“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley from the self-made mix Recrossing the Mixmaster

DELILAH sits at a table in a fluorescent lit interrogation room. Her wrists are on the table, bound by handcuffs through a metal bracket bolted to the table. There are errant clumps of hairs visible on her dress. A DETECTIVE walks in spins a chair around and sits down. Neither say anything at first, DELILAH just stares at the cop with daggers in her eyes and the cop seems to enjoy the drawn out tease of it. However, the cop breaks first.

DETECTIVE GRANGER

So, you like to cut hair, huh?

DELILAH (dripping with condescension)

Like? I’m not sure I’d say that. I do like having a skill I can rely on though. This day and age, it is important for a woman to have a job of her own, to be able to make a living regardless of having a man or not. As I am sure you well know, being a career law-woman as you are.

GRANGER

You think you’re cute cupcake?

DELILAH

I’ve been known to turn a head or two.

GRANGER

Do you now? Any of those heads belong to a guy named Samson.

DELILAH (shrugging)

Could be. I’ve never been the best record keeper.

GRANGER

That’s a shame. That’s the kind of thing that could come back and bite you these days.

DELILAH (provocatively)

Well, I’ve always been one to live dangerously. And I’ve never minded a little pain now and again.

GRANGER

Can’t say I’m surprised.

DELILAH

I don’t suppose you would be. We tend to recognize our own, don’t we, Ms. Granger?

GRANGER

I’m sure you meant “Detective.”

DELILAH (almost purring)

Mmm…I could enjoy that…Detective.

GRANGER

Is this circus act how you caught Samson’s eye?

DELILAH

Like I said, I don’t take notes. But I’m sure he could tell you. I tend to be…memorable.

GRANGER

Oh, honey, girls like you aren’t memorable. Girls like you are everywhere.

DELILAH (pulling her arms off the table with a shaking of chains)

You take off these handcuffs, I’ll prove you wrong, copper. I promise you, I’ll make it more than memorable for you.

GRANGER

Maybe later.

DELILAH

I’m more of a pleasure before…and after business kind of dame. But we’ll play it your way Detective. I don’t mind being bossed around. I take my fun as it comes. If you will.

GRANGER

I’m glad you’re having a good time, chuckling it up. I can understand your…lack of hurry. I mean, you’re going to be living your life in windowless rooms soon enough.

DELILAH (curiosity mixed with condescension)

Oh am I now?

GRANGER

Yeah, you are, sweetness. Illegal imprisonment, assault and battery, criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting, accessory to kidnapping…those kinds of things add up. You’re looking at a looooooooong time out of the sun.

DELILAH

I’ve been meaning to get less rays. Skin cancer’s a rough one, I hear.

GRANGER (ignoring DELILAH’s flip retort)

The thing is, I’ve got nothing but time. I don’t mind waiting. But Samson, you know, the guy you sold out to the Philstine Crime Family, he doesn’t. Which maybe you don’t care about. But you should. Cause, see, if he buys it, that rolls back on you. You can add accessory to murder one and conspiracy to commit murder to your charges.

What you’re looking at right now, you get to be pensioner in the outside world. Your looks’ll be gone but, a smart girl like you, you’ll still find a way to end up on your feet.

You don’t talk, though, and Samson kicks off…hope you enjoy concrete and jumpsuits.

DELILAH (making a show of being bored, looking at her nails)

You offering something?

GRANGER

I don’t know…you still haven’t told me if you even know Samson.

DELILAH

Well, let’s say we engage In an…exercise in the hypothetical, huh?

GRANGER

Let’s say we do.

DELILAH

Ok, then, it’s possible I might’ve…know this guy. You know…in a friendly sort of way.

GRANGER

Like you wanna be my friend?

DELILAH (a throaty laugh)

No, no. Not quite like that. I’d be…a far more adventurous friend to you.

GRANGER

Good to know. So, Samson?

DELILAH

Like I said, I might’ve seen him now and again.

GRANGER

You know what he did to make is dough?

DELILAH

Sure. Guy like that…he gets a rep. Enforcer who takes as much pleasure in his job…people talk.

GRANGER

And you chose to lie down anyway?

DELILAH

I’m not that kind of girl, Detective. I’m not very interested in spending much time on my back. I prefer to…stay more active.

GRANGER

So you’d get active with Samson?

DELILAH

Very. He was a man of great strengths and appetites.

GRANGER

Please…I hardly need a picture painted.

DELILAH

Oh, I know. But I felt you’d probably enjoy a little story time.

GRANGER

The only story I care about right now, pumpkin, is what happened to Samson.

DELILAH

Hypothetically?

GRANGER

Sure.

DELILAH

Samson and I were going together, on and off, for awhile. Word got around so Georgie came by one night.

GRANGER

George Philstine?

DELILAH

The one and only. He came by and he’s real interested in Samson. Interested to the tune of a suitcase wallpapered green, you dig? So I think, Samson’s fun and all, but cash is cash. Besides, the best kind of fun comes in a dress. I can pick up the slacks anytime I want the variety.

GRANGER

Classy. So you get the dough and sell out the strongman?

DELILAH

After the trim. Samson’s strong but he’s a bit too trusting. And kinky Let me blindfold him and tie him up and before he knew what’s what, I introduced his beautiful locks to the floor. No hair, no power. Easy pickings for the family. I got my money and they got their man.

GRANGER

I don’t suppose they told you the hypothetical joint they were taking him to?

DELILAH

Tell me? Nah. But you know these types. Flapping their gums around because they’re too stupid to account for the fact that us ladies have ears too.

GRANGER

So?

DELILAH

So they got a storage container by the dock, apparently. Numbered 35, painted blue. I’m sure it’s easy to find.

GRANGER (standing, spinning her chair round and pushing it back into the corner of the room)

Thanks Delilah. We here at the PD appreciate your compliance.

DELILAH (playful again)

And my deal, Detective? I’m anxious to get out of these cuffs to show you a little…appreciation.

GRANGER

What deal?

DELILAH

What deal? My deal! I tell you about Samson, you make sure I get the white glove treatment.

GRANGER

Oh, Delilah, I’m so sorry. We were just talk hypothetically. I can hardly make a deal for a hypothetical discussion now can I?

DELILAH (a little desperate)

Get me a piece of paper then. I’ll write it out and sign it. Make it all official like.

GRANGER

Why would we bother with that? I already have what I need.

DETECTIVE GRANGER leaves the “box” as DELILAH screams, desperate and angry, after her. The door slams shut as DELILAH continues to scream herself hoarse.