Jack Scribe
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BRENT/BRAD The next two weeks really tested my acting ability – theater veterans called it, ‘acting chops’. While the La Jolla Playhouse was a very professional regional theater, Broadway was the pinnacle in America. Somewhere into the second week of rehearsals the cast began to rally to me, as our characters’ interaction took on a life of their own: my interpretation of the role was positively critiqued and it was evident that all of our characters connected. On the technical side, the produce
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BRENT/BRAD I ushered in 1997 and heralded the end of my Navy enlistment, New Year’s Eve at Dave’s San Diego house with the guys. Although I was mustered out a week earlier, as the clock struck 0001, January 1, I was officially a civilian and a soon-to-be working actor in New York. Dave, Mark, Tom, Doug and I celebrated earlier with dinner and wine…Mike got home from the North Island Officer’s Club New Year’s Eve party in time to join us in the countdown, watching Dick Clark broadcasting from Ti
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Chapter 4 If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Looping
Jack Scribe posted new chapter in Splash On The Screen
BRENT/BRAD The cookout the week after we all met was a lot of fun. Tom and Mark were completely compatible with the entire group, and each couple respected the personal boundaries of the others. Dumb, sexual innuendos and joking were understood for what they were: young hormone-charged, male silliness. Tom Feldman nurtured our new friendship further by encouraging casual get-togethers several times during the remainder of summer, both in San Diego and L.A., with Mark and him. Into the first -
BRENT/BRAD Lying in my lover’s arms after we had consumed each other, with Doug in deep sleep, my thoughts reviewed the progress of our relationship. ‘A long way from our lives on the wild side in Memphis,’ I thought, ‘and this next phase will really test us.’ He would be pressured to excel in his first assistant director’s job. My acting career with the TV series, and, later, the New York production of the play would keep me busy…and keep us apart. As Doug shifted his body to his side with his
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BRENT/BRAD The play opening went off without a hitch with an explosive, positive reaction that was repeated each night of the previews. The cast, director and playwright were ecstatic, and I was still in the clouds about the reaction to my performance. The Playbill and marquee had been changed to announce me under the starring cast. It now read in large bold type, AND INTRODUCING BRAD WILLIAMS. True to Sam’s prediction, my headshot ran with the review in the San Diego Union-Tribune and the L
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DOUG 1996 was a hurricane of activity for Brent and myself. By mid-year, Brent – now Brad Williams, a card-carrying SAG member – had starting acting in films, with small speaking roles, in Titanic and LA Confidential. I was especially pleased that the director’s assistant position allowed me to learn and also contribute to the post-production and editing process of the ‘Confidential’ film. Being Sam Barron’s man can open a lot of doors. But after that, you must produce. Both the director and
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NOVEL. The four Navy friends move on to California and eventual civilian life. Book 2 of the Splash trilogy.
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DOUG As soon as we got to Northwest’s boarding gate, I asked Brent to watch the carry-ons while I scouted out the new Starbuck’s kiosk for a morning caffeine fix. Someone had told me that this coffee company was going to be larger than McDonald’s some day. ‘Yeah,’ I thought, ‘fat chance.’ Walking down the concourse, I spotted our traveling companions. Because Mike and Dave were going to Chicago after the weekend, we had driven separately to the airport. “Hey, guys. Top o’ the mornin’,”
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MIKE The rest of July was a daily grind of trying to survive Tennessee’s hot, humid days and tepid nights. Doug gave me the highlights of the L.A. trip in regards to his folk’s acceptance of Brent. I was really happy for the guys. At some point, I’d have to make a trip to Chicago and give mom the rundown on my life…the changes, and the addition of Dave. With dad, I really didn’t give a shit. Maybe I could get extra leave in September and take a side-trip to Chicago with Dave after the long
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BRENT “I’m not opposed to discussing this. I performed in ‘Little Theater’ productions at the 92nd Street ‘Y’ for several years. It was fun. And I was in some drama workshops at Columbia. After the Navy, I plan on going to school out here and get a degree.” “If you’re patient, I can get you jobs that shoot around your school year. If I’m correct, the only problem you’ll have is trying to attend classes while your name is above the title two blocks away at the Fox in Westwood.” I l
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The birthday dinner and physical endearment afterwards were perfect. Dave and Mike took turns expressing their growing love to each other. Dave left around midnight so that he could be at the pool early Sunday morning. He was relieved that Mike had been thinking of contingency plans for later in the year. DAVE Mike outdid himself for the Monday 4th of July celebration. Wow, what a crowd. Jim was assigned to the Club for the day and it was fun working with him. Once getting our lustful
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DOUG On Sunday afternoon after the Mayor’s Carnival Brunch, I returned to the apartment to find Brent already there, zonked out on the king bed. ‘What a guy,’ I observed proudly, as I walked into the bedroom. I stripped and joined him under the sheets. Like me, he was ‘au naturel.’ We probably spent about an hour sleeping and snuggling. At some point, he woke up and stroked my hair as he said, “Hi, Doug. I missed you.” “Thanks, me too. I’m absolutely beat from this weekend of part
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DAVE My financial advisor suggested buying real estate because San Diego was quite a bargain, coming out of the early nineties real estate bust. We found a 3,200 square foot, spacious, 50-year-old three-bedroom home that an older gay couple had modernized recently. They were anxious to sell because of a nasty split up and accepted my first and final offer of $150,000. The purchase closed the end of January 1996, and I was now the owner of California real estate. It was a two-story hous
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DAVE The rest of September moved rapidly to a close after we returned to Memphis. My orders came during the last week. Rather than going to San Diego, and the Coral Sea, I would be flying to Newport News, Virginia. I would be part of the skeleton crew for the shakedown cruise on a new aircraft carrier due to be commissioned and then sailed to the San Diego North Island homeport. 15 October was my detachment date, reporting to the U.S.S. John Stennis three days later. Sunday, 30 September, w
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MIKE The Minneapolis Northwest terminal was a hive of early morning activity. The airline dominated the city and it was literally impossible to fly in and out of the ‘Cities’ without using NWA. Doug and Brent were returning to Memphis on a 0900 flight, and Dave and I were on a shuttle to Chicago at 0930. After saying our ‘good-byes’ and seeing the Memphis-bound guys off, we waited for boarding the 737. The area was full of business-type ‘road warriors’ ready to ply their trade in the Windy
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MIKE The next two weeks were S.O.P. – Standard Operating Procedure. I was busy with the activities at the club. Being June, we were booked with weddings, primarily for the dependents of retired officers living in the Memphis area. And, although some bitched and complained about our prices, they knew that they’d never find a better value anywhere else. S.O.P. continued to include stopping by the pool, mid-morning, to meet my man. He was developing a tan that accented his tight, toned bo
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BRENT Doug and I had finished our dates fairly early. We were both only required to be “nephews” to some visiting businessmen. I lucked out. My client asked me to meet him midtown at Ronnie Grisanti and Sons restaurant for cocktails and dinner. The guy was lonely and he just wanted company. In that he was from New York, we clicked immediately and shared an insider’s point of view concerning the city. The restaurant served great Tuscan Italian fare with a decent wine list. We said ‘goodbye’
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DAVE ‘Holy samolie,’ I thought, ‘how did this happen so quickly?’ First, Mike had appeared under the most unusual set of circumstances. Something I would have never imagined. But there he was – the most important person in my life forever. Then, Phil and Brent arrived and budding friendships resulted…obviously the period of loneliness in my life had passed. I walked through the rest of the week following my routine. Up early to go to the club pool. Meet with Mike. Do my lifeguard dutie
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MIKE After the clandestine evening phone call, I purposely went over to the club pool early Sunday morning before the pool opened. I wanted to get the details of the conversation from the night before between Dave and Phil, and spending a little more time with my love was a nice coincidental benefit. Since it was Sunday, I dressed in a polo shirt and shorts. I procured two cups of coffee in Styrofoam cups from the club kitchen and found Dave skimming the pool. We sat down at a corner p
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They made it back to Memphis and the shade-lined streets of the university neighborhood in a half-hour. The two cars rolled up in tandem in front of the two-story, 60’s-style apartment building and stopped – school not being in regular session meant fewer cars on the street. Later, Dave and Mike discovered the one assigned car-parking space in the rear. With gear in hand, they got the keys from the apartment manager and went up to inspect in detail what they had rented as a weekend escape.
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DAVE AND MIKE Waking up Saturday morning, the two new lovers were entwined in each other’s arms and legs, with Mike on his back and the covers kicked to the foot of the bed. Dave started stirring. He opened his eyelids slowly and saw Mike still sleeping, breathing heavily, in the last moments of a good night’s rest. Without looking at the clock, he knew it was almost 6:30 a.m. His morning woodie was resting on Mike’s right thigh. ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘pee hard is a more accurate descrip
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DAVE Mike had dropped me off at AutoZone Park at 3rd and Union, thinking that I wanted to take a tour of this ballpark – home to the Memphis Redbirds. “I love baseball,” I told him. “I want to check out this place, since I have some time to spare.” Once he sped off to the north, I briskly walked over two blocks to the historic Peabody Hotel. This was where I was planning to stage our encounter and adventure tonight. While walking through the stately lobby with the gigantic fountain in
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MIKE I drove my Acura sport coupe – it had been my father’s guilt payment – up the hill into officer country. ‘Damn,’ I recalled, ‘when I needed him 10 years ago, he almost disappeared after he divorced mom.’ Instead of a father I could count on, a great car appeared when I graduated from college. ‘At least with no car payments I only have to worry about gas and changing oil,’ I thought as I eased the car into a space close to the BOQ side door. The full summer moon was like a giant sp
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BRENT AND DAVE Brent walked into the room with coat in hand and tie askew – a slightly rumpled version of the clothing he was wearing earlier at the Rendezvous. He sighed and closed the door. “We’ve got a lot of shit to discuss.” Dave smiled and replied, “Why don’t you change first? While you’re doing that, I’ll go down to the rec room and get a couple of Cokes. Okay?” “Good, because I’m a little thirsty. You need any change?” “I’m good.” Dave got up, slipped on his flip-flop
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My composure returned while moving forward to take the offered cup of coffee. “Don’t ask, don’t tell, worked very well last night, but it’s now time to be honest with each other.” After taking a sip, I continued, “When we’re finished here, I’m driving back to Millington where I’ll change into a uniform. At 0730, I begin another day as an enlisted man – E-5, to be specific. We’re both in the Navy, Doug…or, should I say Lieutenant?” Doug stopped – his cup suspended in mid-air – as he consider
