People Live Here

by George F. Walker

  MR. DAVID: At night? In this neighbourhood?

  JAKE: She was born in this neighbourhood.

  MR. DAVID: Yeah, but it’s changed a lot, right?

  JAKE: Not enough to stop her from going for a walk.

  MR. DAVID: Good for her. We have to fight back, right?

  JAKE: Against who?

  MR. DAVID: Against who. That’s funny … So, she’s feeling better then. And what about you? All these things about the accident haven’t caused you to become a little fuzzy-headed?

  JAKE: I don’t think so.

  MR. DAVID: What I’m saying is, I thought we had an agreement. All those zeros on that cheque I gave you …

  JAKE: Yeah. That was –

  MR. DAVID: Generous. It was very generous.

  JAKE: Oh, yeah. For sure.

  MR. DAVID: Yes. So this afternoon when I got a call from a woman – whom I assume was representing your interests – asking me for a quarter of a million dollars, I was a little confused.

  JAKE: A quarter million. Wow.

  MR. DAVID: Yes. A big fucking wow.

  JAKE: Only … what makes you think she was representing us?

  MR. DAVID: You mean, why do I have trouble believing that a witness to the accident suddenly appeared and decided on her own to shake me down? Because I’m not a fucking idiot. Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?

  JAKE: No.

  MR. DAVID: Does your wife?

  JAKE: Probably. But that’s only because she thinks most men are.

  MR. DAVID: What do you know about me?

  JAKE: Nothing really.

  MR. DAVID: You mean nothing except I drive a very expensive vehicle and can easily spare the sixty thousand dollars I offered you out of the goodness of my heart?

  JAKE: It wasn’t sixty. It was fifty.

  MR. DAVID: Sixty. Fifty. So fucking what? You should have just cashed the cheque! Listen, do you want me to give you a little advice?

  JAKE: No. Not really.

  MR. DAVID: Well, here it is anyway. Next time you’re thinking about shaking someone down, find out much more about that person first. You understand what I’m saying?

  JAKE: I think so.

  MR. DAVID: You just “think” so?

  He casually pulls out a knife.

  JAKE: Hey, man. That’s not –

  MR. DAVID stabs himself in his palm, then licks off the blood.

  JAKE: Why’d you do that? What’s that mean? Never mind. I don’t need to know. Just put it away, okay? I get it. We made a mistake. We’ll back off. Please. Weapons aren’t the answer, man. If there’s a problem that’s out of control, let’s just work it out. Okay?

  MR. DAVID: Sure. I’m good with that. I just wanted you to know where I’m coming from. Do you know where that is now? The place I come from?

  JAKE: It’s the dark place. You’re coming from the dark place I’ve been trying to stay out of my whole life.

  MR. DAVID: No. You know what? I’m pretty sure I’m from a much darker place than that. I’m from a place that’s full of death and destruction. A place where there is absolutely no forgiveness, that punishes failure in ways you couldn’t even imagine. And if I fail to get you to back off and I’m thrown into the light of day, my punishment will be severe. But before that, before I receive my punishment, I will make sure that both you and your wife are punished in an even worse way. In a way that I’m having trouble picturing without getting sick to my stomach. Is any of this penetrating your very feeble brain?

  JAKE: Yeah.

  MR. DAVID: Are you sure?

  JAKE: Yeah …

  MR. DAVID: So … are we all right now? We’re cool, yes?

  JAKE: Definitely.

  MR. DAVID: (putting the knife away) So … how long have you and your wife been together anyway?

  JAKE: Since we were fifteen.

  MR. DAVID: Really? So where are all the children you should have by now?

  JAKE: We don’t have them.

  MR. DAVID: (smiling) That’s my point. Why not?

  JAKE: We’re waiting until we’re in a better situation.

  MR. DAVID: You mean when you’re off welfare?

  JAKE: We’re not on welfare. Getting on welfare would be going backwards.

  MR. DAVID: But blackmail is going forward? Do you see the problem with that thinking? How one can make you a loser and the other one a dead loser?

  JAKE: Yeah. I do.

  MR. DAVID: Good. So this was just a learning situation for you then.

  JAKE: Yeah. A learning situation.

  MR. DAVID: I understand that. Now cash the cheque, and buy yourself a nice car. It might fool people into thinking you’re not just a pathetic nothing. And trust me. That’s all you’re getting from me. Also, if I get another call like the one I had today … well I’m going to have to put an end to all this, aren’t I? (standing) Now do you think you can relay all that was said here to your wife accurately?

  JAKE nods.

  MR. DAVID: And buy some new furniture, for God’s sake. You can’t live a good life with junk like this around you. All this evidence of your failures … It’s too much to overcome.

  JAKE: (looking at him) Did you … cause the accident?

  MR. DAVID: Jake? (shaking his head) After all I have just told you, you still want to ask me that question?

  JAKE: No, don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. No one would believe me anyway. You know, because I’m such a loser.

  MR. DAVID: Right.

  JAKE: So … did you?

  MR. DAVID just smiles, and leaves.

  Blackout.

  SCENE 8

  LACEY and HARRY. LACEY is dressed in an old track suit of Jake’s. JAKE is in the kitchen.

  LACEY: She’s asking for way too much. You gotta tell her to back off.

  HARRY: That’s not going to work. She thinks he’s a challenge.

  JAKE is coming from the kitchen with three mugs.

  JAKE: He’s a criminal. A serious criminal.

  HARRY: Thanks … (taking a mug) Yeah. She found that out. And it got her excited. His name’s actually Davisomitski, or something like that. He’s second-generation Albanian mob. A nasty group of law breakers and she’s thrilled about taking them on. Usually she only gets to stick it to sleazy business types and the odd politician. This takes her to a whole new level.

  LACEY: Well, it’s great that she’s having fun, but this guy’s threatened us.

  JAKE: Me. He threatened me.

  LACEY: You, us … What’s it matter?

  JAKE: Come on. I’d never let him get away with threatening you.

  LACEY: (to HARRY) He had a gun, so that’s probably not true.

  JAKE: Actually, it was a knife.

  LACEY: You told me it was a gun.

  JAKE: In my mind it was a gun.

  LACEY: Whatever. I’m not saying you wouldn’t have wanted to defend me … (to HARRY) He’s got a thing about guns.

  JAKE: And knives.

  HARRY: Irene says that gun and knife stuff is just part of his schtick.

  LACEY: Well, tell “Irene” we think killing people might also be part of his schtick. We’re happy with the fifty thousand.

  HARRY: Doesn’t matter. I’m sure he’s already put a stop payment on that cheque.

  JAKE: Why would he do that?

  HARRY: To save money. It was enough to just scare you.

  JAKE: Who’s scared? I’m not scared.

  HARRY: You should be.

  LACEY: He is. (to JAKE) Look, just take the cheque to the bank, okay? Try to cash it. Then we’ll know for sure if we want to do anything else.

  HARRY: Yeah, you can’t come away from this with nothing.

  JAKE: You mean except our lives.

  LACEY: Just go to the bank.

  JAKE: Sure. But I have a few errands to run so –

  LACEY: Do this first. It’s in the kitchen drawer with the knives and forks.

  JAKE retrieves the cheque.

  LACEY: It’s made out to me. I’ll have to si
gn the back.

  JAKE: (handing her the cheque) Right.

  HARRY: (handing LACEY a pen) This is probably a fool’s errand.

  LACEY: That’s okay. He’s a fool.

  JAKE: Hey.

  LACEY: I’m talking about those other “errands” you have to run.

  JAKE: Yeah? Well, that’s okay then, I guess.

  He takes the cheque and leaves.

  HARRY: What’s he up to?

  LACEY: Shouldn’t you be calling Irene?

  HARRY: (taking out his cell and punching a key) I’ll try but …

  (on the phone) Hi. It’s me. Look, you need to step away from this … Because this man is making my friends very nervous. (to LACEY) She doesn’t care.

  LACEY grabs his phone.

  LACEY: (on the phone) Hey. Irene. Back the fuck off. You’re messing with our lives here! … No, it’s not worth the risk! … No, it fucking isn’t!

  She hands back HARRY’s phone.

  LACEY: What is it with her?

  HARRY: (shrugging) Like I told you. She’s a sociopath. (on the phone) Irene, look … how about I point you to another target? We’re in a fight with our landlords and we need someone to go at them in a really big way. This would be a no-holds-barred situation. Yeah. Total war … (to LACEY) She’s considering it.

  LACEY: That’s big of her.

  Blackout.

  SCENE 9

  LACEY has let ANNIE in. They are both heading to the living room.

  ANNIE: You been jogging?

  LACEY: Sleeping.

  ANNIE: Oh. Well, at least you’re getting dressed now.

  LACEY: Right. Listen, I’ve still got nothing to tell you. No new memories. No new need to let myself off the hook. So, whatever you’re here for …

  ANNIE: There was an incident involving your husband. It was a gang thing in the park near here. And shots were fired –

  LACEY: Jesus. Is he dead?

  ANNIE: No, he was wounded, but he’s going to be okay. He’s in the hospital.

  LACEY: The hospital. Okay. Yeah … Can you take me there?

  ANNIE: Sure, but …

  LACEY: (heading to bedroom) I’ll just get changed …

  ANNIE: The thing is, he was with a known dealer who was in possession of a large quantity of crack cocaine. And there were other individuals …

  LACEY: (from off) What about Jake?

  ANNIE: He was shot in the arm.

  LACEY comes out of the bedroom unchanged.

  LACEY: I meant was he carrying?

  ANNIE: No, but – I thought you were going to change.

  LACEY: I decided not to bother.

  She starts out. ANNIE follows.

  ANNIE: Look, this was a turf-war kind of thing, so if Jake is involved with these people …

  LACEY: Right. That’d be bad. Got it.

  She leaves.

  ANNIE: (following) Aren’t you going to lock the door?

  LACEY: (off) Jesus Christ. No …

  ANNIE: Not smart. These are not smart people.

  ANNIE leaves and closes the door behind her.

  Blackout.

  SCENE 10

  MR. DAVID is on the couch, legs spread out and waiting. HARRY comes in.

  HARRY: Okay, how many times do I have to ask you to keep that door (seeing MR. DAVID) … locked …?

  MR. DAVID: Hi, there.

  HARRY: Who are you?

  MR. DAVID: Why do you ask?

  HARRY: Well, you’re in an apartment that isn’t yours.

  MR. DAVID: So are you.

  HARRY: I’m the … concierge.

  MR. DAVID: The concierge. Is that a joke?

  HARRY: Yes.

  MR. DAVID: Okay. Good. I liked it.

  HARRY: Thanks. Now, who are you?

  MR. DAVID: Who do you think I am?

  HARRY: I think you’re someone who shouldn’t be here.

  MR. DAVID: Relax. I’m just waiting for that young couple to come home.

  HARRY: You can wait in the lobby.

  MR. DAVID: Lobby. That must be another joke. There’s no couch. Not even a couple of chairs.

  HARRY: It’s a lobby without furniture.

  MR. DAVID: Sure. Because it would all get stolen, wouldn’t it? I get that. Come on. Take a load off. Let’s chat. I was going to say this to the young people who live here but since you’re the … concierge. Harry, right?

  HARRY: Yeah.

  MR. DAVID: Right. So actually, you should be the one to receive this information anyway. Irene said it was your idea to approach me.

  HARRY: Who’s Irene?

  MR. DAVID: Please. Don’t do that. It will just waste time for both of us.

  HARRY: You found her?

  MR. DAVID: I never lost her. I had her followed from our meeting.

  HARRY: Have you hurt her?

  MR. DAVID: Yes.

  HARRY: How badly?

  MR. DAVID: It’s hard to tell. She doesn’t seem all that bothered by pain.

  HARRY: She isn’t. So you might as well let her go.

  MR. DAVID: That’s one option. What are you anyway? Besides a janitor … You seem to think of yourself as some kind of hero to the people here. You were a crooked lawyer, right? Is this your attempt at redemption?

  HARRY: Could be. Or maybe it’s just something that needs to be done.

  MR. DAVID: Well, whatever it is, it has to stop. I can’t be involved, beyond what I already am, in any of the consequences from that tragic accident. It’s already brought me too much attention. I have people to answer to, and they don’t like their associates to attract attention. I’ve already explained this to Jake but apparently you people aren’t communicating with each other clearly. So here it is, one last and final fucking time. If I ever hear from any of you again, this “thing” will get truly, truly, truly ugly for all of you. Do you understand what I’m saying?

  HARRY: I truly do.

  MR. DAVID: Excellent. (standing) And tell the young couple that the next bullet Jake takes won’t be intended to wound.

  HARRY: The next bullet? What are you –

  MR. DAVID: You know, if you seriously want to make the people in this place feel better about themselves, put a nice sofa, a few cozy chairs, maybe even a brightly coloured rug in that lobby. Show them you trust that they won’t get stolen. Plant new grass around the building. Maybe a few flowering bushes. Small things like that. That’s all you should be doing. Anything more … adventurous is just going to end in heartbreak.

  He leaves.

  Blackout.

  SCENE 11

  LACEY, JAKE, and HARRY. JAKE’s arm is in a sling. HARRY is on his feet and agitated.

  HARRY: He’s killed her. I’m sure of it.

  JAKE: Should we call the cops?

  HARRY: And ask them to look for her body at the bottom of the lake? This man is a seriously deranged criminal. I don’t know how high up he’s connected but –

  LACEY: What’s this thing he said about Jake maybe getting shot again?

  JAKE: How’d he know about that?

  HARRY: My guess is that he supplies Daryl’s gang. And he used them to send you a message.

  JAKE: Yeah, I was wondering why they all of a sudden turned on me. I don’t get it. I’d already told that asshole we wouldn’t push it anymore.

  LACEY: Then Irene got to work.

  HARRY: That was a strategic error.

  LACEY: Ours, hers, or his?

  HARRY: Mine. I should never have unleashed her. Bless her, she couldn’t control her basic instincts. Well, live and learn.

  JAKE: If we can.

  LACEY: Yeah, we’ll have to make sure he knows we’re really, really backing off this time. (to HARRY) I mean, there’s no other choice, is there?

  HARRY: Well, there’s always another choice. Problem is, we won’t know if it was the right one until we make it. Just letting him threaten us into doing nothing doesn’t feel right to me, though. He put a stop payment on that cheque, didn’t he?

  JAKE: Yeah.


  HARRY: Well, there you go. You’re getting nothing from that evil asshole if we leave it as is. That settles it.

  He starts off.

  LACEY: Harry.

  HARRY: Don’t worry. I’ll leave you out of it. And if whatever I do doesn’t work out … I’ve liked getting to know you both very much. You’ve helped me get focused.

  He starts and stops again.

  HARRY: One more thing. It’s about the petition. Get it signed by as many people as possible. If you have to, just forge their names. No one will notice. Then start the campaign to resist eviction. And please don’t give up. Not about that or anything else. How you start off doesn’t have to be how you end up.

  He leaves.

  JAKE: I should go with him.

  LACEY: Why?

  JAKE: It feels shitty not to. That prick he’s going after had me shot.

  LACEY: (sitting on the couch) So you want a little payback?

  JAKE: Maybe.

  LACEY: Look, just sit down. You’re not that guy.

  JAKE: What guy?

  LACEY: The one who needs to go get payback and leaves me here worrying about him. Sit down. Please. (off his look) Come on. Be that guy, okay? Be my guy.

  JAKE looks at her. She pats the couch next to her. He sits. She snuggles up to him.

  Blackout.

  SCENE 12

  LACEY and ANNIE. LACEY is on her feet.

  ANNIE: Mr. “David” denies ever seeing your friend.

  LACEY: He’s lying.

  ANNIE: How would Harry even know where to find him?

  LACEY: Maybe from Daryl down the hall.

  ANNIE: The dealer? The one your husband’s involved with?

  LACEY: He’s not really in – Mr. David is his supplier. Look, I’m not going to talk to you if I think you’re just trying to connect Jake to Daryl or any other drug dealer.

  ANNIE: You didn’t like my heads-up about the company he’s keeping? Look, maybe Harry just took a little vacation.

  LACEY: A vacation? No way. The man is on a mission.