Billy tells his story in
the opening shots of the movie. He is a young gay man
in Hollywood, a hopeless romantic trying to find true
love, Mr. Right. He is not too comfortable in the LA scene,
and is an outsider, just as he was as gay in his small
home town. He is a photographer who uses an old Polaroid
for his artistic visions. He has a grand project, recreating
the famous romantic scenes from the classic movies of
old, but using male models. While at a coffee house he
sees the waiter/musician Gabriel and falls hard. THe asks
Gabriel to be a model for his photo shoot. He hopes that
not only will the beautiful Gabriel be his model, but
something more. The thing is Gabriel straight
or gay, for Gabriel talks about his girlfriend
up in San Francisco. However, Billy has his doubts and
remains hopeful.
Scene One: Billy has taken Gabriel
to an exhibition of the photos of Rex Webster, a famous
photographer.
The opening is somewhat
decedent, and pretentious. Billy and Gabriel come across
Rex, and his boy toy Whitey, talking rather
pretentiously to various some groupies.
They are laughing, acting pretentious, and also they appear
rather drunk.
Whitey is hanging all over Rex, and acts very possessive,
and appears somewhat uncertain and jealous about Rex'
attention.
REX:
No, no but seriously, what does it mean to be a gay artist
in today's society. Well, it means responsibility.
Responsibility to recreate popular culture in a pan-sexual
mode.
Everybody laughs
pretentiously. Billy and Gabriel are uncomfortable with
the situation.
WHITEY:
I don't think anybody here knows what "pan-sexual"
means.
REX:
Oh, it means I fuck him, he fucks her. She fucks
her. She fucks me. I fuck, (notices Perry). Perry, get over
here. Let's reminisce about the interview days, Andy and
Henry.
PERRY:
The show is wonderful, Rex.
REX:
Oh well, Whitey and I like it.
PERRY:
I'd like to introduce to you to a couple of friends of mine.
(Patting Billy on the back) This is a fellow photographer,
Billy.
BILLY:
Mr. Webster, any words of advice for the struggling young
artist.
REX
: Stick with Perry, and hopes he keeps introducing
you to people like me.
PERRY:
And this is model friend Gabriel.
Whitey notices
that Rex is a little too interested in Gabriel.
GABRIEL:
(Nervous, he appears uncomfortable with the situation) Hi....
I play the base, actually.
REX: And
I suppose you'd like Mr. Webster's autograph.
GABRIEL: Sure, I love
your art work, it's fantastic.
REX:
You have very.... off-beat features.
WHITEY: (Sarcastically, obviously jealous
by the attention) Kinda like a male Kate Moss.
REX:
And this hair, (lustfully) oh, my.
BILLY:
And it should photograph very well in the shoot he's doing
me.
REX:
We're having an open bar after the gallery closes.
WHITEY:
A little private party.
REX:
Perry, would you and your friends care to join us.
GABRIEL: I don't mind.
Billy shakes
his head, trying to signal to Gabriel to say no. Though
at first Gabriel seemed somewhat turned off by Rex and
his crowd he now seems rather interested, much to Billy's
displeasure. Billy seems uncomfortable about the situation,
and worried he may loose Gabriel.
BILLY
: (He shakes his head, trying to signal Gabriel to
say no) Gabriel?
GABRIEL:
(Clears his throat, slightly nervous) Never turn down a
party.
Rex laughs and looks
over to Whitey who also laughs.
REX:
Well said.
Rex and Whitey giggle
together.
A short
time later, Rex is signing an autograph using Whitey's
back. He is in the middle of a story and everyone is
laughing.
REX:
Really she did, she did. So I said to her Sophia darling,
(speaking Italian) tu sei multo bella ma io preferisco
gli uomini (Sophia darling, you're very beautiful,
but I prefer men.)
Whitey howls with laughter,
and so does Rex; and all the gang around them.
Scene Two: Later at the
party Billy and Perry are discussing Gabriel. Billy
asks Perry if he thinks Gabriel is gay. Perry tells
him he does not seem to be, but there are times he gets
a vibe. Just then a very drunk Whitey comes over towards
them.
BILLY:
(Motioning with his hand, trying to put it delicately) So....
are you and Rex.... you know.... an.... item?
WHITEY: (Taking
a drink and leaning toward Billy) Doesn' mean he doesn't want
to lay your boy
As Whitey talks Billy
tries to brush away the alcohol fumes. Whitey leaves.
Scene
Three: Later Billy is still uncertain whether Gabriel
is gay or straight. Gabriel meanwhile has agreed to model
for Rex on Catalina Island. This causes Billy some concern.
He enlists the help of his female roommate and they head
off to Catalina.
Billy finds them on the beach, and Whitey, who is
watching the shoot, is lounging in a beach chair under
and umbrella drinking, wearing shades, and with a sun
tan lotion on his nose.
WHITEY: Hey,
you....
BILLY: Me?
WHITEY:
Yah, you. (Motioning) Come here!
Billy walks over,
somewhat uncertain.
WHITEY:
What are you doing here?
BILLY:
Just thought I'd check things out.
WHITEY:
(Snippy) Ohhh, "Check things out" (Lifting
up his sun glasses) eeehhh.... (Motions with his hand to
come nearer, and making a whistling noise) Come here! (He
puts his hand on Billy's shoulder, Billy leans down closer
to him). I wouldn't worry about that gorgeous boy of yours....
Just then, unnoticed,
Rex walks up behind them. He does not seem pleased with
what Whitey is saying.
WHITEY:
(Cont.) ....because I'm keeping an eye
on him for you.
REX:
WHITEY!!
Whitey turns to
look at him.
REX:
(Cont.) Don't you dare harass a fellow
photographer. (Turning to Billy) welcome to our set Willy.
BILLY:
(Correcting him) It's Billy.
REX:
(Putting his arm around him, and coming on to him) But you
wouldn't mind if Uncle Rex called you
"Willy."
WHITEY:
(Jealous, and bitchy) You wouldn't mind (putting his hand
possessively on Rex' chest) if "Uncle
Rex" calls you anything.
REX:
Shout up Whitey!
Whitey takes his hand
away and sits back in his chair. Upset, he sits back
silently and drinks.
REX:
Your just in time to see us get off the last
shots of the day.
BILLY: Yeah,
the light's beautiful today.
One of
the models, shirtless and with ripped abs walks by; Whitey
admires his body.
REX:
(Watching the model) And so are the boys.
Just as
Billy is about to ask Rex a question, unnoticed Perry
walks up.
BILLY:
Umm, I was just wondering.... (notices Perry, and is surprised)
What are you doing here?
PERRY:
Ah, Rex invited me to a party. I never
turn down a party.
REX:
(Turning to Billy, and slightly making a play for
him) You're invited too.
Billy wants to get away, so he pulls Perry away with
him before Rex and say or do anything else.
WHITEY: BY
GOD, THIS ISLAND'S GOING TO SEE SOME ACTION
TONIGHT!
Scene Three:
At a post shoot party Billy nervously looks for Gabriel.
However, Gabriel seems to have joined in the IN CROWD.
Whitey can be seen weaving
in and out, carrying a bottle of booze, and rather drunk.
It seems his love life is not going well, Rex seems to be
straying.
Later on the beach Billy comes across Gabriel with one of
Rex' male models. Billy is hopeful but he discovers that
Gabriel is but is interested in the model. Alone Billy walks
along the beach where he finds Perry who tells him that
he too had a crush on someone once, but that person also
did not return his affections. He tenderly kisses Billy.
Scene
Four: It is Billy's opening for the Polaroid photos reenacting
the great romantic movie scenes, but with all male models,
which is a success. We also find out that the photos Gabriel
shot for Rex helped Gabriel's career.
Rex and Billy, apparently reconciled, are looking
at Billy's exhibition. Whitey has his hand on Rex' shoulder.
REX:
Whitey, in some of these photos he's capture an aspect
of me that I though only you knew about.
WHITEY:
(Pleased, and looking at him lovingly, he places his other
hand on his chest) Rex, do you think I
an learn how to take pictures.
REX:
Well, if you are serious I'd be glad to show you the fundamentals.
WHITEY:
I am serious.
REX:
(Smiling) All right then, from now on I'll introduce you
as my protege.
WHITEY:
Oooohhh...
Rex chuckles,
Whitey, overjoyed bends over and gives him a loving kiss
to the cheek.
WHITEY:
(He notices a particular photo and points
to it) Rex, what are you doing to Brad in this picture?
Whether because he is resigned
for being caught or disgusted because of Whitey's jealousy
Rex sighs and rolls his eyes.
The movie ends with Billy
being introduced to an attractive would-be photographer
who is crazy about his work.
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