[An incident room.]
[IRIS is furiously scribbling at her desk. She is becoming paper.
KAREN enters with a two postbags full of mail.]
KAREN: Most post for you, Iris.
IRIS: Put it next to the other ones
KAREN: Do you need a hand?
IRIS: No
KAREN: We’re about to meet. See you in the war room. Coffee?
[IRIS holds up her flask and shakes it. It is empty.]
IRIS: I’ll have a latte.
KAREN: Sugar?
IRIS: No. You know that
KAREN: We’re late. Let’s go.
[CHRIS enters with a couple of boards centre-stage. The boards have several photographs on them.
KAREN and IRIS have coffees.
IRIS is furiously taking notes.
KAREN stares. A camera hangs round her neck.
SIMON enters.]
CHRIS: Tina Jane Martin. 30 years old. Two children, 10 and 13.The neighbours reported fighting late into the night. Clark was a heavy drinker maybe drugs. Arrested twice for GBH and theft.
KAREN: Yum, yum, yum.
CHRIS: I need a weapon, and a man.
[IRIS raises her hand.]
CHRIS: No time for questions.
SIMON: Shall we start door-to-door?
CHRIS: I want phone records, credit cards. If he shits anywhere, I want to see it on CCTV.
IRIS: Do you need me to speak to the press?
CHRIS: Could you stay for a minute, Iris?
[SIMON and KAREN disperse.]
CHRIS: You’re not on this case.
IRIS: I was in the meeting?
CHRIS: I didn’t ask you to be. You’re a liability. You’re not allowed away from your desk.
IRIS: Excuse me?
CHRIS: Paperwork. Now.
IRIS: That’s it. Can I appeal?
CHRIS: You made me ridiculous!
IRIS: You should have consulted with me before you went out there. I would have told you it was wrong.
CHRIS: You could have pulled me at any point.
IRIS: We had the wrong guy.
CHRIS: This discussion is closed. You are not on this case.
[CHRIS leaves.
KAREN’s camera flashes. The outline of a body is seen.
IRIS is wandering around eating a sandwich out of a packet.]
KAREN: If she catches you here…
IRIS: So what? She’s an idiot. She’s probably fucking to get ahead. She’s doesn’t know shit.
ENDS
PHILIPPA MANNION 