“They were inconveniently reasonable, these women.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

JEFFREY: An undercover policeman posing as a hitman. He is quiet but strong.
SAM: A woman planning to have her husband killed. She is prideful but full of fear.

JEFFREY sits in the driver’s seat of a car. He wears street clothes. SAMANTHA enters STAGE LEFT and steps into the passenger seat. She wears pajamas.
SCENE 1
SAM: Good morning.
JEFFREY: Hello.
(beat.)
SAM: I need you to…
JEFFREY: You need me to…?
SAM: …kill my husband. Yes.
JEFFREY: Kill your husband? I see. Yes.
SAM: I need to figure out…
JEFFREY: Figure out…?
SAM: …when I…need it done. Thursday?
JEFFREY: Thursday.
SAM: Yes. I need it done Thursday. I work.
JEFFREY: And what about the money? The money…
SAM: The money is being worked out. I’ll deal with it.
JEFFREY: And this money…?
SAM: This money…
JEFFERY: It’s…
SAM: It’s his life insurance.
JEFFREY: Life insurance. And the way…
SAM: The way it needs to be done?
JEFFREY: Yes. You said…
SAM: …a robbery. I want it to look like a robbery. But…
JEFFREY: But…?
SAM: I’ve got this friend.
JEFFREY: Mhmm.
SAM: (getting worked up.) I just… I don’t want…This friend wants to move in with me and I don’t… I don’t want her to be scared.
JEFFREY: I see. And is there…?
SAM: He should be outside. I need him outside. I don’t want to mess up the house. The house…
JEFFREY: Is there any money…?
SAM: You want money…?
JEFFREY: Yes. Now?
SAM: Now. Okay. I will…
JEFFREY: Bring the money?
SAM: Next time.
JEFFREY: What date?
SAM: Date? Pick a date. Surprise me…
JEFFREY: …on a Thursday…
SAM: A Thursday. Is there anything else?
JEFFREY: I need…
SAM: Floor plan. Money. Picture of my husband.
JEFFREY: Yes…
SAM: Okay. I will…
JEFFREY: …see you tomorrow…

SCENE 2
JEFFREY sits in the driver’s seat of a car. SAMANTHA enters STAGE LEFT and steps into the passenger seat.
SAM: (repeats methodically as she enters the vehicle.) Floor plan. Money. Picture of my husband.
JEFFREY: …and is this…?
SAM: All you will need.
JEFFREY: …and why…?
SAM: Why do it?
JEFFREY: Yes…
SAM: It is easier than divorcing him.
JEFFREY: Do you want me to…?
SAM: Painless. Make it painless.
JEFFREY: Painless…
(beat.)
SAM: (whispers.) Please.
(beat.)
SAM: …Is this…
JEFFREY: This.
SAM: Is this a…bad idea for me?
JEFFREY: Well.
SAM: But what…What happens if you get caught?
JEFFREY: I’ll take care of it. I know people.
SAM: …and if it doesn’t…?
JEFFREY: Doesn’t?
SAM: If it doesn’t work.
JEFFREY: Well.
SAM: Well?
JEFFREY: (mutters.) Won’t.
SAM: Hm?
JEFFREY: Hm?
SAM: Did you…?
JEFFREY: Did I?
SAM: …did you say something…?
JEFFREY: What?
SAM: No.
JEFFREY: No.
SAM: I feel…
JEFFREY: Feel?
SAM: I don’t want to…
JEFFREY: …to…
SAM: …hurt his family, you see? You see?
JEFFREY: I see.
SAM: This is…heartbreaking…to me…
JEFFREY: Heartbreaking.
SAM: No. It’s okay. I’m so very sorry. I wish… I wish I could… I wish I could just get it over with. But I don’t want to… I don’t want to…have this hatred. I don’t want…his family… I just want it done.
JEFFREY: You’ll get it done.
SAM: I’ll… get it done.
(beat.)
JEFFREY: Just so you know…
SAM: So I know?
JEFFREY: After you leave, it is done.
SAM: Done.
JEFFREY: There is no turning back. I will do it after this.
SAM: Done.
JEFFREY: Whether you like it or not. It will get done. He will die, you know?
SAM: I know.
JEFFREY: Okay. You know.
SAM: Okay.
JEFFREY: Is there anything else?
SAM: Is there…?
JEFFREY: Anything else.
SAM: …no.
JEFFREY: Nothing.
SAM: No. Thank you.
JEFFREY: Thank you.
SAM: Good luck.
JEFFREY: Good luck to you.
SAMANTHA opens the car door, steps out, and exits STAGE LEFT.
Blackout.