A Detective’s Drink (Play)
Int. local party at the town bar –dusk
AUSTIN is sitting in the corner table of the bar, away from the party, near a big window
ROBERT enters into the bar, and plots down across from AUSTIN
ROBERT
So how ya holding up?
AUSTIN
Fine.
ROBERT
That’s good. (ROBERT flags a waiter)
Have you heard anything about May? She’s been missing awhile
AUSTIN
Nope. But I'm sure she can handle herself.
ROBERT
*chuckles*
Yah, she’s beaten up more people than I can count. But you should check-in on her soon, with all the murders and all.
AUSTIN
I’m sure–
(ROBERT’s phone rings)
ROBERT
(ROBERT pulls up a finger, as he checks his phone)
One second it’s work
ROBERT stands up, leaves, answering his phone
ROBERT
*Whisper* (the whole convo)
You’ve got an idea of the suspect?
. . .
Yeah, I've just been talking to him.
. . .
I don’t think he’ll confess, but I’ll see what I can get
ROBERT ends the call and sits back down with AUSTIN
ROBERT
My work wants me to dress up as a lunatic at another kid’s party, like there ain’t enough loonies in this town
AUSTIN
Yup, more than we know. (looks down at his drink). So was there something you wanted?
ROBERT
Can’t I check-in with my neighbor?
AUSTIN
We aren't neighbors, we live on separate ends of the town
ROBERT
In a little town like this, we’re all neighbors. Well, unless you’re that psycho
AUSTIN eye’s sharpen
AUSTIN
What are you implying? You think I'd kill my own girlfriend?
ROBERT
I’m implying nothing, it’s just that no-one likes a murder.
Anyways, what happened to May, I thought she was missing, not dead.
AUSTIN
(eyes wide, and pause)
Well, she could be for all we know. She can hold herself against any guy in this town, but a bullet can kill anyone.
(Pause)
Oh yeah, i’ve got you a drink (points to the drink in front of ROBERT)
ROBERT
Thank you, but I must refuse.
AUSTIN
One drink won’t hurt
ROBERT
If the misses would kill me if she found out. And we’ll have two psychos in this town.
AUSTIN
That won’t be good. Maybe the psychos could take each other out.
ROBERT
Well if you were the psycho, my wife can definitely take you out.
(Pause)
But anyways I have to get going. It was good talking to you.
ROBERT get’s up and walks towards the door
AUSTIN
Yeah see you around. And be careful, you might have a target on your back.
ROBERT
Turns around towards AUSTIN
I’d say the same to you, but I have a feeling the murder won’t go after you.
ROBERT exits the bar and makes a call on his phone
ROBERT
. . .
I think it’s him, I’ve backed off for now, but i’ll do some digging later.
. . .
So far I think he’d shot May. I don’t know where, but possibly when she first got missing is when he died. You might be able to get a warrant but you need to find more evidence on your own.
. . .
ROBERT
Okay, sounds good.
ROBERT hangs up the phone, And makes another call (dail on the phone)
ROBERT
. . .
Hey Taylor, I’d like to cash in that favor.
. . .
Great. I’d like you meet up with Austin, I’ve a sneaking suspicion
that he has done something that caused your sister's disappearance.
. . .
Call him, say something along the lines of ‘I've been killing to meet with you’
And make something reason up, maybe tie it in with your sister.
. . .
You shouldn’t be worried. Wherever you meet, let me know and I'll be there if anything bad happens.
. . .
Yeah that sounds good. Make the call now.
And text me what you guys are doing
ROBERT ends the call and sits down at another table outside of the bar where he can watch AUSTIN through the glass from a distance
Austin’s phone rings
AUSTIN
Hello?
. . .
Oh, Hi Taylor. Is there something you want?
. . .
You’ve been ‘dying to meet me’? What for?
. . .
Yeah sure, we can meet at my place and
I’ll tell you want i know about your sister before she left
. . .
Yeah 10:30’s good. See you then. Bye
AUSTIN hangs up
ROBERT gets up and leaves again. His phone dings and he starts Dialing a number
ROBERT
*Whisper* (the whole convo)
. . .
I’ve just set up something with Taylor Hawthorn and Austin,
I’ll send you the details, just in case this gets ugly.
. . .
A few cops will do and I’d also be there too.
. . .
They’ll be meeting at Austin’s place at 10:30 tomorrow.
. . .
Okay sounds good.
ROBERT hangs up the phone and leaves the bar completely
Draft Final:
Int. local party at the town bar –dusk
AUSTIN is sitting in the corner table of the bar, away from the party, near a big window
ROBERT enters into the bar, and plots down across from AUSTIN
ROBERT
So how ya holding up?
AUSTIN
Fine.
ROBERT
That’s good. (ROBERT flags a waiter)
Have you heard anything about May? She’s been missing awhile
AUSTIN
Nope. But I'm sure she can handle herself.
ROBERT
*chuckles*
Yah, she’s beaten up more people than I can count. But you should check-in on her soon, with all the murders and all.
AUSTIN
I’m sure–
(ROBERT’s phone rings)
ROBERT
(ROBERT pulls up a finger, as he checks his phone)
One second it’s work
ROBERT stands up, leaves, answering his phone
ROBERT
*Whisper* (the whole convo)
You’ve got an idea of the suspect?
. . .
Yeah, I've just been talking to him.
. . .
I don’t think he’ll confess, but I’ll see what I can get
ROBERT ends the call and sits back down with AUSTIN
ROBERT
My work wants me to dress up as a lunatic at another kid’s party, like there ain’t enough loonies in this town
AUSTIN
Yup, more than we know. (looks down at his drink). So was there something you wanted?
ROBERT
Can’t I check-in with my neighbor?
AUSTIN
We aren't neighbors, we live on separate ends of the town
ROBERT
In a little town like this, we’re all neighbors. Well, unless you’re that psycho
AUSTIN eye’s sharpen
AUSTIN
What are you implying? You think I'd kill my own girlfriend?
ROBERT
I’m implying nothing, it’s just that no-one likes a murder.
Anyways, what happened to May, I thought she was missing, not dead.
AUSTIN
(eyes wide, and pause)
Well, she could be for all we know. She can hold herself against any guy in this town, but a bullet can kill anyone.
(Pause)
Oh yeah, i’ve got you a drink (points to the drink in front of ROBERT)
ROBERT
ROBERT picks up the glass, swirling it in his hand. Then sniffs it, and places back where it was
What posion did you pick?
AUSTIN
The good kind. (Puase) Don’t you like bourbon?
ROBERT
I do, but I must refuse. Thanks anyways
AUSTIN
One drink won’t hurt
ROBERT
If the misses found out she’d kill me. And we’ll have two psychos in this town.
AUSTIN
That won’t be good. Maybe the psychos could take each other out.
ROBERT
Well if you were the psycho, my wife can definitely take you out.
AUSTIN
So, . . . what kid’s party do you have to go to this time?
ROBERT
Pual’s kid. My ears ’ll be bleeding weeks because of that kid.
AUSTIN
That’s interesting. I though they’ll be out of town for his birthday.
ROBERT
(Pauses and rubs his neck)
It’ll be one hell of a drive. But i’m sure you know how that is.
AUSTIN
Yup had my fair share of long drives.
ROBERT
So do you know any short cuts, hidden roads, or
spots here I might want to hide away from the town?
AUSTIN
Yeah I know of a really good spot where no one can hear you scream,
Or even hear gunshots. It’s the perfect place to kill something.
(AUSTIN leans forwards towards ROBERT)
We can head out and i’ll show you it?
ROBERT
Maybe another day. Where is this place anyways?
It might be a good place to hunt somethin’.
AUSTIN
You drive a good while down the creek and there’ll be a huge tree
where you’ll make a left and follow that for a good while.
ROBERT
How often do you go up there?
AUSTIN
Not often. Haven't been there for a few months.
It’s a bit creepy this time of season, nothing’s out there.
ROBERT
I’ll check it out for myself. There’s always something out there,
you just gotta find some tracks and some displaced dirt.
ROBERT
But anyways I have to get going. It was good talking to you.
ROBERT get’s up and walks towards the door
AUSTIN
Yeah see you around. And be careful, you might have a target on your back.
ROBERT
Turns around towards AUSTIN
I’d say the same to you, but I have a feeling the murder won’t go after you.
ROBERT exits the bar and enters into the parking lot.
Ext. the parking lot is full with various trucks and cars
ROBERT heads to a white truck, with mud caked on the sides. ROBERT drags his fingers around the caked dirt and under and then wedgies his finger between the tire’s rigs. Which covers his finger in mud and dirt
ROBERT makes a call on his phone
ROBERT
. . .
I think it’s him, I’ve backed off for now, but I'll got some info.
. . .
So far I think he’d shot May. I don’t know exactly where but it’s some place around a huge tree near the creek. You might want to investigate there
. . .
ROBERT
Okay, sounds good.
