THE SETUP
Vincent left his basketball behind at his girlfriend Gabby’s place after their last fight.
Though they are slowly moving toward reconciliation, Gabby has another plan afoot as well when she leaves Vincent a message to come pick up his basketball that night.
Gabby has arranged for Andrew, a potential boyfriend for Vincent’s brother Cian, to be at her place, playing basketball, when Vincent comes over.
Vincent is less than thrilled with the idea of Andrew as Cian’s boyfriend, since Andrew used to be a prostitute.
The fact that Vincent’s best friend died of AIDS, and someone like Andrew is still walking around healthy only makes things worse.
“So just what are you planning on doing with my brother?”
Emphasis shifts to another pool of light where ANDREW is shooting baskets.
After a moment, VINCENT walks into the light.
VINCENT
I smell a set up.
VINCENT stands watching ANDREW shoot baskets a moment, unsure.
ANDREW knows he’s being watched, keeps playing anyway.
VINCENT (continued)
Little late for a game, isn’t it?
ANDREW
This isn’t a game. A game requires at least two people. This is practice.
VINCENT stands there, watching.
ANDREW stops and tosses him the ball.
VINCENT tosses it back at him, hard.
ANDREW catches it.
VINCENT
How old are you, anyway?
ANDREW tosses the ball back again, hard.
ANDREW
In dog years?
VINCENT
OK, better question. You planning on being a movie usher the rest of your life?
ANDREW
You mean, can I support your brother in the style to which he’s become accustomed?
VINCENT
Answer the question.
ANDREW
No. Movies are great but the lights always come up. I’m going back to school part-time.
VINCENT
That’ll take a while.
ANDREW
I got time.
VINCENT
So you’re clean.
ANDREW
Inside and out.
VINCENT
So just what are you planning on doing with my brother?
ANDREW
You don’t mess around.
VINCENT
You better not either, if you know what’s good for you.
ANDREW
I thought you were pissed at him.
VINCENT
That’s different. That’s family. Outsiders don’t fuck with family.
ANDREW
Literally or figuratively?
VINCENT
Nice words. So my little brother’s just some experiment for you? Your first normal fuck?
ANDREW
What did I ever do to you?
VINCENT
How can you not be infected?
ANDREW
God smilin’ on me, I guess.
VINCENT
See, that — that for me just clinches it. You are proof.
ANDREW
Proof of what?
VINCENT
Proof that there is no God.
People better than you —
ANDREW
Hang on a minute. You don’t know me. You know what I did — not who I am.
VINCENT
Fair enough.
ANDREW
All this Old Testament, vengeful God stuff. Payback. Eye for an eye. Mary Magdalene washed the feet of Jesus Christ.
VINCENT tosses the ball at ANDREW again, hard.
ANDREW, though caught off guard, catches it anyway.
ANDREW (continued)
We all screw up. Doesn’t mean we need to keep paying for the rest of our lives. Don’t you think your brother deserves to be happy? That’s all I want. I got a second shot at life. I’m not sure I did anything to earn it, deserve it, I probably didn’t. But I wouldn’t waste it on someone I didn’t care about.
VINCENT
(pause)
Hurt him, I’ll cut your dick off.
(pause)
Game’s to twenty-one. I’ll spot you three.
ANDREW
I’ll spot you five.
VINCENT
Hope you like a good fight.
ANDREW
Been doing it all my life. Hope you like to sweat.
A competitive game ensues, moving quickly off into the dark.
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