Robert Heylmun
Laguna Beach, California -- 1978The house on Myrtle Street-not quite like the old and beloved one on Shadow Lane-but the family resumes its comfortable gatherings around the dining table there with Hal and Simon. The guest cottage in the back yard-is it the ghosts of ancient murder victims who are haunting the place, or spies determined to ruin Hal? The dark shadow of gay prejudice dims their lives. A ballot measure that would allow schools to fire their gay teachers threatens Hal’s career, complicated byhis need to help a gay student who is being abused at home. A hateful fundamentalist church, inspired by the likes of Anita Bryant, makes no secret about its anti-gay agenda. Meet Bertrand, the would-be diva and egocentric actor who lives next door, whose life is changed by forces he cannot entirely understand. Meet up again with the indomitable Denise, still up to her old and nasty plots while dressing like nobody else. Have brunch at The Blue Cove, visit the Pageant of the Masters, go on a memorable weekend to Palm Springs, help Hal and Simon review a unique restaurant, find out what nights on the beach reveal, and catch up with many other friends and neighbors who live and work and love in Laguna, and who are proud to be called Lagunatics.
