Stop Bluffing

“STOP BLUFFING!” yells the CIA at Bobby Kennedy Jr..

He interprets this as a directive for Lacey. So does his family.

The Mercy by Johann Jóhannsson plays.

“I’m not fooled.” says Joe Kennedy Jr.. “We know what happened.” he spits at Lacey. “We had perfection!” he screams.

The song plays.

He smiles. “None of you see her as I do. Maybe Lem. But sometimes I worry he doesn’t.” says Joe Kennedy Jr..

The song plays.

He thinks. Looks sad. “You have no idea.” he says.

The song plays.

“Truth is…I took her for granted.” says Joe. “She’s one of those rare people who don’t care.” says Joe. “I felt so free being loved by her. She just loves so freely. Never a quarrel. Pure bliss.” He smiles. “But…somewhere in her lack of concern…she got left out. By me. And I…took her love as…salvation. Or the love of a mother.”

Silence.

“So…if there’s Purgatory…I cheated.” says Joe. “Possibly with Katharine Hepburn. Literally.”

Silence.

“Lacey has seen images of me making love to her. On a bed. In a moonlit room.” says Joe. “It’s sad. But I messed-up…something Lem could barely touch.” says Joe.

Lem cries.

“My nephew is really responsible more than he lets on.” says Joe Kennedy Jr.. “You all are. But he is more than anyone.”

“The thing is…she was always going to be mine!” yells Lem.

“Then how did I have her?!” yells Joe Jr..

“You want to know the truth?! …I wouldn’t put it past you that you drew me in…just to steal her.” says Lem.

And at that Lacey feels hurt and nauseous.

And Jack feels violently jealous.

And seeing his error Lem screams.

(Adult content below)

“Don’t patronize me!” screams Lacey at Lem.

“Why did you cheat on me?!?” yells Lem, pushing Lacey backwards.

Lacey almost wants to laugh at him. She blinks.

Then she bites her bottom lip and looks confused. Jack goes into a panic.

“Lem is actually that upset?!?” says JFK, flustered.

And at that Bobby Jr. mocks Lacey and viciously attacks her.

“I am struggling to keep you alive.” says Lem to Lacey.

“Why?” asks Lacey, concerned.

Lem laughs at her and then goes silent. “Okay. So…now you…are alive. Someday you won’t be.”

He thinks.

“What does our love making mean to you?” he asks.

“I’m too emotionally exhausted beyond words to describe it. It’s like I’ve gone blind from pain.” says Lacey. “You’re vile.”

He laughs.

She waits.

This terrifies him.

“You are so…” he starts to say luridly but sees her totally cool and yet loving response.

He smiles.

“I want to kill you because I need you. With me. All the time. Everyday. Forever.” he says to her.

She takes a deep breath, biting her nail.

“Do you really mean that? I’m not worthless, Lem.” says Lacey.

“Yes.” he says.

He discusses her breasts with her.

“You were once called nubile.” says Lem.

Lacey glares at him, suspiciously…waiting.

“By your supposed best friend’s uncle.” says Lem. “And your other friend’s father loudly hit on you in public.”

“Was he really meaning me though?” asks Lacey.

“Yeah!” says Lem, panting.

After looking up the definition of nubile. “It wasn’t clear he meant me.”

“He meant you.” he says.

“Are you sure?” asks Lacey sincerely.

“He used a dirty word.” he says. “And he said it suggestively.”

“Maybe it was just unrelated.” says Lacey.

“He meant you.” says Lem.

Lacey sighs. Bites her bottom lip.

“I suppose that’s possible.” says Lacey.

“That scared you.” says Lem.

Lacey’s eyes dart off. “I hadn’t been prepared for that role.” says Lacey.

He thinks. “What did you actually expect?”

“Cheerful, patronizing…upbeat warmth.” says Lacey.

“Like he didn’t need or want anything from you.” says Lem.

“Yes.” says Lacey. “Mostly.”

“I need you.” says Lem.

They make eye-contact and then she darts away.

“Don’t play with my mind.” says Lacey.

“I don’t.” he says.

“You know I’m hurting terribly though.” says Lacey.

“You’ll have me. Forever. Whether you want me or not.” he says.

“Could you or would you ever cheat?” asks Lacey.

“No!” says Lem. “I can’t imagine being with anyone but you.”

He thinks.

“I would have died first. But if someone had asked me about my life, ‘No! My life is perfect. I hope yours is too.’” says Lem.

“Perfect?” asks Lacey.

“Better than that.” says Lem.

“Really though?” says Lacey.

He nods and laughs.

“More tomorrow.” he says.