first and final

first and final.

               Characters:

                Montresor (protagonist, suspected of murder)

                Zak Smart (Montesor’s attorney)

                Landon Martz (“good cop”)

                Timothy Abalone (“bad cop”)

Mentions of:

                Fortunato (missing/ suspected to be dead)

                Baldovino (sold the Amontillado to Montresor)

M: Montresor

Z: Zak

T: Timothy

L: Landon

~

Montresor is being interrogated by two investigators (Landon and Timothy) with his attorney present. The atmosphere is somewhat tense. A fifth character was interrogated prior to Montresor, though not mentioned in the script. Inside the room are the four of them, a table, a door, and one way class with the opaque side in, similar to a mirror.

Z: Listen, Montresor, whether you did it or not, you’re here now. [Pause, looks to Timothy and Landon]

Whenever you’re ready, Detective. – sits next to Montresor –

[Zak] Nods to Timothy and Landon

T: Montresor, huh? I’m Detective Timothy Abalone [shakes Montresor’s hand and he sits]. This one here [hooks thumb to Landon; Landon shakes Montresor’s hand, sits.] is Detective Landon Martz.

Timothy takes a deep breath; exhales.

T: Montresor, you’re not here because you’ve committed a crime, okay?

Montresor nods, looking directly at Timothy and Landon.

T: We just need to know what happened. If you’re ready to talk, then I’m ready to listen.

All eyes fall on Montresor; Montresor gets uneasy.

M: – laughs, sort of self-consciously – It’s like you guys are thinking badly of me already. It’s like being put under a microscope, you know?

No response; Montresor puts his hands on the table, looking between Timothy and Landon.

M: There’s nothing in this world I could ever imagine doing to hurt Fortunato. How could I? Wisdom of wines is our life. How ignorant would it be to murder one who has helped you so much! One who has grown to become your best friend?

L: – nods – What happened that night, Montresor?

M: It’s simple. If alcohol is there, so is he. If there’s a theme party, he’ll be there. So he went dressed in a jester costume. He even had the little bells on his hat. [shrugs] I stayed home just because I’m not very fond of theme parties.

T: Did Fortunato ever come home?

M: – shakes head – No. I went to him. Something changed my mind while I was sitting at home and I decided to take my changes and go, but I didn’t dress up.

Timothy looks up, suspiciously eyeing Montresor.

L: And that’s how you two met up?

M: – nods – Yes.

T: Continue on [points to Montresor to continue]

M: He hugged me very tightly; even hit me a few times because he was somewhat under the influence.

[Deep breath, exhale, continues in somewhat cheery tone] So we left. We walked because neither of us lives pretty far from the party’s location.

[uses hands while explaining] I’d say it was around sunset or something, maybe a little after. Streaks of orange were still in the sky. [nods] But then I remembered Baldovino.

L: Baldovino?

Z: – annoyed tone – He’s a friend of Montresor and Fortunato not relevant to this case.

L: – in the same annoyed tone – If he’s mentioned in Montresor’s testimony right now, then he is of at least some significance. [eyes Zak and looks back to Montresor]

M: Baldovino is our friend and he sold me some wine – Amontillado.

T: – raises eyebrows – How much wine are we talking about here?

M: – thinking – I’d say a pipe, perhaps?

T: – eyes widen – I’d say that’s quite a lot there. Wasn’t that quite expensive?

M: – slowly to get his point across – Baldovino is a friend.

T: Hm, so after you remembered Baldovino and the Amontillado, what happened?

M: Well, I keep the Amontillado in my wine cellar, all the way underneath the rest of the wines in the back.

T: Underneath what?

M: There’s a stairwell underneath the wines.

T: What does Fortunato have to do with the Amontillado?

M: His judgment with quality of wines in superior to mine. I had my doubts about the wine.

L: – curiously – If Baldovino is a friend, shouldn’t you trust him? I mean, since you’ve trusted him with your money?

M: – stiffly – Even experts need other experts to prove their observations consistent. That’s more than just wine; that’s science.

L: – nods and laughs once – So I see. Please, continue.

M: – exhales – Well, the two of us went back to my house. He was sobering but wanted another drink, and so I gave it to him.

T: What kind of drink? Alcohol? Wine? Liquor? – leans forward, crossing arms on table –

Z: – quickly – I don’t think that’s relevant.

Landon raises eyebrows with a small smirk; glances to Timothy.

T: As you wish. Go on.

M: – nods – So we drank. Not a lot, but just enough to make it fun – laughs – Fortunato is a fun person.

T: – under breath – A little too fun, huh?

Zak glares at Timothy but ignores his comment.

M: The stairwell is somewhat damp. There’s a bit of mold I haven’t had the time to get rid of. Not that it’s harmful, though. Fair enough, I did warn Fortunato of the conditions, but in his state, all he could do was cough.

L: Do you happen to know what kind of mold it was?

M: Something starting with an “N” I believe?

T: Niter?

M: – brightens at recognition – Ah, yes!

Timothy nods; motions for Montresor to carry on.

M: Niter was on the walls as we walked down. The stairs wind around as you go down, and so it took awhile before we actually got down there. Not much was said as we went down. It got darker and I grabbed a flashlight off of the wall… he called out ‘Montresor!’ and when I turned, he was there no longer.

Landon and Timothy laugh with annoyance. Timothy looks to Montresor with disbelief.

T: Montresor, that it what I would like to call bull. Niter grows on the surfaces of caverns. That means there are caverns in your basement.

M: Are you insisting I did something to Fortunato? – points to self and scoffs – Detective, that person was not me. He was drunk; he doesn’t know what he was doing.

T: You gave him the drink, Montresor. Did you think of that?

M: He requested it! Is that my fault?

T: Whether or not it is, the point is, you killed Fortunato.

M: Are you accusing me?

T: – threatening tone – You’re making it worse for yourself, Montresor. You lured Fortunato into the caverns and killed him! Admit it! – stands, pointing to Montresor –

M: I did no such thing!

T: – yelling – You’re a liar! – pounds table –

Z: – stands, hands on table – Detective!

Room goes quiet; Zak and Timothy sit.

M: – slowly – Fortunato did not die by my hand. I don’t know where he is.

Landon and Timothy look to each other.

L: – sighs, continues seriously – Montresor, listen –

M: It wasn’t me; I swear to God, it wasn’t me.

L: – calmly with sympathy in voice – Montresor, you know where Fortunato is, don’t you?

M: – shakes head – I don’t know what you’re talking about.

L: – softly – Montresor, I can help you. I will help you. You just have to tell me where Fortunato is, okay? You’ll be okay – shakes head – nothing bad will happen.

M: I really don’t know.

L: – sighs and continues in same tone – You were scared. You are scared. What did he say about you? What did he say to you? Did it make you mad? Did it make you want to kill him?

Montresor looks up at Landon and back down again.

M: – panic in voice, hands shaking, sharp but controlled tone – You know nothing. I did what I had to. I stopped the voices in my head. I gave myself the peace of mind my soul craved. Every day, the cycle repeats itself. I thought it was friendship. Oh how I was wronged.

‘[imitating Fortunato] Montresor, you know I’m better than you. How do you continue, knowing you’ll never be the best?’

Montresor looks up at Landon with crazed eyes.

M: Have you ever been told that? Hmm? Do you have tiny little demons crawling inside of your head, speaking of things you would never consider? They swirl and mix in your head, torturing you; intoxicating you from the inside out.

– Looks at the other three with a wide smile and excited voice – Yes, I know where Fortunato is! He is right where he has been left – in the case of amontillado, the catacombs of which my family’s bones remain.

– Laughs maniacally – Do I look easy to you? Do I look as if you can insult me and get away with it? You can say things of me without my knowledge with impunity?

– shouts, pounding table – I  will not be made a fool of! Not in my own profession!

Montresor begins to laugh more, throwing his hands in the air out of joy.

M: Oh dear Fortunato, how the joke is on you! – looks to the sky with arms raised – Oh happy days are here to stay! Did I not fulfill your request? Were my actions now both spontaneous and ambitious?

Montresor stands, peering at everyone in the room and catches his reflection in the mirror. His face falls as he drops his arms and slowly walks to it, touching the reflection of his face.

M: – softly and slowly – You… – anger builds and he yells – You did this! YOU DID THIS! GET OUT! LEAVE MY HEAD, DEMONS!

[Tears begin to fall as he grabs his head] YOU KILLED FORTUNATO!

[Pounds mirror with fists] FORTUNATO IS IN THE CATACOMBS, ROTTING AWAY! [slides to floor, back to others, sobbing] For the love of God…

[Looks up, talking louder] For the love of God, is there nothing left for me? Is there no more love for the heathens like me?

Landon sighs; investigators stand, walking to Montresor. Timothy cuffs Montresor, pulling him to his feet.

T: Montresor, you are under arrest for the murder of Fortunato. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. – holds hands behind Montresor’s back, walking him out of the room –

Zak stands in frenzy.

M: – yells – Fortunato! In pace requiescat! [drops head, tears falling]

Z: – quickly talking and follows the three – Montresor, you are not going to prison, okay?

M: Oh, Zak, it’s too late now [laughs sadly]

L: Montresor had confessed to murder. He’s not going to get away with that.

Z: – exasperate – Can’t you see he’s a lunatic?! He couldn’t have killed Fortunato; he’s mentally incapable of doing so!

[Looks over Landon’s shoulder, yelling] Montresor! Wait for me! You are not going to prison! [Looks to Landon, lips pursed]

L: – smirks – I’d say your client is schizophrenic among other mental illnesses. He is very capable of his actions while under the influence of said voices. He’s very capable of murder and he will be going to prison.

Landon turns to walk out of the room, leaving Zak behind.

end.