(ANGEL and COLLINS attend an AIDS Life Support group.
PAUL, the support leader, sits on the downstage railing above. GORDON, one of the members of the group, is standing downstage left, facing the audience. As the members enter, they introduce themselves and form a semicircle. Note: The names of the support group members should change every night and should honor
actual friends of the company who have died of AIDS.)
STEVE
Steve.
GORDON
Gordon.
ALI
Ali.
PAM
Pam.
SUE
Sue.
ANGEL
Hi, I’m Angel.
COLLINS
Tom. Collins.
PAUL
I’m Paul. Let’s begin
ALL
There’s only us
There’s only this …
(MARK blusters in noisily.)
MARK
Sorry … Excuse me … oops
PAUL
And you are?
MARK
Oh — I’m not —
I’m just here to —
I don’t have —
I’m here with —
Um — Mark
Mark — I’m Mark
Well — this is quite an operation
PAUL
Sit down Mark
We’ll continue the affirmation
ALL
Forget regret or life is yours to miss
GORDON
Excuse me Paul — I’m having a problem with this
This credo — My T-cells are low —
I regret that news, okay?
PAUL
Alright
But Gordon – How do you feel today?
GORDON
What do you mean?
PAUL
How do you feel today?
GORDON
Okay
PAUL
Is that all?
GORDON
Best I’ve felt all year
PAUL
Then why choose fear?
GORDON
I’m a New Yorker!
Fear’s my life!
Look – I find some of what you teach suspect
Because I’m used to relying on intellect
But I try to open up to what I don’t know
GORDON & ROGER (who sings from his loft)
Because reason says I should have died
Three years ago
ALL
No other road
No other way
No day but today
