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

will help me?

VICTOR
Helping others always helps you, too. You bring out the strength in others and then you receive it, too. Victoria will need you, need your strength. In turn, she will hold you up, too.

Violet crawls into the bed with Victor.

VIOLET
Remember when we were little? Tori and I would cuddle up next to you and Mom on stormy nights.

VICTOR
Yes, our stormy night picnics!

VIOLET
Daddy, I want you to get better. I want you to try.

VICTOR
I know, sweetheart. Yet, sometimes the storm ends and those who are left must rebuild.

VIOLET
Yes, the survivors. You can help us rebuild.

VICTOR
Yes, I will try.

Violet cuddles like a small child. Victor silently cries.

INT. VICTOR’S ROOM – ONE MONTH LATER/EVENING

There's some fresh flowers and some newspapers and magazines on the table.

Victor is sleeping as Crystal sneaks in. She tiptoes over to Victor and stares into his face a few minutes. Crystal, once satisfied, goes to a table full of medicine bottles. Victor wakes up just as she reaches for a bottle of pills.

VICTOR
Alas, I hear the footsteps of a little princess.

Crystal giggles and runs to Victor.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa talks funny!

VICTOR
It's a game I used to play with your Mum when she was a little princess, just like you.

Victor gives Crystal a tickle.

CRYSTAL
Can I play it, too?

VICTOR
We will make up our own special story, like our storybook. And it is our special story, alright? You can come here every day and we will add more to our story.

Crystal is very excited.

VICTOR
First, I want to tell you about a writer who wrote magical stories! He lived a long time ago in England.

CRYSTAL
Like you, Grandpa?

VICTOR
Oh, a long, long, long time ago, even before my grandpa.

CRYSTAL
What was his name?

VICTOR
William Shakespeare.

CRYSTAL
That's a big name!

VICTOR
Well, we can call him Willy.

CRYSTAL
(giggling)
Willy is a funny name!

VICTOR
It is, isn't it?! And this guy, Willy, he talked sort of funny, too.

CRYSTAL
Like you talk sometimes?

VICTOR
Yes, like I talk sometimes.

CRYSTAL
Tell me a special story, Grandpa. Please?

VICTOR
My lady, anything for you!

CRYSTAL
(proud)
I am a lady!

VICTOR
You are the finest young lady!

Victor has the bed in a sitting position. Crystal sits on his lap. Crystal cuddles up to her Grandpa, ready to hear the story.

VICTOR
Once upon a time...

CRYSTAL
(sleepy)
My favorite kind of story, Grandpa.

VICTOR
...in the kingdom a glorious and beautiful little princess lived. The sound of her laughter was pure with love, and her lilt of pure crystal. Alas, she was known, far and wide, as Princess Crystal.

CRYSTAL
Just like me! Did she have a grandpa, too?

Tori enters from stage left. Before entering the room, she sees the special moment and waits out of sight of Victor and Crystal.

VICTOR
Oh yes, indeed! Her grandfather was the King. The King had been blessed with two beautiful daughters. His eldest daughter, Princess Victoria blessed the King with a perfect granddaughter.

Princess Crystal filled the Kings' heart with love, hope and laughter day and night.

CRYSTAL
You tell pretty stories, Grandpa. I love you!

VICTOR
I love you, Princess Crystal.

Victor rocks Crystal.

CRYSTAL
In our story, I want Princess Crystal to make the King all well, ok?

VICTOR
(trying not to cry)
Yes, yes, she will.

INT. MASTER BEDROOM – ONE HOUR LATER

Tori and Stephen's bedroom…They are in bed, sitting up.

STEPHEN
How are we going to explain this to Crystal?

TORI
When I understand it all, I'd be happy to explain it to her.

STEPHEN
Come here.
(they hold each other)
Me, too. Maybe we can figure it out together.

TORI
Thank you for being strong for me, Steve.

STEPHEN
You're welcome. And Tori--thank you for being my best friend and letting me be yours.

TORI
You always will be.

STEPHEN
You are really beautiful, Tori. I'm glad I married you.

She kisses him deeply.
A LOUD BANG is heard from outside the door.

TORI
Oh God, Stephen! It was from Daddy's room!

They both rush out of the bed as quickly as they can, grabbing bathrobes.

INT. HALLWAY

Victor is at the bottom stairs. Tori goes to Victor.

TORI
Daddy!

STEPHEN
Vic, are you all right? Did you fall from the top of the stairs?!

TORI
Just call 911, Stephen, now! Please!

Victor has his head on his knees, motions with his hand to stop.

VICTOR
(muffled, head still down)
No! No ambulance!

STEPHEN
Should I call David, then?

Tori sits on the floor, in front of Victor. Crystal runs toward Victor, Stephen intercepts her.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa! What happened?!

VICTOR
(hand up again)
Please, get her out of here! I don't want her to see me like this...Please!

Crystal cries and is fighting to get out of Stephen's arms. Stephen is too close to the edge of the top of the stairs.

STEPHEN
Victor, please--shut up! I'll get her out!

TORI
Stephen!

Tori runs up the stairs and catches him before he falls on the steps. In the melee, Crystal gets out of Stephen's grip and darts down the stairs straight to Victor.

CRYSTAL
I can kiss you and make it better, Grandpa.

VICTOR
No, it's alright, sweetheart. Grandpa is alright, little princess.

Crystal goes to hug Victor…Victor gently pushes her away from him.

VICTOR
Don't touch Grandpa, okay?

Crystal is confused and about to pout. Then, she notices her hand is wet and looks at curiously. By this time, Tori is right there and about to hand Crystal to Stephen.

TORI
Crystal, sweety, you have to go sleep...

CRYSTAL
NO! Mommy, look!
(holding up her own hand)
Grandpa is hurt real bad!

TORI
(grabbing Crystal's wrist)
Jesus Christ! Stephen!

Stephen has already seen the blood and has Crystal by the waist and rushes her into the bathroom …slams the door and locks it.

STEPHEN
Goddamnit, Tori! I knew something like this would happen if he was in this house!

Victor curls up and sobs into his knees. He's too weak to move and just cries.

TORI
I'm calling the ambulance.

Tori rushes to the bathroom door.

VICTOR
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
(looking up above)
Bloody coward! Just take me now! Come on, punish me, I'm the sinner!

CRYSTAL
(O.S., crying)
Grandpa, come here! Mommy, where are you?!

Tori comes back to Victor, who is now just rocking with head on knees.

TORI
Daddy, please, tell me what's going on? Does anything hurt?

VICTOR
(pleading)
Only my heart, Princess Victoria -- only my heart.

TORI
Daddy, don't, please. Hold on, okay? If not for me--for Crystal.

CRYSTAL
(O.S.)
Mommy!? I need you!

Tori touches Victor's cheek and goes to the bathroom door, again.

INT. BATHROOM DOOR – OUTSIDE OF DOOR

Tori tries to open the door, it’s still locked.

TORI
Stephen, damnit! Let me in there!

STEPHEN
(O.S. from behind the door)
Take care of your father, Tori. I have my daughter to attend to now.

CRYSTAL
(O.S.)
Mommy! Daddy, let Mommy in!

Tori pounds on the door, she falls against the bathroom door into a sitting position and cries.

CRYSTAL
(O.S.)
Mommy, where are you?!

TORI
Baby, Mommy's right here, waiting for you and Daddy.

STEPHEN
(O.S.)
Crystal, calm down!

CRYSTAL
(O.S.)
Ow! Daddy you're scrubbing too hard! Ouch! You're hurting me! Mommy, make Daddy stop!!!

Crystal continues to cry out and calling for her Mommy.

TORI
She can't calm down, Stephen! You're scaring her to death with all of this. Locking doors and hurting her!

STEPHEN
(O.S.)
You want her to have his blood on her?!

CRYSTAL
(O.S. -- Whimpering)
I love you, Mommy. I'm sorry I was a bad girl today.

TORI
Oh Baby, I love you too. You were not bad. You do not need to apologize. Mommy is sorry.

The door CLICKS open, Tori stands up and Crystal comes running out, wet from head to toe. Mother and daughter hold each other.

CRYSTAL
I'm sorry when I make you and Daddy fight.

Stephen is wet too, and calmer. He stands in the door. He and Tori exchange a look.

TORI
(staring at Stephen)
It's not your fault that Daddy and I argue, okay? It's never your fault. It is ours and only ours.

CRYSTAL
Daddy, do you still love Mommy?

STEPHEN
Yes, of course...we both; I mean, all of us, love you very much.

TORI
Very much.

STEPHEN
Can I tuck you in bed, little one?

CRYSTAL
I want Grandpa to give me a hug first.

TORI
Grandpa is hurt.

Crystal is getting upset.

VICTOR
I'll be alright, Princess Crystal. It's just a little cut. I will hug you goodnight when the doctor puts medicine on it, okay?

CRYSTAL
(pouting, but accepting)
Okay. I love you, Grandpa.

Stephen has his hands on Crystal's shoulders, leading her toward her bedroom.

VICTOR
I love you, too, sweet pea.

Stephen hesitates a moment as he walks close to Tori. They look at one another, mouthing I'm sorry and kiss.

STEPHEN
(to Tori)
I love you.

Tori nods as Stephen touches her face lovingly.

STEPHEN
Mommy will take care of Grandpa and wait for the doctor.

CRYSTAL
Grandpa will tell me another story about Willy!

Stephen leads Crystal to her room. Tori sits beside Victor, on the floor.

TORI
The ambulance will be here soon. Are you hurt badly, Daddy?

VICTOR
Yes, I'm hurt badly--I'm dying, Victoria! It's not fair, I don't want to die like this...not now. I'm supposed to be an old man someday. I should have never come here.

TORI
I wanted you here.

VICTOR
Did your husband agree?

Tori looks down.

VICTOR
It's not fair to make me responsible for destroying your marriage, Princess.

TORI
I still want you here.

VICTOR
Endangering Crystal?

TORI
We can keep her out of your room...you can promise to stop wandering out in the middle of the night...

VICTOR
Victoria, I'm losing control. No, I've lost control. My bloodstream is killing me...my life is ending. I'm already halfway out of this world and fighting to stay. Friends are afraid to call, or perhaps, they think I've already died. Do you know what it's like when people are afraid to touch you? Some are even afraid to walk into the same room.

TORI
No, Daddy, I don't know what it's like.

VICTOR
I hope you never do. It's hard enough to die, let alone, having people treat you like a dead body before the actual event.

Ambulance SIRENS. Stephen returns alone.

TORI
Stay. Please.

INT. VICTOR’S ROOM – FIVE HOURS LATER

David is sitting there with Victor. Victor has a sling on his shoulder.

DAVID
Jason called. The cast really misses you. Some of them may stop by later today.

VICTOR
And you? Do you miss me?

DAVID
Yes, very much. I'm adjusting...

David starts to cry.

VICTOR
My luv, to many tears tonight. Please stop.

DAVID
You're my whole life, Victor. It's