The Vail (Episode Two: Pretty Thoughtless)

So I was quite surprised with the turnout last week. At least five people that I know of read the first episode of "The Vail". Now it's time to find out fi they were intrigued enough to come back and read more. Especially since this episode is a bit longer than the previous one. Not by much, just a bit.
If you are one of those returning few, I hope you decide to come back again next week for even more of my coninuing story. Especially since you're never gonna truly know what happened unless you keep reading. Ooh, ain't I a stinker.
As usual, tell me all what you think. If it goes as planned then the plot will thicken while still staying interesting and not crappy. Here's to hoping. And here's to enjoying the latest episode of "The Vail".

Joey Pettine

The Vail

by Joey Pettine

Episode Two: Pretty Thoughtless

(A morgue. In the center of the room lies a single corpse upon a cold metal table, its form shrouded by a white sheet, all save for the foot which peeks from under the cloth, a tag hanging quietly from the big toe. Next to the table sits a small cart littered with a number of gruesome tools. Then the sound of soft footsteps. The MORTICIAN enters, looking almost bored, still working on a mostly eaten sandwich and washing it down with giant sips from the large cup in his grasp. He takes another bite of the sandwich then looks at his watch. He follows this up with a long sip of drink then turns to the cart for something he needs. Realizing his hands are full, his gaze alternates from the drink to the sandwich, not sure which to put down. After a moment he seems to decide on the sandwich. Yet as he lowers it toward the table he pauses, thinking, then thinks better. He tries to set down the cup now but can't find enough room on the cart. He turns, looking for a place to rest his drink, and eyes the table with the body. Not enough room there either. He ponders this for a minute and is struck by ingenuity. Holding the sandwich in his mouth, he uses his free hand to pry open the fingers of the corpse. He then places the drink within the open hand, letting rigor mortis do it's work, a morbid cup holder. Then he returns to the cart, casually chomping his sandwich, and begins to circle the body, glancing from the clipboard to the deceased, checking that all is correct. At one point a large chunk of food falls from his mouth and onto the sheet. He stares at it a moment then snatches it up and back into his mouth, glancing around to make sure no one sees. From offstage there is the sudden noise of a door opening and closing followed by the growing sound of footsteps echoing closer. The mortician quickly finishes his sandwich, stuffing his cheeks, then wipes his palms on his pants. The footsteps come nearer. He swallows as he snaps on some gloves. Then he turns to meet whoever enters. The footsteps are quite close now. At the last moment, he remembers the cup and panics. Quickly, he snatches up his drink and looks around, unsure of how to dispose of it. Right before the footsteps enter the room he sees something offstage and shoots the cup from his fingertips like a basketball. There is a moment of hope and then he grimaces, offstage hear the sound of a paper cup breaking open as it smashes into the floor. Behind him, ANDY VAIL and DETECTIVE WILLIAMS enter. The mortician turns to greet his guests. He seems to recognize the detective, nodding to him. Detective Williams nods back, his demeanor is cold and businesslike, his hands in his pockets and a suspicious look in his eyes. Andy's face is pale and weak, like he has no breath. He swallows.)

ANDY

Is this him?

WILLIAMS

That's what you're here to tell us.

(Williams motions to the mortician.)

Show him.

(Andy's palms shoot outward in a stopping gesture.)

ANDY

Wait! Ju-just a second.

(The mortician stops and looks incredulously at Williams who just seems more suspicious. Andy breathes loudly and slowly, trying to calm down.)

WILLIAMS

You okay, Vail?

(Andy looks at him anxiously.)

WILLIAMS

Well, suck it up and take it. There's worse. You could be the guy on the table.

(Andy nods in agreement and the mortician pulls the sheet down, uncovering the face. Andy's expression changes from anxiety to sorrow. He exhales.)

ANDY

Mike.

WILLIAMS

This is your brother then?

ANDY

Yeah. That's him.

(Andy slowly reaches out and touches his brother's skin. Both the mortician and Williams get an odd look.)

WILLIAMS

We usually don't do that, Mr. Vail.

(Andy pulls his hand back just as slowly, his eyes don't leave his brother.)

ANDY

Sorry. It's just... Mike. I can't believe it.

WILLIAMS

No?

ANDY

How did she do it?

(Williams moves closer to Andy, keeping an eye on him.)

WILLIAMS

She? Mr. Vail, do you know who murdered your brother?

(Andy looks at Williams and nods.)

WILLIAMS

And how would you know something like that? I don't recall sharing any information with you.

ANDY

Nancy. She stopped by after it happened. Confessed.

WILLIAMS

Whoa! Whoa! Hang on just a second. Did you just say the woman who killed your brother came to see you after she did it?

ANDY

Yes. She... She was... covered... with his blood.

WILLIAMS

She simply came and confessed to you?

ANDY

Not so weird.

WILLIAMS

No? Really?

ANDY

Mike and Nancy had a strained relationship. She--

WILLIAMS

Strained?

ANDY

He was abusive, okay.

WILLIAMS

Physical?

ANDY

Mike liked to push people around. Gave me more than a couple black eyes in our lifetime.

WILLIAMS

So you weren't exactly your brother's number one fan either.

ANDY

We hadn't even talked in ten years.

WILLIAMS

But you and his wife have?

ANDY

On and off. Nancy needed me. Needed someone to talk with. About Mike. I did my best.

NANCY

But it wasn't enough.

ANDY

Apparently not. God! I knew I should've told someone. Maybe if I'd gotten the cops involved Nan woulda just.... instead of...

WILLIAMS

Murder.

ANDY

Instead of killing my brother.

WILLIAMS

You say that so calmly, Vail. Like you're talking about baseball statistics.

ANDY

I guess I always figured something like this would happen. Nancy's strong. I don't know why she put up with what she did. Love?

WILLIAMS

Love, Mr. Vail? Let me show you something.

(Williams walks around the table and clutches the corpse's hair. With one swift tug the top of the head comes off with a sickening sucking sound. Andy's eyes go wide and his stomach sucks in.)

ANDY

God!

(The mortician sees the telltale signs and grabs the silver tray from the cart, rushing over to Andy and letting him vomit into it. Afterward Andy bends over, steadying himself on his knees, and the mortician disgustedly exits, gingerly carrying the tray. Williams strolls over to Andy, still holding the top of the head.)

WILLIAMS

You didn't figure on that, did you?

ANDY

Wh-what ha-happened... his brain is gone!

WILLIAMS

This is what we've deduced so far. Sometime this evening your brother's wife clamped his neck inside the vise bolted to their basement work table. The metal jaws of the vise were screwed so tight they crushed his larynx into over a dozen pieces. Your brother must have been in unbearable pain. Not to mention, suffocating. But doctor's assure me he most likely remained conscious for at least four minutes. I don't think Mrs. Vail gave him that much time, . Her fingerprints were all over the circular saw. The one she used to carve into his skull, with what I am told is surgical precision, to remove the skull cap and reveal the brain. If this was within those four minutes, he felt it all. However, he was surely dead by the time his wife removed his brain.

(Andy looks dizzy, about to faint, but Williams hits him with a resounding slap and stands him up straight, tossing the skull cap casually on top of the white sheet. Andy stares at it wide eyed.)

WILLIAMS

You stay awake, god dammit! She took his brain so you stay here! Cause I got a problem. I got a woman who can't be over two hundred pounds and her SCALPED HUSBAND who can't be under two eighty! How in the name of Christ's ballcock was she able to hold him long enough to screw that vise onto his neck?

ANDY

I-I-

WILLIAMS

It would take Bob Vila half an hour to twist those rusty screws. Hell, it took my men over twenty minutes to get him out. How the fuck did she do it?

ANDY

I don't know. I don't know! I-I'm an accountant.

WILLIAMS

And an accomplice?

ANDY

What?! No!

WILLIAMS

Someone held your brother while his wife clamped him still. I say it was the caring brother with a hard on for the defenseless hunny.

(Andy pushes Williams out of his face.)

ANDY

I didn't do it!

WILLIAMS

Did you help her?

ANDY

No. I swear. I'm... I--

WILLIAMS

You're just an accountant. And I'm convinced. We're gonna take a ride down to the--

ANDY

No. We need to get to the Elkyns train station.

WILLIAMS

What? No.

ANDY

It's the one closest to my house.

WILLIAMS

So?

ANDY

That's where Nan is.

WILLIAMS

Mrs. Vail?

ANDY

She said she'd be there when I needed her. But I think we need to hurry.

WILLIAMS

And you only thought to tell me this--

ANDY

I only just realized.

WILLIAMS

I bet.

ANDY

Detective, we need to help her.

WILLIAMS

That's not what she needs.

(Williams forcibly grabs Andy and pulls a radio off his belt, the last sound we here before he exits is the static of the radio as he goes to make the call. The rest of the conversation mixes in with the rapid echoes of footsteps hurrying away from the morgue. Then silence. Blackout.)