ROSS can take it no longer. He goes temporarily berserk and launches himself at KENNY, who is taken by surprise and drops the chair. ROSS knocks him to the floor, punches him and starts to bash his head against the floor. KENNY breaks free and backs away in terror at the ferocity of ROSS’s attack. He breaks away and moves out into the kitchen, which is offstage. ROSS chases him. There are crashes and blows off stage. SIMMONDS grins to himself. There is silence, and after a pause, ROSS comes back. He is panting and has blood on his face.

SIMMONDS: Did you let him get away?

ROSS is out of breath. He seems dazed.

Did you let him get away?

ROSS is frightened. He looks at SIMMONDS.

ROSS: [softly, hoarse] I’ve killed the bastard, Sarge.

SIMMONDS: [amused] Come on, Ross. Haven’t you ever knocked a man out before?

ROSS: [frightened] I think I’ve killed him.

SIMMONDS: You better not have bruised him, boy. I hope it was a nice clean punch on the chin.

ROSS: [frightened] No, look, I really think I killed him.

SIMMONDS: Yes, well, I’m afraid I’m going to have to report this incident to cover myself in case anything does blow up, but if you hit him on the chin, you should be right.

ROSS: I lost control, Sarge. I just lost control.

SIMMONDS: Control is something you’re going to have to learn, boy. Control is the essence of the law.

ROSS: I just couldn’t stop myself.

SIMMONDS: Whenever you hit a man, Ross, you should know exactly how hard you’re going to hit him a full minute before you land the blow. That’s a good little rule to remember.

ROSS: [agitated] Christ, Sarge. What’s going to happen to me?

SIMMONDS: Don’t worry, boy. I’ve got to hand in a report but I’ll word it as gently as I can. I’ll say that while I thought you used excessive force to detain the prisoner, it is my opinion that this mistake was almost entirely due to inexperience and certainly not to any defect of personality or the like. It’ll be a good chance to have a bit of a dig at the police school. I’ll point out how inadequately they prepare recruits for the reality of their vocation.

ROSS: [loudly] Look, for Christ’s sake, Sarge. I killed him. I really killed him!

SIMMONDS: Come on, Ross. The human being is a hell of a lot tougher than most people give him credit for. Most recruits get in a panic after their first KO.

ROSS: [loudly] Go in there and have a look!

SIMMONDS: I’ve thrown a man down a flight of concrete steps, Ross, and seen him land on his bloody head. Ten minutes later he got up and walked away. Pretty Neanderthal-looking specimen admittedly, but there you are. The only thing you’ve got to worry about is that Carter might rake up a bit of money and follow this through, but unless they’re filthy rich, they usually think twice about that one when they cool down.