Tell him the janitor is coming . . .

Summary:
Robert E. Wallace, a successful White Louisiana lawyer, is at the top of his game. He appears to have it all, when an apparent burglary in his high-rise office unravels his near perfect world. 

Cast:
Robert E. Wallace: A very successful white Louisiana lawyer who appears to have it all. He is rich, powerful, and in favor of powerful politicians.

Ms. White: An aggressive blond haired white executive assistant to Mr. Wallace who will stop at nothing to get what she or her boss wants.

The Janitor: An apparent lowly ignorant African-American janitor who is much more than he seems. 

Setting:
office of Mr. Wallace’s assistant Ms. White. There is a large expensive looking office desk at the center of the room with a computer on the desk. On the side of the room is a cabinet containing numerous awards and statuettes. On the wall directly behind the desk are a number of community awards and in the center is a Man of the year Award in bold lettering. Behind the largest painting is a wall safe. To the left side of the stage is Ms. White’s work area and just to the right of the stage is a large worktable with a number of chairs around it.

Ms. White
Sir? Mr. Wallace, you are going to be late. 

Mr. Wallace
We have to finish this paperwork for Senator Duke. 

Ms. White
Sir, your son is not another local charity. 

Mr. Wallace
I know. . .  

Ms. White
I don’t think you do sir. Jason doesn’t have the hidden agenda of Senator Duke. I can’t spin damage control on this. 

Mr. Wallace
Okay . . . okay . . . I have just a little bit of paperwork left, then I’ll be going. You can go. 

Ms. White
Sir? I, of all people, know that this paperwork for Senator Duke will be here tomorrow. (Pause.) I could make a phone call and inform a certain little eight-year-old boy that his father is running late?  

Mr. Wallace
Alright . . . alright you don’t have to get mean.   

Ms. White
Very good. I’ll call your driver and have your car brought around. 
(Puts his paperwork down. He goes to the closet gets out a new shirt and tie. He begins changing. He continues talking as he changes.)  

Mr. Wallace
What’s the latest info on the proposition for the senator? 

Ms. White
When the senator receives the twenty-three million from the Knights of the Brotherhood, it’ll put him over the top. Nobody can touch him. 
(He makes his way to the office door, puts his hand on the doorknob, and turns the handle, but doesn’t open the door.)

Mr. Wallace
How many do we have in our pocket?

Ms. White
More than enough.

Mr. Wallace
How many dammit?

Ms. White
We have five of the twelve on the payroll and another two “Well,” that we have been forced to improvise.

Mr. Wallace
Improvise? What the hell . . . That won’t due. How the hell am I suppose to leave when this hasn’t been settled? . . . Get in touch with our people . . . and while you’re at it, call my wife and let her know that I'll not be able to make it tonight. 
(He loosens the tie he had just finished tying. He takes off his coat and throws his coat over the edge of the chair as he head back to his desk.)

Ms. White
And your son? What shall I tell him?

Mr. Wallace
He’s going to have to realize what I’m doing (Pause.) is for him. If he doesn’t learn it now, he’ll never . . .

Ms. White
. . . I’ll make the call.   
(She picks up a number of files off the desk. She then crosses the room stops just short of the door.)

Ms. White (Cont.)
Dinner?

Mr. Wallace
Sure. 

(Ms. White exits the office, leaving the door open behind her. Just as she lays the files on her desk, she is thrown into a shock as she hears the something behind her. She turns to see the Janitor cleaning the garbage can.)

The Janitor
Oh. . . I’s sorry ma’am. I’s didn’t see ya dere.

Ms. White
You’re early. You said a quarter to six. He’s still in there.

The Janitor
Well ma’am, if he don’t mind I’d thought id be okay with Mr. Wallace if I’d start cleaning early. Would dat be okay ma’am? Could ya tell him . . . Tell him, the janitor is coming. 
The janitor pulls the handkerchief out of his back pocket and starts fidgeting with it while waiting for Ms. White to answer. Ms. White looks nervously at Mr. Wallace.

 Ms. White
Oh. . .um. . . I’m sure it’d be okay. 

The janitor enters the office. Mr. Wallace turns to see the janitor standing in front of him.

Mr. Wallace
Don’t worry about cleaning the office tonight.   

The Janitor just stands there waiting, not saying a word.

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
Well? (Angrily.) 

The Janitor
Well, sir. . . It’s Mista’ Roberts, he’s bein’ my supervisa’ in all. He’s gets real angry wif me when I don’t clean all the offices. And. . . you all work real late around here. Well, sir. . .I’s sure I’s gunna get fired if I don’t clean your all office tonight. I’s ‘pologize, but I’s can’t afford to get fired. Da’ misses ‘bout to have a baby in all . . .

Mr. Wallace
Fine. Go ahead woman, just be quick about it. 

(The Janitor grabs his janitorial supplies and heads into the office. He walks past Mr. Wallace who is has taken position behind his desk. Mr. Wallace puts on his glasses and begins studying a number of papers. The janitor says nothing, but simply holds the handle of the mop while staring at Mr. Wallace, creating an uncomfortable silence.)

The Janitor
Dank ya’ fo’ lettin’ me do ‘dis. I’s really ‘preciate it.

Mr. Wallace
Uh huh. . . you’re welcome. 

(The Janitor takes his mop and starts to clean the office. He grabs a towel and gets down on his hands and knees and begins scrubbing the tire floor. Mr. Wallace looks at him on his hands and knees and lets out muffled laugh. Ms. White enters the office, pauses briefing as there is an uncomfortable connection between her and the janitor, places microwaved food and a thermos of coffee on the table. She walks over to Mr. Wallace.) 

Ms. White
There’s something for you to eat on the table. I wasn’t expecting you to be here this evening so I didn’t have Jean-Pierre prepare anything. I hope this is satisfactory.

Mr. Wallace
Thanks, I’m sure whatever you’ve prepared will be fine. To be honest, I’m really not that hungry right now. Is there coffee?

Ms. White
Yes . . . but, you should eat. (Motherly.)

Mr. Wallace
I’ll have a bite of it in a minute. Get on the phone and give Senator Duke a call. I want him to know exactly where we stand, then get a hold of “You Know Who in the Brotherhood.” Tell him he’s going to be putting in some overtime this evening.

Ms. White
I’m on it.  

(Ms. White exits. Mr. Wallace grabs a number of the papers at his desk and walks over to the table and sits himself down in front of his food. He places his paperwork in front of him. For a brief moment the Janitor looks at his watch, then heads towards Mr. Wallace.)

The Janitor
‘Scuse me, sir. I hates to interrupt yo’ dinna’, but woulds yo mind if I’s start cleanien’ the windo’s in here?

(Mr. Wallace slowly stops what he is doing, adjusts the glasses on his face and gives a look of frustration as he gives his attention to the janitor.)

Mr. Wallace
At night . . . you clean windows? . . . o.k. . . . go ahead.

The Janitor
Well, ya see. I’s myself don’t like da smell of window cleana’ when’s I’s eaten’. It’s just make me sick somedun’ awfool. But, if it’s don’t make yo’all sick den I’s like to start cleanen’.

Mr. Wallace
It’s not the smell of window cleaner that makes me sick.

Under his breath, motions for the janitor to continue.) (The janitor starts cleaning the pictures on the wall). 

The Janitor
Yo’ sho’ have ‘lot of awards on da’ wall. Mr. Wallace They’re the benefits of a formal education. The Janitor Dis one’s an ‘ppreciation from the city of Baton Rouge, dis one’s a hydra induction someding or anodder, and looks at dis big one, is dat you? What’s de’ all for’?

Mr. Wallace
Diplomas, Community Service Appreciation, and the large one in the middle . . . it’s the Man of the Year Award presented to me by the state of Louisiana.

The Janitor
Momma got’s a few awards. She’s got’s dem for donatin’ her time at da’ church wif kids in all. She went right out and picked up a right nice frame. It weren’t no frame like dese. What kinda wood is dis?

Mr. Wallace
Cherry wood.

The Janitor
Looks ‘spensive.

Mr. Wallace
That’s why I bought it.

The Janitor
Well, my momma couldn’t be affording no cherry wood. It’s was whatever de’ got at’s Walmart was what was good ‘nough for my momma.

Mr. Wallace
How very surprising.

The Janitor
Whazat?

Mr. Wallace
Look, I get paid seven hundred an hour to work and frankly, you’re distracting me, so, if you’re not going to clean then you’re welcome to leave. 

The Janitor
Oh. . .I’s ‘pologize. I’s get back to work and leave you alone. Sorry ‘bout dat.

(The Janitor goes back to cleaning the pictures on the wall. He is almost directly behind Mr. Wallace and is definitely out of his field of view. He looks at his watch again.)

Mr. Wallace
turns and continues his work.

The Janitor
Da Church burned down!

Mr. Wallace
Pardon?

The Janitor
Da church burned down where momma worked. Lot’s of people went ta heaven because of dat fire, my momma also, God rest her sole. Bad ‘nough dat we lost momma but we lost all dose’ awards too.

(Mr. Wallace turns sharply to see the Janitor who is now staring into a trophy case looking at dozens of statuettes.)

Mr. Wallace
Boy, just shut up and do your work.

The Janitor
Sorry ‘bout ‘dat boss. I’s always talkin’ too much.

Mr. Wallace
Thanks . . . (Under his breath.) Your people always do.

(The janitor moves himself so that he is directly behind Mr. Wallace. He grabs the handle of the mop and detaches it from the end of the mop. He raises it slowly over his head.)

The Janitor
You got me dere. My’s people aint too smart.

(Suddenly the room goes completely black. There is the loud crack, the sound a mop handle makes when it is being broken over someone’s head. There is a loud thud. When the lights come up,
Mr. Wallace is slumped over, he is tied to the chair, and he is unconscious. The Janitor is sitting directly across from him, drinking a cup of coffee from Mr. Wallace’s thermos. He glances down at his watch. Slowly, Mr. Wallace starts to come around.)

Mr. Wallace
What the . . . ? What the hell is going on here? (Calls for secretary.) Helen!

The janitor pulls over Mr. Wallace’s dinner, grabs the fork and starts wolfing down his food, ignoring Mr. Wallace.

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
Look here woman, what do you think that you’re doing? Why the hell you got me tied up like this?

The janitor looks at his watch, and then slowly rises from the table. He walks over the grandfather clock against the wall. He opens the face and moves the minute hand forward by three minutes.

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
Would you not mess with the clock? I had that imported from Germany; it’s an antique, (Under his breath.) not that means anything to you. (Pause.) Would you please, for God’s sake tell me what it is you want?

(The janitor walks over to Mr. Wallace’s desk and pries open the desk drawer. He pulls a number of large bundles of cash and sets them on the table, but his main attention is the sheet of paper and what is printed on it)

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
So, that’s what this is about, money? What a surprise!

(The janitor puts the money back in the safe, shuts and locks the safe, and then takes the piece of paper and sets it on Mr. Wallace’s desk.

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
Oh . . . so you’re one of those people. Can’t say I haven’t been expecting you. I’ve taken appropriate measures; firewalls, multi-level encrypted files, and a variety of other security measures. You’re wasting your time. Even if you . . .

(Suddenly, there is a loud beeping coming from the Janitor’s wristwatch. The Janitor walks over to his mop. He reaches inside the bucket and pulls out a square packet seal tight in some type of plastic wrap. He carefully unwraps it and reveals a lap top computer, a cell phone, and number of connection wires. He walks over to Mr. Wallace’s desk and starts hooking it up to Mr. Wallace’s computer. He opens up the cell phone and hits a preprogrammed number. He sits down in front of both of the computers, examines the piece of paper he just placed there, and starts typing.)

Mr. Wallace (Cont.)
F.B.I.? N.I.A.? A.T.F.? Don’t even think about it. You won’t be able to crack this system; better people than you have tried. Cyberdynamics designed it. Not in your wildest dreams will you be able to.

(The Janitor now speaks in perfectly spoken English as he continues typing.)

The Janitor
This is a very impressive security system that you have here, Cyberdynamic’s top model. Gates said that it’s practically impossible to hack into. (Pause.) And, there we go . . .

The Janitor gets up from his seat and walks over to Mr. Wallace, grabs the back of his chair, and drags him over to his desk. He turns the laptop around to face Mr. Wallace.The Janitor reads from the computer screen. He taps a key on the keyboard and a cylinder with an eye-scanning device at the top raises itself from the top of the desk

The Janitor (Cont.)
Well, look at this! (Reading from the screen as he types in the security code.) Zero, one, alpha, omega, three, dash three, gamma and . . . (Pause.) Security clearance confirmed. The Knights of the Brotherhood welcome you, brother Wallace. Proceed with retinal scan.

Mr. Wallace
Do you really think I’m going to be cooperative? Go to hell!

The Janitor leans down and withdraws a knife hidden in a sheaf around his ankle. He slowly pulls the tip of the knife across Mr. Wallace’s face until the point of the knife is directly in front of Mr. Wallace’s eye.

The Janitor
It would be in your best interest to be cooperative. They’ll scan your retina . . . (Pause.) whether your eyeball is in it’s eye socket or not.

Mr. Wallace
I see your point.

The Janitor
I was hoping you would.

Mr. Wallace voluntarily submits to a retinal scan.

Mr. Wallace
Congratulations. You have hacked into the brotherhood’s system, big deal. What do you think you’ve accomplished? Nothing! You crash the system, we’ll have it up again in a week.

(The Janitor retrieves the cell phone, hits a preprogrammed number, and then begins speaking into it.)

The Janitor
Hola Hector. Yo estoy listo con the computadora. Es tiempo! Si. Es la verdad. El numero de accounte son Nueve, dos, tres, quatro, quatro, ocho, dos, uno, zero, nueve. Tiene? Me voy. Hables conmigo manana. Sabes donde y quando? Adios. Vios condios.

( He clicks it off then dials another number, then starts typing at the computer)

Mr. Wallace
Helen! Where the hell is that damn woman? (Pause.) Hey! Those are the corporate bank account numbers. What the . . . O.k. . . . It’s time to talk. How much do you want? I have two million in a Caiman account. You can have it if . . . all of it if . . . if you report back to your superiors that you were’nt unable to access that account.

The Janitor
(To Mr. Wallace.) Two million dollars? That’s a lot of money. And, all I have to do is report that I couldn’t access this account. Interesting. (Speaking into his cell phone.) Allo? Oui? C’est moi! Allez-y vousez commencer le transfer tout de sut d’accord? Okay? A’beintot? (Speaking to Mr. Wallace.) But, there’s a problem . . . you see I already took that money this morning . . . so that won’t due. (Continues typing.)

Mr. Wallace
You fuck! Where and whom did you get these account numbers from? They were classified and why are you transferring this money to my personal bank accounts?

(He again clicks off his cellphone and again dials another number, then again starts typing at the computer.)

The Janitor
Hallo? Ja Folgen den weisungen! Klar.

(He finishes typing in the last of the controls at the computer.)

Mr. Wallace
Who are you working for? What the hell is this all about?

The Janitor
Twenty-three million dollars!

After Mr. Wallace starts rambling, the janitor gets up, walks over to the cabinet, and pulls out a statuette from the back. He returns and slams it down in front of Mr. Wallace.

Mr. Wallace
You’re going after the brotherhood’s money? You liberal, commie, motherfucker. People like you are ruining this country; you’re just as bad as those fucking spics and those god damned gooks . . . We should’ve nuked Vietnam and the whole damn jungle of fucking monkeys . . .

The Janitor
Monkeys? Don’t you mean us niggers? Isn’t that what you meant to say?

The Janitor (Cont.)
This little statue is the reason that I am here, the coveted hydra award! This award has been given out to seven individuals. . .

Mr. Wallace
Who are you ? . . .

The Janitor
Oh, you didn’t think we knew about your little awards. You, yourself, are it’s most recent recipient, because of your continuing efforts in funneling money from the Ku Klux Klan to the Grand Master of the Realm, a certain Senator. . .

Mr. Wallace
The Knights of the Brotherhood will not let this go. I’m an influential man; I, as do the other hydras, have a network of men at my disposal.

The Janitor
The Senator cannot receive money from the Klan; too much political conflict, (Pause) However, he can receive money from a respectable businessman . . . like you.

Mr. Wallace
Do you really think that you can get away with this? I’ll have my men track you down. We’re no longer a bunch of backwater hicks. WE ARE THE CORPORATE FACE OF AMERICA!

The Janitor
Yes, we know.

Mr. Wallace
Helennnnn! Where is that damned woman? The brotherhood doesn’t tolerate stealing from them.

The Janitor
Yes, I know. I’m counting on it. (Long Pause.) You see, as your kind of racism evolves, so must the opposition. By raiding your corporate accounts, we’ve bankrupted your pathetic brotherhood..

Mr. Wallace
You’ll never get away with this?

The Janitor
Well, that’s the beauty of it, I already have. Take a look at the screen. As you can witness, every cent is gone. The money has been transferred to your private accounts in Germany, France, and Barcelona. It would appear that Louisiana’s Man of the Year; Mr. Robert E. Wallace has embezzled twenty-three million dollars from the Klan. As far as anyone is concerned the trail BEGINS AND ENDS WITH YOU!

Mr. Wallace
You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you! I’LL TRACK YOU DOWN MYSELF IF I HAVE TO AND I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!

(Ms. White enters the office while Mr. Wallace is screaming. Ms. White looks at both of the men, but her comments are directed at the janitor.)

Ms. White
What’s going on in here?

Mr. Wallace
Oh God, Helen. Call the police!

Ms. White
You were early. You said a quarter to six. Now, you’re going to have to kill him. (Talking to the janitor.)

The Janitor
Change of plans. (Talking to Ms. White.)

Mr. Wallace
Ms. White? Helen?

Ms. White
Why the change? (Talking to Mr. Wallace.)

Mr. Wallace
I trusted you. (Talking to Helen.)

Ms. White
Your mistake! (Talking to Mr. Wallace.)

The Janitor
(Talking to Ms. White.) Ever study Greek Mythology? When Hercules cut off one of the hydra’s heads, two grew forth and took its place. He realized the only way to defeat it was to burn the severed neck after he cut off one of the heads. (Pointing at Mr. Wallace.) Look at him . . . It was decided that we didn’t want another two hydra’s taking this one’s place. We must burn him in a way that no others won’t be able to grow forth.

Mr. Wallace
I’m a respected man in the community. They’ll believe me.

Ms. White
I don’t know about that. Twenty-three millions dollars is missing on the same day that your secretary is murdered. (Pause. She looks at Mr. Wallace who has a dumbfounded look upon his face.)

The Janitor
He still doesn’t get it.

Ms. White
Your cabin in the mountains is burning down as we speak. When the police get there they’ll find a woman’s body, which they’ll believe to be mine, burned beyond recognition. It would appear that you’ve run off with all the Klan’s money and killed me, your mistress, to keep me from talking.

Mr. Wallace
You’re not my mistress!

The Janitor
No, she’s not. But, we’ve made it appear that she is. A few very expensive gifts left in her apartment, which just happened to be charged to your private account . . .

Mr. Wallace
The people I’m associated will believe me. I have worked too long and too hard to be discredited.

The Janitor
Let me tell you something about the people you are associated with . . . It’s highly unlike that they’ll see very clearly when they realize that all of their money is missing.

Ms. White
You’ll become like those you despise, you will live in the darkness, forever hiding in the shadows, and you’ll be a hunted man for the rest of your life you miserably ignorant and pathetic little racist man.

The Janitor
However, there’s always the chance that someone, a certain Grand Master of the Realm will listen to you just long enough before he has you killed, and if he does, in that brief moment, I want you to give him a message from me . . . . . .

Tell him, the janitor is coming. . .

Everything goes black!