Our Sons

- Find out from Wendell what's holding up

the Nettleston contract.

I thought we had a deal.

Good morning.

You're early.

Oh.

Somebody told me there are 25 hours in a day,

if you can figure it out.

How are you feeling?

- Like a whale. - Yeah, I remember, vaguely.

I'll get back to you tomorrow Richard,

but I really don't think sleeping on it

is gonna turn the tide here.

No, I can't live with that number.

Yes.

Ciao.

- Hi, you've reached James and Donald.

You can leave a message for either one of us.

We have no secrets from each other,

well, one or two maybe.

Here comes the beep.

James, it's me.

Do you recognize my voice?

Does it ring a bell?

It should, hon.

This is the third time you've heard it

in the past two weeks.

The problem is I haven't heard yours.

What's going on?

You know how bonkers it makes me

when my calls aren't returned.

I hope you're not still ticked off

about that ridiculous quarrel.

I don't even remember what it was about.

Bygones kiddo, okay?

If you don't return this call,

I'm probably gonna start worrying.

Have a heart.

It's Monday the 23rd, and counting.

"Toto, I have a feeling

we're not in Kansas anymore."

Hello?

It's me.

Well, at last.

What is it, are you still mad at me, or what?

Can we get together?

Are you still mad?

You sound mad.

No, Mother, I'm not mad.

I don't remember what it was about, either.

Good, I forgive you for all

the rotten things you said, whatever they were.

Can we get together?

Say when. Lunch?

How 'bout now?

Now? You mean tonight?

- Mm hm. - It's pretty late.

Yeah, I know what time it is, Mother.

- James, you don't sound good, are you all right?

Would it be all right if I came by?

Absolutely.

Sorry about the hour.

Don't be silly.

Should I ask, or should I wait?

Donald has AIDS.

He's gonna die soon,

so it would mean a great deal

to me if you don't get hysterical.

How long have you known?

He tested positive two years ago.

And you're telling me now?

I had to hospitalize him this morning.

The KS has become very severe.

The what?

Kaposi sarcoma, it's a kind of cancer.

He wanted to be at home, but I couldn't.

It'll be better for him in the hospital.

He hasn't even looked ill lately.

I mean, I- - Lately?

You haven't seen him in at least six months,

and maybe what, two or three times,

in the year before that, at most?

It's gonna be very fast for him now.

A week, maybe two.

Is it all right to visit him?

If you like.

For God's sake,

of course I'd like!

Why do you say something like that?

That's terrible! - Let's be friends, all right?

It's a good time to be friends.

- I didn't know what kind of flowers he likes.

I got roses.

Roses usually are safe, and candy.

Does he like candy?

He has a tremendous sweet tooth,

I sometimes I have to be very stern with him about that.

- Dr. Hope, please call the cancer lab.

Dr. Jerome Hope, call the cancer lab.

Well I haven't had to deal

with this since your father.

Deal with what?

With what?

Dying.

Donald and I have been to 14 funerals

in the past 18 months.

Look who's here.

Everybody comes to Rick's.

Hi, Donald.

The long one has to be flowers.

He's so quick.

Oo, if this is candy it's our secret.

- The secret is out, and it's not on the menu.

- See, things are already taking an ugly turn (coughing).

I'm dying for a cigarette.

Have one.

He gave it up.

Me too, three months ago.

It's hell, isn't it?

- Oh, I can't be held responsible for my actions.

I gave up smoking for my health.

The insurance company should come up

with a whole new concept, irony insurance.

I tell you there's a fortune to be made.

Remember when we smoked?

Here.

Does he have any family? - Please call the emergency.

His mother.

His father's been lost in the mist of time.

I assume that she knew before I did.

Knew what?

About Donald, what's happening.

- Donald and his mother haven't spoken for years.

Why not?

Her response to his sexual orientation

was less than enlightened.

I gather you're understating it?

Considerably.

- Well, she should be told about Donald, what's happening.

- Mother try to stop saying that, would you?

"About Donald, what's happening."

Donald has AIDS, he's dying,

can we please stop tap dancing, finally?

What's going on?

Why are you so angry?

What tap dancing?

Sorry.

I'm a little stressed.

I haven't slept in days.

If I have a sudden compulsion to give up my tap shoes,

I shouldn't hit you in the head with them, should I?

I'm not following this, James.

You were wondering about his mother.

I gather we're changing the subject,

and not very subtly.

May we, please?

I think his mother should know.

Whether they're on speaking terms or not, he's her son.

Where does she live?

Arkansas.

Donald was born there.

Thank you.

Are you going to get in touch with her?

No.

Well, what about Donald?

Doesn't he want her to know?

I'm not sure.

Well, ask him.

I did.

We discussed it at length.

We even went so far as to locate her.

She's in the book, a place called, Fayetteville.

And?

- He'd rather not tell her, than risk her not caring.

- Dr. Shettle, please call the stage operator.

Why didn't I know all that?

All what?

- About Donald and his mother, and where he's from

and what happened between them, all that?

We know what we wanna know.

I'll be in touch.

- Dr. Esquabar, the medic desk, please.

Mr. Grant's office.

Oh, Audrey Grant, is he in?

They're promising a 14% return.

If you believe that,

they'll tell us another one just as hysterical.