Chapter 2:

Joanne followed Mark outside as Roger took the newspaper and read over the article. Mark was leaning against the railing staring out into space.

"Some view huh?" Joanne asked, causing Mark to spin around. "I know how much extra you pay for the view of the abandoned building across the street." Mark smiled weakly. "Can I join you?"

"Sure." Joanne stood next to Mark who had turned back around.

After a minute or so she said, "What was with that little episode in there? That's not like you, Mark."

"I'm getting that treatment for them."

"I figure that, but why did you blow up like that? You've always been the calm rational one."

"I know, but they deserve that treatment, and should get it despite the face that we're flat broke." Joanne turned and faced Mark.

"Tell you what, Mark. It's going to cost forty-five thousand dollars to get Roger, Mimi, and Collins this treatment. I'm afraid, that, if it's even possible, you'll spend even less money on food when you try to save up for this treatment, so if you get together fifteen thousand dollars, I'll pay another fifteen thousand."

"We're still fifteen thousand short though. What about that money?"

"I guess you could talk to Benny." Mark scoffed.

"Benny? Why the hell would Benny want to help?"
"Because he's friends with Mimi, and he'll want to help her. you don't have to be Superman Mark, so don't even try." Mark sighed. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Joanne was right. "Why don't you come back inside?" Mark shrugged, and followed Joanne inside.

The second Mark got inside, Collins said, "You don't have to get us that treatment, boy; we need to money for other things."

"Like your AZT?" Mark shot back. Collins sighed, Mark had a point there.

"We just don't want you to feel like you have to get this for us," Mimi explained. She was still curled up on the couch.

"You're my friends, and I want to get this for you." Mimi rested her head back on the arm of the couch. Sometimes Mark could be more stubborn than Roger and Maureen.

The following day, Mark left for work earlier than usual, and stopped by Benny's office. Rather surprise, Benny met with his friend.

"What can I do for you, Mark?" he asked. Mark took a seat across from Benny.

"I'm here because I need money."

"May I ask what for?"

"There's this cure for AIDS that just came out, and there's now ay that I'll be able to afford to get it for Collins, Roger, and Mimi." Benny leaned back in his seat.

"I heard about that last night, and I want to help. How much money do you need?"
"Fifteen thousand dollars." Benny surprised Mark by pulling his checkbook out of his desk drawer.

"I take it Roger doesn't know you're here," he said as he began to write the check.

"No, he's with Mimi back at the loft. I'll tell him where the money came from though." Benny handed Mark the check. "Thanks man."

"Glad to help. Please tell everyone that I really hope that this works out." Mark nodded, and got up from his seat.

"I will. Bye." Benny waved, and Mark left.

The next day, Mark applied for another job as a waiter. Now, he would be making three thousand dollars a segment with Buzzline, and two hundred dollars a week as a waiter. Nothing was going to stop him from getting that treatment for his friends. Slowly, the Bohemians saw less and less of Mark. They all knew that he was working most of his waking hours. One day, Roger, Mimi, and Collins were talking about Mark.

"I feel kinda guilty about Mark working his ass off for us," Mimi told the guys.

"Mark's a determined boy. I've told him that we don't need this treatment, but he won't listen to me," Collins said.

Roger added, "I feel horrible about him working so hard because of us, and yet, at the same time…" the rocker trailed off for a second. "AIDS has run my life for the past few years. Whenever I feel even a little sick, I get worried." Mimi rubbed Roger's leg, and tried to figure out where the heartfelt confession had come from. One thing she had learned about her boyfriend was that he's a tin man with a heart.

"I tried to give Mark some of my tip money the other day, but he wouldn't take it."

"Keep trying Meems," Collins said. "He'll eventually take it." Mimi nodded. She hoped that Collins was right.

It was close to three AM. Mark silently slipped into the loft. He had worked an extra shift to bring in some more money.

"Where were you?" Collins asked from the doorway to his bedroom. Mark jumped.

"I worked an extra shift," he replied simply. Collins raised his eyebrows.

"An extra shift?"

"Yeah, now I'm going to go to bed, I'm really tired." Collins watched as Mark retreated to his room for the night. He was working way too hard, and the filmmaker knew it.