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Act I, Scene Seven
It is the next morning. John Delaney sits in the study with a file on his lap. Robert Gomez enters in his wheelchair.
Gomez
You got breakfast okay, John?
John
I ate, yeah!
Gomez
The others are eating now. I could never eat after a skinful.
John
Yeah, but you're not me, are you, son?
Gomez
Are you going to get violent, John? Because I can't have that.
John
I don't beat up cripples, but maybe it's time I started!
Gomez
Of the three, I would have thought you would be least affected by the file. Most of it is public record.
John
That doesn't mean you have the right to it.
Gomez
Of course it does. How can I help if I don't know what you need?
John
There's personal stuff in here about my family. You didn't get that from public records.
Gomez
I could afford to be very thorough, so I was. I paid a company to find out all there was to know about you and the others. I had to be sure you were the right John Delaney.
John
You could have found that out with a fucking birth certificate. There's a file on Charlie Hoban there, why?
Gomez
I was interested in finding out what happened to him. What's interesting, John, is you never read his name out to Sean.
John
Do yourself a favour, Gomez, and don't confuse what I did with my being allied with you. I did it for Sean.
Gomez
If you say so.
John
I might change my mind about beating cripples if you keep acting like I'm in this with you!
Gomez
There'll be no violence, John. No matter what.
John
I take it you've people to stop it, you've people to do everything else for you.
Gomez
I'm trying to get my mind clear on things, John. You might do the same if you were in my position.
John
What position is that, exactly? Because from where I'm sitting, you seem to be doing alright for yourself. You've everything a man could desire - you've people to wipe your arse!
Gomez
Things aren't as they seem.
John
Hold on a second while I pull out my violin. Will a quick verse of "Nobody's Child" do you?
Gomez
You remember that song too?
John
I remember a lot of things, which is why I'm here, but just how much do you remember? And what exactly are you trying to forget?
Gomez
I am trying to remember everything. Do you think all the things I have have bought me peace?
John
Not sure I care! They've bought you the ability to lord it over people like me, something I'm guessing you never had in the Naz.
Gomez
Is that what you think I'm trying to do? You could not be more wrong. I want to make things better for us.
John
Why "us"? Why not everyone else you spied on?
Gomez
Because you're the ones who need it the most. The others are all pretty settled in their lives. Ryan's a vicar, he turned his back on Catholicism, joined the Church of England. He's married with two kids, lives in Suffolk, as far as I can tell he doesn't still wet the bed. Charlton is gay, in a long term relationship, he's a book editor. Sam gets married a lot, he lives in America, as far as I can tell he makes his living liberating things from people, antiques mainly. Tony Doone is an engineer, he's had some mental problems, but he's on medication which he takes religiously, something that pleases his second wife.
John
So we're the fuck ups you feel sorry for?
Gomez
I'm not going to try and change your mind John, not with words anyway. I understand you're in danger of going back to prison?
John
If it's in my file it must be true!
Gomez
I can help. A reference from me, coupled with a job and settled housing, would go a long way to getting you probation.
John
There's no fucking way I get probation!
Gomez
A good lawyer, and someone like me showing an interest in you. Come on, John, how many times have you seen the sons of the rich go free for doing exactly the same thing you were arrested for? Theft and vandalism, John. We can make reparations, replace what you stole. What Judge is going to send you down after you do that?
John
You think you have me by the balls, don't you? Do you think another two year inside will kill me?
Gomez
It will be two years plus the remainder of your last sentence, which is another three years. I'm serious about giving you a job, or, if you can't find anything with my organization, then I'll do all I can to get you placed somewhere else.
John
And what is it you think I'm qualifed to do in a computer company?
Gomez
You could run a warehouse, be involved in despatch, there's security.
John
So menial shit then?
Gomez
No! I'd see you were trained as a manager. This is not just me doing you a favour. You're smart and resourceful. You did well at school if you remember. Let me help, John?
John
And all I need do is cooperate with you?
Gomez
Well Jo...
John
Don't get me wrong - I've no problem with doing that. I don't want to go back inside, but I don't know what it is you want.
Gomez
Just as I said: help me with remembering. No matter what you decide to do I will help you. I just need one less person to justify myself to this weekend.
John
What about Sean? Do I tell him about Charlie? Because that don't feel right to me.
Gomez
I think he should know, but I'll leave that up to you.
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