Scene 2

Lights up.

A first-aid kit is open on the desk. Josef is seated, Hamilton’s coat still draped over his shoulders. Elena, wearing latex gloves, examines his feet. Hamilton and Lamb stand a little further off.

ELENA: Well. That’s quite something.

LAMB: Told ya.

Elena turns Josef’s foot. He winces in pain.

HAMILTON: I’m confused. Are you a nurse or a translator?

ELENA: Nurse, but I’m also on the roster of police interpreters. (turns to Hamilton) Not exactly a lot of Lavinians in the city. (turns back to Josef’s feet) You’re lucky you caught me at the end of my shift.

LAMB: Yeah. Makes you believe in Christmas miracles.

HAMILTON: What is it, some kind of toenail infection?

ELENA: It doesn’t look infected … The wound is surprisingly clean, actually. And just so you know, he doesn’t have any toenails. They’ve been pulled out.

*HAMILTON: What?

*LAMB: Like out, out?

ELENA: (snaps her gloves off) Yeah.

LAMB: Jesus …

HAMILTON: Was he tortured?

ELENA: That’d be my guess.

LAMB: Christ.

HAMILTON: (to Lamb) I can still take him to the hospital.

ELENA: You’re next of kin?

HAMILTON: (shakes his head) You don’t think he needs to see a doctor?

ELENA: Of course he does. But he shouldn’t be walking anywhere. (to Lamb) I can call an ambulance.

LAMB: Yeah, please.

Elena takes out her phone and dials a number.

HAMILTON: I can drive him over –

ELENA: It’s too dangerous for him to walk. (to Lamb) Can we put his feet up? He’ll be more comfortable –

(into phone) Hello? (turns away)

LAMB: (to Hamilton) You can be a lot of things in a police station, but comfortable ain’t one of ’em.

Lamb brings over a chair to elevate Josef’s feet. He goes to move Josef’s legs, but glimpses the toes again and turns away.

ELENA: Twenty, twenty-five minutes.

Elena comes over to help lift Josef’s legs up on the chair.

HAMILTON: That long?

As Josef’s legs are shifted, Hamilton’s coat slips off his shoulders.

ELENA: He’s not in critical danger.

LAMB: I’d like to ask him a few questions.

ELENA: Of course.

HAMILTON: (to Lamb) Don’t you think he’s been interrogated enough?

Elena notices Josef’s uniform and epaulettes.

LAMB: Just ’cause he can’t walk the walk doesn’t mean he can’t talk the … (off Hamilton’s look) Oh, that was really … I’m sorry. (to Elena) It’s a form of Tourette’s. (notices her interest in the uniform) Miss?

ELENA: This uniform … Where did you find him?

LAMB: Two kids dropped him off at the station, why?

ELENA: It’s a Sužni[1] uniform. (points to the epaulettes) Rank of general.

LAMB: General? (to Josef) Didn’t mean to demote you to sergeant, friend.

ELENA: This isn’t a joke.

LAMB: Sorry?