THE JOURNEY SO FAR: Andy Vail was working late one evening when his sister-in-law, Nancy Vail, strolled into his office covered in blood. It turned out Andy's brother, Mike, had been murdered. A short trip to the morgue withDetective Williams filled Andy in on the gruesome details, not only had his brother been murdered but his skull had been carved open with a power saw and his brain removed, yet to be found. After helping the police bring Nancy into custody, Andy paid a visit to the scene of the crime, looking for some answers. He found Henry, a strange man who threatened his life with a shotgun then asked for help looking for the real killer. Andy, believing with all his heart that Henry was the real killer, brought Henry down to the police. Thus our journey continues.
The Vail
by Joey Pettine
Episode Five: Getting Off
(A dark stage. Lights come up on half of the stage revealing a cold, metal table with a cold, metal chair at each end. The other half of the stage is left in the dark. A fairly young man, DETECTIVE HARDY, escorts NANCY VAIL into the room. She takes a seat in the chair and Hardy exits. Nancy's been cleaned since we saw her last, hair pulled firmly back from her spotless face. She wears a baggy t-shirt and gray sweatpants, her hands cuffed in front of her, her face a story of sorrow. In walks DETECTIVE WILLIAMS carrying a file, a recorder, and a tiny paper cup. He places these on the table and takes his seat opposite Mrs. Vail. He looks at her for a moment, sip from the cup, then turns on the recorder.)
NANCY
I can't do this again.
(Williams goes through the file, pulls out some papers, places them in front of Mrs. Vail.)
WILLIAMS
I've got a confession with your signature at the bottom that says, by your own admission, you could and did do it. What I need to know is how. Things in here don't work for me. So we're gonna go over it again.
NANCY
Please, Detective Williams, I've told you everything that I remember.
WILLIAMS
Remember. All that you remember. Which means there's more.
NANCY
No.
WILLIAMS
Trust me, Mrs. Vail, I'm good at jogging memories. Or I could send you back to the room.
NANCY
No.
WILLIAMS
I don't blame you, Nancy. I'm not a fan of the dark either. Nobody is. People like the sun, the heat. Dark is cold. Lonely. Reminds us of nights when sleep is elusive and the only company to keep is ourselves. No one wants to keep company with themselves. Not the part that crawls out in the dark. You know what they call the darkest part of the ocean? The abyss. Doesn't that sound horrible? Abyss. Deep, dark, swimming with monsters. Like Hell, a yawning abyss where the pitch black hangs over your head. Yeesh. I talk to much. But, Nancy, I'm gonna need you to talk to me now. Or else I might just have to give you some Hell.
(Nancy's face quivers and she cries a little.)
NANCY
Please.
WILLIAMS
I just want to know what happened that night. From the beginning.
(A pause.)
NANCY
Mike--
WILLIAMS
The victim.
NANCY
Mike was downstairs working on one of his projects. It was his place. I wasn't even allowed to go down there.
WILLIAMS
But you did.
NANCY
Yes.
WILLIAMS
Why?
NANCY
I guess I wanted to see him.
WILLIAMS
Why? Isn't it true your husband beat you, Mrs. Vail?
NANCY
It wasn't like that.
WILLIAMS
No?
NANCY
Mike never beat me. Just little things.
WILLIAMS
A slap here or there. A playful jab. Nothing much, little things.
NANCY
Yes.
WILLIAMS
Little things add up, my wife says, little things make the big things. Wives always notice the little things.
NANCY
But... It was more like a dream, what I was doing, a daydream, just thoughts.
WILLIAMS
Did you often daydream about killing your husband?
NANCY
They're just thoughts, daydreams.
WILLIAMS
Fantasies, what you get off on, I get it.
NANCY
They're just thoughts.
WILLIAMS
Not anymore. Continue.
NANCY
I went down and he was working at his bench and his back was turned to me.
WILLIAMS
Then what?
NANCY
I came up behind him and.. and.. I grabbed his hair. I pushed. I-I-I ju-just slammed forward as hard as I could.
WILLIAMS
Two hands or one?
NANCY
Just the one.
WILLIAMS
But why not use both?
NANCY
Because... because I needed the other hand free.
WILLIAMS
You needed your other hand free for the saw.
NANCY
Yes.
WILLIAMS
So you held your husband, a 285 lb man, against his will, with one hand, while you got the saw, a two handed tool, and used it to cut into his brain.
NANCY
I put him in the vise first. I sl-slammed down and his throat hit in the vise.
WILLIAMS
Did he struggle?
NANCY
Yes.
WILLIAMS
But you held him and you turned those screws and you crushed his larynx.
NANCY
Yes.
WILLIAMS
No! Bullshit! I call bullshit! Three, two people, yes, definitely could do it. But there is no way a housewife half the size of her abusive husband could. Who are you covering for, Nancy?
NANCY
No one.
WILLIAMS
Who killed your husband?
NANCY
Me.
WILLIAMS
No! The truth, you cunt, I want the fucking truth or I swear to my God I will show you Hell! Cold, dark, painful Hell!
(Detective Hardy enters the room and Williams looks at him, irritated.)
WILLIAMS
I told you to leave us alone. What?
(Hardy approaches him and whispers. Williams looks astonished.)
WILLIAMS
I'll be there in a second.
(Hardy exits. Williams looks harshly at Nancy.)
WILLIAMS
Welcome to Hell.
(He leaves, a moment later the lights shut off. Nancy begins to sob painfully in the dark. Lights come up on the other half of the stage, another interrogation room, mirror image of its counterpart. Hardy enters this room, pushing ANDY VAIL in front of him. Andy's hands are cuffed tightly behind his back. Hardy leads Andy to the chair and pushes him into it. Andy gets a pained look and jumps up.)
ANDY
Ow.
HARDY
Sit down.
ANDY
It's hard with my hands behind me. Couldn't you undo them?
WILLIAMS
No.
(Williams enters, violently pushing Andy down. Andy looks pained then moves his arms over the back of the seat. Williams sits down opposite him. Hardy leaves.)
WILLIAMS
I knew you tasted like shit in my mouth. Turds like you always turn up. Bobbing around in my nice clean toilet.
ANDY
Why did you cuff me? I just brought you the killer. That guy out there was in my brother's basement, he attacked me with the shotgun.
WILLIAMS
And you wrestled it away?
ANDY
He put it down.
WILLIAMS
He attacked you then put down the weapon he was attacking you with?
ANDY
First he had me speak.
WILLIAMS
Speak?
ANDY
Yeah. Like he needed to hear my voice. Then he put the weapon down. As if I didn't matter anymore. Whoever he is, he's nuts and he's the real killer, without a doubt.
WILLIAMS
And I should listen to your gut instinct.
ANDY
I know he killed my brother.
WILLIAMS
Nancy Vail killed your brother.
ANDY
But it doesn't add up.
WILLIAMS
It does now I got her accomplices.
ANDY
You already checked me out and didn't find anything. Check him out.
WILLIAMS
Shut up.
(In walks Henry, his cuffed hands held outward.)
HENRY
Detective Hardy said you would be able to release me from my restraints.
WILLIAMS
Who let you in here, piece of shit?
HENRY
I simply asked to be released from my imprisonment. And I beg your pardon, but I am a living being, not excrement.
WILLIAMS
No, my friend, you are fucked.
HENRY
Yet again, I beg your pardon, but I do not believe I am “fucked” and the sarcasm within your tone leads me to believe that we are indeed not friends.
WILLIAMS
Is this guy for real? Are you for real?
HENRY
I consist of atoms, if that is your query. Now release me and Andrew.
(Williams seems confused but he walks over and takes the cuffs off them.)
HENRY
I wish to speak with you now. Andrew, I desire time alone with the detective. The guards are instructed to guide you to Mrs. Vail.
ANDY
What the fuck is going on?
HENRY
It is not imperative that you leave and I cannot make you but if you do wish to stay, please do not disrupt my work with more accusations of murder. Detective Williams, return to your seat.
(He does so. This makes Andy a bit nervous. With a bit of hesitation, he leaves. Henry takes his seat opposite Williams.)
WILLIAMS
What were you doing at the crime scene?
HENRY
Investigating. I am looking for the true killer of Michael Vail and I was hoping for your assistance..
WILLIAMS
We've got the killer, stupid.
HENRY
You have?
WILLIAMS
You're the killer. You and that pussy accountant and his bitch girlfriend.
HENRY
No, we are not. And I would appreciate if you used phrases that were less negatively exclamatory.
WILLIAMS
Fuck you!
HENRY
Stop that.
(Williams looks angry, opens his mouth to say something but, instead, his lips only quiver. After a moment he shuts his mouth, looking perplexed.)
HENRY
Thank you. Now I have investigated the scene of the crime but found it contaminated by what I believe was your law enforcement. Have you, in your limited capacity, found any helpful evidence.
WILLIAMS
We found hairs on the work bench.
HENRY
I need to see those hairs.
(Williams and Henry exit. The lights go off then return on Nancy's side. Andy enters.)
NANCY
What are you doing here?
ANDY
I found the killer, Nan.
NANCY
What?
ANDY
I found the killer.
NANCY
But I'm the killer.
ANDY
You're confused.
NANCY
I remember doing it, Andrew. I felt him struggle, I know the sound his throat made when it cracked, the way the saw vibrated against his bone. His screams will nev--
ANDY
See, that's what I mean, Nan! He couldn't have screamed. His larynx was crushed. He couldn't've gugled. You're just in shock.
NANCY
I didn't imagine what happened.
ANDY
Did you imagine electricity?
NANCY
What?
ANDY
The saw was never plugged in. The extension cord was still hanging on the wall when I got there. It wasn't you. You're a good person, Nan. You didn't do it.
(Henry, carrying a baggie, and Williams enter.)
HENRY
I've procured DNA, the only useful evidence they have. Everything else led to Mrs. Vail killing her husband but that is illogical, she is innocent.
(Williams looks very confused, like everything he knows is wrong.)
WILLIAMS
No!
HENRY
You're conviction is strong but you are wrong. I'm taking over the case, Detective Williams.
WILLIAMS
What will I do?
HENRY
You and your men have other concerns. I need to speak with you, Mrs. Vail.
ANDY
What did you do to him?
HENRY
Nothing. I have retrieved the hair of our murderer.
NANCY
What are you doing with my hair?
ANDY
This isn't your hair, Nan. This doesn't even look like hair. It looks like strands of black nylon.
HENRY
We now have our assailants DNA, that which he is consisted of, and that may be invaluable. However, it does not aid us in our search for the assailant. Mrs. Vail, I believe your husband's murderer is still at large, I need your help to locate him.
NANCY
But I killed my husband.
HENRY
No, you only believe you have. Your husband was dead long before you carved into his skull.
ANDY
She didn't do it.
HENRY
No. I am detecting residual electrical energy within Mrs. Vail. I believe she was subjected to mind transference.
NANCY
What are you talking about?
HENRY
The brain is nothing more than a series of electrical impulses carrying information. With the proper knowledge, a being could remove one consciousness and replace it with another. A simple matter.
NANCY
Did he just say I was possessed? I'm possessed?
HENRY
It would work in such a fashion, yes. I understand your husband was a biomechanical engineer. What was he working on, his latest project?
NANCY
I don't know.
HENRY
Who would?
ANDY
What does this have to do with anything?
HENRY
Michael Vail was targeted for a reason. I conclude it was his work
NANCY
Dr. Mynot, he was a good friend of Mike's. He'd often drop by. Do you think he's supposed to be possessed?
HENRY
It is possible he is in danger of a similar fate. I should not waste time in seeing him.
ANDY
Are you going to see this guy now? I'm coming. Nan, I'm gonna get you out of here.
HENRY
I can assist with that. Detective Williams, it is obvious what occurred with Mr. Vail was a horrible accident. Don't you think Mrs. Vail has suffered enough?
(Williams has been standing there looking lost. He nods slowly, seems to have trouble thinking, then takes the cuffs off Mrs. Vail.)
WILLIAMS
I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Vail. You've suffered enough.
NANCY
No. No! I killed my husband!
HENRY
Let us make haste, Andrew.
(Henry and Williams leave. Andy seems unsure but then hurries after Henry. Nancy is shocked. Fade to black.)
Wow. I didn't see that coming. I can't help but think the when you have a bit of someone, you can control them. Old magic, that.
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