TIME AND PLACE
May 27, 2020. Social Hall of the Lear Retirement Community. Evening of the second day after George Floyd’s death. Around a table MAGGIE, SARGE, PREACHER, and PRINCESS will be seated to pass the time in conversation and building structures out of Lincoln Logs, as they have done many evenings before.
PREACHER and SARGE enter, and take seats at the table.
PREACHER
I haven’t seen Princess since George Floyd got killed.
I think she’s holed up in her room. Maybe she’s not doing okay. You think?
SARGE
It’s a tragedy, what those policemen did. No argument there. Way outta line.
But we don’t want things going overboard because of a few bad actors, do we?
We have to keep law and order, don’t we?
PREACHER
I couldn’t come down last night, it made me so sick, what I saw on TV.
Not knowing what I could possibly say to her. Or even look her in the eye.
SARGE
Our table here was empty, and I watched a movie instead.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. In my room. I have the DVD. Got it on eBay.
PREACHER
What do we say?
SARGE
In my experience it’s best to let the women say the first word.
Just my experience.
PREACHER
What if nothing’s done? Where’s the justice in that?…
You know, Sarge, sometimes I think I could ….
SARGE
[beat] Could what, Preacher? You? A preacher. Get a gun? Like Jack Ruby?
What’s it to you anyway, you’d do something crazy and screw up your life?
You’re not black. Or do you think you’re down with the message?
PREACHER
I’m not all white, either. None of us is all black or all white. There is no pure black and pure white when the world’s in color. We’re allies of each other.
Oh Heavens! Here she comes.
Let’s just not say anything. Okay?