SCENE I

CHARACTERS: JULIO, a 30-35 year old effeminate Latino, and ARIEL, JULIO's lover, also a Latino, slightly effeminate, around 25 years of age; both men are handsome and in fairly good shape.

STAGE: A twin-size (or larger) bed with headboard, situated slightly diagonally, with a dresser on each side. On top of one dresser there are several pairs of dangling earrings hanging from an earring holder, various other personal artifacts: a large bottle of lubricant, and an operating alarm clock indicating twenty-five minutes past midnight; on top of the other dresser there is a picture of the two characters embracing; a rose in a flower vase; a scented candle; and a lighter. Several condom packets, a towel and other pieces of clothing are scattered on the floor next to the bed.

SCENE: Opens in the dark with soft background music by Sade. JULIO AND ARIEL are making love under the covers, filling the stage with moaning interspersed with endearments uttered in Spanish. Their moans intensify progressively, soon becoming screams of pleasure as JULIO AND ARIEL accelerate their rhythmic motion, experiencing a mutual orgasm. As they climax, JULIO and ARIEL wriggle and toss on the bed, laughing almost hysterically, then collapse, allowing their gritos to subside. For a minute or two all that can be heard are heavy breathing sounds and the music in the background. JULIO rolls over from the top of ARIEL's back, pulling off the covers and spreading his arms and legs wide-open as he lies on his back, still panting. ARIEL extends his arm, reaching out for the lighter on the dresser. He lights up the candle tenderly, revealing the silhouettes of his and JULIO's naked bodies covered with sweat; then he falls over at JULIO's side, placing his leg over JULIO's. The two men lie immobile for a few moments. Very carefully, JULIO removes the condom he was wearing.

JULIO: (Trembling, breathing hard) Mmmmhhhh

ARIEL: Are you okay?

JULIO: Yes, I'm okay, I'm okay ... Tú papito, ¿estás bien?

ARIEL: Sí, corazón. (A bit worried.) You sure you're all right, papi?

JULIO: I'm fine, I'm really fine. I'm ... I'm just shaken up a bit ... Espérame tantito, déjame descansar, a ver si me desataranto (Slows his breathing.) Oh, god, this is delicious, mmmmhhhh, ¡riquísimo! ¡Ay, papi, qué rico cogimos, mi amor! ¡Qué rico! ¿Te gustó, mi cielito?

ARIEL: Sí, me gustó muchísimo. ¿Y a tí?

JULIO: ¡Ay, papi! ¡Me encantó! Ahhhh, god, it's just amazing ... this feeling. You know?

ARIEL: Yes, it is amazing.

JULIO: I think I understand now. I think this is what spirituality is all about. It's not about religion or any of that crap. It's about being intensely human, connecting like this, in this intensely human way. I don't even think words are necessary.

ARIEL: (Smiling.) I know, baby, I understand . (Lifts up his head supporting his weight on his elbow and caresses Julio's chest, looking at him lovingly.) (Softly.) I also feel like it was our souls making love.

JULIO: (Still trying to catch his breath.) Oh, god, yes, yes. It was. It had to be our souls. Ahhhhh ...

ARIEL: Come here, baby. (Helps JULIO sit up; both position themselves on the pillows against the headboard, pulling the covers up to their waists. ARIEL caresses JULIO's forehead and runs his fingers softly down his eyelids, nose, lips, and chest.) (Almost whispering.) I love you, baby.

JULIO: I love you, too. I really, really do.

ARIEL: ¿En serio? ¿De veras me quieres mucho?

JULIO: ¿Quererte? No, no te quiero. ¡Te adoro! Te idolatro, te necesito. You're my life. Mi vida, mi agua, mi pan, mi cielo. Eres mi sangre, mi cuerpo, todo. (Caresses Ariel's face, trembling noticeably; then holds ARIEL's hand on his chest with both of his.)

ARIEL: (Kisses JULIO on the lips.) (Vehemently.) Yo también te quiero muncho, papi, mucho.

JULIO: (Touched by ARIEL's words.) I know you do. You do. That's why ... I think I'm realizing ... it's all so much about trust, you know. It truly is. To be able to let go completely, like that, and know you will not be hurt . . . know you will be taken care of and be very, very happy. I never trusted anyone (teary-eyed) ... not the way I trust you, with my whole body.

ARIEL: (Caressing JULIO's hair.) I know baby.

JULIO: (Nervously, trying to hold back tears.) It means so much to me. You know, I couldn't quite do this before. I mean. I couldn't ... I didn't enjoy it ... I mean ... penet ... ra ... ting ... penetrating somebody, like I ... penetrated you ... just now. Somehow I didn't feel it was for me. I just couldn't get into it. I was afraid, me daba miedo. Si lo hacía, me preocupaba, no sé, que fuera a lastimarlos, o a abusar de ellos, o que no les fuera a gustar. I wanted them to feel good. Lo hacía por ellos, ¿me entiendes? Pero no sabía hacerlo por mí. (Sobbing quietly.) I couldn't. It just didn't feel right for me.

ARIEL: (Reassuring.) It's okay, baby. It's all right. You haven't done anything wrong.

JULIO: You would think it might be easier. But I was afraid. I'd get all self-conscious, thinking that if I didn't please them, I'd be seen as a failure, como si no fuera lo suficientemente hombre.

ARIEL: You're not a failure.

JULIO: (Simultaneously.) I did fail. Les fallaba. De seguro me veían como a una puta calenturienta e inexperta, pendeja para coger pero rete-buena para cogérsela.

ARIEL: (Firmly.) Stop it! You're not a failure, baby. You are not a failure. And please stop calling yourself those ugly names. I love you, regardless of what we do or don't do in bed. I love you . Will you please remember that? Please? Rembember it, always.

JULIO: (Smiling.) I know ... (Laughs.) Damn, child, you're so cute! Bien chulo. (Squeezes ARIEL's cheecks.) I'm sorry. I just lost it a little. I get so emotional sometimes, you know.

ARIEL: (Wiping off JULIO's tears.) Don't worry, my love.

JULIO: (Whispering, half-smiling.) Gracias, papito. (Caressing ARIEL's face.) Ay, pero no sé ... maybe it's that it's symbolic or something. All these years, it's been so much easier to spread my legs for men and just let them have me. I mean, not that I don't like that ... you know how much I like it. I mean ... (alluring) especially when you go inside of me.

ARIEL: (Tenderly.) My baby ... you're gonna be okay, honey. Just think now you know it doesn't have to be like it used to all the time. You can allow yourself to explore different things and feel good about it. And it doesn't mean you have to hurt me. You're always making sure I'm okay. You always ask me if I'm okay. I know you wouldn't hurt me.

JULIO: I know. I wouldn't wanna hurt you. You're so special to me. I really do trust you, you know. Completely. Completelamente. You've made me feel so loved and respected.

ARIEL: Have I really?

JULIO: Yes, you have. Desde la primera vez. ¿Te acuerdas? How I was so nervous, all rushin' and trippin', and you just whispered in my ear, "slow down," bien sweet. I think it shocked me to hear it at first, but then it dawned on me you wanted me to enjoy myself fully, to enjoy you, our love-making, fully. Creo que fué cuando entendí que tarde o temprano me iba a enamorar de tí.

ARIEL: (With a somber expression, almost ashamed.) But I have made mistakes.

JULIO: ¡Ay, cosita linda!, every one makes mistakes. I have only wanted to speak for the world because ... I get all arrogant, thinking I can't let us forget that we have a responsibility to fix it. But I know you have never hurt me deliberately. We all make mistakes. Yo también te he lastimado a veces, papi.

ARIEL: But I did hurt you.

JULIO: I love you.

ARIEL: Will you forgive me?

JULIO: I have nothing to forgive you for. I'm not the one. I am human; I have feelings, like you, like everyone. But in the end I am simply a part of something bigger. It's the Earth we have to ask for forgiveness. Besides, I do love you. I want you to remember that, always. Okay?

ARIEL: (Innocently, almost pouting.) Okay.

JULIO: (Pulls ARIEL towards him, embracing him.) Ven, chiquitín. Ven, mi corazoncito. (Touching the different parts of ARIEL's body he mentions). A ver, ¿de quién es esta boquita pichocha?

ARIEL: (Childlike.) Tuya.

JULIO: ¿Y de quién es esta barriguita monita?

ARIEL: Tuya ...

JULIO: ¿Y de quién es esta pirinolita chabocha?

ARIEL: (Smiling.) Tuya, mi rey.

JULIO: (Sliding his hand down to ARIEL's groin area, speaking seductively) ¿Y de quién es este agujerito delicioso y rico que me encanta? Mmmmhhhhh ...

ARIEL: (Trembling as he sighs.) Tuyo, mi amor.

JULIO: Dime otra vez lo que me dijiste la primera vez.

ARIEL: (Whispering.) Slow down ...

JULIO: (Caressing him and kissing him on the chest and face.) Otra vez. Dímelo al oido.

ARIEL: Slow down, my love ... Slow down (They continue kissing passionately.)

LIGHTS OUT