Five Television Plays (David Mamet). David Mamet
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No, I didn't know that.
TOWNSWOMAN: That time, he got into an accident, the 302. (Beat. She moves off.) Father . . .
(The PRIEST is left alone with PRICE.)
PRICE: Hard to replace a man like that.
PRIEST: Yes, it would be. Life goes on, though, doesn't it?
PRICE: I've noticed.
PRIEST: . . . problems of a Town . . . someone has got to deal with them.
PRICE: Yes.
PRIEST: Can't live in the past, now, can you?
PRICE: No, you can't.
PRIEST: Brings you here today?
PRICE: I . . . I came here to pay my respects. (Pause.) Pay my respects to the man.
(The PRIEST nods. They have stopped walking.)
PRIEST: I walk you somewhere?
PRICE: Uh, no thank you. I'm going right here.
(They look up, they are at the Police Station.)
PRICE: I'm the new Police Chief.
PRIEST: Figured you were.
(PRICE starts up the steps. Camera follows him through the doors, marked “Police Department, Town of Bradford.”)
INTERIOR: BRADFORD POLICE STATION.
A woman DISPATCHER on the radio.
DISPATCHER: . . . that is a 201 three miles north of the Interstate on Highway Five. Bradford PD. Out . . . (She turns to PRICE:) I help you . . . ?
PRICE: Officer in charge, please.
DISPATCHER: . . . say who is calling . . . ?
(PRICE goes in his pocket, takes out a badge, shows it to her.)
DISPATCHER: One moment, please.
(ANGLE INTERIOR: BEHIND THE BARRICADE. The DISPATCHER gets up from the desk, over her shoulder, to an assistant.)
THE DISPATCHER: . . . mind the phones, please.
(Camera follows her to an office marked “Chief of Police.” Inside the office is BOBBY BARNES, thirty-five, fit, in a police uniform, talking with two deputies.)
BARNES: . . . 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.
DISPATCHER: Bobby . . .
BARNES: One moment: he knows, they're wild, they got it from his store, you tell him that, he'll get the message . . .
DISPATCHER (leans in, whispers to him): Bobby.
BARNES: Thank you. You fellows ‘scuse me for a moment. (To DISPATCHER:) Show him in.
(The two officers leave, as does the DISPATCHER.)
BARNES (into the telephone): Helen, and tell ‘em to hold all the calls this office five, ten minutes, will you . . . ?
(PRICE comes in. The two men face each other.)
BARNES: Afternoon . . . sit down . . . ?
(PRICE comes over, offers his hand.)
PRICE: John Price.
BARNES: Robert Barnes. (Sighs.) I've been acting Chief of Police, since Mr. Hopkins’ death. (Pause.) Wasn't expecting you until tomorrow.
PRICE: Well, I thought I'd come in a bit early, and get settled, you know.
BARNES: Yes. I do. We had a, uh, we had a memorial today for Chief Hopkins.
PRICE: Did you?
BARNES: 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.) We've got a case now . . . building burnt on Main Street, The Emporium . . .
PRICE: Uh-huh . . . Any leads on it . . . ?
BARNES: "Leads” on it? Mister, all I got, a building burnt, we called in the adjustors, the State Boys, come in t'morrow, we'll see what they say, you know, it's just a building burnt. Eh? This is a kind of a quiet town. You see what I'm saying? Where you come from, I'm sure it's more active down there.
PRICE: That's right. I'm sure that it is.
BARNES: You'll probably miss that action.
PRICE: Part of me will, I'm sure.
BARNES: . . . aaand, we do things a little differently up here. You know, Chief Hopkins . . . (pause). . . you see, we had a crime, we had a situation, something happened, he'd sit down, sit down in here, close the door, whatever it was, you see, he had the time for that, think: Now, who would be likely do a thing like that? Whatever it was, eh, from their motives, what he knew of them. He would think, then he'd call them up, and they'd come in, they'd sit in that chair, he'd confront them, and then they'd confess. (Pause.) I bet you think that's rather “folksy, “ don't you . . . ?
PRICE: I, uh, you know, I wish I lived in that sort of world. I'm glad he did. (Pause) I wish I had those talents.
BARNES: Do you . . . ?
(BILLY BATES walks in, comes over to BARNES.)
BILLY: Mr. Barnes . . .
BARNES: Well. It was a nice service, wasn't it?
BILLY: Yes sir, it was.
(OFFICER sticks his head in the door.)
OFFICER: Chief, we got a complaint, a prowler, again, out the new Estates.
BARNES: Gettem’ out there quiet, park the car, go in on foot, and take it easy, prolly’ just them kids.
(A SECOND OFFICER comes in.)
SECOND OFFICER: Chief, I talk to you a minute . . . ?
BARNES: You'll excuse me.
(BARNES pushes past PRICE, who rises. PRICE is standing alone in the office. Looks around at the plaques on the wall.)
(Angle point of view: The plaques. Community Service, Boy Scouts, From a Grateful Community, Hunting Safety Instructor, et cetera.)
DISPATCHER (voice over): You have a place to live in Bradford, Mr. Price . . . ?
(PRICE turns to see the DISPATCHER, who has come into the office to take her coat off of the coatrack. PRICE turns.)
PRICE: Pardon me.
DISPATCHER: You find a place to live? A place to live you're here?
(PRICE takes a card out of his pocket.)
PRICE: The Mayor, he suggested the, the Idle Hour Apartments.
DISPATCHER: Come with me, walk me out, will you . . . ?
(Angle: The two of them walking out of the chiefs office, through the small police station squad room. They walk out of the station. The DISPATCHER looks over her shoulder.)
Bobby Barnes’ a good man.
PRICE: Yes?
(Camera follows them down the street. The rain is letting up, the sun is going down.)
DISPATCHER: You a good man, Mr. Price . . .
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