BRO: One particular form of love. “I love you so much I have to kill you.” That kind.

SUZANNE: The pool?

BRO: Down over there at the Earl Warren Civic Pool the second day after we moved here from Texas.

SUZANNE: The pool?

GIB: They renamed that pool. It’s the Harvey Milk Recreation Center now. Everybody calls it the Milk Pool of course.

BRO: Two people…Listen, it doesn’t matter—all the vows, you know, you know, young people, youngsters like we were, me and Suzanne, and you and Marigold, the eternal pledges we made in the backseat over on River Road, okay, all right, because that was, the majority of it, hormones and sex: we admit it don’t none of it matter. But—

GIB: Suzanne, I don’t remember anything like this. (To BRO:) You know what your trouble is? You haven’t evolved beyond the reptile part of your moral development. You’re like the scorpion who stings the frog even though they both drown. You’ll lie when the truth will save you. I say this as a friend.

BRO: The scorpion is an insect.

GIB: Do you know the fable about the scorpion and the frog?

BRO: Well, which am I? A reptile or an insect?

GIB: The frog carries the scorpion across the river—

SUZANNE:—but the scorpion can’t help himself, he’s such an insect he stings the frog to death even though it causes his own death—

GIB:—by drowning.

BRO: Like you wanted to drown my sister. The minute you fell in love.

GIB: He’s twisting everything. I won’t touch your shit, Luke.

GRANDMA: You can’t debate somebody with an insane mentality. Leave him alone.

GIB: Whether he’s crazy or not, Mrs. Cassandra—the point is that he lies.

BRO: What facts have I made up? Which facts out of what I said are falsehoods?

GIB: You’re putting a wild misinterpretation on everything you say. I don’t have a thing for your sister. That’s history so ancient I—well, I’m not in your fantasy universe. There’s nobody in it but you.

BRO: Oh yeah? I got a surprise for you. Sis—come on down! (He goes to hallway.) Sis! Sister Marigold! I’m gonna keep yelling till I’m hoarse or till you make an appearance at this glorious feast! You, are, invited, to, a wedding!

Pause. Footsteps come slowly down. All watch the entrance to hallway. MARIGOLD appears at the border of the room, taking in the scene but not entering. Meanwhile:

TV: It’s time now for the Jerry Springer show! This week—the rotten corpse of dead love rises up and speaks English. Tambien en Español.

GIB: You shut up.

BRO: Damn right—I already shot you once—

BRO draws his sister one step into the room.

Now tell him who is the love of your life. Tell him, Sis.

MARIGOLD:…Wow. Did you create this scene?

BRO: Several points are being driven home all at once. He’s making his, and I’m making mine—which is: You’ve never even looked at another man, besides this fool.

MARIGOLD: As far as you know.