Concordi Discordia

WH: Miss Mort –
DM: What? Why are you calling me “miss”?
WH: I’m sorry. I was just wondering if you were feeling better.
DM: Better from what?
WH: Earlier. Don’t you remember?
DM: No. No, I don’t. Can we just start this again?
WH: Well – alright. My name is Police Sergeant William Hale.
DM: David Maitland. Nice to meet you, Mr Hale. Now, may I ask why I’m here?
WH: Mr Maitland, do you happen to know Mr James Harper?
DM: James? Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Wait – what’s wrong? What’s happened to him?
WH: And how do you know Mr Harper?
DM: He’s a good friend of mine. Why do you need to know this? Is he alright?
WH: Miss, I’m sorry, Mr Maitland, please calm down. I can understand your distress, but please tell me: what kind of relationship did you and Mr Harper have? How did you know each other?
DM: We met at work. Colleagues.
WH: What job were you doing?
DM: Accountancy.
WH: I see. What drew you to each other?
DM: Nothing drew us together. We had to work together on a task and ended up close friends. We shared the same interests.
WH: Which were?
DM: Metal music, we both support Reading – football, right, watching horror films. And we both had the same sense of humour. But now, I guess...
WH: Mr Maitland, please be reassured that Mr Harper’s life is not in danger.
DM: Tell me what happened then! It must be serious.
[A sigh is heard]
WH: Mr Maitland, I’m not sure how you’re going to react to this, but –
DM: Just tell me!
WH: Mr Harper – James – has been raped. [Pause]
DM: Who by? Another man? Why?
WH: No. A woman. [Pause]
DM: Do you know who?
WH: That’s why you’re here. We’re trying to find out whether – who did it.
DM: Can I see him? Just make sure he’s okay?
WH: No, I’m sorry.
DM: Where is he?
WH: He’s not here, Mr Maitland!
[There is the sound of a chair scraping and being hit against a wall]
WH: Mr Maitland! Come back! Sit down here! We haven’t finished yet!
DM: Well, I am! Let me out of here!
[A second chair is knocked over carelessly]
WH: Come back here! Now!
[A person runs from the room]