The Town Hall, December 13, 1955.

The
SOUNDS of a CROWD are heard. BUCK
enters, followed by BLAINE, WILL and JACK.

A M ANS VOICE shouts out.

M ANS VOICE
Its comin at us from all sides, Buck!

OTHER VOICES shout in agreement.

WOM ANS VOICE

A homosexual underworld! Thats what Time magazine calls us!

SECOND M ANS VOICE

It used to be just the Communists, but now its the homosexuals too!

BUCK
I assure you, our investigation is on-going.

ANOTHER M ANS VOICE

Time said theres a hundred and twenty-five of them!

BUCK
I had a few words with the editor about that typographical error.

SECOND WOM ANS VOICE

How do we keep our children safe, Buck?

M ANS VOICE
You gotta lock up these perverts!

BUCK brings WILL forward.

BUCK
This is M r. Fairchild of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hes working with us on
special assignment.
 2.

WILL
Im not going to lie to you and say that America isnt at war. These evil men are as single-
minded and ruthless an enemy as this nation has ever fought.

SECOND WOM ANS VOICE

But how do we stop them?

M ore ANGRY VOICES. WILL holds out his

hands to placate them.

WILL
M r. J. Edgar Hoover has sworn to protect every U.S. citizen from any attack,
Communist or homosexual. But M r. Hoover needs each of you to cooperate. You must
identify the men and report your suspicions to me.

VOICES shout out names.

VOICES
John Bartlett! M elvin Dir! Jimmy Truvell!

JACK goes to WILL.

JACK
The purpose of this investigation is to identify and arrest possible child molesters, not
rounding up Communists and homosexuals.

WILL ignores JACK and addresses the

audience.

WILL
Homosexuals infect our youth with their lack of morals just like Communists do.

JACK now addresses the audience.

JACK
There is absolutely no evidence linking the two!

WILL
It is a known fact, doctor, that Russia sends its homosexuals here to undermine our
government.

ANGRY VOICES shout in agreement.

 3.

JACK
The threat to your families isnt out there! Its in your own homes!

Shocked silence.

WILL
Are you suggesting its --
(points out)
-- their fault?

ANGRY PARENTS shout out, overlapping.

ANGRY PARENT 1
I havent done anything wrong!

ANGRY PARENT 2
They need to be disciplined!

ANGRY PARENT 3
I take my belt to that boy!

ANGRY PARENT 4
What else am I supposed to do?

BUCK, a bit nervous, tries to placate them.

BUCK
Now, now -- Im sure Dr. Butler isnt blaming you of anything. Right, doctor?

JACK
I know youre worried for your children, and I know Id feel the same --
(voice cracks a moment)
But theyre typical teenagers trying to prove to you that theyre adults. Even if it means
participating in behavior you regard as reprehensible.

WILL
Which you dont?

JACK
Of course I do. I didnt say --
 4.

Hes interrupted by ANGRY PARENT

VOICES, shouting over each other.

ANGRY PARENT 1
Youre out of your mind!

ANGRY PARENT 2
You never did belong here!

ANGRY PARENT 3
You should be ashamed!

ANGRY PARENT 4
What the hell do you know about raising my son?

ANGRY PARENT 5
Who do you think you are?

OTHER VOICES shout in agreement.

BUCK
Now look here, weve already sent six men to prison.

ANGRY VOICE
Thats not enough!

BUCK
Well be sending plenty more, I assure you.

SECOND WOM ANS VOICE

When?

M ANS VOICE
Its taking too long!

ANGRY VOICE
Do something, goddamn it!

BUCK grabs JACK and pulls him away. WILL

and BLAINE follow.

An office in the Town Hall, immediately after.

 5.

BUCK
What the hell was that? Youre twisting the truth --

JACK
Truth? The truth is there isnt any evidence of widespread molestation.

WILL
In your professional opinion as an investigator.

JACK
Six men were sent to prison based solely on the testimonies of only three so-called
innocent boys.

BLAINE
Those men also happened to have confessed, doctor. Their statements corroborated the
sexual encounters exactly described by the victims.

JACK
They did more than corroborate, M r. Evans. Each of their statements is identical, except
for the name of the suspect and the place of arrest.

BUCK
Is this true, Blaine?

BLAINE
There are -- similarities.

JACK
I have yet to meet any fifteen-year-old who describes his penis as a personal member,
let alone all three of the boys.

WILL
Whats your point?

JACK looks at WILL.

JACK
Youre not here to investigate child abuse.

WILL
Why am I here?
 6.

JACK
Isnt tracking down homosexuals your specialty? To you, its the thrill of the hunt.

BUCK
Youre out of line, Jack. People need to know that its sick men like Joe M oore --

JACK
He hasnt confessed to anything.

BLAINE
The judge might be inclined to leniency if he did.

JACK
Leniency like he showed the others?

WILL
Look, doctor, sending the high-and-mighty Joe M oore to prison is different. It sends a
warning, we got him, well get you.

JACK
Who are you warning, M r. Fairchild, child molesters or homosexuals?

WILL
(shrugs)
Whats the difference?

JACK looks to BUCK.

JACK
You cant possibly condone what hes doing?

BUCK
Jack, you cant deny they both belong behind bars.

JACK stares in horror at BUCK.

JACK
I want no more part of this.

BUCK
What?
 7.

JACK
The scope of this investigation is now outside my jurisdiction with the Board of Health.
Ill submit my report, but Im through here.

He turns to go.

BUCK
(bellows)
Dont you ever turn your back on me!

Stunned, JACK stops, but he doesnt turn

around.

BUCK (CONTD)
You goddamn ingrate! I gave you everything! What did you give me in return? A dead --

BLAINE grabs BUCKs arm.

BLAINE
Buck, no.

JACK shoots BUCK a look of contempt then

exits. Lights dim.