Monsters and Madman
ACT ONE: SCENE ONE
A bare stage, dimly lit. Sirens can be heard in the distance, softly at first, and then gradually growing louder. There is a corpse lying center stage, a young woman in a running suit. At rise, two detectives, EDWARD BERRINGER and his partner, EDWARD YOUNG, are standing over the body, both smoking. Both are silent. They just stare at the corpse. It should be apparent from their respective appearances that BERRINGER is in charge of the investigation, an older man with more experience than his younger partner.
YOUNG
(THROWING AWAY HIS CIGARETTE) Still think it's just another random act of violence?
(BERRINGER JUST SHAKES HIS HEAD)
We've got a psycho killer on our hands. A serial murderer.
BERRINGER
Who would think that something like this would happen in a small town like this? This kind of shit goes down in places like New York...not Boise, Idaho.
YOUNG
New York doesn't have a monopoly on crazies.
BERRINGER
(HE BREATHES HEAVILY) Any I.D.?
YOUNG
No. Evidently she'd been out jogging. It shouldn't be too hard to find out who she is.
BERRINGER
Who found the body?
YOUNG
Another runner.
(NODDING TO A SPOT JUST BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE STAGE)
Guy lost his lunch when he saw her.
BERRINGER
(THE SIRENS, WHICH HAVE GROWN STEADILY LOUDER, STOP. A CAR DOOR CAN BE HEARD SLAMMING SHUT.)
Anything else?
YOUNG
Not really. She was stabbed through the heart. Looks like the same size of knife as the others.
BERRINGER
God...this city's gonna...I don't know. People are gonna panic.
(TWO AMUBLANCE ATTENDANTS ENTER WITH A STRETCHER. WHILE THE DETECTIVES LOOK ON, THEY COVER UP THE BODY, LIFT IT UP AND ON TO THE BED, AND WHEEL IT AWAY. THERE IS A LONG SILENCE AFTERWARDS)
Sometimes this world really sucks. Doesn't it?
(PAUSE)
Let's go.
(THEY EXIT)
CURTAIN