Scene IV

The scene changes once again to adult Thad sitting at the bar, another martini in his hand, his other empty glass sitting in front of him. He examines it as he speaks.

Thad:Well, yeah, I spent two years there, that entire time my hopes, dreams, ambitions…everything I’d wanted out of my life was stripped from me, as were my clothes most nights. He get steadily meaner, more violent, I don’t think any beatings were the same and one sure thing, none of them were ever less than the one before. I’m surprised I didn’t die there. I would have if one man hadn’t come along to save me. But that’s for later.

Don’t think that this was all bad, I mean, there were times when Parker went against himself and let his friends have me. Some of his friends sucked at life. Some of his friends were just like him. Then there were his friends that thought of me as more than just a pet. These were the friends that celebrated little Thaddy’s birthday and baked him a cake, and let him be the boss. Then Parker walked in and stuffed half the cake down the front of my pants and the other half I was forced to eat by myself. That was okay though; just remember I had allies, just not as many allies as I had enemies.

The scene changes to Parker’s bar again, a heavyset man sitting on one of the bar stools with Thad in his lap. The older man has light brown hair and holds Thad protectively.

Thad:Bubba, why am I here?

Bubba: Because you’re pretty.

Thad:I don’t mean it that way, I mean why did I let Parker trounce all over me like I’m nothing? Why don’t I just stand up and slap him and walk out?

Bubba: Because he’d kill you.

Thad:(Is discouraged) You really think so?

Bubba: (Nods and snuggles his face into Thad’s neck) But you’ve always got me.

Thad:And who else? You’re the only one who actually treats me like I’m a living, breathing, carbon-based human being. Why can’t there be more people like you Bubba?

Bubba: There are, they’re just not friends with your brother is all.

Thad:(Pouts) With the exception of you my brother has sucky friends.

Bubba: (Chuckles) Sorry. Maybe I can get you some friends of your own.

Thad:Parker wouldn’t like it.

Bubba: So? Who ever said he had to find out?

Thad:(Turns his head to stare at Bubba awestruck) You would do that?

Bubba: For you? Anything.

Thad:Get me out.

Bubba: (Looks at Thad with a frown) Within reason.

Thad:(Appears about to cry)

Bubba: Aw, come on little buddy, it’s okay; maybe I can get you some special friends. You know? I can get you someone who’ll…buy you?

Thad:(Shakes his head solemnly) It won’t work, he’s too stubborn, and I don’t want to be sold into some prostitution ring or something so weird as that. I just want to leave. I want to go out, I want to finish college, meet a gal, get married and have children…and a cat named Mr. Winks. (By the end of this statement he is almost fully crying.)

Bubba: Mr. Winks? Hey buddy, don’t you go cryin’ on me, I want you to keep your head up, I know it’s hard but you’ve got to be strong to get through your brother and his antics.

Thad:(Sniffles, looks up at Bubba, then hugs him tightly, wiping his tears on the older man’s shoulder.)

The scene changes again back to adult Thad; he is lazily tracing the rim of his untouched martini with his finger while his talks, almost disconnected.

Thad:Yup, so it came to pass that Bubba was my support. Now there was a guy to go to bed with. He knew it all. He wanted to get me a friend of my own right? In doing so he let me go, in doing so…he lost my brother as a friend and gained my brother as an enemy, not an enemy that you want to have.

He brought Connor. Conner Osprey, the only real man I’ve ever known.

The scene is back to Parker’s bar where Thad is working with a bloody nose and a black eye. He is wearing a large black T-Shirt that is ripped in some placed and could appear to have bloodstains on it. Bubba walks in with a character we have not seen yet. He has light brown hair and is about as tall as Bubba but skinnier. He appears semi-professional.

Bubba: Hey Thad, what’s goin’ on buddy? (He stops walking and examines Thad) Oh no…who did it this time?

Thad:(Softly) Austin.

Bubba: Come here… (Embraces Thad over the bar) You can be mine tonight, I’ll get your bro to let you okay?

Thad:(Nods appearing about to cry)

Bubba: (Winking) By the way Thad, this is my friend Connor, I told him about you, and he said he’d like to meet you. Maybe he has money for a lap-dance er somethin’. (Smiles at Connor)Unless you don’t want to, I mean, you’ve had a rough night and you probably look like shit under that shirt.

Parker:(Ominously) No…he will dance if you have money. That is what he is here to do and that is what he does for a living. Right Thaddy? (After a short pause he grabs Thad’s hair and jerks the younger boy’s head back with it) I said, right Thaddy?

Thad:Yes! Yes Sir!

Connor: (gapes at Parker)

Parker:(Confident) Mister Conner, you will soon learn that this is my domain, and anyone who wants to fuck my brother, or get something from him, should talk to me…not him. He is not the one who makes the deals…I do, so if you want something and you have enough to pay for it, he will do it.

Connor: (nods hesitantly) (with eyes squinted at Parker) So…this is a popular bar?

Parker:(Sensually) No, Thad’s the popular one…he’s the only reason they come…to have him. A little incest in the family though I’m afraid…he’s begged to be with me before, and I must admit, he’s pretty damn good. (Gives his brother a look of warning)

Connor: Really?

Parker:(Casually) Yeah, and even though some tough love had to be enforced; he’ll make a great attraction. We have to get that rebel blood out of him though.

Thad:(Looks about to pop with rage)

Connor: I’ll take him.

Parker:What? (Looking at Connor as though he were mad)

Connor: I’ll take him off your hands for…hmmm let’s say…two hundred?

Parker:(Staring at Connor dubiously) Why would you want a rebellious twenty-three year old who makes a living stripping and lap-dancing?

Connor: (Shrugs) Maybe I could get some use out of him and…teach him some manners. I know he’s your brother and all but…jeez, sound kinda like you aren’t really that grateful for him so I thought I’d try to buy him.

Parker:(Yelling) Not grateful? How dare you speak to me that way! I provide everything for Thad! Everything! He wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for me!

Connor: (Yelling back) You probably kidnapped him! And don’t give me that tough love shit! I ain’t buyin’ that! You beat him! And you have your friends beat him too! I’m not stupid, I have eyes, and I can see those bruises! You are no trusting loving brother; you’re a sicko that deserves to be killed!

The two boys are nose-to-nose, both shaking with rage. Thad stands there staring at them vacantly, not sure of what to do. Bubba’s eyes are wide and he swallows from time to time, looking from one to the other, not sure who to side with. Connor’s eyes shift to Thad’s.

Connor: Thad, come with me.

Parker:(Jealously) No!

Thad gets off his stool, climbs over the bar under the malevolent gaze of his brother. He takes Connor’s outstretched hand that helps him over the bar and he is led to the door.

Parker:Thad if you don’t stop right this instant I swear, someday I will kill you, you and all your friends. I will hunt you down like the bitch you are and kill you! You can’t escape me Thaddy…never.

Thad:(Shivers and looks toward Connor’s stern gaze)

They walk out the door and Parker collapses onto the stool that Thad had been sitting on behind the bar. He buries his face in his hands and begins to cry uncontrollably. Bubba simply looks at him, shocked.

Parker: I knew he would leave me, I knew he would leave and I would be powerless to stop him. I knew it; I knew it all along.

Scene V

The scene changes again to Adult Thad at the original bar. He is gulping down his martini with no reserves. After, he makes a face and eats the olive. He shakes his head and turns to his left where a stream of light reveals a tall, dark-haired man who looks sort of like Parker but he has blue eyes and a kind disposition. He starts to play with Thad’s hair. Thad seems moderately drunk.

Thad: Anyways, that’s how I got here really. The rest of the story is for later, I don’t really care right now. I’m just hoping this story doesn’t end in a bad way, I mean, of course, I’ve got you, I’ve got my life, I’ve got a place to hide from that son of a bitch. I can’t say I’ve got my health, what with all these seizures I’ve been havin’? Nah can’t say I got that, but I think I can get by. Maybe I can stay here for a little bit and get myself a betta job than walkin’ the streets er strippin’. I could be a busboy, a waiter, a cashier…somethin’, but not a bartender, never again a bartender.

So I spend the rest of my days in short shorts and cuddled in the arms of a tall, dark, handsome man. You, you, you! Why me and why you? Why couldn’t I just stay where I was? In college, almost working.

So I’m here, and I’m okay, and every little thing is gonna be a-okay. I can’t think of five places I’d rather be…maybe four, but not five. I’ve found the only person I’ve been able to tell this whole story to, one of the only people that I’ve been able to express my love for…and the only person I’ve been able to fully express my lust for. (He’s now looking at the man playing with his hair with adoration) You, you, you! Why me and why you!? Why can’t I stay away from you? Why can’t I just get in Connor’s car and drive away into the sunset to go search for the gal that was ripped from my fingers a year ago by my jealous and sadistic brother? Why can’t I run away and go have children, a house, job? Why, why, why you?

They are completely entranced with each other now and they get closer to each other as Thad talks.

I can’t stop you from stealing every emotion that has ever flown through my body, through my mind, and through my heart. Mere words do not describe how you fly away with me and keep my body still waiting on the ground as you take my heart for rides in the clouds. You’ve never let me down; you’ve never let me crash.

(He giggles lightly) Yet you still keep me on the edge, you keep me where I’m supposed to be, you keep my heart in your hands and you keep my hands on yours. Oh how I do love you, and how you love me…I could swoon with the joy this is so clichéd! All I can think about is why? You…you…you… Why me? Why you? Why us?

They kiss. The stage darkens.

Author's Note: This is the end, that is Birdie, you know how the story ends now...but that's okay. It's a happy ending...heehee...so, as a play, who would like to see two guys making out on a stage? MEMEMEMEMEME! Heehee...anyways, I gotta go but I hope anyone reading this likes it.