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Last Swim	By : jai Category: Individual Celebrities > Athlete/Sports Misc Views: 8134 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the people written about in this fanfiction. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Ebb and Flow Part 2

SCENES OF FINA WORLD SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIP IN SHANGHAI, CHINA INCLUDING MICHAEL PHELPS WINNING THE 200 METER FREESTYLE. IAN THORPE IS SHOWN BEING AWARDED THE SILVER MEDAL AS MICHAEL IS AWARDED THE GOLD THEN THE FLAGS ARE RAISED.

VO: A SWIMMING MEET CONSISTS OF MANY RACES HELD OVER SEVERAL DAYS. A SWIMMER NOT ONLY MUST SWIM THEIR EVENTS, THEY ALSO MUST SWIM ONE OR MORE QUALIFYING RACES FOR EACH EVENT. IN SHANGHAI, MICHAEL SWAM IN FIVE EVENTS AND SWAM TEN RACES. IAN THORPE HAD THREE EVENTS AND SWAM SIX RACES. MICHAEL WON THE 200 METER FREESTYLE EVENT.

SCENE OF EXTERIOR VERANDA. MICHAEL AND IAN SIT IN WICKER CHAIRS WITH A RIVER OR LAKE IN THE BACKGROUND. DATE IS NOTED AS MAY 8, 2006 IAN’S HOUSE, CARINGBAH, AUSTRALIA

CW (OFF CAMERA): How does the 200 Free affect your relationship?

MP: It doesn’t. We’re both going to lose; we’re both going to win. I know that Ian hates the short course so I’d expect to have a better chance against him but there was no guarantee.

IT: I do hate the short course and that’s why I was there. It would be nice to never have to race in 25 meter pools but it limits the number of competitions. There aren’t many major races each year so you swim where you can.

CW: Yet you didn’t swim at the Commonwealth Games here in March.

IT (SHRUGS): The date for the qualifying event was changed and it conflicted with the beginning of the semester at Michigan.

CW: There are suggestions in some quarters that the date was changed to deliberately exclude you from qualifying.

IT: And if that’s the case, then it’s obvious that certain people here don’t approve of either my life choices or my attending university in the States. I hope that isn’t the case but it wouldn’t surprise me.

CW: Does it bother you?

IT: Yes it does but I can’t let other people’s actions rule my life. I haven’t raced in Australia for over two years, maybe that upsets people but changing the date wasn’t going to bring me running back here anxious to make amends for my supposed transgressions. I don’t know why the date was changed beyond the published facts but I do wonder why the qualifier couldn’t have been moved to another venue instead of moving the date back.

CW: You’ve long had the reputation of speaking your mind.

IT: And I’ll continue to do so.

CW: Would you actually apply for citizenship in another country?

IT: I love Australia. I wouldn’t consider swimming for any other country; the question might be does Australia still want me to swim for them?

MP: Right now, Ian can compete for Australia in certain events without qualifying against his countrymen just like I can in the States based on our prior performances. But when you’re talking about the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, you have qualifiers in your own country.

CW: What about the Pan Pacific Games?

IT: I’ve already qualified based on the meet in Shanghai. So has Michael.

CW: You’ve just come off a major meet, you’ve been in Australia for two days yet you still went to the pool yesterday. Do you ever just take a day off?

MICHAEL AND IAN LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

MP: I think the last day I didn’t train aside from travel days and the weather was last February.

CW: In 2005?

MP: Ian and I met in Fiji for a vacation, we swam but the pool wasn’t big enough to actually train.

IT: I took the year after the Olympics off. I swam almost every day but it couldn’t be considered training.

CW: I’ve gathered that you two got together at the Olympics. How did it happen?

MICHEAL LOOKS AT IAN AND GRINS.

MP (NUDGES IAN WITH HIS HAND): Go on, you tell it better.

IAN SMILES AND SHIFTS IN HIS CHAIR.

IT: We started talking during a party the night before the closing ceremony. We’d never really just sat down and talked with each other before that.

IAN LOOKS AT MICHAEL

IT: I was really surprised at his sense of humor, he can be quite devilish. I remember we talked about the medal situation and my remarks about the Spitz record. We exchanged phone numbers and it went from there.

MP (LAUGHING): Ian didn’t expect me to actually call him.

IT (TO MICHAEL WITH A SMILE): But you did and we both had the phone bills to prove it.

IAN TURNS BACK TO CAMERA

IT: It quickly became apparent to me after I visited Michael in December that we were quite compatible and that being apart was becoming more difficult. The vacation in Fiji was wonderful but it was even harder staying goodbye that it had been in Michigan. By May, I was already beginning to consider a move to the States.

CW: You moved to Michigan in August?

IT: Yes, Michael and I talked after the World Championships in Montreal and I basically invited myself to move in with him.

MP: I was thrilled. I would never have considered asking because it would have been asking Ian to give up Australia, his home.

IT: It was just logical that I be the one to move. Michael was in university and it’s all worked out rather well.

CW: You live right across the river from Canada, where gay marriage is legal. Any plans for that in the future? You do wear matching rings.

MP (TOUCHING HIS RIGHT HAND): These were gifts to each other on our first anniversary.

IT: We have talked about marriage.

MP: But it bothers me that we’d have to go to another country. I’d like to marry Ian in either Baltimore or Sydney, not run off to a foreign place because we don’t have a choice.

CW: There are places in the States that allow same-sex marriage.

IT (SMILING AT MICHAEL): For right now, we’re happy as we are.

MP (PUTTING HIS HAND OVER IAN’S AND NODDING): We really are.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR SHOT OF MARGARET AND KEN THORPE IN A LIVING ROOM.

CW: How did you react when Ian told you he was gay?

MT (CLOSE UP): We were worried, like any parents would be but he’s our son. We’ve heard stories about parents disowning their children over these kinds of things but we would never dream of it. He didn’t stop being our son just because he’s gay.

CW: What do you think of Michael?

KT: He’s a good man. We’ve seen how much they care for each other. That’s one of the things you worry about when your children grow up. Will they be happy? We know he’s happy with Michael.

MT: Michael’s like another son to us. He and Ian are good for each other and to each other. Ian was such a serious boy growing up; I think Michael has helped him remember what it’s like to have fun.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR HALLWAY AS CAMERA MOVES TOWARD IAN AND MICHAEL’S LIVING ROOM AT ANN ARBOR. IAN AND MICHAEL ARE SITTING CLOSE TOGETHER ON THE COUCH WATCHING TELEVISON AND EATING POPCORN. SCENES CHANGES TO EXTERIOR. MICHAEL AND IAN ARE WALKING ALONG A PATH, HOLDING HANDS WHILE MICHAEL IS TALKING. SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR OF A CLUB. MICHEAL AND IAN ARE DANCING IN A CROWD. SCENE CHANGES TO EXTERIOR OPEN SPACE. A GROUP OF PEOPLE INCLUDING IAN AND MICHAEL ARE THROWING A FRISBEE AROUND. SCENE SWITCHES TO EXTERIOR PATIO. THERE ARE PEOPLE SITTING AT TABLES IN THE AREA. IAN IS STANDING AT A GRILL TALKING TO AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN WHILE MICHAEL IS SITTING AT A TABLE LISTENING TO A YOUNG WOMAN. DATE IS NOTED AS JULY 9, 2006.

VOICE OVER DURING THESE SCENES

CW: What do you do for fun?

IT: Some nights it’s nice to stay home and just watch a movie. I do like going to movies in theaters but I hate how people talk during films.

MP: We try to take a couple of walks a week together, even in cold weather. And we’ve made some good friends here; we go out to clubs or play Frisbee. We have to be careful about injuries and Frisbee is pretty safe. We’ve gone rock climbing.

IT: This summer we had our first barbeque and invited just about everyone we’ve met in Ann Arbor. We had a great time.

SCENE OF PATIO IN FAR BACKGROUND AS VARIOUS PEOPLE SIT IN FRONT OF CAMERA. SUBTITLES IDENTIFY THEM WHEN THEY APPEAR ON SCREEN.

ROGER W. – NEIGHBOR: They’re great guys. They never hesitate to help out with things around the neighborhood. Michael allowed a group I work with to use his garage so we could get a car ready for a charity raffle.

SUSAN C. – FELLOW STUDENT: I had a class with Michael last spring; we were in the same study group. Everyone knew who he was but he didn’t act like a celebrity. He’s just a normal guy, he and Ian both are.

ANGELA R. – NEIGHBOR: I think everyone in the neighborhood looks out for them; we were all shocked about what happened last fall. I see them walking around all the time and if I’m coming home with groceries, they always stop and give me hand unloading.

JOANNE W. - NEIGHBOR: People around here help each other out; Michael and Ian fit right in with the neighborhood.

CW (OFF CAMERA): Where people upset about a gay couple living here?

JOANNE W. (SHAKES HEAD): There were a few comments but they aren’t the only gay couple who live in the area, so it was a short lived thing.

SCENE CHANGES TO EXTERIOR LONG SHOT OF LAWN AREA. SEVERAL CHILDREN ARE PLAYING WHAT APPEARS TO BE CROQUET. MICHAEL AND IAN ARE ON THE LAWN WITH OTHER ADULTS ALSO PLAYING.

MP (WHILE LINING UP A SHOT WITH HIS MALLET): We bought the croquet set after I jammed a finger playing basketball with kids in the spring. It wasn’t a serious injury.

IT (FROM OFF CAMERA): This is a good thing because you jammed your finger reaching for a bottle of water.

LAUGHTER IN BACKGROUND AS MICHAEL GRINS SHEEPISHLY.

MP: It was still a sports related injury. And Ian couldn’t convince any of us to give cricket a try.

IT (OFF CAMERA): Michael just didn’t understand the rules.

MICHAEL GRINS AND LOOKS OFF CAMERA BEFORE HITTING HIS BALL. THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THE BALL AS IT ROLLS AND HITS ANOTHER BALL. THE CAMERA PANS UP TO IAN WHO IS LOOKING SHOCKED AS HIS BALL IS KNOCKED INTO THE BUSHES. APPLAUSE AND LAUGHTER IS HEARD.

IT: I can’t believe you did that to me.

MP (OFF CAMERA): All’s fair in love and croquet, baby.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR AIRPORT AS IAN AND MICHAEL WALK DOWN A CONCOURSE. SUBTITLE READS BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON AIRPORT JUNE 1, 2006

CW (VOICE OVER): Before they returned to Ann Arbor in late June, Michael and Ian went to Baltimore for his mother’s engagement party.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR SHOT FROM BACKSEAT OF A CAR. MICHAEL IS DRIVING; IAN IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

CW (OFF CAMERA): When is your mom getting married?

MP (DRIVING): Next June.

CW: Are you looking forward to it?

MP: I’m really happy for her, but it’s weird. Ryan, her fiancé has a big family. We set up a mailing list so we could all get to know each other back in January. That was Ian’s suggestion.

IT: Now we’re going to meet them all in person. I think we’re both a little nervous.

MP: I know I’m nervous. I don’t want to do anything embarrassing in front of everyone.

IT (REACHING OVER AND PUTTING HIS HAND ON MICHAEL’S KNEE): You’ll be just fine, love.

MP: Thanks, baby.

IT: We did remember to bring the gift, right?

MP (GLANCES AT IAN): What gift?

IT: The engagement gift, the one we picked out in Shanghai.

MP: Oh. Where did we put that?

IT (TURNS TO LOOK AT MICHAEL): It was on the kitchen table.

MP: Gosh, baby I think I packed it in your stuff going to Ann Arbor.

IT: Do we have time to shop before the party on Saturday?

MP (GLANCES AT IAN): God, you’re gullible.

IT (TURNING TO SIT FORWARD): You are very lucky you’re driving.

MP (LAUGHING): I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t. The present is in your bag.

CW: What did you guys get them?

MP: Do you promise not to tell mom or Ryan?

IAN GRINS OVER THE SEAT AT THE CAMERA.

CW: Sure we won’t tell.

IT: Debbie mentioned that she was going to have her dress made and she wanted a pale pink. We found a really nice silk that she might be able to use. Ryan and Debbie said they didn’t want any gifts but we couldn’t resist. It should be really flattering on her.

MP: I just hope she doesn’t think we’re being pushy. Well, she knows you’re pushy but hopefully you haven’t rubbed of on me too much.

IT (DRYLY): Yes, I’m such a bad influence on you.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR SHOT OF A KITCHEN. DEBBIE PHELPS AND FRED PHELPS ARE SITTING AT A TABLE. SUBTITLE READS JUNE 14, 2006.

DP: I guess I figured out that Michael was gay before he did. He always seemed shy around girls but he also didn’t react like other teenage boys did. I think he dated a girl while he was in high school because it was expected that he have a girlfriend. When I overheard him talking to Ian, it finally was out in the open.

FP: I didn’t have a clue until Michael called me and asked if we could have lunch. This was a year and a half ago, a right after he bought the house in Michigan. During lunch I could tell he was nervbut but he waited until afterwards when we got back to my house.

FRED PAUSES AND LOOKS AT DEBBIE THEN RETURNS HIS GAZE TO THE CAMERA.

FP: I wasn’t very accepting about it. It’s hard when your only son tells you he’s gay, it’s even harder when you’re not particularly close to that son to begin with. Michael and I have had our differences in the past and I said things that I now regret.

FRED LOOKS DOWN AT HIS HANDS.

FP: My wife, Jackie, and Debbie really gave me hell for being such a, pardon the language, asshole and that Michael was doing just fine without me. It didn’t help that I wasn’t very friendly to Ian when I first met him last year. But gradually it dawned on me that I could either accept it or give up any hope of a relationship with my son.

CW (OFF CAMERA): Are you any friendlier to Ian now?

FP: I think he’s a great guy, not lik like I imagined he’d be.

CW: What did you imagine?

FP (LAUGHS): Some snotty foreign punk. Couldn’t have been more wrong.

DP: I know it’s cliché but it’s like having another son. I sort of feel sorry for the guys that Whitney and Hilary eventually marry; it’s going to be pretty hard to beat Ian as a son-in-law.

CW: Do you think of them as married?

DP: I guess I do. I never expected Michael to settle down at such a young age but he and Ian just seem to fit together, don’t they?

DEBBIE LOOKS AT FRED.

FP (NODS): They do. It took me a while to come to terms with the situation but from the beginning I could see how important they were to each other.

SCENE CHANGES TO EXTERIOR NIGHT SHOT OF PARTY. MUSIC IS PLAYING AS THE CAMERA PANS LEFT TO RIGHT ACROSS THE CROWD. BOATS ARE DOCKED IN THE BACKGROUND AND THERE ARE TINY WHITE LIGHTS STRUNG ABOUT. MICHAEL IS STANDING NEAR A TABLE TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING DOWN. MICHAEL LOOKS AT CAMERA AS IT APPROACHES.

CW (OFF CAMERA): How’s it going?

MP (WITH A GRIN, POINTING): Siobhan, Art, James, Nadia, Patrick, Kate, Angie, Brendan, Colleen and Elizabeth.

EVERYONE AT TABLE LAUGHS AND CLAPS.

MP: My future sister, brother-in-law, cousin, cousin-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, sister-in-law, brother, sister and sister-in-law. How did I do?

PEOPLE AT TABLE LAUGH AGAIN.

SIOBHAN CALLAHAN O’REILLY (GRINNING): I think you’ve got it down. We had it easy, you know.

MP (SITTING DOWN): I know. Leoma, Debbie, Whitney, Hilary, Michael and Ian.

NADIA CALLAHAN: Don’t forget Fred, Jackie, Margaret, Ken, Christina and David not to mention Linda and Ginny and their families.

MP: That’s so cool that Ian’s family and dad’s family have gotten on the mailing list.

ELIZABETH MCGILL: Makes me wish we’d thought of it when Colleen and I got together, it would have made it easier.

MP (SMIRKING): Did they have computers back then?

ELIZABETH REACHES OVER TO POKE MICHAEL WITH HER FINGER AS EVERYONE LAUGHS.

COLLEEN CALLAHAN: Watch it, Michael. You’re going from the youngest of three to the youngest of seven. I’ve got lots of things I’ve always wanted to do to a little brother.

SCO: Colleen, you’ll have plenty to pick on Michael later.

SIOBHAN TURNS TO MICHAEL

SCO: Christina said you’d have pictures of Iona?

MP (REACHES INTO JACKET POCKET): Oh, I have one in my wallet. Mom’t tht the photo album.

MICHAEL PULLS OUT WALLET, EXTRACTS PHOTO AND PASSES IT TO SIOBHAN.

SCO: Look at how tiny she is.

ANGIE, NADIA AND ELIZABETH LEAN OVER TO LOOK.

MP: That’s the one taken right after she born. I think she’s going to have Ian’s enormous feet.

IT (COMING UP BEHIND MICHAEL WITH A GRIN): You meant, my perfectly proportioned feet.

MICHAEL STARTS AND LAUGHS, TWISTS TO LOOK UP IAN BEFORE TURNING TO THE REST OF THE TABLE.

MP: Ian obviously suffers from delusions.

REST OF TABLE LAUGHS.

IT: And I was going to ask you to dance.

MP (RISING TO TAKE IAN’S HAND): In that case, forget I even mentioned it.

IAN LEADS MICHAEL AN OPEN SPACE AND THEY PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER, SWAYING TO THE MUSIC. CAMERA PANS OVER CROWD TO ZOOM ON RYAN WHO NUDGES DEBBIE AND NODS TOWARDS IAN AND MICHAEL. DEBBIE SMILES AND LEANS OVER TO WHISPER SOMETHING TO RYAN. THEY WALK OVER AND START DANCING AS OTHER COUPLES HEAD FOR THE DANCE FLOOR.

CW (IN VOICE OVER): Earlier in the day, Michael and Ian met Ryan’s children and their families without the camera present; from all reports, the meeting went well. A few days later, we sat down with Michael’s sisters, step-sisters and future step siblings.

SCENE SWITCHES TO PATRICK, BRENDAN, WHITNEY AND MICHAEL SITTING ON STOOLS BEHIND SIOBHAN, COLLEEN, LINDA, HILARY AND VIRGINIA SITTING ON CHAIRS. SUBTITLES APPEAR AS EACH PERSON SPEAKS.

RACHEL GARRISON (OFF CAMERA): Is this the first time you’ve all been in the same room together?

THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND ALL ARE NODDING.

SCO: We’ve all gotten to know each other on the mailing list and through phone calls but yes, I think so.

RG (OFF CAMERA): So why don’t you introduce yourselves?

CAMERA ZOOMS ON SIOBHAN

SCO: I’m Siobhan O’Reilly, I’m Ryan’s daughter. I live in Baltimore, Maryland with my husband Art and our three boys. We own a bakery.

CAMERA PANS UP TO PATRICK

PC: I’m Patrick Callahan, Ryan’s son. I live in Ellicott City, Maryland with my wife Kate and our two children. I’m a chiropractor; Katie’s a real estate agent.

CAMERA PANS TO LINDA

LW: I’m Linda Watkins, Jackie’s daughter and Fred’s stepdaughter. I live in Middle River, Maryland with my husband Rodney and our two children. I work with Rodney at his construction business.

CAMERA PANS TO BRENDAN

BC: I’m next?

CAMERA CUTS TO VIRGINIA LISTER WHO LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER AT BRENDAN

VL: Yes, you’re two months older than me.

CAMERA CUTS BACK TO BRENDAN

BC: Oh, that’s right. Hi, I’m Brendan Callahan; I’m in engineer in Tucson, Arizona. I’m married to Angie and we have twins who are almost four

CAMERA PANS BACK TO VIRGINIA

VL: I’m Virginia, Ginny Lister. I’m Jackie’s daughter. I’m a housewife and my husband works at Ft Jackson, South Carolina. We have two children.

CAMERA PANS TO COLLEEN

CC: I’m Colleen Callahan, Ryan’s daughter. I live with my partner Elizabeth in Baltimore. I’m in sales and Elizabeth is a grad student.

CAMERA PANS TO HILARY

HP: I’m Hilary Phelps, Debbie and Fred’s daughter. I live in Baltimore and I’m an office manager.

CAMERA PANS TO WHITNEY

HP: I’m Whitney Phelps, also Debbie and Fred’s daughter. I live in Linthicum with Dad and Jackie and I’m a teacher.

CAMERA PANS UP TO MICHAEL

MP: I’m Michael, Deb and Fred’s son. I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan with my partner Ian and we’re students at the University of Michigan.

CAMERA PANS OUT.

HP (SMILING): And he swims.

WP (NODS): Really well.

CC (GRINNING): He’s kind of famous.

VL (LAUGHING): Won some medals in the last Olympics.

LW (LOOKS AT MICHAEL): Hasn’t he done a couple of commercials?

SCO (SMILING): He’s got a really cute boyfriend.

ALL THE WOMEN SPEAK: And they have matching tattoos!

EVERYONE BUT MICHAEL LAUGHS. MICHAEL BLUSHES AND LOOKS A LITTLE CHAGRINED BUT IS SMILING SHYLY.

PC: Don’t worry, little bro; Brendan and I will protect you.

MICHAEL GRINS AND SMILES OVER AT PATRICK AND BRENDAN

MP: It’s so cool that I’m finally getting brothers but do you think it’s too late to ask Mom to have another kid? This being the youngest thing is going to get old fast.

EVERYONE LAUGHS

SCO (TURNING BACK TO LOOK AT MICHAEL): I don’t think that’s going to happen, Michael. You’re just going to have to put up with us. And don’t think Pat and Brendan can save you, Colleen and I know their weaknesses.

BC: Yeah, but we’ve read your diaries.

RG: Before you guys take this over completely. What was is like meeting the Phelps kids, Linda and Virginia?

LINDA AND VIRGINIA LOOK AT EACH OTHER

LW: That was five years ago. We met Whitney and Hilary at mom’s house; they came over to dinner. I think we got along okay. We weren’t best friends or anything but I thought they were both really nice. It was after Michael, Debbie and Hilary had come back from the Sydney Olympics and Hilary brought her photos with her.

CAMERA PANS OVER TO GINNY LISTER:

GL: I remember thinking that Ian Thorpe was really hot, I had a bit of a crush on him after watching the Olympics the year before. I think Hilary was a bit annoyed because I kept asking her about him.

HP LAUGHING, LOOKING AT GINNY): I remember that! I had all these photos of Michael and hardly any of Ian. I didn’t get it because you didn’t want to see the ones with Michael.

RG: A question for the Callahan kids. Did you immediately make the connection between Debbie Phelps and Michael Phelps?

CC: I did because dad told me he’d met her at the PFLAG meeting. Of course, he neglected to mention that they’d spent a couple of hours after the meeting talking over coffee. And he didn’t say anything when they met for lunch the following Saturday.

SCO: Dad did play things pretty close to the vest for a couple of weeks. I thought it was nice that he was reaching out to another parent, helping her out. Then he said they’d been out to dinner a couple of times. By that point, I knew Debbie was Michael’s mom but I didn’t think anything about it.

BC: Dad told me on the phone in November, right around Thanksgiving. It was sort of surreal because I was watching ESPN earlier in that day and they mentioned Michael racing in Portugal.

PC: I think Dad told me first, when I invited him over for dinner and he asked if he could bring Debbie. That was in early November. I knew he was serious about her; he never brought anyone else to dinner.

RG: Whitney and Hilary, how did you react?

WP: Mom didn’t mention she was dating Ryan until November. I didn’t take it well. Mom had never really dated before and I guess I never realized that she would.

HP: Me either. This was pretty stupid of us. It was easier with dad because he’d dated off and on all along. I behaved like a brat and mom wasn’t afraid to call me on it.

WP (LOOKING AT MICHAEL): Not to mention what Michael had to say about it.

RG: Michael?

MP: Mom told me when she came out to visit for Christmas. She told me Christmas morning actually and she was really afraid of my reaction because Hil and Whit were having fits. I was happy for her. I know how much she gave up for us and it’s nice she’s now getting time for herself.

HP (GRINNING): He had the mature reaction.

MP: I think it made a difference that Ian and I are together. Margaret calls it the coupling effect. Once you’re in a happy relationship you start wanting everyone you know in a happy relationship.

RG: What did you say to your sisters?

WP: He conference called us. After we spilled our guts and whined for a while he told us to grp alp already.

HILARY TURNS TO GRIN AT MICHAEL.

HP: He read us the riot act.

RG: You don’t seem upset by it.

WP: Because he was right. We were selfish to expect mom to spend the rest of her life just focusing on us. And Ryan is a really great guy; we just didn’t want to see it. Michael made us promise to apologize to both mom and Ryan for being such brats.

MP: And did you do it?

HP and MP: Yes, Michael.

HP: He’s such a nag.

WP (TO MICHAEL): I hope you don’t nag Ian like this.

MP (STICKS HIS TONGUE OUT AT WHITNEY): Who do you think I got the idea to make you apologize from?

EVERYONE ELSE LAUGHS

RG: You all seem to be bonding nicely.

PC: It would have been different if we’d been kids. We would have been fighting for our own parents’ attention and with each other. As adults, we can appreciate each other as people.

LW: And we like each other’s parents without feeling threatened.

WP: Now that Hilary and I are over our tantrum.

RG: So, here’s the big question. How do you all feel about Michael being gay?

CC (RAISES HAND AND WAVES IT): I know how I feel!

EVERYONE LAUGHS.

RG: Go ahead Colleen.

CC: It’s really neat not being the only gay kid in the family anymore.

MP: But you did all the groundbreaking work with your family.

CC: True and don’t think I won’t hold that over his head later.

EVERYONE LAUGHS

CC: My sister and my brothers were very supportive when I came out but then I was fifteen and I think they all thought it was a phase.

SCO (SMILING): Because she was also going through a Goth phase at the same time.

CC: So I dropped the black clothes and combat boots but kept the lesbianism.

PC: Dad was really good about it from the beginning but he’s always been a good dad. When I wanted tear the TV apart to see how it worked, he helped me get the cover off.

BC: And then bought a new TV when you couldn’t get the old one to work again.

CC: Only after I missed two whole weeks of Beauty and the Beast.

RG: Whitney, Hilary?

HP: He told us the week before he moved to Michigan. We’d gone out to lunch, just the three of us and when I asked him he’d met anyone recently he got this really funny look on his face.

WP: I thought he ate something that didn’t taste right.

HP: But instead he just said yes and that he’d tell us all about him after lunch.

WP: Him? I wasn’t sure I heard that part of it.

HP: After lunch, we all got in Michael’s car and he stopped down at Druid Park and parked the car.

WP: He started telling us all about Ian. That they’d been dating since August and that Ian was flying in to make the drive to Michigan with him.

HP: I don’t think he actually came out and said he was gay but Ian isn’t a girl’s name.

WP: And he was so excited to be seeing Ian again.

HP:ch wch we thought was weird because he’d just spent a couple of months touring with Ian.

MP (EXASPERATED): Ian Thorpe not Ian Crocker.

WP (LOOKING AT MICHAEL): But you never said it was Ian Thorpe.

MP: I might have overlooked that part. Ian is Ian and Crocker is Crocker.

VL (LAUGHING): That makes sense.

MP: I does to me.

SCENE CHANGES TO PICTURES OF MICHAEL AT SIXTEEN COMPETING IN VARIOUS SWIM MEETS

VO: In the summer of 2001, Michael’s father married Jackie Stone. A month later, they threw a party at their house and invited the their friends. Michael attended along with his sisters and drove his new car. What no one realized at the time was that a few uninvited guests also came to the party. According to court documents, Cathy Shearer and her brother Nathan were also there. Michael will not discuss anything that happened at that party and neither will any of his family members.

SCENE CHANGES TO LONG SHOT OF A CITY SKYLINE. SHOT BEGINS TO MOVE AND CAMERA DRAWS BACK TO THE INTERIOR OF A CAR. IAN IS DRIVING AND MICHAEL IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH A MAP. DATE IS AUGUST 13, 2006 8:23 AM.

MP: I think it’s the next street up, we want Granville.

IT: I think you’ve been spoiled by the GPS system in the SUV.

MP: Are you dissing my navigation skills?

IT: No because I know you also printed out the directions off the computer, I just don’t understand why you bought the map.

MP: Because we’re here early and we won’t be able to hit the competition pool until tomorrow. We’re booked at the Stanley Park pool then there’s a cricket game at 12:30.

IT: Cricket?

MP: Yep. Brockton Point versus Burrard in the 45 overs limited match.

IT (MAKING A TURN): Do you have any idea what that means?

MP: Nope but I had fun at the game we went to with Ken. I found out about on the internet.

IT: Huh. And I thought you were just looking at porn.

MP: Ian! It was one time and I wanted to find out about-

MICHAEL GLANCES OVER HIS SHOULDER AT CAMERA.

MP: I’ll tell you later.

IAN GRINS INTO THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

IT: I’m sure Chad and Steve would like to know what you were looking for.

CAMERA TILTS UP AND DOWN AND CHAD LAUGHS OFF CAMERA. MICHAEL TURNS RED AND LOOKS OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW. CAMERA PANS TO IAN WHO IS TRYING NOT TO LAUGH.

MP: I forgot you guys were back there.

CW: You’re supposed to.

MP: Still! That’s embarrassing and no I’m not sharing. Anyway I guess I now know how all those reality show people could do really stupid things in front of a cam

CW: You wouldn’t ever been on a reality show?

MP: I feel like I’m on one right now. I’d love to do the Amazing Race because of all the travel and Ian would totally rock as a partner.

IT: We love that show.

MP: Sometimes they even visit places we’ve been. Ian gets all irate when they don’t understand the clues. It’s really cute.

MICHAEL SMILES FONDLY AT IAN WHO SNORTS DERISIVELY.

IT: You’d think some of them had never looked at a map before.

MP: Last season, he was standing in the middle of the living room shouting at Paulette and Linda for not knowing that the Gobi Desert was in China.

Well, they thought it was in Morocco which would be the Sahara. I don’t understand people who apply to those shows and then don’t bother to learn anything about geography before they go.

MP: This would make us a really good team because Ian knows his geography. I’d just go along to be the pretty decoration.

IT: No I’d make you do all the eating tasks. You’d be very good at that.

MP: And let’s face it, we’d kick ass at the swimming stuff.

IT: Are we coming up on turn?

MP: Two more streets then make a left. Take the next right after that.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR OF CAR WITH MICHAEL DRIVING AND IAN IN PASSENGER SEAT. THEY’VE BOTH CHANGED CLOTHES FROM PREVIOUS SCENE. CLOCK READS 9:35 AM.

MP: That should be the pool right up there.

MICHAEL PARKS THE CAR AND THEY EXIT. SCENE CHANGES TO EXTERIOR SHOT OF POOL WHICH IS RIGHT BESIDE A LARGER BODY OF WATER. SUBTITLE READS STANLEY BEACH POOL, VANCOUVER.

THE CAMERA FOLLOWS IAN AND MICHAEL TO THE POOL DECK WHERE THEY BEGIN TAKING OFF THEIR CLOTHES TO REVEAL SPEEDOS.

CW (OFF CAMERA): I was half tempted to start humming the stripper’s song.

MP: (LAUGHS): No, we’re done taking off the clothes. The water’s supposed to be eight degrees, should feel pretty good.

CW: Why did you guys come to Vancouver so early?

IT: It’s our second anniversary at the end of the month so we thought we’d come up two days early so we could celebrate somewhere special.

IAN AND MICHAEL WALK OVER TO THE EMPTY POOL AND GET IN. THE CAMERA PANS ACROSS THE AREA AS MICHAEL AND IAN BEGIN LY SLY SWIMMING.

CW (IN VOICE OVER): The pool normally opens at noon on weekdays but Michael arranged to rent it prior to opening for their private use.

MP (IN THE POOL): This is a great pool. Chad, Steve you guys should have brought suits with you. Oh, there’s a water slide.

MICHAEL BEGINS TO SWIM TOWARDS THE SLIDE.

IT (IN THE POOL): Michael, be careful.

MP: It’s a water slide and I’m not going to run on the deck.

MICHAEL GETS OUT OF POOL, WALKS OVER TO THE LADDER AND CLIMBS UP. HE APPEARS AT THE TOP OF THE SLIDE.

MP: Watch out, here I come.

MICHAEL SLIDES DOWN POOL WITH A LOUD WHOOP.

MP (AFTER SURFACING): Ian, you should try it.

IT (SWIMMING TOWARDS MICHAEL): I have a better idea.

IAN REACHES OUT AND TOUCHES MICHAEL’S SHOULDER.

IT: You’re it.

IAN SUBMERGES AND DISAPPEARS. MICHAEL LAUGHS AND STARTS SWIMMING AFTER HIM.

SCENE CHANGES TO EXTERIOR LAWN SHOT. THERE ARE MEN IN WHITE UNIFORMS IN THE BACKGROUND. MICHAEL AND IAN ARE SITTING ON THE GRASS IN THE FOREGROUND, EATING SANDWICHES AS THEY WATCH THE MATCH. IAN APPEARS TO BE EXPLAINING SOMETHING TO MICHAEL.

CW (IN VOICE OVER): The next day we didn’t see much of Ian and Michael. They celebrated their anniversary in private and didn’t leave the hotel. On Tuesday, they joined their teams at another hotel to compete in the Pan Pac Games.

SCENE CHANGES TO CLIPS OF THE COMPETITION.

CW (IN VOICE OVER): Michael won four of the five races he entered, losing only to Ian in the 200m Freestyle. Ian was three for three.

SCENE SWITCHES TO INTERIOR SHOT OF OFFICE TO A MAN SITTING AT A DESK. SUBTITLE IDENTIFIES HIM AS BOB BOWMAN, HEAD COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEN’S SWIM TEAM.

BB: I’m never surprised by how professional Ian and Michael are in the pool. Right now, swimming is their job and it’s like working with your spouse. They’re both able to separate their work from their personal life.

CW (OFF CAMERA): What’s it like to coach two swimmers of their caliber.

BB: It’s interesting because they’re so different. I’ve been Michael’s coach for ten years so I know how he works and what motivates him. With Ian, I’m much more hands off because he almost coaches himself. I’m the eyes for his main coach, Tracy Menzies. She and I spend an hour or a more each week discussing Ian’s progress and training. We also email each other a couple of times a week.

CW: You’ve taken on more work so Ian can swim here.

BB: It is more work however Ian and Michael are good recruiting tools. Michigan has always drawn the top level of swimmers from around the country; now we’re getting inquiries from promising swimmers in other countries and there’s been more interest from swimmers here.

CW: There was a bit of criticism about Ian leaving Australia just to be with Michael.

BB: I think that’s a load of crap. There are times when a couple has to work in separate cities or states or even countries but if you don’t have to, why would you? It’s not like there aren’t pools all over the world and that’s all a swimmer needs. I have to admire Ian for making the choice that was the best thing for him although it wasn’t popular in his country.

CW: Do you think they’re good for each other?

BB: It doesn’t matter what I think. They obviously think they are. I’ve watched Michael since he was ten years old. I’ve watched him grow up and I’ve never seen him look as contented as he does now.

SCENE CHANGES TO AN EXTERIOR SHOT OF A WOMAN SITTING IN A WICKER CHAIR WITH A RIVER OR LAKE IN THE BACKGROUND. SUBTITLE IDENTIFIES HER AS TRACY MENZIES, IAN THORPE’S PERSONAL COACH.

CW: It must be difficult coaching Ian from a distance.

TM: It has its drawbacks. I don’t get the hands on experience but I think the distance has helped us in a way I never expected. When Ian was training here, there were always people watching us and second guessing our decisions. I think it made us both uncomfortable. Now when we talk we’re much more focused on his training and we don’t worry what anyone thinks about it. Bob is really good about implementing the things Ian and I discuss. He also is a really good technical coach and we’ve been using some of his ideas.

CW: You got some flack for letting Ian move to Michigan.

TM (LAUGHS): Ian was a twenty-two year old adult. There wasn’t a question of letting an adult do anything. I’m a coach not a prison guard and I really resented the fact that people expected Ian to do what was good for them, not what was good for him. I’ve met Michael and he’s such a sweetie. If he was my boyfriend, I’d want to be with him too.

CW: How has Ian changed since he’s been with Michael?

TM: I think he’s become a more open person. Ian will always know what’s best for him but he’s more open to listening to other ideas. It doesn’t mean he’ll do them but he’ll listen. I think he’s very comfortable with Michael. He used to be the man about town and now he tells me that he and Michael spend most of their evenings at home watching TV or studying. They do still try to go out once a week but now it’s a special thing for them and not an almost every night event.

CW: Has that helped his swimming?

TM: I think he was getting bored with the routine of competitive swimming. He’s been swimming internationally for seven years and it’s a repetitive sport. You travel then you swim and you swim and then travel. The change of scenery and having two points of interest seems to have refreshed his spirit. Michael and going to university have given him new directions.

SCENE CHANGES TO INTERIOR LIVING ROOM. MICHAEL AND IAN ARE SITTING ON THE COUCH NEXT TO EACH OTHER HOLDING HANDS AND TALKING QUIETLY, STARING INTO EACH OTHER’S EYES. SCENE CHANGES TO IAN AND MICHAEL IN THE POOL IN VANCOUVER PLAYING TAG. SCENE CHANGES TO MICHAEL AND IAN WALKING DOWN A BEACH WITH THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND, IAN POINTING SOMETHING OUT IN THE DISTANCE. SCENE CHANGES TO IAN AND MICHAEL SITTING WITH IAN’S FAMILY AROUND A KITCHEN TABLE, LAUGHING AS THEY PLAY A BOARD GAME. SCENE CHANGES TO MICHAEL’S COMBINED FAMILY POSING FOR A PICTURE WITH THEIR SPOUSES, PARTNERS AND CHILDREN.

SCENE CHANGES TO A LONG SHOT THROUGH A WINDOW WHICH ZOOMS IN ON MICHAEL AND IAN STANDING OUTSIDE BY A RAILING, AS THE CAMERA STEADIES MICHAEL PUTS HIS HAND ON IAN’S CHEEK AND THEY BOTH LEAN IN FOR A KISS. SCENE CHANGES TO IAN AND MICHAEL SLOW DANCING AT DEBBIE AND RYAN’S ENGAGEMENT PARTY.

CW (IN VOICE OVER DURING SCENES): Where do you see yourselves in orn or twenty years?

MP (IN VOICE OVER): We’ll both be retired from competitive swimming by then.

IT (IN VOICE OVER): Maybe we’ll be coaching or running our own swim club.

MP (VO): Or doing something else entirely away from swimming.

IT (VO): But we’ll be together.

MP (VO): Well, duh.

SCENE FADES TO BLACK. TITLE CARD APPEARS: IN NOVEMBER OF 2006, CATHY SHEARER WAS CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR THE BOMBING ATTEMPT AND RELATED CRIMES AT THE PHELPS-THORPE RESIDENCE AND SENTENCED TO FORTY FIVE YEARS IN A FEDERAL PRISON. HER BROTHER NATHAN SHEARER AND THEIR CO-CONSPIRATOR, DONALD GRADY, RECEIVED THIRTY YEARS EACH. ALL THREE SUBSEQUENTLY PLEADED GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES IN STATE COURT AND RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS EACH TO BE SERVED CONCURRENTLY. CATHY SHEARER ALSO PLED GUILTY TO STALKING CHARGES UNDER MICHIGAN LAW AND RECEIVED LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.

MICHAEL PHELPS AND IAN THORPE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN ANN ARBOR AND RECENTLY FINISHED THEIR SOPHOMORE YEARS AT UNI UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. THEY BOTH INTEND TO COMPETE AT THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING, CHINA.

END – BODIES OF WATER: IAN THORPE AND MICHAEL PHELPS

&&&

AN: Thank god it’s finally over. Next chapter the smut returns. Thanks to everyone who commented on the ‘movie’ format.
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Last Swim