Full-length play
Aftermath
A Play by William Ivor Fowkes
Creating a new life after the old one is snatched away
After the collapse of their respective marriages, two newly-out gay fathers who used to live in the same town embark on a challenging relationship. In the aftermath of divorce, and still mourning the death of his best friend and male lover of many years, Graham Walker is juggling his new identity, a relationship with an ex-wife who can't make sense of what happened, his desire to come out to his young sons despite her objections, and the news that she is already getting remarried. Chip Miller faces similar challenges although the end of his marriage is much more explosive and public--the result of a gay sex scandal splashed across the front pages of the tabloids--and his family has moved away after the embarrassment of the scandal. While their common circumstances and mutual attraction bring Graham and Chip together, their very different histories and conflicting approaches to navigating their new gay lives diminish their chances for success as a couple.
LENGTH: 90 minutes
CAST: 3M, 3F
SETTING: Bronxville, NY; Manhattan; Montclair, NY; and Provincetown, MA.
TIME: 1992 to 2000
PRODUCTION NOTE: AFTERMATH is a "standalone" full-length play that may be performed on its own or together with the other 2 plays (ROOMMATES and MARRIAGE) that make up THE BRONXVILLE TRILOGY, or Marriages of Inconvenience. (AFTERMATH is the third play in the trilogy and includes a PROLOGUE and an EPILOGUE when performed with the other 2 plays.)
SCENE 1
PROJECTION: “1992, The Elm Rock Country Club”
EMCEE (VOICE)
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big hand to the Harvest Moon Dance Couple of the Year—Doug and Libby Schmidt!
Sound of applause. Music begins to play.
Scene: DEBBIE CARLSEN and KITTY WALKER (both age 37) watch the Harvest Moon Dance Couple offstage.
DEBBIE
That’s such a sweet sight. I just love the Schmidts!
KITTY
Doug’s very nice. He always stops and chats whenever we run into each other. And Libby! She’s like Super Woman—she just finished her second round of chemotherapy, and now she’s twirling around the dance floor like it never happened.
DEBBIE
(sullenly)
I just don’t get it. Cancer and Bronxville. The two don’t belong together.
KITTY
Well, it happens—here as well as anywhere else.
DEBBIE
Yeah—but the combination! I mean we have the best of all possible lives here in Bronxville, right?
KITTY
If you say so.
DEBBIE
You’re always so critical! I do say so. But cancer—it’s like the worst possible thing that could happen to anyone. It’s all just so tragic.
KITTY
I guess it’s a reminder to appreciate Graham and Dan while we’ve got them. You never know how long our marriages—our lives—will last. “Gather ye rosebuds” and all that.
DEBBIE
God, you’re such a downer, Kitty!
KITTY
I think that’s a very uplifting thought. Never take anything for granted. It could all disappear in a flash. That just means everything’s that much more precious.
DEBBIE
I wish you hadn’t said that. Now you’ve got me worrying I’m gonna lose Dan.
KITTY
You’re not gonna lose Dan!
DEBBIE
Have you forgotten our conversation last week when we were complaining about how our sex lives have dried up?
KITTY
(more quietly and urgently)
Keep it down, Debbie. That’s not something for public consumption.
DEBBIE
Sorry. Well, I’ve been worrying all week about how to make things better, and now you’re reminding me that either of our husbands could drop dead any second! That’s not very comforting, Katherine!
KITTY
You and Dan are fine!
DEBBIE
As fine as you and Graham?
KITTY
We’re all fine!
DEBBIE
(starting to break down)
I wish that were true. I’ve got to make things better. I miss Dan so much! I love him—I don’t know if he knows that.
KITTY
He knows that!
DEBBIE
(getting upset)
I’ve got to make sure he knows that! Where is he already?
KITTY
They just went to get drinks.
(looking offstage)
See—they’re already on their way back.
DEBBIE
(calling out)
Dan! I love you!
GRAHAM and DAN (both age 40) return with drinks. DAN tries to hand DEBBIE her drink.
DAN
Here you go, darling!
DEBBIE hugs and kisses DAN profusely.
DEBBIE
Dan! Dan! I love you! Do you love me, too?
DAN tries to balance the drinks while Debbie hugs him.
DAN
Yes, of course, I love you.
(insisting)
Now here—take this!
DEBBIE
(finally accepting the drink)
Oh, thank you! Thank you!
DAN
Whoa—careful. You’ll spill it!
Meanwhile, GRAHAM sloppily hands KITTY her drink.
GRAHAM
(drunkenly)
And here you go, darling—your own special elixir prepared by Bronxville’s very best mix master, Elm Rock’s head bartender himself!
KITTY
Are you all right?
GRAHAM
Hope you don’t mind—I got a little head start on you.
KITTY
(annoyed)
Graham, how many drinks have you had?
GRAHAM
Just one.
(beat)
No, wait—two!
(puzzling)
Or was it three?
KITTY
Graham, we didn’t join the Elm Rock Country Club so you could make a public spectacle of yourself.
GRAHAM
You mean I paid thirty thousand dollars and still have to behave myself?
DEBBIE
(to Dan)
You never told me it cost that much!
DAN
I don’t tell you everything, dear.
DEBBIE
I hope the drinks are free, at least.
GRAHAM
Nothing’s free, Debbie. Everything goes on the account.
KITTY
Then that’s another reason to take it easy, Graham.
GRAHAM
(joking)
Are you kidding? That’s precisely my motivation—I’m drinking away your inheritance!
KITTY
Graham!
(beat)
Watch it—the Millers!
GRAHAM
(to Dan)
What does that mean— “watch it the millers”?
SALLY and CHIP MILLER (both age 34) enter.
GRAHAM
Oh, those Millers!
SALLY MILLER
(chipper)
Hey, everyone!
DEBBIE
Hey, Sally!
SALLY
You all know my husband, Chip, don’t you?
The men shake hands.
GRAHAM
(a bit much)
Yes, we do, but we’d like to get to know him much better.
GRAHAM stares at CHIP and holds his hand a moment too long. CHIP pulls his hand away.
SALLY
How are little Bobby and David?
DEBBIE
Fine!
KITTY
Great!
DEBBIE
And little Alexandria?
SALLY
She’s growing so fast, it’s hard to believe she’s only two!
GRAHAM continues to stare at CHIP as he sips his drink. CHIP seems distracted.
GRAHAM
(to Chip)
Is your daughter in class with the boys?
KITTY
(to Graham)
You know Alexandria! She’s been to the house. She’s very pretty.
GRAHAM
Of course, she is—look at her father!
SALLY
I have to tell you the cutest thing. The other day, Alexandria looked puzzled when she was playing with her dolls, and when I asked her what was wrong, she said, “I can’t decide whether to marry David or Bobby.” Can you imagine? She has such a crush on them—on both of them!
GRAHAM
(joking)
Well, if this weren’t Bronxville, I’d tell her she could have them both. But that’s not how we do things around here, is it?
CHIP
(finally brightening—laughing)
That’s right, only one wife and one husband per household. I think it’s a village ordinance.
KITTY
(extending the joke)
No, I think the ordinance only says no more than two adults per household. It doesn’t specify gender. There are two men living together down the Hill from us on Tanglewylde. And there must be a few pairs of old spinsters tucked away in town somewhere.
SALLY
Oh, I know the men you mean! Very nice, but I always wonder how happy they can possibly be living in a place like Bronxville.
GRAHAM
(angrily)
What’s wrong with two men living together?! This is a free country!
KITTY
Graham! Please.
GRAHAM
I want to know why they can’t live in Bronxville as well as anywhere else!
SALLY
(gingerly)
You know, with all the kids around. They don’t have children, so I just mean they must feel left out. It’s kind of sad, really.
GRAHAM
There’s nothing sad about it!
KITTY
OK, Graham—there’s nothing sad about it. Now relax, please.
DAN
Hey, everybody, why don’t we head inside and show the Harvest Moon Couple of the Year a fancy step or two?
DEBBIE latches onto DAN.
DEBBIE
Good idea, honey. Let’s go!
The group starts to exit. GRAHAM tugs at CHIP to keep him behind for a moment.
KITTY
Are you coming, Graham?
GRAHAM
In a second.
KITTY and SALLY exit.
DAN
Graham?
GRAHAM
(annoyed)
In a second! I just want to ask Chip something!
DAN and DEBBIE exit.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
I thought they’d never leave. Hey, I apologize for giving your wife a hard time. I don’t know what came over me.
CHIP
Sally can handle it.
GRAHAM
So, Chip, has anyone ever said you look like an actor?
CHIP
Uh . . . not really.
GRAHAM
(behaving more drunkenly)
Yeah, like . . . oh, I can’t think of his name! You know him! He was a big star in the fifties and sixties. He was in lots of movies. Like . . . uh . . . he was in Parrish. There you go! That movie with Claudette Colbert and Sandra Dee about tobacco farmers in Connecticut. Or was it Connie Stevens?
CHIP
I didn’t know they grew tobacco in Connecticut.
GRAHAM
Not anymore, but they used to. I grew up in Connecticut.
CHIP
Oh, whereabouts?
GRAHAM
Well, he was a very good-looking man. And you’re very good-looking, too.
CHIP
Sorry, I don’t know who you mean.
GRAHAM
Doesn’t matter.
CHIP
(uncomfortable)
Uh . . . shouldn’t we be getting back to the wives?
GRAHAM
Hey, what do you do? I mean, for a living?
CHIP
I’m in packaged goods. I work for United American Brands.
GRAHAM
Oh, I like well-packaged goods!
CHIP
And you’re in banking—at Ivy Capital Partners, right?
GRAHAM
At Ivy Capital Partners? Owned by Ivy Capital Partners is more like it.
CHIP
(laughing)
Yeah, I guess we’ve all sold out.
GRAHAM
(dramatically)
Sold out!!
CHIP
It’s the price we pay to live in places like this.
GRAHAM
Did you think you’d sell out? I mean was that your plan?
CHIP
I was a business major at Cornell.
GRAHAM
Ah, yes!
(singing)
“Far above Cayuga’s waters . . . “
CHIP
Right. That’s where Sally and I met.
GRAHAM
Oh, did she put you up to this?
CHIP
Let’s just say she didn’t discourage me.
GRAHAM
You see, I had no idea I was gonna sell out. I just wanted to be happy.
CHIP
Well, I’m glad you’re happy.
GRAHAM
I didn’t say I was happy.
CHIP
Uh . . . I really think we should get back to the wives.
GRAHAM
(defeated)
It always comes back to the wives, doesn’t it?
BRIEF BLACKOUT.
SCENE 2
PROJECTION: “4 Years Later”
EMCEE (VOICE)
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big hand to Elm Rock’s Harvest Moon Dance Couple of the Year—Graham and Kitty Walker!
Lights up. Sound of applause. Music begins. DEBBIE (41) and DAN (44) enter.
DEBBIE
(looking offstage)
Don’t they look great out there?
DAN
Better them than us.
DEBBIE
Come on—they’re our best friends. Be proud of them!
DAN
(deadpan)
I’m humbled to breathe the same air.
SALLY (38) enters.
SALLY
Hey, guys!
DEBBIE
Hi, Sally.
SALLY
So, how come you’re not out there on the dance floor, too?
DAN
Because we’re not the Harvest Moon Dance Couple of the Year. We’re the stay-at-home-and-take-care-of-the-kids couple of the year.
SALLY
Is it my imagination or is Graham getting bigger? What do they call it—pumping up?
DAN
I was the athlete back at Yale.
DEBBIE
(deadpan—to Sally)
I polish his trophies religiously.
(beat)
Where’s Chip?
SALLY
Darned if I know! He went to get me a drink, and that’s the last I’ve seen of him.
DEBBIE
We don’t need the men. Let’s go get our own drinks! You don’t mind do you, Dan?
DAN
Go! I’ll stay here and study the Golden Couple while visions of cha-cha lessons dance in my head.
SALLY
Oh, I love the cha-cha!
SALLY & DEBBIE exit. CHIP (38) enters and watches GRAHAM & KITTY dancing offstage. DAN approaches CHIP.
DAN
What’cha staring at, Big Guy?
CHIP
Oh, hi Dan. I guess I never realized the Walkers were such good dancers.
DAN
There’s probably a lot you don’t realize, Chip.
CHIP
Oh? Like what?
DAN
We come to this club, mingle with all these nice people, have drinks with them—but do we ever really know them? See them as they really are?
CHIP
(joking)
If you mean without their clothes on, I don’t think I want to conjure up that image!
DAN
I’m not joking, Chip. You ever wonder what’s really going on under the surface?
CHIP
(seriously)
Well, all people are essentially strangers to each other, don’t you think?
DAN
Yes, well put. That’s my point exactly.
CHIP
Especially spouses.
DAN
Now you’ve really hit the nail. But—I’m sorry, I’m being self-indulgent. Or boring. Or something.
CHIP
No problem.
DAN
I wish that were true. Hey, I won’t bother you anymore. You can go back to fawning over Graham. Just remember—he’s already taken!
CHIP
Excuse me?
DAN
In more ways than one!
DAN exits. GRAHAM and KITTY (both 41) enter, just coming off the dance floor.
CHIP
(suddenly chipper)
Hey guys, you looked great out there on the dance floor! How does it feel to be the Harvest Moon Couple of the Year?
GRAHAM
I can’t wait for our term to be over!
KITTY
You do not! You love all the attention!
GRAHAM
(deadpan)
She knows me too well.
KITTY
Will you please excuse me, gentlemen? I need to go to the ladies’ room.
GRAHAM pecks KITTY on the cheek.
GRAHAM
See you, darling.
KITTY exits.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
Have you seen Dan, by the way?
CHIP
He just left. He doesn’t seem to be having a very good time. Oh, here—he’s coming back.
DAN enters.
CHIP (CONT’D)
I think I better leave you two alone.
CHIP exits.
DAN
You two make a cute couple. Boy, that guy has balls!
GRAHAM
What are you talking about?
DAN
The way he was drooling over you on the dance floor!
GRAHAM
I didn’t notice.
DAN
Slick, Graham. Slick. You can talk yourself out of every compromising situation, can’t you?
GRAHAM
I think you’ve had enough to drink. Maybe you should sit down and drink some water.
DAN
So, now you’re the authority on how to act in public? How to give the public a good show so no one suspects what’s really going on?
GRAHAM
(quietly and intensely)
Dan, not here. Not now.
DAN
(mocking)
“Dan, not here. Not now.”
(beat)
Then where? When? Oh, I know—nowhere! Never! Keep it bottled up inside forever! Till you break!
GRAHAM tries to escort DAN out.
GRAHAM
C’mon. Bedtime.
DAN breaks free.
DAN
Take your hands off me! You think I want you touching me after you’ve been throwing yourself after every guy in Bronxville?
GRAHAM
I’ll get Debbie. Maybe she’ll have better luck with you.
GRAHAM exits.
DAN
(calling out)
Oh, that’s a good one! Pretend to get my wife while you go off with Chip Miller!
(beat)
Ha! Now who’s the fool? He went the other way!
END OF SCENE
SCENE 3
PROJECTION: “2 Years Later”
Scene: 1998. A gay bar in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. GRAHAM (46) sits on a stool and studies the crowd. JAMES (22) approaches him.
JAMES
Hey—what’s up with you?
GRAHAM
(distracted)
Sorry—what?
(realizing that James is attractive—flirtatiously)
Oh, hello! Can I buy you a drink?
JAMES
Not unless you tell me what’s wrong.
GRAHAM
Nothing’s wrong, exactly. I’m just watching all you beautiful, chiseled young men and trying to decide whether to sweep you all up into my arms or resent you.
JAMES
You don’t look so old.
GRAHAM
Believe me, I’m old enough to be your—
(changing his mind)
well, maybe your older brother!
JAMES
Oh, I like that! I prefer older men.
GRAHAM
Then how about that drink?
JAMES
Why do you resent me?
GRAHAM
Not you necessarily—just your whole generation. I guess I’m jealous. Things were so different when I met my boyfriend.
JAMES
Where’s he tonight? Are you sneaking around?
GRAHAM
He’s dead.
JAMES
Oh, I’m sorry.
GRAHAM
And when we met, there were no places like this. I mean, no place you’d ever go—not our kind of people.
JAMES
What’s your kind of people?
GRAHAM
So, we went into hiding. Married women. Had families. Brilliant plan!
JAMES
Oh, you’re one of those.
GRAHAM
But you kids today—you meet each other right out in the open. Then you bring your boyfriend home to meet Mom and Dad. God, they even throw you a party!
JAMES
So, what are you doing here?
GRAHAM
Oh, I don’t know. Just watching.
JAMES holds out his hand.
JAMES
Hey, I’m James.
GRAHAM
Hi, James. Graham.
JAMES
I was watching you from the other side of the room. I think you’re so hot. You’re like my ideal fantasy.
GRAHAM puts his arms around JAMES.
GRAHAM
You have no idea how much I need to hear someone say that. Especially after what I’ve been through! Well, you don’t need to hear about all that.
JAMES
You need to relax and have some fun.
GRAHAM
Amen to that.
JAMES
Why don’t you come back to my place? We could have some fun right now.
GRAHAM
Where do you live?
JAMES
Right around the corner. Can you handle a six-floor walkup, old man?
GRAHAM
I’ll rise to the occasion.
CHIP MILLER (40) enters. Spots GRAHAM.
CHIP
Graham? Graham Walker! What are you doing here?
GRAHAM
Chip Miller!
CHIP
(noticing James)
Oh, sorry—am I interrupting something?
GRAHAM
Oh . . .uh . . . This is James.
CHIP
Hi, I’m Chip.
CHIP reaches out to shake hands.
JAMES
We already know each other.
JAMES ignores CHIP’s hand. Hugs and kisses him instead.
CHIP
We do?
JAMES
From the baths.
(mock apologetically)
Ooh—am I telling secrets?
CHIP
(feigning nonchalance)
Don’t worry about it.
JAMES notices someone offstage. Waves.
JAMES
Hey, I’ll be right back.
JAMES rushes out. CHIP watches him exit.
CHIP
(turning back to Graham)
Uh, he’s just someone I—
GRAHAM
(echoing Chip)
“Don’t worry about it.”
CHIP
Did you see his friend? God! No wonder he dropped us!
GRAHAM
Hey, uh, listen—I’m sorry about what happened to you. I haven’t seen you since all that.
CHIP
(lying)
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
GRAHAM
I saw those stories. Like the front page of The New York Post: “BRONXVILLE DAD ATTACKED AT GAY ORGY!” Aclassic Post headline—the assholes!
CHIP
Yeah, I knew that’s what you meant. I just try to pretend it never happened sometimes.
GRAHAM
It must be difficult.
CHIP
So, you know the whole story.
GRAHAM
Just from the papers. Someone stabbed you, right? What’s a gay orgy anyway?
CHIP
No—it was a sex club. I woke up at St. Vincent’s Hospital. That’s all I know. Sally wasn’t thrilled. Long story. Couples therapy. Divorce. And here I am.
GRAHAM
Wow.
CHIP
Wait a second—aren’t we missing the bigger story here? This isn’t exactly the Elm Rock Country Club, Mr. Walker.
GRAHAM
I noticed.
CHIP
I mean are you a member of the club?
GRAHAM
Are they gonna charge me $30,000, too?
CHIP
No, I mean—how shall I put it? Do you or don’t you—
GRAHAM
(cutting him off)
Yes! I do. Does that answer your question?
CHIP
I had no idea.
GRAHAM
I practically leapt at you a couple of times at Elm Rock.
CHIP
Well, I remember you acting kind of strange, but I don’t remember you making a pass or anything. I guess I was distracted by my own issues.
GRAHAM
(defeated)
I’ve gotta work on my approach.
CHIP
It seems to be working fine.
GRAHAM
You mean James? I sat here a whole hour being ignored by everyone else before he came along. And now he’s gone anyway.
(beat)
What about all those times I saw you in the steam room at the gym? The gay vibes in there were off the charts!
CHIP
I was very guarded whenever you came in. I wasn’t about to let a neighbor suspect anything about me.
GRAHAM
Well, it certainly worked. I had a real thing for you for a while, but I always behaved myself—unless I’d been drinking.
CHIP
Does this mean you’re out of the closet now? Or are you waiting for the Post to out you, too?
GRAHAM
I’m holding out for The Today Show.
(suddenly serious)
Okay, so I guess I am.
(announcing to the room)
Hear that, guys? I’m out—so come and get it!
(to Chip)
See? There is no God. So, what’s happening with you now?
CHIP
Now? I’m just trying to hold things together. Divorce. Job. And joint custody of 4 kids! Sounded good when I fought for it, but now I’ve got no time for anything
GRAHAM
You had time to come here. And it sounds like you have time to go to—well, other places.
CHIP
Well, yeah. I’ve got a few holes in my schedule.
(looking around)
Can you blame me? There’s no shortage of hot guys down here in Chelsea!
GRAHAM
You’re right about that!
CHIP
And in about thirty minutes, this place is going to be packed with the most beautiful men you’ve ever seen!
GRAHAM
But Chip—
CHIP
There’s no “but”!
GRAHAM
What I mean is—don’t you find this all wears thin eventually?
CHIP
I’m happy to say I’ve never reached that point.
GRAHAM
But haven’t you ever wanted something more substantial—like maybe what I had with Dan?
CHIP
Dan who?
GRAHAM
Dan Carlsen. My next-door neighbor in Bronxville.
CHIP
(suddenly realizing)
Wait a minute! Dan Carlsen? The plane crash! TWA flight 800, right? It’s back in the news again—they still don’t know how it happened.
GRAHAM
Right.
CHIP
You’re telling me you two were involved?
GRAHAM
More than involved.
CHIP
I had no idea. He seemed obsessed about you or jealous or something. I assumed you were straight—
GRAHAM
Ha! We were both fools! Think of the missed opportunities!
CHIP
Well, anyway—I figured it was a one-way thing with you and Dan.
GRAHAM
No, it was very much a two-way thing.
CHIP
Did other people know?
GRAHAM
Somehow, we managed to keep it private. Ever since sophomore year at Yale. It was all I ever wanted, all I needed. But he insisted we marry women, start families, and try to blend into the world. So, we made it work. We had the best of bothworlds—
(sadly)
—until I killed him.
CHIP
What do you mean? He died in that crash.
GRAHAM
He wanted to go to Paris with me to rekindle the relationship or something, and I refused—because—well, it doesn’t matter. We had a fight, and he went off without me.
(beat)
So, yes, I killed him.
CHIP
You didn’t kill him—but I understand how you feel. I’m so sorry.
GRAHAM
(indicating the other people in the bar)
So, don’t blame me if I don’t think this is such a great substitute.
CHIP
Then why are you here?
GRAHAM
(snapping out of it—joking)
I don’t know. Looking for Mister Right, maybe.
(half-joking)
What are you doing for the next twenty years?
CHIP
Are you trying to ask me out?
GRAHAM
Maybe.
CHIP
I don’t date.
GRAHAM
Maybe not.
CHIP
I mean I’m not looking for a relationship. I just like to have sex with other guys.
GRAHAM
So, why did you bother getting married?
CHIP
Because that’s what men do. Well, at least where I come from. And, unlike you, I wanted a family.
GRAHAM
I don’t mean I didn’t want a family. My boys are the most precious thing in my life—especially now. I just mean—
(defeated)
I don’t know what I mean.
CHIP
I know. Our situation is complicated. To me, this gay thing was always just—I don’t know—
GRAHAM
An inconvenience?
CHIP
Exactly!
(getting revved up)
You know what really gets me? The Gay Pride Parade has been going on for years now. But back when it started, where was our parade—the Closeted Gay Pride Parade?
GRAHAM
You’re serious?
CHIP
Absolutely! Where were all the people cheering us on from the sidewalks, happy that you and I and everyone like us chose to live within the mainstream and settle for some discreet philandering on the side?
GRAHAM
I wasn’t philandering! Dan and I had a loving relationship. A real marriage in every sense that mattered.
CHIP
Yeah, but you know what I mean. You and I were just variations on the same theme.
GRAHAM
Really? So, tell me—which is worse? Having a relationship behind your wife’s back with your best friend—someone you genuinely love? Or running around with every piece of trash that comes along?
CHIP
Hey, watch it buddy!
GRAHAM
(softening)
Sorry, Chip. I’m in no position to judge. We traveled different paths, that’s all.
CHIP
(smugly)
And yet we both wound up at the same bar.
GRAHAM
(defeated)
Yes. Yes, we did.
JAMES returns.
JAMES
Sorry about that. Where were we?
GRAHAM
I was about to leave.
JAMES
I thought you were coming home with me.
GRAHAM
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
JAMES
(cocky)
Trust me, it’s still a good idea.
GRAHAM
You may be right, but I better take a rain check. If I leave right now, I can still catch the 8:40 train back to Bronxville.
CHIP
God, you’re still in Bronxville?
GRAHAM
I like to be near my boys.
CHIP
Yeah, that’s why I’m out in Jersey. We’re all out there. It was too awkward for any of us to stay in Bronxville.
GRAHAM
I considered fleeing, too, but then I thought—No! I’m not hanging my head in shame! This is what I am. I didn’t make the world. And I’m not giving up my boys. Or pulling them away from their school and friends. Or setting a bad example for them. I haven’t come out to them yet—Kitty asked me to hold off for now—but I can’t wait to do it!
CHIP
I haven’t told my kids yet either—Sally would go ballistic. But coming out in Bronxville? That takes balls!
GRAHAM
Fuck them all in Bronxville if they don’t like it! And that includes all the closeted husbands—of which I know there are many!
CHIP
Wow—sounds like there’s a soap opera brewing in Westchester County!
GRAHAM
You have no idea! Or—maybe you do. But, in any case, I better go. Good to see you!
CHIP
Hey, wanna get together for a drink sometime?
GRAHAM
Isn’t that what we just did?
CHIP
Yeah, but I have a feeling we have a lot more to talk about. And I’d enjoy the company.
GRAHAM
Sure—I’ll give you a call sometime.
(to James)
Hey, all right with you if I give my rain check to Chip?
JAMES
I’d like that!
GRAHAM exits.
CHIP
So, what does that make me? Sloppy seconds?
JAMES
There’s nothing second about you. And as I seem to remember, we’ve had lots of fun being sloppy together.
JAMES and CHIP start to make out.
END OF SCENE
END OF EXCERPT
This excerpt contains the first 27 pages of AFTERMATH. The full play is 88 pages long.