ANDREW There’s no evidence for that.
MAN There is. But it’s classified.
ANDREW I’m not getting into this –
MAN My point is that what you’ve done is dangerous, but you think you can avoid the cost. What we do is dangerous as well. But we’re aware of the cost and we think it’s worth doing it anyway.
ANDREW I’ve been very careful about how this information is released, it’s not like how you did it, I went to journalists and even now they’re going through it, carefully redacting names.
MAN There will be a mistake.
ANDREW No, they’ve reassured me –
MAN There will be a mistake, there always is. At least one person will die because of what you’ve done.
ANDREW I don’t think that’s inevitable at all.
MAN And the terrifying thought for you to contemplate right now is.
That person could be you.
ANDREW finishes making the model. It’s an intricate star.
The American people didn’t know that the United States was involved in torture, until it was revealed.
Or mass surveillance, until you made it public.
Perhaps there’s other things they don’t know about.
Like assassination. Like sending someone to another country to take out a problem.
And Andrew, you are one of your country’s biggest problems at the moment.
ANDREW They wouldn’t dare kill me. That would be too obvious –
MAN It would look like you took your own life.
They would send someone in. Who was experienced. And who could pretend to be someone you wanted to be close to.
An associate.
Then that person would, who would be an experienced professional, would arrange your death in such a way that it would look like all the attention, everything you’d done, had become too much, and so – now the work is over – you’d ended it all.
And were now dead. You now didn’t exist. Those thoughts in your head, that you’re thinking right now, would stop.
Reality would cease. Everything you did this for, wouldn’t matter, because the world would to all intents and purposes, to you, finish.
ANDREW What are you… are you threatening me?
MAN I’m saying the current danger level, to you, is very high.
I’m saying I could be anyone.
I’m saying perhaps I’m not working for him. I only said that so you’d let me in.
Perhaps I’m working for someone else, and you are about to die so quickly that you’ll never know the truth.
I’m saying what was in the chocolate.
Nothing. There was nothing in the chocolate but would you like to be protected against that threat for the foreseeable future?
We can do that.
I can do that.
Are you crying?
Long pause.
We would like you to agree to work with us. To help us out. And in return. We’ll look after you.
ANDREW I… uh… okay… I’m… my head is…
MAN What?
ANDREW I’m not feeling that well.
MAN Why not?
ANDREW Oh god.
MAN Just agree.
ANDREW No.
MAN Agree to work with us, and we’ll take care of everything.
ANDREW Who was the woman?
MAN As I explained, she could have been anyone.
Without proper resources you can never be sure.
Anyone you meet from now, might be a threat.
ANDREW Can you come back?
MAN What?
ANDREW Come back in the morning.
MAN Leave you overnight?
ANDREW Yeah.
MAN I can but it’s normally done overnight.
Death.
ANDREW I just… need time.
Please.
The MAN looks at him for a while.
MAN How about another bar of chocolate?
He takes it out. ANDREW looks for a moment.
Or not.
ANDREW reaches for it.
The MAN moves it away.
When you say yes.
The MAN looks at him for a while.
Don’t open the door to anyone.
He goes.
ANDREW sits.
Stares.
Alone.
3.
The night.
ANDREW is doing sit-ups without his top on.
A knock at the door.
ANDREW stops for a moment.
Then carries on with the sit-ups.
Another knock at the door.
A moment. ANDREW carries on.
ANDREW It’s locked.
The WOMAN comes in. She’s looking possibly a little drunk, her hair is more relaxed than before. She holds a bag.
WOMAN Hi! Just checking if – Wow. Okay. Why have you?
Okay. Should I come back at some other time?
ANDREW No. It’s fine.
WOMAN Why have you got your shirt off?
ANDREW I was exercising.
WOMAN It’s very late at night.
ANDREW I couldn’t sleep.
WOMAN You know there’s a gym downstairs? It’s actually not bad, I mean the facilities here aren’t great generally you have to pay through the nose for wifi, and the bar’s okay if you can get past the prostitutes. Who by the way all have laptops. They sit there at tables and do what look like accounts on Excel on their Macbook Airs when they’re not chatting to men or being fucked. I mean, I just have so many feelings about that in so many directions, the rights and wrongs of that because no doubt these women are being so much better paid than I am, but would I do what they do? No I would not. Am I in a position, really to make that call? To say what I would do in their position? No I am not, because the alternatives might all be horrific. Sorry I’m rambling, I do that when it’s late and I’ve been having fun, the point is the gym’s okay. You could do exercise in the gym.
ANDREW I’m not allowed to leave my room.
WOMAN Oh yeah. Forgot.
ANDREW …
WOMAN I could send one of those prostitutes up.
ANDREW No thanks.
WOMAN She could dress like Mindy. Use a false name. You could use a false name too.
And only speak through writing pictures on pieces of paper.
Or better, not speak at all.
And no eye contact.
Ultimate privacy. Total silence.
ANDREW I’m fine thanks.
WOMAN You ever used a prostitute?
ANDREW No.
WOMAN Me neither. I think it must be horrible, but it’s one of those things isn’t it, that’s sort of become so acceptable in society it’s easy not to think about it, but if you imagine actually letting someone invade you like that –
ANDREW I thought you’d have gone by now.
WOMAN Gone? No. I’m staying here. Waiting for you to change your mind.
ANDREW You’re not who you say you are.
WOMAN I know, I told you that. I explained the reasons why.
ANDREW I mean you don’t work for him. The other man.
Also called George. He came and said they don’t know anything about you.
WOMAN What other man?
ANDREW George.
Beat.
WOMAN We don’t work with anyone called George.
ANDREW You mean…
WOMAN Did he say he worked for us?
ANDREW With him. He said he was sent by him to speak to me.
WOMAN No that’s me. That’s what I’m here to do. This other man. Lying to you. Describe him.
ANDREW He’s –