EXT. LOWER EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – NIGHT

A FILTHY MAN begs for change. He is ignored. While wealthy folks and guilty kids throw money into a Salvation Army tin while a man in a Santa Suit rings his bell. A sign on the door: AIDS LIFE SUPPORT GROUP. MEETING TONIGHT. MUSIC ROOM. We hear the beginning of "Life Support." Guitar. Piano.

INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC CLASSROOM – NIGHT

During the school year, this is a music classroom for children. Their drawings hang on the walls, showing their impressions of a life in the city. Mark hurriedly enters, bumping into a few of the others.

MARK
Sorry… excuse me… oops.

Each person takes his or her seat in a semi-circle as the song breaks into different people stating their names.

VOICES (O.S.)
Steve. Gordon. Ali. Pam. Sue. Hi, I'm
Angel. Tom... Collins.

The group is made of people who have nothing in common except HIV. The names all belong to real folks. Different ages. Genders. Races. PAUL, a generous man, is their leader.

PAUL
I'm Paul. Let's begin.

The piano and guitar join as everyone begins to sing. It's a beautiful choral number.

LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
There's only us. There's only this…

Someone has pointed out Mark, set up in the corner, his camera running. A ripple has spread through the group and everyone turns to look at him, interrupting the song.

PAUL
And you are?

MARK
(nervously)
Oh, I'm not... I'm just here to... I don't have... I'm here with, ummm... Mark. Mark. I'm Mark! Well, this is quite an operation.

Paul nods.

PAUL
Make yourself comfortable, Mark. We'll continue with the affirmation.

LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss...

GORDON, late twenties, breaks from the group, speak singing.

GORDON
Excuse me, Paul. I'm having a problem with
this... this credo. My T-cells are low. I regret
that news, alright?

Mark is confused. He keeps watching, filming.

PAUL
Alright. But Gordon... how do you feel tonight?

GORDON
What do you mean?

PAUL
How do you feel tonight?

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.

Mark smiles at the little joke, and then the speak singing stops, and a beautiful and sad melody takes over.

GORDON (CONT'D)
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.

Mark looks, suddenly moved by what Gordon is saying. In Mark's POV, Gordon's face MORPHS into Roger for the next line.

ROGER & GORDON
Because reason said I should have died three
years ago.

Roger's face fades back into Gordon. Mark is thinking of Roger when the entire group takes over the beautiful melody.

LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
No other road. No other way. No day but
today.

We are close on Mark as the song ends.

INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC CLASSROOM – LATER

Paul is handing out Xeroxed schedules to all people in the group, who are too busy chatting to pay attention.

PAUL
We have Beth Israel the 3rd of January. And ACT UP a week after that. Also, we need new music, so anyone has any ideas, call my service. And pick up your god damn cups people. Jesus.

Mark looks at Collins laughing with Angel. And the other people in the room, chatting and social. Someone taps his shoulder. He turns to find…

JOHN, on the outside, a tough-looking black dude from Alphabet City. On the inside, a prankster.

JOHN
Hey kid… you're here with Angel, right? Making a film?

MARK
Ah, yes. Yes, sir.

JOHN
What do you think?

MARK
It's very moving.

JOHN
You have HIV?

MARK
No, I don't.

JOHN
You want it?

Mark looks tense until… John bursts out laughing. Angel gives John the "tsk tsk" look. Collins smiles. Mark laughs. The joke was on him.

INT. PAWN SHOP – THE NEXT DAY

Mr. Alexi is on the phone. His conversation hushed. Roger glances at him, and then hands twenty dollars to a THIN JUNKIE BOY, not even 17, in exchange for a CD Boom Box. Roger sees the boy leave and shakes his head. Mr. Alexi hangs up.

MR. ALEXI
I have to go. One hour. You're okay. Yes?

ROGER
Sure.

MR. ALEXI
If you steal something, I'll know.

Mr. Alexi leaves the store in a hurry. Roger looks around. No customers, so he turns to the holding pen.

He looks at an amplifier. Dusty. He looks at his guitar. Squints. Roger grabs his guitar. Plugs in. Tries to find the chords. He defiantly picks out "Musetta's Theme" from Puccini's La Boheme, but the guitar is out of tune. Not believing his bad luck, he plays the string again, confirming it is out of tune. Frustrated, he takes off the guitar and turns around to find…

Mimi smiling her ass off.

MIMI
God damn, that was hot! I'm not saying that so you'll give me a good price or nothing neither. No shit. You in a band?

Roger isn't pleased about his space being invaded.

ROGER
Not right now. How long have you been—

MIMI
That's too bad. You should be. You go to these clubs you know and it's all doom and gloom and I'm so bored and I don't want to be famous, and I'm like sure yeah, I hear ya, but I'd just like them to admit that deep down it's just tits ass and money cock rock, and what's the big fucking deal anyway? Motown was the shit, and you hear them crying about being famous and getting blow jobs? Don't think so.

Roger doesn't smile.

ROGER
Can I help you?

Mimi smiles and approaches the counter. She shivers.

MIMI
Why are you so grumpy?

ROGER
I thought I was alone. Still shivering, I see.

MIMI
That's because you're gorgeous. Just kidding.

Mimi puts an antique silver pocket watch on the counter. Roger gives her the "look."

MIMI (CONT'D)
No, I didn't steal it. It was my grandfather on my mother's side. He was nice. Got hurt in the factory. Very sad. You know what he said once? That a man with a job is a hero to someone. That's pretty fucking deep wouldn't you say? He died last spring.

ROGER
Oh, I'm sorry.

MIMI
Thank you. Me, too.

Roger is thrown by Mimi's logic. Mimi smiles. Roger brings the watch back to the holding area. Mimi stares at his ass. Roger opens the watch and sees a little baggie of cocaine hidden inside. He stares at it for a beat. Then, he turns to Mimi.

ROGER
Let me guess. The last place you'd have ever looked. You gonna hock this, too?

MIMI
(laughs)
Oh, shit.

Mimi holds out her hand for the bag. Defensive. Shivers.

MIMI (CONT'D)
Come on. Pony up.

Off his stare…

MIMI (CONT'D)
We had a nice thing going there, and now you're being the junkie Grinch.

ROGER
All I'm saying is that I pawned a lot more than my grandfather's watch for this shit, and I wish I hadn't. That's all.

Roger hands her the dope, 100 bucks, and a ticket for the watch. Mimi looks at it. Leans on the counter.

MIMI
What are you doing tonight?

ROGER
Working.

MIMI
You want some company?

ROGER
No, thanks.

MIMI
Okay, then.

Mimi turns and walks out of the store. Roger gives a quick glance to her ass in spite of himself. She turns. He sighs. Mimi smiles.