PREVIOUSLY ON ANGELS IN AMERICA...

 

It’s 1980’s New York City. Our hero, Prior Walter has just been diagnosed with AIDS. Prior’s partner Louis tries to be supportive, but as Prior’s health worsens, Louis abandons him. Meanwhile, Prior starts to have dark hallucinations of an angel proclaiming that Prior is a prophet.

 

At the same time, Harper Pitt, an agoraphobic Mormon who spends her days in valium induced hallucinations, struggles in her relationship with her closeted, Mormon, Republican husband Joe.

 

Joe comes upon Louis crying in the men’s room at work. He tries to console him and Louis instantly identifies Joe as gay. Joe denies this, but they begin meeting up. A relationship blooms, and Joe finally comes to terms with his sexuality. Joe drunkenly calls his mother, Hannah in Utah to confess. In a panic Hannah travels to New York City to find her son and intervene before his marriage to Harper dissolves.

 

Joe is a protege of Roy Cohn, the real life Kingmaker and McCarthy era lawyer. Roy is also dying of AIDS, but publicly claims it’s liver cancer. As his symptoms worsen, Roy is haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg who he ensured was executed for espionage in the 1950’s. Roy is trying to get Joe a job at the DOJ in Washington to help prevent his potential disbarment for corruption.

 

Prior’s condition continues to deteriorate. His close friend Belize is a nurse who cares for AIDS patients and steps into the gap in Prior’s life left by Louis’ betrayal.

 

By the end of Part One:

 

• Harper is more dependent on Valium and vanishes into one of her hallucinations.

• Louis and Joe are about to spend their first night together.

• Roy is rushed to the hospital in great agony.

• And an angel crashes through the ceiling and proclaims to Prior:

 

“Greetings, Prophet. The great work begins.”

 

So stay tuned for Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika—where heaven and earth collide.