Act II
Scene I
(Stage left, lights up on the interrogation room. Constable Serious sits at the table, leaning back in his chair. Carl Benson sits across from him. He is ruffled and looks stressed.)
CARL BENSON: (Sits down) But you just said...
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Not those details. I want to know how you two planned all of it. I want names of people who helped you. I want to know everything step by step.
CARL BENSON: Okaayyy.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: So?
CARL BENSON: Well, um. No one helped us. No one knew until now. Well at least I thought no one knew. We were hiding it so well.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Something like this doesn't stay secret for long. People tend to notice when something is different.Especially when a man who follows a routine suddenly changes.
CARL BENSON: My wife didn't say anything.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Your wife might now have wanted to say anything, that or she may not have noticed.
CARL BENSON: How did you find out?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: I am a police officer. How do you think?
CARL BENSON: I don't actually know.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: It doesn't matter.
CARL BENSON: Maybe not, but I would like to know.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: I would also like to know why you told me that you had never met Miss. Hunter before?
CARL BENSON: What?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Miss. Hunter. You knew her before the encounter in the coffee shop.
CARL BENSON: No I didn't. Never seen her before.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Really?
CARL BENSON: Yes, really.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Well, according to our files she use to attend your high school.
CARL BENSON: What?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Yes, she graduated a few years ago.
CARL BENSON: Do you have any idea how many students I have at my school?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: No idea, but that isn't the point.
CARL BENSON: Then what is your point.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: That you knew Miss. Hunter before the coffee shop. You have known her for years and you both have been planning this. Have an affair was just a perk for you both.
CARL BENSON: I swear I didn't know she was a student, and even so, it isn't against the law. She is a legal adult.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Are you sure you weren't having sex with her before she graduated? This has been happening for a lot longer than you are admitting.
CARL BENSON: No!
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Yes!
CARL BENSON: No. No. No. No. I didn't. I swear I had no idea. God, this woman is the worst thing to have ever happened to me. She has ruined everything.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: How has she ruined everything? Besides getting you here.
CARL BENSON: She became possessive. She wanted me to leave my life so we could be a real couple. She started following me around.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Go on.
(Carl stands, walks stage right. Stage right, lights up.)
(Stage right, side alley. Alley is littered with rubbish and rats. People's chatter floats through the back door.)
CARL BENSON: She asked me to meet her behind a cafe. (Leans against the wall.) She sounded desperate on the phone, so I got there early. She ended up being twenty minutes late.
(Snap to scene.)
LINDSAY HUNTER: Carl? (Carl turns to see Lindsay.) Sorry that I'm late. Got stuck in traffic.
CARL BENSON: It is all right.
LINDSAY HUNTER: How have to been?
CARL BENSON: Fine.
LINDSAY HUNTER: What's the matter?
CARL BENSON: Nothing.
LINDSAY HUNTER: Sure, nothing. C'mon, I can tell your unhappy.
CARL BENSON: You won't like the answer.
LINDSAY HUNTER: I like everything you say.
CARL BENSON: Fine, you are too clingy.
LINDSAY HUNTER: What?
CARL BENSON: Your clingy. You are constantly nagging me for attention. The constant phone calls, and the constant text messages.
LINDSAY HUNTER: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. It's just that I-
CARL BENSON: Just that you what? Are obsessed?
LINDSAY HUNTER: No, no. NO!
CARL BENSON: Then what?
LINDSAY HUNTER: I just want to be with you. I thought that if you saw how amazing we are together that maybe you would leave your wife and we could be together.
CARL BENSON: You want me to leave my wife so that you and I can be together?
LINDSAY HUNTER: Yes.
CARL BENSON: Well, I'm sorry but no. I love my wife, I do. This was all a mistake.
LINDSAY HUNTER: Carl! Wait!
CARL BENSON: Goodbye Miss. Hunter.
(Carl walks stage left. Stage left, lights up. Stage right, lights down. Serious sits at the table. He is rubbing his forehead, he looks distressed. Carl sits down and leans back in the chair.)
CARL BENSON: I thought that would be the last time I saw her.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: And was it?
CARL BENSON: No.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: I am guessing that you two reconciled before you came up with the plan.
CARL BENSON: What plan? You keep talking about something I did but this is the only thing I have done.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Okay, enough. Tell me what happened. What really happened? Why did the both of your do this? Why did you chose that bank at that time? Were you both so stupid in thinking that peak time would be the perfect time to rob the joint.
CARL BENSON: Wait? What?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: Really? You are still playing dumb.
CARL BENSON: I honestly have no idea what you are talking about.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: You and Lindsay Hunter robbed the West Bank yesterday afternoon at 3 pm. You both entered with guns and made the attendance empty their cash registers. You shot the security guard when he tried to call for help, and he is now in the hospital fighting for his life. You both escaped in a white van and then changed cars and stole a blue SUV which was found set alight. I know that you and Lindsay Hunter are guilty, so cut the crap and tell me the truth.
CARL BENSON: What on earth are you rambling on about?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: (Slamming his hands on the table.) Enough Benson! Tell me the truth.
CARL BENSON: I didn't do this. Yesterday I was with Lindsay. We were fucking in my own bed all afternoon. My wife was away for the day and I knew no on would be there. My wife's cleaning lady ended up walking in on us. Ask her.
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: What?
CARL BENSON: Ask the damn cleaning lady!
(The door to the interrogation room flies open. SOPHIE BENSON, Carl's wife, enters. She is angry.)
SOPHIE BENSON: You have been fucking her.
CARL BENSON: Sophie?
SOPHIE BENSON: You have been fucking another woman behind my back?
CONSTABLE SERIOUS: I'll leave you two alone.
(Serious leaves the room.)
CARL BENSON: Well, I...
SOPHIE BENSON: Let me guess, is she a blonde. You always liked blonde's. Oh and she is probably young, a lot younger.
CARL BENSON: Sophie just let me explain.
SOPHIE BENSON: No, I just heard everything from the other side of that fucking window.
CARL BENSON: It isn't what it seems though.
SOPHIE BENSON: I think it is pretty clear what is going on here.
CARL BENSON: Sophie, please.
(Sophie smacks Carl.)
SOPHIE BENSON: Expect to hear from my lawyer.
(Sophie leaves the room.)
ns 15.158.61.54da2
