Becca: This story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer. It is the American story; a story of flawed and fallible people, united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals.
Becca is centre stage with dim general cover.
Becca: We have a place, all of us, in a long story; a story we continue, but whose end we will not see. It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old. The story of a slave-holding society that became a servant of freedom. The story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer.
Will is standing on stage with a piece of glass/broken bottle, shouting off stage.
Will: Shits! I have 'em round here every bloody night, shouting, drinking, swearing! Shits!
Lights fade and Will freezes. A video of Becca, Jacob and Amanda is projected onto a sheet at the back. They are walking under a street lamp lit road and it is night.
Jacob: We've just received a call about a man with a knife threatening some kids. We're almost there now.
Becca: How often do you get calls like this?
Amanda: We get quite a few cases like this. Most of the time it's angry neighbours complaining about noise.
Jacob: It should be just down this street.
Amanda: Yeh, I can hear something.
Jacob: Alrite, he's running, put your weapon down!
Amanda: Put your weapon down and lie on the floor.
Jacob: He's thrown it, the buggers thrown it.
Amanda: Lie down!
The projector is then turned off. Will lies down on stage and the action is smoothly transferred from screen to stage. Amanda, Jacob and Becca appear from behind the white sheet. In this section, Becca has a video camera in hand but what is being projected up on screen is not what is going on on-stage. The projector is showing Amanda and Jacob helping the man to his feet and asking him text book questions. They are firm but polite. Will is unhurt and very angry. The volume of this projection is low. On-stage Amanda and Jacob are aggressive, violent and rude. Will is in great pain, weak and co-operative to the extent he can be.
Jacob: Get up.
Amanda: Where's the knife?
Will: What?
Jacob: You saw us you started runnin and you threw away a knife.
Amanda: Where's the knife?
Will: I don't know what your talkin' bout
Jacob: Alrite, last time. Me and my friend here were walkin along, our BBc friend here was videotapin you, we saw you, with a knife you saw us and you ran. We came round the corner after you and there you were with no knife. Now here we all are with no knife.
Amanda: Where's the knife?
Will laughs.
Will: I don't…
Jacob hits him in the stomach and he falls forward. Amanda pulls him up by his neck.
Amanda: Are you sayin none of this happened?
Will: No!
Amanda: Does no mean yes?
Will:Ay?
Amanda: Does no mean yes? I hope no means yes. Are you sayin were lyin?
Will: Yes, I mean..ay?
Jacob: Did you hear that, he said we were lying. Say it again.
Will: What, I don't know. No your not lying.
Amanda: But I said no means yes, he just repeated it, said we've been lying.
Will: Now why do you think that son, we're officers of the law, we don't lie. You lie. You lie all the time.
Amanda: Where's the knife?
Will: I DON'T KNOW!
Amanda: Roll him over.
Jacob rolls Will over so he is looking up.
Becca: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions while your dealing with the suspect officers?
Jacob: Not at all.
Amanda: Go ahead.
Amanda and Jacob are standing behind Will. Becca is asking questions standding from behind his feet.
Becca: Have you ever felt personal contempt for a suspect?
Amanda: Not at all.
She kicks Will hard in the gut.
Becca: Have you ever used methods that the long arm of the law does not allow?
Jacob: I do my up most. I'll go above and beyond to help bring a criminal to justice.
Jacob kicks Will is the ribs.
Becca: Have you ever experienced 'red mist'?
Amanda: No.
Jacob: Not that I know of.
Becca: One last question, where's the knife Will?
Will: It wasn't a knife, it was piece of glass, I didn't have a knife.
Amanda and Jacob lay into Will kicking and punching.
Becca: Where's the knife Will?
