RHEA MACCALLUM’s plays have been produced on six continents. She is published with Smith & Kraus, Pioneer Drama, Original Works and Heuer Publishing. A member of the Dramatists Guild, ICWP and ALAP, she holds a BA from USC and MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School. www.rheamaccallum.com @rheaplaywright
Thanks to Rhea MacCallum for allowing NYCPlaywrights to publish this excerpt from her play ASKING FOR IT.
OFFICER
There’s no need to use that kind language.
WOMAN
What language?
OFFICER
You know what you said.
WOMAN
???
OFFICER
… gas-guzzler. Clearly you are predisposed to have an issue with this vehicle that allegedly hit you.
WOMAN
What do you mean ‘allegedly’ hit me?
OFFICER
We have not yet established that a hit and run took place.
WOMAN
But I was hit, by the SUV, bounced off the vehicle and hit the ground as the driver sped away. I have scratches.
OFFICER
Yes, but… those scratches may be from a previous encounter.
WOMAN
They’re fresh. And red. There’s even a little blood.
OFFICER
I need to confirm… did you have a cocktail with your salad, or maybe take a pill, or maybe forget to take a pill?
WOMAN
No.
OFFICER
So you’re normally this agitated?
WOMAN
No, normally I’m not hit by a vehicle while waiting for the light to change and normally I’m not interrogated for being the victim of an accident. Look, this has been a really long day and I’m kind of regretting calling this incident in but I felt like I should because a crime was committed and there’s somebody out there driving recklessly and I’d really like them to be caught before they seriously hurt someone.
OFFICER
So you had a long day?
WOMAN
Yeah…
OFFICER
Is it possible that your mental facilities were impaired at the time of the incident?
WOMAN
No, I am not mentally impaired.
OFFICER
But you are tired, so maybe you were in the cross walk a little and just didn’t notice? Maybe you stepped off the curb just a few seconds too soon?
WOMAN
No, I was standing on the slope of the sidewalk where it dips for wheelchairs. I know this because I was using the slope to help stretch out the back of my calves.
OFFICER
Oh, so you weren’t even facing the street then?
WOMAN
I was at an angle.
OFFICER
Did you see the driver before they hit you?
WOMAN
The tinted windows were too dark. I couldn’t identify the driver at all other than they looked masculine, broad shoulders, short, cropped hair.