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ACT 1 - INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
A modern living room. At the back of the stage is a kitchen
area divided off by a breakfast bar. Upstage left is an
internal door. On the left wall of the living room (stage
left) is a window covered by a blind. Downstage of that is
the front door.
On the right of the stage, opposite the window, is a long
settee, a coffee table, and a pouffe. On the coffee table
is a chess board and pieces, a pack of cards, a large box
of Swan matches, a pile of magazines, and a small radio.
Above the settee is a mirror.
Jacob, a tallish man in his late forties, overweight, is
sat back on the settee, relaxed, staring at the ceiling.
Kreutchmar, a younger, smaller built, more intense and
serious man is stood up, pacing the floor.
Kreutchmar walks over to the window and moves the blind
aside to check the weather: it is still raining. Throughout
the play we here the background noise of rain falling.
JACOB
Sunny?
KREUTCHMAR
(snapping at him)
What?
JACOB
Is it lifting?
KREUTCHMAR
Does it sound like it's lifting?
It's still pouring down. I'm
going insane locked up in here.
JACOB
(leaning forwards
spinning a coin on the
coffee table)
You made the arrangements: you
can live with them.
KREUTCHMAR
(walking towards him)
You don't have to tell me that. I
know that. Don't you think I turn
it over in my head fifty times a
day? Why do you think I can't
sleep at night?
JACOB
Because you don't do anything
during the day.
KREUTCHMAR
(looking at the ceiling)
You don't do anything during the
day either, but you sleep like a
log and snore like a hog the
whole night through.
JACOB
I'm not a worrier like you are.
Worriers are always the ones who
end up making the arrangements,
purely because they want to have
something to worry about. It
gives them a sense of reality.
Look at you, now...
KREUTCHMAR
What do you mean, look at me now?
I'm only concerned that they're
doing what they're supposed to be
doing, as arranged.
JACOB
Yeah, but you're worrying about
it - it's in your nature. That's
just the way you're wired up.
It's nothing to be ashamed about.
KREUTCHMAR
I'm not ashamed.
JACOB
I was just pointing out that some
people are born worriers and
others aren't, and the ones that
aren't let the worriers make the
arrangements because they are
actually quite good at it,
despite the fact that it seems to
make them ill. You could have
arranged it that Greene and Bloch
stayed here and we were outside.
KREUTCHMAR
I wanted to be here, so that
nothing goes wrong. From here I
can coordinate everything and
make sure nothing happens to her -
she's our insurance policy.
Jacob leans back on the sofa and stretches, staring at the
ceiling as if bored.
JACOB
Do you want to play cards?
Kreutchmar, not answering, walks into the kitchenette and
opens the fridge.
KREUTCHMAR
Do you want a beer?
JACOB
(tapping his stomach)
No - I'm putting on too much
weight. How much weight do you
think I've put on since I've been
here?
Kreutchmar looks at him over the breakfast bar and turns
back to the fridge as if Jacob hadn't spoken.
JACOB (cont'd)
Go on, guess.
KREUTCHMAR
How the fuck do I know? How much
did you weigh before?
JACOB
Eleven stone two. Now what do you
think I am? Go on, guess.
KREUTCHMAR
Stand up.
Jacob stands up - his stomach sags out.
KREUTCHMAR
Thirteen, thirteen and a half?
Maybe a bit more.
JACOB
I am never thirteen, you cheeky
git. Twelve at the most. Never
thirteen. I can't believe you
think that I'm thirteen.
KREUTCHMAR
You're big for your size.
JACOB
(laughing)
What does that mean? How can I be
big for my size?
KREUTCHMAR
I mean for a man of your height,
you are quite stocky, so you're
heavier than would be expected.
That's probably a trait you
inherited, from your mother.
JACOB
You never knew my mother.
KREUTCHMAR
I don't have to have known her.
The tendency to put on weight is
inherited from the mother. It's
like Male Pattern Baldness. You
have that too - they're both from
your mother.
JACOB
My mother was not fucking bald!
Neither was she fat. So that's
the end of your bogus science.
KREUTCHMAR
Jesus! Didn't you do biology at
school. Don't you even know about
the X chromosome? Your mother can
carry things that you inherit -
she doesn't have to have them
herself.
JACOB
(changing subject and
answering question
about the beer)
Yes please.
KREUTCHMAR
What?
JACOB
Yes, I do want a beer. Do you
want to play cards?
KREUTCHMAR
Okay then.
Kreutchmar carries the beers back to the lounge and sits on
the pouffe opposite Jacob.
JACOB
Brag?
KREUTCHMAR
Okay - my dick is bigger than
yours.
JACOB
Very funny, Mister Kreutchmar -
but no it isn't. Do you want to
play brag?
Kreutchmar assents with a tiny nod of his head, waiting for
the cards to be dealt. Jacob is counting out the matches.
JACOB
Fifty each?
KREUTCHMAR
Yeah, whatever, share them all
out. Just get on with it.
JACOB
What's the hurry? You're not
going anywhere for a while.
KREUTCHMAR
It doesn't make it any easier. I
can't help it - I'm not used to
being locked up like this.
JACOB
You went to the shops yesterday.
KREUTCHMAR
Big deal - I went to the shops.
I'm not used to being in one room
with a fat bald man, a pack of
cards and a radio.
Kreutchmar's tone is one of serious humour, as if he is not
joking. Jacob knows him too well to be offended.
JACOB
(dealing the cards)
Yeah, but think of it, brother -
in two days it will all be over
and we'll be out of here. What
are your plans?
KREUTCHMAR
(examining his cards)
Not sure yet.
JACOB
Keeping your cards close to your
chest are you? Can't tell you're
old buddy Jacob? Five in?
KREUTCHMAR
Yup, five in.
They both put five matches into the pot.
KREUTCHMAR
Start with five. And what about
you?
JACOB
I'll go five.
KREUTCHMAR
No. What are your plans?
JACOB
South America. I was there last
year and fell in love with the
place.
KREUTCHMAR
I'll go your five and raise you
three. Where, exactly?
JACOB
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
KREUTCHMAR
That's Central America.
JACOB
I ended up there. I'll match your
eight. I rented a villa in a
little fishing village north of
there. You cannot believe the
sea, how blue it is, and how
green the coast is - you'd think
it would be dry but it's not.
Maybe further north it is but
down there it's like paradise.
You drive south into town, the
deep blue Pacific on one side,
the green coast on the other. The
fishing is fantastic - everything
a man could want.
KREUTCHMAR
I'll up you to ten. Not quite
everything.
JACOB
The girls there are beautiful, if
you want young girls.
KREUTCHMAR
You don't?
JACOB
Young girls are for young men -
or else they are just trophies. I
met a woman there - we've been
writing to each other. I phone
her once a week.
KREUTCHMAR
You didn't tell her anything? She
doesn't know what you do?
JACOB
Do I look stupid?
Kreutchmar muses.
JACOB
She's an independent woman - not
on the make. She owns her own
business. On my last day I was
walking round the backstreets
keeping out the sun and I passed
a jeweller's and they had these
beautiful gold and coral
necklaces in the window. I was
looking for something for my old
mum so I went in, and there she
was...
KREUTCHMAR
Your mum?
JACOB
Prick! Maria - she owns the shop.
She tried them on to show me and
helped me choose one. I bought a
couple of other things and said
goodbye and I didn't think much
more of it but after I got back I
realised I'd left a ring there
and rang her to ask her to send
it.
KREUTCHMAR
Your bet.
JACOB
I'll raise it two, to twelve. She
asked me if my mum liked the
necklace and I told her how I'd
got back and mum had died while I
was away.
KREUTCHMAR
Shit, that's bad. You could've
given it to your daughter.
JACOB
Poor old mum.
KREUTCHMAR
Twelve again.
JACOB
I never see my daughter. She just
sort of drifted away from me
after the divorce. Anyway, Maria
was very sympathetic.
I told her I would give the
necklace to her if she would let
me take her out for a meal when I
go back. Turns out she's a widow
and her kids are grown up. Raise
you two.
KREUTCHMAR
What did you tell her? About you.
JACOB
Told her I was Financial Advisor
with lots of big clients but that
I was selling my business and
retiring this year. It's close
enough to the truth not to get me
confused.
KREUTCHMAR
(sarcastic)
What a sweet story.
JACOB
I know exactly where we'll live.
I saw a villa there, about two
miles out of town, swimming pool,
steps up to the house, double
garage underneath - not that you
need it, it hardly rains there. I
was there three weeks and it
didn't rain once.
KREUTCHMAR
Maybe it was the dry season - it
wouldn't be green if it didn't
rain. I'll see you for fourteen.
JACOB
Well everywhere needs some rain.
A pair of Kings.
KREUTCHMAR
(taking the pot)
Flush.
JACOB
(leans back and drinks
from his bottle)
But you're not going to stay here
are you?
KREUTCHMAR
(dealing)
No way. I'll probably go out
East. Malaysia, maybe.
There's an island there I can
hide out, convenient for Oz and
Hong Kong, if the Chinese haven't
fucked it up. Buy myself a local
woman, for company. None of that
love shit; I mean, if you think
you've found it, good on you, but
you'll never change my mind.
JACOB
Start on six. I won't try then.
Why won't you stay here?
KREUTCHMAR
This country is finished. No-one
has any values any more. Everyone
is out for themselves; everyone
is shafting everyone else, if
they get the chance. Nobody
trusts nobody.
JACOB
Ah, it's not that bad.
KREUTCHMAR
It is, and it comes from the top.
Look at her father - his company
paid him a bonus of twenty
million last year alone, on top
of shares and pensions. And why
did he get that? Because he
shafted his workers, that's why,
laid off three thousand workers.
Every person being shafted from
above has to shaft other people
whenever they get the chance.
JACOB
You wouldn't say no to it if it
was you.
KREUTCHMAR
That's not the point. Everyone is
living on the edge. They're
scared, you can see it in their
eyes - scared of losing their
jobs, scared of not being able to
afford what everyone else has
got, scared of strangers, scared
of themselves and what they're
forced to do. The only difference
between people is the amount of
power they have and because money
equals power, the ones with money
like to stop others having it by
keeping as much as they can for
themselves. I'll go six.
JACOB
And people wonder why there's so
much crime.
(a beat)
Your six and raise you two.
Kreutchmar counts the matches.
KREUTCHMAR
That was seven.
JACOB
Eight. Six plus two, equals
eight.
KREUTCHMAR
I know what it makes, but you put
in seven.
JACOB
No I didn't. I put in six plus
two, makes eight.
KREUTCHMAR
Seven.
JACOB
Eight.
KREUTCHMAR
I can see it, brother. The pot's
an odd number. Count it, if you
don't believe me.
JACOB
I'm not counting it. That's
pathetic, counting matches.
KREUTCHMAR
Well, put another one in then.
JACOB
Okay, I will, but it's pathetic,
arguing over a match.
KREUTCHMAR
It's not the fucking match - it's
the principle.
JACOB
It's a game.
KREUTCHMAR
You still have to abide by the
rules, otherwise it doesn't mean
anything.
I mean, I could just sit here and
put in nothing and say it's
eight, I mean, what's the point
of that?
JACOB
There isn't any - it's just
stupid.
KREUTCHMAR
I'm trying to explain the
principle. You either do things
properly, according to the rules
or you might as well not bother.
JACOB
Kreutchmar - wake up! We are only
pretending: it's a game.
KREUTCHMAR
I'll count them - I'll count
them, if you don't believe me.
JACOB
Brother, brother - I do believe
you. Believe me, that I believe
you, that I only put seven
matches into the pot and that's
against the rules of the game,
and just to show you how sorry I
am, I am going to give you TWO of
my matches. Here you are, one to
make up and one to compensate.
Happy now?
KREUTCHMAR
Don't take the piss.
JACOB
I'm not taking the piss, I'm
asking if you're happy.
KREUTCHMAR
Just get on with it.
JACOB
It's your go.
A long silence while Kreutchmar takes his go.
JACOB (cont'd)
Do you trust them?
KREUTCHMAR
Who?
JACOB
Bloch and Greene.
KREUTCHMAR
I trust Greene. I've worked with
Greeney dozens of times. I don't
trust Bloch but so long as
Greeney's there to watch him,
we're safe. That's why I put them
together. Still eight.
JACOB
Why did you choose Bloch then?
And again.
KREUTCHMAR
Because he's clever. He thinks
quick and he knows what to do
without being told. But he's a
slippery bastard which is why
Greene is there to keep his eye
on him. Everything's organised
anyway - so long as he keeps to
the script, nothing can go wrong.
Mark my words, by tomorrow
they'll pay up and we'll be out
of here. Your eight and see you
for eight.
JACOB
Ace high.
KREUTCHMAR
Seven, eight, nine! My pot. And
then, Jacob, my boy, you can
bugger off to Mexico and cruise
romantically along the coast with
Maria.
(starts singing)
"Maria, I just met a girl called
Maria..."
Kreutchmar doesn't know any more of the lyric. Jacob stands
up and looks at himself in the mirror. He pulls his chest
in and starts flexing his muscles. He looks at his watch.
JACOB
Put the News on.
KREUTCHMAR
There won't be anything. They've
imposed a total blackout. They
always do while negotiations are
going on.
JACOB
I want to hear the News anyway.
KREUTCHMAR
(ignoring him)
We should give her something to
eat. What time did she eat lunch?
JACOB
About three.
KREUTCHMAR
I'll make her a sandwich.
JACOB
Not chicken roll. She won't eat
it. Cut her some of that ham.
KREUTCHMAR
Why are kids so bloody fussy?
JACOB
Too much on offer - they're
spoilt for choice. And give her a
bag of crisps - she only likes
Cheese and Onion, not Salt and
Vinegar.
Jacob sits back down and watches Kreutchmar. Kreutchmar
feels the blade of the carving knife to see if it's sharp
and then sharpens it a against another large knife. He then
cuts slices from a leg of ham.
JACOB (cont'd)
What if he won't pay?
KREUTCHMAR
Don't even think about it. He'll
pay. To him it represents one
year's bonus. You would pay
whatever you could to get your
daughter back wouldn't you? Your
only daughter, your little girl?
JACOB
(looking down,
remembering his absent
daughter)
Only if I couldn't get to them
and kill them first. Yeah, I'd
pay, I'd sell my house,
everything, to get the money, but
I'd find them afterwards and then
I'd kill them.
KREUTCHMAR
Well, that's not going to happen
is it, because we have a system
and it's all arranged and we all
know what we're doing.
So he's going to pay and we're
going to get away with it.
(looking around the
kitchen)
Now, I should give her a drink.
JACOB
Blackcurrant.
KREUTCHMAR
I know what she drinks!
Kreutchmar makes a drink and puts it on a tray with the
sandwich. He starts walking towards the door.
JACOB
Your mask!
KREUTCHMAR
Shit, I almost forgot.
Kreutchmar reaches under the breakfast bar and pulls out a
full, head-covering rubber clown's mask.
JACOB
Not that one - it's mine.
KREUTCHMAR
What difference does it make?
JACOB
It will confuse her. She talks to
me - I know how to speak to
children. I want her to know it's
me and not you - it's important.
KREUTCHMAR
Don't get attached to her, Jacob.
Don't go soft on me.
JACOB
I'm not getting attached to her
and I'm not going soft - I just
think that we can achieve what we
want without making her suffer
unnecessarily. Just wear your
mask.
KREUTCHMAR
(pulling out a Michael
Jackson mask)
Why do I have to look like
Michael Jackson? I fucking hate
Michael Jackson.
JACOB
I didn't know you hated Michael
Jackson.
I thought it would be better to
get someone she might know rather
than say, Bill Clinton.
KREUTCHMAR
Didn't they have a Frank Sinatra
one? I don't want to be Michael
Jackson, that's all. I don't want
to look like a freaky fucking
mermaid with a mushroom nose.
JACOB
It's only a mask, you won't stay
like that forever. Just wear it
and shut up.
Kreutchmar puts on the mask and leaves the room. Jacob gets
down on the floor and starts doing some press-ups. He
manages about five before floundering. He turns over onto
his back and starts doing some sit-ups. On the fourth or
fifth he's already straining. He stops when he hears the
sound of a car, seemingly pulling up outside the house. He
gets up with some effort and walks over to the window.
Hiding himself, he moves the blind to see what is
happening. Nothing. He goes back to the sofa and sits down,
picks up his beer and starts reading a Men's Health
magazine. A mobile phone rings. Jacob picks it up, looks at
it, answers it.
JACOB
(dead pan voice)
Yes.
Jacob listens for a moment.
JACOB
He's not here. No, he hasn't gone
anywhere, we've only been out
twice, to the shops, we've been
here all the time, going out of
our minds. He's giving her her
tea. She's fine. We're looking
after her fine, no worries, she
will be fine. What's happening -
there's nothing on the News, what
are they saying?
(obviously being cold
shouldered)
I know that I don't need to know
but I just thought... Okay, I'll
get him to ring you.
Jacob puts the phone down. He looks down at his stomach
rolling over his belt and angrily says "Shit!" Kreutchmar
comes back in the room.
KREUTCHMAR
What happened?
JACOB
Nothing. Bloch rang.
KREUTCHMAR
(interested)
What's happening?
JACOB
He wouldn't tell me. Because I'm
a geek I suppose. He wants you to
ring him. If they fuck up...
KREUTCHMAR
They won't fuck up. We just have
to keep to my strategy - I've
told them what to say. So long as
they don't start getting any big
ideas, we're okay.
Kreutchmar picks up the mobile phone and rings.
KREUTCHMAR
(walking around the
room)
It's me. What's happening? They
won't agree?
(to Jacob)
They won't agree!
Jacob lean back onto the sofa and pushes his large fist
into a cushion.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
(angrily)
But I thought it was all going
well. Yesterday you told me
they'd said yes and now you tell
me that it's not going to happen.
They're fucking stalling us. Ring
them and tell them what will
happen if they stall us: tell
them the deal. This is their last
chance. I want you to ring them
again and give them twelve hours
to decide. Don't give them any
more leeway, this is it. I want
you to ring me back tomorrow
morning and tell me what they
said. Forget that - we stick to
the strategy, don't go making
things up as you go along, we are
not at fucking Ronny Scott's,
just do it to plan, every step of
the way.
Look, I do trust you, you know I
trust you - that's why you're
handling the negotiations, but
you have to stick to the script.
They will try to mess you up and
confuse you - we're not going to
allow that to happen, okay. We
have to be in control. Yeah,
okay, okay, we'll wait for your
call.
Kreutchmar throws the phone down.
JACOB
Maybe Bloch isn't so clever after
all.
Kreutchmar walks to the window and moves the blind as if he
hasn't heard Jacob. He turns back and looks at the floor,
thinking.
KREUTCHMAR
Maybe I should swap with Bloch.
JACOB
I don't want to work with Bloch -
I'd end up hitting him.
KREUTCHMAR
We could both go - they could
come here.
JACOB
I can't leave the girl - she
trusts me.
KREUTCHMAR
I told you! Don't get attached to
her. This is just a job, okay? We
do the job, we take the money and
go. I don't want things fucking
up because Bloch is trying to be
clever and you're getting soft.
JACOB
I'm just saying that I don't want
to work with Bloch and I don't
trust him with her.
KREUTCHMAR
Bloch will do what I say. I need
to think about it, what we do.
We'll give him twelve hours and
then we'll see. I'll sleep in the
bedroom, with her, you can have
the couch.
JACOB
(pausing, then quietly)
Don't touch her.
KREUTCHMAR
What did you say to me? What are
you suggesting?
JACOB
I mean, don't hurt her.
KREUTCHMAR
(walking towards Jacob,
threateningly)
You said, "Don't touch her."
JACOB
I just meant, it's not her fault.
KREUTCHMAR
Why are you talking about
'fault'? What does that matter?
This is a job not a nursery.
JACOB
We can get what we want without
hurting her.
KREUTCHMAR
(turning away and
grabbing the mask)
We'll see about that.
FADE TO BLACK:
In the darkness, a phone rings. Jacob answers it.
JACOB
(talking quietly)
Greeney - how is it? It's okay,
he's gone to bed. If he comes in
I'll just hand the phone over as
if you'd only just rung. Watch
Bloch - he can't be trusted. I'll
watch Kreutchmar, and they won't
be able to stitch us up. It was
equal shares, remember, cut four
ways - we don't want him or Bloch
changing things at the last
minute and trying to cut us out.
Relaxed, brother, I'm very
relaxed. Chilled. I know he is,
he's edgy, very edgy but I can
handle him - you handle Bloch, do
the pickup, we meet up, split it
four ways, and then we're gone.
So long as you and I stick
together, they won't be able to
sideline us. Okay, brother, stay
strong.
The stage stays dark for thirty seconds and the sound of
the rain gets louder.
The sound of the rain gets quieter. The stage lights up.
Jacob is asleep beneath a cover on the sofa. Kreutchmar
enters the room and throws his mask down. He looks out the
window - it's still raining. He goes to make a coffee and
bangs around. Jacob wakes up.
JACOB
(sees Kreutchmar making
himself a coffee)
Yes please.
KREUTCHMAR
What?
JACOB
Coffee, black, no sugar.
KREUTCHMAR
I was letting you sleep.
JACOB
What time is it?
KREUTCHMAR
Half seven.
JACOB
Did you sleep alright?
KREUTCHMAR
What do you think?
JACOB
I don't know. Is she alright?
KREUTCHMAR
She's asleep. How would you sleep
wearing a Michael Jackson mask?
JACOB
I sleep fine with mine on.
KREUTCHMAR
(passing him his coffee)
No phone calls?
JACOB
No. Nothing.
Kreutchmar picks up the mobile phone and appears to be
looking through the calls list. He says nothing and sits
down in front of the chess board. He starts playing against
himself.
KREUTCHMAR
She was talking in her sleep.
JACOB
What did she say?
KREUTCHMAR
She just said: "Jennifer is near
the river", and then she shouted
"Mum!". Just one shout and then
she went completely quiet - not
another sound all night.
Kreutchmar continues playing chess, half listening to
Jacob.
JACOB
Probably dreaming. Jennifer is
near the river? It's weird the
things people dream, isn't it. I
used to have this recurring dream
that I was crawling through a
narrow tunnel and I couldn't turn
around or go back. It was dark
and up a side tunnel I would see
a chink of light and I'd think,
"Oh, good, a way out". So I would
force my body around this tight
corner and I could hardly breathe
and then I would crawl up this
slope towards the light. I tell
you what it was like - have you
seen those pictures from inside
the big pyramid, Cheops, or
something - there is a tunnel
that goes up from the centre to a
false door halfway up the face of
the pyramid. Well, it was just
like that, and I would be
crawling and crawling, my arms
could hardly move because they
were crushed against the walls.
Finally I would get to the end
and I could smell the fresh air
of freedom, see the daylight, but
then when I got up close to it, I
saw that it was just a slit - my
arm could get through it but
nothing else.
But in desperation I would try
and force my head through the
gap, struggling to get free, and
I would feel this weight
squeezing harder and harder
against my head, as if the whole
earth was burying me. I would
begin to scream and then suddenly
I would wake up, sweat pouring
off me, gasping for air. It was
horrible - I had that same dream
on and off for a year, just
before my marriage broke up. My
wife used to get freaked out.
KREUTCHMAR
You know what that was?
JACOB
It was a dream.
KREUTCHMAR
But you know why you had it?
JACOB
Because I was struggling to get
out my marriage.
KREUTCHMAR
No. You were remembering your
birth. I bet, if you'd asked your
mum, she would've told you that
your labour had been difficult
and that you were stuck in the
birth canal. The experience has
stayed in your subconscious.
JACOB
But I don't remember it so how
could I dream it.
KREUTCHMAR
That's what your subconscious is,
you fool - it's all the things
you've forgotten or never even
knew you knew, hidden away,
waiting to come back at you.
That's why you've gotta keep
strong, so they don't come back
out at you.
JACOB
It was because my marriage was
breaking up.
KREUTCHMAR
That was the cause - but the
dream was repeating something
that had already happened.
JACOB
That's all too deep for me.
What's the point of worrying
about things that might not even
exist. It's like being in a boat
and worrying about what's at the
bottom of the ocean.
KREUTCHMAR
You would if the boat started
sinking. And your boat was
sinking, so it all came back to
you.
JACOB
Maybe. I'm going to give her her
breakfast.
KREUTCHMAR
I'll phone Bloch. Let's hope
they're being sensible.
JACOB
They will pay up. Twenty million
is nothing to them.
Jacob starts preparing the breakfast and putting it on a
tray. Kreutchmar picks up the phone.
KREUTCHMAR
(to Jacob)
He should have spoken to them at
ten. I should've rung Greeney
last night to make sure that
Bloch was doing everything right.
(casually)
You didn't speak to him?
JACOB
No. I told you - nobody rang.
Kreutchmar just nods his head while listening to the phone
ring. Kreutchmar starts talking as Jacob puts his mask on
and leaves the room with the tray.
KREUTCHMAR
Bloch. How goes it? You spoke to
them? And? You resisted, I hope.
You told them not to fuck with
us. You told them what would
happen? You let them know that we
are serious didn't you?
I don't want them to think we are
a bunch of amateurs who can be
stalled while they wait for us to
make a mistake.
Kreutchmar walks around the room listening and nodding.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
Okay, okay. If they want to play
games, we'll play games. They
want to know that she's alive and
okay, I'll send them a little
memento so that they know who
they're dealing with. Leave it to
me. I'll ring you back later.
Listen - were you with Greene all
last night? Did he ring Jacob, or
did Jacob ring him? So you
wouldn't know then. I don't trust
them, I think they are up to
something. I want you to be sure
about this - we are in charge:
Jacob and Greene are here to help
us but we make all the decisions
and we decide on the cuts. I know
what we said but...
(Jacob comes back in the
room; Kreutchmar
changes tack)
Don't worry. We'll take care of
it. Expect to hear from me.
Kreutchmar throws the phone down. He walks quietly and
thoughtfully around the room, looking out the blinds. Jacob
sits down.
JACOB
So?
KREUTCHMAR
I'm thinking.
JACOB
What about? Have they agreed or
not.
KREUTCHMAR
There's a problem. We'll get over
it. We just have to be a bit
harder that's all - they will do
business.
JACOB
I thought Bloch was good.
KREUTCHMAR
Bloch is good. It's not his
fault.
They won't agree until they have
evidence that she's alive and
well.
JACOB
We can do that.
KREUTCHMAR
No. They're just stalling. We
need to show them we're for real.
They're trying to trap us - we
need to control the moves if
we're going to get out.
JACOB
(concerned)
What do you mean?
Kreutchmar walks behind the kitchenette. He pulls out a
sports bag, opens it and brings out a bag of First Aid
medication, bandages etc. He throws it at Jacob.
KREUTCHMAR
Who do you want to be - surgeon
or nurse?
Kreutchmar picks up the knife he'd used to carve the ham
and starts sharpening it.
JACOB
(stands up, alarmed)
What are you going to do?
KREUTCHMAR
Only what is necessary.
JACOB
You can't hurt her. I won't let
you. You said no-one would get
hurt.
KREUTCHMAR
(pointing the knife)
I told you not to get attached. I
told you not to get soft. She is
nothing to us. All she is is our
insurance policy for twenty
million pounds.
JACOB
She's a child. She's someone's
daughter.
KREUTCHMAR
She's not your daughter! I
thought you were professional.
You know what this is about - you
should have known this might
happen.
JACOB
Yeah, but I didn't think... I
didn't think I would care about
her.
KREUTCHMAR
Well, start thinking now. We can
do this, and they will pay up,
believe me, or we can hang on
here, in this prison, day after
day negotiating until we make a
mistake and they catch us. You're
looking at fifteen years at
least, longer, with your form.
JACOB
I can't do it.
KREUTCHMAR
Jacob, get real: you can't not do
it.
Jacob walks around the stage, worried.
JACOB
Let me think about it a minute.
Kreutchmar pulls on his Michael Jackson mask. He picks up
the knife.
KREUTCHMAR
There's no time. I'll be the
surgeon.
Kreutchmar throws Jacob the clown mask.
KREUTCHMAR
You can hold her down and stop
her screaming.
JACOB
(as he pulls on his
mask)
I can't do this. Let's send them
a tape of her, so that they know
she's okay. Let them talk to her.
KREUTCHMAR
(in his mask, walking
towards Jacob with the
knife)
They are playing with us. They
know what they are doing. We have
to be one step ahead of them.
JACOB
But couldn't we just try
something...
KREUTCHMAR
This is my decision. I made the
plans. Everyone agreed. We are a
team. I allowed for this.
JACOB
If you allowed for this, why
didn't you tell anyone?
KREUTCHMAR
I told Bloch.
JACOB
You told Bloch? You told Bloch
and not me, knowing that I was
going to be the one here in the
house.
KREUTCHMAR
I must have known you would go
soft.
JACOB
I won't do it. Every time I look
at her... every time I look, I
see, I see my daughter. It will
be like hurting my own daughter.
I can't do it!
KREUTCHMAR
(advancing
threateningly, his face
close to Jacob's)
You'll come with me.
JACOB
I can't hurt a child.
KREUTCHMAR
You've hurt a man before - a man
is just a big child.
JACOB
Men! Men know what they are
doing. They know what they are in
for.
KREUTCHMAR
Precisely. And so do you. You
just don't have the courage to do
what you are in for. You want to
back down. You want to go back
inside.
JACOB
We can do it differently, I'm
sure we can.
KREUTCHMAR
We can't. Do you want to go to
Mexico? Do you want to see Maria?
Do you want to fish in the deep
blue sea? Do you want to drive
south along the coast? Or do you
want to go back inside and stare
at the ceiling for fifteen years.
Think about it Jacob, it's your
choice: do you want to get out?
JACOB
You know what I want. But I can't
do that.
KREUTCHMAR
(sarcastically, picking
up the First Aid bag)
So you are the nurse. The nurse
holds the baby. Nursey stops the
baby screaming.
JACOB
I can't be the nurse. I can't be
part of this.
KREUTCHMAR
You can't get out of it, Jacob.
You are part of this. You signed
up for this a long long time ago.
The only thing you have to decide
now is, are you a surgeon or a
nurse?
(flicks his knife from
side to side, like a
metronome)
Surgeon, Nurse. Surgeon, Nurse.
Surgeon, Nurse.
Jacob turns away, freezing.
JACOB
You do what has to be done. I
can't.
KREUTCHMAR
(walking up close behind
him)
Okay, but do you think that makes
you innocent? Do you think that
because you're not in the room
with her you're nothing to do
with it?
Because I don't think that, and
they won't think that, and she
won't think that. She isn't going
to look at you afterwards and
think, "Oh, here comes Mister
Nice Guy, coming to save me from
Mister Nasty." It just doesn't
work like that. We're all in it
together.
(touches the back of
Jacob's neck with the
point of the knife)
We all trust each other.
(pause)
Dont we!
JACOB
(stepping back and
turning around)
You put that knife near me again,
and you're a dead man. Dyou
understand?
KREUTCHMAR
I was just proving the point,
that we trust each other. We do,
don't we?
JACOB
I told you you can trust me but I
don't agree with this. Just send
a tape! Video her - let them
know.
KREUTCHMAR
Let them know we're weak, that
we're soft as shit, that we don't
do what we threaten? Let them
know that we don't mean business?
JACOB
You know I'm not weak, don't you
Kreutchmar? I mean, don't you
take me for a weak man just
because I won't do this. Don't go
making that mistake.
KREUTCHMAR
Well, time will tell about that.
I can do this on my own, if I
have to, but that doesn't stop
you being a part of it. Remember
that.
Kreutchmar leaves the room with the knife. Jacob collapses
onto the sofa, still in his clown's mask. He sits with his
head sunk, a blank mask gazing at his lap.
Off-stage, a girl's long scream which is then muffled.
Jacob jerks his head back and the mask stares at the
ceiling. The scream stops and the phone rings. Jacob
ignores it.
Kreutchmar re-enters the room with a bloodied knife in one
hand and a bloodied rag containing something in the other.
He walks to the sink and throws the knife in.
He walks into the lounge and puts the bloodied rag-parcel
onto the table. He walks around the table and sits down on
the sofa, a foot away from Jacob. They both still have
their masks on.
Kreutchmar looks at the chess board silently. His hands are
not near the chess board. Jacob's mask turns and looks at
the side of Kreutchmar's head. Kreutchmar turns to face
him. The two masks stare at each other for a few seconds
then Kreutchmar takes off his mask. His face is deadly
serious and sombre.
KREUTCHMAR
You better go to her, unless you
want her to bleed to death.
Jacob groans inside his mask.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
You see, Jacob, we all get into
things we can't get out of and we
don't know where they will lead.
(standing up and picking
up the bloodied rag)
I'm going to deliver this. Don't
do anything stupid.
Kreutchmar puts the bloodied rag in a polythene bag, then
an envelope.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
You thought you could just be a
clown, but now you'll have to be
the nurse.
Kreutchmar leaves by the front door.
Jacob stands up and picks up the First Aid bag. He walks
towards the interior door.
Before he gets there he stops and takes off his mask and
throws it on the floor.
Time passes, Kreutchmar returns and sees the mask on the
floor. He picks it up and looks at it, looks around the
room, opens the interior door, listens, comes back in. He
walks over to the window, checks outside, goes back to the
sofa, sits down, makes a chess move.
Jacob comes back in the room. He goes over to the sink and
washes his hands. He walks into the lounge.
KREUTCHMAR
(looking at the chess
board)
Your mask is on the floor.
Jacob doesn't answer.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
(looking up)
Your, mask, is, on, the floor!
She's seen your face! That
changes everything, Jacob. She's
seen your face.
JACOB
I can live with that.
KREUTCHMAR
But can she? I mean, should she?
Can we let her? Can we?
JACOB
(getting menacing)
This has gone far enough! I won't
let you do anything else to her,
do you understand? I want to come
out of this a human being - I
won't become a monster.
KREUTCHMAR
(stands up and confronts
him)
It's because you want to get out
of it, we all want to get out of
it, that we do what I decide.
There are four of us to think of -
you are not alone in this, and
everything any one of us does
affects the others. I will decide
what happens next.
Jacob backs off.
JACOB
I'm going to sit with her. I'll
sleep in there tonight.
KREUTCHMAR
(sarcastically)
Don't touch her.
JACOB
You can decide whatever you like,
but nothing happens to her.
I'll go down for this before you
get to her.
Jacob leaves the room. Kreutchmar lies down on the sofa.
FADE TO BLACK.
In the darkness, a phone rings. Kreutchmar answers it.
KREUTCHMAR
Bloch. They will have got it by
now and then they will agree.
It's never failed. Look back
through all the kidnappings where
they were refusing to pay the
ransom and as soon as they get an
ear, a finger, or something else,
they always pay up straight away.
It's the only way they know we're
for real.
(short silence while
Kreutchmar listens)
Okay. You deal with everything
that end, just as we agreed. You
watch Greene and I'll sort out
Jacob. Well, I thought I could
depend on him too, but sometimes
you get it wrong. We may have to
cut him out, completely. I don't
know, it's pissing me off. It
doesn't matter what he's done - I
will deal with the situation.
Yeah, I always have. If only it
could have been just you and me,
Bloch, things would have been
smooth. Yeah, well, one more day
and it will all be over and we'll
be out of here. Yeah, we may have
to cut them both out. We'll see.
Make contact tomorrow at nine,
then ring me.
The stage stays dark for thirty seconds and the sound of
the rain gets louder.
The sound of the rain gets quieter. The stage lights up.
Kreutchmar is standing at the front of the stage, holding
the knife in front of him, facing the audience. Jacob comes
into the room behind him so he can only see Kreutchmar's
back and not the knife.
JACOB
What's happening?
KREUTCHMAR
I'm thinking.
JACOB
What about?
KREUTCHMAR
Bloch. Greene. You. You and the
girl mostly.
JACOB
What about me and the girl?
KREUTCHMAR
I'm thinking that things don't
always turn out how you expect
them to. You think you can trust
people, but you can't. You start
off thinking that someone,
something, will come along and
rescue you, but it doesn't
happen. And you quickly realise
that you have to do things for
yourself - you have to act as if
there's no-one else in the world
who has any interest in your
fate. That's if you want to get
out, of course. If you think it's
worth doing whatever you have to
do to get out. The question is,
Jacob, should you do whatever is
necessary to get out? Or should
you just drift along, day after
day, listening to the rain,
wondering if you'll ever get out.
Should you just leave everything
to chance or should you intervene
to make the situation better.
Should you be a surgeon or a
nurse - you decide.
As he says, 'you decide', Kreutchmar turns around and walks
slowly towards Jacob with the knife pointing towards him.
JACOB
(backing off)
What are you doing? Don't be
stupid! Don't mess everything up!
KREUTCHMAR
You already did that, Jacob. But
now it's simple: should I be a
surgeon or a nurse. It's your
decision.
JACOB
(backing right up to the
breakfast bar)
We can sort this out.
Just because she's seen me, it
doesn't mean a thing. We'll all
be gone: you, me, Greene, and
Bloch, we'll take the money and
disappear. There are places where
you can disappear, with a new
name, a new identity...
(his hand grasping the
Michael Jackson mask)
...a new face even, you can
change your face and be a
different person and no-one will
ever find you.
KREUTCHMAR
(walks up close to
Jacob, speaking deadly
calm)
That sounds like I should be a
surgeon then.
Kreutchmar pulls back his arm as if to stab Jacob. Just as
Kreutchmar is about to stab him, the doorbell rings. They
both freeze.
JACOB
It's the door.
Kreutchmar, holding the knife up looks at Jacob then looks
around at the door. He walks over to the window and peeks
around the blind.
JACOB
Who is it?
KREUTCHMAR
It's a courier. He's got a
parcel.
The bell rings again.
JACOB
(moving quickly towards
the door)
I'll get it!
KREUTCHMAR
(waving him back with
the knife)
Don't be stupid. It must be a
setup. Let him go.
The bell rings again.
JACOB
What's he doing?
KREUTCHMAR
He's leaving it in the porch.
He's writing a card. He's putting
it through the letter box.
A card is pushed through the letter box.
KREUTCHMAR
Okay, he's gone.
Kreutchmar walks over, picks up the card, and reads it.
JACOB
What does it say?
KREUTCHMAR
Nothing. But it's addressed to
me. How can it be addressed to
me? Only Bloch and Greene know
where we are.
JACOB
Go and get it.
KREUTCHMAR
It could be a trap.
JACOB
It must be from Bloch. It's gotta
be. I'll get it.
Jacob walks to the door. Kreutchmar follows him with the
knife ready in case Jacob tries to escape.
Jacob opens the door, picks up the parcel and comes back
in. The parcel is about 8-inches square, wrapped in brown
paper. Jacob takes it and puts it on the table.
KREUTCHMAR
Don't open it. I'm going to phone
Bloch.
Kreutchmar picks up the phone and rings Bloch. Bloch's
phone rings from inside the parcel.
KREUTCHMAR
What the fuck! That's his phone.
JACOB
Open it.
Kreutchmar walks to the table, sits down, and uses the
knife to slit open the top of the parcel. He opens the
parcel and looks inside. He pulls out something wrapped in
a white, bloodied rag, and puts it on the table.
JACOB
Jesus! What's that? What's going
on?
Kreutchmar uses the point of the knife to open the rag.
Inside it there is a hand, cut off at the wrist, holding
the mobile phone.
KREUTCHMAR
Jesus fuckin christ! It's a hand.
Jacob bends over and looks at it.
JACOB
That ring. That's Greene's ring.
Oh my god, it's Greene's hand.
There's a note in it. Take it out
- read it!
Kreutchmar pulls a note from out the box. He reads it
silently. He looks at Jacob and looks at the knife. He
stares at Jacob.
JACOB (cont'd)
(nervously)
What's it say? Why are you
staring at me?
KREUTCHMAR
It says, "I thought I could trust
you. But Jacob and Greene thought
they could go it alone. So I had
to cut you all out. Bloch."
JACOB
He's double-crossed us.
KREUTCHMAR
You double-crossed us. You and
Greene.
Kreutchmar jumps suddenly and holds the knife against
Jacob's throat.
JACOB
He's just saying that. He's done
Greeney and he's got the money.
We have to find him before he
gets away. He will have told them
where we are!
Silence. They both stop and think. Only the sound of rain
falling for five seconds then it stops. Absolute silence.
Kreutchmar walks over to the window and looks out the
blind. He staggers back, dazed.
KREUTCHMAR
There's police everywhere.
Kreutchmar throws down the knife and runs behind the
breakfast bar. He comes back with a red petrol can. He goes
to the front of the stage and starts splashing petrol on
the floor across the stage and around the door. Jacob backs
up, right to the back of the stage, just watching.
KREUTCHMAR (cont'd)
(shouts hysterically)
You said I could trust you!
JACOB
Kreutchmar, we still have the
girl, think about it, we can
negotiate.
KREUTCHMAR
It's too late for that now. They
won't take us. No-one gets out of
here alive!
Kreutchmar walks to the table and picks up the matches. He
walks to the front of the stage and prepares to strike a
match.
Jacob picks up the knife and walks towards Kreutchmar. As
he walks towards him he flicks the knife from side to side
in the same way that Kreutchmar did during the 'surgeon or
nurse' speech earlier.
The stage goes dark.
THE END
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