Five Television Plays (David Mamet) Read Online Free PDF Page A

AYOR, et cetera beyond. )
    M AYOR: I have in my hand telegrams from twenty states, from police departments, from Chiefs of Police, and from Officers that Charley met on his travels, as part of his activity in the Law Enforcement World. I will read one . . . ( He reads: ) "Any officer is touched when a brother gives his life in the Line of Duty. What great example, also, of a man who gave his life to a life of Duty. We learned from him, and we will miss him . . .”
    ( The M AYOR concludes his speech and nods. The little groups start to break up in the rain. )
    ( Angle: P RICE and the P RIEST. Several people come up and say good-bye to the P RIEST.)
    T OWNSWOMAN ( to P RIEST): We'll never see his like.
    P RIEST: . . . Mary . . .
    T OWNSWOMAN: You know, I owe him my boy's life.
    P RIEST: No , I didn't know that.
    T OWNSWOMAN: That time, he got into an accident, the 302. ( Beat. She moves off. ) Father . . .
    ( The P RIEST is left alone with P RICE.)
    P RICE: Hard to replace a man like that.
    P RIEST: Yes, it would be. Life goes on, though, doesn't it?
    P RICE: I've noticed.
    P RIEST: . . . problems of a Town . . . someone has got to deal with them.
    P RICE: Yes.
    P RIEST: Can't live in the past, now, can you?
    P RICE: No , you can't.
    P RIEST: Brings you here today?
    P RICE: I . . . I came here to pay my respects. ( Pause. ) Pay my respects to the man.
    ( The P RIEST nods. They have stopped walking. )
    P RIEST: I walk you somewhere?
    P RICE: Uh, no thank you. I'm going right here.
    ( They look up, they are at the Police Station. )
    P RICE: I'm the new Police Chief.
    P RIEST: Figured you were.
    (P RICE starts up the steps. Camera follows him through the doors, marked “Police Department, Town of Bradford.” )
    INTERIOR: BRADFORD POLICE STATION.
    A woman D ISPATCHER on the radio.
    D ISPATCHER: . . . that is a 201 three miles north of the Interstate on Highway Five. Bradford PD. Out . . . ( She turns to P RICE:) I help you . . . ?
    P RICE: Officer in charge, please.
    D ISPATCHER: . . . say who is calling . . . ?
    (P RICE goes in his pocket, takes out a badge, shows it to her. )
    D ISPATCHER: One moment, please.
    ( ANGLE INTERIOR: BEHIND THE BARRICADE. The D ISPATCHER gets up from the desk, over her shoulder, to an assistant. )
    T HE D ISPATCHER: . . . mind the phones, please.
    ( Camera follows her to an office marked “Chief of Police.” Inside the office is B OBBY B ARNES, thirty-five, fit, in a police uniform, talking with two deputies. )
    B ARNES: . . . all kinds of static, insurance this, Arson that, we got the fellow from the State, and the insurance man, coming down tomorrow, ‘til then let ‘em gossip all they want, I think it was an accident. Now: we got a noise complaint, the kids, back from the Liquor Store. You lean on that man, go in there, he knows they're drinking, got it from the older boys.
    D ISPATCHER: Bobby . . .
    B ARNES: One moment: he knows, they're wild, they got it from his store, you tell him that, he'll get the message . . .
    D ISPATCHER ( leans in, whispers to him ): Bobby.
    B ARNES: Thank you. You fellows ‘scuse me for a moment. ( To D ISPATCHER:) Show him in.
    ( The two officers leave, as does the D ISPATCHER.)
    B ARNES ( into the telephone ): Helen, and tell ‘em to hold all the calls this office five, ten minutes, will you . . . ?
    (P RICE comes in. The two men face each other. )
    B ARNES: Afternoon . . . sit down . . . ?
    (P RICE comes over, offers his hand. )
    P RICE: John Price.
    B ARNES: Robert Barnes. ( Sighs. ) I've been acting Chief of Police, since Mr. Hopkins’ death. ( Pause. ) Wasn't expecting you until tomorrow.
    P RICE: Well, I thought I'd come in a bit early, and get settled, you know.
    B ARNES: Yes. I do. We had a, uh, we had a memorial today for Chief Hopkins.
    P RICE: Did you?
    B ARNES: Yes. We did. We had, they had a monument that they unveiled . . . ( Pause. ) Testimonials . . . ( Pause. ) These plaques that you see, twenty-five years he served as Chief here. ( Pause. )