Lungs

Psychotic Girl by The Black Keys plays.

Turns out Lem and Lacey have never truly made love.

He thought he had. She dearly wanted to.

“But she hadn’t.” says Louis.

His wife stumbles backward and worries.

“Why?” asks a very gifted actress of Lacey. She grins.

“I act.” Lacey admits.

“Why?” asks a former Baptist pastor.

“Because society demands it of me. And no one living has ever loved me that much. And…no one ever bothers.” says Lacey. She thinks. “It’s really the combination of all those things.”

“Except it isn’t prostitution. You just do this to get along with people.” says a professional basketball player.

“There’s no money in it. True. I just don’t want to be offensive.” says Lacey.

“I knew that.” says Michael.

“I did too.” says Louis.

“It’s why neither of you are hurt?” asks the basketball player.

“Yes!” laughs Michael. “She’s being culturally amiable. It’s such bullshit unless you love her.”

“So it’s total shit to you?” asks The Loudest Perfume Hater.

“No! I understand sex. I love it. I just do t want to be…a total recluse. And today there’s almost no choice.” says Lacey. “I was also molested and I used that to figure out how to deal with the society we live in.”

“And outsmart men like Joe Jr.?” asks a Democrat.

“And you.” says Lacey. “Sex is good!!!” she says sarcastically.

High And Dry by Radiohead plays.

“So she learned how to have sex with me very convincingly. ….Very convincingly. And yet totally withhold herself.” says Joe Jr.. “She’s a genius in bed, to be honest. It utterly destroys you. It’s like you have no will left.”

“Jack is controlled by her too.” says Joe Jr..

“You did it to yourselves!” says Prince Philip.

“It’s insidious.” says Diana. She laughs. “She’s my opposite in that way.”

“Mine too.” says Marilyn.

“Opposite because I too felt her pain…but I couldn’t destroy men so expertly.” says Diana. “But funny thing, I don’t think she ever intends to. Truly!”

“No! She didn’t destroy her ex-husband. But he’s not able to get over her either.” says Marilyn. “And it isn’t because he was in love with her, although they do have a certain real love as friends.”

“So I take it Tommy Banks was better at that sort of thing than Joe?” a skeptic says rolling his eyes.

“Her mother would have been better too.” says Joe Jr. rolling his eyes.

“But she’s so moral. And uptight!” says a Gen X dude.

“She’s aging. But…it’s…hideous. And if you’re a fool it destroys you.” says Louis.

“She really is a good person. That’s the danger.” says Bobby Sr. laughing. He finds it hilarious. He hears someone say ‘Eww!’ and he shakes his head no. “It’s not. Stop hurting yourself. Truly. It’s not a joke.”

An horribly insecure finance bro attacks Lacey. Then he stops.

“Who else was like that?!” a Gen X woman asks Elliott.

“Who could have been.” he responds.

The woman laughs.

“So she’s our age. Like genuinely our age. But…we’re evolving.” the woman hypothesizes. “And so she’s this…good-hearted, brilliant, gorgeous woman who’s awake in a way we aren’t today. Because we’re flattering ourselves to think we’re as sexually aware as they may have been by nature.”

“We dumbed down our minds sexually over time.” says a Catholic with conviction.

“I don’t know if I’m illegitimate.” Lacey points out.

“But if you are…we’re embarrassing ourselves.” says a Bill confidently. A Lutin smiles, unafraid. He smiles.

“You have no worries if you’re honorable. Truly honorable.” he says. He smiles to himself.

“He’s right. I’ve never made love to her. But…I’m not worried.” says a Bill.

“She’s never consciously let me.” Wobbly jokes. “So I’m fine too.”

“She didn’t ever really want to at all with you. It’s vile.” Lem says to Wobbly.

“He’s a Skakel. Poor dear.” says another dead man fondly. “We did have a certain amount of reverence for Christ.”

“Thank God.” says Bobby Sr..

Suite Bergamasque by Debussy plays.

“Anyway, it’s a problem.” says Lacey.

“Not really!” shouts Lem at Lacey.

And at that Michael literally rips off Lem’s head.

Lem re-emerges moments later. They are already dead.

She isn’t hurting me at all.” he decides. “That was an experiment.”

“I broke off his head very quickly. We planned it ahead of time as a safety precaution.” explains Michael. “He also wanted to know what that feels like to die that way.”

“Are they going to chop off Christians’ heads? Or was that to understand what happened in the wars?” asks Lacey.

“You seemed to think it wasn’t as painful in any way. And you’re right.” says Michael.

“Torture only works if you keep the person fully alive. And that’s harder to do than you might think.” says Lacey. “I don’t mean to hurt men. But the torture of Christ in our culture ruined sex.”

“Why haven’t you made love to Lacey?” Prince Philip asks Lem.

Lacey’s favorite piece by Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 plays.

“Who doesn’t love Symphony No. 5?! Everyone knows that one!” says Lacey rolling her eyes.

“I deplore it!” says Michael faking being gay. “It’s a ghastly number by that terrifically trite dope.”

“Golly! You sound trite.” says Lacey.

“True. But we’re acting.” he says.

“Are we in every way?” asks Lacey.

Hardly likely.” says Michael. “Hardly possible. Not…at…all.”

“Oh I do so love to hear Americans imitate us. We sound so…stupid?” asks a Brit.

“Oh dear!! You best stawp! Dahling!” says Rocky.

“They’re imitating the imitators. …I know.” cries the Brit.

“I just had my head ripped off!” announces Lem.

“Lem…that is…unusual.” says Rocky warmly.

Then feeling his confidence reclaimed, he turns to Prince Philip. “No, I noticed her.” he says faltering again.

“No. No one does.” says Lacey.

I did!!!” says Joe Jr..

“Most men over 70 noticed you. They were in awe of you.” says a dead man who saw her at 18.

“There’s no real proof.” says Lacey. “I could explain it all away with perversion.”

“Not really!” insists Michael.

“What is it about her face that’s so glorious?” asks The Loudest Perfume Hater.

“It’s supple, round…sexy. Every tiny bit of it. But not slutty. Just…so sexy.” says the dead man who’d be 106.

“But not masculine?” asks a Millennial actress with a round face.

“She’s not round in that way. It’s more…supple.” he says. He laughs. “It’s fun to look at. But I’d never expect to end up with her.”

“The perfect storm.” says the Gen X woman.

“I assumed she’d be around forever. Available always. Because she is a good person who’s good-hearted and a fervent Christian.” says Joe Jr.. “Don’t doubt her faith. That’s dangerous. Christ exists, honey.” he says to her haters using religious spirits.

“So she’s not lashing out. She’s not getting even. She’s just over you.” says a Gen X woman to Joe.

“There wasn’t anything to really get over. Just an acceptance of death.” says the Catholic Church. “Too much acceptance but she fervently worships God.”

“I don’t hate her! I’m just better than her!!!” yells Summertime Sadness.

“Yeah!!” yells Mr. Blue. “Me too.”

“Me too!!!” yells Jack.

Don’t Hold Back plays.

The three men form into a half circle. Lights on stage focus on them.

They begin doing some sort of traditional Irish dance. Their glitter apparel is…glittery.

Zelda laughs.

They lip sync the words to the Bob Moses song. Twirl once for a little bit more visual interest for the audience.

Joe Sr. claps and cheers them on for encouragement.

“Is that who want? Does that make you make love?” asks Prince Philip of Lem.

“I got to me! I felt it!” says Bernie.

More later.

“Girl Code!” shouts a Saoirse. “Worms of the world unite!!”

Yeah!!!” yells a Mary. “Woohoo!!”

“If all the women of the world just stand together…the world will be a better place. That’s gotta be the answer, guys.” says Lacey.

“Yeah, dude. You’re right!” says a Mary.

“When I only think about the way women shaped my life. The influence they had on me and the men in my life. The way they selflessly cared every time for me and my truly innocent and vulnerable daughters?! …I mean, we were empowered women. We were like men. Workers. Not at all the traditional feminine victims.” *cough* “Why men are rightfully protective. No!!! …It was the slutty, manipulative, violent real narcissist who triggered my also narcissistic husband to kill us who was the societal feminine. Because she spread her legs.” explains Shanann Watts. “Girl Code!!! Women unite!!!” she shouts.

“You know…maybe women are women. But…trying to turn our gender into an army is rather dumb and dangerous.” says Lacey.

“Oh! Don’t worry! Women aren’t women any more anyway according to Democratic hopefuls.” says a Mary.

“We don’t have to be an army anymore!” says a Saoirse with relief.

“Aww! Darn. I was having fun!” says Shanann.

“Well, we could make an army.” says a Saoirse sweetly.

Shanann smiles.

“How about I fight for all of you. If I’m going to claim to possibly be an English soldier I should. People living don’t know either way. And it’s a grave honor to even imagine.” says Michael.

Later.

“Things matter. And you can’t endlessly control people. You can’t. Get a fucking grip!!!” Lem yells at the Illuminati. “I’ve tried to come on to Lacey so many times but been thwarted. …You’ve gotta let go of your delusions. You’re not me. You don’t know my sexual history the way I do. And it’s becoming problematic. For you and for me. …Stop attacking me when you don’t think I’m real anyway!!!”

“They’re the experts on you. Even though Wikipedia actually is quite vague. And I say that as a purist.” says Lacey.

“But we know what we was saying even though he never openly admitted to being gsy. Or barely did and felt uncomfortable talking about it.” says a gay man. “I mean, I think he was gay. But I haven’t heard from possible ghosts. …In truth, I don’t fully understand how I’m even on your blog.” He thinks. “There’s no real proof he was gay. He could have been bi or confused. …It’s stubborn bullshit you’re dealing with. I’m sorry…”

“She’s right. There isn’t. Or you’re right? …Whoever you even are?!” says a history professor.

“Jack could have been gay.” says Lacey. “And that’s totally whitewashed.” She rolls her eyes. “Or bisexual.”

“Just lay off!!!!” yells Lem at the Illuminati.

“Don’t say that. They’ll think you’re coming on to them.” says Lacey.

“But they’re so ugly. And downtrodden. Why ever would I do that? Or wait! No. They’re too superior.” he says. “ I don’t fuck Jack. That’s his delusion.”

A police officer pulls them over. For expired registration tabs because the ex-husband forgets. Every year.

But…the officer is a Republican. So all is well.

“It started off badly…but I talked to her.” Louis says.

“And then they had a friendly chat. And Lacey almost accidentally told her that she loved her when they parted ways.” says Michael. Michael laughs.

“It was a reflex. Like saying goodbye on the phone to people in my family.” says Lacey. She laughs.

“Well all is well that ends well.” says Lutin.

They laugh.

More Later.

“If I’m illegitimate there’s always something weird about my interactions with police officers. But I liked that lady eventually.” says Lacey.

“She made a joke about taxes and told you to be more fastidious.” says Louis. “You love being genuinely corrected.” he says sadly.

“Lacey you really are like Buster.” says an actor.

Michael smiles.

“Lem, you have to understand her generation is awful. You can’t…just sleep with her. In her experience that means nothing but violence. And massive betrayal.” says Michael.

“But men love you the minute you sleep with them!” protests a stalker who her ex claims raped him.

“I think they get attached. In a way. But I don’t think they automatically fall in love. Do you fall in love that much?” Lacey asks.

“No.” she says. “But I get super attached. Possessively so. Pathologically so. …You just…do momentarily and then if it’s not well received you move on. …I’m not like that. I wish I was.” She thinks. “You’re not like…into ghosts?”

“No. They’re the only men who I’ve been…captured by.” Lacey laughs.

Later.

“You Mick!” says an Illuminati member to Lacey, conjuring a follower in the process.

“Huh. Fascinating insult. Do explain.” says Lacey. “Please!”

“Your father was the leader of the Irish Mob.” says the hater.

“Okay, but like…they’re not Irish. Or at least not really. That insult requires being very much Irish.” says Jack Kennedy.

“They tried. But…were you even Irish?” asks Desmond Guinness.

“I don’t honestly know.” says Lacey.

“But if you were Japanese you’d still be insulted by a racist joke about Chinese people.” says a white supremacist. Lacey takes him seriously.

“True! But then by that logic the English would be insulted by anti-Irish insults.” says Lacey.

He laughs.

“How are the Japanese like the English and not the other way around?” another white supremacist laughs.

“Imperial Japan is more in synch with Imperial Britain, in my opinion. And China has a certain ancient ambiance like Celtic nations?” suggests Lacey.

“No. We were not necessarily Irish in the Banks family.” says Tom.

“That’s bizarrely insightful.” says an actor about her historical observation.

“I’m in love with her.” says Lem.

“We apologize, Jack. That’s your insult.” say the Illuminati.

“We weren’t Micks either. We were lace curtain Irish.” he says. “Get it? Lace? And she’s Lacey Banks.”

“Am I really?” asks Lacey.

“Only if you want.” says Reta. “Right? No. You’re my daughter if I want you to be.”

“Do you?” asks Lacey.

“Yes.” she says.

“No, you don’t.” says Lacey.

“Yes! I do.” she smiles.

“I’ll let God sort that one out with you.” says Lacey.

“Don’t!” she says to Lacey.

“What else does one do?” asks Lacey.

“You’ll see me in Heaven. But don’t believe that until God let’s you.” she says. “Or rather don’t fall for it. I can’t talk to you clearly enough right now.”

“I wasn’t just feeling suicidal.” Lacey explains to the Illuminati. “In case you were wondering.”

Later.

Lacey listens to Glass Hillside all the way through.

“If I have to take the song as intended…it works for Lem. It doesn’t work otherwise.” she says.

Kick laughs.

“Why does the song work for Lem?” asks a living artist.

Michael laughs.

“He’s just that blatantly sexy. When he wants to be. But…it takes a certain bold sexuality or it’s so corny.” she says. “I mean…did they sell out and it’s about child sex slavery…or is it progressive bullshit?”

Michael laughs. “Lacey! They’re gay! No girls allowed!”

Damn!” she says. …”It’s just that I love their music. And what am I supposed to do with this poetry? It’s totally exclusionary. I’m neither a ‘daddy’ nor a young male player looking for a sugar daddy.”

“Lesbians do it too. In their art.” says Lem.

“I know. They’re so arrogant!” says Lacey.

“How?” asks a lesbian.

“Calling straight people breeders? Insulting our souls? …You act like your sex lives are soo much better. I highly doubt that they are. But even if they are at times…I find it very abrasive.” She thinks.

“Actually, I do too. It’s kinda low-key bullying at this point.” says Summertime Sadness.

“You know they are just as bad as straight people’s at times.” says the lesbian.

Summertime Sadness laughs. “Wow!”

“I was raped by a woman. And I killed myself.” says a Saoirse.

“What if I was raped by Jack and now you’re all getting money and jerking off to it? And I killed mysekf because I hated myself because of him? Do I HATE you all? Passionately?” asks Lem.

“Jack and Lem! Lem and Jack!” says JFK. “Weren’t you molested by a gay pedophilic priest too? Lemmers? And isn’t that why you let me rape you?” asks Jack.

“Umm. Jack why didn’t you just come out as gay?” asks a singer who’s gay.

“I couldn’t. I had to run for US President.” says Jack. “Well, and I still did find women attractive. Not as much as I pretended, possibly. Possibly…”

“Did you enjoy victimizing people?” asks the gay singer of JFK.

“Yes. It made me feel better.” he says.

“Why?!” asks another gay singer.

“Because it was my psychological makeup. I had fun putting people down. It made me feel less crummy.” says Jack.

“So you were in love with Lem?? Or no?” asks the first gay singer.

“To a point.” he says. “But if I’d married him…it would have looked like Lacey and Joe if they’d married. Except she romantically loved Joe. But power dynamics were similar.” He thinks. “I might have had a boyfriend.”

“No! You did not. And Lacey was after me for my money!” says Mr. Blue.

“How do you know I didn’t make-out with Rip? Regularly. Or that Red and I didn’t sleep together once? Consensually. Or that I didn’t fall in love with someone else? Or that Tennessee Williams and I didn’t hook-up?” says JFK. “Why did I encourage his sexual pass at me about my ass?!” He looks concerned. “If I was dating you…or married to you…and you heard that would you assume I was just being cute? Coy?! That’s absurd on a certain level. So, Lem sucked my dick so much I gave him a room in the White House and then I passed-up an offer to screw an iconic American author?!?” He looks at people. “Grow-up! I’m not a character on a television show. I was real! If I liked men…why do assume I didn’t??”

“Because we want to pretend homosexuality is as satisfying or real as heterosexuality.” says a conservative. “But in truth we know it’s a farce and that we’re just humoring queer people who want to feel normal because we feel sofor them.”

“Or…because we are delusional. In some other way.” says a gay actor.

“So you were sick in your head?” a blue collar Republican asks Jack.

“Great!” says a witch sarcastically

“Maybe I was.” says Jack.

The man laughs. “Why didn’t you just fuck Lem?”

“I did as much as I could.” says Jack.

“But it didn’t work.” says the Republican man seriously.

“It did. That’s why Lacey is dying inside. She’s defenseless.” says Jack. “It’s through Christ and Lem’s asshole problems I-I HATE Lem now. She’s changed him. Or he’s changed her. You tell me!!”

Glass Hillside plays.

“Umm. Jack. What?! His asshole problems!?” asks a lesbian.

“He’s an asshole!!!” says Jack.

“Like literally, he’s your bottom? Or?” asks The Loudest Perfume Hater.

No!!! No. Shut-up!” he says. “No! He’s a loser!!”

“Why?” asks the gay singer.

“He’s not better than me.” says Jack. “He’s so smug. And indifferent. You know, I used to think he was just trying to hide his desire for me. But turns out he really was that much of a piece of shit.”

“Why did you involve Lacey? Isn’t she sorta like…his girlfriend but still…not really in your circle?” asks a gay man.

“That’s not Michael!” he says.

“Huh?” asks a Chinese man.

“Well…if you believe in reincarnation…you tell me! Did Michael conspire with Lem to humiliate me?” asks Jack. “No, I’m kidding. I just don’t understand it. Her sexuality isn’t supposed to exist.”

“How so?” asks a witch.

“Because Michael-“. He pauses. “No!! I’m not saying that.” He pauses. “Michael has a bigger dick. And he’s smarter. And he isn’t queer?!”

“No, he wasn’t for you. And Lem really might have been straight, and I think you sound drunk.” says a woman to JFK.

“Maybe I am.” he says. He smiles.

Silver Soul plays.

After falling down the stairs and having Covid Lacey’s lungs are not okay. And she chokes on her own spit. Like a 70-something year old.

Still, desperate for power and delusional reassurance in their intellectual poverty…Democrats backing Mr. Blue in the Illuminati violently attack Lacey. Lacey didn’t apologize enough to Mrs. Blue for not being uglier. And she’s possibly never loved Mr. Blue…at all…if it was all makeup and she wasn’t after his money. Her being a gold-digger is his best bet.

“They can’t handle that I seemed straight and Lem seemed gay. It’s too intellectually scary.” says Jack to Lacey.

“Damn. I should have told her to go back to school.” says a former employer of Lacey.

“But I wouldn’t have my kids.” says Lacey.

“If we don’t kill you…they come for us. Or they pay.” says Mr. Blue to Lacey.

“But I died.” says a Saoirse.

“So did we.” says a Gideon.

“That doesn’t count.” says Satan.

“Why?” asks Lacey of Satan.

He thinks. How to explain?

Linger as sang by a demon to Satan makes Lacey laugh.

“Yeah right!” says a jealous Satanist of the demon.

“I don’t care. I want you.” says Satan to Lacey.

Why?!” asks Lacey.

“Because you’re very beautiful. And very good. And very kind. And extremely lovable.” says Satan.

“But what difference does that make?” asks Lacey. “What good does that do you? We can’t make love and if I die I’ll go to Heaven anyway.”

“True. But I want you off. I want you dead. And silent.” says Satan.

“But if I die and don’t go to Hell I’ll be happy. And goodness knows I’ll rip you apart if I can to protect my kids.” says Lacey.

“I’d do it.” says Michael.

“Hush! I want a bloody mess.” says Satan.

“Are you scared of Lem and Michael?” asks Summertime Sadness of Satan.

He cries.

“Oh, I know. You lie.” says Lacey to Satan.

“Yup!” he says.

“Does he really want to have sex with me?!” asks Lacey.

An angel answers. “Yes.”

Why?!” asks Lacey.

“Because you’re beautiful.” says the angel.

“I suppose it’s common?!” she asks baffled.

“Not.” says the angel.

“Am I really that beautiful? Or what?” asks Lacey.

“Yes.” the angel says.

“Huh. Well, obviously it doesn’t work out.” says Lacey. “I mean he’s Satan. Too bad he can’t understand?”

Lover Of Mine plays.

“Well, I’m sure God will sort it out with Satan.” says Lacey.

“It’s just impossible?” says a Catholic of Lacey.

“Yes. It’s not possible. Too bad for Satan. If he likes me that much, I guess.” says Lacey.

“Gee. If only he hadn’t fallen.” says an Episcopalian.

“Well, it’s not just that. It’s also that he’s not human.” says Lacey. “If he became the Anti-Christ that obviously wouldn’t work. Just to clarify.”

“Would anything work?” asks Lem.

“He’s Satan. Isn’t there something he can work out with God?” asks Lacey. “I just can’t imagine there’s a problem or if there is it wasn’t going to happen anyway. It’s not my pay grade either way.”

“So you want us to torture her or kill her?” asks the Satanists.

“I don’t care. I hate you all. I look forward to slaughtering you and then torturing you for eternity if God lets me.” Satan says.

The Fear by Lily Allen plays. Satan dances.

“Sometimes Satan has to remind me that God loves me. Satan doesn’t love me. But he reminds me God loves me.” says Lacey.

“Shake those asses!!!” Michael says to pedophiles. “Then slit your throats if you’re not useful to Christ.”

“Oh no! Don’t kill them!” says a progressive counselor.

“I’m not.” says Michael.

“That’s hate speech! We’ll kill you! And torture you for being Christian! And then kill your kids and eat them.” she says on behalf all Liberal Americans and Democrats everywhere. Including Joe Biden.

“I’m not sure I like this idea.” says a Joe Biden.

“Why not? I just did mushrooms and it makes sense to me.” says a vocal lesbian. “I hate her. She’s so smug. Let’s torture her.”

“But the idea isn’t to torture me. Is it? Isn’t it to torture my kids and then literally turn them into food?” clarifies Lacey.

“Yes. They may have wanted to torture you too though. Sorry for the miscommunication.” says Lem.

Lacey analyzes it.

“I’m sorry? But I’m afraid we’re going to have to decline.” says Lacey.

“You could try. But we’re dead.” says Lem. “You can’t control our movements.”

“What happens if we torture innocent people?” asks a psychopath.

“The expected. Satan is allowed to hurt you more or you’ll lose your sense of self in some way? Or something? That’s my sense.” says Lacey. “You don’t get away with anything.”

“Oh well. No more. I’m done. And you’ll regret it if you test me. I can’t lie?” asks Lacey.

“Like we’ll wish we hadn’t?” asks a Greta.

“You’ll die through your pores?” wonders Lacey. “No!! You’ll vomit for weeks and then cry yourself in delirium to eternal Hell?” she wonders casually. “No! You’ll bleed through your eyes until your throat swells up and you suffocate?”

“Like it! Don’t love it!” says a dead DuPont.

“Well, I don’t want them to go to Hell.” she says.

“It’s not the kind of torture I can do.” says Satan.

“No. But I hope they’re still redeemable.” says Lacey.

Summertime Sadness plays.

“Let’s see what I can figure out if they don’t relent.” says Satan to a lot of pedophiles.

“If they don’t abuse kids?” asks Michael.

He nods. “I want them in Hell, Mike.”

“Oh! I get it. If they don’t abuse kids you’ll send them to Hell. And you’re Satan so you’re lying.” says Lacey.

“Yes.” says Satan.

Bad Guy plays.

“You know, pedophilia really is awful. Seriously.” Satan says to Lacey.

“I struggle with blood lust in regard to those I want to torture the pedophiles. Brutally. I’m sorry, God.” says Lacey.

“Are you thanking me?” Satan asks.

“Can I?” she asks God.

“Well, God created him. But he did fall. Still, right and wrong belong to God.” says an angel.

“I’m ready to capitulate that you likely never found the real me all that attractive if at all.” Mr. Blue says Lacey.

“I was never after your money.” says Lacey.

“So we’re three insecure malignant narcissists who decided to torture you for innocently admiring us but being superior to us.” say Mr. Blue, Mrs. Blue, and Batgirl III to Lacey.

“Should this not be fiction…yes.” says Lacey. “Well, I shouldn’t say yes. I don’t know. But it seems so.”

“Well, and discovering the Illuminati. By accident. If you’re not a botched sacrificial lamb. …That’s why we hate you.” Mr. Blue says.

“Yes. And that’s all. It was by accident that it was Lacey Banks you found. Unaware.” says Reta Banks.

“So Lacey accidentally found the Illuminati on Twitter and then three fools decided to prank her viciously and drive her insane or to her death to feel superior. Because she threatened their egos too much.” muses Al Capone.

“Thee Al Capone!” says Tommy Banks.

Dead Mark Nesheim laughs.

“Welp. It’s been fun channeling with you all. But Lem says we need to go.” Lacey says as Lem’s pretend puppet.

Lover Of Mine plays.

“Off to Norway! Off to Norway!” sings Joe Jr..

“You know you’re better off without it!” sings a Viking.

“Young is fine!” says a Norwegian to a Nazi in WWII.

“We decide!” sings a Nazi.

“But then you betrayed us.” says a Norwegian.

“We’re not concerned with that.” says the Nazi.

“Then we’ll eat lefse.” say the Norwegians.

“Good song.” says Michael.

“It’s creepy without you.” says Lacey.

“Me too.” says Lem. “Lacey, we’re in love.” he warns her (about her and Lem).

—-

Playing Games

(Adult content below)

Ltm picked up Lacey and carried her away.

How Did I Get Here by ODESZA plays.

Lacey isn’t Jack.

Lacey…isn’t Jack.

Lacey…isn’t…Jack.

His mother weeps. Why? Because he’s fouling-up with God.

He hovers over Lacey expecting Jack’s insouciance and narcissistic disregard. She kissed Michael. Right in front of him! But…instead she coughs. She’s never completely gotten over Covid. It’s a tiny cough. It’s a careful, worried cough of someone who needs to cough but doesn’t want to bother people with the noise. And at first Lem believes it’s a lie…and then he realizes how off the mark his impression of reality is. Because all he sees beneath him is soft, sad, tender love and confusion.

But he can’t get over it. Michael just kissed her.

“Making people jealous might not have been in their wheelhouse, Jack. What you did…should you have secretly wanted him to give you blow jobs and such…was…umm…weird. And creepy. And wrong. And…umm…evil.” says Bobby to Jack. “Jack. Why don’t you already know this is what baffles her. …Care to explain? Oh!!! Oh!! You can’t?!? Gee. Thanks! On behalf of God, gosh golly thanks!” Bobby says.

“Bobby, did you spend a lot of time cleaning-up Jack’s messes??” asks a Gen X woman.

“My brother?!?” Bobby responds with fake cheer.

Radio by Lana Del Rey plays.

A women in her car feels sad because she thinks of the woman who should have been there. But wasn’t. The Bobby Kennedy US Presidency that should have been. The way she’d have advocated for him to run first and take the helm instead of Jack. 

“But then I would have gotten so old!” says Joe Sr. sitting in a sailboat to Lacey.

Lem realizes Lacey has disappeared. He shakes his head and finds her in a sailboat getting into an argument over Bobby’s delayed US Presidency with J. P.. It amuses and surprises him.

“Who cares!? It’s a successful presidency you want. Right? Not a sloppy victory that will make you look cheap and backward in the future?” asks Lacey.

“Why did I let any of my kids love you?!?” he rages. “That’s the dumbest thing I did!”

“Clarify, please.” says Lacey.

“I love you!” he says with a smile.

“And then she’ll try on this concept like a shoe. Like a shoe.” Bobby says to Lem. “It’s all theoretical to her.”

“He might be right though.” says Lacey about J. P..

“I didn’t think Bobby was ready yet to run.” says Joe Sr..

“He wasn’t. You’re right. But…he-Jack couldn’t handle it.” says Lacey.

“You’re right.” says Joe, sadly.

“You should have.” says Lacey.

And at that Joe Sr. cries.

They all sit in silence. On the boat.

Concerto Grosso For Strings In 3 Groups by Ralph Vaughan Williams plays.

“I should have never let you think it was anyone but me.” says Joe Sr..

“In your family?” asks Lacey.

“Lem wasn’t really my son. Yes. …Joe never responds to your pain the way I do. He hates it. But he doesn’t feel responsible for it the way I do. I do care, not like a father who can fix it but like a man who would have loved you. Fouled-up maybe. Ruined it. But…you were born in 1983. And I never got the chance to make the mistake of letting Joe love you in so-called life.” says Joe Sr.. “You need someone far more awful.” he says with a wink. “Than our dear Joey.”

And at that Joe Sr. walks off. He’d been reliving his wheelchair experience. But enough of that for now. …So he walks off.

How Did I Get Here plays again.

Lem watches as Lacey coolly and calmly analyzes it all. In the sunlight. On the sailboat.

Jack arrives. Ready to party. With Lem. Dressed by his mother, Rose, for the occasion based on his previous preferences. Rose (very intelligently) used a proprietary algorithm similar to Pandora and Instagram.

All morning Lacey has been smelling Caron Narcisse Noir. As if she was wearing it. But she isn’t.

“Ready to go, Lemmers?” asks Jack.

“Do you smell like Narcisse Noir?” asks Lem.

“No.” says Jack.

And at that Lem punches him in the face.

“No!! Don’t!” says Lacey.

Jack cries, Lacey runs and gives him a quick cuddle. He cries more.

“I’m sorry, mommy!” he says about Lem to Lacey.

“I might not be your mommy. But that’s a lovely thought.” says Lacey giving him a quick squeeze. “I’m sorry you’re so confused.”

“That’s okay. You didn’t do it.” Jack says.

“Well, and I’m not your mommy. Remember that. But, golly. You’d have been a great son. I’d have been worried about you though.” says Lacey.

“I’d not be so concerning if I was your son.” says Jack.

“So then what will you do?” asks Lacey.

Jack cries.

“I don’t know.” he says between sobs to Lacey.

“God must have another mommy. Should you need one. He just must!” says Lacey.

Jack nods.

Lacey gives him another hug. He tries not to cry.

“So, Jack would have considered your second wife…his mommy?” asks a lesbian of Joe Sr..

A&W plays. Darkly. Sadly.

“Yes! Very much so! What’s it to you, young lady?” asks J. P.. “She might not be my second-wife, but I’m starting to get a clue about certain things. Huh?”

“So Jack has started to see Lacey as a mommy?” asks a gay man.

“The sort of mommy he wanted!!!!” yells Joe Sr..

“Why didn’t you provide that for him then?!” asks Wobbly of J. P..

Joe Sr. cries.

“He’s hopefully dealing with it with God.” says Lacey.

A Saoirse laughs. A Joe Sr. smiles. Sighs. Cries.

Lem stands in cold shock. He’s been outed. Not as a gay man. Or a homosexual. No. As a fool.

A&W plays the sad refrain. Michael smiles at him as does Louis.

“Hi!” says Louis to Lem. Michael laughs.

They pick Lem up and run off with his suddenly frozen stiff body. Lem can’t move.

“Can’t you move, precious?!” asks Louis of Lem.

“No!” yells Lem.

“Why not?!” asks Louis.

A&W starts over.

Michael tickles Lem’s face. “Laugh! Now!” he says sadistically. “I won’t let you breath until you laugh!!!” says Michael dancing around him.

Louis throws Lem’s frozen body off a cliff. He can’t scream. He can’t move.

Pete watches.

Lem falls. And falls. And falls. For decades?

“That’s hot..sexy…love?” asks Lacey seductively.

“It wasn’t decades. It was two fucking seconds!” yells J. P. at Lem. “And that was the tip of the iceberg of her rage!!” He spits Lem out of his mouth and Lem flails into the ocean.

“It isn’t rage. Is it? It’s love. And it’s so awful she can’t put it into words.” says Joe Sr. as Lem lands in a small boat on a placid, lonely, sunny sea.

A&W plays again.

“You’re sexy!” says Lacey to Lem.

“God warns against sodomy, Lem.” says Jack to Lem as a voice.

“But it’s so you? So…necessary.” says Lacey mockingly as a voice. “You…must.” she says in a creepy voice. “Must! Now!!!!!” she yells. His ears bleed.

“Jack’s your best friend! He’ll save you!” says Michael floating in front of Lem in the water.

“Yummy! Like Jesus!” says Lacey.

Michael winks and then disappears.

Lem gets scared. Because…it might be real.

“Why are you scared?” asks Lacey. “I thought you had God on your side and my pain was meaningless?!” she says sitting next to him.

A&W starts over.

“You know…I let myself be with other men…because I didn’t want to torture you. It’s beneath me. And what? You weren’t worth it? …Not because you might be inferior. No. You’re not. But because I thought your love was worth filthy shit…in Heaven. I HATED your cruel joke you called love. You Satan!” she spits at him as a compliment. “I told you not to try me, out of respect for you.”

“It’s funny. It’s all a big…dark…evil joke. And that’s the legacy I want to leave behind! To my kids!” says Michael. He laughs.

“Where’s Joey?! Huh?!” asks Lacey in Lem’s ear in a sexy voice.

“Is he having sex with Lacey as this happens? Or am I?!” asks Michael. “She loves me. And yet you expect her to still love Joey?! …That’s…vile.” He laughs. “That’s not the way I do things. She’s mine, pumpkin. And I’m not your big sister. Or your big story. If you actually have a heart, please try to get a clue. You’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy. Or is it Max? Or what? Who are you? Who are you? …Why not ask who she is?! Or who I am? In a way that’s far more…Heavenly?”

“Would you like some tea?” asks a beautiful, Asian woman. She floats on the water. Smiling.

Lem sees her beauty but isn’t…affected. He smiles at her. He accepts the tea. Nods.

“Thank you.” Lem says holding a Royal Crown Derby teacup and saucer with perfect Earl Grey and milk in first.

The woman nods. Disappears.

Michael is gone. And Lem’s left floating placidly in the Caribbean. No death. No sunburn. Just endless perfect Earl Grey, the ocean and his thoughts.

“That was a real 19th Century Geisha, Lem!!!” gushes a gay man in an over-the-top gay voice.

Lem cries. Throws the cup and saucer in the ocean but it just reappears instantly in his hands. In perfect condition. Tea still warm.

He drinks it. And suddenly understands Michael’s glory from Lacey’s actual perspective. …And he really enjoys the tea. …He loves this tea.

He examines the cup. Is enthralled by it.

He sighs contented. It’s not Lem or Michael but darn. …Or God. Or her kids, obviously. But it’s good tea.

“Here. Sterling silver.” says Michael. “It’s Lacey’s favorite teapot. Should you want more. And from now it’s me. Or Louis. That’s who you worry about. For your own good, I want that to be clear.”

Lem nods. Smiles.

Then in terror Michael disappears again.

Burn The Witch by Radiohead plays. Because God created beauty and music and it’s beautiful music and Lacey has claimed it for Him. It echoes gorgeously over the ocean he created, as explained in His Bible. The Holy Bible, of course.

Michael had acne. Seemingly. Made awkward expressions on camera.

“But in their private moments they look like themselves. I insist on it.” says Lem.

Sky Took Hold plays.

“They look entirely different. It’s almost creepy.” he says. “No, they cared. And care.” He sits and analyzes it.

“Well, I care.” says Lacey. “I know that.”

“I can’t get over it.”says Lem.

“Get over what?” asks Michael.

“The transformation. It’s almost as baffling as my orientation.” says Lem. “Why do you two do that with your faces? Most people try to be appealing.”

“Ask God, Lem.” says Michael.

“It’s like, I don’t believe you planned it. But you’re both doing it.” says Lem.

“And nobody saw through it. Or understood our intent, I suppose. …But you’ll just find this boring?” says Lacey drearily. “It’s just the way we are, maybe?”

“Watching you two make love is gorgeous.” says Lem. “Truly. On an artistic level. You’re both far more beautiful than either of you realize. David, the statue, has nothing on either of you. And your passion! …It’s…terrifyingly beautiful.” says Lem. “You wouldn’t guess that. You’re both so…nice. Awww!”

“Don’t you enjoy watching your significant other have sex? Isn’t that your specialty, Sir?” asks an Indian man to Lem.

“No! No, not really.” says Lem. “Had you fooled, huh?”

“You sure did, Lem!” says a Gen X woman, laughing facetiously.

“Why am I in a bathtub in 1960’s Biafra?” Lem asks God as he watches Lacey and Michael dancing in the 1950’s at a party. The bathtub is blown-up.

Lem lands in Michael’s dorm room. Michael is tutoring Lacey and why they’re allowing them to be alone together with the door shut is intriguing…since it’s the 1950’s. …But Lacey needs help with math. And Michael explains it to her well.

Michael suddenly loses himself.

They’re married three months later.

Happily.

“I have an answer for you.” says a woman who died of cancer to Lem. “Since you lack the sense to figure it out yourself.” She shows him Lacey and Michael married in their 30’s. And then she shows Lem him and Jack in the White House. She shows him Lacey and Michael in their teens on a picnic. Then she shows him him and Jack in their teens. “You loved Jack your whole life! Awww! …You were never lonely. Never…lonely.” She smiles. “Honestly, I get your confusion. Choosing between that-“ She points to Lem and Jack. “And that!” She points to Michael and Lacey. “Is sooo mysterious. You need all of the gay men in the world to help you decide? Or who? All humans to ever live? All Americans? All Democrats? All Republicans? All of Fox News? All of NBC? All Rockefellers? All of your family? Who? You never said. And Lacey isn’t Jack. What choice did you really leave her to make, Lem?” She cheers up. Grins. “No more. Which do you choose?”

Losing All Sense plays.

“I was more straight than Michael and I was very arrogant about it, secretly.“ says Lem. “I called myself gay. But…super secretly I believed I was superior.” He thinks. “I was actually very masculine by nature.”

Cut-Out plays as Lem chooses Lacey and Michael. “I’ll watch this. I’m not Michael but I’m also not a homosexual by any measure.” He fumes.

“Hey thanks for buying my sons heroin after I was shot!” says Bobby sarcastically. “Best surrogate daddy ever!!!”

“Hey, Bobby do you think it should all just be legal? It’s soooo cooool!” says Lacey.

“Well…I got shot there. And two of my descendants have overdosed and died. So…yeah! Sure!! Sounds great!” he says smiling.

You got shot? No fair!! If I didn’t have kids I wish I was shot!” says Lacey.

“But I did have kids.” he says.

“Yeah, I suppose that ruined it.” says Lacey.

“Yeah, I don’t know. I liked being alive.” he says.

“I would too! If I had been loved. But…I have kids so.” says Lacey.

“Yeah. So 50 more years?” he asks.

“Yes! 40?” she says.

“I’m glad you have kids though.” he says.

“Oh goodness! Me too. Funny how assholes want to make that shit nowadays.” says Lacey.

“They shouldn’t have kids if they are so useless.” says Bobby.

“I don’t want them to go to Hell.” says Lacey.

“Mr neither.” he agrees.

“We should pray for them.” she says.

“Daily.” he says.

“Well, good talking with you, buddy!” she says self-deprecatingly.

“You too.” he says.

Michael and Lacey listen to Glass Hillside and choose to interpret it as a song about them. Nothing perverse. Nothing to do with pedophilia. Just them…and their fears about turning into their actual parents. Their fears about being watched. Never being able to get away…alone together.

“This beat reminds me more of Lem. To be honest.” she says.

“But I could have seduced you. Easily. In our 30’s.” says Michael. “And made the beat work for us.”

“Would it have been as passionate?” asks Lacey.

“I know.” he smiles.

“Say, do you have someone the beat works better for?” she asks him.

“Possibly. But I like what we have.” he says.

“Well, please don’t worry. I’d be happy for you if you have a better woman for the beat than me.” says Lacey.

“We’ll see.” he says.

And at that they lay heads together, feet on opposite ends staring up at the sky. Thinking.

And mere feet away parked in a Jeep sits Lem. Alone. In the driver’s seat. He sits and watches, growing perplexed when they listen and choose to lay there. He isn’t unhappy but perplexed.

He shifts in his seat. Stares.

“Are you okay?” he yells out the window after rolling it down.

Michael raises his head. “Yes, Lem.”

“Should we all go get something to eat?” asks Lem.

“My wife and I would like to get divorced.” jokes Michael.

“Over me?!” jokes Lem.

“Hey, Lem, you wanna room?” says Michael.

“No. No, I want a wife.” he says.

“I don’t have a wife though. I was just joking. Get it? It’s complicated.” says Michael. “You know…we can’t both have her.”

Time goes on.

“I ruined it.” says Lem.

“And yet she’s supposed to be accountable for your actions?” asks Michael. “And Jack’s too!”

“You’re still protecting Jack. I think that’s why I slept with everyone I ever slept with who wasn’t you. You’re still one with him whether you want to be or not and when you save yourself in the past you save him too. And I could tolerate it for a while but now it’s unbearable. It’s been unbearable for a while probably. …When Michael reaches for me it’s like…it’s…relief. Funny? Isn’t it? Relief?” She thinks. “Actually I’d call it sanity. And hope. And some sense that you and Jack didn’t just conspire to send me to genuine eternal Hell. I’m a woman, Lem. I have needs, as they say. And you are too upset to meet my needs. Isn’t that sad? Because I’m the woman. And I don’t want to tell you that you failed to exist. I love you.” She thinks. “Where’s Jack’s dick. And his big grin? It’s time for your supper? Right? Teddy Bear?!”

“You were straight? Right? Ou non? …You’re sure you were straight?” asks Michael. “Because I thought you gave everything to Jack? Everything!”

“What?! Little ol’ me?! Lil’ ol’ fuck face, useless me?! I’m a worthless piece of shit!!! Kill me!! Oh master!!!! KILL ME!!!!” Lacey shouts at Lem in imitation of him.

“No!!! It’s fine to fake being gay.” says Michael sarcastically. “It’s not a HUGE insult to your female SOULMATE!”

“I can’t handle EVERYTHING shoved biokrntin my face by you. Sorry!!!” says Lacey to Lem. “Your dick? No. Why not just strangle me to death if you hate me and find me to be so ugly and deplorable to you?”

And at that Jack does the twist with Lem. In the 1960’s. In his mind. Later demanding a blow job.

“It’s your job, bitch! Right!? And I’m a worm!!!! “ yells Lacey.

Lem smiles.

“Your penis and mouth were busy, dude. She had to sup’ elsewhere. Sorry!” says Elliott to Lem. “She tried to reach you. But…Jack said you belonged profoundly and entirely to just him.” He thinks. “His grin. His confidence. His everything was evidence of your lack of any mild concern for her. And she really likes men. A lot. …It was just a simple misunderstanding. And her fault. Poor wittle you and poor wittle Ken.” He pouts. “But without her energy…flowing through you against her will from the future what was remotely tolerable about your chosen life?” He scoffs. “You’re both vile!!! Such cheats!” He spits in Lem’s face. “Living high off the hog on her dime. And what does she get? This. Yup! You’re just a fair, gentle, loving man. Why would you want to share her ass? There’s barely any left after the feast you and your fuck buddy had!” He laughs. “Does Satan such your dick or Christ, you useless-“ and at that he nears Lem to a bloody pulp.

“And yet she still loves you.” says Joe Sr..

“Hey!!! Maybe he was gay!!! And this is all a joke. Or bisexual. Everyone knows better than me!!!!!!! ALWAYS!!!!” says Lacey. “ I told you not to try me.”

“Did all that violence bring you closer or farther from her?” asks J. P.. “Farther, sonny.”

“Hi!” says Michael. “Wanna try to suck my dick on the weekends? No? …We’re thinking you were high on heroin when Elliott beat you? Sounds fair.” He smiles. “Can you feel the pain? No? Yes? Need more?” Michael thinks. “You know…funny thing…if we had been the lovers and you were straight…none of this would be happening. Ever wonder why?” He closes his eyes. “Lem…they HATE her. I love her. That’s the problem. They HATE her for no good reason. …Not all of them. But Lem…should we be who we say we are…and should I love her…don’t underestimate their profound hatred of her.”

“Why?!” asks Lacey.

“Rose hates you for obvious reasons. The othered feel…loyalty to Rose. And you’re so English.” says Rocky.

“Well Lem, have fun fucking the cool kid Orish for eternity?” asks Lacey.

“Alright!” says a demon who enables living Kennedy’s to kill themselves. He’s trying to impersonate Lem. He’s persistent and idiotic.

Lacey is then psychologically tortured by the Illuminati.

“Why are you torturing her?!” asks a priest of the Kennedy’s.

“Because the demons are nicer to us when we do!” says one of them.

“Won’t that make it worse for you later?” asks Lem.

“No!!!” says Joe Sr. lying. “I can’t handle it!!!”

“Stop making that up!!! You’re mean!” says a Boomer to Lacey seriously.

“Joe, if you’re not in Hell you need to embrace the cross!” says a Catholic priest.

“I doubt he’s in Hell.” says Lacey.

“Bullshit! God can’t save Him.” says a demon.

“No. It’s nice to know she cares.” he cries. “I’m not in Hell.”

“Lord, please give them grace, if I can or should pray that. In Jesus’ name.” says Lacey to God. She feels exasperated theologically.

“I need you.” says Lem to Lacey.

“You couldn’t live without Jack though. It was as if you’d been struck by lightning. You see the saddest widow to ever exist.” says Lacey.

Michael laughs. An over-the-top laugh.

“Mic drop!” he says to Lacey. “Ouch!” He gets into Lacey’s face. “If Lem doesn’t understand by now…I don’t think it’s worth it.” He embraces her. “You can’t save him the way Jesus does.”

“Lem, I love you.” says Lacey to Lem. “I’ll never give-up on you. Just get rejected by you.” She sighs. Turns away.

Silence.

“I don’t understand why you seem bothered all of a sudden?” asks Lem feeling sorry for himself by imitating Michael.

Lacey ignores him. It’s only torture for her.

“He’s jealous, Lacey.” says Michael.

Plastic Jungle plays.

Michael laughs.

In Search Of plays next.

Lacey laughs.

“It’s not that it isn’t cool. It’s just that God is great.” explains Lacey.

Faker plays.

Lem weeps.

“It’s not that he’s frigid or something-“ Lacey says to Michael.

“It’s that he’s been angry at you for months now.” says Michael’s brother.

“Yes. And he’s not himself.” says Lacey.

“He’s emotionally withholding.” says Michael’s brother.

“Yes!” says Lacey.

“He’s cursed? Like his father?” wonders Michael’s brother.

“He put all his eggs in the wrong basket.” says Michael. “And bankrupted himself.”

Silence.

“His father made terrible decisions…for understandable reasons. And lost a lot of money. And then eventually left him and his mother destitute when he died.” says Michael.

“He’s making and made similar mistakes.” says Michael’s brother.

“Emotional bankruptcy is serious.” says Scott Fitzgerald.

“And then he’s mad when you second guess him.” says Zelda. “And leaves you to starve. And then gets mad when you find food elsewhere. It’s sick.”

“Why did he put everything with Jack?!?” asks Bernie Madoff.

Lacey laughs. “Why did he?” she asks Bernie.

Michael smiles to see Lacey cheer-up a bit.

“I hate that song.” Michael says about Glass Hillside. Lacey smiles.

They’re alone.

Then he looks her in the eyes. And Lacey closes her eyes and resists.

Neighbors plays.

“But it’s too late!! The minute he looked her in the eyes…it killed me.” says Lem.

“I’ll tell you why!” says Bernie Madoff.

“Why?” asks Lacey.

He cries. “He didn’t see any way forward. All he saw was a big nothing.” He sighs. “It seemed like his only real hope in life.”

“No way?” asks Lacey.

He laughs. “Well, no. He could have tried actual prostitution. But he had few prospects and he was soft. He was a rich kid.”

“Soft?” asks Lem.

“You were! Yes!” says Bernie.

“I had low-class jobs I worked hard at.” he says.

“Not like I did.” says Bernie. “I was a prostitute of my soul. …She’s right. You didn’t try every escape route.”

“And I suppose if I’m going to expect so damn much of her I have to be careful my ducks are in order too.” he says. “But that’s only fair. I’ve offered very little real love. Just rage.”

Apologize by OneRepublic plays

“It’s too late! It’s too late to apologize!” Michael sings to Lem. “It’s a man. Can you understand now?”

“I think we’ve decided you’re abusive.” Elliott says to Lem.

“Why is it too late?” asks Lem.

“Why am I here?” asks Michael.

“It was too late the second Michael laid eyes on her, if you know what I mean.” says Bernie Madoff to Lem. “Why didn’t you recognize what was happening? Or is happening?”

“If she let herself go she’d fall madly in love with Michael.” says Louis. “But…then you have to ask yourself: What’s best?”

Lem collects himself.

“Are you best? Are you? Am I? …Who?!” says Louis.

“Yeah!” says Bernie.

“What’s BEST?! God. And who does He say it is?” asks Desmond.

“Michael?” asks a Prince.

OneRepublic speaks truth.

“How many marriages did Jack torture? Hey! Mrs. Blue, ever wonder?” asks a conservative.

Gnossiennes (6), For Piano by Satie plays.

“I am. Louis is. Michael is. …But you truly can’t decide.” says Lem.

“Oh really?!” asks Michael.

Louis laughs. Lacey laughs… Louis’ ex wife laughs. Jerome Hill laughs. Their grandfather laughs.

“Why?” asks the Native American woman.

“Where we are.” says Louis. “And the literal smell of wood. And all the problems we’ve had with wood for hundred of years…”

Louis laughs. He falls on the floor laughing.

“Did you fall down wooden stairs?” asks Jerome.

An Asmat laughs and lights a dead tree on fire.

“Possibly.” says Louis.

“Trees give us life though.” says Lacey.

“I’m lying. I’m not lying but I’m lying.” says Lem.

“About what?” asks Louis.

“I’m not pretty. I had flaws. Not…horrible flaws. But…I wasn’t as good-looking as Michael.” says Lem.

“That’s not what I see.” says Lacey.

National Anthem plays.

Michael laughs.

“Okay! But I’m not Michael. I’m tall but…without glasses he was hot.” says Lem. “He looks like a blond Germanic royal.”

Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper plays.

An English witch cries. She hears Lacey’s heart.

Michael smiles.

“No!!!” he yells. “Enough!!! Enough, Lem!!”

Suspirium by Thom Yorke plays.

Louis stands on the great Lake Superior. Looks around.

“You’re just as good as me. She adores you. No more excuses.” says Michael.

Myth by Beach House plays.

“Cyndi Lauper made her upset because she knows it could have been me. And her. In the 1980’s. Or if she’d been born in 1983 still…I could have sworn I’d never loved anyone like her. All the times I heard it.” says Michael. “What about you? Could you have promised that? Yes? Then stop getting in my way or let me leave you alone. I’m in love, Lem. What you’re watching is is in love. In love.”

“Was I the investors?” asks Lem, sarcastically. He laughs. “Yes?”

“So now what?!” Louis asks as if they’re having a sleepover.

Lem laughs.

“Wanna rob a convenience store?” asks Louis.

Bad Girls plays.

“My father could buy the store and pay for the damages after.” says Jerome.

“Mine could too!” says Michael.

“Oh!! We should soo do it!” says Louis.

“I’ll call my dad and ask if it’s okay first.” says Michael.

Later? Later will be written later.

“Nooo!” yells Lem. “Wait!” He smiles. “Think of the repercussions.”

“True!” says Louis.

“So now what? No lies!!!” yells Michael.

More later.

“I couldn’t do this anymore.” says Lacey about the place they’re staying and how gorgeous it is. “I mean run a bed and breakfast.”

“That’s fine!” says Michael.

“You’re not useless.” says Louis.

“My goodness.” says Lacey.

His wife laughs.

“No, you’re not.” says Louis seriously.

“I was straight.” says Lem. “Lacey, you’re the first woman I’ve ever slept with.”

“It’s that different than what you experienced?” asks Lacey.

He looks her in the eyes. “Yes.”

“What does that mean to you?” asks Lacey.

“Exactly what it means to you.” he says.

“Do you think we belong together? Truly!” says Lacey.

He grows sad.

“No! We may have made a horrific mistake. One I don’t fully comprehend. …But you think it was not? And you’re genuinely certain about that?” asks Lacey.

“Yes.” he says. “Michael isn’t your soulmate the way I am.”

“Well…I’m devastated. By you. It’s been so unclear how you feel. I’d love to go back and fix it for you but I can’t. It’ll only make it worse. …I don’t-“ says Lacey.

“I can explain. But it’ll baffle you.” laughs Lem.

He explains.

“As long as God’s sure. Michael is-Well…I just worry. But he’s not you.“ says Lacey. “And neither is Louis.”

“You shouldn’t have had to worry.” he says.

“You just couldn’t tell me?” she asks.

“I was tongue-tied. I still am.” he says.

“That tongue-tied?” she asks.

“Yes.” he laughs.

“It just really makes it seem like you might be losing interest.” says Lacey.

“I’ll warn you if I ever do. I promise.” he says.

“Is that possible?” asks Lacey.

“No.” he says. “No!”

“It’s not like you’ll miss me. In the best way. Regardless.” says Michael. “That’s either a warning to Lem or a promise I’ll be happy.”

“She might miss me more.” says Lem.

—-