Original subtitles

What a great tree.

You really like Christmas, don't you? Who doesn't?

But I mean really.

I can see the look in your eyes when you talk about all those Christmas trees in

Nashville. Oh, I get a little sentimental.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with that.

Exactly.

Look, first year's the worst.

If you're looking for me to get all scary, I do forget it.

All I'm saying is that I know you miss your family and, you know, I know how

hard it is during the holidays.

I'm sure that me and you both spent our first Christmas together.

Let's get this tree inside.

Do I know how to pick them, or do I know how to pick them?

You got a number three.

Fucking number three.

It's a good thing you guessed.

I'm talking about you.

You believe it? We just got our birth certificate.

We're getting our birth certificate together.

It's all just been a nice dream of mine.

I know we had a rocky start, but I really

don't want this to end.

I love you.

I love you too, Joey.

What do you say we take our coats off and we bring you straight alive?

How's that look?

Very good. All right.

Let's see what else. Good.

Good?

Very good.

Who's out here this night? David Wong.

Where'd you put it? It's right over there.

Here?

Yeah.

Right there.

Looks good?

Thank you.

Now be honest with me.

Is the way you say that you decorate the tree this good?

Let's have a good homosexual tea.

We are truly blessed.

Can I get a hallelujah on that one?

Listen. Oh, it's really hard to work.

You really think so?

No queen wears her weight in bonbons or ever uses the word fabulous in this

dance. I think it's some sort of taboo or something.

Anyway, I will tell you, you can use my apartment downstairs to prepare

everything for your Christmas party tomorrow.

Oh, that's even better.

You don't say you don't know.

Just wait till you get the bill.

Bruce, why can't you answer me?

I'm just keeping something from you, shall we?

It's not what you think.

Well, how do you know what I'm thinking?

Because I know what I'd be thinking.

Don't worry.

I haven't been messing around on you.

My sister called earlier this afternoon.

So what's the big deal?

Daddy's always calling you.

She told me that my parents are planning to surprise me by coming here to New

York for a surprise visit on Christmas Eve.

Oh, the in -laws!

And they still don't know Bruce is a waiter?

I still don't understand why you're worried.

There's nothing wrong with being a waiter.

I've been lying to you, Joey, and to everybody else.

You're not a waiter?

You're not a waiter.

You remember when I told you that my dad was in the construction business and my

mom was a housewife?

Yeah. Well, my dad is really a church rapper and my mom is

really the church choir director.

I saw something like this on that J -Springer.

Why'd you lie about something like that?

There's more.

They don't know anything about me being gay.

Oh, Mary, please.

Who are all these people? Helen Keller and Ray Charles?

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

That means that they don't know anything about me and you?

And here I thought you were the sharpest tool in the shed.

Well, how about your sister, Jenny?

I've talked to her a million times on the phone myself.

Jenny's the only one who does know.

I let it slip one day, and I begged her not to tell anyone, especially our

folks. I still don't understand why you did all that.

Since the day I met you.

One of the things that I've always admired about you is that you don't care

anybody thinks about you.

Darling, the 3F did it.

If you don't feed me, fulfill me, or finance me,

then don't worry about what I do. Don't worry, it's not the girl I live on,

Reese.

Will you please give us some time alone here?

Yeah, uh, we're, uh, I need to, we're here for my Christmas act anyway.

Uh...

I don't give a shit what anyone else

thinks about me, but you obviously do.

I just wanted to be where you are.

I mean, your family knows about you and they don't care. Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Are you crazy?

Do you think it's always been that simple?

Well, let me tell you something, pal.

I've had to struggle.

I was afraid to tell them, just like you are now.

But they've got ten years to accept it. Ten years!

I figure somewhere around never will be when my parents accept me. Oh, so you're

just going to keep on hiding it from them, huh?

I need to ask you something, Joey.

I need you to go downstairs and stay with Maurice while they're here.

Oh, wait a second.

Now you're shoving me out.

It's just while they're here.

And what about us spending our first Christmas Eve together?

Don't I matter to you?

Shall we?

We can work something out.

Your kid!

Oh, Joey, come on.

I'm out of here.

Joey, things don't have to be this way. They do have to be this way.

You enjoy your family, and I'll be down to worry.

I can see what matters here.

I don't matter.

Period.

I'm going to see you do that to me.

I can't believe it.

You're welcome to be early.

Just a minute!

I'll be there in just a minute!

I thought you

were my parent.

Nope.

Just your boyfriend.

What kind of question is that?

Looks like you've been doing a little housecleaning here.

What do you mean?

Our pictures?

Stuffed animals?

Where are they?

I put them away.

For now.

Well, with everything put away and my clothes out of reach, it looks like you

have your own little trick pad here.

Why do you have to be so nasty?

I've never been so uncomfortable in my whole life. Why can't you be on my side?

I don't understand.

I love you, Chloe.

I hate that you have to be this way.

I'm sorry.

It's just that, if you were up here with your family, my parents down in

Florida, it would be one lonely Christmas Eve.

Maybe we can make it up New Year's?

What about our party tonight?

Um, I called everybody after we left, told them we had to cancel.

What'd you tell them?

I don't know, I just made up a bunch of excuses that I went along.

You should be real good at that by now.

Listen, I better get called in to figure out what to do.

Hello, Doris. Goodbye, Doris. Back at you. Did I interrupt something going on

here? My midlife crisis at age 28?

Oh, honey, I know what you mean.

When I was your age, I had already been through my second marriage and was

working on finding the ferry.

I think I told you about my first husband, Leroy, who died on me right in

middle of sex.

And you know, the worst part was, he didn't even bring me to Oregon. I know.

You told me.

I did.

Well, let me tell you about Bernard, my second husband. You didn't come up here

to collect the rent early, now did you?

Well, no. As long as you've been living in my building, I know you know that I'm

not that kind of a person.

Great. Now I've got the landlady pissed off at me, too.

I'm not pissed off at you, honey. I just want to find out something about this

party you're throwing tomorrow night.

You don't have to worry about it.

Well, I just want you to keep the noise level down, you know, for the benefit of

the tenants who don't have a soldier light. Like I said, you don't have to

about it. The party's been canceled.

What happened?

My parents are coming to New York for a surprise visit.

Joey's gone downstairs to stay with Maurice, and I'm heading for the

Eve from Hill.

Does that answer your question?

It is very nice.

I don't know. There are a lot of very good things to do in New York.

What did you find?

Not very nice.

You're so calm.

You're going to be here for a couple of days. You're going to be all over the

place.

You're going to be here for a couple more days.

From Nashville?

Are you forgotten already?

Of course not.

Oh, praise the Lord, son.

Oh, just look at our fine young man, Walter.

It is sad to behold.

Oh, thank you, Mama.

And Daddy.

Well, don't you stay in there. Y 'all come on in.

So where'd the flight get in?

Oh, we didn't fly.

We took the bus.

All the way from Nashville.

I can't spend all that Christmas savings.

Well, sure is good to see y 'all both.

Here, let me take your coat.

Oh, thank you, honey.

The bus, huh?

So, um, how was the drive up here?

Well, the roads was pretty slick.

I had a notion to tell the bus driver to stop and let me and your mama out of

there. Smack dab in the middle of the highway.

Well, the main thing is that you made it safe.

Um, can I get y 'all something to drink?

Well, we're about thirsty.

Why don't y 'all have a seat and I'll put your coat in the bedroom then.

What are you doing?

Tasting.

Are you sure this is Granny Ruth's recipe?

Give or take an ingredient or two.

What? You don't like it?

I didn't say that.

Well, what are you saying?

It's missing something.

Because he ain't around here.

What's all the commotion?

Bruce has helped his mama make supper.

Bruce, don't you know that cooking supper was woman's work?

Now, who do you think did the supper when he wasn't around here?

That's why the boy needs the wife.

Oh, there's that pretty sister Pam Johnson from the church choir.

She looks like a young Dolly Parton. Oh, the boy's just crazy about her.

And how about Sister Loretta Sappington, the church secretary?

Well, Bruce and Gary have to move back to Nashville for her. She's got that

medical condition. Can't travel too far.

You don't like that saying all this? Well, of course you do, son.

Well, you got somebody in your life you told you didn't need your daddy by the

end? Do we have to talk about this right now?

Your mama and me knows what's going on here, Bruce.

We do?

No need to play pocket without a coin.

You've always been shy when it comes to girls.

Remember? Oh, yeah.

Girls.

I remember.

And if you've caught yourself one, why, there's no call to be ashamed to tell me

and your mama about her.

Even if she's not the look of Loretta is.

As long as she's taken the load and her partner's safe, it's all that we can do.

Amen.

Bruce!

Would you fetch my winter coat?

I'm going to take a little walk and get myself some... Fresh air. Well, don't be

long now. Dinner's almost ready.

Well, how long do you think it's going to take for me to get some fresh air,

woman? When you bundle up, you're going to get your death of cold out there.

I'll be back in about a half an hour.

Bruce. Bruce, run down there and fetch your daddy real quick.

And what for?

I forgot to tell him to get the cheese.

Oh, I can run down to the corner market and get some.

Oh, I've been much obliged, son.

Thank you, darling.

There's nothing wrong here. I'm getting foolish.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Are you all right?

I'm just nervous being away from this city. Being away in this big city is

Are you sure?

Yes. Here's your tea.

Oh, thanks, honey.

Let me do that.

Oh. You're liable to cut the hands.

I'm sorry.

to me. I'm not daddy.

Your daddy said there's never an

excuse in this place. Never. No matter how small it is.

Why do you let them control you like that?

Oh, hello, sir. And a fabulous holiday season to you, sir.

We're missing a fork here, honey.

I'll give you a fucking dirty proof.

What?

I think it's a wonderful life on that movie channel in a bit.

Ah, one could never get enough of it's a wonderful life during the holiday

season.

So it really pisses me off though when that damn Ted Turner went and screwed it

up with color.

Colorization ruins all those old movies, don't you think?

Hello?

Terry?

I'm sorry, what did you say?

I just told my audience to connect a little more to Pinkett.

Yeah, fuck.

Sorry Maurice, I'm just a little bit prepped right now.

I mean, Bruce is upstairs with his family and I'm down here with... Hmm.

One boost of confidence after another.

I didn't mean it that way. Yeah, it should help more.

I think I ran into the Reverend Jerry Falwell in the hallway earlier.

Who?

Jerry Falwell.

What's he like?

I wouldn't do him.

Must be bad.

Come to think of it, Terry, even you wouldn't do him.

I wonder what's going on up there.

Well, how does the word crucifixion strike your fancy?

It does tell the parents about being gay. I wonder how he's going to do it.

Maybe he could use the one where he just didn't wake up one morning and wanted

to be a queen.

You're kidding me.

That's what I told my parents.

Well, to tell you the truth, I actually told my parents that.

I wake up every morning feeling like a queen.

All right, can you please be serious?

You don't think I am?

So, Shelly, how are you planning on spending your Christmas?

I had decided.

Oh, well.

Then I expected to see you down at the Cabernet watching my Christmas show at

about 9.

I don't know.

That wasn't a question.

Oh.

Maybe.

I am Susan.

Be there, okay?

And remember, Shadi, anyway, old queens never die.

How many of you out there are dying to know what your lover has under the tree

for you tonight?

Come on.

Yes.

I say forget those nice little buttons.

Give me hittin'. Oh,

and busy of men.

And I often do.

Men, men are like low -tile desks.

If they can write the first time, you can walk all over them.

Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh. Let me tell you about my last boyfriend.

Tell me that he thought he was

straight.

I said to him, that's okay, Shadi.

Even if he doesn't look straight, he should have hit the hot water.

That never heals.

They're from our childhood.

And they're from our adulthood also.

What I say to that, learn to nurture those wounds.

Learn to love those wounds.

And if you can't, learn to...

and are waiting.

And to me, peace, everyone.

I remember back when you were mine.

Kept you waiting up all the time.

Maybe a shame, but it ain't no crime.

No, no, no, no.

Maybe it's time to get out of here.

Have myself a whiskey and one more beer.

So, how do you take your A to the moon?

Come on.

Is it the A, or are you just... No.

Well, damn, I'm a little good at the man cave.

Pretty good.

Uh,

give me a, uh, double shot of butter.

That's all we're going to need, right?

Have you ever come in here before?

Cause I've never seen you.

Alright, I get it. Just shut up and leave it alone, huh?

How about another photo shot?

Do you want somebody to

sit here?

Okay, you want to sit here?

You from around here are you?

Well, that's good, like you were doing that by yourself. You didn't see it.

I didn't see it. I didn't see it.

I didn't see it. I didn't see it. I didn't see it.

I didn't see it.

I didn't see it. I didn't see it. I didn't see it. I didn't see it. I didn't

it. I didn't see it. I didn't see it.

I didn't see it.

I didn't see it.

I don't even get you, do you?

Good job.

So where do we get that out of the way?

Thank you.

Hey,

you got a problem with that?

told you to.

I want to read a little of the scripture.

What is this?

What is this?

You want something to drink there?

No, no thanks.

I knew it when I first saw you at the bar.

I said to myself, there's a guy who says, fuck the small talk.

Cut it out!

What the hell's your problem?

There is no problem.

I just don't feel right doing this.

I don't understand.

Why the hell did you come back here with me in the first place?

I don't know.

Listen, I'm sorry.

Hey, I'm not looking for an apology.

I'm looking for a good life.

Stop!

I gotta be somewhere else right now. I'm sorry.

Merry fucking Christmas.

Sorry, man.

Well, then why don't we ask someone who is sure?

Bruce, get out of here!

I said, Bruce, get yourself out of here!

What is this?

We can get that.

A group of here moved to this hidden, desolate city to become one of them

I was talking about.

How many seem to know another one of these here patches of him and that fella

they found in the hallway carrying all of his God Almighty?

I know how God punishes one of my children.

If the Lord Jesus Christ is my witness, you're all going to die a slob every

day.

Every last one of you.

We have to save each other.

Him for me.

Christ for me.

Do as I say!

You see, they're not serious, they're a nice last time.

Don't leave, sweetheart. No.

No, please.

Please call me back tomorrow.

All right, now, honey.

Now, if you need me, you just call me, you hear?

I'm so sorry, baby.

It's all my life that did it.

Take some life from the world that you have.

You are my world.

My world did get a lot better, I think.

I mean...

Now that my parents pretty much know everything.

My mom.

Maybe.

My dad.

Not a snowball can from hell.

There was a thing that he told me.

What time is it?

It's about a quarter to midnight.

Why?

Because it's not too late.

Why?

Breakfast and Christmas came together.

Okay, I said that.

I remember her first name.

The real meaning of family.

It's what me and you got right here.

A roof over our heads.

And lots of love.

But we're biased towards.

Picks me a cup of coffee, huh?

I need to use the men's room.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Oh,

how long have you been up?

Logging up to see how cute you are these days.

Yeah.

Here, have some breakfast.

Bagel?

It's been a really bad dream.

Dream that my parents came in.

They found out about me and you.

My father and I got in a big fight.

Hey. Hey!

I've got an idea.

Nothing to worry about.

Come on. Get dressed.

Get dressed.

Come on.

I'm going to give you a word just in case you don't know.

That Christmas was one of just many wonderful Christmases to come.

Although here it is, years later, and my parents still can't accept me desiring

and loving another man.

I'd say it was just their loss, but I'd be lying.

Because one of the greatest things created by God is family.

Either the family we're born into, or the family we create from the circle of

friends with whom we've been blessed.

With Joey sharing in my life, it gets a little easier each Christmas, but I

don't believe the pain will ever completely disappear.

Over the years and through my never -ending battle to come out of that

proverbial closet, I've learned to be appreciative of what I've been given and

to be truly grateful for what I have.

Life can really be wonderful.

And so can love.

It's so hard to be without you Don't know which way to

turn No one to help me find my way No

more bridges left to burn

And I pray each and every day that my

life is going to change and you'll be in my arms again.

When someone speaks, I hear your voice. Then I see your face

until this cold reality leaves me here.

to the place where...