SIMMONDS: You’ve done it now, Ross. He’s really dead. I didn’t like the sound of it when he mentioned his eye. Pressure at the back of the eye is bad news, Ross. I thought we might’ve been in trouble.

ROSS: Why didn’t you take him to the hospital, then? Why didn’t you take him to the hospital if you knew that?

SIMMONDS: They couldn’t’ve done anything for him, Ross. Not a man who dies as quick as that. You must’ve hit him with a bloody pile driver. He’s dead, Ross. There’s no doubt about it. He’s dead!

ROSS: I know he’s dead! Look at the poor bastard’s eyes. He was scared out of his mind. Look at his bloody eyes! We should’ve taken him straight to hospital, Sarge!

SIMMONDS: [defensively] They couldn’t’ve done a thing for him. I can tell you that right now. Couldn’t’ve done a thing! Not for someone who dies as quickly as that. He was either very bad or okay, Ross, and if he’s very bad, then there’s no sense taking him to hospital. Get into Casualty with a body on your hands? I’m not crazy, Ross. I’m not callous but, then again, I’m not stupid and there’s an important distinction there.

ROSS: Let’s get a shotgun and make it look like suicide. Shoot his head off. Shoot out his bloody eyes.

SIMMONDS: For Christ’s sake, Ross. Don’t start that again. You’re going to have to face the consequences, I’m afraid. You’re going to have to face the consequences.

ROSS: You’ve got to help me, Sarge! I’m no killer. I didn’t join the force to kill.

ROSS pleads, grabbing SIMMONDS by the collar.

For Christ’s sake, Sarge! You’ve got to help me!

SIMMONDS: [backing away] I’m not helping anybody, boy. You did it!

ROSS: [pleading, hysterical] You’re in it too, Sarge! You’re in it too! You let him die.

SIMMONDS: [shouting] He would’ve died in any case!

ROSS: [advancing on SIMMONDS and pleading] You’re in it too, Sarge! You’ve got to help me!

SIMMONDS: [hysterical too] I’ve got nothing to do with it!

He pushes ROSS away vigorously.

I’ve got nothing to do with it!

ROSS stands there, momentarily calmed by SIMMONDS’ violence. Suddenly he runs up to SIMMONDS and hits him.

ROSS: [hysterical] Sorry, Sarge, but you’re in it too!

SIMMONDS: You mad bastard! What do you bloody think you’re doing?

ROSS: [hitting him again] If we both get smashed up, it’ll look like Kenny went berserk!

SIMMONDS: [trying to get away] You bastard, Ross! You cowardly bastard. You’ll get a shit of a report from me. Mark my words!

ROSS: [hysterical] Hit me back, Sarge! Hit me back! We’ll get off! Kenny went mad and beat us both to a pulp. Hit me where it bruises. Go on, Sarge! You know how to bruise a man! Go on!

ROSS advances on SIMMONDS, attacking him viciously. SIMMONDS fights back. As the play closes the fight almost takes on the air of a frenzied ritual of exorcism.