*This is a short story in the form of a film script.
INT. interrogation room
A man, SUSPECT (30-40 year-old Latino) wears an ORANGE UNIFORM.
He sits on a chair at the end of a table, facing the only door in the room.
The door opens, FBI AGENT PEREZ (40s, Latino, tall and well built) appears in a dark blue suit. He wears an identifying FBI badge around his neck.
The FBI Agent sits on a chair on the opposite side of the long table.
The Agent re-accommodates his gun and the holster as he sits in the chair.
A camera on a tripod records the conversation.
AGENT PEREZ
I’m with the FBI. I’m Agent Perez. I need to ask you some questions.
SUSPECT
Shoot. I mean, go ahead.
—Agent Perez takes a note pad and pen from his jacket.
AGENT PEREZ
All facts point to you as the culprit. So, I’m going straight to the point. Why did you kill him?
SUSPECT
He was bad for America. He was a racist ignorant. Half America wanted to get rid of him.
AGENT PEREZ
Half America?
SUSPECT
Yes, America always had its share of racist and hateful people. But they were hiding in the shadows.
AGENT PEREZ
Did somebody pay you to do it?
SUSPECT
There was no money involved at all.
—The suspect takes a sip from a plastic soft drink.
SUSPECT
Do you know how many psychos blame the devil for their crimes? Well, in this case God made me do it.
AGENT PEREZ
Did you do it for political reasons?
SUSPECT
I don’t even vote.
AGENT PEREZ
Did you have any accomplices?
SUSPECT
I did it all by myself, but God was guiding me. I was never afraid of failing.
AGENT PEREZ
Are you a religious fanatic?
SUSPECT
Believing in God doesn’t make me a fanatic.
AGENT PEREZ
Have you killed anyone before?
SUSPECT
No. He was the only person I hated in the world.
AGENT PEREZ
Did you enjoy killing him?
SUSPECT
I enjoyed getting rid of him.
AGENT PEREZ
Do you consider yourself a hero?
SUSPECT
Absolutely not, but let the people decide. In any case, I don’t care.
—Agent Perez re-arranges his gun and holster, which seems to be uncomfortable in the small chair.
AGENT PEREZ
What punishment do you think you deserve?
SUSPECT
Are you kidding me? Heaven will be my reward and my victim will be fighting for supremacy in hell. Too bad hell doesn’t have beautiful walls.
AGENT PEREZ
You sound like a terrorist when you say, ‘Heaven will be my reward’.
SUSPECT
Oh yeah, you’re right! . . . but I know I’m not.
AGENT PEREZ
Do you think you helped him prove his point to say you are rapists and criminals?
SUSPECT
You can’t blame six million people for the actions of one person.
AGENT PEREZ
Don’t you think he could have changed?
—The suspect leans on the table and looks directly at the camera.
SUSPECT
It’s impossible for an asshole not to smell like shit all the time.
AGENT PEREZ
Do you have any regrets?
SUSPECT
Maybe just one. I wish I had killed myself right after I did it.
AGENT PEREZ
Well, if you’re lucky you’ll get the death penalty, but if they give you life, it’s going to get boring.
—The FBI Agent removes his gun and holster and puts it on the table.
—The Agent pulls his chair.
AGENT PEREZ
Anyway, good luck, I guess.
—Agent Perez stands up and walks out of the room.
—He leaves his gun behind.
—After a brief moment, a shot is heard.
C/U – Outside, Agent Perez’s face shows a faint smile.
Fade Out
“The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people.”
—Noam Chomsky.
Edmundo Barraza
Lancaster, Ca. May-10-2016
