"Standard Deviation"

by Alan David Perkins

The play takes place in the sheriff's office in the fictional town of Stillman's Corner, Alabama - a small rural town in West Central Alabama. The office is small and dusty, almost comically clichéd with a desk, a small jail cell and a door.

Character Breakdown DEPUTY CHIP TURNER: Male, early 20's. Stillman's Corner's Deputy. Very simple. DR. ELI KRONENBERG: Male, late 30's. A sharp, edgy, angry, sarcastic, very brilliant New York Jewish biochemist. MOZELLE HUTTO: Female, 40's. The Sheriff's wife. Alluring and forceful. SHERIFF WAYNE HUTTO: Male, 40's. The Sheriff of Stillman's Corner. Very broad caricature - large and loud. NITA-KAY ZIRLOT Female, 19. The Deputy's fiancé. Mousey and naíve. DR. JOANNE KING: Female, late 30's. Psychologist/biochemist from California Polytechnic University who has been studying Eli's findings. A little stuffy. BILLY LADNIER: Male, mid-30's to late 40's. Manager of the wire plant in Stillman's Corner. Act Breakdown Act I An early fall morning at the Sheriff Office in Stillman's Corner, Alabama. Act II, Scene 1: The next morning. Act II, Scene 2: Later that day. ACT I (The door flies open. ELI leads in, being rudely pushed by CHIP. ELI's hands are handcuffed behind him. CHIP pokes him with a shotgun. ELI acts very sarcastically.) ELI Hey, hey, hey! Watch it, Gomer! That hurts! CHIP You just get yer butt in there. Sheriff gonna have a field day on you. ELI Yeah, yeah. I'll bet. CHIP Resistin' arrest is a serious offense. Now, y'all gonna cooperate or do I have to lock ya up now? ELI I just love multiple choice. CHIP That does it, mister smart-mouth. You gettin' locked up. ELI Oh? On what grounds? CHIP Resistin' arrest, tress- ... uh ... tress- ... ELI Trespassing, perhaps? CHIP You jus' wait 'til Sheriff gets here. He gonna LOVE you. ELI Yeah, YOU HEAR THAT EVERYBODY?! I'M A DANGEROUS TRESPASSER! HIDE YOUR DAUGHTERS!! NOBODY'S SAFE WITH ME AT LARGE!! (CHIP pushes ELI into the jail cell, upstage left.) CHIP There. Now stop yer caterwallin'. ELI Hey, Clem - what about the cuffs? CHIP (As he removes the handcuffs from ELI) My name is "Chip" ... not Gomer, or Goober, or Clem, or Cleetus, or Buford, or none o' them names you been callin' me. Jus' plain ol' "Chip." ELI A man named "Chip" with a badge. (shudders) Okay, Deputy Chip. When do I get my phone call? CHIP I'd rather wait 'til Sheriff get's here. 'Sides, he don't even know I caught me a real live tress- ... tress- ... ELI Trespasser? CHIP Yeah! A trespasser. ELI Your parents wouldn't happen to be brother and sister, would they? CHIP (Taking the rhetorical question seriously, giving it very serious thought) Naw ... (ELI dismisses his attempted insult, but CHIP is still thinking about it) CHIP ... but I think they's cousins. ELI (Exasperated) Oh, God. CHIP Prayin's a good idea right now. You may be locked up a loooooong time. ELI I'd better not be. My life's work is at stake. If you interfere I'll sue you for everything you've got. CHIP Go 'head. I ain't got much. ELI Surely you jest. CHIP I'm warnin' ya; Sheriff usually don't like slick city folk like you. Where you all from anyway? Huntsville? Birmingham? ELI Staten Island. CHIP Is that 'round Mobile a-ways? ELI NEW YORK!!! STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK, YOU REDNECK, BACKWOODS, GRIT-EATING, SKOAL-DIPPING, INBRED DIPSHIT!!! CHIP Insultin' an officer o' the law ain't somethin' you wanna be doin'. That WAS an insult, weren't it? (thinks) Yeah, I think it was. (CHIP sits at the desk and starts writing this down. ELI paces nervously.) CHIP (cont'd) Could you repeat that insult please? I wanna be sure. (beat) What came after "backwoods?" ELI What test did you have to fail to become deputy? CHIP There weren't no test. I was just swore in. Name. ELI Excuse me? CHIP It's for the report. I need your name. ELI Kronenberg. CHIP Wassat? ELI Kronenberg - like the film director but with a "K." CHIP You're a film director? ELI When you went to school, did you ride the big bus or the little bus? CHIP I rode the big bus, of course. The little bus was for them special students. ELI Isn't that special. CHIP So, Mr. Cornberg, how you spell that? ELI Kronenberg. K-R-O-N-E-N-B-E-R-G. CHIP (Writing with great effort) And your last name? ELI Kronenberg IS my last name, putz. And it's DOCTOR Kronenberg, thank you very much. CHIP Oh. (erases profusely, then writes again with the same effort) First name? ELI Eli. CHIP Do not. ELI Eli! E-L-I! My name is "Eli!" CHIP Oh, (chuckles) I thought you was callin' me a liar. ELI Lord help me ... CHIP An' what was you doin' at the water tower, Mr. Cornball? ELI Oh, no you don't. I'm not telling you anything. Not until I make my phone call. CHIP That ain't happenin' til Sheriff gets here. ELI What's the matter? Can't dial a phone unless the Sheriff's here to hold your hand? CHIP You shouldn't say things about the Sheriff. ELI Why not? CHIP Because he's the Sheriff. ELI And that makes him special? CHIP You bet it does. Everybody looks up to the Sheriff. ELI Like you? CHIP Sheriff is the most wonderful person in the world, an' I wanna be just like him. He's even more loved in this town than the preacher! ELI So, where is his eminence? Getting his weekly shave and haircut? CHIP I guess you must'a passed him. ELI You mean he's actually ... CHIP Shave an' a haircut. 'Could take a while. You know how it is at them barber shops. ELI The cultural center of this burg, no doubt. CHIP Okay mister smart-mouth from Satin Island, you jus' hush up an' make yourself comfy for a while. You ain't goin' nowhere anytime soon. ELI You like reminding me about that, don't you. And, what did you do with all my equipment? CHIP It's in the back o' the truck. ELI You have a two hundred thousand dollars worth of scientific equipment, not to mention all of my PRICELESS research, in the back of a broken-down pick-up?! Step over here so I can rip your lungs out! CHIP It's safe in the truck ... providin' it don't rain, and it ain't broken-down. Just got the brakes realigned last Tuesday week. Your stuff'll keep til you get out. ELI I hope you won't take it personally that at this very moment I hate your guts. CHIP Naw. I'm just doin' m'job. (CHIP leans back to read an "Archie" comic book.) ELI "Archie"? CHIP You can't read it til after Sheriff gets done with it. He loves Archie. ELI (A beat) He's gay, you know. CHIP (Long pause) Who? The Sheriff? ELI Archie. CHIP Naw he ain't. ELI Has he ever gotten laid? CHIP Sheriff's married. ELI I mean Archie. CHIP Oh. He's a bachel'r. ELI Think about it. Betty and Veronica have been chasing after him for years and he hasn't slept with either of them. He's gotta be gay. CHIP You don't know nothin'. ELI I think he's got a thing going with Reggie. CHIP Will you hush! ELI I mean, think about it. They're both young, attractive, virile ... Archie's submissive, Reggie's dominant ... grabbing ass in the locker room ... CHIP You're a sick man, Cornburn. (ELI laughs at CHIP's reaction. Long pause as CHIP reads the comic book.) ELI So ... what do you do here? CHIP I'm the deputy. Now hush. ELI What does a deputy do? Exactly? CHIP I keep the peace. Hush. ELI By locking up trespassers? Awesome responsibility. CHIP (Annoyed) I serve the people by patrollin' the streets and answerin' calls. I do an important job 'round here. ELI (Sarcastically) I can imagine there's a real seamy side to this town. CHIP We get our share o' trouble. ELI Oh? CHIP Why, just last weekend I had to take in ol' Tommy Bosarge after the football game. Seems he put back a few too many and commenced to show off his private parts to some passin' females. ELI You should be proud. CHIP A few months ago we had two fellers hold up the Pack-a- Sack. Shot ol' Kevin Zirlott in the arm. ELI And you caught the men? CHIP Actually Sheriff Hutto did. But I helped with the reports. ELI A wise decision, I'm sure. CHIP He knows what he's doin'. ELI (A beat) So, do you see yourself having a future in law enforcement? CHIP What'cha mean? ELI Beyond this? You don't expect to be deputy forever, do you? CHIP Hmm. Never thought about it, really. I like it fine just as things are. ELI What kind of life is just being a deputy? CHIP Heck, I don't know. B'sides, I'm engaged t'be married to Nita-Kay Zirlott. She's Kevin's sister, you know - the one who got shot? I figure that's a good kind'a life. ELI Amazing. Does she know? CHIP Does she know what? ELI That you'd have to cram to be a moron? CHIP Sure she knows. (beat) Hey ... ! (MOZELLE storms in. She is definitely angry about something. She carries a large basket covered with a cloth napkin.) MOZELLE 'Mornin', Chip. (kisses him ritualistically on the cheek) CHIP 'Mornin', Mozelle. Sheriff ain't here. MOZELLE (Sniffs) No wonder it don't stink in here. Well, you can tell that worthless tub o' lard to pick up Junior from football practice after school today. CHIP Will-do. What's in the basket? MOZELLE Ol' Blubber Butt forgot his breakfast again. If I didn't bring it to him he'd take it outta my hide when he got home. (beat) If that man had half a brain he'd be dangerous. ELI That can be arranged, you know - the "half-a-brain" part. MOZELLE (Notices ELI - surprised, flirting) Well looky here. A prisoner. How nice. You findin' the cell comfy, sugar? ELI (Looks around - he really hasn't up until now) You know, now that you mention it, it's really quite nice. MOZELLE Quite nice. Y'hear that, Chip? Quite nice. I decorated it myself. ELI I'm impressed. I mean, I realize there's only so much you can do with cinder blocks and steel bars, but this is really quite nice ... in a retro low-tech sort of way. MOZELLE Thank you. So, you from around these parts? CHIP He's from 'round Mobile a-ways. ELI Staten Island. MOZELLE Wow, a New Yorker. ELI Please tell me, do they come any stupider than him around here? MOZELLE (Laughs) No, he's about as stupid as they come ... next to my husband. ELI Like I said, that can be fixed. MOZELLE (Extends her hand) Mozelle Hutto. ELI (Shakes her hand) Doctor Eli Kronenberg. It's a pleasure. MOZELLE Oh, the pleasure is all mine, I'm sure. So, DOCTOR, what they bring you in for? Murder? Robbery? ELI Trespassing. MOZELLE (A little put off - directed angrily to CHIP) Trespassing?! ELI Yup. Just trespassing. CHIP Don't forget resisting arrest and calling me a ... a ... (looks at his notes) redneck, backwoods, grit-eating, skoal- dipping, inbred dipshit. MOZELLE (Laughs) That's accurate. (ELI laughs with her.) CHIP It's not funny. ELI Yes it is. Go read "Archie." CHIP Sheriff won't take too kindly to this. MOZELLE (Mocking) "Sheriff won't take too kindly to this. Sheriff won't take too kindly to this." Son, I do believe your lips are super-glued to that man's butt. (to ELI) So doctor, what was you sayin' about my husband's stupidity bein' fixed? ELI (Bragging) You see, I'm a doctor of biochemistry. Lately I've been doing work with electrochemical neuronic stimulation. I believe there are ways to stimulate the brain to actually make a person smarter. MOZELLE (Swooning a little) Really? That's fascinating, Eli. I CAN call you "Eli," can't I? ELI Huh? Oh, of course ... MOZELLE Tell me more, Eli. ELI (A little hyped) Well, I've been experimenting with a formula that will actually stimulate some of the neurons in the frontal lobe just a little - sort of like waking up somebody who's asleep. There's so much of the brain we never use that if even a fraction of it is stimulated it could increase a person's intelligence tenfold! MOZELLE My, you do say such wonderful things. ELI I mean, do you realize the implications these findings can have sociologically by raising the mean I.Q., even by one standard deviation? MOZELLE I've never thought about it ... ELI I'll tell you, the possibilities are ASTOUNDING. I mean, take into consideration the crime rate, divorce, economy, school enrollment, national test scores ... MOZELLE (Interrupting) You married? ELI (Jarred) What? Oh, no. Why do you ask? MOZELLE Just curious. Get around much? ELI Uh ... no ... MOZELLE How do you feel about married women? ELI Mozelle, I think ... MOZELLE No need to answer now. I can wait. How long you in for? ELI Uh ... I have no idea. Hey, Deputy Chip, how long am I in for? CHIP At least twenny ... uh ... twenny ... uh ... ELI Two? CHIP Yeah. Twenny two hours. MOZELLE Twenty FOUR hours. ELI Who's side are you on? MOZELLE Sorry, honey. I'll try to make it up to you. Here, I got some homemade biscuits and gravy in the basket if you'd like. ELI Biscuits and gravy? CHIP Mozelle makes the best sawmill gravy in the whole state. ELI (Leary) Well, then, how can I refuse? (MOZELLE takes a plate out of her basket, opens a biscuit on it and slowly pours on it a generous portion of white, thick gravy.) MOZELLE Now, if you like it there's more. ELI What on earth is that stuff? CHIP Sawmill gravy. ELI It looks like something that came out of a sore. MOZELLE C'mon Eli, give it a try. You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings. (ELI closes his eyes and takes a reluctant bite. He chews painfully and eventually relaxes. He actually likes it.) ELI Not bad! What's in this stuff? CHIP You don't wanna know. ELI Maybe I should send if off to the lab to be analyzed. Then again ... (eats) MOZELLE So sugar, what exactly brings you to Stillman's Corner? ELI (Eating) Research. That's why it's important I get out. I can't miss anything. MOZELLE Research? Who'd wanna do research here? ELI Oh, you'd be surprised. Say, can I have some more of that stuff? MOZELLE Anything you want, sugar. SHERIFF (Off-stage) MOZELLE!! CHIP It's the Sheriff! MOZELLE Oh, you really think so? I though it was a cow in labor. (SHERIFF bursts in the door, making the grandest of entrances. CHIP obsequiously stands at attention.) SHERIFF Mozelle Arlene Hutto, what the hell are you doin' here?! You know how I hate it when you come to MY office! MOZELLE Well, if you hadn't forgotten your breakfast I wouldn't have had to stop by YOUR precious office. SHERIFF You know it's my "shave an' a haircut" day. I had breakfast over t'City Cafe with the mayor. MOZELLE Then I guess I wasted my trip. SHERIFF I guess you did. (MOZELLE takes her basket and starts to leave.) MOZELLE (Grumbles to herself) Far be it from me to try to do something NICE for a change ... (to SHERIFF) Oh, by the way - make sure to pick up Junior from football practice after school. SHERIFF Here we go with the taxi service again. MOZELLE Sorry, your highness. I'm busy this afternoon. Besides, he's YOUR son too, or have you forgotten that as well? (tries to leave) SHERIFF Where do you think YOU'RE goin'? MOZELLE Dolores asked if I could help out at the needlepoint shop . SHERIFF You know how I feel about any wife o' mine workin'. MOZELLE And you know how I feel about sittin' at home doin' nothin'. (MOZELLE storms out.) SHERIFF Lord, why do I put up with that woman? ELI I don't know ... she seemed alright to me. SHERIFF Who the hell are you? CHIP Uh ... Sheriff Hutto ... SHERIFF Chip, would you mind explainin' to me who this gentleman is in my jail cell and why he so chooses to comment on my wife? CHIP Well, this mornin' I was ... I was drivin' in to work this mornin' like I always do ... SHERIFF Is this gonna take long? Christmas is only a few months away and I wanna start shoppin' before the sales are over. CHIP Yessir. Anyways, I was passin' by the water tower like I always do and I sees this man up there messin' with some fancy machines and stuff. So I pick him up for (takes his report to remember the word) ... tresspassin'. (SHERIFF snatches the report and reads.) SHERIFF It also says here resistin' arrest and insultin' an officer of the law. (a beat) Did he really call you this? CHIP Yessir, he did. (beat - taking SHERIFF aside) He also said Archie was a queer. SHERIFF (A beat) Who the hell is Archie? CHIP Archie Andrews. SHERIFF (A beat) Who the hell is Archie Andrews? CHIP (Showing SHERIFF the comic book) Archie Andrews. He said Reggie was a queer, too. SHERIFF Chip, sometimes you amaze me. CHIP Thank you, sir. I try real hard. SHERIFF (Pause - looks at report) New York, huh? CHIP Yessir. He tried to fool me and say he was from 'round Mobile a-ways. SHERIFF (Looks at report) Hmm. Cornyberg. Jewish? CHIP I didn't ask him, sir. SHERIFF (To ELI) Hey, Cornshit, you a jew? ELI If you're asking me if I ascribe to the Jewish faith, the answer is "yes." (Long pause. SHERIFF eyes CHIP with a stern look, circling and pondering. Finally he holds his arms out and hugs CHIP.) SHERIFF Good work, Chip. I'm proud of you. CHIP (EXTREMELY relieved) Thank you, sir! Thank you! SHERIFF Imagine, a New York Jewish doctor in our jail. Your daddy would be bustin' with pride. CHIP I know he would, sir. SHERIFF (To ELI) So Doctor Cornfield, why exactly was you tresspassin' up on the water tower? ELI I know my rights. I'm allowed one phone call. I'm not talking until I get my phone call. SHERIFF Chip, did you allow this man his phone call? CHIP No sir. SHERIFF Why the hell not? CHIP I figured it'd be best if you was here when he made it. SHERIFF I swear, Chip Turner, you're the best deputy I ever had. ELI I'm in trouble. SHERIFF Okay Doctor, make your phone call and make it quick. Is it a local call? ELI What do YOU think? (SHERIFF pulls a phone to the cell and ELI starts frantically dialing. CHIP and SHERIFF sit at the desk and prop their feet up. SHERIFF leafs through the "Archie" comic book.) ELI (Into the phone) Hello, Lloyd?! Jesus, am I glad to hear your voice . . . what do you mean? (beat) What do you mean?! It's MY office, why SHOULDN'T I call you there?! (beat) WHAT?! Since when?! (beat) But that was my grant! (beat) They did, huh? (beat) Did they say why? (beat) But it works! Every test across the board came up positive. Didn't you show them the results? (beat) When I win that Nobel prize every university in the WORLD will be offering me grants. (beat) And they STILL pulled me? (beat) Me? I'm in jail. (beat) Stop laughing, Lloyd. (beat) Who? Dr. King? Cal Poly, right? Yeah, I've heard of him. (beat) Why would he come looking for me? (beat) What did you tell him? (beat) Oh, never mind why. How long ago did he come looking for me? (beat) Well, Lloyd, this sucks big time. But you've always been a good lab assistant. It was good working with you. (beat) The research? It's not going ANYWHERE until I get out of jail. You think they'll let me use one of the law professors? (beat) Anyone? Come on, Lloyd, I need help here. (beat) Just do something, please? (beat) Mmm hmm. (beat) Alright. I'll keep in touch. 'Bye. (hangs up) SHERIFF WHAT was THAT all about? ELI I lost my grant. I'm out of a job. SHERIFF (Goading) Cryin' a shame. From where, exactly, did you get fired? ELI I worked in the biochemistry department at Columbia University in New York. SHERIFF And what did you do? ELI Research. I headed a study on electroneuronic stimulation. I was here on sabbatical. SHERIFF Doing research ... ELI Yes, doing research. Look, I'm apparently high and dry. Just let me take my lumps. How much is bail? SHERIFF Bail? Until I know why you was trespassin' 'round the water tower there ain't gonna be no bail. ELI You can't do that! SHERIFF Sure I can. In this town I'm the law. I can do anything I want. Now, what was you doin' at the water tower? ELI I told you, I was doing research. SHERIFF Really? What kind of research? ELI You wouldn't understand. SHERIFF Try me. ELI This is my life's work! Explaining it to you in monosyllables is impossible. SHERIFF You're a real smart-alec, Dr. Cloneberg. CHIP See? Jes' like I tol'ja! SHERIFF Chip, son, shouldn't you be on patrol about now? CHIP I suppose I should. SHERIFF Then don't you think you should git? CHIP (Putting on his hat) Yes sir, I'm leaving right now. (starts to exit) SHERIFF Say "hello" to Nita-Kay for me. CHIP I will, sir. Thank you, sir. (exits) SHERIFF (A beat) What a moron. ELI Finally something we agree on. SHERIFF Just 'cause I call him a moron don't mean YOU can do the same. ELI I'll watch myself. SHERIFF Okay, all the kids have gone to bed. Why don't you tell me what the research was all about 'fore I force it out of you? ELI I was checking water saturation levels. SHERIFF Saturation of what? ELI You know ... chemicals, minerals ... SHERIFF Now, I may be a small-town sheriff, but I'm not so stupid as to believe that a biochemist who does research and development on electroneuronic stimulation would be checking mineral saturation in Stillman's Corner, Alabama. (ELI looks surprised that SHERIFF not only understood him but could speak in words of more than one syllable.) SHERIFF (cont'd) Do I look that stupid to you, Doctor Pittsburgh? ELI No sir ... and it's "Kronenberg." SHERIFF I know it's "Kronenberg." And I know you think I'm an idiot. ELI Does it show? SHERIFF All too much. ELI Okay, all insults aside. When can I get out of here? SHERIFF You'll be here til the Second Coming 'less you tell me what's goin' on. ELI I can't. SHERIFF Why? ELI It'll invalidate the research. SHERIFF How? ELI By biasing the data. SHERIFF Wha'd you do to the water, boy? ELI Nothing. SHERIFF What did you do to the water? ELI I don't know what you're talking about. SHERIFF I can hold out as long as you can. We're talkin' somethin' far more serious than tresspassin'. What did you do to the water? (JOANNE KING barges in, right on cue.) JOANNE I know what he did. SHERIFF Ah-HAH! ELI Oh, thanks a pant-load! I had him going! JOANNE (Shaking ELI's hand) Sorry. Doctor Joanne King. Call me "Jo." It's an honor. ELI (Surprised) Jo King? You're joking! (long pause as he realizes what he just said and starts laughing) That's very good. JOANNE Actually I'm very serious. (they both laugh) My parents had a sick sense of humor. You must be Doctor Kronenberg. I saw you speak in Chicago. ELI I read about your work at Cal Poly. I never realized "Jo" was short for "Joanne." JOANNE It's a common mistake. I've been reading your findings in the journals as well. Some pretty impressive stuff. ELI Publish or perish. SHERIFF Jo King? I used to know a Joe King from High School. You any kin? ELI So, what are you doing here? JOANNE Your lab assistant said you'd be here. You lost your grant, you know. ELI I know. They didn't like me too much. JOANNE Your reputation precedes you - even at Cal Poly. SHERIFF Reputation? What reputation? JOANNE Grantless revolutionaries are never received well. They tend to be classified as, well, "crackpots." ELI Yeah, but it's us crackpots who come up with the really great discoveries that change the world. JOANNE Exactly. That's why I took your reports seriously and tracked you down. ELI So, why did you come? Trying to hitch your wagon to a winning horse? JOANNE Wouldn't you? SHERIFF Great. Now, what'd he do to the water? ELI Don't tell him - it'll bias the data. JOANNE How long ago did you introduce the agent? ELI (Irritated now that SHERIFF knows he'd done) Jesus! Why don't you just broadcast it on local TV?! JOANNE I'm sorry. I've never done this kind of field work. I'm still flaky on the procedures. ELI It's okay. We'll work around it. (beat) I dumped yesterday. It should be taking effect as we speak. SHERIFF You been dumpin' chemicals into our water?! ELI Look, Sheriff, it's nothing to worry about. Nobody will be harmed. SHERIFF I don't care! If you New York intellectual-types think you can just waltz into some backwoods, hick town and use 'em as guinea pigs you've got another thing comin' to ya. ELI I assure you that what I'm doing will not only benefit your community but all mankind! JOANNE He's right! I've read the journals! Do you have the control data? ELI The Greene County Board of Ed let me log into their database. In my briefcase I have school records and test scores for everyone in town, PLUS permission from the schools to re-test anyone I want! I also have three cross-sectioned groups ready to go. I retested them only four days ago. It's too bad I'm locked up. JOANNE But you already proved the experiment a success. ELI Only in the lab. This time I want to measure the sociological ramifications of an entire city effected. JOANNE Yes, but who can you use as a control group if the whole city is effected? ELI You see, Watsonia is only a few miles down the road from here and they have their own water supply. I can travel back and forth and compare the results. I have their stats as well ... in my briefcase. JOANNE Demographics? ELI Almost identical right down the line. SHERIFF 'Cept our boys beat 'em every year at football. JOANNE (Beat) You picked a good town. ELI Except for this one snag in the plan. I need to be outside. JOANNE (To SHERIFF) Excuse me, Sheriff ... (looks at his desk plate, mispronounces) ... Hutto, but this man's work is very important and must be released in the name of science. SHERIFF (Patronizing) Is that a fact. JOANNE You ... uh ... you have to release him. SHERIFF I do, huh? JOANNE Yes, you do. SHERIFF And what if I don't? ELI He can't be reasoned with. Rethink your strategy. JOANNE How? Hit him over the head? ELI Maybe. Or maybe we just wait for the chemical to take effect. SHERIFF Take effect?! You mean I drank your chemical?! ELI I'm sure of it. SHERIFF How? I didn't drink any water ... JOANNE All you need is contact with water through immersion or consumption of any kind - coffee, foods ... SHERIFF (In shock, sits down) Am I gonna die? ELI I'm afraid not, at least not because of this. The chemical effects your brain, not your physiological make-up. SHERIFF (Starts feeling his head) What's gonna happen to me? Will I go insane? ELI Hey, you can't take out what God didn't put in there in the first place. JOANNE Sheriff Hutto, I promise that you'll be absolutely fine for the rest of your life. Now if you could just release Doctor Kronenberg ... SHERIFF Are YOU insane? This man's goin' into the state pen, but first I gotta tell the mayor ... JOANNE You will do no such thing! SHERIFF Why not?! This man poses a threat to an entire city! The good people of this town elected me to maintain justice and keep them safe from harm and the likes of you two. We ain't much, but we're still good people who pay taxes and are protected by the same constitution and laws as you. There ain't no way I'm lettin' a couple of slick New York fast-talkin' Jewish doctors with degrees all over the place tellin' me what I can and can't do in my town. JOANNE First of all I'm a practicing Catholic from California, thank you very much. And second, if you breathe one word of this to ANYONE there'll be such a panic that you'll NEVER be able to control this city again. People always think the worst in these situations and you can be rest assured that these people will think it's the end of the world. One word and you'll lose all your respect, credibility AND, once Dr. Kronenberg wins his Nobel prize for chemistry, you'll be the laughing stock of the world. So make your decisions wisely, Sheriff Hutto. The damage has been done and it can't be un-done and nothing you say or do can change these facts. SHERIFF I can't change the law, darlin'. You can't conduct an experiment on an entire community without permission. An' here in the bible belt bein' Catholic is almost as bad as bein' Jewish. JOANNE I'm sure Doctor Kronenberg has permission, don't you? ELI Sort of ... SHERIFF Sort of? You mean our city's law says you can use us for your experiment? ELI No, but it doesn't say I can't. It's actually all a matter of interpretation. SHERIFF Mmm. I see. Maybe I need to re-think MY strategy. ELI Maybe you do. JOANNE You don't have permission?! ELI Shh! It's all a matter of how you look at it. (trying to look on the bright side) I got permission from the school board to retest ... SHERIFF (Annoyed) You hush. You still ain't is goin' nowhere ... not til I figure out what to do with you. I got some folks at city hall who'd love to do some research of their own. (picks up the phone, dials and waits) Hello, Mavis. This is Sheriff Hutto. I need to do some checkin' into local laws. I'll hold. (holds) Hello, this is Sheriff Hutto. Who am I speaking to? (beat) Walter, is it? Well, Walter, I need for you to do me a favor. I need to find out the city's laws concerning conducting experiments ... (beat) ... scientific ones. That's right. (beat) It does? (beat) Can't you find ANYTHING I can use? (beat) Okay, call me if you something. Take yer time - he ain't goin' nowhere. 'Bye now. (hangs up) (To ELI) This ain't over yet, boy. So while our boy Walter finds me a piece o' rope to hang you with you can just make yourself comfy. You're about to become a fixture here. I guess it'll most likely be between the feds or the state police who'll wind up with you. Either way, you're ass is grass and I'm holdin' the lawn mower. ELI (Sarcastically) Ooooooh, I'm scared. SHERIFF You should be. JOANNE What can I do? ELI You? JOANNE Me. I want to help with the experiment. ELI You do? JOANNE That's why I came. ELI I couldn't ask you to do that. JOANNE Sure you can. Come on. ELI But ... JOANNE Come on, Eli. I'm a scientist, too. I've been following your studies since you began. Lord knows I'm qualified. For that matter I've got one up on you. I have a PhD in psychology as well as biochemistry. ELI (Ponders) Are you in Mensa? JOANNE Yes I am. ELI Could you get me a re-test? JOANNE I'll see what I can do. (MOZELLE returns.) MOZELLE I'm back. (to ELI) I thought you might like some coffee, sugar. ELI Coffee. That would be nice. Thanks. SHERIFF Woman, I thought I told you never to come here. MOZELLE (Serves ELI the coffee) Since when do I ever listen to YOU? I'm just showing our guest a little southern hospitality. ELI (Drinking) And it's greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mozelle. MOZELLE (Looking at JOANNE - a little jealous) Where'd SHE come from? JOANNE Doctor Joanne King, California Polytechnic. (shakes her hand) Call me "Jo." ELI Get it? Jo King? She's Jo King! MOZELLE I knew a Joe King from High School. You any kin? SHERIFF Mozelle ... MOZELLE You hush. (to JOANNE) Eli here has been telling me these interesting stories about makin' people smarter and everything. Do you do that too? JOANNE As a matter of fact, I do. I hold PhD's in biochemistry and psychology. I hope to be assisting Dr. Kronenberg with his most recent project. (to ELI) So, what did you tell her, "Eli"? ELI Nothing ... really. SHERIFF You're gonna make folks smarter?! Is that what you did? JOANNE So much for confidentiality. ELI What the hell - why keep it from him? According to him I'm already a goner. And remember, just a few minutes ago YOU were singing like a bird to Sheriff Bubba over there. MOZELLE Some people just can't keep their mouth shut. JOANNE So what do we do now? They already know too much. ELI Do both of you swear to secrecy? MOZELLE (Eager) I swear. SHERIFF Why? ELI If it gets out what we're doing the results will have no validity. SHERIFF Tell me and I'll think about it. ELI Within the next few hours everybody's I.Q. in the town of Stillman's Corner will jump up one standard deviation. JOANNE Basically that's fifteen points. ELI That means Deputy Chip would almost be up to "idiot." MOZELLE Really! That's marvelous! SHERIFF What if we don't want them extra points? ELI It's too late now. The experiment has already begun. JOANNE Now, this has to remain a secret or the entire experiment will be ruined. Nobody can know. This information can NOT leave this room. MOZELLE Oh, I get it! This is what you meant by seeing how it effects everything - like divorce rate and stuff. ELI Very good. SHERIFF I think it stinks. MOZELLE (Angry) Wayne ... SHERIFF Don't you "Wayne" me, Mozelle Arlene Hutto. I don't want my brain messed with and neither do you - and neither do the good people in this town ... all of whom are under my protection. ELI Yes, I'm living proof of the quality of your work. SHERIFF You hush. MOZELLE I don't know. Bein' a little smarter may be pretty good. Maybe I'll come to my senses and finally leave your sorry butt. SHERIFF I doubt THAT'll ever happen. ELI It could. This could have significant sociological implications. JOANNE You know, if you'll give me a go-ahead to let the guys at Cal Poly take a crack at this we may be able to bump things up even another standard deviation, or maybe even more! ELI Jo, please tell me you're kidding. JOANNE Why? Just think of it ... ELI I am, and that's what scares me. All we need is a society of super geniuses. It'll be just like Brave New World. We need the balance. Who's gonna work the post offices? SHERIFF I'm a little confused. What if you drink lots of this stuff? Or just a few drops? ELI Apparently the section of the brain the chemical stimulates only needs one jump-start. It doesn't matter how much or how little you consume. Fifteen points is ALL that will happen - permanently. JOANNE It's still an incredible breakthrough. If the results go well here, Dr. Kronenberg is a shoe-in for a Nobel Prize for chemistry. ELI Chemistry? Think of what we can do for society! Lower violent crime rates, divorce rates, increase productivity. It's worth a Peace prize if anything. JOANNE That's a long shot. You lost your grant, remember? Nobody respects a scientist who lost their grant. (NITA-KAY quietly enters. She is very mousey.) ELI Well, now those stuffed shirts in Mensa will be BEGGING me to join once the experiment is ... (stops in mid-thought when he notices NITA-KAY) SHERIFF Nita-Kay, what are YOU doin' here? NITA-KAY Is Chip here? SHERIFF Naw, honey. He's on patrol. NITA-KAY Oh. (NITA-KAY bursts into tears. JOANNE and MOZELLE rush to console her.) JOANNE There, there. It'll be okay. MOZELLE You don't even know what's wrong. JOANNE Well, it seemed like the thing to say ... NITA-KAY I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... MOZELLE That's alright, sugar. Now, what's got you so upset? NITA-KAY (Still sobbing) Nothing really. ELI Maybe she's mourning for the town since Deputy Chip is on patrol. SHERIFF You hush. NITA-KAY Actually, I'm very happy. This is more'n likely the happiest day of my life. (starts bawling loudly) MOZELLE (Realizes what is wrong) Oh my ... (Pause. JOANNE gets a little frustrated but the two still attempt to console NITA-KAY.) MOZELLE (cont'd) Wayne, do something ... (SHERIFF takes out a handkerchief and gives it to NITA-KAY, who blows her nose with it.) MOZELLE (cont'd) That's not what I meant. Call Chip in. SHERIFF Why? NITA-KAY No. MOZELLE Just do it, you big fat idiot. (points to his radio.) SHERIFF Oh. (SHERIFF gets on the radio.) NITA-KAY Please don't call him. SHERIFF Chip, this is the Sheriff. Report to the station right now. Nita-Kay's here half in hysterics. CHIP (Over the radio) Okie dokie! SHERIFF (Turns off the radio) He otta be here any minute now. The town ain't that big. NITA-KAY This isn't necessary. MOZELLE When'd you find out, sugar? NITA-KAY This morning, just now. (bawls) JOANNE You know what's wrong? MOZELLE Shoot girl, you have to be BLIND not to see. And you call yourself a doctor? Hell, I ain't half as smart as you and I can see that this poor girl is pregnant. SHERIFF Pregnant? From sweet, innocent Chip Turner? Damn - I never knew he had it in him. NITA-KAY You don't know him like I do. He's an animal. MOZELLE (Victorious) I KNEW it! SHERIFF I don't wanna hear this. JOANNE Oh my ... I had no idea. MOZELLE No kidding. SHERIFF (Into the radio) Chip Turner, you get your butt back to this station NOW!!! (turns off the radio) That boy ... I'm so proud. He's like the son I never had. ELI That's probably what his folks wished. MOZELLE I'm sure your own son will be happy to hear that. NITA-KAY Please, you can't say anything to Chip. SHERIFF Don't tell me it ain't his. NITA-KAY No, it's his. He's the only one. SHERIFF Then I'll make sure he does the right thing. JOANNE Oh? And what's that? SHERIFF Why - by marryin' her, of course. NITA-KAY But I'm too young. I'm only nineteen years old. MOZELLE I was married when I was sixteen. NITA-KAY My whole life should be ahead of me. (directly to JOANNE) Right? JOANNE I ... uh ... sure it should ... MOZELLE What do you know about this poor girl's life? Maybe this is the best thing that could happen to her. NITA-KAY (Still to JOANNE) How? How could being tied down to a husband an' a child be the best thing for me? There's so much out there I've never seen. Right? JOANNE I really shouldn't be involved ... MOZELLE What? What's out there? This is Stillman's Corner, honey. This ain't New York or California. (to JOANNE) All this girl has to look forward to is bein' promoted to head cashier at the Winn-Dixie, rentin' video tapes and once in a while goin' down to Demopolis to go shoppin'. Most girls her age are havin' their second already. JOANNE But she's so young ... MOZELLE You big city folk know nothin' about people. This is why we're here - this is what we're raised to think about. Family and children. While you two are out changin' the world, we're supplyin' you with one to change. So don't you come here puttin' your citified ways an' tryin' to change us. We like it here just fine, and poor Nita-Kay here is bustin' with happiness - right Nita-Kay? (NITA-KAY moves from MOZELLE to JOANNE and bawls harder.) MOZELLE (cont'd) Then again, maybe not. SHERIFF (Laughs loud and broad) That's tellin' her, Mozelle! MOZELLE You hush - big ol' tub o' lard ... NITA-KAY There's so much I want to do ... so much I want to see. I want to see New York. I want to see Paris. I want to see Atlantis. ELI Atlantis doesn't exist! JOANNE Quiet! NITA-KAY I always felt like I wasn't livin' the life I should be livin'. I've always done what other folks wanted me to do. Now I'll never be able to do anything. I'll be tied to a husband and a baby. MOZELLE This is what life is all about, sugar. It ain't so bad. NITA-KAY Yes, it is. Have you ever traveled? Have you seen the world? MOZELLE Well, I been to Mobile once for the Mardi Gras - and we went to Graceland the summer before last ... NITA-KAY (To JOANNE) What about you? JOANNE (Awkward) Me? I've ... I've been around. Look, I shouldn't get involved ... NITA-KAY (Interrupting) Have you ever seen Chicago? JOANNE It's really windy. NITA-KAY New York? JOANNE The homeless are everywhere. NITA-KAY Paris? JOANNE The people are so rude. NITA-KAY Atlantis? JOANNE It's so ... wet. ELI I told you, Atlantis doesn't exist! MOZELLE I thought you WANTED this girl to see the world? JOANNE I have no right to tell this girl what she should or shouldn't do. I just think she's too young to be tied down to a family. MOZELLE Then what should she do? JOANNE I don't know - get an abortion? Go to college? ELI I don't think they believe in either in this town. JOANNE You're making this worse for yourself, you know. ELI Oh yeah? So who made YOU a social worker? NITA-KAY Seein' the world is my own idea. I been readin' books and magazines all my life about travel and stuff. This lady didn't give me any ideas I already didn't have. JOANNE Seeing the world isn't all it's cracked up to be. Everyone knows that the best journey's take place inside your own mind. Besides, it's less expensive that way and the living conditions are more reliable. NITA-KAY I know. I just don't know what I want to do. MOZELLE You'll marry Chip and raise a family, that's what you'll do. JOANNE And what if she doesn't want to? What if she doesn't love him? MOZELLE You ever been married? JOANNE No, but that has nothing to do with it ... MOZELLE Then you wouldn't understand. JOANNE Oh? You two are a marriage counselor's nightmare! NITA-KAY Please, Sheriff, don't tell Chip anything. I have to figure this out myself. SHERIFF Chip's a responsible boy. He'll be a good husband and father. ELI On a deputy's salary? NITA-KAY Please don't tell him. SHERIFF But ... NITA-KAY (Interrupting) Please. SHERIFF Nita-Kay, I ... NITA-KAY (Interrupting) Please. SHERIFF (A beat) Alright. I could never turn you down, Nita- Kay. But you best do the right thing one way or another. NITA-KAY I will, Sheriff. Thank you. (hugs him) I best be gettin' over to the Winn-Dixie. They won't take too well to me bein' late. SHERIFF Chip'll be here in a minute. He'll give you a ride. NITA-KAY No, I'd rather not see him. Not just yet. (exits) MOZELLE (Calling after her) Nita-Kay ... JOANNE She's gone. MOZELLE Don't you talk to me. You don't know nothin'. JOANNE I'm sure she'll do the right thing. MOZELLE Seein' the world ain't the right thing. JOANNE I never said she should. MOZELLE You sure sounded like it. JOANNE Everybody's different. What's right for you may not be right for someone else. MOZELLE It is in Stillman's Corner. And where do you get off talkin' about me and Wayne like that?! JOANNE Well, you always seem to be at each other's throats. And the way you dote over Eli ... MOZELLE What me and Wayne do ain't none o' your business. And besides, you got no claim on Eli. ELI Hey, don't drag ME into this. JOANNE & MOZELLE (Unison) HUSH! SHERIFF All o' you hush! I got work to do! (Suddenly BILLY bursts in. He is quite upset.) BILLY Sheriff ... SHERIFF Billy Ladnier! What brings you here? BILLY Sheriff, put out an A.P.B.! SHERIFF Calm down, Billy. What's the trouble? BILLY The wire plant's been robbed. MOZELLE (Gasps) Oh my God ... SHERIFF Are you sure? BILLY Positive. SHERIFF What'd they get? BILLY The payroll - almost thirty thousand dollars! SHERIFF WHAT?!! Who did it?! BILLY I don't know. SHERIFF Did anyone see 'em take it? BILLY I don't think so. SHERIFF When'd it happen? BILLY I don't know. SHERIFF Where'd the money come from? BILLY I don't know. SHERIFF (A frustrated beat) Billy Ladnier, you ain't cooperatin' too much. You sure you the wire plant's been robbed? BILLY Positive. SHERIFF Care to tell me how? BILLY (Checks his watch) Well, as you know I been managin' the wire plant since my daddy died - some six years ago. SHERIFF Go on ... BILLY (Checks his watch again) Well, this mornin' when I log onto the computer to do payroll I notice the general account is shy about thirty thousand dollars. So, I think, this might just be a bookkeepin' error. After all, I did have to fire Evelyn last month for dippin' into the petty cash. SHERIFF Yes, I remember. BILLY I always s'pected Evelyn was up to no good, but the petty cash problems didn't seem to go away after she left. So I start lookin' and pokin' and proddin' into the accounts and there seems to be almost thirty thousand dollars missin' from the payroll account. SHERIFF Any checks written lately that you didn't know about? Any expenditures? BILLY Nope. It's business as usual. Someone cracked into the system and took thirty grand. (checks watch) ELI Excuse me ... SHERIFF What you want now? ELI I just have a question for Mr. Ladnier. BILLY Me? SHERIFF Keep out of this, Kronenberg. BILLY It's alright, Wayne. (checks watch) What's on your mind? ELI It's just that ... is the wire plant located anywhere near the water tower? BILLY No, it's right smack dab b'tween here and Watsonia. ELI Oh. That's all. Sorry to trouble you. BILLY But I live right off the chlorination treatment facility. (ELI looks concerned.) SHERIFF What you gettin' at, Kronenberg? ELI Nothing. We'll talk about it later. BILLY (Impatiently checks his watch) So Sheriff, what do I do now? SHERIFF (Trying to rush BILLY along) I'll send Chip over to fill out the reports. 'Mean time you just go 'bout your business. We'll get to the bottom of it. BILLY Have him hurry, will you? Insurance purposes and all. I have a bunch of employees waitin' for their paychecks. SHERIFF Don't you worry 'bout a thing. BILLY (Getting up to leave) I appreciate this, Wayne. SHERIFF No problem. Give my best to Shelly. BILLY I will. Thanks. (exits) (Long pause. ELI knows something and is pensive. SHERIFF is furious and circles as he steams.) SHERIFF Alright, Kronenberg. What's goin' on. ELI Look, I was afraid something this might happen. But not so soon ... JOANNE Oh my ... SHERIFF This wasn't part of your experiment too, was it Kronenberg? ELI Not exactly ... SHERIFF Talk to me, Kronenberg. ELI (Nervously) The sociological ramifications of this experiment can range from the subtle to the dramatic. Some shifts will take place. Some will be very noticeable, but some will go virtually unnoticed. SHERIFF Kronenberg ... ELI Imagine someone standing on the edge of a cliff, unable to jump. Just one little push ... SHERIFF Kronenberg ... ELI Even the best cures have some side effects. SHERIFF Get to the point before I whup it out of you. ELI You see, in my original hypothesis of the social experiment I predicted many things. It just so happens that one of the predictions involved a decrease in violent crime but an increase of white collar crime. SHERIFF The point, Kronenberg ... ELI Fifteen points may have been all it takes to turn a would-be embezzler into an actual embezzler. SHERIFF You think Billy did it? ELI All I'm saying is that theft could have something to do with the experiment. It's all in my notes. SHERIFF I wanna see these notes. Lord knows I want to know what ELSE to expect. ELI Feel free. Deputy Chip has them locked up in his truck. (CHIP bursts in.) CHIP You call? SHERIFF Chip, you incompetent boob, get Doctor Kronenberg's belongings out of the back of your truck b'fore I tan your hide. CHIP Yessir. (goes to exit) What was you sayin' on the radio about Nita-Kay? MOZELLE Wayne ... SHERIFF (Grumbles) Nothin'. Just get Doctor Kronenberg's belongings. (to ELI) So, a little smarts ain't necessarily a good thing, is it doctor? CHIP (Notices JOANNE, he takes off his hat) Oh my. Who's this pretty woman? JOANNE (Takes his hand and, unfortunately, his heart) Doctor Joanne King. Call me "Jo." CHIP Anything you say, Jo. And might I say that ... SHERIFF (Interrupting) Chip? The truck? CHIP (Snaps back) Oh, sorry Sheriff. (exits) JOANNE I can see why Nita-Kay has reservations. SHERIFF Don't you go bad-mouthin' my deputy. Only I can bad-mouth my deputy. JOANNE That's a stupid policy. ELI Hey, don't make things any worse, okay? JOANNE YOU should talk. SHERIFF I don't think things can GET much worse for you, Kronenberg. As far as I'm concerned YOU'RE the one responsible for that robbery. ELI Oh? How do you figure that, Sherlock? SHERIFF For starters, Billy Ladnier is an upstanding, church- goin' member of this community, as was his daddy and his daddy 'fore him. Now, I'm not saying that he don't have what it takes to break the law, but when you grow up with someone you tend to know what they're made of. Billy wouldn't do something like that. ELI Maybe not before. SHERIFF So if you're saying that it was your experiment that caused the robbery, it would likely go that it's your fault. ELI WHAT?! I can't believe how stupid you are! SHERIFF Stupid? Stupid?! No, DOCTOR Kronenberg, it's smart. I got a boost in the brain too, remember? ELI I don't think it's taken effect yet. SHERIFF Oh? How can you tell? ELI BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL A FUCKIN' IDIOT!! SHERIFF That's it! That's it! I've had it with you, Kronenberg. (starts frantically dialing the phone) Research or not, I'm callin' the mayor, an' the governor, an' the president if I have to. Hell, give me a rope and a tree an' I'll take care of this myself! (MOZELLE hangs the phone up while SHERIFF is waiting for an answer.) SHERIFF (cont'd) Goddamnit woman, what the hell are you doin'?! MOZELLE Stopping you from making a terrible mistake. SHERIFF Get off that phone, woman, or ... MOZELLE Or what? SHERIFF Or you'll be tastin' the back of my hand! MOZELLE You wouldn't dare. SHERIFF (Hysterical) You get away from that phone, you worthless tramp! You was nothin' when I met you and you're nothin' now, and you'll ALWAYS be nothin'! And don't you EVER get in the way of me doin' my job, y'hear me?! Do that again and I'll KILL you!!! (CHIP suddenly enters carrying a large box decorated like a Christmas present with a briefcase on top of it. CHIP rams SHERIFF in the back, practically knocking him down.) CHIP Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Sheriff. MOZELLE (Laughs nervously) Chip, I take back all the bad things I've ever said about you. CHIP Thank you, Mrs. Hutto. (a beat) What bad things? SHERIFF (Groggy) Chip ... CHIP Uh-oh. (backs up) SHERIFF Chip ... is that, uh ... is that the doctor's equipment? CHIP (Scared) Yessir. SHERIFF Do they all look that stupid? ELI Heh ... it's camouflage. CHIP There's four more boxes like it, an' a bunch o' jugs. SHERIFF Then I suggest you get them all in here. CHIP Yessir. (exits) SHERIFF Mozelle, I want to apologize. MOZELLE Don't make me laugh. SHERIFF But ... I'm sorry. MOZELLE You're always sorry. When'll you stop bein' sorry? JOANNE I think she's got a point ... SHERIFF Stay out of this, Jo. It ain't your business. (pause) Jo. King. Jo King. (chuckles) JOANNE What's the matter with you? SHERIFF Jo King! (laughs HARD) MOZELLE (Realizes the joke) Jo King! I get it! (Laughs HARD with the SHERIFF) ELI It's happening. JOANNE What's happening? ELI The chemical. (CHIP returns with another box. He smiles and chuckles along with everybody.) CHIP Hey, what's so funny? ELI Deputy Chip, do you remember this woman's name? CHIP Sure I do. It's Doctor Jo King. (a beat) Jo King! Jo King! (joins SHERIFF and MOZELLE) ELI (To JOANNE) In the briefcase there's permits, test results, control information, saturation levels, schedules, everything you need to know. I need you to be my eyes and ears. JOANNE (Taking the briefcase) Doctor Kronenberg, it's an honor to finally be working with you. ELI It's going to be a lot of work, Jo. We're making history. JOANNE I know. I'm ready. And by the way, from now on you'd better call me "Joanne." Fadeout * END OF ACT 1 * Main Page
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Act I	An early fall morning at the Sheriff Office in Stillman's Corner, Alabama.
Act II, Scene 1:	The next morning.
Act II, Scene 2:	Later that day.