(Later. Pace quickens.)
Colin
Crucified! Falsely accused. Lies. Amy. Now how am I going to get ready for tomorrow when I get kicked out of my own goddamn house, damn you Martha! Lies! Now I have to find a motel.
(Cooling down.)
I have to sleep, clean up, brush my teeth, put on a clean shirt, and comb my hair. Look presentable. Play it cool. Can’t panic. Can’t panic. Be professional. I know for a fact that I’m a good man and that I never laid a finger on Amy. Who said I did?
(Police Officer appears,)
Police Officer
Are you all right, sir?
Colin
All right? All right? Sure.
Police Officer
Do you live here?
Colin
Did. Yes. Yes, I live here.
Police Officer
We had a call from a neighbor, and at this hour….
Colin
A call from a neighbor, at this hour…sure… I got locked out.
Police Officer
Driver’s license please.
Colin
Driver’s license…sure…
(Handing the officer his driver’s license, which was in his hip pocket.)
I had to tiptoe out of the house so as not to wake the wife.
Police Officer
Colin Roger.
Colin
That’s me. Colin Roger. Yes, CPS. Haven’t we worked together?
Police Officer
Perhaps. You look familiar.
(Handing back the driver’s license.)
But your picture doesn’t do you justice. The address matches, but your neighbor didn’t recognize you.
Colin
My dog would. My wife shot the dog. Kidding. Boy, I know I’ve worked with you. Though it’s true I’ve worked with many of you. Just today, or was it yesterday I worked a really bad sex abuse case? You don’t want to hear it, do you?
Police Officer
No. Just before I got this call I had a 9mm American Eagle Luger pointed in my face. We almost shot the fool. And that’s how my night’s gone. Oh, by the way, the next time you decide to camp out on your front porch, please leave the light on so that your neighbors can see who you are.
Colin
Sir…
Police Officer
Buddy, I sure wish that I had time to talk, but unfortunately I’ve got keep moving. We’re understaffed. I’m sure you know what I mean. As far as our working together? You do look familiar.
(The police officer leaves.)
Colin
I need some sleep if I’m going to function at all. Martha is asleep by now.
(He thinks about sneaking back into the house, tries the doorknob but finds that the door is locked.)
Well, good night Martha. Sleep tight. Well, it isn’t the first time that I’ve had to tiptoe around. I’ve had to always tiptoe around certain things because we’ve never really talked. See, I know. With all my education I should know, and I sure wouldn’t have the job I have without a degree or something equivalent. Pop!
(Pops one fist into the other hand and moves away from the porch.)
I should pop her one. I shouldn’t pussy foot around and pop her one. Didn’t I tell you that violence is better than sex? Just kidding. Nothing is better than talking a beating. I’m never surprised to find sex abuse. Been at it too long, so I can easily spot it. It’s everywhere. It may start out as a physical abuse case… Where you find physical abuse, you’ll often find sex abuse. From morning to night, nothing but sex abuse. Now when I die, I’ll dream of sex abuse. Diagnosis? Is there one?
(Singing)
When I leave, don’t weep for me.
(Remembering)
“Suspect:” my daughter. “Address:” mine. “Telephone number:” mine. “Height, weight, hair, eyes, complexion, build:” fits. “Clothing:” dresses like a boy. “Social Security number:” Amy’s. The second page is fill with inaccuracies. “The reporter is the principal for…. Suspect never went to her classes today. She said she hid out (where?) and admitted she that set a small fire in a restroom. Reporter brought child to his office and discovered that she had in her possession… Drama queen! She’s always been a drama queen!
(By now, Colin is sobbing and stumbles off a dark stage. Then the sun comes up. The Monks are waiting for him in front of his office.)
Mr. Monk
Mr. Rogers, we need to talk.
Colin
Oh, you startled me.
Mrs. Monk
Where’s my kids? What did you do with my kids?
Colin
Wait. You’ll have to come back…
Mrs. Monk
No. You tell me what you did to my kids.
Colin
Your kids are safe.
Mrs. Monk
No, they’re not. I know what happens to kids in you’s care. I must see them.
Colin
You’ll get to see them. Now…
Mrs. Monk
You’re tearing my family apart.
Colin
You’ll have to come back when….
Mrs. Monk
No. I want to see them now. I want to make sure you ain’t hurt them. When they was with us, nobody hurt them.
Colin
What about the bruises Sunshine…?
Mrs. Monk
She didn’t have no bruises unless you put ‘em on her.
Colin
Look…
Mr. Monk
You look! You just give us our kids back. I’m getting a lawyer.
Colin
Fine. Of course you know that the court will assign you a lawyer if you can’t…
Mr. Monk
We don’t want no CPS lawyer.
Colin
It wouldn’t be a CPS lawyer. Now…you just wait until the office is open and…
Mr. Monk
Nazi!
(What happens next happens so fast that it will later be a blur. Colin sees Mr. Monk lunge for him.)
Nazi!
Colin
Molester!
(Colin anticipates getting hurt and collapses into a ball. Mr. Monk then jumps on top of him and pounds his head. A ring cuts Colin’s head: blood.)
CURTAIN
Randy Ford
