It was a time when personal exploration was a way of life-a time when it was still okay to hitchhike, grow your hair long, and be carefree. But during the 1970s and early 1980s, it still was not okay to be gay. In Complex, the first of the two plays presented in Baby Crib, author Michael J.-P. Williams introduces Mickey, a man haunted by guilt-and a dark secret. Just as a new consciousness is lighting the way for those who wish to escape the closet, artist wannabe Mickey is battling internal demons. Ashamed that he is homosexual and even more ashamed that he is still alive after his twin brother dies from cancer, Mickey must struggle to accept himself and his desires. In the second play, I Ski Maybell, Paul West is on the road to success. With a newly acquired MBA in hand and a good job in a new city, Paul's fresh start in life suddenly goes awry when he allies himself with Nova McWorth. Unfortunately, she is his boss. Williams interweaves multifaceted characters within poignant storylines that prove that perhaps life really is too short to worry about what we cannot control.

BABY CRIB

Complex and I Ski MaybellBy Michael JP Williams

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Michael JP Williams
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-2180-2

Chapter One

THE COMPLEX©

Michael JP Williams

ACT I—Return from the Woods SCENE I— Homecoming: Mickey Mama Ann Papa John Chorus-3—(taped voices) Twin/ Ghost—John SCENE II— Cemetery: Mickey, Twin/ Ghost SCENE III— Confrontation/Departure Mickey Papa John Mama Ann ACT II—Corruption SCENE I— Molestation/Flirtation Bar Scene Mickey, Lynn, Bill, Twin/ Ghost Chorus (taped disco crowd) SCENE II— Love-Fraternal/Paternal Mickey, Bill, Twin/ Ghost SCENE III— Debate Bill, Mickey, Lynn, Twin/ Ghost ACT III—Debauchery SCENE I— Pretty Things Lynn, Mickey, Bill, Twin/Ghost SCENE II— Decision Mickey, Lynn, Mama Ann, Papa John SCENE III— Sell-Out Mickey, Lynn, Bill, Twin/Ghost

This play is dedicated to my brother George David Williams whose life was too short. I miss our childhood games.

Also with love to Mom, Dad, Rich, Bob, John and Chip and Linda Criswell; my friend W. Harold Glass Jr.—RIP

OH yeah—Thanks Uncle Tom, a real Tennessee Williams

ACT ONE

(Time—1974)—Place: East Tennessee

SCENE I

A well-to-do entry hall and sitting room of a large house. Returning home after spending a month living in the wilderness, Mickey, a young fervent university student is excited to show his family drawings, pictures, site studies, but most of all he wants their pride and admiration.

MICKEY: (talking to himself out loud) Boy! I can't wait to get home. I can't wait to see Papa John and Mama Ann. It's been a long time without good cooking and my own bed. I wonder if my brothers and sister want to see my drawings.

(Haunting Music)

I brought stream rocks for sister too. Why can't I ever wait just to get home? It seems like I never go home!

Muse/Twin: Taunting—(a counterpart of Mickey in a shroud in the background)

You know why you stay away!

You know why you can't come home anymore. You remember too much!

Enter Papa John: a well to do business executive with a Fortune 500 mentality. (An engineer's logic, a businessman's dollars and sense)

Enter Mama Ann: (The handsome wife of a well-to-do man Beautifully dressed and coiffured. Ann has the sensitivity her husband lacks and a joy for adventure. Still his monetary hold keeps him in control.)

Papa John: Son, welcome home. I've missed you. Where have you been? Quick ... take that knapsack off your back, sit down ... woman, get the boy something to drink. Are you hungry? Where on God's green earth were you wandering?

Mama Ann: Mickey ... Mickey, you look tired. Please, honey, sit. John, stop badgering my son.

Papa John: Ann, stop fussing and just get Mickey a cold Coca Cola®. Make sure it's on ice. That icemaker seems slower these days.

Mickey: Papa ... Mama—it's good to be home. Please Mama, I would like a Coke but no ice. Just let me sit and take off these boots. (He sits and starts unlacing his hiking boots.)

Papa John: Son, why don't you do that somewhere else? You've been walking and Lord knows what kinds of vermin you are bringing into this house! After all, we have a mud room for you to take these filthy clothes off and we have five bathrooms in this house for you to get cleaned up.(wild hand gestures) Your hair needs cutting. But first get that filth off your body. You look like you've been walking 50 miles.

Mickey: (smiling)—Papa, more like 120 miles from the Smokies to here and all by myself with my backpack.

Mama Ann: Why didn't you call? You must be exhausted. John, leave him alone. Honey, don't you want a sandwich? I have some nice roast beef, chicken ... hamburger.

Mickey: No Mama, Dad's right. Let me get cleaned up and I'll eat later. What room do you want me to stay in?

Papa John: Son, don't be silly, your room of course. It's still yours and your brother's room. But let's get you outside on the patio and remove your "vacation" clothes.

(Gesturing) And we'll scrap some of this Smokey mountain mud off you. Both men exit, Mickey leaves his backpack behind.

Mama Ann: Thank God he's finally home. Next thing you know he'll want to walk the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia, but I can't blame him. If I was twenty years younger, I'd lead the way.

Enter 2 teenage boys and 1 teenage girl

Chorus: Where's Mickey? ... Where's Mickey?

Mama Ann: Children, he's getting cleaned up and he's tired.

1st boy: What did he bring?

2nd boy: Where are his things?

Girl: Where did he come from this time?

Chorus: Watch out Mama Ann!

Watch out!

Mickey's back

And he's tricky!

Mama Ann: Children, hush! Your brother is back. I want him here with us where he belongs. He just took a little vacation. Don't your Papa and I take you on vacation? We always take great vacations since your brother died. But enough of that, go get Mickey's room ready.

1st Boy: Don't you mean Johnnie's and Mickey's room?

2nd Boy: That room gives me the creeps.

Girl: Shut up you two. Don't make Mama cry and get going, you heard her.

EXIT THREE

ENTER MICKEY (cleanly and simply dressed, barefoot). Dressed in white with a floor length bright red robe.

Mickey: Mama Ann, I'm so happy to be home. Everyone's looking so good. Y'all look terrific!

Mama Ann: Son, you don't know how I worried. You should have called or at least sent a card. You know that you are special and I worry extra about you.

Mickey: Oh Mom I was having too much fun, living in the woods, Looking at rhododendrons in bloom, smelling honeysuckle and Mamma, oh Mamma, I was drawing.

(Mickey goes to backpack and takes out sketch books and pads.)

Look, Mamma at my drawings. There's a campsite I laid out and built with my own hands. The amphitheatre area of the Folk Life Center that I creosoted all the logs!

(Enter Papa John in background)...