Tori digs in her purse for tissues and still choking back a sob, dabs her eyes.

VICTOR
One day, my Princess Victoria went away and how...

For the first time in fourteen years, both turn at the same moment and face one another.

TORI
(weakly)
Please...just stop.

VICTOR
...finish the story, my princess.

TORI
I...I can't...I don't know how to play any...more.
(softly)
Daddy…

Victor reaches out his hand to Tori…she is still too far for him to reach. Tori observes his outstretched hand and whispers under her breath.

TORI
(whispering)
I just can’t…


VICTOR
...and how I missed my princess.
(observing Tori)
… and how I cried --until the glorious day; it was like no other day I've ever lived! My Princess Victoria returned to me.

TORI
I'm frightened, Daddy...

VICTOR
Finish the story, you do know how...

TORI
(with difficulty)
Alas, the princess was gone for so many years.
(sadly)
…too many years, she forgot how much she truly loved the King.

Tori goes to Victor, takes his hand…she sits on the bedside chair. Tori puts Victor’s hand on her cheek.

TORI
...the time she lost could not be regained because the King was gravely ill.
(weakly)
I’m so sorry . . . Daddy.

VICTOR
Why did you stop, Princess? Please, go on …

TORI
Daddy...I'm so sorry, what I must've put...

VICTOR
No, you stop that…Princess Victoria.
(firmly)
I taught you better than that…stiff upper lip!

TORI
(laughing thru tears)
Then, why are you crying, too?

VICTOR
Give me a hug before I burst! I'm going to hold you so tight you'll suffocate and never get away again.

They finally hug, tightly and for a long time.

TORI
I'm not ready to lose you, Daddy.

VICTOR
I'm still here, Victoria. You'll never lose me, I am and will always be here for you.

TORI
You must be so angry at me.

VICTOR
Never in a million years.

TORI
Why? I'm angry as hell at myself for...

VICTOR
Don't, Princess, don't. It's over now, in the past. We move forward.

TORI
Fourteen years, Daddy! I can't possibly make up for all those years in a...a...few short months. Is that what I have? Months? Weeks? Days?!

VICTOR
I don't know, luv. I don't know how many months or days I have here. I have AIDS. I know I do. You can say it.

TORI
I feel helpless, and hateful! What kind of person abandons her own father for so long?!

VICTOR
A hurt child, Victoria, that's all. You were hurt.

TORI
You don't know how many times I wanted to call you. I can't even count how many times I did call, just to hear your wonderful voice...Daddy.
(realizing)
...you always knew, didn't you?

VICTOR
Why did you stop calling?

TORI
I don't know--school, Mom, Violet.. and when your...your…when David moved in, I guess.
(shaking it off)
There's so much of my life I wanted to share with you. But as the days turned into months and those into years, it was just too hard to go back…to ask your forgiveness.
(beat)
It was easier to pretend to hate you.

VICTOR
Really?

TORI
No, it hurts, actually. I wanted to run away or scream at you or at me. I want to do that now, run away or scream at the disease killing you.

VICTOR
(humoring)
And make it all better, right?!

TORI
(child-like)
Yeah, that's right!

VICTOR
Ah, my little girl from fourteen years ago!

TORI
You are the only one who can bring it out in me!

Victor and Tori are making friends again. Victor becomes aware of an odor and notices the take-out container.

VICTOR
I don't want to alarm you, Princess; but I think your lunch had died.

TORI
Oh damn! Not my lunch, yours, actually. It was your favorite; but, fish and chips don't hold up as long as I had hoped.

VICTOR
At least, not the American fast food type!

TORI
It can't be any worse than the cuisine of the fine chefs here at Chez St. Vincent’s, right, Daddy?

VICTOR
You could come back again, and bring me something else?

TORI
It's not that simple.

VICTOR
I know this must be difficult for you, Victoria...

TORI
I'm still very confused, Daddy. Part of me does want to spend every waking hour with you--making up for lost time. And another part of me want to back to what I'm accustomed to--staying away.

VICTOR
I won't let you walk away again. I want you back in my life, to stay. You hear me?!

TORI
You still want me? Even when I abandoned you and called you terrible names?

VICTOR
Whatever you are, Victoria, I am too. I was a coward. I could've come to you, I could've found for my visitation rights.

TORI
I wish we could go back. I would protect you.

VICTOR
Oh, luv, we can't. We can have now, though.

INT. TORI’S KITCHEN – ONE MONTH LATER

It’s chaotic in the Osborne household in Weehawken, New Jersey. Violet comes in for ice. Stephen is helping Tori finish plates of foods and dinner.

Crystal sits at the table, singing. She continues to sing her little made up song until Tori yells at her to stop.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa is coming here! I love my Grandpa!

STEPHEN
Tori, you look a little pale.

TORI
(sarcastic)
Gee, thanks, sweety!

STEPHEN
I didn't mean it like that, honey.

TORI
Whatever, Steve…it just has to be perfect, okay?!
(angrily)
Crystal! Stop singing that silly song!!!

Crystal stops immediately, looks up at her mother with big scared eyes and is about to cry.

CRYSTAL
Daddy, what's the matter with Mommy?!

STEPHEN