It's All Tru

Sky Gilbert

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780369100948
• eBook ISBN: 9780369100962
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Canadian Drama
• Index: Literature

"There used to be people dying and they didn't know why and there was nothing anyone could do, but most of all—no one cared whether we lived or whether we died."

Love, sex, and pharmaceuticals are put to the test when a gay couple's open relationship is threatened with dangerous consequences.

Kurt, a silver fox dance instructor, and his young fiancé, Travis, have an arrangement: when one's away, they're allowed to stray... as long as they're safe. One night, over a dinner conversation about wedding invitations, Travis admits that he had a fling with a man named Gideon whom he believes removed the condom during sex. He also reveals that he didn't start taking the HIV preventative medication PrEP (Truvada)—as promised—putting himself and Kurt in danger of contracting HIV. When Gideon appears on their doorstep in the middle of the night, the threat against Kurt and Travis's relationship is an alarming force to be reckoned with.

It’s All Tru

Scene One

Kurt, a silver fox, is at home and preparing for Travis’s return from rehearsal. He has set the dining room table. Everything is perfect. There is a pot on the stove that he is tending to, and he is humming to himself. He hears a key in the lock. He runs over to his iPod, which is connected to massive speakers. The music comes on just as Travis enters. It’s Ethel Merman singing “Marrying for Love.” Travis, a very handsome young man of twenty-four, is caught off guard, and says something incomprehensible to indicate his incomprehension . . .

Kurt puts his hand to Travis’s lips.

Kurt: Shhh.

Kurt gently takes the bottle of wine Travis was holding and places it on the sideboard. Kurt takes Travis in his arms and they dance to the music. This goes on for about thirty seconds, until Kurt dips Travis for a romantic kiss — they are both dance professionals, so this has a certain flair — then they come up. Kurt stares at Travis for a moment and then turns the music off.

Travis: How romantic.

Kurt: Pardon me, but it’s my middle name.

Travis: One certainly couldn’t ever forget that you started your life as a dance instructor.

Kurt: Or that you are a stupendous dancer.

Travis: Well I don’t think stupendous is —

Kurt: You are stupendous in every way. Do you know that? I’m very lucky to have you.

Travis: No, I’m lucky to have you.

Kurt: Look at me, an old man.

Travis: You’re a dusky forty-seven.

Kurt: Dusky? What does that mean?

Travis: As beautiful as . . . dusk. I don’t know. Don’t analyze. Analysis is . . . a bad thing.

Kurt: Is it?

Travis: Yes, no regrets, I say. Je ne regrette rien. That’s the only way to survive.

Kurt: Aren’t we serious today.

Travis: Not really . . . not serious at all.

Pause. Travis pulls out the wine.

I could only get any old Pinot. I apologize — not the Pinot you wanted.

Kurt: No need to apologize.

Kurt kisses Travis.

Travis: Mmmm. Yum. Too bad we have to eat dinner.

Kurt: There’s always after dinner.

Travis: Mmm.

They kiss again.

So what’s in the pot?

Kurt: My crazy chili.

Travis: How crazy is it?

Kurt: As crazy as it can be and still be vegetarian.

Travis: As long as there is no quinoa or kale. I’m so tired of those trendy foodstuffs. And all the faggots just can’t get enough of them.

Kurt: You shouldn’t say that.

Travis: Sorry, it’s just so annoying that everyone has to eat the same thing.

Kurt: When did you start saying faggot?

Travis: I don’t know.

Kurt: You never said faggot before.

Travis: I didn’t ever?

Kurt: Not that I remember.

Travis: Well maybe before I met you.

Kurt: The vast, uncharted time.

Travis: Yes. So vast . . . so terribly, terribly vast.

Kurt: So you’ve got the wine . . . I’ve got the chili . . .

Travis: That’s all we need . . .

They move to the table.

Kurt: So how was rehearsal?

Travis: I was brilliant. No one seemed to notice.

Kurt: Well that’s all their fault then.

Travis: You are a very supportive partner.

Kurt: As supportive as they come . . .

Travis: And how was your class?

Kurt: Oh they just . . . they just inspire me so much, those kids . . .

Travis: You always say that. I hope they don’t inspire you too much.

Kurt: N...

Table of contents

• Also by Sky Gilbert
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Introduction
• Production History
• Characters
• It’s All Tru
• About the Author