The Interrogation

by Paul E. Jamison

 

 

[The scene: the Interrogation Room at the 27th Precinct. Constable Benton Fraser and Chicago PD Detective Ray Vecchio are interviewing a possible perp about a major crime.]

 

Vecchio: Alright, buddy, you gonna tell us what we wanna know, or do I have to lean on you?

 

Perp: Oh, yeah? Go ahead and try it, copper! I don't have to say a thing to you without a lawyer present!

 

Vecchio: Oh, your lawyer will get here – sooner or later! Until then, though, we've got you all to ourselves! And we're gonna get you to talk, buddy!

 

Perp: Watch it, cop! You can't touch me! And you can't deny me counsel! I know my rights!

 

Fraser: Uh, Ray… he's right. He is a citizen and he does have basic rights. If we injure him or deny him representation, we could get in serious trouble.

 

Vecchio: Look, Fraser, there's a lot more at stake here than respecting someone's Constitutional rights! There are nuclear bombs hidden in major cities around the world, and if they go off, millions of people will die and it will probably trigger World War Three! You and I don't want that to happen! If I have to trample on one guy's rights to do that – if I have to ignore due process and commit an act of police brutality – if I have to put my career on line – I'll do it! We've got to stop this – and this punk is the key!

 

Fraser: Well…

 

Vecchio: Look at it this way, Fraser. You and I are cops. We're sworn to uphold the written Law. But isn't there a higher Law? Doesn't that take precedence over the written Law? Wouldn't you transgress the lower to uphold the higher?

 

Fraser: Well… Since you put it that way, Ray, I'm forced to agree. Yes, we must if we have to.

 

Vecchio: Fine. Now, if it bothers you to watch, you can leave the room –

 

Fraser: Actually, I may be able to help.

 

Vecchio: What – really? You want to help me lean on this guy?

 

Fraser: I'm thinking, perhaps I can persuade this gentleman to talk.

 

[Perp laughs in derision]

 

Vecchio: And how do you propose to do that?

 

Fraser: By using an obscure Inuit spiritual discipline to reason with him.

 

Vecchio: What!? You think you can get him to talk with philosophy? Are you nuts? He's not the religious type!! [to Perp] Are you the religious type?

 

Perp (laughing): No, I'm not!

 

Vecchio: You see, Fraser? What makes you think this spiritual stuff will work?

 

Fraser: Oh, I think it will work. It's proven very effective in the past.

 

Vecchio: [sighs] All right, go ahead and try it! May as well get it out of your system! What have we got to lose?

 

[Fraser stands in front of sneering Perp and takes a moment to compose himself.]

 

Fraser: Boot to the head.

 

WHOOSH – THUNK!

 

Perp: YEARRGHH!

 

Vecchio: Whoa!

 

Perp: Ow – oh – ah – You booted me in the head!

 

Vecchio: That's an Inuit spiritual discipline?

 

Fraser: It's a closely guarded secret among the Inuit. I feel ashamed of myself to have revealed it to outsiders, but as you say, this is a crisis situation.

 

Perp: Oh – okay, fella! I wasn't ready! You caught me off guard! But now I'm ready for ya! Just try that again!

 

Fraser: Boot to the head.

 

WHOOSH – THUNK!

 

Perp: Oh – man… Okay, now I'm ready for ya! C'mon, come at me, cop! Come at me!

 

Fraser: Boot to the head.

 

WHOOSH – THUNK!

 

Perp: Uh – ow…

 

Vecchio: Benny, I am impressed! Could you teach me to do that?

 

Fraser: Well, like most forms of martial arts, it takes years to properly learn the finer points – to absorb the philosophy and to prepare the soul…

 

Vecchio: Yeah, yeah. But we're kinda pressed for time here.

 

Fraser: True. In that case, there's not much to teach. You've seen the basic moves. Go ahead and try it.

 

Vecchio: Okay – let's see… boot to the head!

 

WHOOSH – thud

 

Perp: OUCH!

 

Vecchio: Dang! Nailed him in the shoulder! Aiming isn't easy!

 

Fraser: You're trying too hard, Ray. Here – just stand here, close your eyes, calm your feelings… Just let your senses flow and think of nothing… and when you feel the proper moment…

 

[a pause]

 

Vecchio: Boot to the head.

 

WHOOSH – THUNK!

 

Perp: Uhh…

 

Fraser: Very good, Ray! You've got it!

 

Perp: Uh… does anyone have a piece of paper? And a pen? I need to write some stuff down.

 

Fraser: Will a pencil do?

 

Perp: Yeah, yeah! That'll be fine! I've, uh, got some addresses to write down for you guys…

 

Fraser: Thank you kindly.

 

THE END

 

DISCLAIMER

 

This story is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to infringe on copyrights held by Alliance Communications Corp., CBS and CTV or any other copyright holders of "due South".