A Very Natural Thing (1974) - full transcript

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[music playing]

Still got it.

[bell tolling]

[monks singing chants]

After an awful lot of
miserable years in the closet,

I'm finally coming
out and telling

people that-- that I am a
homosexual and I don't mind it.

This is the first time
I've felt like a full woman,

besides being in love--
in bed with my lover.

MONK: (SINGING) My
children, our love is not

to be just words or mere talk--



I think in New York, there's
about a million gay people.

And I think if everybody comes
out, it would be much easier.

MONK: (SINGING) Only by
this can we be certain

that we are children
of the truth.

Anyone who fails to
love can never have

known God, because God is love.

I'd like to see more gay
people become proud enough

and confident enough
to make an open stand,

and not-- not care
and not give up

their power to heterosexuals.

Well, it should have
happened a long time ago.

That's all I think about it.

I mean, I've been living
better all my life.

'Cause I ain't scared of nobody.



I never hide in no closet.

I been gay since I was so small.

Gay liberation is just not
being ashamed of what you are,

and being gay is a
very natural thing.

[school bell rings]

[chatter]

Now, you have three
important themes

from the play on the board.

What I would like you to do
for the rest of the period

is to pick one theme, write a
short essay, in your own words,

describing how you feel that
this theme applies and is as

meaningful to our
present-day situation

as it was in the
time of Shakespeare.

OK?

And, uh, just to keep you from
vegetating over the weekend--

[students groan]

How much?

$5.

Thank you.

[music playing]

ALAN: David!
-Hey.

Good to see you.

Hey, good to see you.

David, I'd like you to
meet Hughey, my latest.

Hughey, say hello to David,
one of my very oldest friends

from Schenectady.

Hello.

Hi.

Wow, would you look at
the guy who just walked in?

The blond.

ALAN: Oh, you
should be so lucky.

He looks conceited, anyway.

Not bad.

Hm.

Hey, come on.

Cut that out.

I'm just being affectionate.

Yeah, I know.

But that went out in the '50s.

Oh?

I hadn't heard.

Thanks.

Hey, how old are you, anyway?

23 or so?

26, actually.

You don't look that old.

Hey, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself.

A dirty old man like you,
seducing a young guy like me.

[both laugh]

How old are you?

23.

How long have you been out?

Oh, I suppose
since prep school.

I still make it with
chicks once in a while.

It's-- it's not all that bad.

But I know what I prefer.

And you?

What?

How long?

Oh, I've known I was gay
for a couple of years.

But if you mean practicing, for
only about the last six months.

I thought so.

Refreshing.

DAVID: I had a big
religious hang-up.

I was even a monk for
a couple of years.

What?

A monk, in a monastery.

God, how quaint.

Thanks.

I was still going to Mass
when I first came to New York.

But after a while, when
I accepted being gay

and realized-- I finally
came out, I guess.

None of it made any
sense to me anymore.

Hm.

The church is a pretty
straight business, you know?

Bible doesn't have anything
nice to say about guys

who dig sex with other guys.

The church generously
offered me two choices--

either a life of
religious celibacy

or a life of sexual
abstinence in the world.

Some choice.

Yeah.

I was crazy to think I
could go through life

without sex, anyway.

Anyway, the whole thing left
me with a bad taste in my mouth

about God.

Like he's either
sadistic or incompetent--

if he's out there at all.

[chuckles] But I don't think
you are interested in getting

into my theology.

Well, look, uh, I'm flying
out of here in the morning

for a business
meeting in Cleveland

and a week's stay
with my folks, so.

I get the hint.

[laughter]
-No, really.

I'm not kidding.

The plane ticket's
in there in the desk.

Go see for your--

I believe you.

Well, I'd better get out of
here and let you get some sleep.

[sigh]

Do you think we'll ever
see each other again?

I don't know.

What do you think?

I'd like to see you again.

Well, when I get back into
town, I'll give you a call,

and we'll see what happens, OK?

OK.

Come on.

Be quiet and let
me get some sleep.

[humming]

Mark?

I thought you were
somebody else.

MAN: Hey! [non-english speech]

Ow!

MAN: [non-english speech]

Why don't you look
where you're going?

I mean, I was trying to--

Hey, uh, have you seen
Murray and the kid lately?

I stopped by on Tuesday.

Murray's still down in
the mountain, fishing.

-Well, I'll see you Monday.
-All right, Mark.

Have a good weekend.
-Have a nice weekend.

-Bye-bye.
-Yeah, right.

I took Sammy a Frisbee.

You know the kid's a genius?

[key turning in lock]

Oh, wow.

I'm sorry.

Dave?

Heh, yeah.

DAVID: Uh, half an hour?

I'm sorry, Valerie.

VALERIE: It's all right.
Bye.

DAVID: All right, bye-bye.

VALERIE: Bye.

[laughs]

DAVID: Here's to your return.

Hey, I thought you said
you had a roommate.

I do.

But he's hardly ever here.

He stays over at his chick's
place almost all the time.

He even sleeps there.

Oh, how convenient.

He's straight?

I hope so.

I mean, does he
know your scene?

Yeah.

But it doesn't matter.

He just needs somebody
to help out with the rent

until they get married.

They're getting pretty
serious, I guess.

Well, sounds like
they're trying

to ruin a good relationship.

[sigh]

I'm too excited.

I can't eat any of this.

I don't have any appetite.

[MUSIC SAMUEL BARBER,
"ADAGIO FOR STRINGS, OP.

11"]

[garbage truck clanking]

I think I'm falling for you.

Christ, what are you, some kind
of romantic nut or something?

You're a pretty good fuck
for a former monk, you know?

I suppose that's all you
smart-ass Yalies know about.

Oh, well, thank
you, Miss Ali McGraw!

[laughter]

[music playing]

DAVID (VOICEOVER): Hey, Mark.

MARK (VOICEOVER): Yeah?

DAVID (VOICEOVER): How
much do you love me?

MARK (VOICEOVER):
Aw, cut it out, huh?

I'm not even sure I
believe in love at all.

DAVID (VOICEOVER):
But I feel it.

I know I shouldn't
ask, but still--

MARK (VOICEOVER): Still nothing.

Look, we enjoy
each other, right?

We have fun together,
and that's all.

Love means never having
to say you're in love.

[music playing]

DAVID (VOICEOVER):
Mark, have you ever been

involved with anyone before?

MARK (VOICEOVER):
Before what? [laughs]

DAVID (VOICEOVER): Before now.

Come on, just
answer the question.

MARK (VOICEOVER):
No, not really.

I never wanted to
be, particularly.

I guess there were a couple
of guys along the way,

but nothing ever worked out.

I'm really not up for
that sort of thing yet.

DAVID (VOICEOVER): Oh, great.

So what am I supposed
to do, just wait?

Be just another
guy along the way?

MARK (VOICEOVER):
There you go again,

pushing this romantic thing.

Why do you have to be
so intense all the time?

Look, I'm flattered that
you'd like to include me

in this fairytale world
you're building up,

but it's just not my line.

[music playing]

MARK (VOICEOVER): All right.

All right, so I'm involved.

What more do you want from me?

DAVID (VOICEOVER):
Well, for a start,

why don't you knock
off the Joe Cool crap

and admit we're lovers?

I mean, what else do you call
it when two guys are seeing

each other and have
really great sex,

and this goes on for months?

Who do you think you're kidding?

Come on.

Out with it, god damn it!

Ow!

Say it.
-Wait!

Say it!

Well, wait a minute.

No.

[laughter]

Say it.

OK.

I-- I love you.

Again!

I love you.

Now let go of me.

Yeah, right, you do.

Now once more for good measure?

[laughter]

Hell no!

Now what do you think of this?

Once more.

You win, my fucking
romantic friend.

I love you.

Whatever that means.

[laughter]

[music - "here comes the bride"]

PRIEST: Dearly beloved, we are
gathered here in the presence

of God to join together
this man and this woman

in holy matrimony, which is
an honorable estate ordained

of God unto the
fulfilling and perfecting

of the love of man and woman in
mutual honor and forbearance.

And therefore it is not by any
to be taken in hand lightly

or thoughtlessly, but
reverently, discreetly,

soberly, and in the fear of God.

Into this holy estate, these two
persons come now to be joined.

Therefore, if any
man can show just

cause why they may not
lawfully be joined together,

let him now speak
or else, hereafter,

forever hold his peace.

Marriage is,
therefore, not by any

to be undertaken lightly or
ill-advisedly, but seriously

and prayerfully, duly
considering the purposes

for which it is ordained,
that husband and wife may give

to each other lifelong
companionship, help,

and comfort, both in
prosperity and adversity;

that God may hallow and
direct the natural instincts

and affections created by
himself and redeemed in Christ;

and that, marriage being thus
held in honor, human society

may stand upon firm foundations.

[music playing]

[keys jingling]

Hey.

[laughs] Let's not stay
around here all day.

Let's go to a movie.

All righty.

What do you want to see?

I don't know.

What's on?

Hey, how about this
thing with Robert Redford?

OK.

Even if it's bad,
he's good to look at.

What time's it go on?

Uh, 12:00,

BOTH: 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00.

[laughter]

[music playing]

Can I help you?

Can I have tube of K-Y?

[drumming]

Karen, I'm going in.

You're not going in yet.

What do you mean,
I'm not going in?

I've been out
rowing for an hour.

KAREN: You're not going in yet.

Oh, Linda, look at you.

You've got it all over you.

Hey, lady, how would you like
it if somebody did that to you?

Hey!

Hey, just shut up and mind
your own business, all right?

What a bitch.

You're a slob,
that's what you are.

I'm not a slob!

Turn around.

Linda!

[music playing]

[groans]

[music stops]

Brr.
Brr.

It's cold.

Ooh!

Your hands are cold.

Sorry.

Come on, I gotta use the stool.
-Come on, cut it out.

I'm gonna be late.

I have to get
dressed too, you know.

Oh, does the old man need the
stool now to put his socks on?

What am I supposed to do,
perch on one leg like a crane?

Hell, no, just stand there
like this, take your sock,

and slip it on.

DAVID: I'm gonna
break your neck.

Lookit.

Ow.

Shoot.

Ow.

Damn.

Have you seen my blue shirt?

No, I haven't seen
you blue shirt.

Did you get the
laundry out Saturday?

Did I get the
laundry out Saturday?

Did I get the
laundry out Saturday?

God, why don't you just
stay in bed in the morning

until I'm finished dressing, OK?

Oh, fuck you.

Just see if I bother
to get up and give

you my comforting presence at
the breakfast table anymore.

Hah.

There's hardly
enough time to talk.

Besides, who wants to talk
in the morning, anyway?

All right.

Just see if I care.

[sigh]

Better hurry.

You're gonna be late.

Jennifer, could you
bring me the Thompson file

before you go to lunch?

[phone ringing]

Yeah?

"If it had gone to
thee, I know mine

would have taught thine heart
to show more pity unto me.

But love, alas, at one first
blow did shiver at his glass.

Those pieces still,
though they be not unite,

and now as broken glasses
show a hundred lesser

faces, so my rags of heart
can wish, like, and adore,

but after one such
love, can love no more."

[water spraying]

MARK: What are you doing?

DAVID: Transplanting these.

Hey, I think I'll
go out for a walk.

It's a great day.

If you wait a minute,
I'll go with you.

I'm almost finished.

You don't have to.

But I want to.

MARK: Well, you know, actually,
I think I'd prefer to go alone.

Oh.

MARK: I'll only
be a little while.

Mark, what's wrong?

Nothing.

Really, nothing.

Look, I just feel like
being alone, that's all.

OK.

You want to skip dinner?

Hell no.

Look, I'll only be gone
for a little while.

Stop creating things
that aren't there, OK?

I'm sorry.

[laughs]

MARK: OK.

Well, see you in a little while.

OK.

[music playing]

MARK: I'm home.

Hi.

Did you have a nice dinner?

MARK: Snoopy taking
good care of you?

Yeah.

That's more than
I can say for you.

MARK: Awww.

Anything good on?

There's a new movie
coming on later.

[kiss]

[kissy noises]

Don't try to kissy-face me.

Hey.

Feel like, uh, futzing
around a little bit?

Huh?

Huh?

I don't know.

I feel fine just being
with you here like this.

MARK: Oh.

So now he's going to punish me.

No I'm not.

I'm just not into it
right now, that's all.

Well.

So I guess you're going to
make me rape you, is that it?

Yeah, Macho Mark.

Is that why you're sitting
there giving me those looks?

DAVID: I want to
watch the movie.

MARK: You want to
play hard to get?

Jeez, will you stop it?

Well, shit, you never
used to talk like that.

DAVID: Christ, we had sex
three times already this week.

That's more than we had in
the good old honeymoon days.

Besides, I'm a little
sore, if you don't mind.

--[laughs] Here, Snoopy,
you take care of him.

Oh, poor Snoopy, is
he making fun of you?

You want to have sex with me?

Hm?

Hm?

You do?

Hey, you want to
have a threesome?

You, me, and Snoopy, huh?

Go get him, Snoopy.
Get him.

Come on.
Come on!

Aw, hell, I've
had enough of this.

I'm going to bed.

I'm sick and tired.

Come on, watch the movie.

Come on.

MARK: No.

DAVID: Movie.

Please, you'll like it.

You knocked over my
beer can, you know.

MARK: Sorry.

Well, OK.

Just for a little bit.

God, I don't know why I had
to marry such a schmaltz.

You should just be glad
you married at all, period.

ALAN: And I didn't bring
any chicken with me.

[laughter]

EDGAR: You did, too.

I beg your pardon.

ALAN: He's over 18.

[laughter]

EDGAR: Barely.

Oh, and the guy-- and
we just, you know--

They have some nice things.

They had a Pinot
Chardonnay the other night.

it was really-- It
was only about $2.

Oh, I'm trying to
have other wines.

It's like-- you know,
it was like $4 a bottle.

Did you like it?

Me?

Yes, I did.

Yeah, it was good.

Oh, thank you.

This is so good.

[laughter]

It really is.

Thank you.

Great coffee.

Do you cook?

A little bit.
A little bit.

He does most of the cooking.

Mark, do you want some
more Grand Marnier?

What?

[laughter]

I think I'm getting--

While I'm up, does
anyone want more coffee?

-Uh, please.
-One?

-Yes.
-Two?

Three.
Fine.

Oh, why don't we move
into the other room

where it's more comfortable,
and I'll serve you in there.

OK.

So this is the coveted new
linen you bought in Brussels.

Someone finally noticed.

It's very nice.

Thank you.

Davey, will you help
me clear off the table?

Sure, be glad to.

You'd better keep a protective
eye out for your jewels, Davey.

[laughter]

EDGAR: Word of advice.

If you want a marriage
to work, you have to own

something substantial together.

Miguel and I were thinking
about taking a house

at the Grove next summer.

That's not quite what I meant.

Oh.

Mark, are you actually
going to leave David alone

out there with that old lech?

Charles isn't nearly so bad
as Alan here makes out he is.

He just likes to pretend
around you two, that's all.

Charles and I are
different, you know.

I don't need the
sex that he does.

With him, it's sort
of a-- a confirmation

that he's still desirable.

I used to be hellishly jealous
when we first got together.

I made him throw away
his old telephone numbers

and his dirty magazines.

[laughter]

But that doesn't change
somebody's basic nature.

There has to be a lot of
give and take in a marriage.

I know I'm a bitch, and he
just has to put up with it.

Life is, as they say,
full of compromises.

At this point, I could care less
if he brought a different trick

in here every night.

But let him bring the
same dewy-eyed little

innocent in here twice
and began acting like he's

serious about it, and I manage
to wheedle myself into that bed

right between them.

I've put five years of hard
work into this marriage,

and I don't intend to let anyone
or anything fuck it up for me.

ALAN: Well, I don't
know, but it seems to me

that we're all a
little depressed

over these sordid revelations.

There's nothing
sordid about it.

It's just the way things are.

CHARLES: Miguel, more coffee?

You're so quiet.

You haven't said two
words all evening.

Oh, I think Miguel
is a little bit

overawed by the surroundings.

And he's kind of shy.

Well, with his looks,
he shouldn't be.

I know.

Thank you.

You have a very
lovely apartment.

EDGAR: Thank you.

MIGUEL: Are we still
going to the bar?

I did promise Teddy
we'd meet him.

ALAN: Let me finish my
coffee, and then we'll go.

Anybody else care to join us?

Good Lord, no.

Edgar and I haven't been out
together in a bar in ages.

Everyone standing
around like statues,

and that deafening music?

It gets worse every year.

EDGAR: I should think you'd
be tired of it by now.

Yeah, well, I am, sort of.

But Miguel wants to go.

Such devotion.

Well, as they say, may
we never have it worse.

[laughter]

[laughs] Who says that?

I do.

I just don't like spending my
Saturday nights with a bunch

of faggots, that's all.

If you weren't so
goddamn critical

of all of our friends--

Whose friends?

All right, my friends.

But we've been with Alan before.

Why the sudden change?

David, I never really
liked him that much.

I only put up with him
because he was your friend.

Mark, sit down.

Come on, please?

Something's really been
bugging you lately.

Don't you think it's
better to talk about it?

Sometimes I think
we can talk too much.

I don't think we talk enough.

What's the matter?

OK, David, we'll talk.

I just don't understand why we
have to do everything together.

Just because we're lovers
doesn't make us inseparable,

does it?

I mean, I thought we agreed
we wouldn't be possessive.

I thought you understood.

I thought we-- what's the use?

I'm sorry, I don't--

And cut this "I'm sorry" crap.

You make me sound like
I'm the one to blame,

like-- like I'm the one that's
being difficult to live with.

But you hold everything
in until you explode.

If we could just
talk things out more!

David, you know
it wouldn't work.

Look, why don't you go on
home, and I'll-- I'll meet

you back there later.

I have some thinking to do.

Why don't you just come
home and sleep it off?

I promise I won't be in the way.

Look, David, I need some
time to be by myself.

Can't you understand that?

Where are you going this time?

To the baths?

Oh, fuck you.

[heavy sigh]

[door closes]

Mark?

MARK: Oh no.

Jesus.

I thought you'd
be asleep by now.

I couldn't sleep.

Why didn't you take a pill?

Where have you been?

We'll talk about that tomorrow.

Mark, please.

I won't be able to sleep.

I don't want to
talk about it now.

I'm tired, and we have
all day tomorrow, OK?

We have now.

Look, David, if you don't shut
up, I'm going to go in there

and sleep on the couch.

Is that a threat?

Jesus Christ.

Go back to sleep.

[heavy sigh]

So where did you go last night?

Oh, for a walk.

Some walk.

To the park, OK?

You don't have to get upset.

And you don't have
to be so jealous.

Oh, I know.

I realize that it doesn't mean
anything, that you're just

letting off steam, bu-t--

Look, David, you're
just going to have

to stop imposing your screwed-up
romantic ideas on my life.

I mean, I can understand
why you feel the way you do.

Sleeping around
while being married

is a sin, and all that crap.

But I just don't
fit into that mold.

I'm liberated.

I'm not quite as traditional
as you are, and you know that.

You knew that.

I didn't think it would be
such a hassle, but it is.

I'm not sure if I
know how to handle it.

Well, we're going to
have to do something.

We can't go on
like this, fighting

and making up and fighting
and making up again.

It's no good.

I've been thinking.

Yeah?

Well, we're in a rut.

And I think we should
try experimenting

with different things.

Like what?

[music playing]

[men talking]

[laughter]

Hi.

Hi.

Good enough?

[laughter]

GUEST: Have you
had a wine enema?

GUEST: What's a wine enema?

It-- yeah, it gets
you really stoned,

and it bypasses the stomach
so you don't get sick.

Come on, open up.

What's with the [inaudible]?

Come on.

DAVID: Can you come back later?

Who is that?

[inaudible].

Come on.

DAVID: I'm sorry.

You'll have to come back later.

MARK: All right.

I'm going downstairs
and take a shower.

When I come back, I expect
this door to be open.

[music playing]

You OK?

Sure.

Are you sure you want
to go through with it?

This is what you want me
out here for, isn't it?

Well, might as well
make the best of it.

DAVID: It's not that
I'm uptight or anything.

It's just, what do you do
if it doesn't turn you on?

Stupid question, that is.

Don't even think about it.

Half the time, you don't
even know who it is.

Go on.

Why?

Because I can't do this.

It was your idea
to come out here.

It was not my idea.

I'm sorry.

Neither you or I are the
same person he was last year.

But you simply won't let go
of your romantic notions,

will you?

Well, anyway, we're still
living together, aren't we?

This the first
thing we're doing

together in almost two weeks.

Look, David, we both have our
own separate lives to live,

and you just don't seem
to understand that.

DAVID: I understand.

But then why be lovers?

I mean, what's the point
of living together if we

each have our separate lives?

Because we get along so well.

Always the wise-ass.

You can't ever be
serious, can you?

You know, half
the time you avoid

the problem by walking away
from it, and the other half,

you're joking.

If you weren't so hung up
with your goddamn masculinity!

My stomach's always
in knots lately.

It hardly seems to
affect you at all.

It affects me.

DAVID: So how?

[sigh]

I can't eat.

I can't work.

My whole system's
fucked up from tension

and worrying all the time.

Well, don't worry.

Mark, what are we going to do?

Come on, let's get going.

No, wait.

Let's-- please stay.

Let's talk!

You and your talk.

There's nothing
more to talk about.

DAVID: Mark--

Look, it's cold and I'm tired.

Do you mind?

Will you wait a minute
and listen to me?

There's nothing
more to be said.

Now let go of me.

Mark, I'm going to
get through to you

if it's the last thing I do.

Now you tell me--

(SHOUTING) David,
get hold of yourself

and get off my fucking back!

Well, at least tell
me where you're going.

I'll call you when I know
where I'll be staying.

[sigh]

I'll pick up the rest
of the stuff later.

Call me?

Yeah.

[music playing]

ALAN: You know, it's not
the end of the world.

Tomorrow's another day.

No one knows that
better than I do.

It's funny.

Whenever I thought
of us breaking up,

if it ever did happen,
I always thought Mark

would be the one to walk out.

It's funny.

Not so strange.

From what you told
me about Mark,

he never could make decisions.

He's not as secure
as he appears to be.

I don't know.

Well, now, you listen to me.

Now I know those types.

They're in control as long as
you let them be in control.

It was you who always
had the real power.

You convinced him that
you should be lovers,

and then you moved in with him.

And now that it's over, it's
the result of your move again.

Shit, I don't want to
control or be controlled.

It wasn't like that.

It was.

And it still is.

Your problem is
that you-- you worry

too much about the
perfect relationship,

where you're always happy and
having a good time and sharing.

It's all a lot of crap.

It's a myth.

I learned it the hard way.

My trouble used to be
that I believed. it.

You remember Miguel?

I thought, now here's the
person I'd like to spend

the rest of my life with.

I honestly thought that.

And I convinced myself
into believing it.

But then the same
thing happened.

Only this time, I
became bored with him.

Alas, I got bored with him.

But no more.

I'm through pushing things.

I meet a guy, we hit it off,
and we make it, and that's it.

No illusions, no plans
for the future-- I

enjoy it for what it is.

Just what is it?

Usually some nice company.

Some nice sex.

Sometimes even great sex.

But that's enough.

I'm-- I'm through
with expectations.

You've certainly
become the cynical one.

No, not cynical.

Simply realistic.

Well, I don't think
I'm being unrealistic.

Mark and I were in love.

We could have made it together.

We still might.

David, don't be
a fool and cause

yourself unnecessary grief.

Accept the fact that it's over.

The sooner you get him out
of your system, the better.

There's no use making things
any worse than they are already.

I can't just not
see him anymore.

We've had arguments before.

They blow over.

It's just a little more
serious this time, that's all.

We need time to be
away from each other,

to think things out.

That's all.

Well, you're certainly
welcome to stay

here for the time being.

You know, it's not the kind of
time that you want to be alone.

Thanks, Alan.

I really appreciate it.

You know, you're one
of the few people

that I can actually talk to?

Something Mark could
never understand.

Well, how do you feel now?

[laughs]

Have you had dinner?

[sigh]

Why don't you have something?

There's some leftover meatloaf.

Come on.

You'll feel better.

[funhouse laughter]

[bell ringing]

MARK: I won.

[laughs]

DAVID: I guess it
wasn't a very good

idea, seeing each other today.

It's good seeing you.

How's work?

Oh, OK.

The kids are getting restless.

Spring fever, I guess.

I've missed you, Mark.

I've missed you too.

Hey, how's your stomach?

Better.

MARK: See?

Time can heal wounds.

Yeah.

Have you been
seeing anyone lately?

Not really.

How about you?

Nah.

I've had a couple tricks.

Actually, I've been
playing it cool.

I've been pretty
busy at the office,

you know, and usually get
finished around 8 o'clock.

And by then, I'm so
exhausted, I just

want to come home and collapse.

Have any plans for tonight?

I'm supposed to go
to a bar with Alan.

You think he'd be annoyed
if you changed your plans?

I don't think so.

Why?

I thought you could
come home with me.

I don't know.

Would that be a good idea?

I mean, what would it mean?

Why does it have
to mean anything?

You said you missed me.

I do, but not only sexually.

I-- I don't think it'd
be good for my head.

What do you think?

Hell, I don't know, you know?

We could try and see.

I can't figure you out, Mark.

Well, don't try.

Come on, let's go.

I want to suck your cock.

Jesus, Mark.

How can you say that?

You said you missed
me, didn't you?

But how do you
expect me to forget

what's happened between us?

You think I'm just a
trick you can pick up

and ball and then ask to leave?

MARK: Oh, David, don't.

Or you want me available
when you're in the mood.

How can you treat me like that?

Look, David, I obviously
have feelings for you.

Do you think I'd be
here if I didn't?

Now, let's not try to solve
all our problems in one

afternoon, OK?

Look, the point is now I
want to go to bed with you.

Do you want to go
to bed with me?

We were together Sunday for the
first time in almost a month.

He asked me to stay over.

I didn't want to,
but I missed him.

David, you're
looking for trouble.

All we could do is reminisce.

We couldn't talk about
the present, our feelings.

It was damn awkward.

Did you really expect
things to change?

I didn't know.

I still think I love him, Alan.

He still turns me on.

But things weren't
the same in bed.

What do you mean?

DAVID: I felt as if
I were being tested.

Being used.

I felt like an object
in an experiment.

It was almost as though
he were trying to figure

out if he were over me yet.

Yeah, well, that
sounds like Mark.

[girl yelps]

Oh!

I'll get it. [laughs] Hi.

What's your name?

You have a cute daughter.

Thank you.

Did you thank the
man for the ball?

Daddy gave it to me.

[whistles]

GIRL: Bye-bye.

Bye.

ALAN: Bye-bye.

Bye.

Bye.

ALAN: (POINTEDLY) Bye-bye.

What do you make of him?

I'd love to.

[laughter]

ALAN (VOICEOVER): Why
don't you try the baths?

DAVID (VOICEOVER): I
don't think I'd like that.

ALAN (VOICEOVER): Oh, David, you
take everything so seriously.

Go ahead.

It'll take your mind
off your troubles.

[heavy breathing]

[rhythmic sighing and moaning]

[eerie music playing]

[skin slapping skin]

[subway train roaring on tracks]

[brakes squealing]

[kids shouting and playing]

A!
CROWD: A!

O!

CROWD: O!

W!

CROWD: W!

[drumming]

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

My feelings about gay pride?

I'm quite proud of myself.

Well, not proud.

I'm very accepting of
myself and other gay people.

I'm bisexual myself,
and you know,

I think everybody should be able
to let live and do as they see

fit in their own sexual life.

This means that we can walk
the streets as ourselves,

and not be harassed by
anybody, and be ourselves.

Be proud to be ourselves.

CAMERAMAN: Thank you.

You're welcome.

[bagpipes playing]

[horse whinnies]

MAN (VOICEOVER): Just
exchange the word

"faggot" for "nigger," "kike, or
"cunt" at the appropriate time.

It's all part of
the same mentality.

It's an inability to cope
with human diversity.

MAN (VOICEOVER): Its' a pretty
fucked up society when the Army

gives me a medal
for killing a man

and a dishonorable
discharge for loving one.

MAN (VOICEOVER): I think we need
a radically new definition of

what it means to be masculine.

MAN (VOICEOVER): Well,
I think gay people

may well be performing
an historic function.

I mean in the sense
that they're undermining

the ridiculous
notion in our society

that you should only
have sex with one person,

and that's the person
you're married to.

WOMAN (VOICEOVER):
The public always

goes looking for
role-playing, who's dominant

and who's submissive.

The great thing about
gay relationship

is that you both come
into a relationship

as two equal human beings.

MAN (VOICEOVER): For me,
being gay means not limiting

my feelings to one person.

But it's also not being
afraid to commit my feelings

to one person many times over.

[crowd chanting]

There definitely is a need
for the homosexual to be free

in what he does or
what he does in bed.

But I don't think it's
something that should

be having to be protested.

I think it should just
come very natural.

It's an innate part of you,
something to appreciate.

We preach in our church
that people should

be proud of themselves,
proud of being

gay in all parts of their life.

And being gay is good, so
one should be proud of it.

Uh, being able
to live your life.

Live it the way you see it.

Uh, not being ashamed of
loving one of your own sex.

It means that I'm
very proud of my son

and that I want to
fight all ignorance

and bigotry for all gay people.

[cheering]

MAN (ON LOUDSPEAKER): Belzec,
Pilsen, Auschwitz, Buchenwald,

in which a million of
our brothers and sisters

were scooped up off
the streets of Europe

and taken to that place
and there submitted

to the ultimate solution
to gayness-- incinerated

and turned into soap.

Never again.

Never again, will we
allow this to happen.

[cheering]

It means getting out and making
the people realize that all

these years, they've
been wrong about what

they've been thinking about us.
-It was a celebration.

You know, not so much
a political thing.

I'm not very political.

But for me, it was a
celebration of just who I am.

And being with other gay people.

I don't know.

All I know is I'm
gay and I proud.

And I worked for it, and
I'll continue to work

for it until the day I die.

And I have no qualms about it.

And if anybody wants
to fight me about it,

these may not be too
big, but I got big shoes.

I don't know.

It just means that I'm glad
to be what I am-- a lesbian.

I think it's important
that we all came out today,

and I'm glad that
I came out today,

even though it's going
to be on film all over

wherever it's going to be.

Let 'em see.

I'm out.

[laughter]

[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON
LOUDSPEAKER]

[crowd chanting]

This the first
march you've been on?

Actually, I was just watching.

I wasn't really in the march.

I just happened by.

You sound apologetic?

Not really.

I'm just not a very
political person.

I was very hung-up with ideology
at one point in my life,

so now I'm pretty skeptical
about causes or soapboxes.

And that's what you
think this is all about?

I don't say I'm against it.

Just skeptical.

I just never knew enough about
it to become involved with it.

I never felt I had to
advertise my homosexuality.

I don't go out of
my way to conceal

it, except perhaps
at work, where I

keep my social life to myself.

There's a lot of people
who think like that.

I'm just not so sure that
marching down Seventh Avenue

shouting, "Gay is good!"
is going to change the way

straight people feel about us.

You can't say that
shutting up about it

has done much good, either.

It doesn't matter to me
whether they like us or not.

I just simply think
that gay people ought

to have their rights, too.

Sometimes you've got to
make noise and organize

to get things changed.

To me, I guess that's what
this march is all about.

I don't believe that coming
out for one day a year

is going to liberate
these people

or change the system that much.

I mean, how many of these
people who marched today

will go back in their
closets tomorrow,

afraid to even talk about it?

You're probably right.

Some of them.

I'm a teacher, right?

Being-- well, letting
people at work

know that I'm gay
would complicate

things, to say the least.

And does coming out mean
I tell the kids, too?

I enjoy my work.

Being completely honest
about my personal life

would jeopardize my
professional life.

Whether I like it or
not, that's the way

it is-- for me, and for
many of these people, too.

I mean, we can't always
be as honest as we'd like.

But that's exactly
what this march is

trying to do something about.

I mean, yeah, I
know you're right.

The way that society is now,
there are certain people

that can't afford to march.

So those who can do it on
behalf of those who can't,

that in hopes that someday,
there'll be no need

to demonstrate the right
to make love to anybody

you want, any way you want.

Well, you gotta start somewhere.

I suppose.

[laughter]

Really got carried away.

DAVID: Yeah, we're
really into it.

How long have you
been living here?

Just about a year.

I guess I've been too
busy surviving and putting

myself back together after Mark
to take on the world's problems

yet.

Liberating myself's the
most important thing for me

right now.

JASON: Well, that's really
all part of the same thing,

isn't it?

Maybe.

Been separated for
almost a year now.

The divorce will be final
in a couple of months.

How long were you married?

Two years.

Wife, kid, duplex
apartment-- the whole bit.

And we get along
better now that we're

separated than we ever did
when we were living together.

Guess you could sort
of say, uh, we're more

reasonable with one another.

Marriage.

Why do people bother to get
married in the first place?

Why did you get married?

I keep going through changes.

She said I-- I know
myself better now.

And you?

I mean, do you ever see the
guy that you were living with?

No, not anymore.

We were seeing each
other for a while,

but we kept looking for
things that I guess just

weren't there.

It's over now.

And I'm not as depressed
and desperate anymore.

I'm desperate.

For your body.

I've been hot for you all day.

Oh?

I hadn't noticed.

I thought we were just
coming back here to,

uh, have something to eat.

JASON: That's what I need.

I'm starved.

[kid shouting]

[laughter]

JASON'S EX-WIFE: Oh, jeez.

What are you doing?

JASON: Let me see your thumb.

JASON'S EX-WIFE: OK.

I'll hold on to this.

You want to run over here?

Well, school will be open
in a couple of weeks.

Then what?

I've kind of been
neglecting PJ.

My mom and dad have been more
parents to him than I have,

babysitting, you know?

I really have to spend
more time with him.

Anyway, I'll have my
degree by February,

and my friend Anne
says that she's

going to keep her eyes open in
case a job opens up at school.

It's pretty hard finding a job
in the middle of the semester,

isn't it?

Yeah, but Anne says
that someone usually

gets pregnant and has to leave.

So maybe I'll get lucky.

And get pregnant?

[both laugh]

Look, I'm-- I'm
covering a concert

at Madison Square Friday night.

Do you want to go with me?

Does that mean I have
to carry your equipment?

Well, maybe just a
couple of cameras.

Sounds like old times.

Say, since we're extending
invitations to each other,

I was wondering if maybe you'd
like to spend Labor Day weekend

with us in the Hamptons.

It would be great for PJ.

And-- well, it was
my folks' idea.

They'd really like to see you.

Look, I've made other plans.

I'm going to the Cape.

JASON'S EX-WIFE: Can't
you change your plans?

I'm going with somebody.

Look, you'd like him.

He's got eyes like you.

No, not exactly like yours.

You know, I can
really talk to him?

He likes Emily Dickinson.

I'm happy for you, Jason.

[rain pouring down]

[foghorn blows in distance]

DAVID: (LAUGHING)
What are you doing?

I'm making the best
of our situation.

Do you believe it?

Three days of rain?

[shutter clicking]

Say cheese.

Cheese.

[click]

Fromage.

Provolone.

Say I love you.

Ah, I love you.

JASON: I need you?

DAVID: I need you.

[click]

And that you absolutely
cannot live without me.

--[laughs] I absolutely
cannot live without you.

[click]

Then why don't
we live together?

DAVID: Then why don't
we live together?

I didn't think
you'd ever ask me.

DAVID: But I didn't.

Have you thought about it?

Of course I have, believe me.

But I'm very wary of putting
myself in that position again.

I'm not as aware of who I
am yet as I'd like to be,

at least before I live
with someone again.

Can't we work at that together?

We do, Jason.

But we don't have to
live together to do that.

Now we're spending all
of our time together,

and that's because we want to.

You want to, and I want to.

But somehow when two people
live together, "want to"

gets mixed up with "have to."

I don't want you to ever
have to do anything for me,

and I don't ever want to
have to do anything for you.

For now, let's just enjoy
wanting to be together.

David, what you're
trying to tell me

is that you're
afraid of commitment.

I am committed to you,
Jason, but not probably

the way you want me to be.

Look, Jason, after Mark, I
thought I would never want

to live with anyone ever again.

And yet when I met him
for the first time,

I was as much in love with
him and involved with him

as I believe we are
with each other.

[sigh] But I pushed it.

And we moved in together,
and then a year and a half

later, we don't
even see each other.

I can look back and
say, OK, I was wrong.

And that's good, because I don't
waste any time longing for him.

And I can start looking
for someone else.

But I don't want to do that for
the rest of my life, either.

You can end up searching
for Mr. Right for as long

as you live.

Look, I know that
what I'm asking for,

very few people could give me.

But I believe there are people.

OK.

Say, I love you.

[click]

[music playing]