SMASH CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Close on the morphine drip. And the heart monitor. Beep. Beep. Tapping. Angel, looking terribly weak, feverish, and pale as we've ever seen him, is laughing.
ANGEL
They did what?
Collins is smiling, wiping off Angel's forehead.
COLLINS
Broke up.
ANGEL
During a jam session. God bless them. I give the separation a week.
Angel starts laughing, then coughing. Collins reaches for the nurse button. Angel stops his hand. Collins continues wiping off Angel's forehead.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Tell me about the rest of them.
COLLINS
You can ask them yourself. They're coming by tomorrow.
ANGEL
Yeah?
COLLINS
What do you think? They love you.
Angel turns away. Collins looks confused. Especially when he realizes Angel is crying.
COLLINS (CONT'D)
Angel? Hey.
Collins tries to comfort him. Angel is terribly upset.
ANGEL
Make sure Roger writes his song. And Mark finishes his film. And get Mimi off that pipe, get her shit together. All of them. Alright?
COLLINS
Sure.
ANGEL
I mean it. It's important.
COLLINS
Okay.
ANGEL
Because they're good people, and half of them don't know it.
COLLINS
What about the other half?
ANGEL
They're just fucked up.
Collins laughs.
COLLINS
And what about you?
Angel starts really crying.
COLLINS (CONT'D)
What's wrong? Angel.
ANGEL
I owe them.
COLLINS
How do you owe them?
ANGEL
Until I met you... until you all came into my life... well, I just figured I was going to be alone.
Collins holds her hand. Tries to be strong. He strokes Angel's hair, trying to get him to fall asleep. Tears are running down his face.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Collins...
COLLINS
Yeah.
ANGEL
I want you to take something with you, okay?
Collins is beside himself. He nods.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
I'm 22 years old, and I haven't known a lot of blessings. But I have known you. And let me tell you something... I wouldn't trade you for fifty more years.
Collins takes a moment to collect himself.
COLLINS
You wouldn't?
ANGEL
Why? You know someone?
Collins laughs and wipes Angel's eyes. Angel smiles. Fading. The kind of peace that real pain can release. Collins laughs. And cries.
DISSOLVE TO:
CLOSE-UP:
The image of the HIV virus ravaging and finally destroying the T-cell. A beat.
INT. FUNERAL HOME – AFTERNOON
An old man, dressed in black, consoles a woman, and they both turn and look at something. They shake their heads in disapproval. We slowly move over to what they're looking at.
Our group of young people, dressed in their normal tattered clothes, consoling each other in one of the viewing rooms.
INT. VIEWING ROOM – AFTERNOON
The UNDERTAKER, a man with a kind and peaceful face, is standing with Collins and Mark by the closed coffin.
UNDERTAKER
It's time we move to the church.
Collins nods sadly. Mark comforts him.
INT. CHURCH – AFTERNOON
A Puerto Rican church. A funeral Mass. A coffin rests at the front of the church, adorned with a small framed photo of Angel. The congregation is made up of the people we've seen through the course of the film, and Angel's family and friends. They are silent, straining to hold in sobs. Paul, the leader of Life Support, plays "Seasons of Love" on the piano, as some of Angel's friends say a few words.
MIMI
It's right that it's Halloween, because it was her favorite holiday. I remember that time the skinhead was bothering her and she said she was more of a man than he'd ever be and more of a woman than he'd ever get...
The congregation stifles a laugh. Roger is too grim to laugh. Mimi returns to her pew, walks past Roger, doesn't look at him. Mimi sits beside Benny. Mark steps forward.
MARK
... and then there was the time he walked up to this group of tourists - and they were petrified because, A - they were obviously lost and B - had probably never spoken to a drag queen before in their lives... and he... SHE just offered to escort them out of Alphabet City... And then she let them take a picture with her - and then she said she'd help 'em find the Statue of Liberty.
Again, a laugh. Mark steps down, pats Roger's shoulder, trying to console him. He's very distant. Maureen steps forward.
MAUREEN
... so much more original than any of us – I heard the story of the time you found an old tablecloth on the street and made a dress - and next year, sure enough - they were mass producing them as the Gap. You said that last time how we were lucky that we were all friends - but it was us, baby, who were the lucky ones.
The congregation lowers its head. Joanne looks at Maureen. All of their bickering is losing importance at the moment. Maureen walks back to her seat, exchanges a glance with Joanne as she passes her, when Collins steps forward. The crowd is silent.
Collins tries to speak, but can't. He looks over at Paul, who nods, and starts playing "I'll Cover You (reprise)." Collins starts to sing. Softly.
COLLINS
Live in my house. I'll be your shelter. Just
pay me back with one thousand kisses. Be
my lover, and I'll cover you.
Mimi looks at Roger, who refuses to make eye contact with her. The guilt and grief on her face is deafening.
COLLINS (CONT'D)
Open your door, I'll be your tenant. Don't got
much baggage to lay at your feet, but sweet
kisses I've got to spare. I'll be there. I'll cover
you.
Mark, his face rigid and grim, looks at Maureen sitting apart from Joanne. He looks down.
COLLINS (CONT'D)
I think they meant it when they said you can't
buy love. Now, I know you can rent it, a new
lease you were, my love, on life.
Maureen looks over at Joanne.
COLLINS (CONT'D)
All my life, I've longed to discover something
as true as this is.
Slowly, the congregation begins to rise, one by one, and join in. It begins with the Life Support group. And Steve, crying.
LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
So with a thousand sweet kisses, I'll
cover you.
COLLINS
(simultaneously with above)
If you're cold, and you're lonely.
COMPANY
(simultaneously with above)
525,600 minutes.
More people stand, join the Life Support group.
LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll
cover you.
COLLINS
(simultaneously with above)
You've got one nickel only.
COMPANY (CONT'D)
(simultaneously with above)
525,000 moments so dear.
Mimi stands and starts singing. Roger is keeping rigid.
LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll
cover you.
COLLINS
(simultaneously with above)
When you're worn out and tired.
COMPANY (CONT'D)
(simultaneously with above)
525,600 minutes.
Maureen and Joanne both join in. As do Mark and Benny.
LIFE SUPPORT GROUP
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll
cover you.
COLLINS
(simultaneously with above)
When your heart has expired.
COMPANY (CONT'D)
(simultaneously with above)
525,000 measure a year.
After a slow build, the entire company joins in. Except Roger. It's all hitting too close for him as he looks around the church. At Collins. And at the faded purple spot on Mimi's hand.
Collins' voice booms.
COLLINS & COMPANY
Oh, lover. I'll cover you. Oh, lover.
Roger gets up out of his seat, too upset to deal, and leaves the church. Mimi and Mark watch him go.
COLLINS
I'll cover you.
COMPANY
525,600 minutes. 525,000 seasons... of...
love!
COLLINS
(an intensely passionate
statement of enduring love and
soulful commitment)
I'll cover you!
The song peaks and ends. Roger leaves the church.