[ANGEL and COLLINS attend an AIDS Life Support group.] [PAUL, the support leader, sits on the downstage railing above.] [GORDON, one of the members of the group, is standing downstage left,] [facing the audience. As the members enter, they introduce] [themselves and form a semicircle. Note: The names of the support] [group members should change every night and should honor] [actual friends of the company who have died of AIDS.]
[STEVE]
Steve.
[GORDON]
Gordon.
[ALI]
Ali.
[PAM]
Pam.
[SUE]
Sue.
[ANGEL]
Hi, I'm Angel.
[COLLINS]
Tom. Collins.
[PAUL]
I'm Paul. Let's begin
[ALL]
There's only us There's only this ...
[MARK blusters in noisily.]
[MARK]
Sorry ... Excuse me ... oops
[PAUL]
And you are?
[MARK]
Oh -- I'm not -- I'm just here to -- I don't have -- I'm here with -- Um -- Mark Mark -- I'm Mark Well -- this is quite an operation
[PAUL]
Sit down Mark We'll continue the affirmation
[ALL]
Forget regret or life is yours to miss
[GORDON]
Excuse me Paul -- I'm having a problem with this This credo -- My T-cells are low -- I regret that news, okay?
[PAUL]
Alright But Gordon - How do you feel today?
[GORDON]
What do you mean?
[PAUL]
How do you feel today?
[GORDON]
Okay
[PAUL]
Is that all?
[GORDON]
Best I've felt all year
[PAUL]
Then why choose fear?
[GORDON]
I'm a New Yorker! Fear's my life! Look - I find some of what you teach suspect Because I'm used to relying on intellect But I try to open up to what I don't know
[GORDON AND ROGER (who sings from his loft)]
Because reason says I should have died Three years ago