Literature Discussion - Lit-Talk.com

Priest

Screenplay By Phillip Ghee (USA)

Chapter Twenty-One

Storyline

CHAPTER 21

STORYLINE

A heavy rain is falling. Jared rushes through the rain to DeBaptise’s car. He opens the door and quickly enters.

                                                Jared

Jean, your message sounded urgent. Is something wrong with one of the kids?

                                                DeBaptise

No. The kids are all right but I am here, not as Jean tonight, I have some serious questions to ask. You know that I am a policeman. But I never told you exactly what I do.

I am a homicide cop, a detective.

                                                Jared
(Jared looks concern and worried)

My family?

                                                DeBaptise

No, relax, just some questions, first relax take a good breath. This is not about you but you may have some information that might help me in a very important matter.

You know, or should I say did you know Esemele Gutierrez?

                                                Jared

(taken off guard, a little confused, hesitates to answer)

Gutierrez, Gutierrez  Oh! Mele. Yes I did know her, not really well. She works as a maid at the Professor’s house. We would see her, Braxton and I, sometimes when we did our assignments. Just light chat. The maids worked upstairs and Braxton and I did most of our work in the basement. Sometime we would see her and ride up with her on the shuttle stop. Nice girl. We went to the funeral.

                                                DeBaptise

(Hesitates, searches his memory again. There were at least one or two more figures at the shuttle stop other than the blond boy and dark haired girl)

So what did you think of her?

                                                Jared
Like I said, nice girl, what more else could of think of her? Like I said, I just knew her casually.

                                                DeBaptise

What about Braxton? Did he just know her casually also?

                                                Jared

What do you mean, hey! What this about Jean?

                                                DeBaptise

Do you think her and Braxton may have been lovers?

                                                Jared

I don’t think so. Anyway as they say, I am not my brother’s keeper.
So Detective, this whole buddy- up sham, me working at the center,
me being good with the kids and all, nothing but lies, nothing but a cover
so you could ask, interrogate me about my roommate?

                                                DeBaptise
Look Jared, I am sorry. There were questions I needed to ask. In fact I am hoping this whole thing blows over and I just happen to wander into a weird coincidence. You say, or imply the Braxton and the girl were merely casual?

                                                Jared

Yes.

DeBaptise goes on to tell Jared about the shuttle stop incident. He asks if Jared can confirm the incident. Jared confirms.

DeBaptise

That seems more than just a casual relationship doesn’t it?

                                                Jared

You gotta know Braxton. He flirts all the time. It’s just his nature. He doesn’t mean anything from it?

                                                DeBaptise

Well maybe it meant something to her. What about the Professor

                                                Jared
(Angry)

Now you are going too! far Jean. Anything more, I think you should let me call a lawyer or something.

                                                DeBaptise

OK calm down. Look I want you to do me one favor. And if I don’t find what I am looking for. I promise you I will drop the whole thing. Hopefully you will forgive me and we can go on just like before. Deal?

                                                Jared
Depends.

Continued next week...