A short film about a young man’s struggle to introduce his family to his partner.
INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN – MORNING
LIAM, a slender and lanky 24 year-old man, and JAI, an athletic 26 year-old man, sit at a table and eat breakfast. Liam checks his watch and stuffs food into his mouth while Jai reclines in his chair and takes slow bites.
LIAM
I’m gonna be home late tonight.
JAI
You’re kidding. Is work keeping
you again?
LIAM
No, it’s not work. I’m just gonna
stop by the hospital and see how
my grandma’s doing.
Jai nods. He shoves his plate away and lets out a sigh.
JAI
So, have you told them yet?
LIAM
Jai, do we really have to-
Jai holds his hands up in a mock gesture of innocence.
JAI
I’m just asking, that’s all.
LIAM
No, I haven’t. I have to tell
my grandmother first, then I’ll tell
them.
JAI
Why do you have to tell her first?
LIAM
I just do, alright.
JAI
Alright. You can do it however
you want to…but if you’re gonna see
her today.
LIAM
I don’t know-
JAI
I’m just saying, give it a try.
Liam picks up his plate and goes to the counter. He drops his plate into the sink and it clatters against the metal. He waits for the echoing to stop. Jai watches him.
LIAM
Okay, I’ll try.
Liam looks at his watch and grabs his bag from the counter.
LIAM
I’ve got to get to work, you mind
cleaning up?
JAI
Nah, I got it.
Liam quickly kisses Jai then leaves the room in a whirl.
LIAM
(Calling)
I’ll see you tonight. Love you.
JAI
Love you too.
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Liam sits at a table with a hefty, middle-aged man, HARRY. He checks his watch, looks at Harry, then checks it again.
LIAM
Dad, I really need to get back to
work. My lunch is only an hour.
HARRY
It won’t kill ’em to be without
you for another ten minutes. Jeez,
you care more about that job than
you do about your family.
LIAM
Dad, that’s not-
HARRY
When was the last time you spent
some time with us?
LIAM
I’ve…I’ve just been busy.
HARRY
Well, make sure you aren’t busy on
Sunday. Your mom wants to have
you and your grandma over for a
big family dinner.
LIAM
Dad, I’m not sure I can. Jai and I
were planning on-
HARRY
You’re coming and that’s final.
Harry’s phone rings. He fumbles it out of his pocket and checks the ID, then quickly hangs up.
HARRY
Boss’s calling again. Fucking
faggot won’t leave me alone.
Liam gives a forced chuckle and rubs his hands together.
HARRY
Anyways, I better go. I’ll see you
on Sunday.
LIAM
Yeah. See you then.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – AFTERNOON
Liam sits next to a hospital bed occupied by a frail, wrinkled old woman, JUNE. An IV sticks out of her arm and numerous chords hook her up to constantly beeping monitors. Liam leans close to her and holds her hand.
JUNE
So everything’s going well then?
They aren’t working you too hard
at that job, are they?
LIAM
Of course they are, but it’s fine.
I don’t mind the work.
JUNE
What’s the matter, sweetheart? You
seem upset about something.
LIAM
It’s nothing…I just wish you
were out of this place.
JUNE
Don’t you worry, by Sunday I’ll be
back on my feet, good as new, and
ready to cook up a lasagna
like you never tasted.
LIAM
I think Mom’s got it covered.
JUNE
You know, I liked your mother
since the moment I met her, but
I’m just not a fan of her cooking.
They both chuckle and smile. Liam pats June’s hand idly.
LIAM
Grandma, there’s…there’s
something I’ve been meaning to
talk to you about.
JUNE
Of course, dear. What is it?
LIAM
It’s just that…I’m…I’m-
June breaks into a fit of coughing. The monitors wail. Liam jumps up and rushes to the door. He sticks his head out.
LIAM
Nurse!
A NURSE looks up from her desk and hurries to the room. She approaches a monitor, and presses a button. The wailing stops. June keeps coughing. The nurse adjusts her IV.
NURSE
There you go, sweetie, that should
help quiet things down. If you
need anything else, just holler.
The nurse leaves. June coughs slowly die down. She wheezes for air. Liam grabs a cup of water and helps June take a drink. She clutches at him and he takes her hand again.
JUNE
I’m sorry, honey. Now-
June coughs some more, and Liam gives her another drink.
JUNE
Thank you. Now, what was it you
were saying earlier?
LIAM
It’s nothing, Grandma. Don’t worry
about it.
INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Liam and Jai cuddle on the couch. Jai has an arm around Liam. A pizza box lies open on the table and the TV is on.
JAI
So, you still haven’t told me how
it went.
LIAM
How what went?
JAI
Telling them.
LIAM
I told you this morning, Jai, I
can’t tell them yet. I have to
tell my grandmother first.
JAI
That’s what I was asking about.
LIAM
I only said I was gonna try.
JAI
So? What happened?
LIAM
It wasn’t the right time.
JAI
Then when is the right time?
LIAM
I don’t know.
JAI
We can’t keep living like this.
LIAM
Look, I tried, I really did. I was
about to tell her, but then I just
couldn’t do it. I wanted to
but…I couldn’t.
JAI
So that’s it then?
LIAM
That’s what?
Jai pulls away from Liam and stands up, leaving him alone on the couch. He takes a few steps away.
JAI
The end? You couldn’t do it, so
we’re just supposed to keep going
on like this, keep lying.
LIAM
You know I want to-
JAI
No, you don’t. If you wanted to,
you would have.
Jai shakes his head, turns his back on Liam, and leaves.
LIAM
Jai, wait a minute-
Liam hurries after him and gets half way across the room. A door slams. He stops, goes back to the couch, and turns the TV off. Silence. He puts his head in his hands, defeated.
INT. OFFICE CUBICLE – DAY
Liam sits at his desk, reading papers. The phone rings. He sets the papers aside and grabs his phone. He answers.
LIAM
Hello?
He listens for a moment, and his hand lets go of the phone. It makes a thud as it hits the floor, the only sound.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM – DAY
Liam hunches over in a chair. Harry sits across from him, next to a tall, stiff, middle-aged woman, MARGRET.
LIAM
What happened? She felt fine
yesterday, she was talking about
cooking for Sunday dinner-
HARRY
It’s just how these things happen.
None of us saw it coming either.
LIAM
Why didn’t the doctors do
something? There must have been
something they could have done.
Margret reaches out and places her hand on top of Liam’s.
MARGRET
It was just her time, sweetheart.
She’s been sick for awhile.
Liam yanks his hand away from her and walks away.
LIAM
It’s not fair, this wasn’t how it
was supposed to-
Liam sobs. Margret goes over to him. She reaches out for him, but drops her hand before she touches him.
LIAM
She wasn’t supposed to die.
Harry walks over and shakes Liam’s shoulders, jarring him.
HARRY
Christ. Keep it together Liam,
you’re causing a scene. I know
you’re upset, hell I am too, but
right now you gotta be strong. You
gotta be a man.
Liam jerks away from Harry, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Jai paces, checking the clock. The front door opens and Liam comes into the room. Jai hurries over, embracing him.
JAI
How you holding up?
LIAM
I didn’t tell her.
Jai pulls away to look at Liam.
JAI
What?
LIAM
Yesterday, I didn’t tell her and
now…I should have told her. I
should have told everyone.
Liam takes Jai’s hand and tugs him toward the door. Jai doesn’t budge. Liam gives another tug.
LIAM
Come on, we’re going.
JAI
Going where?
LIAM
My parent’s house.
JAI
Liam, maybe you should sit down
for a minute. I know you’re upset
about everything but you shouldn’t
go rushing into this. Take some
time to-
LIAM
No. I need to do this.
EXT. FRONT PORCH – NIGHT
Liam and Jai stand on the porch. Liam rings the doorbell twice and bangs on the door. There’s rustling inside house.
HARRY (O.S)
Son of a bitch.
The lights in a side window come on, then the main window.
Harry (O.S)
Who the fuck-
Harry jerks open the door. He wears a baggy shirt and underwear. Margret hovers behind in an old-style nightgown.
HARRY
Liam? What the hell are you doing
here? Do you have any idea what
time it is?
LIAM
There’s something I need to tell
you.
HARRY
What’s so fucking important that
it couldn’t have waited until-
Liam pushes passed Harry into the house. Jai follows.
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Harry slams the door shut and turns to Liam, arms crossed.
HARRY
Well?
LIAM
I want you to meet Jai.
HARRY
What are you talking about? We
know who he is, we’ve met-
LIAM
He’s not my roommate.
Liam looks over at Jai. Jai smiles and give a nod of encouragement. Liam reaches over and takes Jai’s hand.
LIAM
He’s my boyfriend.
Margret gasps. Harry gapes and stares, like a trout. Liam holds his head high and meets Harry’s gaze. Silence.
HARRY
Now wait just a second, do you
mean to tell me, that you’re-
you’re- some kind of faggot.
JAI
Hang on a minute, you can’t just
talk to him like that.
Jai takes a step toward Harry, but Liam grabs his shoulder.
LIAM
Jai, leave it. It’s fine.
Jai relaxes and Liam lets go. He looks back at his parents.
LIAM
Yes. I’m gay. Jai and I have been
together for almost a year now.
HARRY
A year? You’ve been hiding this
from us for a year!
MARGRET
Harry, calm down-
HARRY
No, Margret, I ain’t gonna be
calm. I ain’t gonna have a faggot
for a son. I won’t stand for it.
Harry storms out of the room. Margret stares after him. She turns back and holds her arms out to Liam. They embrace. Margret then holds out her hand to Jai. They shake hands.
MARGRET
Jai, how’d you like to join us for
dinner this Sunday?
INT. DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Liam, Jai, Margret, and Harry sit at a table covered with plates of food. Harry sits at the far end, arms crossed. He doesn’t touch his food. At the other end, Liam, Jai, and Margret sit, eating and talking. They smile and laugh.
June’s portrait hangs in the room. She also smiles.
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