MARK- "Roger!"
ROGER- Stepping out of bathroom, a towel around his waist the only thing worn. "Hey! What did I tell you about that camera three months ago when you moved in?" Blushing crimson as he walks towards Mark, holding his hand in front of the camera.
MARK- "C'mon, Rog. It's for Tom."
ROGER- "Collins? You got in contact with him?"
MARK- Nodding. "He wants video to know that we're still alive."
ROGER- Looking directly into camera. Camera view is through the camera. "Collins, I'm surviving. Three months sans needle. HIV free, baby." Eyes widening. "Not that...I...Mark! Turn the damned thing off!"
MARK- Lowering camera, but not turning it off. "I can edit." (Said suggestively.)
ROGER- "Just..." Eying the camera. "Just roll."
MARK- Bringing camera back to his right eye. "Tom, Roger is doing fine, as you can tell. His body has improved. Don't you just love those muscles?" Whistles, only to have his body pushed backwards by Roger.
ROGER- "Collins, I hope everything is well with you. I miss you, buddy. Any time you want to come back. Drop by. Let us know you're alive every once and a while." Smiling, Roger turns and heads back into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
ARK- Turning camera on himself. Camera view is through the camera. "Though we do not know each other well, I, too, wish to see you every once and a while." (Turning camera off and setting it on the table, Mark heads over to the couch, falling onto it with a thump.)
(A knock can be heard at the door. Mark groans as he stands and slumps over to the door, opening it.)
MARK- "Benny!" Pouncing upon the knocker, surprising him.
BENNY- "Mark, my old friend." Hugging Mark back, and then pulling away to walk into the apartment. "Nice place. You live here alone?"
MARK- Shutting the door and going over to stand by Benny. "As if I could afford this. I live with a roommate. Sometimes two, depending upon his status of career." Raising eyebrow.
BENNY- "That makes sense." (Said with narrowed eyes.)
MARK- "What brings you to this side of town?" Sitting down on couch and having Benny sit down on the table across from him.
BENNY- "I found your location through a college mate. I'm low on my cash and I need a place to stay for a few days. You, being my dormmate from college, seemed most probable."
MARK- "What'd you do, spend it all on your girlfriend?" Winking.
BENNY- "She dumped me. For a punk."
ROGER- Appearing in the hallway, now fully dressed. "Who's he?"
MARK- "Roger, Benjamin, Benny, Roger."
ROGER & Benny- "Hi."
ROGER- "How do you two know each other?"
MARK- "Dormmate in college. Before I had to drop out."
BENNY- Laughing. "Drop out he did. To pursue a directing career. See that's gone quite well." (Gets a soft slap to the arm by Mark.)
ROGER- "We all make our choices." (Said through gritted teeth.)
MARK- "So where did your money go? Benny, you were never poor. This part of town is reserved for lackers. As Roger, and I, regrettably are."
BENNY- "I never had money, Mark. That was on my parents. They cut the cord and told me it was time for me to live on my own. And you know very well that I cannot hold a job for more than three days at the most. I'm not the most sociable being."
MARK- Nodding his head in agreement.
BENNY- "I couldn't afford the dorm after you left. I moved in with Anastasia (Ona stagh e ah is how it is pronounced, ladies and gentlemen). Things were going well. Until she fell into the hands of a wealthy doctor. Next thing I knew, I was back at my parents', living upon them."
MARK- "And that tells not how you got to here."
ROGER- "Can't say you lost a career."
BENNY- "I put all my money on alcohol. And when my parents found out, they were furious, kicked me out, gave me a hundred dollars cash, and three days later, I find myself at our door."
MARK- Looking to Roger, who nods. "You can stay as long as you need to."
BENNY- "I don't have much. Just my coat. I don't even have a change of clothes."
MARK- "Roger and I will put something together."
ROGER- "Yeah, though, I am certain my style of clothng will be unliked by you." Shrugging.
BENNY- "At the moment, anything to cover would be fantastic." (Motioning to what he is wearing now, which is tattered and torn.)
MARK- "You can sleep in my bed. Well, Collins' bed...I'll take the couch."
BENNY- "Collins is the 'appear on status of his career', I'm assuming?" Cocking his head to the side.
ROGER- Laughing. "Okay, so Markie has this big secret that everyone knows but me. I want in." Pouting jokingly.
MARK- "What secret? There's no secret." (Said as an obvious lie.)
BENNY- "Oh, he doesn't know?"
ROGER- Snapping his fingers. "So there is something to tell!" Running over and jumping onto the couch next to Mark, crossing his legs, and staring at Mark, batting his eyelashes playfully.
MARK- "There's nothing to tell!" Standing and going to stand at the large ominous window that the apartment supplies.
BENNY- "Well, if you must know..." Pausing for dramatic effect.
MARK- "Don't you dare!" Stomping his foot like a child having a tantrum.
ROGER- Chuckling. "This must be juicy." Wiggling eyebrows suggestively at Mark, who, yet again, has turned scarlet.
BENNY- "Has Mark ever had any...jokes thrown at him? Say you and he are walking down the street. Do you ever get suggestive looks?
ROGER- "Yes, but I don't get...His mouth forms an O. "Oh. Oh?"
MARK- "It was only once!"
BENNY- "Thrice in the same night."
MARK- "Quiet!"
BENNY- "Oh, my dear friend, were you ever not."
ROGER- Obviously holding in a laugh. "That's what the secretary at the office was getting at. She thought...that you and I...oh dear. I'm sorry." Bursting out in laughter.
MARK- "I blame the alcohol."
BENNY- "Mark. You were sober as fuck."
MARK- Growling low in his throat.
ROGER- "So does that make you gay? I mean, I'm going to have to watch when I...the recording of me in a towel! For Collins my ass!"
MARK- Waving his hands in the air. "For Collins, indeed. It was a one time thing."
Camera angle switches to over Mark's shoulder, zoomed in on Roger and Benny who have begun teasing Mark by faux kissing from their seats.
MARK- "C'mon, guys. Let it be."
ROGER- "Did he grind upon you? Did you love it?" Standing, as does Benny, who wraps his arms around Roger's waist, pulling him forward and grinding against him.
MARK- "C'mon, guys!." (Said in a peeved tone. Yes, I said peeved.)
ROGER- "Did he take you as he would others? Do tell, how was the sex?" Turning his back towards Benny and rubbing up against him.
MARK- "This is why secrets remain secrets!" Stuffing his hands into his pockets and turning back towards the window.
ROGER- Walking towards Mark, walking around Mark and placing his hand under Mark's chin. "Did he kiss you with a passion that no one had ever done to you before?" Leaning in as if to kiss Mark, but Mark pushes him away, shaking his head and crossing to the dining area, sitting down at the table.
ROGER- Whistles. "Benny, tell me more."
ROGER-
Was it quiet, was it calm, was there screaming, was it vocal?
Did he moan, did he burn, did he say a single word?
What did he say at the end?
BENNY-
It was loud as could be, louder than a man like you and me.
MARK- "Liar!"
BENNY-
Every thrust, every push, every sound could be heard.
From our room to the rooms down the hall.
He screams like a girl, but he takes it like a man.
ROGER & BENNY-
And he lasted through until the very end!
And at the end, the time came, and it seems a bit sad to say...that the performance ended in a slight delay.
MARK- "It ended fine."
ROGER & BENNY-
It never ended. It never started. It was all foul play.
Because in the end, it was only you. You crying on your bed.
Your father would kill, you were surely dead!
BENNY-
And he lie on his bed, his hands over his head.
Kept it locked in for some time, until he was bedded again.
Thrice in one night, and then again the next week...
BENNY & ROGER-
It was surely not a one night theme!
Camera angle circles around Roger and Benny this whole time, and at the end, zooms in on Mark, who merely rolls his eyes and disappears into his room.
r up. Roger kisses April, Maureen pulls Mark tight, and Benny and Collins share a warm passionate hug. Black out.)