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Characters
Akilah Emerson: A black woman, under 50 years old.
She is a stylish, street savvy woman. She is well-to-do and lives in a gated community. She is a record executive for a largely popular recording label. She keeps to herself normally, but has developed a relationship with Mallory.
Mallory Nola: A white woman, under 50 years old.
She is Akilah’s neighbor. They met when Akilah moved into the neighborhood last year and had become friends over Saturday morning coffee and power walking through the neighborhood. She is a housewife who has a successful blog and sells handmade crafts online.
Detective Riley Montgomery: Man/woman/or gender nonconforming. 40 and up.
The detective in charge of the investigation. This character can be a veteran on the force. Riley has over 20 years of experience in police work and loves it.
Setting: A police station interrogation room. It has three stainless steel chairs and a stainless-steel table. The walls are olive green tile with a white and gray speckled linoleum floor. There is a metal door upstage center with a window. A water cooler is in the upstage left corner, and on the stage right wall is a two-way mirror. The room is bare and feels sterile. It is lit with white fluorescent lights overhead.
Sound Cue: Slight hum from the fluorescent lights.
(Mallory is sitting on SL side of the table facing the two-way mirror, and Akilah is sitting on the SR sides of the stainless-steel table. Mallory is wearing a sequin cocktail dress with strappy heels, a small clutch, and lots of jewelry including a large diamond wedding ring. Mallory’s hair is styled nicely. Akilah is wearing a gray sweat suit with a trendy pair of designer sneakers. She has a high-tech watch and a small pair of earrings. Akilah’s hair is pulled back into a ponytail or with a headband. They looked as if they had been waiting for a long time. Mallory is clearly nervous, whereas Akilah is quiet with her head down on the table.)
Mallory
(Mallory looks past Akilah)
Do you think they are spying on us? What are they doing over there?
Akilah
I am sure they are trying to figure out what we are doing. Are we strategizing? Are we capable of committing crimes? Who is the ringleader? I am surprised that we aren’t separated. That seems strange.
Mallory
(gets up, walks towards mirror and taps glass)
Excuse me..
Akilah
Mallory, what in the hell do you think you are doing?
Mallory
Are we going to just sit here and rot, huh? Let us out!
Akilah
You want them to get angry at us?
Mallory
I’m just asking a question. I need them to get this show on the road. I have to get back home. I have things to do. I can’t be sitting here in silence. This is all too much. I am hungry, and I need a cigarette.
(Mallory goes back to her seat.)
Mallory
What is happening? How come we haven’t been released? I called my lawyer hours ago.
Akilah
I don’t know, but I am sure everything is fine. Mallory, it is going to be okay. I am sure your lawyer will be here soon. Things will work out for the best, at least for you anyway… (feigns a smile)
Mallory
What do you mean by that?
Akilah
You are a wealthy white woman who hasn’t committed a crime, right?
Mallory
Yes, but what does that have to do with….
Akilah
Everything! It has everything to do with this. You know what this looks like, right? Please tell me you aren’t blind and can see what is happening!
Mallory
Akilah, what are you trying to say? They arrested both of us.
Akilah
Yeah, I know, but you have a fancy lawyer. I don’t know where the hell my lawyer is. You mean to tell me that you didn’t notice that if you didn’t say that you knew me, they would have hauled me away in the police car in handcuffs. You didn’t notice that once you said that, they let me ride with you. They were trying to arrest me on the spot.
Mallory
What? I thought there was just a mix-up that I had to clarify. I clarified; you weren’t hauled away. Besides, I’m sure my lawyer will be able to help both of us.
Akilah
A mix-up? Mallory, come on. Tell me you’re joking. You don’t remember when we went to Saks-Fifth Avenue together to find dresses for a Junior League luncheon, and the sales person didn’t even greet me, let alone help me when I needed a fitting room. Then she had the audacity to call security on me, while I was waiting for you to get dressed outside the fitting room. You always seem to not notice when crap like that happens to me.
Mallory
Akilah, I am so sorry that happened to you, but you do remember, I did complain to her manager. I’m sure she got fired. You have to get to a place to not worry about that stuff and let it go. We are not our parents or grandparents. We have moved on and evolved. People now know discrimination is wrong, and it’s people like us becoming friends that keeps society moving forward. We became friends regardless of our color.
Akilah
Well, Mallory—
Sound Cue: Door opens
Enter Detective Riley Montgomery. He is dressed in tan slacks, a white button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, brown shoes and belt. Riley has on a watch and sunglasses.
Riley
Hello, Mrs. Nola and Ms. Emerson. I appreciate your patience. First and foremost, I want to say sorry for your loss. I know this mustn’t be easy for you, Mrs. Nola. I know you ladies want to get out of here soon, but we have some questions for you. We just want to get some clarity on what happened tonight with Mr. Nola. When we investigated the scene, there seemed to be some inconsistencies with your stories.
Mallory
Inconsistencies? Are you in charge here?
Riley
Yes, ma’am. I am the lead detective in this case.
Before we get into the questions, would either of you like a cup of water? I can send for coffee or something else.
Mallory
I don’t want any water. I want to go home, and I want my lawyer. We told you what we knew.
=
Akilah
I would love some coffee with two sugars, please. I am so tired.
Riley
(to Akilah) Great. I’ll get on that. (to both) In the meantime, I know your lawyer is on the way, so just hang tight. We are working as hard as we can to get you out of here. Let me grab that coffee for you.
(Riley quickly exits.)
Sound Cue: Door opens and closes.
Akilah
Does Detective Montgomery seem cold to you? I don’t think he likes me at all.
Mallory
What? Detective Montgomery has been perfectly kind, just taking his sweet time.
Akilah
You know, I wouldn’t be here, if I didn’t answer my phone.
Mallory
I needed your help. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t expect to come home and see my husband dead on the floor.
Akilah
Yeah, well, I don’t know. Now the cops are asking questions, and now I am in that line of questioning…God, I wish I would have had my phone on silent.
Mallory
You would have ignored your friend as she experienced the death of her only true love alone?
Akilah
(sighs) Of course not. I could never do that to you.
(Riley reenters with a Styrofoam cup of coffee and a box with donuts.)
Sound Cue: Door opens and closes.
Riley
I’m lucky I didn’t spill all of this. Here you go, Ms. Emerson.
(Riley hands Akilah the coffee and then places the donuts on the table.)
Are you hungry, ladies? I brought donuts: glazed, crullers, and chocolate. I brought the chocolate for you, Ms. Emerson.
(The women hesitate, then Mallory goes for the donuts first and grabs a donut followed by Akilah who takes the cruller. As they eat and enjoy, Riley grabs one as well.)
Riley (Cont’d))
They are from my favorite bakery: Dina’s. You know the one that is right across the street from the grocery store near your neighborhood. I have been getting donuts there for years.
(Riley takes a bite of the donut.)
Yum! They are so good. Dina’s is open 24 hours and haven’t changed their recipe since they opened.
Akilah
I know that place.
Riley
Was Dina’s a regular spot for you, Mrs. Nola?
Mallory
Yes, it used to be until Ben was diagnosed with diabetes. Oh, Ben, I can’t believe he’s dead.
Riley
I’m sure you guys were both in shock to discover Mr. Nola like that, right?
Mallory
I...I…didn’t expect for him to be like that. I freaked out. I wasn’t sure I was seeing what I was seeing, so I called Akilah. He was the best thing to ever happen to me. And now…he’s gone…I…I…am absolutely devastated. I waited and waited for him at the restaurant, then something just said to come home. I was so angry, but that all changed when I came home and saw him on the floor. (sobs)
(Riley grabs a handkerchief and hands it to Mallory.)
Riley
What time was your dinner reservation?
Mallory
9:00 PM It was late because Ben had a work meeting; I had a charity event, and we were meeting together afterwards. I arrived at the restaurant around 8:45 PM.
Riley
Okay then, Mrs. Nola. I will need you to tell me the restaurant and the event you attended again on the written statement.
Mallory
I sure will.
Riley
What did you see, Ms. Emerson?
Akilah
Well, I don’t know if I should say this…maybe I should just wait for the lawyer.
Riley
That is your right, ma’am, but there is no reason to get angry. We really can clear this up without having to get lawyers involved. We know you two have nothing to do with what happened to Mr. Nola, but we just want to make sure. We know you told the detective you were called over to the Nola residence at 9:45 PM, and you saw him dead on the floor.
Akilah
Yes
Riley
So, tell me what else happened? Just tell me what you told the officer.
Akilah
I got to Mallory’s house. She was in tears, hysterical. She let me inside the house, and there he was in the foyer, crumpled up on the floor. I honestly thought he was just passed out and that Mallory was overreacting, but there he was. Dead as a doornail.
Riley
Ms. Emerson, I hope that you will still be willing to continue our conversation, so we can get to the bottom of this terrible situation. Mrs. Nola, would you step out for a second while I talk to Ms. Emerson alone? You can reconfirm what you said to me on the written statement. You can begin that process with the officer outside.
Mallory
Okay. Sure.. Akilah, I’ll check and see if your Lawyer is on the way.
Mallory exits.
Sound Cue: Door Opens and Closes
Riley
Ms. Emerson, I know that you were at Dina’s at 8:00 PM with Mr. Nola. The security footage has you as the last person to see him alive. What were you two doing?
Akilah
We were planning a surprise birthday party for Mallory. Her birthday is next month, and he wanted to throw a party for her. He needed my help to book a band and a deejay.
Riley
I’m sure you are good with music. I bet you can cut a rug and sing, too. Have you ever met up with him alone before this?
Akilah
No. I only saw him when I visited their home, or when Mallory invited me over to their home.
Riley
Would you say that Mrs. Nola and you are close?
Akilah
We had been hanging out a little over two years. We joined Junior League together.
Riley
Junior League. Really? Was that the only thing you two had in common?
Akilah
What does that have to do with what happened to Mr. Nola?
Riley
Ma’am, we are trying to complete the picture of what happened earlier tonight and need your help. I know you want justice for Mr. Nola, so just tell us what you know, so we can resolve it.
Akilah
I am.
Riley
No need to get testy or angry. I know you want to do the right thing. Had Mr. Nola ever make any advances on you or tried to harm you? I can understand that if that may have happened, then his death would be self-defense. I just want to give you an opportunity to do the right thing.
(Akilah doesn’t respond.)
I’m just trying to get to the truth here, and I need your help. I know you know more than you are letting on. Don’t you want this to be resolved? The attitude I don’t need.
Akilah
I told you what I know. I think I need to wait until my lawyer gets here to talk.
Riley
If that’s the way you want it, so be it. I know you may have something to hide, but the truth always comes out…I’m going to give you a moment and bring back Mrs. Nola.
(Riley exits.)
Sound Cue: Door opens and closes.
Sound Que: Akilah rhythmically taps on the table as she repeats a rap phrase from N*ggas in Paris.
Akilah
(Akilah begins rhythmically taps the table a la “N*ggas in Paris” by Jay-Z and Kanye)
(To Self) This shit cray. This shit cray. This shit is crazy!
Sound Cue: Door Opens and closes.
Riley and Mallory return.
Riley
What was that, Ms. Emerson?
Akilah
Am I free to go?
Riley
Not quite. Just a few more questions. I want to speak with you alone. Ms. Emerson, you can step outside. Officer Johnson will escort you to the waiting area.
(Akilah exits.)
Mallory
I don’t think it is fair that you have held us for as long as you have.
Riley
I would be done, but I keep finding out things that make what you say seem more complicated. You said your husband had diabetes. How long has he been taking insulin?
Mallory
About a year, but we recently switched prescriptions for one that stabilizes his blood sugar better.
Riley
That is interesting, because according to the coroner’s preliminary report, he may have died from insulin poisoning.
Mallory
Oh, Ben! If only I were home, maybe I could have saved him.
Riley
Perhaps. You said you were at a charity event earlier and then dinner plans. What charity event did you go to and what time?
Mallory
It was a fundraiser for our local food bank to replenish from the summer. It ran from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, but I arrived fashionably late at 7:00..
Riley
(smiles) I need to disclose something to you. Were you aware that Ms. Emerson and your husband met together before he died?
Mallory
What?
Riley
Yes, they met at Dina’s earlier tonight. Was there any inkling that he was spending time with Akilah and you not know?
Mallory
I can’t believe it…how could they?
Riley
Would Akilah have any reason to harm your husband? What would she stand to gain?
Mallory
I don’t know. I didn’t know they were hanging out at all! You can’t be serious. I need to talk to Akilah.
Riley
I would advise against it, only as a protection for you. She clearly isn’t the woman you know.
Mallory
Clearly…I still want to talk to her. I have to hear it from her.
Riley
As you wish.
Sound Cue: Door Opens
Riley
Ms. Emerson, can you step back in for a minute?
(Riley exits. Then reenters with Akilah.)
Sound Cue: Akilah enters. Door Closes.
How about I give you two a moment alone to speak in private?
(Riley nods and exits.)
Akilah
I’m sure you’ll be listening on the other side of that glass, Detective.
Riley
I’m just doing my job, Ms. Emerson.
Sound Cue: Door opens and closes.
Akilah
Are you okay? I hope Riley didn’t go too hard on you.
Mallory
No, he didn’t, but what he did do is let me know that you have been hanging out with my husband behind my back. Were you sleeping with him, too?
Akilah
Absolutely not! We have only met once and that was earlier today to plan a surprise for your birthday.
Mallory
Really? I knew I couldn’t trust you around him! You ghetto Jezebel!
Akilah
Excuse me!? I am going to count what you said as a rash reaction, because you thought I was cheating with your husband, but ended up sadly mistaken!
Mallory
I meant what I said. I don’t know why I thought I could trust you. Did he promise you something and failed? How long has this been going on? Did you kill my husband while you were at it?
Akilah
Mallory, you know I put up with a lot of your crap. All of those little microaggressions from you, our neighbors, Junior League, and Detective Montgomery. The last thing I want is your husband.
Mallory
My husband is dead, and you want to be angry with me about some comments or whatever. That is so like you. You make it about you all the time.
Akilah
Get out of here! You really lost it. You think the way you dismiss me is okay. You know the sad part about all this is that it took a death for me to open up. I have been suffering in silence all this time, and I let you do and say whatever you want, but I don’t get the same respect at all. I can’t wait to get out of here. I am so exhausted. You exhaust me; everyone exhausts me. When I try to support you, I get burned in the end. I’m sorry for your loss, seriously, but I am tired of not saying anything to you about my issues. You get to talk about your issues all the time and how the world isn’t fair to you. I ask for that kind of mutual respect, only to have you say that I am overreacting and being emotional or sensitive. You can cry at any moment and get support. Where’s my support?
(Riley enters.)
Sound Cue: Door opens and closes.
Riley
Ladies, I want to thank you for your cooperation. I think we have all we need for now, but we will definitely be in touch. Ms. Emerson, don’t make any plans to leave town. Mrs. Nola, take care and I know we will find out what happened definitively to your husband. Would you like for me to walk you outside to your car, Mrs. Nola?
Mallory
Gladly. I am just so happy to get out of here. Akilah, I’ll talk to you later, once you cool down.
Riley and Mallory exit.
Sound Cue: Door Opens.
Akilah
This shit cray.
Sound Cue: Akilah exits.
Sound Cue: Jay-Z & Kanye N*ggas in Paris
The End
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