Loving Force, Immovable Object

1. INT. RICK FARREL’S BEDROOM DAY. 1.

Late afternoon. RICK is sitting at his desk busily working on an art assignment which he seems to be quite interested in. He is a typical teenage guy, with dark brown hair that just falls randomly into place, casually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. The room has a simple study desk and chair, as well as a single bed in the middle of it. Various posters of female rock singers including Shirley Manson, K D Lang, Annie Lennox and Melissa Etheridge cover the walls. There are numerous books and a school bag lying on the bed.

JUDITH enters the doorway and stops there, carrying a manila folder with RICK’S history assignment on gay rights inside of it. She is a hard working middle aged woman of about 45, with shoulder length light brown hair and a face worn by the passing years. She is dressed in somewhat daggy tracksuit pants and top and has the air of a suburban stay-at-home mum. Her expression is neutral, but she is obviously trying to contain her anger.

JUDITH FARREL
Rick.

RICK looks up at his mother in surprise, and his jaw slowly drops as he sees what she is holding, and has obviously read.

JUDITH FARREL
What is this?

RICK is extremely hesitant.

RICK FARREL
That’s my history assignment.

JUDITH nods and flicks through the pages, pretending to skim over what she’s already read. RICK slowly rises from his chair and licks his lips, nervously waiting for his mother’s next words.

JUDITH FARREL
An A. I’m impressed. Pity you couldn’t get
these kind results in more productive areas.

RICK FARREL
History’s not a waste of time Mum…

JUDITH suddenly snaps the folder shut, losing patience, and glares at her son.

JUDITH FARREL
You know what I mean! Gay rights?
What were you thinking?

RICK looks down, attempting to choose his words with care.

RICK FARREL
Mum, I’ve got something very important
to tell you.

JUDITH FARREL
Stop! Stop right there! I don’t
want to hear it!

RICK FARREL
Mum, please, it’s not my decision.

JUDITH FARREL
Oh, it’s not your decision! I see!
Whose is it then? Is it mine?
Did I just walk around one day while I was
pregnant and say ‘gee, I hope my kid
turns out a faggot?’
For God’s sake Rick! Do you know what
you’re saying? Do you have any idea
how these people live?

RICK swallows, his own anger beginning to rise. But he keeps his temper.

RICK FARREL
I imagine I’d have a better idea
than you do.

JUDITH FARREL
A better idea than me eh? A better
idea than me? You just watch what you’re
saying in this house young man!

JUDITH waves the folder in front of RICK for emphasis.

JUDITH FARREL
And you watch what the hell you say in this
thing too!

Taking a risk, RICK quickly grabs the folder out of JUDITH’S hands and puts it down on his desk firmly. JUDITH doesn’t try to stop him, instead just leaning back in the doorway and folding her arms, a frustrated expression on her face. RICK manages to calm himself again.

RICK FARREL
Where did you find it?

JUDITH FARREL
I did one of my routine clean-ups
of people’s rooms today Rick.
You should be more careful. If your
father had found this before I did…

RICK quickly interrupts, looking at JUDITH in earnest.

RICK FARREL
Does Dad know?

JUDITH FARREL
Oh yes. I tried to break it to him very gently,
but he’s absolutely furious. When he gets home
from work he’s going to want to talk to you.
I hope he will have calmed down by then.
Your little sister doesn’t know. I’m not having
her blabbing to other people at church!

RICK sighs, and walks over to his bed, sitting down on the end of it, his chin in his hands. JUDITH eases herself out of the doorway and sits down next to him, putting an arm around him.

JUDITH FARREL
Oh Ricky. What makes you think
you’re gay? You don’t have to be
and it’s not right. It’s your choice,
all you have to do is say no and…

RICK FARREL
You really don’t understand it do you?
It’s not a choice Mum. I didn’t ask
to be gay, I just am.

JUDITH smiles faintly, rubbing her hand into Rick’s shoulders.

JUDITH FARREL
Why? Is it just because you’re not into
girls yet? Well that’s all right. Your father
wasn’t into girls seriously until he was
about twenty-two. You’re only seventeen.
That doesn’t make you gay. Don’t label yourself.

RICK looks up at his mother with a hint of desperation in his eyes.

RICK FARREL
Mum, I know everybody goes through
a stage where they’re attracted to people
of the same sex, but I never came out
of it all right? It’s not just that I’m not
attracted to girls, I’m very strongly attracted
to some boys okay?

JUDITH shakes her head.

JUDITH FARREL
No Rick, it’s not okay. I’m not going to
debate this with you. Nobody is really
homosexual. It’s just a choice they make.

RICK FARREL
Use the word ‘gay’ Mum, it’s shorter.

JUDITH FARREL
And it’s very misleading! Rick, do you know
what kind of lives homosexuals lead? It’s
not ‘gay’ at all! It’s bloody horrible! I’ll call it what it is thank you!

RICK FARREL
Mum, it’s not like I haven’t given girls a chance. Remember Lizzy Becker?

JUDITH FARREL
Yeah, now why did you dump her? She was alright for you. All the guys wanted to go out with her.

RICK laughs, though he doesn’t really want to.

RICK FARREL
Yeah, and kissing her felt like being stapled to
a cold fish! At least to a gay guy…

JUDITH FARREL
Rick, you’re not a homosexual.

RICK FARREL
Yes I am, and denying it isn’t going to make
it go away.

JUDITH shrugs, keeping her face neutral.

JUDITH FARREL
Okay, assuming just for a moment that you are,
you know that you can change don’t you?

RICK FARREL
Oh please! Don’t talk to me about the
'ex-gay’ thing! You see what those people are like after those groups are finished with them!It’s disgusting!

JUDITH FARREL
Rick, it’s not as bad as that. We’ll help you
through it all the way. We’ll go and see Pastor
Thompson tomorrow, and if that doesn’t work
we’ll go and see a psychologist…

RICK suddenly gets up from the bed and turns around to face his mother angrily.

RICK FARREL
For God’s sake Mum! Do you know how
arrogant you’re sounding? What makes you think
that I even want to change? What makes you
think that I’m not perfectly happy the way
I am?

JUDITH FARREL
Sit down! Right now.

RICK takes a nervous breath before answering.

RICK FARREL
No. I’m sorry Mum, but this is…

SFX: Door being slammed shut. It is on the other side of the house.

JUDITH FARREL
Oh God, it’s your father!

RICK FARREL
If he knows, then I reckon he’ll be in here
within say…. three minutes?

JUDITH rolls her eyes and gets up, heading for the door.

JUDITH FARREL
That’s not funny! I’d better go make sure
he’s calmed down a bit.

RICK gets out of the way and returns to his desk.

RICK FARREL
Thanks Mum.

JUDITH looks at him for a second, then sighs and leaves the room.