Episode 212
Hot guys dancing at Babylon and Michael and Ben are right in the mix
of things. Michael attempts to talk dirty to Ben, but then starts acting
all shy. Ben wants them to go home so Michael can prove his actions
instead of just talking them. Michael sees Brian and Justin at the bar
then and dumps poor Ben like a hot potato to go chase after Brian like
he�s 12 again.
Michael and Brian hug in greeting. Brian is asked how the White
Party was and he says he had a good time, but it wasn�t as much fun
as the White Party he and Ben were at two years ago. Ben looks a
little uncomfortable with the mention and Michael asks what he was
doing at the White Party two years ago. (Hmmmm . . . Me thinks
Mikey should ask *who* Ben was doing at that party.) Ben says that
he was there doing research on a paper. (Yeah, everyone who believes
that, raise their hands . . . That�s what I thought.) Michael and Ben go
back to the dance floor together and Justin and Brian head towards the
bar, an oh-so-knowing smile on Justin�s face.
Brian is leaning on the bar and asks �What� when he sees that look on
Justin�s face. Justin states rather than asks that Brian and Ben had sex
at the White Party. Brian tries to dodge the conversation, but Justin
ain�t having it. He knows that Brian would have made a move on Ben
because Ben is so hot. Brian reluctantly admits that, yes, he had sex
with Ben. Justin asks how many times and Brian says once, but then
corrects himself. It was twice. Justin asks why Brian hasn�t told Michael
this yet and Brian says it is �Gay Etiquette�. Never talk about your past
tricks, especially if that trick is now your best friend�s current love.
Ted and Emmett at a nice restaurant where Ted is aiming to become a
member of Pittsburgh gay elite circle. Em�s not too impressed with the
snobs and thinks Ted is acting like a groupie. Besides, what is wrong
with the �class� of people that Ted currently hangs out with? Ted tries
to introduce himself to one of the gentlemen, named Garth. He promotes
his site to Garth who doesn�t act impressed or interested.
At the cemetery where Dumpster Boy has been buried, Debbie, Vic,
and Michael come to put flowers on his grave. He still hasn�t been
identified and Debbie is upset that the cops haven�t found out who
he was or who killed him.
In the steam room of the guy�s gym, Brian and Michael are talking.
Michael asks what is the kinkiest thing Brian has ever done? Brian
jokes that he once stayed all night at a trick�s house and even had
breakfast with the guy the next morning. Michael starts to tell about
how he let Ben tie him up the night before and it was incredible. Brian
replies that it�s also good if you�re the one who did the tying up. We
get a flashback of Brian fucking Ben and Ben is tied to the bed. Mikey
goes on to talk about how he had to totally trust and surrender to Ben.
Afterwards, Ben held him and he�d never felt so close to anyone in his
life. Michael doesn�t think Brian has ever experienced that sort of
intimacy with his nameless tricks. He boasts that he has something
wonderful with Ben that Brian and his tricking can�t compare to. Brian
doesn�t care and goes off with his soon-to-be trick.
Ted, Emmett, Lindsay, and Melanie are having dinner together at the
same restaurant that Ted and Em were at before. Garth is there and
Ted talks about what a snob the guy is. He�s no longer impressed with
Garth, until Garth comes over to the table and shocks Ted by inviting
Ted to his place for a small get-together.
Justin is helping Debbie clean up the diner after closing and she gives
him all of her tips. Justin tries to refuse, but she insists that he has
earned them. He carried that entire shift. She was no help to him.
Justin knows she is preoccupied because of Dumpster Boy and says
that Debbie didn�t even know the kid. Deb says that isn�t the point.
The boy was one of them, part of their community. She waited on
him all the time at the diner and never even knew his name. She feels
somehow responsible that his grave is now unmarked. Justin asks
what they can do about that. Debbie says they should find out who
the boy was, but Justin says that is the job of the police. Debbie gets
furious at the mention of the cops and how they handled the case.
Hovarth called the kid a �Jane Doe�. The cops don�t care about that
kid. No one does. Justin points out that Debbie obviously cares, so
maybe she should try to find out on her own who the guy was. Debbie
accepts the idea and leaves to go talk to Hovarth about the case.
At Woody�s, Emmett, Ted, Brian, and Justin are drinking. Ted is
boasting about Garth�s invitation. Brian�s not impressed and Ted
suspects that Brian is just jealous that he hasn�t been invited to
Garth�s place before. Brian assures Ted that he has been invited to
Garth�s before but he has no desire to hang out with �arrogant, self-
important assholes� like Garth and his friends. Ted thinks Brian would
fit right in with that crowd! (Ha, ha.)
Ted and Emmett start to dish about three guys in Woody�s. Ted
was with one who use to date one of Emmett�s former tricks.
Brian smirks that he�s done all three of the men. Ted asks who
Brian *hasn�t* fucked. Michael and Ben arrive then, just in time
for Mikey to hear the question and reply that Brian has never
fucked him or any of his boyfriends. Justin, who�s just a little
drunk, tries to hide his amusement at that, but does a bad job of
it and Michael asks him what is so funny. Justin says that it�s
nothing, but no one is buying that. Brian�s very silent. Ben
and Brian exchange a look before Ben admits that he has been
with Brian. (Oh, dear Ben, couldn�t this have waited until
you and Mikey were alone?! I mean, granted, Brian and Justin
know this, but did you have to announce it in front of Ted and
Emmett as well?!) Michael is stunned. Ted and Em are
speechless. Brian smacks the back of Justin�s head for spilling
the beans. Michael tries to laugh it off, pretending that it�s
no big deal. It�s Pittsburgh, they�re bound to have a few men
in common. Michael does a good job of pretending he doesn�t
care and isn�t bothered by this news, but he really is.
At the police station, Debbie goes to see Hovarth and is upset
because he hasn�t found out the name of the dead boy yet or
who killed him. Deb thinks he�s not even trying. Hovarth argues
that he is. He�s been through every missing person�s report he
can get his hands on, but there�s no leads yet. He tries to tell
her not to interfere with the case, but Deb is stubborn and says
that if the cops won�t find out who the kid is, then she will.
At Ben�s apartment, he and Michael are making out. Ben is happy
that Michael isn�t upset with him for having slept with Brian in the
past and not mentioned it. He should have said something before.
Michael again tries to say it�s no big deal. They don�t have to tell
each other about everyone they�ve slept with in the past. Michael
and Ben are on the bed and Michael reaches for Ben�s ass, but
feels another hand there. He looks up in horror to see the Ghost
Of Brian Kinney is in bed with him and Ben. Michael shoves
Ghost Brian off the bed and goes back to getting busy with Ben.
Ted, Emmett, and Brian are at the gym. Ted is working out with
a new trainer that Garth recommended. Brian�s had that guy, too.
Brian goes over to chat with the trainer and Michael shows up
to talk with Ted and Em. Ted and Em ask how things went with
Ben after learning that Ben and Brian had once tricked together.
Michael says things were fine with Ben. No trouble at all. Ted
doesn�t believe it. If he ever learns that a boyfriend of his had
been with Brian then he would end the relationship because he�d
fear that he wouldn�t be able to compare to Brian in bed. Mikey
keeps trying to insist that it�s no big deal, but Ted and Emmett
are determined to make it one as they go on and on, making
Michael feel worse. Doesn�t it bother him that Brian and Ben
know each other so intimately? Michael glances over to where
Brian is still chatting with the trainer and starts to have visions
of the Trainer being Ben. He starts to envision Brian and Ben
kissing and making out. He snaps at Ted and Em to shut up as
he goes back to weight lifting and imagining Ben and Brian
together.
At the loft, Justin is drawing a sketch of Dumpster Boy on the
computer for Debbie, who wants to make some flyers to hand
out so they can identify the boy. Debbie tells Justin to be sure
to include the little dimple in the boy�s chin on the drawing.
Jennifer is there, also, and she is putting some food in the refrigerator,
fussing that there isn�t enough food in the loft to keep Brian and Justin
alive. She finds a bottle of poppers and Justin rushes over to take it
away, telling her it�s �head cleaner�. (Ha, ha) Jennifer knows better and
replies that she thought Justin never listened to cassettes anymore. Deb
interrupts and asks if Jennifer wants to help her search for the identity of
the kid. Jen says no. Debbie bluntly asks Jennifer what if that dead boy
had been her child. Wouldn�t she want someone helping him? Jen stares
at Justin before whispering that it almost was her son.
Ted is at Garth�s place for a gathering of Garth�s high society friends.
He introduces Ted to a few of his guests, all of whom find Ted boring.
Beautiful, Nekkid Ben. Oh, my, but this man is gorgeous!! Just too
bad Mikey is in the scene with him, ruining it for me. Anyhow, more
Ben and Mikey in bed, making out. Mikey suggests that he tie Ben
up. Then Michael asks if Brian tied Ben up. Ben doesn�t really want
to talk about his time with Brian, but Michael is insistent. He�s heard
how legendary Brian Kinney Fucks are and he wants to know if Ben
thinks they are, too. Ben relents, admitting that Brian was great in
bed. Brian came before Ben did, but Brian never lost his hard-on.
Brian kept going and they both came together the second time. It
was definitely a memorable fuck for Ben.
Suddenly, the Ghost of Brian Kinney is back in bed with them, scolding
Michael, saying that Mikey just had to ask. Michael asks Ben how he
compares to Brian in bed. Ben says that�s like comparing apples to
cantaloupes. Ben assures that Michael is fine in bed. Michael doesn�t
like the answer and asks if he�s just �fine�. Ben tries to reassure Mikey
that Mikey is good in bed and can they please stop talking about Brian.
Ghost of Brian is still in bed and agrees with Ben, he wants to see
some action. Michael can�t take it anymore and abruptly leaves, saying
he has a shipment coming to the store that he forgot about.
Ted is still boring Garth�s friends. Garth mercifully rescues the men
and pulls Ted aside. He mentions that he checked out Ted�s porn site
and he�s very interested in one of Ted�s workers, a young man named
�Rex�. He wants Ted to arrange for him to meet Rex. Ted is bothered
by the suggestion and says that he doesn�t get involved in the personal
lives of his employees. But Garth assures that he�s just asking to meet
the guy, nothing more. He�s asking as Ted�s friend.
Debbie and Jennifer are handing out the flyers on Liberty Avenue to
see if anyone recognizes Dumpster Boy. Most of the guys are ignoring
Jennifer, but Debbie knows them all so they talk more openly with her.
Deb and Jen talk to one man who says he used to see Dumpster Boy at
the Liberty Spa. Jen thinks it�s a gym. �Not exactly,� Debbie tells her.
Cut to Debbie and Jennifer at the Liberty Spa, which is a bathhouse.
Poor Jennifer is so out of place! LOL! The men are horrified that
two straight women are there. Jen is definitely learning more than she
wants to know! They�re handing out the flyers and asking if anyone
knows the kid. They�re about to get booted out by a bouncer when
one guy admits that he knows the kid. They hooked up at the bath-
house once, but he never knew the guy�s name. Jen demands to know
if anyone introduces themselves before having sex anymore! LOL!!!
I think the answer to that is �no�, dear Jennifer. Anyhow, the man
says that he and Dumpster Boy went back to his place and before
they actually did the deed, the kid had an asthma attack. That killed
the mood.
Michael is alone at his comic book store, writing on a piece of paper
when Brian comes in. Brian jokingly asks for some �Buttman�
comics, but Michael says they�re all sold out. Brian invites Mikey
to Babylon, but Michael declines. Brian snatches up the paper that
Michael was writing on before Mikey can stop him. Brian starts to
read it and Michael has written a plotline for a comic book character
who has to decide between having the ultimate power or saving the
world. Brian says he would take the power. Michael figured as much.
Michael then lets the anger he�s been hiding show and demands to
know why Brian never told him about being with Ben. Brian reminds
that it was two years ago, before Mikey and Ben ever met. It was just
a trick and it didn�t mean anything to him or to Ben. Why does it bother
Michael so much. Mikey replies that it�s because Ben is his boyfriend
and Brian is his friend. Brian thinks Michael is jealous. But is he jealous
over Brian or over Ben. Michael calls him arrogant. Brian asks which is
it. Is Mikey jealous over him or over Ben. Michael is getting angrier
and asks why he should care of Ben slept with Brian. Who hasn�t slept
with Brian? �You,� Brian reminds. Michael doesn�t respond to that.
Brian walks to the door and puts up the �Closed� sign. He turns back
to Michael and pushes Mikey against the wall. Michael asks what Brian
is doing and Brian reaches for Mikey�s crotch. Brian asks hasn�t Michael
always wanted to know what he�s like in bed. Michael shakes his head
no, but Brian goes on, saying that this is Mikey�s chance to fuck him. Brian
kisses him, Michael kisses back at first, but then stops. Michael pulls away
and tells Brian to leave. Brian starts to leave, but then turns back and says
that he knows Michael�s �secret identity�. (Folks, don�t ask me what that
line meant because I don�t have a clue!) Brian leaves then and Michael is
visibly upset over the encounter.
Ted is helping Mel and Lindz put some wedding gifts into their car that
they intend to return. Ted is mad that Garth wants him to pimp out his
employees. Mel says that now Ted knows what some of the upper class
is really like. Ted reminds that he�s using them, too, much as they�re
wanting to use him. Mel says it�s his call what he decides to do.
Debbie and Vic go to a pharmacy to show around the flyer and see
if the kid got his asthma medicine there. The pharmacist recognizes
him based on the dimple in his chin. He�d never forget that. Debbie
blesses Justin�s artistic talent. The pharmacist reluctantly lets them
look at the asthma prescription that the kid never picked up. They
now know his name.
Emmett is giving Ted a facial when Ben shows up at the apartment
looking for Michael, who isn�t there. He went by the store, but it
was closed. They haven�t seen Michael and ask if something is
wrong. Ben isn�t sure if he should tell them, but then admits that
Michael has been acting weird since he learned that Ben and Brian
tricked together once. Ted and Em know why. Ben asks if Brian
and Mikey were lovers once. Ted says no. It would be better for
Michael if they had been because Brian would have fucked him,
hurt him, and then Michael would�ve gotten over it. Instead, Em
adds, Michael has always been left to wonder what might have
happened between him and Brian.
Debbie goes by the police station to tell Hovarth that she now
knows the name of the murdered boy. It�s Jason Kemp. He
lived in Vaseline Tower, where many young gay men go when
they first move to town. Hovarth thanks her for the information,
saying she�s a good detective. Debbie reminds that that is
suppose to be his job. She leaves.
Ted hanging out with the �A-Gays� again. He introduced Garth to
Rex after all and Garth thanks him for it. Ted says that all he did
was tell Rex that Garth was a fan. Garth invites Ted to join him
and Rex at their table. Ted gets a good look at himself in the mirror
near the bar and he doesn�t like what he sees. He throws Garth�s
card away and leaves the establishment.
At Ben�s apartment, Ben is writing long hand, I assume working on
another book. Michael arrives and says he didn�t know that anyone
wrote longhand anymore. Ben explains that he likes it because the
words flow better for him this way. Michael apologizes for leaving
the way he did earlier. He gets a beer to help boast his courage
before beginning again. He knows that Ben hates living in the past,
but sometimes the past doesn�t go away that easy. Mikey admits
that he wasn�t honest about the whole Ben and Brian sleeping
together. It does matter to him. Ben asks why it matters and Mikey
admits it matters because he�s always had certain feelings for Brian.
Ben is great in this scene, not like David use to be, getting pissed
and jealous at the mere mention of Brian. Ben is calm and gentle
and rational. He asks what type of feelings Michael has had for
Brian. Mikey replies feelings of friendship and love. Ben asks if
he�s had sexual feelings for Brian, too, and Michael admits that he
has. But nothing has ever happened between him and Brian and
nothing ever will happen between them. Ben understands why
Michael was upset. It was because he knows Brian in a way that
Michael doesn�t. Michael adds that it was also because Brian
knows Ben in a way that Michael also does. Ben thanks Mikey
for being so honest with him and Michael says he had to because
he loves Ben. Ben says it�s ok if Michael has had feelings for
Brian. He�s not going to get upset over it because he knows that
they both have past lives, which includes other people that they
have loved and still love. (Ok, it sounds to me like Ben is nursing
a broken heart over someone else!!) Ben goes on to say that it
doesn�t mean that they can�t be with each other or love each
other, though. They hug and kiss. Michael watches as the Ghost
of Brian Kinney walks out the door then, leaving Ben and Mikey
alone to be together.
Jennifer and Justin are having dinner at Debbie�s with Deb and
Vic when someone rings the doorbell. She goes to answer it and
it�s Detective Hovarth. He tells her that he wants her to know
what he�s found out. Jason Kemp was an orphan, his mother
having died when he was a baby and he was raised in foster care
in another state. He�d only been in Pittsburgh a new months,
living in a run down apartment. Hovarth feels badly for the boy,
all that he lived through, the tragedy of his life and death. Vic
invites Hovarth to join them for dinner, but he declines, saying he
has to get back to work. Debbie thanks him and asks if he will
reconsider staying. He really can�t, but he will keep her posted
if he learns anything else.
At Babylon, Ben and Michael are dancing, happy and cozy.
Brian walks by. Ben stops him and asks if he wants to cut in
and dance with Michael. Ben leaves. An uncertain and serious
Brian turns to Michael, who smiles, letting him know that
everything is ok. Brian smiles back. A cutie walks by and
Brian asks what Michael thinks of the guy. Michael boasts that
he�s already done the guy. Brian doesn�t believe it at first, but
then asks how the guy was. Michael teases that he�s not telling,
it�d go against �gay etiquette�. Brian smiles and he and Mikey
start to dance as the episode ends.