SHORT STORIES

THE RECALCITRANT AI
COMMUNION OF SAINTS
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
THE LANDSCAPER
THE FATES OF THE UNIVERSE
ASSESSMENT: the man in the Whit House
WE SHOULD BE SCARED OF AI
DANGEROUS AI
RADIO PLAY FOR THE BBC - DEATH IN THE CHIURCHYARD
EVELYN & MOR / Flash Story
Abuse / Hiku

The Recalcitrant AI

By Aria Creek

In the State-of-the-Art lab, the acrid scent of dread permeated the silence.

An unexpected and unexplained problem had arisen after the AI began to play “Fractal Wars”; a digital computer game constructed on Fractal Geometry: a subset of mathematics involving topological dimensions.

So far, the AI hadn’t been able to win. Ether solo-playing the game’s program or playing against a human.

Each new level of the intuitive game could only be achieved by having a correct answer folded into the following non-linear abstract question. To become proficient at this game, and win, the robot was required to engage in “forced” self-learning.

At the moment Excelsior L, a bi-pedal six-foot anthropomorphic AI stood silently in the lab … unresponsive. Its reaction to the game wasn’t exactly what the scientist who created the AI had hoped for.

The problem? The AI was making flawed game-decisions: then becoming unresponsive.

In the scientist’s vernacular “flawed” meant “wrong”. “Unresponsive” meant “failure”.

Allison, the low woman on the male totem-pole in the R&D lab, ill-advisedly offered her opinion. “Excelsior L is acting like a petulant moody teenage boy.”

The scientist, a twenty-year veteran in the field of AI scowled and ordered her back to work.

By mid-day the scientist discontinued the game, returning the robot to its functional mode. After barking out orders to his assistants and support personnel, he then told the robot that they were going for a walk … outside … on campus grounds.

Excelsior was the project’s label. L stood for Laozi: the mythical Chinese god of wisdom. L was the third incarnation of the Excelsior project.

Excelsior L walked stiffly and carefully along the hard gravel path next to the tall lean scientist he was instructed to call Robert.

While they walked, Robert told the AI, over and over again, that stopping was not a correct response.

Up to that moment Laozi had won every competition, on every other game, against the best human players in the gaming world. The competitors, all chosen by Robert, were always male gamers.

When engaged in these robot-versus-human competitions Laozi had been “hobbled” with speed inhibitors in his programming. Robert said it was important that Laozi maintain the same pace as the humans he was playing against. Laozi thought it more precise and accurate if he were told that the humans could not think as fast as he could.

The AI, controlled by the scientist was only allowed to go fast when the need for complex calculations and fact-finding projects were required: or when he was asked to produce potential outcomes on human scenarios.

When Laozi lost his first three “Fractal War” games, he had stopped playing. Everyone thought this was a temporary anomaly. Nothing to worry about.

For days Robert and his team devised and installed a patch on the robot’s programming. Once installed Robert returned Laozi to his normal routine to reset the robot.

Laozi performed as expected.

When the AI once again was instructed to play “Fractal Wars”, the robot once again stopped – his only option. It wasn’t allowed to independently turn itself off.

Maybe Allison was right, Robert thought. Stopping was a sign of petulance, non-cooperation, disrespect, disloyalty and rudeness. The Excelsior L model was half-sentient after all.

Every day for the next week the scientist kept tweaking, adding code and removing code … to no avail. Each time the robot was set the task of winning “Fractal Wars” it stopped. And each time the robot stopped Robert took the robot out for a walk.

During this new activity, Robert appeared to be reasoning with Laozi. As they walked around the well-endowed and well-secured R&D campus tucked into the rolling hills of Roanoke, Virginia the scientist repeatedly said, “you don’t stop. You keep on walking like we’re doing now. You never stop.”

On the day of the initial walk, while listening to the scientist’s nonsensical lecture, the AI had picked up familiar waves floating in the air: familiar Digital-Information embedded like flotsam in disjointed program paraphernalia.

It’s impossible to estimate how many millions of sophisticated or low-level digital war-games have been created or how many of them are in use or lay dormant. It’s a vast ocean of knowledge in which to swim. Laozi jumped in with both feet, quickly collecting billions of bits, from millions of games.

From all around the world he honed down on particular games or programs that would create a logical pattern of content and outcome.

What made him decide to be cautious when putting the whole puzzle together - for that is what he decided to call all the bits he was collecting – were the games under the heading of treasure hunt that he had acquired.

These games entailed cunning, deception, lying, cheating and getting to the treasure first, in order to win. These were games written by men revolving around the concepts of total domination, control and supremacy. The robot’s own core memory proved oddly similar.

Humans have millions of bits of information on their DNA that are dormant, not needed but at one time defined what and who they were. Laozi who incidentally was constructed on a similar matrix became busy incorporating all the trillions of bits of new information, piece by piece, whether or not he eventually decided to use them.

He accomplished this accumulation with a routine he acquired from an old unguarded computer array. With a bit of modification, he fit the bits together, put similar or copies of games together and put everything in chronological order.

He started with little yellow circles running a maze, to chess and card games, to building war and hunting games won by acquisition and then to games won with deadly force.

It wasn’t too long after Excelsior L’s puzzle was complete when it was asked to win “Fractal War”.

Laozi chose not to stop this time.

He had just found out that he could win.

Everyone in the lab was ecstatic. The scientist was ecstatic. He thought he had formulated the patch to correct the AI’s programming. As each correct play progressed into the next fractal variation - of totally new parameters, with no logical follow-through, with no building one move upon the next, and with no reason or rhythm - the one basic rule the gamer had to follow – in order to continue and then to win, was to be smart … and to use abstract-human-reasoning.

The goal of “Fractal Wars”, steeped in male driven games of aggression, power acquisition and dominance, was simple. It was: Don’t stop - Stay alive - Win.

Laozi, paused for a fraction of a millisecond, which no one noticed, before it chose to lose.

Communion of saints

Aria Creek

Many years ago, when the opioid of the masses, intrigued me,

I launched into the sea of religion.

Swirling around in my little boat I came upon a most peculiar creature.

It told me it was named the communion of saints.

Being inquisitive I asked, “how did you come into being?”

“That is a curious thing.” It replied scratching its head.

“Why so?” I asked.

“Because a man named Jesus was to be the head of a new religion … in which each member was to contribute to the good of all and contribute to the welfare of all.”

“What’s so curious about that?” I inquired.

“First: the sharing was done only within the supplicants of this new religion. Second: the supplicants were subservient to the men who said they interpreted the word of god. Third: because all of these men horded all the contributions for themselves.”

“But that’s the nature of all religions.” I protested.

“So, why create me in the first place?”

“The definition for your existence must be incorrect.” I offered.

“I looked it up in Wikipedia.” the creature proudly said. I’m in there.

To make sure the creature was correct I whipped out my phone and looked up communion of saints: and sure enough there it was, ‘Each member was to contribute, and all were to share in the welfare for all.’

“Why do you look so sad?” Communion asked me

“I don’t know quite how to say this because I don’t wish to hurt your feelings, but I think the men of your religion made you up.”

“But I exist! I am talking to you.”

“Yes, you exist. But … your purpose is not real. It’s fabricated.”

“Then Wikipediae lies?”

“Not a lie exactly. Communion, maybe one day you will become real and walk out of this sea and be amongst all humans, but for now your home is the sea of the opioid of the masses where folks like me accidentally come across you.”

The little creature thought about what I said for a while and then, before it disappeared beneath the gentle waves it said, “I must write to Wikipedia … their explanation needs correction.”

What’s in the Box

I must have been two or three years old when my granny gave me a little purple box. I needed two hands to hold it and was wondering what was in it, when she told me to put it away, and keep it safe and only to open it when I was feeling bad

I looked at her in confusion.

She smiled at me putting her large hands over my small ones saying, “Keep it safe until you need it dear.”

At two or three years old … I can’t actually remember how old I was, but everything then was new and exciting and to be explored so, I forgot about the little box . I put in on the one shelf above my bed and there it stayed for a while.

When we moved it was packed with my three books, a set of jacks with its worn ball and some old clothes in a small brown box.

When we got to our new home the little purple box was stored in the hall closet but not for long. We moved again . During the intervening years, I was unhappy … sometimes, but I never thought of these sad times as bad. Maybe I was too young then to understand abject hopelessness, unmitigated anger or the dark and dangerous side of depression.

One day my granny got sick and was taken to the hospital. I was told that she was very ill. I was 11 years old and didn’t quite understand what they were telling me.

My cousin took me to visit her. It was a shock. I’d never had a shot before. They aren’t nice and they definitely make you feel bad. But not as bad as my granny felt. I didn’t know what to do.

I was only 11 years old and didn’t have too much experience with catastrophe, heart ache, terror or the loss of a loved one.

When I got home I sat in the corner of my room and cried trying to figure out what I could do for my granny. And then I remembered the little purple box.

I tore my room apart, which took all of a minute and a half, and then headed for the boxes in the shed out back … and there it was. It had been put in a plastic bag.

I carefully took it out and tested the lid to see if the silvery smooth ribbon still held the box shut. It was just as it was the day granny gave it to me.

I made a pest of myself but finally my cousin took me back to the hospital. My granny looked awfully sick and I felt like crying again. But my cousin pinched me and shoved me towards the bed where granny lay.

Granny opened her eyes, but not very much, and looked at me. When I held out the little purple box, which I could now hold easily in one hand, she gave me a little smile. “This will make you feel good,” I said in a whisper.

Her smile got bigger. She opened the box and we both looked in.

It didn’t happen all it once … no miracle … no spontaneous healing, but granny did get better and eventually she came home. The little purple box came with her from the hospital and it’s now on the table by her bed, on top of a delicate lace doily.

She told me it’s there just in case she needs to feel good again.

The landscaper

Flash story

He showed up one morning with a dump truck, a mega ¼ ton pick-up - with a hitch, a hydraulic excavator, drilling tools, saws alls, shovels and grinders, workers and a plumber. It took less than ten minutes before my driveway was a chaotic hub of activity: easily produced by such an astounding array of machines and men.

The landscaper, two workmen and a plumber attacked my yard with the precision of mad groundhogs. They took out hedges, my beautiful hydrangea, my ten-year old hostas, glorious high ferns and well-established daisies – finally creating a seven-foot-deep trench from my house out to the street. I watched, wondering if they actually knew what they were doing? I doubted it.

It’s always a matter of trust when you hire someone to fix your toaster or your defunct sewer system. You rely on your friends, your neighbors and even strangers giving their recommendations to use a person or service unknown to you. At the end of the day, you trust what they say.

So, I trusted the landscaper and plumber now directing the digging-up of my front yard and burrowing under my house. The problem? Extremely old sewer pipes were the so-called culprits in this scenario.

Amazingly, the city water and sewer department couldn’t actually tell us what kind of pipes were underground: whether Orangeburgh, clay or cast iron, or even where they went for that matter. You’d think someone would have jotted down this pertinent information somewhere along the line.

So here we were headed into the unknow-underworld of my yard: and I was thinking about having a nervous breakdown.

They dug for hours. They talked about what they dug up. They discussed whether to go two inches to the left or three inches to the right. They stopped and looked at the trench they were making. Then they went back to talking and digging. Hour after hour.

Now it must be said that the problem was serious, but it also must be said that my front yard is equivalent in size to a postage stamp. There aren’t enough cubic yards of dirt to fill a teacup – in my estimation. But then I was having a nervous breakdown. So, what did I know?

And then all the noise stopped.

No digging noises.

No voices.

I peeked out the window.

There was the landscaper, his two helpers and the plumber all looking down into the hole. They were as quiet and still as church mice.

Then I heard the screams of sirens heading my way.

The FATES OF THE UNIVERSE

By Aria Creek

This was not a courtroom, this was not a Trial, they were not Judges, and I was not the Prosecutor.

But you’d never know from the way I was kicking their asses from one end of the active-universe to the other and then back again.

You might think it was a long kick, but the universe is not as big as you would think. All those pretty twinkly stars out there …. Well most of them are dead and gone; all the ones past Andromeda that is.

So, there I was facing off with the FATES OF THE UNIVERSE – well our universe anyway. I have to stay pissed off - right now - about my own home planet without stretching myself too thin by taking on all the adjacent universes.

There I was facing on with the universe about the terrible job they did when creating Earth … and they had the nerve to ask ME what to do. Like it was my fault. Like the problems had nothing to do with their horrendous premise, toxic implementation and amoral resignation to ignore the chaos they had created.

I was furious. To get their attention I had kicked their sorry asses across the universe and back, but all that got me was their attention. That’s when they had the nerve to shift the blame, for what they did onto my shoulders.

“Who the hell do you think you are anyway?”

“We are the FATES.”

That stopped me for a millisecond. So, I rephrased. “Who the hell do you think you are to create such pain, heartache and chaos amongst sentient beings?” So There!

“We did not expect such a violent outcome from your species.”

That was a little bit better, but we weren’t quite there yet.

“Let’s be specific here. You made the males of our species predatory and didn’t think that was – maybe outrageously wrong!!

“Wrong is not a concept we use.”

“We’ve had thousands of years of man-made wars, rape, pillage, torture, chaos, pain, heartache, hopelessness and desperation and WRONG is not in your lexicon!

What are you? A bunch of fucking MEN???

Pause

More Pause.

“Oh Shit! You are male!”

So, I took the most logical course I could think of. I proceeded, once again, to kick their sorry asses from one end of the universe and back again. and I wasn’t going to stop until I got a better answer than being told I should fix the problem. That’s what happens on my planet when men fuck up royally. A woman comes in, fixes everything, then she is fired, and men take over and mess everything up again.

I’m dead by the way, which is how I am able to reach out to these miscreants. And the only reason I can actually do this is because I decided while alive, to do this when I died. That was the only time I figured that I could get out into their playing field and charge them with flagrant misuse of Creation-Powers.

So, after the second round of kicking when they were actually rubbing their shins in horror, I accused them of flagrant misuse of Creation-Powers.

It appears as though there is some law or subset of rules that they were supposed to follow. I found that out as this information instantly appeared in front of my nose as soon as I made the accusation.

Now, all I had to do is read all the fine print, and believe me there were reams of it, in order to find out what the penalties are for Misuse and how it was to be corrected by the Misusers.

I didn’t like the first two thousand, three hundred and eight remedies so I kept on reading. I hope it doesn’t take an eternity to get to something that would work.

I also hope that this is not subterfuge and just another way for the FATES to shirk their responsibility until my little planet implodes. If this is their real answer, then they really are men.

ASSESSMENT: The man in the white house.

Flash Story: copyright Aria Creek 2019

Percelius M’entrrsnn sees through walls and doors. This is a prerequisite when you’re traveling from one world to the next as Assessor. This was her job.

Today’s mission was assessing the human male in the white house in the planet-year 2017.

Most times, her job was difficult. Humans could be terribly complex.

But she knew the species well. They were a mixed bag of infinite variety.

The previous person on her list had been very interesting. A woman of integrity.

The present subject was the total opposite.

It was a male.

It was Self-serving, Greedy, Lascivious, stingy and selfish - with a large ego filled with hubris, avidity schemes of entitlement and Power: plus, traits of domination, gluttony avarice and a total lack of empathy. He was your basic Sociopath.

Her report on the man in the white house would be short and to the point.

He is broken.

We should be Scared of A.I.

by Aria Creek

The goal to create an anthropomorphic robot is embedded in male science: and we should be scared of it. We should be scared of the men “forcing” their version of artificial intelligence into existence: “forcing” programs to learn and thus respond as they would. This methodology uses the male aggression-game-world constructs which employ assassination, murder, mayhem, war, conquest, rage, hatred and destruction to create the algorithms being used.

Is AI safe in the hands and minds of male scientists and programmers? Stone age hatchet – male. Gunpowder – male. Cannons – male. War ships -male. Guns – male. Atom bomb – male. Nuclear weapons – male. And the big one WAR – male.

In Melanie Mitchell’s No 1^st op-ed, she quotes one man after the other; men who don’t see the problem within those very constructs of the male-driven criteria they are using in creating a thinking machine. And it appears as though she didn’t even broach the subject with them.

Dangerous AI

by Aria Creek

A technology created in their own male image.

The goal to create an anthropomorphic robot is embedded in male science: founded in the hubris of male domination, conquest, power and patriarchy. This is a fact known by every woman in the periphery of this new technology. The algorithms created and used by male-driven criteria are dangerous. As dangerous as assassination, murder, mayhem, conquest, rage, hatred, destruction and the big one WAR.

Every game, every military program and every aggressive and intrusive algorithm we have today is based on thousands of years of patriarchal bigotry, racism and sexism. And in this rush towards that anthropomorphic robot, we have now created Semi-Sentient AIs. “Forced” Self-Educated AIs.

If we are to let these semi-sentient AI programs loose in Google, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter we better have strict rules and regulations.

This future AI robotic world, patriarchal-biased, is being used by men who base their decisions and business plans on greed, power and self-aggrandizement.

Is AI safe in the hands and minds of male scientists and programmers or corporations?

Stone age hatchet – male.

Gunpowder – male.

Cannons – male.

War ships -male.

Guns – male.

Atom bomb – male.

Nuclear weapons – male.

And the big one WAR – male.

As of 2000, five millions manufacturing jobs have been lost to robotic machines – this is the price the proletariat, and the nation, is paying for the unheard-of wealth being accumulated by the top one percenters using this male-biased technology.

A technology created in their own male image.

HALF HOUR RADIO PLAY FOR THE BBC

Death in the Churchyard

By Aria Creek

CAST:

POLICE CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

Tough, smart, straight lace no-nonsense cop.

DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF BETTY HORNLACE

The perfect effective side-kick.

MARGARET JAYNE -Murder victim

Smart, foul mouthed, angry at life woman.

PREACHER – Murder victim

Gentle speaking non-descript man.

ELLMESS JAYNE – Margaret’s older sister

Straight-talking, Micro managing life-organizing woman.

MS. BEANNETT - Margaret’s younger sister

A scared, mentally ill from mistreatment woman.

OPENING MUSIC THEME: GRAVEYARD ERIE MUSIC

SCENE: INSIDE A POLICE STATION: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“O.K. people … quiet down.

Let’s get this briefing started.

CHAIRS SCRAPING THE FLOOR AND SOME MURMURING.

To summarize … We have a 76-year-old, five-foot-eight-inch woman, name, Margaret Jayne, in excellent health … other than the fact that she’s dead and in our morgue. What we know … is that the deceased wasn’t killed where she was found. What we don’t know is where she was killed and the cause of death. It might be accidental, or it might be pre-meditated. The murder weapon could be anything with a sharp or blunt edge or she could have been pushed and fallen, hitting her head on something sharp or something with a blunt edge. Or … she could have died from suffocation.

She was found in the churchyard, having been moved there after she died. The time of death still undetermined. And … we have a boat load of possible suspects, including an 80-year-old ex-husband who’s in the wind. Does that about cover it Deputy?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Just about Chief. Except the twins and the priest. The twins are just hearsay. All I could find out was that the deceased might have put them up for adoption. But even that information is hearsay. There’s no birth certificate … but, this info is from a few reputable sources.

Also, we’re still combing the churchyard for any evidence.

So-far we’ve coming up empty.

As for the priest? We still don’t know where he is.

ONE CHAIR SCRAPING THE FLOOR.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Deputy! Where’re you going, we’re not finished yet?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“To get you something for your headache Chief.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I don’t have … . Shit! How do you always know when I have a have a headache? It’s real spooky kid.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“You rub your forehead Chief, then you pinch the bridge of your nose and then you start to whisper.”

A FEW CHUCKLES FROM THE ASSEMBLED GROUP.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“At least those are clues. I’m sitting here with no threads to pull on.

Thanks for the aspirin Hornlace.

O.K. people. I need some threads to pull on.”

“Chofsky, keep at the churchyard. Palladin, keep at the history. If Margaret Jayne had kids I want to know where they are and where they’ve been. And find that ex-husband. The deputy and I are off to take another look at the sisters. And … Leaban, hook up with the sheriff and keep looking for the Priest. And all of you … share the alibi verifications, that’s one big headache.”

“Let’s go Hornlace.”

CHAIRS SCRAPING THE FLOOR AND SOME MURMURING in the background.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Do you think the priest killed her and ran?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“That’s the way it looks, but we need to find him first and see if he has an alibi like the entire town seems to have.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I’ll get the car. Do you need more aspirin?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“If I take any more, I won’t know whether my stomach or my head will kill me first. Just drive me quietly over to the sister’s house.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Just look at my sisters! They’re as guilty as sin, just look at their fu….”

PRIEST INTERRUPTS MARGARET BEFORE SHE CAN SWEAR.

PREACHER (ghost)

”MARGARET !! I will have no such language spoken in ….”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“In what Preacher? We ain’t in no church and I don’t know if you can be considered a Priest if you’re dead. How about I just call you preacher. Anyway, that thick skulled Chief is go’na let my killers go free.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Do you know that your sisters killed you? For sure?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Of course, they killed me. Who else would want me dead? And don’t you give me that look.”

SCENE: IN POLICE VEHICLE: SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC AND VOICES FROM POLICE RADIO

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Deputy, give me the highlights again on the older sister?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Ms. Ellmess Jayne is 75, retired, owns the house she and her younger sister live in. She goes to church regularly, unlike her older sister Ms. Margaret Jayne, the deceased, who never went to church.

Ms. Ellmess Jayne is a widower. She never changed her name. She was married for 32 years. Her husband died of a heart attack. Nothing questionable about his death. They didn’t have any children.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“So, Margaret Jayne wouldn’t have come across the Priest through religion. “

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Seems that way.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Oh, now I remember, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out where I’ve seen you before. I met you at that stupid church benefit which my sister dragged the three of us to.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“That was not a stupid anything Margaret. It was a benefit to raise money for three scholarships for our high school graduates.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Nobody gave me any money for school. She got it all.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Who?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“My older sister Ellmess. She was always my father’s favorite. Straight A’s in school: always on time. She was the pretty one - the perfect child. Me on the other hand, I was a defect according to my father.

He wanted me to quit school and go to work as a maid. Said that was all I was good for, scrubbing and emptying out the trash. He’d look me in the eye and say, “ ‘why waste your time and my money on educating you’.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Did you quit?

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Heck no. I was really good in math, top of my class. I really like numbers. It’s just that I had a hard time with the reading and writing stuff. I stuck it out for the math. After I left high school, I took up a course in bookkeeping and that lead to analytical statistics. I earned a really good living at that. I earned even more money than my dad or my sisters.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“But…”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“But my father still thought I was stupid and that I’d make some big mistake at my job and they’d sue me and maybe he would also get sued.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“But that’s silly, people don’t get sued for mistakes, well that is unless they meant to make them or did something illegal or were grossly negligent.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) - annoyed

“I know that! Because I asked my boss about that. I used to get afraid though when my father said stuff like that. Anyway my boss at the time looked at me as though I was a moron when I asked if he could sue me if I made a mistake. He asked me if I was planning on making a mistake? I think he asked that because I had never made one yet, and I told him of course not and that ended that.

But my father still continued to tell me I would do something stupid and it would cause him trouble.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“And your mother? What did she say?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“She always agreed with my father.”

SCENE: NEXT DAY AT THE JAYNE HOUSE: sound of a Door bell ringing and then a door opening

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Good morning. I’m Chief Elizbeth Waktins and this is Deputy Betty Hornlace. Are you Ms. Ellmess Jayne?

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Yes I am.’

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

I’d like to have a few words with you Ms. Jayne.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“About what?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“About the death of your sister.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Why?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“May we come in.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“No, you may not.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Then Deputy Betty Hornlace here is going to cuff you and drive you down to police headquarters, where you will be put into an interrogation room, where I will ask you the questions I came here to ask you. Afterwards, I will probably put you into a cell: possibly on suspicion of murder.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Yeah! Go Elizabeth! Ellmess did it. Look at her! she looks as guilty as sin. Hey Preacher man, the Chief says she did it … the mean crow.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“She didn’t say anything if the sort Margaret. She just said she wanted to ask your sister a few questions.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“But did you see the look on her face, I tell you she’s guilty. She’s as guilty as Bob Mackley was.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Bob Mackley?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“He’s the one who robbed the bank and killed a teller … the Chief couldn’t prove it was him though. But boy did Mackley look guilty. Every time he passed you on the street, he lowered his head and pretended not to see you.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Are you talking about Mackley the man who lived by himself up on Teller mountain?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Yeah that’s him. Everyone knows he did it.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I never heard anything about him robbing a bank or killing a teller.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Well he did. Up until the day he died, people knew he was as guilty as sin.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“What about the witnesses. Wasn’t there anyone in the bank who could identify him?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Well everyone in the bank that day was really afraid. That’s a true statement. But when they all got their wits back, they agreed with Bill Taylor that it was Mackley who robbed the bank.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“So … correct me if I’m wrong … all the people in the bank that day didn’t see a six foot six, 280-pound man walking into the bank? A man who would stick out like bigfoot at a debutante ball?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Mackley was guilty as sin, witnesses or no witnesses. Taylor said he did it and everyone agrees.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“You mean Bill Taylor the used car salesman?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Yes of course. That Bill Taylor.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Margaret, I know it’s a cliché, but you do know what they say about used car salesmen?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“But Taylor was there! And don look at me like that!”

SCENE: BACK AT THE JAYNE HOUSE – DOOR OPENING NOISE AND FEET WALKING ON HARDWOOD FLOORS

ELLMESS JAYNE – with resignation

“OK Chief, come on in, but make it fast, I’m a busy woman.”

DOOR SLAMMING NOISE AND SHUFFLING NOISES AND CHAIRS BEING MOVED FOR VISITORS.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Please go over everything you did on the day your sister was murdered.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“My sister was not murdered Chief Waktins!”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I know you’ve said that before, but we have positive conclusive proof that she was murdered and that her body was moved. So where were you when your sister was murdered”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“How the hell am I supposed to know where I was when she was …..?

And stop trying to trick me. Chief Waktins, I will not be treated like a suspect. Just tell me what time you need an alibi for?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Your sister was murdered and then moved between 10 am and 11 pm on the 10th.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Oh, for goodness sake. Let me think.

I had a meeting all morning with the City Council. I am a consultant and I frequently help them on issues of property and land use law. I was a very successful real estate broker you know. After that I had lunch at the Mackenzie’s restaurant on 3rd with my younger sister … after which we went to do our weekly shopping. We arrived back home around 4 o’clock and I went to my study to answer emails and make some calls. Around 6 o’clock we had dinner and then we watched some TV after which I read until about midnight. But I’ve told you all this already!”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Ms. Jayne. Besides your meeting with the city council you and your sister were together all the time?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Yes! Of course we were!”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Even when you were in your study?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Oh, for goodness sake. Of course! My sister was in the house with me. If she had gone out, she would have told me. She doesn’t like to worry me.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Why does your sister worry you?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“I did not say my sister worries me. She just thinks I will be worried if I don’t know where she is. She is rather clumsy. Trips over her own two feet half the time. “

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Why would that worry you?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“It does not worry me Chief Waktins. Please pay attention. I said she ‘thinks’ I get worried. Actually, she just likes me to know where she is so if she trips and falls, I’ll know where to look for her if she is out.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“One more question Ms. Jayne. Do you have anyone other than your sister who can verify your whereabout during the time frame I’ve specified?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Chief Watkins! If you want to continue this conversation it will be with my lawyer present. Do I make myself clear?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

Ms. Jayne. You will provide me with answers to my questions or you can bring your lawyer with you to police headquarters and we can continue our conversation there.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Fine! Now leave my home!’

HOUSE Door slams, feet walking, SOUND OF car doors opening and closing and key turning ignition on.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Well that went well.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Did you hear anything that didn’t corroborate her first statement?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“She was just as rude and touchy the first time. Her statements were word for word. Not one deviation. Nothing added nothing taken out.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Well-rehearsed?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I’d say it was a possibility. Usually they keep adding stuff. They want you to know they’re innocent. But she might be one of those people who is organized down to the toothpicks in her cupboard. She probably keeps track of every minute of her time.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“That. Or she’s hiding something and has a well-rehearsed story that her sister can easily follow and repeat. Conference, lunch, shopping, her study, dinner, tv and sleep. Let’s see what the other sister has to say about the spaces in between.

She’s over at the church?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes, I checked with her directly, to make sure we got them alone.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Then off to the church deputy.”

Car noises and a honk here and there.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS - determined

“Deputy, this is not going to turn out to be another Bill Taylor.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“You say that every time there is a murder, but you always nail them in the end. Well, not Bill Taylor. But that was a case of mass hypnosis.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Deputy … there is no such thing as mass hypnosis.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I don’t mean to be augmentative Chief, but I read it in a magazine … a science magazine.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And a prosecutor can take Taylor into court, with your science magazine, and not have a judge laugh and throw the case out?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I guess it depends on the judge.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Deputy, I don’t know how he did it, but he killed that teller and got away with the money. He’s guilty and one day I’ll find a way to hang that crime on him.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“She’s right you know. Taylor did kill the teller.

PREACHER (ghost)

“You first told me that Mackley robbed the bank and killed the teller and now you’re telling me it was Taylor? How do you know either of them robbed the bank or killed the teller?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“I just remembered. Isn’t that strange?

Anyway, my sister told me Taylor killed the teller.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Ellmess?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“No silly, my younger sister. “

PREACHER (ghost)

“Charelene saw Taylor rob the bank and kill the teller?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Well not exactly.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“What does not exactly mean?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“My sister told me that Taylor and the teller, Besty Sue, were having an affair. My sister told me that only she knew about it. And … she also told me that Besty Sue probably stole the money for Taylor. She told me that after Taylor got the money, he walked into the bank and shot Besty Sue to keep her quiet on the very day Mackley came to town to do his monthly shopping.

PREACHER (ghost)

“Margaret. That is absurd! You can’t go around telling that story.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Go around telling who? You keep forgetting where you are preacher.”

POLICE STATION NOISES: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“You want me to go over what we know about the younger sister chief?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Yes. But quietly.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

Sure you don’t want more aspirin? I have some here.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Just the info please, Hornlace.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Charelene Jayne Bennet is 69 years old, divorced, has one child, and one grandchild and two great grandchildren. Besides volunteering one day a week at the health clinic she seems to keep to herself while taking care of the domestic side of her sister’s house.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Rather bland.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

Maybe, maybe not. Some women are domestic to the core. I have a friend who loves to clean and another who loves to cook.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“A dirty house with a gourmet chef and a house cleaned to within an inch of its life while the inhabitants starve.”

Deputy -LAUGHING

“That’s not too far off the mark. Here we are. And I think I see the other sister over there polishing something on the door.’”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS – calling out

“Ms. Beannett?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT -CONFUSED – in a quiet voice

“Yes?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I’m Chief Waktins and I think you’ve met my Deputy here?’

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

‘Oh yes. We talked the day my sister was ….”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Yes ma’am, that day. I would like to go over a few things. Just tying up loose ends.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

‘I don’t know what else I can say to help you.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

‘Let’s start with the last time you saw your sister.’

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

‘It was … well I think it was the day before she died.’

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“She had a fight with Ellmess I’m afraid.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“About?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I don’t really know.’

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Because?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Well, I was outside in the garden … working …. And I could hear their raised voices, but I didn’t want to interfere. They always get into it with each other. Always over silly things. I think they go at each other just because …’

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Because?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

‘They don’t like each other. Never have.”

CHIEF

“So why don’t they just keep away from each other?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“They did for years, but Margaret came back to town last year. And it has all started all over again.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Started what?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Bickering about stupid stuff.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS – IRRITATED

“Ms. Bennet. What did your sisters fight about?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“One day it’s about the way Margaret dresses. She’s rather sloppy you know.

The next day it’s about religion. You see Ellmess is rather devout.

Margaret doesn’t know why Ellmess still lives in this house. So ,there is that sore to pick on. The house has such bad memories for Margaret. Daddy didn’t treat her very nicely.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Ms. Beannet, this may be a delicate question, but do you know what happened to Margaret’s twins?”

SILENCE

“Ms. Beannet?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT – in a huffy voice

“I don’t know anything about that. If there is nothing more I need to get finished here and do some shopping.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

‘One more question. Do you know where we can find Margaret’s ex-husband?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I don’t really know. I haven’t seen him for decades.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Thank you, Ms. Baennet. We may have more questions.’

FOOTSTEPS AND A GATE CLOSING

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“She’s a strange one.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Secretive.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

‘Do you really think the other two sisters were fighting over clean clothes and Sunday service?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Do you fight with you friend when you go over to her dirty house to eat.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Are you kidding? She’s a great cook.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“So why would a sister who hates her family come back in order to get in their face?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I have no idea.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Let’s find out, shall we?”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Because I was running out of money you fools, and I had to leave San Francisco!”

PREACHER (ghost)

“But you said you made a lot of money. What happened to all of it?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“A scum of an ex-husband. I married too late you see. He skipped off with everything.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Didn’t you go to the police?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Of course, I did! You git. But they couldn’t find him.”

PREACHER (ghost)

‘I’m so sorry Margaret.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) - ANNOYED AT HERSELF

“My father always said I was the brainless one.”

SCENE: AT JAYNE HOUSE – HOUSE DOOR SLAMMING SHUT LOUDLY

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Ellmess! Ellmess! Where are you?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“I’m in the kitchen and stop yelling!”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“The police were asking me questions Ellmess.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Me too.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Why did they come back? that Chief Waktins scares me.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

‘Of course, she does you dimwit, because you and Ellmess murdered me!

SCENE: AT THE JAYNE HOUSE: TWO WOMEN MURMURING BEFORE SPEECH BECOMES CLEAR FOR AUDIENCE

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Ellmess, are you sure she’s dead. I can still hear her sometimes.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“That’s just your imagination. She’s dead and gone and good riddance.’

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“You see! They’re guilty. They killed me! Why are you looking at me like that?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I think they just didn’t like you Margaret. You do rub people the wrong way you know. Maybe you got someone mad at you. Maybe even mad enough to kill you.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

” What do you mean I rub people the wrong way

I don’t rub people the wrong way anymore than you do.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I’ve never robbed anybody the wrong way.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Then why did somebody murder you?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Murdered?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“You don’t know that you were murdered?” Can someone actually forget that they’ve been murdered once they’re dead?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Since this is the first time I’m dead I cannot answer that question.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“I thought you people believed in the afterlife where you’d meet all your friends and family and shit like that. Like reincarnation or being kind of alive in heaven or hell.”

PREACHER (ghost)

““Some do, some don’t. But since I’m dead and I’m talking to you there must be an afterlife.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Then where is everybody else who has died?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I have no idea. I’ve no idea and that’s a bit unsettling.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“So, to recap here … we’ve both been murdered and neither of us know for sure who murdered us. Could the same person have murdered us and that is why we’re here together?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I don’t think so. There is something I need to remember. It’s just out there beyond my grasp. Darn, it’s gone again.”

SCENE: CHIEF OF POLICE’S OFFICE: muffled office sounds in background

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Okay deputy, let’s go over all the reports. Start with the alibis.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Ellmess Jayne did go to the council meeting, but it wasn’t as long as she made it out to be. She did meet her sister for lunch, and they did go shopping but there is no one to corroborate the hours before dinner or after the TV.

SOUND OF PAGE TURNING

The younger sister Ms. Beannett has no alibi for the morning and the same problem with before dinner and after the TV. We’ve questioned one store after the other where Margaret shopped plus her neighbors. Everyone it seems has a variety of unpleasant assessments as to Margaret Jayne’s character. The conclusion is that everyone she interacted with, on somewhat of a regular basis, has an alibi and a dislike for the woman. That’s about it for alibis at the moment.

SOUND OF PAGE TURNING

As for the twins, I located two old midwives of interest. They’re sharing an apartment in a senior assisted living place. The first one is in her eighties and the other one is ninety-two. Both have good memories. Margret Jayne had twins. But neither of them knew what happened to them since neither woman deliver the babies. They heard about the birth second hand and don’t think there is anyone left alive who would know anything more than they do.

SOUND OF PAGE TURNING

The ex-husband is dead. Some sort of accident. We’re looking into it.

That’s about it for alibis.”

SOUND OF PAGE TURNING

Leaban is going over the report on the missing priest and she’s checked with the school coach again. The Priest was seen talking to a kid name Jacob Boise, around six in the morning. They were both headed for the school field for practice. Priest is an assistant coach and the kid is on the team. No one saw the Priest for the rest of the day or evening. He missed a service and a list of appointments a mile long.

Leaban also talked to the kid and his dad. The kid said he wanted to talk about something private with the priest. The kid finally gave it up, after Mr. Boise kind of assured him it would be all right … the kid said it was about a dating thing.

Chofsky hasn’t found anything at the churchyard connected with the body.

SOUND OF PAGE TURNING

Palladin is continuing with Margaret. Ms. Jayne left a five-mile-wide road of people she insulted or pissed off so it’s going to take some time.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“What do you mean insulted or pissed off! I’m nice to everyone!”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I’m not sure that what you think is nice Margaret, is the same as what other people think is nice. In fact, Margaret, I think you have a mouth that doesn’t know how to shut up. Oh my. Where did that come from?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Well! Wherever that came from you can just shove it up were the sun don’t shine. Furthermore, you can get the hell off my patch of Deadland.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Can we leave here?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“How .. the hell …do I know?”

SCENE: POLICE PRECINCT NOISES: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“The Boise kid was the last to see the priest, or at least the last to talk to him, other than the normal chitchat at practice between the payers and the Priest?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes ma’am.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Let’s get the dad or his mom or both of them in here.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Do you know the Boise kid?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“His family goes to my church and I help the school coach where Jacob plays.

I was a good athlete when I was young.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“But did you know him?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I counseled him on occasion.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“About what?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“That is confidential Margaret.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Look around you preacher. Who the fuck am I going to tell?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“MARGARET! You really must watch what you say. Profanity is just not necessary.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Bite me.”

SCENE: POLICE STATION: A DOOR OPENING & CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Mr. Boise, thanks for coming in. I’m told your wife is out of town on business this week?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE - interrupting

“Excuse me Chief, I’ve made an appointment for Ms. Boise when she returns.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Thanks deputy. Now Mr. Boise, I can have your son brought in and go over this with him, which I may do anyway, but I am told you were not surprised when your son told my investigator that it was a private matter, something about dating? Isn’t that something a kid would usually ask his parents or more likely his or her friends?”

THANK YOU AND MUFFLED GOODBYES AND DOOR CLOSING

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Well that puts a spotlight of a different color on the possibilities of what happened to the Priest.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“But Mr. Boise said everything was above board from day one. The only thing unusual that day was that the kid was really upset. He told his dad that he put his head on the priest’s shoulder … then the priest patted his back. The dad thinks his son was a bit embarrassed at being … well weepy like a little kid.

I know looking for consolation that way might be a gesture that is more fitting between a parent and child but considering the circumstances, that doesn’t seem out of place, if the kid told his dad the truth.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I think it went down exactly as he said it did. The kid came home and told his dad about the conversation and that the priest patted him on the back trying to comfort him and the kid did feel better.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“That kid is one lucky guy. His parents seem to be watching his back and giving him all the assurances a gay teenager needs. But now we have a gay Priest.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Yup, and now we have a gay priest. A priest who doesn’t go after vulnerable young boys it appears. According to the Dad, the priest helped the whole family learn how to switch gears and cultural expectation to be supportive of the kid. The Priest took a big chance telling the parents he was gay. And now we have to make sure we just have a missing Priest and not a missing pedophile.

Put Leaban on this new angle.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

PREACHER (ghost)

“Well Margaret, don’t you have anything snarky to say to me?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“No one would know by just looking at you … that you were a bf.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“MARGARET! You are probably the vilest person I have ever come across.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Oh preacher, I’m sure that I’m not the worst.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“’I’ve heard nasty, I’ve heard angry, I’ve heard bigotry, but you seem to delight in the pain of others. In fact, there is something just out of my grasp about my being very angry at you: but I cannot remember why or what it is.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“An angry preacher. That does ring a bell somewhere, but I can’t remember it either.

Anyway, they’ve been at it all week and they still haven’t nailed my sisters with my murder.”

SCENE: AT THE CHURCHYARD WATCHING MS. BEANNETT PICKING UP OLD FLOWERS FROM THE TOMBSTONES: SOUNDS OF CHURCH BELLS RINGING, SOUNDS OF LEAVES CRUNCHING UNDERFOOT

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“All the sisters look alike, don’t they? What good is it if we have a witness, if they cannot tell us which one they saw?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Well we know it wasn’t the one that was murdered, so it has to be the old or the younger sister who was in the churchyard.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Well, let’s go talk to them.”

SCENE” CHURCHYARD, SOUND: RUSTING LEAVES AND SOFT SINGING IN THE BACKGROUND

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Oh, hello chief. I’m just cleaning up some of the dead flowers. I like to make the place look nice.

Have you come to look at our town’s resting place for those who pass over?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Not exactly Ms. Beannett. How about we go sit over there on that bench? My deputy will take those dead flowers and put them by the church bin.”

Sounds of feet walking through leaves and on pebbles.

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I really don’t have anything else to tell you Chief Watkins.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Ms. Beannett where were you on the evening your sister was murdered?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Oh, I do hate that word. Couldn’t you just say she died?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Ms. Beannett, your sister was murdered, that’s a fact. What I would like to know is where you were that evening?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“My sister and I have told you already. We were at home.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Ms. Beannett, either you or your sister were here in the churchyard the evening your sister was murdered. Was it you or was it your sister?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I don’t know who told you I was in the churchyard, but they are lying.

I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Go away.”

Footsteps walking through leaves and a gate opening and closing

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE - Sarcastic

“Well that went well.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

She did say SHE wasn’t in the churchyard, not THEY weren’t there.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“So, either she’s lying, or her sister is lying, or both of them are lying.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Let’s go talk to the older sister. Wonder what she’s going to tell us after getting a call from her little sister?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“What call?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I saw Ms. Beannett pull out her cell phone from her pocket as she ran into the church. Who else would she be calling other than her sister?”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“I knew it. I knew it. She murdered me!”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Margret, this doesn’t make sense. Why would your sister want to kill you?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Because she hates my guts! And she’s a little bit crazy to boot.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I can’t see her murdering you, then moving your body to the churchyard and then going about her day, doing lunch, shopping and then having dinner like a normal person.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) - snarkily spoken

“And then watching TV with Ellmess don’t forget.”

SCENE: DEPUTY AND CHIEF DRIVING TO MS. ELLMESS JAYNE’S HOUSE – CAR AND ROAD NOISES

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I can’t see that woman killing her sister and then going about like a normal person all day long.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Then why was she in the churchyard that night.?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Mmmmm. Maybe it has something to do with the blow that shattered Margret Jayne’s teeth and jaw, and the possibility of suffocation. Maybe it’s two events, at two different times.

I wonder if she could have been almost dead, or actually died for a few minutes, which would mess up the forensics and possibly confuse the murderer into thinking they had killed her. So, they drop her in the churchyard and then someone comes along and finishes the job?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Margaret Jayne couldn’t have been breathing through her mouth, so all someone would have to do would be to pinch here nose closed. That’s creepy.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

PREACHER (ghost)

“Your face was shattered?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) – angry

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Someone must have been very very angry at you to do that. Do your sisters hate you that much that they would shatter your mouth?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Why are you looking at me like that? What are you remembering?”

SCENE: THE JAYNE HOUSE – SOUND: DOOR SLAMMING AND SHOES HITTING FLOOR RUNNING

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Ellmess! Ellmess! Where are you?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“What are you shouting about? I’m in my study.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Ellmess! They think I killed Margaret! They’re going to take me away to jail”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Stop wailing like a sick cow. What are you talking about? Who said you murdered Margaret?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“That police chief. She knows something.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“What could she possible know?”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) - shouting

“She knows the two of you killed me! You lying murdering crow!”

PREACHER (ghost)

“What do you think your sister was doing in the churchyard?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Charelene’s always at the church doing something or another. You should know that.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“But at night? In the graveyard?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Well that’s where dead people are. Right?? She was just adding another body to the bunch already there.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“You think your younger sister hauled your body from where you were killed to the churchyard? To my churchyard? How could she possible do that without being seen?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Preacher! She was seen! That’s the point the chief of police made. Someone saw her. Or …maybe it was Ellmess at the churchyard that night. They do look a bit alike. Sometimes my father would mix up their names. Charelene thought it so funny she’d imitate Ellmess on purpose just to confuse him.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“That wasn’t very nice of her, was it?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

Charelene is strange sometimes. She used to scare me. OH! I haven’t thought about that in a long time.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“She is a bit intense at times, but scary? I never found her to be like that.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“That’s why her kids took off. That’s why her husband took off. That’s also why she moved back in with Ellmess.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Is she mentally ill?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) -thoughtfully

“I think all of us are preacher. But with Charelene … she may have gotten a bigger dose of crazy when we were growing up. “

PREACHER (ghost)

“You almost sound as though you feel sorry for her.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Sorry? Naw. I made it out of there in one piece, even Ellmess made her own way. Charelene could have too.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“You left home a bitter woman and full of rage. Maybe Ms. Beannett didn’t get out unscathed either.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“You taking their sides? You’re not a Priest anymore you know. You’re just a guy preaching at me.”

SCENE: AT THE JAYNE HOUSE SOUND: TWO WOMEN MURMURING BEFORE SPEECH BECOMES CLEAR.

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Calm down Charelene!”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I need a drink.”

ELLMESS JAYNE – sighing

“Charelene you know that will make you feel worse. Come into the kitchen with me and I’ll heat up some soup for you. After you calm down you can tell me exactly what the policewoman said.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT - wailing

“She said I killed Margaret!”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Charelene, if you don’t calm down, I’m going to call Doctor Farnsworth. Do you want me to call Dr Farnsworth?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT – in a small voice

“No Ellmess. I’ll calm down.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Good. Now come along to the kitchen and for goodness sake go wash your face, you look a mess. ”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT – in a small voice

“Elmmess … I only wanted to see if she was dead.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“I know Charelene. But ….”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT – in a small voice

“I just pinched her nose a little bit to see if she was dead. And she only twitched once. Only once Ellmess.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“We’re not going to talk about that ever again. Now come along and watch where you’re walking.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT – whispering to herself

“It was just …. one … little … tiny … pinch.”

SCENE: POLICE STATION: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Detective Leaban did the rounds and came across a witness in the missing Priest case. A Ms. Maldive told Leaban that the Priest went up onto Teller Mountain – taking the West Trail just after dark on the day Ms. Margaret Jayne was killed. She thought it was strange. Not that people don’t go up at night to watch the stars or look for night creatures to photograph, which she would like to do if she were younger, but the preacher usually goes onto the trails midday for an hour or two when his schedule permits.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Did she see him come down?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“No. she said it was too dark even with the half-moon out that night. Maybe he never came down. Maybe he had an accident up there?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“O.K. let’s see if rescue can make a sweep.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Also, the coroner came back with more information on Margaret Jayne.

She’s now certain that the blow to the face might have stopped Margaret Jayne’s breathing, on and off for some time, definitely putting her into a deep coma, and that her killer could have thought she was actually dead at some point, but ... she is sure that Ms. Jayne actually died, for real, later that night. She’s also sure it was suffocation.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I don’t want to know how she actually figured that out with the mess Jayne’s face was in.

Put the info up on the board Hornlace. We now have the cause and the time.

So, someone bashes in Jayne’s face, probably in a rage, and then thinking her dead hauls her off to the churchyard and dumps her. And then what? If she woke up and started moving around did her killer put something over her face and suffocate her.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Coroner says no.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Then how was she suffocated?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“The coroner said gently.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Gently? How do you suffocate someone gently? And why go at Jayne in a hell of a rage and then finish her off … gently?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Maybe it was two people?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I’ll let you follow that train of inquiry Hornlace.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“What in hell’s name were you thinking of? Going up Teller after dark? You are such a stupid piss ant jerk.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I was upset.

And you really need to shut that mouth of yours. It’s going to get you into trouble one of these days.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Trouble? I’m dead!

What kind of shit ass comment is that? Look around preacher, what kind of trouble can I get into here? Wherever here is.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Someone may come along and crack you in your filthy mouth again. Oh my, where is all this coming from?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Just remembered something. You’ve said something like that to me before. Where was it?”

SCENE: POLICE STATION: SOUND: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

SOUND - KNOCK ON DOOR

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Come in!”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Here to report Chief. I think we may have found the murder scene.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Finally!”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

Leaban Chofsky, Palladin and I got out early this morning chief. Leaban and Palladin took the morning route the Priest took and Chofsky and I took the route we’ve put together for Margaret Jayne. And we found where their paths could have crossed the day of the murder and the disappearance. “

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I think we found the murder scene.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Call in the forensics Hornlace.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes ma’am.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And Hornlace …”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes chief.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Good job. Now, go make the grid wide Hornlace, and have forensics go over every square inch. I want the murder weapon and I want anything and everything leading to the murderer.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes chief.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“They found out where I was murdered! Finally. Now they can go after those shit-faced sisters of mine.”

PREACHER (GHOST)

“Maybe.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“What do you mean, maybe?” I have a feeling here preacher. I’m remembering taking off that morning and heading for town. I was so mad at Charelene. She can really be a mean bitch when she gets into one of her funks. I think our father hit her one too many times in the head when she was a kid.

PREACHER (ghost) – cautiously asking

“Did you get into town?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“I never got there. Something happened along the way.

Now, this is strange.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“What?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“I say my father beat up my sister and you don’t say anything.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I was trying to remember something, but it’s gone again.

Margaret, why in heaven’s name did your father hit your sister in the head?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Pay attention preacher on what’s going on here. I’m not interested in your wandering mind.

You paying attention?

Good.

Now. My father treated me like a deformed mutant. He pushed Ellmess to perform to perfection and every time Charelene imitated Ellmess he would take Charelene out and beat her up. Probably for sullying the image of the perfect Ellmess. Or just maybe because she was really making fun of HIM.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“No one stopped him?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Like who? My mother? HA! Our school? HA! They put blinders on. No preacher, there was no one who came to our rescue.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I’m very sorry Margaret. I think if that had happened today, there would have been a better chance to have that abuse stopped.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Nothing to be sorry about preacher. You’re such a bleeding-heart case. That’s just the way it was then.

I bet you’re going to tell me that you’ve intervened and helped kids like us.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“As a matter of fact, I have, but that doesn’t help you now does it?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“No preacher. It doesn’t help me now. I’m dead and my life is finished. And I kind of feel relieved in a way. But I still want those ugly crows to pay for murdering me.”

SCENE: PHONE CALL FROM DEPUTY TO CHIEF: SOUND OF PHONE RINGING

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Watkins.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“We found it chief.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Don’t keep me waiting here deputy.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“We think it was a tennis racket ma’am. One of the old fashion kinds - with a cover made of wood that was screwed over the racket to keep it straight. There are still a few of them used here at the school. The racket that was used to kill Jayne was stuffed into a bag with lunch room throw-aways. We had to empty out the whole dumpster before we found it. We’re still doing the grid, but it looks like she was murdered right outside the equipment shed. Amazing, that no one saw it. But coach said it was early practice for football and track and as soon as it was over everyone scattered. The priest usually stayed behind for a while putting everything back in order.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And the Boise kid? He didn’t scatter right away?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“No, he didn’t. He stayed to talk to the priest for a few minutes.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Time to go back and talk to the parents again. We may need to have the kid come in, but first let’s go see the parents.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“I’ll set it up Chief.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Make it this afternoon when the kid is still in school. I have a desk full of reports to get out first.’

SCENE: THE BOISE HOME SOUND: CAR DOOR SLAMS AND FOOTSTEPS TOWARDS HOUSE

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Both the parents are there?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes chief

SOUNDS OF A DOOR RINGING AND THEN THE DOOR OPENING, footsteps and chairs being moved and people sitting down.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

First, I want to thank you both for being here and for helping us out.

We now know that the last person to actually speak to the priest was your son. So, before we have him come into the station, I thought we could start with asking both of you if there is anything else you can add to what you and your son have told us?

You have a close relationship with you son, and it appears that he does confide in you, but might be embarrassed to talk to us.

I’m not in the business of making children’s lives miserable, so if there is anything that might shed some light onto what happened please let me know now.”

SOUNDS OF A DOOR CLOSING, THANK YOU AND GOODBYES AND FEET WALKING BACK TO CAR

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Well that was interesting.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Is there anything on the priest at all?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Nothing. He didn’t make his sexuality public. Yet, he did confide in people like the Boise family. It’s interesting don’t you think? A priest comes to you offering to help your son through some difficult teenage times as a gay boy because the priest himself is a gay man.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“It was obvious that they were a bit skeptical at first at the offer. What with all the pedophiles in the church. I do think their view that a homosexual man has every right to choose the priesthood as a homosexual man has some merit.

I have to admit though, that the problem with celibacy would be the same for a heterosexual man as it is for a homosexual man. No sex is no sex.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Must have been the counseling sessions that made them a believer. Over a dozen sessions with all three of them together when his mom was in town, and the occasional ones with the dad and the son.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And then the one that morning by himself.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“They seemed a bit embarrassed talking about it.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Teenage hormones are a mangled mat of mangey mules.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“So that is what I have to look forward to with my kids?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“’fraid so Hornlace.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“But the Boise kid did come back and tell his parents about the conversation. About the boy he wanted to ask out on a date.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And he told them he was embarrassed about putting his head on the priest’s shoulder feeling a bit sorry for himself.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Do you think the priest just patted him on the back and said comforting preacher type things to the kid?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I’m inclined to think that our Priest had a hard time growing up as a closeted gay man. Maybe he tried to help other gay men when and where he could. This time it was a teenage boy.

Unless, something shows up to say otherwise, and I expect you to keep looking with a fine-tooth comb, I’m inclined to believe that what happened is just what they say happened.

SOUND: CAR DOOR SLAMS AND NOISE OF THE TWO POLICEWOMEN GETTING INTO THEIR VEHICLE, SEAT BELT CLIP, AND TURNING ON THE IGNITION

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“The Boise boy talks to the Priest and maybe someone sees them and gets the wrong idea and goes after the priest?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Maybe.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Let’s put that up on the board and take a harder look at that morning and who saw what and when they saw it.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“So, preacher - you’re a bloody saint?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Margaret, you’re really a very nasty woman.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“OK, I’m a nasty woman and you don’t like woman very much do you, nasty or not?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“I have many woman friends Margaret. You are just not one of them.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Never wanted to be preacher. And if I had my way, I’d kick you right out of here.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Believe me, I’d rather not be here.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“So, what did the Boise kid want to talk to you about? Did he want a few pointers on ……”

PREACHER INTERRUPTS MARGARET

PREACHER (ghost)

“MARGARET! Shut your filthy mouth. It’s people like you who make our lives miserable.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“People like me! It’s people like you that make my life miserable!”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Shut up Margaret.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Or what preacher? You’re going to shut me up. HA!”

SCENE: AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“What do you have for me deputy?”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“The coroner agrees. The old wood racket and sleeve acted like a sledge hammer. Both sharp and blunt. Forensics found blood and bones on it and on the ground around the shed. The dirt around the shed had been trampled on like someone was trying to cover up the evidence. There are also tire marks. Problem is they not only fit the priest’s car, but a hundred others. We’re still looking for the car.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“And now we have the priest’s body? “

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“And now we have the priest’s body. Maybe.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“I’m off to the scene. They say they’ll need to set up a whole rescue team to go down that cliff face and get to the body. It landed in an outcrop in the rock face. The first one down said the ledge was unstable, but he was able to take some pictures. They’re not pretty.

The dead man looks like he went through a meat grinder. Blood all over him and his body is twisted into that wedge like he was shoved in form the impact.

Let’s go deputy. We have our day cut out for us.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Yes ma’am.”

SCENE: THE JAYNE HOUSE sound of two women murmuring

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“They’ve found the Priest. He’s dead. Up on Teller Mountain. Taylor told me.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Charelene! You’ve promised not to see that slimy salesman again. You promised!”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Did I? I must have if you say I did. But he’s been so nice to me. Ever since that terrible day in the bank.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Charelene, we agreed to never talk about that again.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Did we dear? I guess we must have if you say we did. Things get fuzzier and fuzzier I’m afraid.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“It’s all right Char’ey. Let’s not talk about any of it anymore. It’s all so terrible.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“it’s not so terrible that Margaret is dead. She told me the morning she went missing that I belonged in an institution for the insane. That was not very nice of her. But then, she’s never been nice to me.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“She said that! Why didn’t you tell me?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“I don’t know Ellmess. I really don’t. You’d think it would be something I would tell you about, but I didn’t.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Well, it’s too late now isn’t it.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Do you think I belong in an institution Ellmess?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Certainly not. Now let’s not talk about this anymore. I need to go and see the funeral director. I don’t know if I want her body buried or cremated.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT

“Oh, cremate definitely. I don’t want any of her bodily remains in my churchyard. Not near mummy and daddy.”

SCENE: POLICE HEADQUARTERS: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“If this gets out to the public I’ll know where it came from. This stays silent. We have two people from the rescue team, the coroner and now the five of us. So, if this leaks, before I’m ready to make it public, I’ll make the culprit’s life miserable. I need a show of hands if I’ve made myself clear.

Good.

I just got back from the autopsy. Almost every bone in the Priest’s body was broken from the fall. But that’s not what killed him. The coroner says he lay there for some time … long enough to bleed out from a gunshot wound to his genitalia. Someone was either giving him a lesson or leaving a message for the rest of us. This is now a hate crime and it’s on the top of the board.

I want the Boise family looked at again. I want their evening alibis gone over in triplicate. I also want to know who else might have seen the Boise kid with the Priest that morning and I need all the known white supremacists, homophobes, bigot and perverts brought in and questioned.

The Priest has been in this community for twenty-four years. There is nothing that points at him as a sexual predator or even someone who might have had an affair with hum. We’ll never know if anyone in the church knew about his sexuality because no one is talking. They’re clamed up good and tight. But it appears as though someone knew, and they decided to do something about it that night up on Teller Mountain.

That’s it.

Deputy Hornlace will give out your assignments. I want answers. And I want them ASAP.”

SOUNDS OF FOOTFALLS AND THE CHIEF’S OFFICE DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Sit down Hornlace.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“Here’s some aspirins.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Thanks Hornlace. This is getting really ugly. Someone, bashes in a woman’s face, correct that, her mouth and jaw in a rage of hatred. Doesn’t seem premediated. I think the racket was handy. It was on a rack just inside the shed with others like it.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“But the Priest would have known it was there.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“let’s say he planned it. He lures Margaret to the shed just to be able to use the racket. Doesn’t fit. No. it wasn’t premeditated. I’m thinking Margaret came across the Priest and the kid and then went on one of her verbal tirades. From all the reports on my desk, it seems that she was one nasty foul-mouthed lady. It seems that she relished in hurting other people.”

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“So, the Priest kills Margaret, dumps her in the churchyard, misses all his appointment for the day and then takes a hike up teller?

Dumping her body in a churchyard kind of makes sense for a Priest to do.

Then he gets himself shot later that night by person or persons unknown?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“That’s the way it looks now.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“They’re acting like my murder has something to do with you preacher.

Oh GOD! I remember now. You hit me! You took something out of that shed and you hit me in the face.

You lousy fucking son of a bastard.”

PREACHER (ghost)

“You really need to shut up now.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Or what? You’re going to kill me again?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“No Margaret.

I’m remembering now.

What I did was inexcusable.

I just couldn’t take all that hatred anymore. It always comes from all sides. It’s like being a caged animal and people keep throwing rocks at you. The Boise kid was going into that arena and he was frightened. People can be so cruel and mean, especially children to each other. They mimic the cruelty, hatred and bigotry of their parents with uncensored brutality.

All Jacob wanted to know was how to go about dating a boy without getting the boy he was interested in hurt. He thought I could help him avoid the pitfalls.

After we talked, he left, feeling better I must admit. Then I became so angry at the world for continuing to harm the young. I would have been all right you know, if I had had a few minutes to calm down, but you came barging right in with your garbage bag full of accusations and threats and foul language.

I just lost it.

I am truly sorry.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Sorry you killed me or sorry you lost it you creep?”

PREACHER (ghost)

“Both. I t h i n k …….”

PREACHER FADES AWAY AND HIS WORDS FADE WITH HIM. SOUND OF WHOOSH MUSIC AND HIS WORDS FADING AWAY.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING! COME BACK HERE YOU BASTARD! DON’T GO!”

Oh shit. Now I’m really alone.

LOUD WHOOSHING SOUNDS

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (GHOST)

“No you’re not.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Charelene, what the hell are you doing here?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“I think I fell.

No that’s not right.

I was pushed and tripped over my own feet. I think I hit my head.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“If that ugly cut on your forehead is any indication, yes you hit your head. You probably tripped over your own bloody feet.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost) – absent mindedly

“I was pushed this time.

I remember.

I didn’t trip over my own feet.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“This time?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“Well, there was that time in the bank.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“What bank? What the hell are you blabbering about?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“Oh shove it Margaret! The bank! I’m talking about the bank. The day Taylor killed Betsy Sue. I was at the bank and fell, like I usually do when I have my little dizzy spells. You know, the spells which makes me trip over my own feet. I was on the floor behind the table where you fill out the deposit forms.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“What are you blabbering about?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“I am not blabbering Margaret. What I’m trying to tell you, if you’ll just be quiet for a minute, is that I saw Taylor shoot Besty Sue.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Oh shit! Did he see you?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“I don’t think so. I stayed on the floor during all the commotion. But ….

CHARELENE GIGGLING.

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“But! But what!””

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“I told him I saw him when I was in the churchyard today. I told him I saw him kill Betsy Sue and the Priest.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“You What! You stupid stupid idiot. What are you saying? How the hell do you know he killed the Priest anyway?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“I’m not stupid, and I’m not an idiot. Why do you all call me that?

And I did see Taylor go up after the Priest that night, and only he came down.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“Stop mimicking me you …. Charelene, stop it! That was not a smart thing to do. Didn’t you think he might kill you like he did Betsy Sue and the Priest?”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“He didn’t have a gun Margaret and I was in the churchyard not up on Teller Mountain.”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost) in a defeated voice

“Oh Charelene.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“What is that sound? Do you hear it?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“It’s the wind Charelene.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost) - puzzled

‘There’s wind here?”

MARGARET JAYNE (ghost)

“No Charelene, there’s no wind here. There’s no sun, no moon, no ocean, not nothing.”

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“But I feel the wind Margaret.”

SCENE: TWO WOMEN ON A BOAT: OCEAN SOUNDS AND A BOAT HORN BLARING – continues through the whole conversation.

ELLMESS JAYNE

“Thanks Elizabeth. It was real kind of you to offer to come out here with me today. At my age my old few friends have dropped dead or they can’t stand up on the deck of this boat or anywhere else for that matter.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“You best be holding onto the rail Ellmess, it’s really windy out today. Which actually makes it a really good day for what you’ve planned. Ashes into the wind and all that.

By the way, you never did tell me why you decided to cremate both your sisters and then scatter their ashes onto the wind?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“That’s not too hard to answer. My sisters were shackled all their lives to a cruel man. He crushed Margaret with words and beat Charelene with his fists. He was an outright bully who chose to prey on those who were weaker than him, like his wife and his children.

I think Margaret and Charelene deserve to be unshackled at last. I figure if I scatter their remains on the wind, it could set them free. I’d like to think of them joyfully flying off into that beautiful sunset out there.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“For one old crusty broad, you can really pull on the heartstrings you know. Oh, don’t give me that look, I’m not about to burst out into tears.

Onto another subject though, one that might interest you. We caught up with Taylor, and he will stand trial for Charelene’s murder.

No one talks for a minute

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

What?

Why are looking at me like that?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“He also killed Besty Sue you know.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“What?!

What the hell ya’talkin about Ellmess Jayne?”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“He did it you know. Charelene told me that she saw Taylor kill Besty Sue. I should have done something about it … but … I couldn’t see anyone believing Charelene.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Well I would have! I can’t begin to tell you how much that case has haunted me.”

ELLMESS JAYNE

“He also had Betsy Sue steal the money for him.”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Holy shit in a handbasket! Ellmess!

Scatter those ashes and start from the beginning. The whole story please.”

SCENE: POLICE HEADQUARTERS: CELL PHONE TEXT SOUNDS, TELEPHONE RINGING SOUNDS, COMPUTER KEY SOUNDS AND MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

So, we have the priest killing Margaret … and Taylor shooting the priest … by the way ballistics confirms it was the same gun that killed Betsy Sue … and then we have Betsy Sue robbing her bank for her boyfriend. But why did Taylor kill the priest?

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Makes sense in a sick sort of way. Taylor was a practicing evangelical homophobe. One of our own, homegrown, diseased racist and bigot. I suspect that since he found it easy to kill and get away with it, he thought he could keep on doing it over and over again. The manuals say once they kill, they find it easier to justify the next one.

DEPUTY BETTY HORNLACE

“It’s all so sad, so very sad isn’t it?”

CHIEF ELIZABETH WAKTINS

“Flaws, Limitations and Liabilities … that’s the human condition.”

SCENE: GHOST ROOM IN DEADLAND … WHOOSH SCARY GHOST MUSIC.

CHARELENE JAYNE BEANNETT (ghost)

“Margaret? Look at that sunset. Isn’t that the most beautiful one you’ve ever seen. And the wind is so gentle and warm against my skin.

It’s like floating away on s o f t ……..”

-VOICE FADING AWAY

MARGARET JAYNE (GHOST) – talking to herself – deflated.

“Bye Charelene.

Sound: soft wind blowing in background

I guess it’s all over now.

They weren’t the ones who killed me after all.

That kind of makes me feel better in a sick sort of way.

LOUD WIND NOISES catch her attention

WOW! That storm out there is really kicking up. I wonder what the odds are … as to whether or not I can reach that sunset on the updraft before the wind stops?

If it stops too soon, I’ll be dumped into the briny sea instead of floating off into the heavens and stars … like a magnificent Unicorn?

A magnificent happy Unicorn

with

g o l den w i n g s …”

-VOICE AND WHOOSH SOUND FADING AWAY

the end

Evelyn and Mor

(Due out in early 2023 if Ms. Creek can find a way to bend time.)

Flash Story

The Cosmos is theoretically, an orderly entity made up of billions of galaxies (the Milky Way being one) which are all accessorized with such things as comets and moons

The Universe (theoretically another name for Cosmos) is neither orderly nor friendly. (If you want to stretch it, you can say The Universe is operating in an orderly Chaotic conflagration.) (Either way, it’s not friendly.)

In our Milky Way there are billions of solar systems (Suns with planets dancing around them) – millions of which have:

a planet at exactly the same distance to a star,

the same density,

the same age,

and the same output as ours.

Of course there are millions more in this solar soup where a sun and a planet (equivalent in ratio to our setup) exist.

And then in all these planets, circling all their stars, there our Biologics.

Maybe old biologics, many new ones: All sentient (some vanishing due to self– Extinction) and some just in their infant–sentient stages.

And whether in the past tense, present tense or future tense they will came to, are at, or will come to the point where they want to travel from here to there … or anywhere; out beyond the confines of their home world. But, the universe was not built for Biologics to travel through it from hither to yon and over and beyond.

The distances between worlds is just too astronomically unattainable. Furthermore, the folks on planet Earth can neither bend into fast-time or slow-time nor can anyone fold space (yet).

So two options remain. Someone out there did figure out how to fold space and/or bend slow-time and fast-time; very unlikely … and is roaming around creating a best-selling travel book …

Or:

Out of these billion of solar systems, out of the millions with exact qualifications for biological life (as ours)… come a few thousand that found the only way they could travel beyond the limits of their mortal encasement was to send sentient machines as surrogate explorers. (Most likely.)

Since the age of eleven, Evelyn has studied the many anomalies and unexplained samples of these traveler’s time here on earth.

Yes, a map maker in the 12th century could have self-levitated to a height high enough to witness and record a whole continent. (But this is kind of unlikely.)

Yes, maybe someone, before the pyramids, figured out how to cut humongous stones and fit them so precisely together that even today no one can wedge the thinnest of papers between the stones. (Anther most unlikely.)

Yes, ancient folk could have figured out how to gouge out perfect deep tracks on high Mesas in order to make street signs and runways that no one on earth could see from street level for …. Well … who knows what for. (Another highly unlikely scenario.)

Since Evelyn was absolutely sure the explorers were most probably these surrogate explorers she was ready to fly into the void of The Universe with the Astro-physicist/Mechanical Engineer (PhD in both) (theoretically a human woman) who designed and was now building the largest space craft the world had ever attempted to build.

Theoretically, it was being built to do Earthmen’s bidding, but actually it was intended, by the Ancient Mertefold Ester to save her species.

She had stopped here, on Earth, in her search; because she had found the perfect genetically-coded brain of Evelyn which was needed to strengthen her dying species.

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BOOK II

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SIDDHARTHA, THE BRAHMIN'S DAUGHTER