BEDFORD RD
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
I don’t know why they won’t get more help. If we could just get
a couple more hands on this, I know mere kids with brain bigger
than those sheriffs combined. But it’s an evil world we live in.
The ones with the brains do jobs meant for the brawn. Wasting
away good brain. Like Rosa, she took my order down without
putting pen to paper and even did the math in her head. I reckon
she could help solve one or two of these cases. Everything
served by her hand is so delicious even though I don’t like the
food. I could go back today, After Bedford.
Pragma sits uprights from the bed he fell asleep in. He exhales
uncomfortably as he reaches for his watch
PRAGMA
"Oh Bedford" It’s the third one now, well that we know of. But
Bedford is a different ground, not even close to the first two
ones. We could have two killers? The method of killing are very
similar, I haven’t seen the body in Bedford but M told me it’s
the same, blunt force trauma to the skull and throat slash, Ear
to ear. but they are far apart enough to be one person. What
kind of women are they, I need to see the Bedford body. Those
poor damsels. What fucks me up the most? This bastard is a
brother. The truth everyone else is perhaps too bewildered to
utter. I for one am relieved though they call me a mad man, if
this be a white man, we will eternally be bounded… worse
identified with him. And God help us who live on pain because he
will be our god all over again. So I rejoice we hurt ourselves.
At least it is we who hurt us. And It is we who will lick our
wounds when pain is gone.
The phone rings
PRAGMA
"My dear Constantine"
He mutters aloud. Pragma picks up the phone by his bed
PRAGMA [ON THE PHONE]
"Babushka"
CONSTANTINE
"Don’t you call me that, you have yet to tell me what it means."
PRAGMA
"It means whatever you want it to mean my dear."
CONSTANTINE
"Um I heard they got new meaning for it. The paper gave new
meaning this morning, It says I’ll see you tonight, no going
near dead bodies. Why go near dead ones? When you got a living
one right here”
Constantine's voice starts to raise with concern
PRAGMA
"Well, hold on now. What papers you reading with meaning like
that?if that is “babushka” “Babushka” “babushka”
Constantine giggles
"Now Constantine,"
CONSTANTINE
"Yes"
PRAGMA
"I’m putting this watch in my pocket, this suit on my back, hat
on my head and walking towards these blue bodies so I don’t even
gotta walk towards yours you hear me? I’m walking towards the
blue ones, and yours is the bright one, the sunny and warm one,
you hear me, Constantine, that’s how it’s got to be okay?"
CONSTANTINE
"You know what Pragma,"
PRAGMA
"And what is that my dear,"
CONSTANTINE
"I love you."
PRAGMA
"Ahh, look at that, she loves me back."
A smile creeps on pragma's face
"I leave now for Bedford, To see a body. We think it’s the
second one."
CONSTANTINE
"You got to see this one too?"
PRAGMA
"Yes I do. I got to see what type of women they are so I know
why he’s going after these certain groups. It should open every
kind of door into who he might be, I got to see this one
Constantine."
CONSTANTINE
"Well you listen to me then, Under every of them white bags, you
see my photographs and paintings"
There is silence. Pragma exhales heavily
PRAGMA
"Under every of them white bags, I see your photographs and
paintings."
Pragma is walking hurriedly, Matilda trails behind
MATILDA
"Walk slower"
PRAGMA
"Just walk faster. If I walk slower we get there slower. If you
walk faster we get there faster. Our desired goal is to get
there in the most efficient means, surely the right decision is
clear. Or has common sense missed you?"
Matilda responds in a low but seductive tone.
MATILDA
"Yes, I'll walk faster."
PRAGMA
"You really need to fix that you know."
MATILDA
"Shut up. Hold my coat and let me walk in front."
PRAGMA
"That’s all it took for the boys in Budapest falling head over
heels for the great- whatever the fuck your name is now."
Matilda sternly cuts pragma off
MATILDA
"You are dense, It is Paris. Oh, you can still call me Matilde,
but I prefer Matilda. It's the modern way. So, you’re worried
about the men I fucked? Aw you’re still in love with me?"
PRAGMA
"I don’t know what it is I feel when I think I about you M,
believe me, It still confuses me, but it’s far from love."
MATILDA
"I sang, drank, fucked, sang, drank. It was such a picture
Pragma. I got photographs to show you. On my camera. See, I
figure I get one and save some life from Paris. Also been
meaning to give photography a try. Let’s see how hard it is
shall we."
Pragma walks faster, Matilda hurries to stay in front
PRAGMA
"We could be dealing with a man who has somewhat of an high
social status."
MATILDA
"Why do you say that?"
PRAGMA
"How else is he able to subdue young women at night?"
MATILDA
"That could just be mere physical dominance."
PRAGMA
"You fool, mere physicality given the time and place will
actually do him doom. He then stands out. But just picture this
here, I am an unsuspectingly built man, somewhat fashionable
with good sense that is interesting enough to spark a
conversation about my high-class job, you don’t mind going on
and on even though it’s in the dark and I am a stranger because
now you can tell I'm a learned man. What harm could I ever do
you? So you follow me down the dark alleyway of the diner."
Matilda suddenly gasps
MATILDA
"I'm so wet right now."
Pragma stops
MATILDA
"Feel it."
PRAGMA
"When will you stop being an absolute disgrace to your class M?"
Matilda glares up at Pragma. She sticks up her middle finger as
pragma continues walking.
MATILDA
"How are you doing. it’s around that time again."
Pragma grabs Matilda by her arms and forcefully turns her
towards him
PRAGMA
"How the fuck do you know that"
Matilda's glare shakes
MATILDA
"It’s not uncommon knowledge. Plus you got that look on your
face again."
PRAGMA
"Well, it’s none of your business."
MATILDA
"You know, just because we do not fuck anymore does not mean you
can’t-"
Pragma breaks into an hysterical laughter
PRAGMA
"Don't talk like that M, you're scaring me."
Pragma now taken with laughter reaches into his pocket
"Oh what the fuck M, what the fuck, what the fuck. The manners
of France you brought back tastes sour on you."
Pragma checks the time on his watch
MATILDA
"Oh fuck you. I brought back Jeans and Sushi."
Matilda sharply turns back showing Pragma her backside
PRAGMA
"What's Jeans? This you got on your leg? Looks too heavy to be
wearing. Makes your ass look fat."
Matilda laughs
MATILDA
"They will change the world Pragma. Jeans and Sushi."
THE NEXT DAY
It's a warm afternoon outside the Atlanta police department.
Pragma is standing in front of a newly constructed conference
room that is slowly filling up with officers.
PRAGMA
"Listen here you folks"
One of the men sitting in the back blurt out immediately
"Speak up kid"
Pragma glares at him sharply
Pragma repeats immediately, in a slightly hushed tone
The man responds sharply
"What the fuck did you say?"
PRAGMA
"Ahhh, heard me this time looks like."
A slim tall figure in front of the conference room interjects
"These men are here to listen to what you gots to say so do not
be a smart ass, the real evil to catch is out there."
He sharply points outside.
Pragma quickly but slowly nods towards at the tall man in front
of the room who is now staring straight ahead. Ignoring Pragma.
PRAGMA
"Ahem."
"As you fine folks are all aware, a new victim was unearthed
yesterday. Body of twenty-two year old Rosa Trice. Rosa was a
waitress at the diner just a few blocks left of Bedford. The one
we was just at."
Pragma pauses as he puts his right hand on his hip and the other
on his forehead.
"What? couple days ago?. Some of y’all may know her. She served
that evening."
Some of the officers drop their head and mutter quietly.
"Which one again?"
The man in the back mutters while he looks at Pragma.
A few of the officers turn around and look at him with a mix of
embarrassment and shame.
"What, they look the same,"
He says laughingly.
"It's not my blame they got on the same clothes and hair, and
face, and nose. No, the nose is always different"
It's the man in front of the room again, this time he's speaking
with anger.
"Up, now."
"What? Just giving the kid some valid information for the
investigation"
"Get the fuck out of my fucking conference room Ovlav. You are a
fucking stupid piece of shit. Out. Now."
There is movement in the back of the room moments later.
Pragma clears his throat as the door to the conference room
close.
"So far he has now dropped three poor damsels, it pleases me to
tell you all that we have a serial killer on our hands."
"What that is?"
A short officer sitting close across from Pragma asks.
Pragma rests his hand on his forehead. He continues on.
"A term for a killer responsible for two or more series of
murders. Do you like the name?"
"Umm. No."
The officer hisses. His cheeks visibly red.
"So what is this serial killer business?"
The tall slim man sharply interjects.
"Why is he special than that nut in the cell right down there?"
He points past Pragma with his eyebrows.
Pragma’s eyes light up. He turns towards the man who now has his
hands folded over his crossed legs.
PRAGMA
"It is not because he’s too strong and his rage won this time
while beating his wife. No, no. Or because he got drunk on his
loaded rifle he got on his poor waist too big for him anyways.
Oh God no."
"See officer, what worries me is he’s a learned man. One that
knows the way of the land. He’s trained in a craft that does
good, a man that’s been around, cultured, primed. What worries
my heart at night officer is this man doesn’t have to be big or
have rage too big for him. You know, I don’t think he has
either."
One of pragma’s left finger points out in objection then follows
identically with his right.
PRAGMA
"But officer, I fear when I think about this man because I know
he has more brain than all of us here combined. Now ain’t mean
to talk crudely to none of y’all and y’all’s brain but he got
all of us beat here. So you ask me why he’s so special than the
nut in the cell right over from us? I’ll tell you why,"
Pragma looks towards where the tall slim man was pointing to
earlier as he puts his left hand on his hip and then reaches
into his pocket. He grabs his watch.
"He’s slashing a young woman as we speak. She’s nothing around
sixteen to twenty-five. She works a job that’s late at night.
Poor girl was tired, just wanted to go home and rest up, but
that poor man just looked lost and sad. Spoke to me nicely too.
What kind of lady am I if I don’t indulge him."
"But what fucks me up the most you see,"
"Men like him the ones those poor damsels can’t help but fall
prey to. He knows them, so he just pokes and pushes them till he
finds it fun no longer. Then he throws them away. For us to
find."
"See hold on now,"
The short man in the hat forcefully grunts
"If he so smart why you here? begging us to help you?"
Pragma chuckles looking at the man in the chair on his right.
The double door to the large conference room suddenly springs
wide open
MATILDA
"Pragma, it's for you."
Matilda puts her hand close to her ear
PRAGMA
"It can wait."
Matilda drops her shoulders, her hand follows as she curses
under her breath
MATILDA
"It’s Constantine."
Pragma rearranges his suit. He turns to the tall slim man on his
left.
“Pardon me, I have to take this.”
OFFICER
“Go on son.”
He nods.
Pragma steps out of the room with Matilda.
PRAGMA
"So did she say what’s so troubling she could not wait till
after?"
Matilda's eyes widen surprisingly.
MATILDA
"I don’t fucking know! That’s your wife.”
Matilda says coldly.
“Ol' lady just says she wants to talk to you."
MATILDA
"Pragma"
Matilda softly says as she touches Pragma on his arms stopping
him in his tracks.
MATILDA
"She sounds sick. What’s wrong."
Pragma looks down and grabs Matilda by her arm.
PRAGMA
"Matilda"
Pragma responds softly, with worry in his tone.
PRAGMA
"Will you please shut the fuck up."
Matilda jerks away
MATILDA
"It’s simple, a retard. Still has bitter and mean as back then.
The phone is down the hall by the cell."
Pragma nods
MATILDA
"You said cracker in there before I opened the door, Do you
think he is white?"
Pragma chuckles as he closes the door behind Matilda.
PRAGMA
"No."
PRAGMA (on the phone)
"Oh, I was so shocked Constantine. I went to Bedford place
yesterday. It was Horror. But I'm holding on Constantine, I'm
holding on.”
Pragma stutters as he grabs the phone tighter.
"So what is it, Babushka? You know, this time of the day ain't
really a good time for me to talk to my dear."
Constantine who has been silent slowly starts sobbing.
"Pragma."
"Hold on now, is that tears I hear, my dear what’s the matter?"
Pragma says ever so softly as he subtly checks his watch.
CONSTANTINE
"I went there today."
"Where?"
Pragma's arms drop remembering where Constantine went.
"I told you not to go there alone, Dear. Why? Why did you go
without me?"
CONSTANTINE
"Dear...dear...dear..."
Constantine trails off.
"All the sweet words, except you never here. Never fucking here
when I need you. But the blue bodies got your attention huh?”
Constantine's voice breaks as she asks. after a few moments of
silence on the line, Constantine continues bitterly.
CONSTANTINE
"It's even no use, I forget who I'm talking to. The fool over
there just nodding and checking his watch."
Pragma swallows bitterly. He slowly responds
PRAGMA
"My dear, can we- Ahem."
He clears his throat.
"I reckon we talk about this later."
CONSTANTINE
"Oh fuck you nigga. Why? because M said so? Working for crackers
enough as is, now they got the poor nigger listening to a white
bitch."
With his left hand on his forehead and pain in his tone, he
responds.
PRAGMA
"I'm almost home my dear, I'm almost home. Just hold on for me.
Do that for me?"
Constantine softly responds.
CONSTANTINE
"Yes, I will."
Her sobbing growing loud now. At the same time, the door to the
hallway opens again. He looks up.
PRAGMA
"I got to go now, my dear."
Matilda yells from the hallway without fully walking to Pragma.
"Pragma, the sheriffs found something. We need to leave."
Constantine curses on the line.
CONSTANTINE
"There go your boss."
MATILDA
"Now."
Constantine hisses. The line cuts.
PRAGMA
"My ears work, M."
MATILDA
"That's great, I need your legs to work too because we've got to
move. Now."
Matilda responds and closes the door.
Some seconds of silence pass then a raspy voice inside the cell
across the phone stall begins to mutter something under his
breath.
pragma looks across.
PRAGMA
"What did you say?"
The man's voice is still raspy as he steps closer to the bars of
the cell. he whispers,
RASPY VOICE
"Looks to me like you have some lady issues on your hands."
Pragma looks at the man. He smiles as he looks away and finally
hangs the phone back.
PRAGMA
"You are a funny man."
His smile quickly fades as he makes for the door.