It’s 1981.
Lem is drunk.
La Ciudad by ODESZA plays.
Lacey was told to go check on Lem by Eunice Kennedy Shriver who somehow assumed Lacey was…a sweet, docile imbecile. So Lacey Banks, daughter of Thomas Banks, came to check on him as she was instructed to do. In reality Lacey is ferocious. Like her father. But Americans never fully understood the Dutch or the British. And being vain and egotistical the Kennedys are their own worst nightmares.
They sit in his living-room. Lacey is decidedly going to rescue him. So, whether he’s rescued or not something is bound to happen. She rarely moves…but when she does…it’s impossible to stop her. Truly impossible. Only God can. Satan has often tried in vain as she’s lost to Christianity, which sounds corny but it’s actually quite…volatile. These people are good with swords and guns and music. The most you can do is to utterly depress and confuse them. Torturing or killing them is Hell for you for eternity at worst and is pointless at best.
“I know why you’re depressed.” says Lacey to Lem, losing her patience with the vanity of American humanity.
Lem smiles, “Oh yeah?” he says. “Why?”
“You’re a gay man. And you can’t get over Jack Kennedy’s death.” says Lacey.
His smile drops and he blinks. He eats his hamburger. Licks his lips in an exaggerated fashion.
“Why the fuck do you care so damn much?” asks Lacey.
He takes a drink of his beer. “Is that offensive to you?”
“Yes.” says Lacey, brutally, coldly and with grave concern.
“You’ve never been in love?” ask Lem.
“No. Never. …But I don’t think that’s what I find so profoundly disturbing.” says Lacey.
He furrows his brow. Looks at her.
“You’ve never been in love? Ever?” he says in disbelief.
“No. Not in love.” says Lacey. “I’ve loved men. But I’ve never been in love.”
“What is it?” he asks. “That bothers you?”
“Why the hell do you give a shit about him?” asks Lacey.
He laughs. “Oh…I don’t know.”
“Come on! Why?!” demands Lacey, intensely. Bitterly.
“You’re far preferable.” says Lem. He takes another drink. Takes off his glasses, throws them on the coffee table and looks at her.
“In bed?” asks Lacey, simply clarifying.
“Yes.” says Lem.
“Then why do you care about Jack’s death?” asks Lacey, again simply clarifying.
He moves to sit next to her. “I didn’t love him the way I could love you. I can already tell that much about things…” He moves his face next to hers.
Lacey is dumbfounded into silence and contemplation.
(Adult content below)
Lem takes another drink. “We should sleep together.” he says. He smiles. Rests his drink on his coffee table and closes his eyes as he leans back into the sofa.
Lacey glances, baffled, around his apartment. Analyzing.
“You’re a very beautiful woman. …But you’re more than a concept. …I couldn’t of perfectly imagined you. I mean I sort of did.” says Lem as looks up at her before he rests his head in her lap. Lacey doesn’t seem bothered by this at all. In fact she’s comforted by it.
“I’m in love with you, I think. But…don’t worry. I’m an incredibly objective person.” asks Lacey, lovingly.
“You shouldn’t have come here.” says Lem, laughing sadly.
“Why?” says Lacey.
“Because I’m seducing you. You poor thing.” says Lem.
“That’s not a problem. No. There are so many other things to worry about.” says Lacey, cathartically.
“You’re not worried? I could get you pregnant. And you’re only 25. You should get married.” he says kissing her neck and finally pulling her under him.
His body guides them in to unison.
A half an hour later they lay, naked. Holding Each other.
“I’m not attracted to men.” says Lem, out of the blue.
“That’s possible.” says Lacey.
“Oh.” says Lem. “It’s just the truth.”
“Are you not even bisexual?” asks Lacey.
Lem thinks. “No. I’m heterosexual.”
“But you were in love with Jack. Right? …And that’s why you’re sad.” says Lacey.
He thinks. “No. Not like this.” he says.
“Why are you here?!?” he asks. “You’re toast. I’m never going to let you leave.”
“I care.” says Lacey. “I’m still trying to help you.”
“Let’s go to bed.” he says.
“I’m going to get pregnant.” says Lacey. “If I’m not already pregnant.”
“Yeah.” says Lem, smiling slightly. “Let’s go to bed.”
He was supposedly frail. But he was only 65 when he died. He was a forlorn drug addict. Not an elderly man. …Lem…actually may have been…an alcoholic since he was a teenager in reality. He started smoking and drinking after he was molested to cope with the consequences in his mind. He didn’t use substances out of the blue after Jack Kennedy died. That’s a vicious lie and Thomas Banks takes it personally because it is personal.
Lem picks up Lacey and they walk-off. He makes love to her for the rest the of the day. They take breaks to eat and sleep.
Suspirium Finale by Thom Yorke plays for the British who bravely worship Christ in terror.
“You’re not going anywhere!” says Lem.
“You’re my first.” says Lem. “And…I did that for a reason…but…I had no idea what I was missing. Because it’s different than what I expected.”
He thinks. “I thought it would be so boring. …I went on dates with girls my mother set me up with. And other people. And…I never found them as attractive as you. So when I’d try to kiss them…to see if I could get married…and be normal…I’d…feel…bored. Or repulsed slightly, at times, even. And…I figured that those women couldn’t be that different than you. Well…I mostly figured that. At times…I figured otherwise. And today…I decided to try it. I decided to let myself truly enjoy sex for once. And it was nothing like what I anticipated.” says Lem.
“You look so sexually explicit and experienced.” says Lacey.
“I’m not.” says Lem. “But I wasn’t meaning to lie.”
“I just don’t want to be betrayed. And I want love.” says Lacey.
“You’re not leaving.” says Lem.
Later he makes them tea. With milk.
“I think you’re good at sex.” says Lem. “Have you had a lot of sex?” He pours tea.
“No. Just once with one man.” says Lacey. She sits down on his sofa.
“With who!?” asks Lem.
“Have you ever read The Sun Also Rises?”
In Ear Park by Department of Eagles plays.
“Who did you sleep with!?” asks Lem.
“Robert Cohn.” says Lacey. “Harold Loeb.”
“Harold Loeb. He’s and older man. Older than me!” says Lem. “Wow!”
“My father loves to keep intelligent company. And…we know him through a family- Are you familiar with Howard Hawks?” says Lacey. “My father is friends with Howard Hawks.”
“You’re from a fascinating family. But mostly they’re just…brilliant and artistic…and aristocratic. Aren’t they?
Okay. …So…you learned how to be good in bed from him?” says Lem. “Harold Loeb taught you everything you know.”
“No. I don’t think that that’s how it works.” says Lacey. “Yes! My grandparents just owned a store in Iowa. But…they were wealthy too. But my family is very artistic. My aunt owns a clothing store in California.”
Silence.
Lacey rises and goes into the kitchen. Sees Lem standing there, still. Hovering over a tea kettle. Pondering.
“Who broke up that marriage?” suspiciously asks Lem, sensing her there behind him.
“No one. It just didn’t…happen. I think he’s still secretly in love with Brett Ashley. Isn’t that funny?” asks Lacey.
“No. It’s not funny. It’s sad!” says Lem.
“No. It’s funny. Because…it…just is.” says Lacey.
“But you got hurt.” says Lem.
“Yes. But now I’m with you.” says Lacey.
“Yeah.” says Lem.
They stand in silence.
“We’re getting married. If you love me…we’re getting married.” says Lem.
“I doubt it.” says Lacey.
“Oh.” he says. His breathing quickens. “No. We’ll get married today.”
“Don’t lie to me.” says Lacey.
“It’s just a legality. We’re already married. But we’ll do it today.” says Lem. “It’s four in the morning.”
This is much closer to reality. And it’s what you’re all afraid of. Lacey’s not and never has been Jack Kennedy. That is Lem Billings. And the world is dying.
-Edith Wharton (January 14th, 2023)
Keen to Cross the Pond 