- Now, we take you down to 208 West 13th Street.
It's The Center, right?
We're in Room 101,
where 36 years ago, Larry Kramer instigated a frightened
and desperate community to action,
resulting in the violent and necessary birthing of ACT UP.
(audience cheers and applauds)
So it is now 2023
and once again we find ourselves ignited in battle.
Join us in that historic room
where we find a rag-tag band of activists
on the eve of a march on Washington.
(audience applauds)
- Come on!
We are the freshness of irreverence.
I know we are tired.
Some of us didn't sleep last night, but we have work to do.
- This is insanity.
You can't win.
This place is chaos.
- Well, then do something.
Hand me more flyers.
- Let's go.
We are absolutely at force.
- Also, if there are any on duty, off-duty
undercover police officers or federal agents,
you are required by law to identify yourselves at this time.
- [All] Yeah, they never do it.
No way. - Yes.
(crowd clamoring) They never do it.
- Why is that?
- Snack time is over.
Stuff these, not those.
(object thuds)
(performers murmuring)
(audience laughs)
- Ah.
- What?
It's hopeless.
- Well, then why are you here?
Besides, aren't you an independent? (scoffs)
- Aren't you a lesbitarian?
- Angry queens make the best snacks.
Anyway, what brings you to the depths of gay despair?
- Swag.
Swag.
Last election, I made myself a duvet cover.
(audience laughs)
Now, I need some pillowcases to remind myself how gay I am.
- Yeah, uh-huh.
Face down in a pillow
and you won't need too much reminding.
(audience laughs)
- Taste the rainbow, bitch.
(audience laughs)
- Here, I'll treat you for a teriyaki ball.
- You came.
- I did. - Well, are you joining us?
- For the night?
- A few hours, a girl's gotta get her beauty sleep.
- But not DC.
- This is my friend, Paul.
- Okay, well, Paul, there are plenty of flyers
that need folding.
- Well, I haven't heard from you.
- Hmm, been busy.
- Buses leave in two hours.
Be ready.
Let's wrap up and clear the garbage.
- Hey, when can I see you?
- I'm leaving.
- For the march?
- No, I am staying in DC.
- Why?
- Because I can do more good there.
March with us.
Come on, this is our future,
one full of pride, not fear.
- Someone got an A in drama school.
- What do you say?
- CNN is covering our march.
(group cheers)
Be camera ready, you gorgeous queens.
- Right.
Can't let mommy and daddy see their little queer
on the telly.
- I just came out.
What do you expect of me?
- Telling the fellas that you sleep with that you're gay
is not coming out.
(audience laughs)
I've absolutely no time for this.
- Ew.
She's a prickly pear.
- Thank you.
- Why don't you and I ride a couple Moscow mules
down to Posh's grand reopening.
They're making it even gayer.
It's gonna be called Swishy Posh.
- Hey, whoa. - That's...
- Another scarf.
- Do me a favor and back off. - Are you listening?
- Listen up.
(person exhales deeply)
Proud Boys to descend on DC March.
That means violence.
And what the police will try to do is use intimidation
and arrest to prevent us from continuing.
But who here is committed to non-cooperation.
(group cheers)
- That's it, we're not goin.
- No.
Yes, we are. - No, that is final.
- I am not afraid.
I'm marching.
- When does this end?
When you get on the news or when you get hurt?
- I have to.
- Your newfound activism isn't gonna bring him back.
- Well, maybe if he hadn't been told
he was going to hell, his whole life,
our son would still be here.
- Well, he's not.
- Republican.
- Can't...
(audience laughs)
Yeah.
We are.
So now what?
Huh?
You know, they've all but driven us from our church.
You know, uh, they're not gonna keep coming for us.
We're gonna have to move our home.
Is that the life you want? What do you want?
- I want my son back.
- We don't belong here.
I am leaving.
(light music)
(performer sobs)
♪ One day more ♪
♪ Another day, another destiny ♪
♪ This never-ending road to Calvary ♪
♪ These men who seem to know my crime ♪
♪ Will surely come a second time ♪
♪ One day more ♪
♪ I did not live until today ♪
♪ How can I live when we are parted ♪
♪ One day more ♪
♪ Tomorrow, you'll be worlds away ♪
♪ And yet with you, my world has started ♪
♪ One more day all on my own ♪
♪ Will we ever meet again ♪
♪ One more day with him not caring ♪
♪ I was born to be with you ♪
♪ What a life I might have known ♪
♪ And I swear I will be true ♪
♪ But he never saw me there ♪
(triumphant music)
♪ One more day before the storm ♪
♪ Do I follow where he goes ♪
♪ At the barricades of freedom ♪
♪ Shall I join my brothers there ♪
♪ When our ranks begin to form ♪
♪ Do I stay or do I dare ♪
♪ Will you take your place with me ♪
♪ The time is now, the day is here ♪
♪ One day more ♪
♪ One day more to revolution ♪
♪ We will nip it in the bud ♪
♪ We'll be ready for those schoolboys ♪
♪ They will wet themselves with blood ♪
♪ Watch 'em run amok ♪
♪ Catch 'em as they fall ♪
♪ Never know your luck ♪
♪ When there's a free for all ♪
♪ Here a little dip ♪
♪ There a little touch ♪
♪ Most of them are goners ♪
♪ So they won't miss much ♪
♪ One day to a new beginning ♪
♪ Raise the flag of freedom high ♪
♪ Every man will be a king ♪
♪ There's a new world for the winning ♪
♪ There's a new world to be won ♪
♪ Do you hear the people sing ♪
♪ My place is here ♪
♪ I fight with you ♪
- [All] Yeah.
♪ One day more ♪
♪ I did not live until today ♪
♪ We will follow where they go ♪
♪ How can I live when we are parted ♪
♪ We will know the things they know ♪
♪ Watch 'em run amok ♪
♪ Tomorrow you'll be worlds away ♪
♪ We'll be ready for these schoolboys ♪
♪ And yet with you, my world has started ♪
♪ Tomorrow we'll be far away ♪
♪ Tomorrow is the judgment day ♪
♪ Tomorrow we'll discover ♪
♪ What our God in Heaven has in store ♪
♪ One more dawn ♪
♪ One more day ♪
♪ One day more ♪
(triumphant music)
(audience cheers and applauds)