Although he wrote several pieces about a girl named HT and the actor George Hamilton, the Inventor was probably thinking more about the play than the people when he did this. He once remarked that Burkes Garden (where he would disappear) reminded him of Brigadoon.
George and Brian performed the lead roles in the Palm Beach High production of Brigadoon. George played the Gene Kelly character; Brian the Van Johnson role.
The Inventor and HT watched from the back of the auditorium. The Inventor idly rested his leg against her leg. She snorted and giggled as George and Brian emoted and sang and danced around in tartan tights. She muttered, “Can you believe that.”
The Inventor said, “Umhm.” He was afraid somebody would object to HT’s manner.
Afterward they rode in his family’s faded green 1950 Ford to Pyewackets, the new coffee shop in an alley just off Okeechobee Blouevard. HT had discovered the place. They had been here once before, sitting in a corner beneath a cat silhouette cut from black construction paper, writing poetry on napkins.
The Inventor had scrawled…
Heap high the horse shit Harry
The hounds of hell are howling
Dig deep the dung dump darling
Hell’s angel’s come unbidden
Fling far the fireside feces
Disgorge domestic do do
Heap high the horse shit Harry
The hounds of hell are howling
Looking at his effort, HT had asked him if it was love poem for her.
He held her hand and said, “Sure”
Tonight, except for the willowy boy who served their stale coffee, they were the only ones in the place.
The Inventor tried to explain his reaction to Brigadoon. “Of course it is silly. But the idea of finding a magical place, outside of time – well that’s appealing. Don’t you think?”
HT lit a cigarette, took a deep drag and blew smoke at him. A piece of tobacco fell on the front of her black turtleneck sweater. The Inventor said, “Let me” and reached over to brush it off. She grabbed his wrist, held it. “Careful, big boy.”
“Trying to be helpful.”
She put his hand a table. “Yeah. Anyway, maybe at one time something like Brigadoon was OK, if horribly hokey. But not any more. There are more important things going on.”
“Are you still going to Puerto Rico this summer to work in that home?”
“Yes I am.”
“What does your mother say?”
“She’s got nothing to do with it.”
At that moment the door opened and the sound of traffic on Okeechobee could be heard. George from the play walked in. Although he was dressed now in regular clothes there was still some makeup on his face. HT who knew everybody yelled, “You look pretty George. Come over, join us.”
Eyed by the willowy boy, he made his way between the empty tables. He said, “Hi HT. I’m not surprised that you know about this place.” Nodding at the Inventor, George said, “Hello Tommy.”
George knew him because the school paper had run a piece in which the resemblance between George and the actor Tony Perkins and the Inventor and James Dean was noted.
“Hello George.”
HT said, “What are you doing by yourself?”
“Some other members of the cast will be here in a minute.”
“Nobody wanted to ride in your Kaiser Darrin?”
George had a pleasant, non-pretentious laugh. “I guess not. Probably afraid it would quit.” He looked at the Inventor, “You were there in front of the school the last time it wouldn’t start weren’t you?”
The Inventor nodded, “Yeah, I helped try to get it started.” Before anyone had a chance to say anything else, the Inventor added, “HT and I were talking. She says Brigadoon is silly, not relevant today. I say maybe – but it is also magical. What do you think?”
George frowned. “Not relevant? That’s a bit harsh. I was in it. That’s relevant to me.” Then he smiled ruefully, “Of course it is terribly silly.”
He looked at the Inventor. “But maybe it was an escape for you.”
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