Full-Length Play

A Play by William Ivor Fowkes

The need for love is universal, but sometimes our search leads us to addiction instead. In this play, two men of different generations embark on a rocky affair that ping pongs between passion and rejection.

Brian Fields, a 47-year-old senior corporate executive in the process of coming out and divorcing his wife, meets Curtis Leary, a seductive 22-year-old recent college graduate. As a newcomer to the gay scene, Brian is unsure what to make of Curtis's mercurial behavior. For his part, Curtis has mastered the art of charming and attracting older men but keeps undermining his own need for intimacy.

LENGTH: 95 minutes.

CAST: 2M

SETTING

New York City

TIME

2007-2009

CHARACTERS

Brian Fields. Male. 47. The head of Public Relations for the Celebrity Magazine Group. In the process of coming out. Separated from his wife but not yet divorced.

Curtis Leary. Male. 22. Recent college graduate. Works as a receptionist at Superior Models while figuring out what to do with his life.

READING: 2024 (5/28 & 6/1). Create Theater's New Works Festival, an industry festival, Clinton Cambio Studios, Manhattan. Featuring Paul Moon, Harrison Campbell, and Aaron Kaplan.

EXCERPT:

Scene 1: October 2007. Late evening. 

The Brownstone, a gay bar in Manhattan. BRIAN stands at the bar nursing a drink as he surveys the room. 

BRIAN

(to the audience)

Welcome to The Brownstone, a bar in Manhattan with a very particular clientele. Up until a few months ago, I didn’t know places like this even existed. Look--I’ve spotted one!

Lights up on CURTIS across the room studying the crowd. 

BRIAN (CONT’D)

Look at him! Beautiful. Young. Intense. Complicated. Vulnerable. A younger version of myself? I wish! No, he’s all the things I might have been if I’d understood the truth about myself back then. Every guy here wants to go home with him.

(defeated)

As if! 

CURTIS

(to the audience)

What am I doing back here? The other night, I had to keep fighting off lecherous old men, like a camper swatting at mosquitoes. Uch! 

(a sigh)

But every now and then I see something. There’s one—across the room. Ok—it’s showtime!  

CURTIS pops a mint or Listerine strip into his mouth. Walks across the room.  

CURTIS (CONT’D)

(to Brian—flirtatiously)

So, how ya doing?

BRIAN

Don’t you mean, “Come here often?”

CURTIS

Uh . . . Forget it! 

CURTIS starts to walk away

BRIAN

(to the audience)

Why’d I do that? I’m a jerk!

(calling out)

Please—don’t go! I should apologize. I’m Brian, by the way. 

(reaching out his hand)

Brian Fields.

CURTIS

(shaking Brian’s hand)

Oh, okay, Brian. I’m Curtis. Curtis Leary.

BRIAN

Nice name. I don’t see many guys your age here, Curtis Leary--and they’re probably all for hire. 

CURTIS

Just to be clear—I’m not for hire. Sorry to disappoint you. 

BRIAN

I’m just surprised you’d want to hang with a bunch of old farts.

CURTIS

Well, that certainly doesn’t include you. You’re obviously a lot younger than these guys. And much hotter!

(to the audience)

I am shameless!

(to Brian)

What do you do? 

BRIAN

I haunt gay bars hoping attractive young men will flirt with me.

CURTIS

I mean for a living.

BRIAN

Ever hear of Celebrity Magazine?

CURTIS

Who hasn’t?

BRIAN

I’m their head of Public Relations--actually for the whole Celebrity Magazine Group. And what do you do—besides add sparkle to a roomful of older men?

CURTIS

I work at Superior Models.

BRIAN

Anyone can tell you’re a model!

CURTIS

I’m a receptionist and an assistant. It’s just like something until I figure out what I want to do. 

BRIAN

What are you drinking?

CURTIS

Nothing, thanks. I was actually just leaving till I saw you and decided we should meet.

BRIAN

Cheers for that decision! 

(taking a sip)

Yum! They make great cocktails! Is that why you come here?

CURTIS

I just like older men. I don’t have a fetish or anything; I’m just more comfortable around them. Maybe because I was raised by my grandfather. 

BRIAN

So, you’re looking for a gay granddaddy!

CURTIS

No, I just find guys my age kind of boring. 

BRIAN

How old are you?

CURTIS

22. 

BRIAN

Gee, I had you pegged for at least 24.

CURTIS

I just graduated from Brown. 

BRIAN

We played you guys in football. Well, not me. I just drooled over the players.

CURTIS

How old are you?

BRIAN

47.

CURTIS

Cool!

BRIAN

What’s cool about 47?

CURTIS

The way you said it--no hesitation. 

BRIAN

When you come out at 47, you’ve got to be honest about everything. Otherwise, you’re just creating more closets.

CURTIS

Hold on—you just came out? At 47? Amazing!

BRIAN

If you call living a lie amazing. I was married—to a woman. Technically still am. And we have a son.

CURTIS

I’ve never met one of you before. 

BRIAN

Oh, I have a pretty good hunch some of these gentlemen have wives, too.  

CURTIS

I mean I’ve never met anyone who’s come out at your age.

BRIAN

Now I feel old.

CURTIS

No, look--I took a course on gay history at Brown.

BRIAN

Brown had a gay history?

CURTIS

No, I—

(enjoying the realization)

You like to mess with people, don’t you? 

BRIAN

Maybe.

CURTIS

They said most gay men used to stay in the closet and get married. They didn’t have any choice. Crazy, right? I mean gay guys don’t do that anymore. 

BRIAN

Tell that to all the married men here tonight!

CURTIS

These guys are like just the “leftovers” --the ones that chose to stay in the closet. 

BRIAN

They look pretty “out” to me—flaming, in some cases! 

CURTIS

Right--cuz this is their safe space. They sneak down here from Westchester. 

BRIAN

I just moved down here from Westchester!

CURTIS

But you came out. These guys would never do that--they’ve already got the best of both worlds. 

BRIAN

Well, that’s pretty cynical.

CURTIS

You’re like, I don' t know, a rare beast or something.  

BRIAN

Are you attracted to unicorns?

CURTIS

I’m attracted to this unicorn.

BRIAN

(to the audience)

What a line! But there’s every possibility he means it, right? 

(to Curtis)

Uh—maybe I better leave before this goes any further.

CURTIS

(seriously) 

Oh, please don’t! 

BRIAN

Relax—that was just clever banter. I’m getting very good at this game. 

CURTIS

(offended)

I’m not playing a game! 

(softening)

This is gonna sound ridiculous, but I thought you could be the one, ya know?

BRIAN

Out of 8 million New Yorkers? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?

CURTIS

Do you realize how adorable you are?

BRIAN

Aw, shucks.

CURTIS

I hope I’m not out of line here.

BRIAN

I can take it. I like it.

CURTIS

Look, I’m having a lot of feelings right now. You’ve got me so—I mean I’m . . . I’m . . . I can’t find the words! . . . Damn! . . . It’s like I’m dazzled by you, Mr. Fields. 

BRIAN

That’s quite a word! And please call me Brian. Especially if you want me to reciprocate—which I could very easily do, because you have no idea what you’re very close to unleashing in me.

CURTIS

I better go before I do something crazy. 

(to the audience)

You probably think I’m putting on an act. Yeah, I’ve done that. In this very room! But something weird’s happening. It’s like a physical—like a chemical—thing. Or maybe he’s just my type--a straight executive with a big job. Yum, yum! Man, I can already see myself settling down with this perfect stranger! Is that wack or what? 

BRIAN

Please go ahead—do something crazy. I won’t judge. 

CURTIS

I meant . . . Never mind—I’ll just do this instead.

CURTIS suddenly moves in and kisses Brian, an intense, sweet kiss, one that Brian returns in kind. Then Curtis breaks it off suddenly.

CURTIS (CONT’D)

Very nice meeting you, Brian Fields. 

BRIAN

Likewise.

CURTIS

I’ve gotta go.

CURTIS starts to leave.

BRIAN

(calling out)

Wait, let me give you my card!

CURTIS

No thanks.

CURTIS rushes out.

BRIAN

(to the audience)

I knew it was too good to be true.

END OF EXCERPT