ACT 1:

Scene 1:

(Breakroom of the penitentiary. Barry Whitland and

Donald Scott sit in chairs, not facing each other.)

Barry Whitland: Well it’s a question of priorities.

Donald Scott: I’m not asking for sixty, seventy hours

a week.

Barry: You’re just…

Donald: Yeah, I’m just…

Barry: And it takes. They take.

Donald: They take and don’t give back.

Barry: It’s…uh…

Donald: Not right. None of this is right.

Barry: But you’re not asking for sixty….

Donald: Not asking for sixty, seventy hours a week.

But the same rules apply.

Barry: The same rules…

Donald: Fuckin’ A, the same rules. If they can’t give

you this, then it’s not a…

Barry: Uh, a….

Donald: A, uh, working relationship. This is work,

this is my job.

Barry: It’s a…uh…a relationship

Donald: I get no support. No fucking support.

Barry: There are levels that indicate…

Donald: You’ve gotta know that they’ve got your back.

That if the worst should happen, God forbid, you know?

Barry: The worst has yet to happen.

Donald: That means fuck all. That means shit. That

thinking’s lower than dog shit.

Barry: Than dog shit, yeah.

Donald: But it’s coming up on the holidays. It’s

coming up on that time…when…

Barry: The holidays, exactly.

Donald: That time when, uh, little Jimmy…

Barry: Jimmy and Janey.

Donald: Does this make sense, what I’m saying?

Barry: I get the gist.

Donald: No support. They don’t fucking support you.

Barry: How long have you been here now?

Donald: What the fuck does that mean?

Barry: I’m just asking.

(Edward White walks into the breakroom.)

Edward: Barry, how’s the wife?

Barry: She is getting better. I’ve talked to the

doctor.

Donald: What the fuck does that mean, how long I’ve

worked here?

Edward: I caught a kid keying my car. He was just

doing it and I caught him. It’s all about values. Kids

are lacking values.

Donald: Barry, what does that mean?

Barry: Did you turn him in?

Edward: We have a duty, I know. We’re supposed to

represent the law enforcement community. But I

couldn’t turn him in. The paintjob of a car is no

excuse for turning them over to what we’ve got here.

Donald: Just what in the fuck do you mean, how long

have I worked here?!

Barry: It’s none of my business, Don. It wasn’t meant

to signify anything.

Donald: Why the fuck does it matter how long I’ve

worked here?!

Edward: Calm down, Don. He was just saying…

Barry: I was just saying…that…uh….

Donald: I know damn well what you’re saying. You’re

not apologizing your way out of this. There’s no

bargaining here. You understand me? I haven’t been

around as long as you have. Fuck you.

Edward: Now Donald. Just hold up there.

Donald: Fuck you too. Fuck this place. No support. I’m

leaving. I’m going home.

Barry: Your shift is only half over.

Donald: I’m going home. I’m going down the cafeteria.

I’m going to the laundry room.

Edward: They’ll clock you out for that. They dock you

for going down to the laundry room.

Donald: That’s what I’m talking about. No support. I’m

not asking for sixty hours.

Barry: You’re, uh…

Donald: I’m asking for support from this bullshit

outfit.

Edward: It’s government work.

Barry: You’re, uh…

Donald: What’s that mean? It’s government work, what’s

that mean?

Edward: You work for the government.

Barry: You’re, uh…the government…

Donald (cutting him off): I fucking know I work for

the government, you prick. You’ve got one long eye on

you, you know that? You fucker. You little nancyboy.

Edward: I’m just saying it’s government work.

Donald: Not my government. I didn’t vote for the

bastards. I voted for the party that actually supports

the working man. I voted for back up in this job.

Barry: Because they take.

Donald: That’s right. That’s god damn right. They take

and they take. And don’t give anything back. I’ve got

kids now.

Barry: You’re concerned…

Donald: Yeah, I’m concerned.

Barry: Concerned about…

Donald: That’s right. Concerned about where this is

leading. What kind of life can I provide for my

children if I don't get any support at work.

Barry: Because this is your, uh, job.

Donald: This is work. This is what I do for a living.

I’m not here out of the goodness of my heart.

Edward: Little punk was going up and down the line,

keying every car.

Donald: Will you shut the fuck up about your busted

ass car?

Edward: I don’t have to take this kind of abuse.

Donald: This is abuse? This is abuse, you

motherfucker? You call this abuse?!

Barry: We, uh, need support.

Edward: They give us support. They give us a hotline

number to discuss things exactly like this.

(Donald rushes up and gets in his face)

Donald: Are you saying you’re gonna call this in?

Edward: Barry, did I do the right thing? Letting the

kid go?

Donald: Don’t fucking look to him. You’re talking to

me. Right here, right now.

Edward: Get out of my face, Don.

Donald: Don’t touch me.

(Edward pushes him back a step.)

Donald: Don’t you fucking touch me.

Edward: Just get out of my face.

Donald: You gonna call this in? You gonna make a phone

call about this?

Edward: Barry, get him out of my face.

Barry: You, uh, need to listen, Don.

(Donald turns to Barry.)

Donald: So you’re in this too. You’re a witness. If

they ask questions, he pushed me. You saw it happen.

Barry: So we’re not going to call anyone.

(Donald looks at Edward again.)

Donald: Fuck this. Fuck you.

Edward: Oh, how fucked up you are.

Donald: I’m leaving. I’m going out to my car for a

smoke.

Edward: What’s this? Your farewell speech? You’re

leaving office speech?

Donald: I’m going home. I’m gonna go home and change

the locks.

Edward: Oh, we’ll miss you so much. This little going

away speech is so beautiful. Is this your resignation?

(Donald pushes into his face again.)

Donald: I’ll take you any day you’re ready. Any time

of the day or night.

Barry: Don, we were talking about support.

(Donald pushes Edward away from him and walks back to

his seat.)

Edward: Weren’t you leaving?

(Donald spins around.)

Donald: Fuck you!

Edward: Yeah, give me everything.

Donald: Fuck like you couldn’t get laid in a women’s

prison holding a handful of pardons!

Edward: Oh, you spend all week thinking that one up?

Donald: Fuck you.

Barry: I told my wife about this the very other day.

Exactly the other day. I told her about how, uh…

Donald: I’m going home. No man has the right to talk

to me that way. If you were a prisoner, I would bust

your lip for you.

Edward: Well I’m not a prisoner. I’m practically your

supervisor.

Donald: The fuck you are!

Barry: Told her about…uh…

Donald: You think I’d ever listen to a fucking word

you say?

Edward: You listened to everything I said when you

first got here. I was the one training you. I made you

what you are. And what a disappointment that is.

Donald: Are you degrading my work abilities?

Barry: I told her about the hostility here. The, uh….

Donald: Are you putting me down, you little fuck?

Edward: Sometimes I wish I was a prisoner. Just to see

you take a swing at me. That’s all I ask for. Take one

swing at me.

Donald: Fuck you. I’m leaving. I’m going home.

Edward: So long.

(Donald spins and shouts.)

Donald: Fuck you!

Barry: There’s hostility. It makes the days longer. I

don’t like it.

Donald: And fuck you too! Your wife that’s dying, we

care.

Edward: I care. That’s why I asked about it.

Donald: You’re such a fucking fuck! What a fuck you

are.

Edward: I can call that number right now. This is

abuse.

Donald: That’s bush league girlie shit. That’s what

that is. That’s pussy stuff.

Edward: Yeah, you go home. You have a nice day off

work.

Barry: It’s not that you want sixty hours a week…

Donald: I’m going home. I’m going to Omaha.

Edward: So long.

(Donald storms out, loosening his tie as he charges

out the door.)

Barry: There’s a lack of support. There’s priorities

and we’re not at the top of the list.

Edward: Barry.

Barry: Yeah?

Edward: Tell me about Nancy.

Barry: Oh, she can see again. She can hear out of one

ear.

Edward: That’s wonderful.

Barry: There’s hope that it will go into remission.

Edward: You see, good things happen to good people.

Barry: The twins are coming back for Christmas. All

the way from Baltimore and Salt Lake City.

Edward: With their husbands?

Barry: One of the husbands. The other has to work.

Edward: Fuck him.

Barry: It’s so hard. And Don’s right. There’s no

support-

(Edward cuts him off.)

Edward: Don has never been right. He’s a fucking wrong

bastard and has been since day one.

Barry: Well I’ll say nothing against him.

Edward: He’s trouble. He’s gonna get someone hurt one

of these days. Have you seen the way he walks the

block?

Barry: He’s got a swagger…

Edward: He’s a psychopath. He smashes people’s fingers

with his baton as he walks past. Broke a guy’s fingers

the other day. For what reason?

Barry: There’s hostility here. I was just telling

Nancy…

Edward: For no reason, that’s what. Just to prove he

could do it.

Barry: Well I’ll say nothing against him.

Edward: I admire your loyalty, Barry. But you’ve gotta

find appropriate people to be loyal to.

Barry: Remember the winter flu of ’99?

Edward: So much overtime.

Barry: Only twelve guards for the twenty-five hundred

inmates.

Edward: Never worked a longer day in my life.

Barry: They had us working fifteen hour shifts.

Edward: We stuck together on that one. Where was Don

then?

Barry: He was new. He was sick.

Edward: Fucking nowhere. He wasn’t sick.

Barry: He said he was sick.

Edward: He wasn’t fucking sick. He brought in pictures

of him skiing two days before Christmas. He was out

skiing somewhere. Nevada mountains or something.

Barry: Now that’s something I didn’t know.

Edward: And the way he complains. Like nobody else has

ever thought to find faults in their job.

Barry: I’m not saying anything against him.

Edward: You’re right that there’s hostility here. You

can tell Nancy that. But if a fuck up like Don would

leave this fucking place, there would only be

hostility with the inmates.

Barry: I get this thing where I wanna be friends with

them.

Edward: The young ones. The car thief or the drug

user. You think there’s hope there.

Barry: I’m not saying that there’s…uh…

Edward: You think there’s room for improvement with

them.

Barry: You know, a second chance….

Edward: You want to give them a second chance. That’s

how it works. That’s good. That’s healthy.

Barry: I thought there was something wrong with me.

Edward: The only wrong person around here is Don. You

turn into Don, then we’ll have problems.

Barry: My break’s over. I’ve gotta get back.

Edward: What block are you on today?

Barry: D block.

Edward: Fuckers. A man your age on there.

Barry: I like it. It’s quiet.

Edward: It’s death row.

Barry: I’ve really gotta get back. I may be late

already.

(Barry exits the breakroom and Edward sits down and

lights a cigarette. Lights dim and curtain closes.)

Scene 2:

(Breakroom. Edward and Barry are sitting.)

Edward: They latched onto me. They said stuff about

people’s families, their wives.

Barry: You didn’t hear it from anyone else.

Edward: They knew who they were talking to. They grew

in the dark. Big balls. But only one dick. There’s

always only one dick. He’s in charge, he directs the

balls.

Barry: So you’re worried that…

Edward: Yeah, I’m worried that…

Barry: Because there’s good taste. There’s, uh…

Edward: A time and a place.

Barry: Yeah, a time and a place. A, you know…

Edward: It’s not right.

Barry: No, it’s not right.

Edward: You don’t talk about…you know?

Barry: You stop thinking that stuff on the block. You

just stop.

Edward: There’s no place for it here.

Barry: There are limits. There’s good taste. There’s,

uh…

Edward: They thought I was one of them. They thought I

would go along with whatever they were saying.

Barry: Did you?

Edward: I did nothing. I stood and watched. I smiled

when it was appropriate.

Barry: Yeah, when it was appropriate. That’s the very

thing.

Edward: With people like them, you can get everywhere

with just a smile. They say “Guy’s a fuck up” and you

smile. “Can’t get his wife off” and you smile. They

were probably told this stuff in trust.

Barry: Yeah, in trust.

Edward: It’s an abuse.

Barry: It’s an…

Edward: It’s an abuse of trust.

Barry: It’s a, uh…

Edward: It’s taking the information someone told you

in confidence and using it against them behind their

back.

Barry: You’ve gotta have trust in this job.

Edward: Absolutely.

Barry: Because if we can’t trust each other…

Edward: That each man can do their job…

Barry: If we can’t trust them to do that…to…

Edward: It betrays that trust. And it makes you

wonder.

Barry: Yeah, you wonder.

Edward: Does this guy have my back?

Barry: You wonder if they can perform.

Edward: You just don’t know how this guy thinks.

Barry: How he thinks.

Edward: Because he’s not like you. You do your best.

Barry: You do…uh…your best…

Edward: You go out there every day and work your

shift. And you know if something happens with another

guy, you can help them.

Barry: Yes, help them. Because we need to know…

Edward: But if they betray trust like this behind

their back…

Barry: We need to know that we can trust them.

Edward: And this just destroys that.

(Pause)

Barry: Did you hear Wilk is leaving?

Edward: Justin Wilk?

Barry: He put in for a transfer over a year ago. It

finally went through.

Edward: Justin Wilk is leaving?

Barry: He’s moving over to Huntsville in Texas.

Edward: Where did you hear this?

Barry: There’s a party. There’s people…

Edward: People told you this?

Barry: People were talking…

Edward: What people?

Barry: They were talking about the party. The going

away party.

Edward: He’s just gone?

Barry: Well not just gone. There’s a party for him. A

going away party.

Edward: Who gets the job?

Barry: I said to Harry Greenbaum, I said, “That guy’s

earned his party.”

Edward: Who gets the job?

Barry: Harry knew exactly what I meant. He agreed with

me straight off.

Edward: Who gets the job?

(Pause)

Barry: Yes, I guess there will be an opening.

Edward: Commandant.

Barry: That’s right, commandant.

Edward: Who gets the job?

Barry: The interesting thing would be if one of these

guys you were talking about…who were you talking

about?

Edward: I don’t wanna name names. I don’t think that

would help anyone.

Barry: I’m just saying if it was Steve Forsythe…or

Derek Shields…

Edward: It was neither of them.

Barry: Well that’s different. That’s a whole new

ballgame.

Edward: You think those two are the frontrunners?

Barry: I think they would be at the top of the list,

yes.

Edward: Are those the two names you’ve heard?

Barry: Heard from who?

Edward: Don’t play it off like that. I know the brass

speaks to you.

Barry: Who? Jenkins? Shit.

Edward: Yeah, Jenkins. Kilkerry.

Barry: Jenkins and I were working together in the

seventies. He was here working his way through

college. We were more janitors than guards.

Edward: But you still talk.

Barry: I’m his child’s godfather, for chrissake!

Edward: What’s he said?

Barry: I haven’t heard anything from him.

Edward: And Kilkerry?

(Barry stares at the table.)

Edward: Barry?

(Barry wipes his brow with his hand. He’s near tears.)

Barry: They found a lump.

Edward: A lump? A lump of coal? That lump Don Scott?

Barry: Not at work. My Nancy.

(Edward looks at the ground in embarrassment.)

Barry: They told me that it had metastasized.

Edward: You thought it was over.

Barry: They pump her so full of chemicals.

Edward: And now a lump.

Barry: Back of her neck. Supposed to be going into

remission.

Edward: Barry.

(Barry stands up shakily.)

Edward: Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute!

Sit down.

(Barry stares at the ceiling.)

Barry: There was a time when I couldn’t imagine ever

losing her.

Edward: Your whole life.

Barry: Like water through your fingers. That’s just

it. It’s like trying to transfer a lake using your

hands.

Edward: There’s a weight there.

Barry: I know of weight. I understand it as the

pressure.

Edward: The pressure, yeah. Like a pressure cooker.

Barry: She’s supposed to be-

(His voice breaks with emotion.)

Barry: Excuse me. She’s supposed to be in remission.

Supposed to have killed the sucker off. Now it’s all

this.

Edward: Have you talked to anyone about this?

Barry: You mean have I revealed a possible depression

period for the future?

Edward: No no, I didn’t mean-

Barry: Don’t worry, Eddie. I’m not after your

promotion. I hope they pick you.

Edward: Couldn’t hurt to put a good word in. Time like

this and all, it’s horrible. But it would be a big

favor to me. And I would remember it.

Barry: Jenkins is coming over to the house this

weekend.

Edward: Oh that’s right, you’ve got the weekends off

now.

Barry: I’m gonna have more time off. I’m gonna

dedicate myself to taking care of Nancy.

Edward: It’s all one sick joke isn’t it?

Barry: What’s that?

Edward: This. Life. This trick God plays on us.

Barry: It’s a joke?

Edward: Man works his whole life. Always gives up the

best so that he can provide. And just when he gets

comfortable…

Barry: Yeah, comfort. I was…

Edward: You were…

Barry: I was comfortable. Things were going…

Edward: As things go when you’re comfortable.

Barry: And then…

Edward: This.

Barry: Water through my hands.

Edward: Those rain clouds only show up when you really

need the sunshine.

Barry: Tide goes out once a day.

Edward: It also comes in once a day.

(Lights dim and curtains close.)

Scene 3:

(Donald and Hymie Drugker sit in the break room

eating.)

Donald: So the guy won’t give up. Tells us that the

toilet is broken, he has to go, he’s embarrassed we’re

gonna see his crap. Guy’s pitching a fit.

Hymie: Over a broken toilet?

Donald: Guy has some issues.

Hymie: What’s he in for?

Donald: Assaulting an officer and cocaine possession.

Hymie: So did you go in?

Donald: We knew it was a trick. We followed procedure.

Wrist and leg shackles through the bars.

Hymie: Right.

Donald: But it wasn’t a trick.

Hymie: It wasn’t a trick.

Donald: The guy had already shit in there. Thing

must’ve been thirteen inches.

Hymie: Fuck, no wonder he didn’t want to do it again.

Donald: It got around. Everyone’s calling him the

“long man” now. He’s lucky if that’s the only thing

that gets around.

Hymie: So what was the problem?

Donald: We had to get in there with the plunger but

there’s a big loaf of shit in the tank.

Hymie: So you had to…

Donald: Someone had to…

Hymie: Did you do it?

Donald: Fuck that. Think I’m gonna touch the guy’s

shit?

Hymie: Who did it?

Donald: That new kid. Aaron…whatever. The Jew.

Hymie: Did he do it with his hands?

Donald: No, we used the guy’s sheet.

Hymie: The prisoner?

Donald: Yeah, his sheet.

Hymie: Whined some more.

Donald: Too fucking right. But something’s not right.

We see right away that something’s not right.

Hymie: What was it?

Donald: There’s blood. Fucking blood.

Hymie: Blood, yeah.

Donald: Yeah, there’s blood. Blood in the toilet. We

see that right away. There’s fucking blood in there.

Hymie: So the guy…

Donald: You could never believe it about this guy.

Blood in the toilet. So I turn around to look at him,

to ask why there’s blood in the toilet. We’ve gotta

know. If this guy’s shitting blood, you know, hospital

and all.

Hymie: Could have been trying to get out of work

detail.

Donald: No no, nothing that simple. You get a feel for

it. You get to where you can see if people are lying.

There’s a word.

Hymie: There’s a word.

Donald: Yeah, a word. The word is malingerer. It’s a

person that fakes illness to be lazy. The guy’s a

malingerer but that’s not the problem.

Hymie: There’s another problem. The guy’s shitting

blood.

Donald: Well that’s just it. He’s not shitting blood.

I turn around to look at him, you know, for an

explanation I guess. And I see at his feet there’s a

pool of blood. The guy’s bleeding right there.

Hymie: Right there on the block.

Donald: In front of God and women and children and

cripples. Just bleeding away. So I told him to turn

around.

Hymie: You wanted to see for yourself.

Donald: I had to know.

Hymie: And this is just you and Aaron?

Donald: There was three of us. It was me and Aaron the

Jew and Whitmore.

Hymie: Whitmore’s a good man.

Donald: He’s a fuck. All his brains are in his tits.

Seriously, a guy with tits. What the fuck?

Hymie: So you…

Donald: Whitmore had the guy around the collar and he

turns him around.

Hymie: Where’s Aaron?

Donald: He’s looking to me. He’s got the guy’s sheets

in his hand with a big ol’ log in them. And he’s

frozen, he doesn’t know what to do. So I’m telling the

guy to turn around. And Whitmore turns him.

Hymie: Turns him around.

Donald: Yeah, he’s got him turned around. Was holding

him by the collar. I had my baton up in case.

Hymie: Because of what?

Donald: Fuck if I know. Explosive diarrhea or

whatever. You never know with these guys. They’ll do

anything to you. So I had my baton up. But as soon as

the guy’s turned, I see immediately, like right off,

that there’s blood all over his ass and running down

his legs.

Hymie: The guy’s bleeding. He’s shitting blood.

Donald: Would you listen here? He’s not shitting

blood. The guy’s standing weird. We know we’ve gotta

take him down to the hospital. And then it happened.

Hymie: What happened?

Donald: A fucking rat. A big stinking rat. Jumps right

out of the toilet and charges Aaron.

Hymie: Holy shit. A rat?

Donald: Was right there in the toilet. Came out and

headed between Aaron’s feet.

Hymie: A fucking rat?

Donald: A big stinking rat. Right there in the toilet.

Hymie: What’d Aaron do?

Donald: What do you think he did? He freaked out. He

screamed, he jumped, he rushed out of the cell.

Hymie: What’d you do?

Donald: I was expecting anything. Literally anything.

But it still caught me by surprise. I went by

instinct. Aaron shouts and something moves fast so I

just pounded the guy in the head with my baton.

Hymie: You hit him.

Donald: I clubbed him right there. I must’ve hit him

five times before I realized what was going on.

Hymie: A rat.

Donald: A big fucking rat. Stinking rat.

Hymie: Why was the guy bleeding?

Donald: We took him down to the hospital. They were

looking at his head where I smacked him.

Hymie: Yeah, the head.

Donald: Fucker was fine. He had it coming for what he

was doing.

Hymie: I don’t know. Seems like he was just standing

there.

Donald: No, you don’t understand. They looked at the

guy’s ass. He’s got bites and scratch marks. There’s

obviously been an insertion of some kind. So we strip

him naked and put him in the middle of the room. We

make him hold his arms out in front of him and squat.

You know, like on intake. And it falls right out.

Hymie: What did he have up there?

Donald: A slice of cheese and part of a hot dog bun.

Hymie: So he…

Donald: Yeah, he had them up his ass.

Hymie: Smuggled.

Donald: Contraband from the lunchroom.

Hymie: He stole food.

Donald: He knew about the rat. Had probably captured

it and held onto it.

Hymie: So he…

Donald: Yeah, he shoved that food up his ass. And then

put the rat up to it. For the rat to go in after it.

Hymie: And that’s how…

Donald: That’s how he got the scratches. That’s why

his ass was bleeding. He tried to get the rat to go up

his ass.

Hymie: What do you say to something like that?

Donald: I’m glad I got to hit him. They’re

transferring him.

Hymie: Cedar Pines?

Donald: Of course. They think he’s insane.

Hymie: Well a rat up the ass…

Donald: That’s not insanity. That’s just sick. The

guy’s a fucking wrong bastard and I’m glad I hit him.

Hymie: Wilk’s leaving. You heard this shit?

Donald: They’re already grooming his replacement.

Hymie: Who’d they pick?

Donald: That son of a bitch White.

Hymie: They’re making White the commandant?

Donald: You didn’t hear it from me, but the guy’s not

gonna last long.

Hymie: How do you know?

Donald: Things are happening. You know what that

bastard did to me?

Hymie: What’d he do?

Donald: He, you know, he’s got it in for me. He’s been

against me from day one.

Hymie: I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that?

Donald: Don’t worry. I’ve got plans.

Hymie: What kind of plans?

Donald: I say plans and I mean wishes. You see? I’m

not actually going to do anything. I’m just talking

here.

Hymie: What are we talking about?

Donald: I’ve got a lot of Proloid from when I had a

thyroid problem.

Hymie: Yeah, Proloid.

Donald: So an overdose of that…

Hymie: That would be…

Donald: It would look like a heart attack.

Hymie: You’re not going to…?

Donald: No, I’m not going to do anything.

Hymie: We’re just…

Donald: We’re just talking.

Hymie: We’re just…

Donald: This is just talking. That’s all.

Hymie: Because if you did that…

Donald: We’re only talking here. Nothing wrong with

talking. It’s like a fantasy. You say, “Man, if I was

in charge.” Or, “Man, if I had any balls I’d take this

Proloid…”

Hymie: So we’re just talking?

Donald: We’re not planning anything. Planning makes it

first degree.

Hymie: We’re, uh, talking about…

Donald: Thing like that can’t even be traced back. A

regular autopsy won’t even pick it up. It’ll look like

a total heart failure. An episode.

Hymie: But we’re not-

Donald (cutting him off): It would be easy too. I know

just how to do it.

(Silence for several seconds.)

Hymie: But we’re not actually planning…

Donald: We’re giving up everything for these bastards.

So some dipshit nobody who knows fuck all tells us

what’s wrong with what we do. You understand what I’m

saying? Do you see the point?

Hymie: Well they’ve worked longer than us. They know

more than we do.

Donald: They know fuck all. It’s Caeser. It’s death,

it’s wrongful actions. Same rules apply up and down

the line. Get fat and sit back, forget what it’s like

in the trenches.

Hymie: We want someone experienced to be…

Donald: This guy’s from another era. He’s from before

AIDS. He doesn’t understand us or what we do. The

guy’s a dinosaur. If he makes a good move I’ll eat my

hat.

Hymie: But all that experience…

Donald: Yeah, experience in doing fuck all. Guy sits

back and lets everyone else do the hard work. He said

to me, you know what he said?

Hymie: What’d he say?

Donald: He says to me, “You’re too violent.”

Hymie: Too violent.

Donald: Yeah. I’m too violent. Me. The only good guard

around here. The only one the prisoners show the

proper respect to. Because they know what happens if

they don’t. Too fucking violent. And him. Lets

prisoners spit on him. Doesn’t even fight back.

Hymie: He considers this place a, uh…

Donald: A fucking daycare.

Hymie: A, uh…

Donald: Treats it like a daycare. A summer camp.

Forgets that we’re here to do a job. That they are

here because they’ve broken the law and a jury of

their peers-

Hymie: Yeah, a jury.

Donald: A jury of their peers has convicted them and

recommended sentences. If they get out at all, it’s

too fucking soon. You know? You’ve gotta inspire

terror in them. And fucking White…

Hymie: But we’re not actually talking about…

Donald: Yeah, because we’re not talking about doing

this. We’re discussing it as an idea. Of something

that could possibly happen.

Hymie: Because if it happened, we could end up in

here.

Donald: That’s right. It’s a crime.

Hymie: A crime.

Donald: It’s also very safe.

Hymie: It’s safe?

Donald: It’s safe. Wouldn’t lead back to us. Not to

me, anyway.

Hymie: So we’re actually talking about this like…

Donald: We’re talking about doing this.

Hymie: Why are you telling me this? I don’t want to

hear this shit.

Donald: It’s too late now, Hym. You’re involved now.

You understand?

Hymie: You mean that…?

Donald: You’re an accessory now.

Hymie: I never…

Donald: You’re an accessory. This is a crime. Unless

you turn me in.

Hymie: Unless I turn you in.

Donald: Are you gonna turn me in?

Hymie: I’m gonna…

Donald: You’re not gonna turn me in, right?

Hymie: I don’t know.

Donald: You’re not gonna turn me in, right? You

wouldn’t turn me in?

Hymie: You’re saying you’re gonna poison-

Donald: I’m saying that you are gonna do it.

Hymie: I’m gonna…

Donald: Yeah, you.

(Pause.)

Donald: I wish to God I could put that guy out of it

myself. But I’ve got a big mouth. I’ve said too much

to too many people. They know I don’t like him. They

might get suspicious and do an unconventional autopsy.

And then where would I be? So you’ve gotta do it.

Hymie: Wait a minute. We’re actually talking about

this like…

Donald: We’re not just “talking” about it anymore.

We’re not discussing it. We’re talking about it as a

thing that will happen.

Hymie: I need to ask my brother. I can’t do anything

without asking my brother.

Donald: Fuck you. What is this- “I’ve gotta ask my

brother. I’ve gotta-“ Fuck you! What the fuck? Are you

gonna…? What the fuck? Did I go to the wrong guy?

Hymie: I just don’t know. I’m not good at-

Donald: This is safe. I already told you that. I know

just how to do it. No one’s gonna get caught. And even

if they find out what happened, they won’t be able to

pin it on anyone.

Hymie: We’re talking about something that could-

Donald: If this isn’t for you then I can move on. But

if I get caught, they’re gonna ask me who I talked to

about this.

Hymie: You might tell them?

Donald: If they come to me, there’s gonna be a lot of

pressure. I don’t know how much pressure I can take.

You understand me?

Hymie: Why me?

Donald: Because you’re the only other straight shooter

around here. I know that you’re trustworthy. And they

would never suspect you.

Hymie: But why am I involved now? I thought we were

just talking…

Donald: We talked and now it’s happening. I’m gonna

have an alibi. I’m going down to Santa Barbara for a

week. Gonna surf and get a tan. You understand me?

Hymie: And I’m in trouble now because I just-

Donald: The only way out of this is if you do it. It’s

safe, I told you.

Hymie: All this because I listened.

Donald: That’s right. Because you listened.

Hymie: I need to talk to my brother.

Donald: Your brother’s involved too then. How many

people you wanna involve? Be a fucking man for once.

You walk these blocks?

Hymie: Yeah…

Donald: You walk these blocks?

Hymie: Yeah…

Donald: Okay then. You’ve faced worse than this. So

you’re just gonna…

Hymie: I’m gonna…

Donald: Okay, we’re through talking. My break is over.

Hymie: I don’t think I’m through talking.

Donald: We’re through talking. It’s completely safe.

I’m the only suspect. If they even suspect anyone. You

see what I’m saying? I’ll be out of town. I’m safe.

You’re safe. It’s safe.

Hymie: What if they do suspect?

Donald: So fucking what? Let them suspect. You

understand? They can suspect but they can’t pin it on

anyone. Listen, we’ll go to Vegas together. Spend a

weekend out there.

Hymie: I work weekends.

Donald: A weekday weekend, okay? And we’ll talk out

there. I’ll tell you how it works. But I’ve gotta go.

I need to get back to the block.

(Lights dim and curtains close.)

Scene 4:

(Inmate Forrest Carrington is talking to Barry

Whitland in the breakroom.)

Forrest: It was on account of the Jesus program that I

got into this racket.

Barry: Yeah, the Jesus program.

Forrest: I shouldn’t call it that.

Barry: Everyone calls it that.

Forrest: Do you guys call it that?

Barry: What do you think of us? Do you still call us

screws?

Forrest: That’s funny. Barry, can I call you Barry?

Barry: Sure.

Forrest: I wasn’t sure if that was allowed.

Barry: We’ll keep it between us.

Forrest: It’s good to have secrets here.

Barry: It’s good to make friends.

Forrest: It was on account of the Jesus program.

Everyone starts off in there because it’s time off

your sentence. But nobody sticks around.

Barry: There are moral questions. Moral grounds.

Forrest: Yes, moral grounds. That’s the very thing.

Nobody wants to stay in the program on account of the

serious commitment.

Barry: Yeah, commitment.

Forrest: But I cleaned up my act. Started living for

the Lord.

Barry: The Lord.

Forrest: God above and Jesus, his holy son.

Barry: It’s that old WC Fields joke.

Forrest: What joke? Where?

Barry: WC Fields is on his deathbed, looking through a

Bible.

Forrest: Who’s this guy, now?

Barry: And someone asks, “WC, you’ve never been

religious. What on earth are you doing reading a

Bible?”

Forrest: Now hold up now. Who’s this guy?

Barry: And WC says, “I’m looking for a loophole.”

Forrest: That’s funny.

Barry: You don’t laugh. You say, “That’s funny.”

Forrest: Not many people laugh in here. You don’t

wanna be around the ones that laugh. Because they’re

trouble.

Barry: You were saying about the Jesus program.

Forrest: I cleaned up. Easier to get drugs in here

than it is on the outside. But I stopped, I quit, I

walked away. You ever walked away from the thing

that’s killing you?

(Barry holds a hand over his eyes and breaks into

sobs.)

Forrest: Barry. Barry. Mr. Whitland. Holy shit. God

and all his angels! What’s wrong? I didn’t mean

nothing.

(Barry is recovering himself.)

Barry: I’m sorry, Forrest. I just got overwhelmed.

Forrest: You should go to a doctor. You should go to

chapel.

Barry: My wife is dying. That’s the simple truth of

it. And it’s leaving me in a bad position.

Forrest: Go to church. You’re free, you know. You’re

not like me. You can’t go to chapel from 3 to 5

Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can go any day of the

week.

Barry: Sometimes I forget where I am. You understand?

Have you ever lost that bit of sanity where you

remember where you are, what you’re doing there?

Forrest: Now you’re taking me back to the outside.

Barry: The outside.

Forrest: A man doesn’t forget where he is when he’s in

here. It’s all you can do to keep your mind off it.

Barry: The regimentation of the day.

Forrest: I’m sorry about your wife. For what it’s

worth.

Barry: Will you make a new pot of coffee? This has

gone bad, it’s been on there for hours.

Forrest: That’s my whole thing here. I’m the man that

makes coffee. There’s the man that can get you speed,

the man that can get you liquor if that’s your thing.

The man that can get anything. The man that runs the

library. There are levels here. And I’m the man that…

Barry: The man that makes coffee.

Forrest: That’s just it. I came all this way to learn

to make coffee.

Barry: One more pot. For the day. Then you’re done.

Forrest: Back to my illustrious job mopping the

blocks.

Barry: Trustees make everything easier. I thank you

from my heart for being the rare man in this zoo.

Forrest: Don’t thank me. Thank the Lord for finding me

in time.

(Forrest begins sweeping the floor.)

Barry: The coffee.

(Forrest puts the broom down and walks to the coffee

pot. He begins making coffee as lights dim and

curtains close.)

Scene 5:

(Donald and Hymie stand in the breakroom.)

Donald: You fucked it up.

Hymie: I, uh…

Donald: You fucked it. It’s fucked.

Hymie: Well I was just trying…

Donald: You were trying to what? Fucking get caught?

Hymie: Don, please don’t take that tone with me. Just

listen while I try to explain.

(Barry enters the room.)

Donald: Hi, Barry.

Barry: Can you believe it?

Donald: It’s a shame.

Barry: A shame.

Donald: A fucking shame.

Barry: They’re gonna call all of us in. You know that

don’t you?

Donald: I was just going over that with Hymie here.

Barry: They’re going to call us in and they’ll have

questions.

Donald: I’m coaching Hymie now.

Barry: What’s this now? What…coaching?

Donald: Coaching, teaching. You know. Getting our

stories straight.

Barry: Why do you have to get anything straight?

Donald: You know what this adds up to?

Barry: Adds up…

Hymie: We’re not saying that…

Donald: It applies up and down the line. Same fucking

rules.

Barry: I don’t think we’re getting to the bottom of…

Donald: What is there to get to the bottom of?

Hymie: Yeah, the bottom of.

Donald: Not the bottom of. No, Hymie, not the bottom

of.

Barry: At the bottom of…

Donald: Will you stop it? Will you give it up?

Barry: We’ve gotta get to the bottom of, uh…

Donald: Will you stop?! Will you stop? I’m asking you,

will you stop? Is that enough? You understand me?

Barry: Well we’re just talking here.

Hymie: Just talking.

Donald: That’s not talking. That’s finger pointing.

That’s the blame game. We have-

Barry: Well I don’t think it’s unreasonable-

Donald: We have to get our stories straight. What do

people say when these things happen?

Barry: When these things…

Donald: When these things happen. This kind of stuff

has never happened. Does this make sense? Guy comes to

me, says “Hey what’s this now? What’s happening?” I

can’t turn around, I can’t say, you know, “What the

fuck- you son of a bitch.”

Barry: We’re not, uh…

Donald: I know just what you’re doing.

Barry: Well this isn’t a, uh…

Donald: They’re gonna call us all in. We have to, you

know…

Hymie: Get our ducks in a row.

Donald: The ducks. Get our stories straight. Work

things out.

Barry: Don, this isn’t a…

Donald: I don’t care what this is. This is prelude.

Hymie: What’s prelude?

Donald: Shut the fuck up. Just shut the fuck up.

Barry: We aren’t under a microscope.

Donald: You think they’re gonna pin this as a suicide?

You think that?

Barry: No…

Donald: You think that?

Barry: No…

Donald: You think that?

Barry: No, I don’t.

Donald: Alright then. Same rules.

Barry: You don’t think they’re going to…

Hymie: They won’t…

Donald: You think they’re not looking for someone to

scapegoat?

Barry: Well as long as we’re all innocent.

Donald: Well someone’s not innocent. Someone did the

deed.

Barry: I’ve gotta go in.

Donald: That’s their game. Divide and conquer.

Barry: It’s not a, uh…

Donald: Divide and conquer.

Barry: You’re saying this is a…

Donald: It’s a kangaroo court.

Barry: It’s a…

Donald: It’s a witch hunt.

Barry: I don’t believe it.

Hymie: We’re not gonna get into trouble or anything.

Barry: There’s no trouble.

Donald: Yeah, there’s no trouble for you, you prick.

You and White were chummy. You guys were thick as

thieves.

Barry: We were friends, yes.

Donald: Well okay then. That’s you out of the running.

Barry: But you weren’t enemies or anything.

Donald: There was tension.

Barry: There was tension. There was…

Donald: It wasn’t right. I didn’t hate the guy.

Barry: You would never…

Donald: I never would. I would never. I never would.

Barry: But you weren’t even here.

Donald: That’s right, I wasn’t even here.

Barry: I’ve gotta go in. They called me in. I was

supposed to be there five minutes ago. I have to go.

Donald: Name, rank, cell block number.

Barry: I’ll talk to you later.

(Barry exits.)

Hymie: Maybe he’s right. Maybe this is just a-

Donald: You shut the fuck up. Just shut the fuck up.

I’m so mad at you that I can’t even look at you.

Hymie: I just did what I thought was-

Donald: You fucked it up. Plain and simple. Fucked it

all up.

Hymie: You don’t understand. I took the pills you gave

me. They wouldn’t grind up. You understand?

Donald: I told you exactly how to do it.

Hymie: They were capsules, not pills. Little balls

inside them. They wouldn’t grind. They didn’t turn to

powder.

Donald: I’ve done it myself. I tested it with a couple

of pills. It worked just fine.

Hymie: I had to use the rat poison. The damn pills

wouldn’t grind.

Donald: God damn it! If you’re a fuck up, then be a

fuck up. But at least admit it. Don’t blame the pills.

Hymie: I’m not-

Donald: I’m not finished! You fucked this all up.

Fucking rat poison?! You used rat poison? What the

fuck is the matter with you? Answer me that.

Hymie: I-

Donald: Shut up! Just shut up! What is the matter with

you? What the fuck is the matter with you?

Hymie: I was just trying to-

Donald: What the fuck is the matter with you? Didn’t I

tell you what to do? Didn’t I talk to you?

Hymie: Well I-

Donald: I told you. I said, “If it’s not good, just

walk away.” Didn’t I tell you that?

(Hymie stares at the floor.)

Donald: What the fuck is the matter with you? Why’d

you fuck this all up?

Hymie: I’m sorry.

Donald: You’re fucking right you’re sorry. God damn

idiot. Sorry. That’s you all over.

Hymie: I’m scheduled next. They’ve got me right after

Barry.

Donald: Just keep your mouth shut. They won’t suspect

you. You’re god damn fucking lucky I was out of town

and have proof. Fucking lucky as hell. That’s planning

ahead. That’s my thing, not your thing. You couldn’t

plan your way out of a paper sack.

Hymie: I’m gonna go down there. I have to work myself

up.

Donald: Just get out of my sight. I don’t wanna see

you anymore. I don’t care if you take the fall on this

one. That’s how mad I am at you.

Hymie: I’m really sorry, Don.

Donald: Feel sorry for yourself.

Hymie: I’m gonna go.

(Donald turns his back to Hymie and says nothing.

Hymie walks out. Donald throws a coffee cup at the

wall and breaks it.)

(Lights dim and curtains close.)

Scene 6:

(Barry and Donald stand in the breakroom, Barry is

sweeping up the broken glass.)

Barry: Who would do such a thing?

Donald: There’s a lot of that going around.

Barry: They were rough. They were…

Donald: They have no right to be talking to people

that way. Who the fuck do they think they are?

Barry: But who broke the glass? That’s my glass.

Donald: Someone did that.

Barry: Yeah, someone did it. Someone broke my…

Donald: Your glass.

Barry: My mug.

Donald: Someone broke it.

Barry: But they found their man.

Donald: I knew they would.

Barry: You’re all wrong on it. They’re wrong.

Donald: It was exactly what I told them. I said you’ve

gotta look at the possibilities.

Barry: Yeah, the possibilities.

Donald: Everyone just looks at, uh, who has the

motive.

Barry: You look at the motive. You look at the person

that has the most to gain.

Donald: What did he have to gain?

Barry: Well that’s the very thing. A nice pair of

ponies on the open road. That’s the stuff he talked

about.

Donald: He had no motive other than the obvious.

Barry: What’s the obvious?

Donald: Well I think it’s obvious.

Barry: You like playing word games? You like hiding

things out in the open? Is this what you’re all about?

Donald: Fuck you.

(Derek Shields walks in.)

Derek: They found the man!

Donald: We all know about this already.

Derek: Well excuse me.

Donald: Last man on the block to know. The fucking

inmates knew before you.

Barry: What’s the obvious motive? Don? Don?

Donald: You got some brain on you, you know that,

Derek?

Derek: Is it any match for your mouth?

Barry: Don, what is the motive?

Donald: What the fuck does that mean?

Derek: You’re an asshole. You know that? You

understand what people think of you?

Donald: What the fuck does that mean, I’ve got a big

mouth?

Derek: You get laid, the whole block smells from the

stink of your farts for two weeks. Everything you’ve

ingested comes right out.

Donald: You’re saying I’ve got a big mouth. I don’t

like that.

Barry: Don, if you could just tell me-

Donald: The fuck do you know about big mouths?! Huh?

When have you ever seen the inside of a cell? What a

big man you are, standing in the guard towers. Too

fucking important to get down on our level.

Derek: There’s a reason you were suspect number one in

this shit. You know that?

Donald: When was I ever a suspect? When did they ever

say my name?

Barry: Don-

Donald: What do you care? Why do you care about

anything? Big man like you, you’re probably next in

line to get the job. I’ll bet you’re suspect number

one.

Derek: I’ve never been suspected of anything. They

knew who has the big mouth around here. They knew who

his enemies were.

Donald: Yeah, well, they sure didn’t know the guy that

killed him, did they?

Derek: Fuck it. Case is closed. They’ve got their man.

Donald: I could call the number about this. These

accusations. This is harassment. This is bullshit

harassment, that’s just what this is.

Barry: Don, what’s the obvious motive? Why did Forrest

kill Ed?

(Pause. Don and Derek are still staring at each other

vengefully. Derek breaks eye contact and walks over to

the coffee pot.)

Donald: The obvious motive is that the guy’s a

criminal and is in prison.

Barry: Yeah…

Donald: He’s in jail, is he not?

Barry: Yeah…

Donald: He’s a violent criminal.

Barry: Yeah…

Donald: So it stands to reason that he would strike

back in any way that he can. You see?

Barry: I don’t think that shows any motive.

Donald: I’m not claiming he has a motive. It could

have been a capricious act. He could have done it on

the spur of the moment. Saw the coffee pot, saw the

rat poison. Things add up. But the fact remains that

he’s a criminal. That he is dangerous. Same rules, up

and down the line.

Barry: I can’t imagine Forrest actually doing this.

Donald: Sob stories, the whole lot. Whatever he told

you, it’s bullshit. He just revealed his true colors.

Barry: The guy found Jesus. He, uh…

Donald: What man in prison doesn’t find Jesus if it

means getting out early? Look at the fucking

privileges he got as a trustee. Look at the freedom.

Find Jesus? That fucker? Sure, why not? If it works

for you, you take advantage. You see how the same

rules apply?

Derek: I don’t doubt he did it. I think you’re right,

it may have been a capricious act.

(Donald just stares at him with hate.)

Derek: Oh, excuse me. So sorry for sharing your

opinion. I was actually on your side on this one. How

horrible of me to make such a mistake. I’m going. I’m

leaving. I’m taking my lunch out the front.

Donald: Yeah, see ya.

Derek: I hope they do promote me. I’d like to be in

charge of you. You’ll be scrubbing toilets if I move

up.

Donald: Great. That’s just what I want to do. And

maybe I’ll call that hotline number and tell them

about your accusations. That could gum up the works in

the promotion department, don’t you think?

Derek: Are you threatening me?

Barry: Hey, guys, let’s just calm down. Nobody’s

saying anything here. We’re all just talking like

friends.

(Derek shakes his head sadly and walks out.)

Barry: You really should be more careful, Don. You’re

making enemies here.

Donald: And what’s the alternative? Be poisoned by a

trustee piece of shit, like Ed White?

Barry: I’m just saying it would help to have friends

on our side.

Donald: I’m sick of you treating this place like a

daycare.

Barry: A daycare…

Donald: A fucking nursery. You’re just a broken down

shitty old man. Your wife’s dying? Fuck you. You

cheated on her? It happened. Live with it. You’ve got

a thing for little kids? So what?

Barry: I don’t like the way you talk to me.

Donald: Well I’m not here to be liked. You get a lot

farther with a smile and a gun than just a smile.

Barry: Speak softly and carry a big-

Donald: Oh shut up, you dumb old bastard.

Barry: I’m working overtime this week. I can’t stand

to go back to Nancy and see what it’s doing to her.

Donald: Fuck her. Fuck you. Fuck your wife. Fuck the

whole lot of you. Do you hear the words coming out of

my mouth?

Barry: I don’t have to take this.

Donald: Take what? What is this?

Barry: This is…

Donald: You think this is abuse?

Barry: I think this is…

Donald: It’s a shortcut to communication. This is Bill

Hicks and George Carlin. Telling you that you’re

diseased. You think I care whether you live or die?

There could be a riot, I would leave you out there to

die. That’s how much I care about you.

Barry: This conversation is over. I know where we

stand now.

Donald: So get out of here. Have some fresh coffee.

See if there’s any rat poison in it.

(Donald begins laughing maniacally while Barry walks

out. Lights dim and curtains close.)

Next.