Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"We begin on Christmas Eve, with me, Richard, and my roommate, Ray. We live in an industrial loft on the corner of 11th Street and Avenue B, the top floor of what was once a music publishing factory. Old rock 'n' roll posters hang on the walls. They have Ray's picture, advertising gigs at CBGB's and the Pyramid Club. We have an illegal wood-burning stove; its exhaust pipe crawls up to a skylight. All of our electrical appliances are plugged into one thick extension cord, which snakes its way out a window. Outside, a small tent city has sprung up in the lot next to our building. Inside, we are freezing because we have no heat."

Richard turns the camera to Ray.

Richard: Smile!
December 24, Nine PM
Eastern standard time
From here on in
I shoot without a script
See if anything comes of it
Instead of my old shit

"First shot - Ray. Tuning the fender guitar he hasn't played in a year."

"This won't tune." Ray groaned.

"So we hear. He's just coming back, from half of a year of withdrawal."

"Are you talking to me?"

Richard: Not at all.
Are you ready? Hold that focus - steady
Tell the folds at home what you're doing Ray

Ray: I'm writing one great-

They were interrupted by the phone ringing. "The phone rings." "Saved!"

Richard: We screen
Zoom in on the answering machine

(SPEAK
BEEEEP!)

"That was a very loud beep
I don't even know if this is working
Richard- Richard- are you there?
Are you screening your calls - it's mom
We wanted to call and say we love you
And we'll miss you tomorrow
Cindy and the kids are here - send their love
Oh I hope you like the hot plate
Just don't leave it on dear,
When you leave the house
Oh, and, Richard
We're sorry to hear that Gary dumped you
I say, c'est la vie
So let him be
There are other fishies in the sea
....Love, Mom."

As the voicemail ended, Richard turned his focus back to the camera.

Richard: Tell the folks at home what you're doing Ray

Ray: I'm writing one great song-

The phone rang again. "The phone rings." "Yesss!" "We screen."

(SPEAK
BEEEEP!)

On the street, the front door area of the boys building, Art Baker stands at a battered payphone.

Art: Chestnuts roasting-

Richard picked up the phone.

Ray and Richard: Art!

Art: I'm downstairs

Richard: Hey! 

Art: Ray picked up the phone?

Richard: no, it's me

Art: throw down the key

Richard pulled out a small leather pouch, tossing it out the window, and Art catches it.

Richard: a wild now is now in preordained

That's when two men appeared from above with clubs. Art turned back to the phone.

Art: I may be detained

Richard: what does he mean....?

The phone rang again and Richard picked it up.

Richard: what do you mean detained?

Billy: ho ho ho

Richard and Ray: Billy! (Shit!)

Billy: dudes, I'm on my way

Richard and Ray: Great! (Fuck!)

Billy: I need the rent

Richard: what rent?

Billy: this past years rent, which I let slide

Richard: let slide? You said we were golden

Ray: when you bought the building

Richard: when we were roommates

Ray: remember, you lived here?!

Billy: how could I forget?
You, me, Art, and Gary
How is the drama queen?

Richard: he's performing tonight

Billy: I know
Still his production manager?

Richard: two days ago I was bumped

Billy: you still dating him?

Richard: last month I was dumped

Ray: he's in love

Billy: he's got a new man?

Richard: well- yeah

Billy: what's his name?

Richard and Ray: Collie

Billy: rent, my amigos, is due
Or I will have to evict you
Be there in a few

Ray defiantly plays Musetta's theme from La Boheme on the electric guitar, the fuse blows on the amp.

Richard: the power blows....

Chapter Text

Richard: How do you document real life
When real life’s getting more
Like fiction each day
Headlines, breadlines
Blow my mind
And now this deadline
“Eviction or pay”
Rent!

Ray: how do you write a song
When the chords sound wrong
Though they once wounds right and rare
When the notes are sour
Where is the power
You once used to ignite the air

Richard: and we’re hungry and frozen

Ray: some life that we’ve chosen!

Richard and Ray:
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
Last year’s rent?

“We light candles.”

Ray: how do you start a fire
When there’s nothing to burn
And it feels like something’s stuck in your flue

Richard: how can you generate heat
When you can’t feel your feet

Richard and Ray: and they’re turning blue?

Richard: you light up a mean blaze

Ray grabbed one of his own posters off the wall.

Ray: with posters

Richard grabbed his old manuscripts

Richard: and screenplays

Richard and Ray:
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
Last year’s rent?

Down at the payphone was Collie Parker.

Collie: don’t screen, Gary
It’s me - Collie
Your substitute production manager
Hey hey hey! Did you eat?
Don’t change the subject Gary
But darling - you haven’t eaten all day
You won’t throw up
You won’t throw up
The digital delay-
Didn’t blow up exactly
There may have been one teeny tiny spark
You’re not calling Richard!

On another corner, Art struggles and stands.

Art: how do you stay on your feet
When on every street
It’s “trick or treat”
And tonight’s it’s “trick”
“Welcome back to town”
I should lie down
Everything’s brown
And uh- oh
I feel sick

Richard: where is he

Art: getting dizzy

He collapses.

Richard and Ray:
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
How we gonna pay
Last year’s rent?

Cross-cut to Billy’s Range Rover, where he’s on his cellphone.

Billy: Allison, baby - you sound sad
I can’t believe those two
After everything I’ve done
Ever since our wedding
I’m dirt - they’ll see
I can help them all out in the long run

(Collie at the payphone, Richard and Ray in the loft, and Art on the ground)

Richard: “The music ignites the night with passionate fire”

Collie: Gary I’m not a theater person

Ray: “the narration crackles and pops with incendiary wit”

Collie: could never be a theater person

Art: ughhhh- I can’t think

Richard: zoom in as they burn the past to the ground

Art: ughhhh- I need a drink

Collie: hello?

Richard and Ray: and feel the heat of the future’s glow

The phone rings and Richard picks it up.

Richard: hello? Gary?
Your equipment won’t work?
Okay, all right, I’ll go!

Richard and Company: How do you leave the past behind
When it keeps finding ways to get to your heart
It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out
Til you’re torn apart
Rent

Ray and Company: How can you connect in an age
Where strangers, landlords, lovers, your own blood cells betray

All: what binds the fabric together
When the raging, shifting winds of change
Keep ripping away

Billy: draw a line in the sand
And then make a stand

Ray: use your camera to spar!

Richard: use your guitar!

All: when they act tough
You call their bluff

Richard and Ray: we’re not gonna pay
We’re not gonna pay
We’re not gonna pay
Last years rent
This years rent
Next years rent
Rent, rent, rent, rent, rent
Cause everything is rent

Chapter Text

On the street in front of the payphone, a homeless man stood above. Across, sitting on the Christmas tree sculpture is Hank Olson, a plastic pickle tub balanced between his knees.

Homeless Man: Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Somewhere else
Not here

Hank gets a beat going on the tub, before a moan interrupts him. That’s when sees Art limping.

Hank: you okay, honey?

Art: I’m afraid so

Hank: they get any money?

Art: no, had none to get
But they purloined my coat
Well you missed a sleeve! Thanks

He ripped off the small scrap of sleeve left of his coat.

Hank: hell, it’s Christmas eve
I’m Hank

Art: an angle of the first degree
Friends call me Art - Art Baker
Nice tree…

Hank: let’s get a bandaid for your knee
I’ll change, there’s a “Life Support” meeting
At nine thirty
Yes, this body provides a comfortable home
For the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Art: as does mine

Hank: we’ll get along fine
Get you a coat, have a bite
Make a night - in flush

Art: my friends are waiting-

Hank: you’re cute when you blush
The more the merry - ho ho ho
And I do not take no

Chapter Text

"Where are you going?" Ray asked. "Gary calls." Richard responded. "You're such a sucker." Ray laughed. “I don’t suppose you’d like to see his show in the lot tonight?” Richard asked. Ray shrugged. “Or come to dinner?” “Zoom in on my empty wallet.” Ray sighed. “Touché. Take your AZT.”

Richard: Close on Ray
His girlfriend Jan
Left a note saying “we’ve got AIDS”
Before slitting her wrists in the bathroom

“I’ll check up on you later. Change your mind. You have to get out of the house.” Richard said, and with that, he left. Ray picked up his guitar again.

Ray: I’m writing one great song before I….

He played a few chords before he slammed his guitar down, frustrated.

Ray: one song
Glory
One song
Before I go
Glory
One song to leave behind
Find one song
One last refrain
Glory
From the pretty boy front man
Who wasted opportunity
One song
He had the world at his feet
Glory
In the eyes of a young girl
Find glory
Behind the cheap colored lights
One song
Before the sunsets
Glory - on another empty life
Time flies
Time dies

Glory - one blaze of glory
One blaze of glory - Glory

Find
Glory
In a song that rings true
Truth like a blazing fire
An eternal flame

Find
One song
A song about love
Glory
From the soul of a young man
A young man

Find
The one song
Before the virus takes hold
Glory
Like a sunset
One song
To redeem this empty life

Time flies
And then no need to endure anymore
Time dies

He was interrupted by a knock on the door. “The door. Damnit Richard.” He sighed, before getting up to answered it.

Chapter Text

Ray opened the door, expecting to see Richard.

Ray: what’d you forget

But instead, a boy with a scar stood there, holding a candle.

Pete: got a light?

Ray: I know you- you’re
You’re shivering

Pete: it’s nothing
They turned off my heat
And I’m just a little weak on my feet
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?

Ray: nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar

Ray lit the candle, and the boy started to leave, but stumbled.

Ray: can you make it?

Pete: just haven’t eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning. Anyway. What?

Ray: nothing
Your smile reminded me of-

Pete: I was always remind people of- who were they?

Ray: she died. Her name was Jan.

The boy turned around and blew out the candle without Ray seeing it.

Pete: it’s out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?

He lit the candle again.

Ray: well-

Pete: yeah. Oh!

Ray: oh. The wax- it’s-

Pete: dripping! I like it between my-

Ray: fingers! I figured….
Oh well. Good night.

He left, and Ray started back towards his guitar. Another knock on the door. He answered it to see the same boy.

Ray: it blew out again?

Pete: no
I think that I dropped my stash

Ray: I know I’ve seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle’s out

Pete: I’m illin
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure - it is on the floor?

Ray: the floor?

He got down on all fours looking for his stash, turning back to Ray, who was staring at him again.

Pete: they say that I have the best ass
Below 14th street
Is it true?

Ray: what?

Pete: you’re staring again

Ray: oh no.
I mean you do have a nice-
I mean- you look familiar

He smirked at Ray’s response.

Pete: like your dead girlfriend?

Ray: only when you smile
But I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere else

Pete: do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That’s where I work
I dance

He smacked Ray’s arm. “Help me look!”

Ray: yes!
They used to tie you up-

Pete: it’s a living

He doused the flame again.

Ray: I didn’t recognize you
Without the handcuffs

Pete: we could light the candle
Oh won’t you light the candle?

Ray lit the candle again.

Ray: why don’t you forget that stuff

Pete: I’m just born to be bad

Ray: I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that

Pete: I have no heat I told you-

Ray: I used to sweat

Pete: I got a cold

Ray: uh-huh
I used to be a junkie

Pete: but now and then I like to

Ray: uh-hun

Pete: feel good

“Oh here it- um-“ Ray grabbed the stash off the floor and shoved it in his back pocket. “What’s that?” “Candy bar wrapper.”

Pete: we could light the candle

Without him seeing, Ray blew out the candle again.

Pete: what’d you do with my candle?

Ray: that was my last match

Pete: our eyes’ll adjust
Thank god for the moon

Ray: maybe it’s not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee’s shooting down the street

Pete: bah humbug… bah humbug….

He slipped his hand under Ray’s pretending it was by accident.

Ray: Cold hands

Pete: yours too
Big. Like my father’s.

He stood up.

Pete: You wanna dance?

Ray: with you?

Pete: no - with my father

Ray: I’m Ray

Pete: they call me
They call me
Pete

He went to Ray, his arms around him, Pete reached into his back pocket, grabbing his stash, and with a smirk, he left the apartment.