[Prelude to story, which I did not save, involves Connie getting a puppy on an impulse buy, after telling El how much she missed having children around. Lawrence tells Mike he's afraid his mother wants granchildren -- and she won't get any because he won't get married.]
Mike: What do you mean, you're never going to get married?!
Lawrence: I'm just not, Mike. It's not a decision I've consciously made...It's just the way I am.
Mike: I don't get what you're saying, man! What if you, you know -- fall in love?
Lawrence: I have fallen in love. ...But it's not with a girl.
[Mike looks shocked]
Mike: I don't wanna know what you're telling me, man!
Lawrence: I had to say it, Mike!
Mike: Look, you're not gay, OK? I mean, you dance with girls at school, you hang out with girls at the mall... This guy you've met...It's nothing special, see? -- You're just confused.
Lawrence: Mike...my mind is crystal clear. Everyone *else* is confused!!
Mike: [sullenly] I WON'T believe it, Lawrence.
Lawrence: It's not like I WANT to be gay! Do you think I haven't TRIED to be like everyone else?!!
Mike: Why are you looking at me like that?
Lawrence: [looking at his face] Like what?
Mike: [hand on forehead] Man, I can't even LOOK at you without thinking...
Lawrence: You're my FRIEND, Mike! -- There's a big difference between friends and lovers!! [putting a hand on Mike's shoulder] ...and right now... I really need a friend.
[Mike scootches away from his hand.]
Lawrence: Where are you going?
Mike: -- I want to be by myself for awhile. [thinking to himself] (It's not true! Lawrence is not gay! This is not happening!!!) [Kicks a fire hydrant] (None of this is REAL!!) [Slams fist into stop sign.] (On the other hand...maybe it IS!!) [nursing sore foot and hand]
[Lawrence approaches Mike, who is sitting curbside.]
Lawrence: Are you OK?
Mike: Yeah, I'm OK now. [Lawrence sits down next to him] Lawrence, what I wanna know is -- when?
Lawrence: I've known I was different for a couple of years. But it was always there. It's kind of interesting Mike! The aboriginal people considered us "mystics." They call us "two spirited" -- meaning we're blessed with both male and female spirits!!
Mike: Like, half of you wants to shop -- and the other half wants to watch football?! [Lawrence slaps hand to forehead.]
[They get up and start walking.]
Mike: So, tell me about this, ..um...person.
Lawrence: His name is Ben. I met him skiing! He is so neat, Mike! He's 20...and he's going to be a pharmacist! Wow! -- Being honest with you is such a relief!!
Mike: Does this mean you're "out of the closet"?
Lawrence: No...I've just opened the door enough so I can see outside.
Lawrence: Michael...I wanna know how you feel about me.
Mike: I don't know how I feel, man. [Hangs head.] All I know is...everything's different. It's never going to be the same, Lawrence. We'll always know each other...but, it will never be the same. [They look up at each other for a moment. Then with a small grin, Mike punches Lawrence on the arm.]
[Mike is sitting on his bed, writing something. Liz pops into his bedroom.]
Liz: We've narrowed down the names for Connie's puppy, Mike! It's Tawny or Amber or ... [stops] You're not listening to me.
Mike: How do you know I'm not listening to you?
Liz: You've got that "look."
Mike: What "look"?
Liz: Like when Mom or Dad is lecturing you.
[Liz sits down on the bed next to Mike and asks of the notepad in his lap]
Liz: What's that?
Mike: It's a diary.
Liz: You're writing in a diary? Get out!! -- My brother keeps a diary! -- Lemme see! [reaches for it]
Mike: It's private, OK? Back off!!
Liz: This is so amazing! -- I never thought that a *guy* would...
Mike: What makes you think it's only girls who keep diaries?!!
Liz: [smugly] ...It's a sign of intelligence.
[Mike puts diary away]
Liz: So, what if I found your diary sometime -- an' read all your secret stuff?!
Mike: You wouldn't do that.
Liz: You are so totally serious, Mike! -- What's bugging you?
Mike: I can't tell you, Liz. I can't tell anyone.
Liz: So, what's the point in telling stuff to a diary? -- It doesn't have any answers!
Mike: I know...but it helps me understand the questions.
[Connie and El are looking over the new puppy.]
El: So, what are you going to call this puppy, Connie?
Connie: I don't know, El. Nothing seems to fit. Barley's too close to Farley... Millie's too famous... I want something unique! Something nobody else has thought of!
El: Why don't you call it Sara? You know, for "serendipity" -- like you first wanted to?
Greg: [coming up] -- Or you could just call it quits!
[Scene pans back to show two figures behind Connie, who is working in the yard. El and her husband are no longer around. The two figures are Mike and Lawrence.]
Mike: She has to know, Lawrence.
Lawrence: I can't, Mike. [Moves up close to the two of them] What do I do? Tell my mother I'm gay? Just like that?
Mike: No! Tell her the truth! The way you told me! -- And, do it soon!
Lawrence: [Hand over his face.] I'm afraid to. [Looks up.] It will be a shock if I tell her.
Mike: It will be a lie if you don't.
[Lawrence approaches his mother who is drying dishes in the kitchen.]
Connie: You're awfully quiet, Lawrence.
Lawrence: Mom...there's something I have to tell you.
Connie: Well, if it's about the missing toolbox, we found it -- and don't worry about the scratch on the car...
Lawrence: It's not about that -- it's about ME! [They sit down at the table.] This isn't going to be easy.
Connie: Don't worry, honey. Whatever it is, we'll handle it together -- calmly and sensibly.
Lawrence: I'm gay.
Connie: Don't be *RIDICULOUS*!
[Connie gets up and storms from the kitchen, Lawrence following.]
Connie: I don't believe you!
Lawrence: It's the truth, Mom!
Connie: It's a phase! You'll pass through it!
Lawrence: It isn't a phase, Mom! -- I've always been gay! It's the way I *am*!!
Connie: It's my fault. -- I was too protective! -- I should have pushed you harder.
Lawrence: It's nobody's fault. You can't blame yourself!
Connie: I have to blame SOMEBODY!
Connie: You are not gay! You are NOT!
Lawrence: Mom -- listen to me! [She turns angrily away] Look, I've only just begun to understand it myself! -- I went to a lecture -- and, there are thousands of us!! -- One in ten!! We not alone, Mom. There are other families who...
Connie: GREG! [Lawrence's stepfather appears] -- Talk some SENSE into him!!! [Lawrence and Greg look at each other]
Greg: [With a closed face] Get out. Get out of this house. [Connie looks rather dazed in the background.]
Lawrence: But....
Greg: [Sweeping Lawrence's jacket into his arms] Don't talk to me! -- If that's the life you've chosen, I don't want you under this roof!
Lawrence: [Out on the porch] It's late! Where should I go?!!
Greg: Go wherever "your kind" hangs out!!! [Slams door shut.]
Lawrence: [Yelling toward the door] What do you mean "my kind"?!! My name is Lawrence Poirier -- and I live here!!!
telephone: *RING*
El: Snork...snogg..uh? Hello? Connie? It's 2AM!!
Connie: I'm sorry, El! Greg made Lawrence leave the house! I can't stand it any longer! Is he there?!
El: Uh? (Snogg..zzz)...I dunno, I don't think so, but I'll check. [Gets up] Hang on. [Telephone clunks off nightstand behind her as she forgets to set the phone down.]
El: Wake up, honey...Lawrence is missing!
Mike: Uh? What? [sits up] Missing? I don't understand!
El: Apparently he said something -- and Greg threw him out of the house! [sits down] Connie is ready to call the hospitals and the police. ...Greg feels awful!
Mike: [thinks to himself] (Strange...and they accuse US of acting first and thinking afterward!)
El: [to Connie on the phone] I let Mike have the car, Connie. He thinks he knows where Lawrence is.
Connie: Tell him to be careful. Lawrence has been acting ... strangely. -- Who knows what sort of place he's gone...or what kind of people he's with!
[Last two panels have no dialog. The first shows Michael in the car pulling up to a coffee & donut shop. The second shows him in the shop approaching a figure slumped over a table, head in arms.]
Lawrence: Oh. Hi.
Mike: Hi. [sits down across from L.] I'm sorry this happened to you, Lawrence.
Lawrence: Yeah? Well, I'm not the first gay person to be thrown out onto the street...and I won't be the last. And I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me, OK?
Mike: Fine. Is it OK if I feel angry for you?
Lawrence: What are you doing here, Mike?
Mike: I just thought I'd show up.
Lawrence: It's 3 A.M. Go home to bed.
Mike: And leave you here?...I don't think so.
Lawrence: Leave me alone, OK? You can't help me -- I'm sick!
Mike: You're not sick, man! Trust me! -- I'm more open-minded than you think!!
Lawrence: Believe me! After 11 jelly donuts and 6 coffees, -- I'm SICK!!
Mike: [arm around L.'s back] Come on. Let's go outside. The air will do you good. Look, the sun's up already.
Lawrence: Yeah. [Looks at his watch] That means I've been officially outcast for 9 hours and 32 minutes exactly.
Mike: It also means it's the start of a whole new day.
Mike: I called your mom. She's waiting for us. Let's go home, OK?
Lawrence: Mike...Remember when you said that nothing would ever be the same between us...that we'd probably always know each other -- but that's all?
Mike: Yes.
Lawrence: ...I'm glad I know you.
[This strip has no dialog. It shows Mike leaving the house quietly as Connie and Lawrence hug each other fiercely. Greg is looking on, somewhat shamefacedly and apprehensively.]
Connie: I don't think I'll ever understand, Lawrence. But I'll try. I'll do my best to accept your lifestyle...and your friends.
Greg: Your mother has known you and loved you for 17 years. I've just been a small part of your life. -- I'm not going to judge you. As long as you're a *good* mand...and a *kind* man -- I'll respect you. ...As for the rest...what will be will be. Que sera sera.
Connie: [later, holding her puppy up, thinking] (Now I know for sure. ...I'm calling you "Sera.")
Dialogue copyright by Lynn Johnston. Reprinted without permission.