A murder in three acts

 

ACT I

 

SCENE 1:

 

Margareta, an attractive woman in her late twenties, is lying on a couch in a psychiatrist’s office, sniffling and clutching a tissue. Dr. Hochfels, a kindly grandmotherly figure, is sitting in a chair taking notes.

Dr. Hochfels: Something happened, Margareta, something so traumatic that you can’t remember it. We’re almost there, so let’s try once more. After your parents abandoned you and your brother, you were put into an orphanage in Bavaria. Did the something happen there?

Margareta:  I don’t think so. As orphanages go, this one was pretty nice. Johann and I were treated as well as you can be in those places.

Dr. Hochfels: No bad memories or associations?

Margareta: I don’t think so. We actually go back to visit once in a while and it feels right.

Dr. Hochfels: And you don’t remember your parents doing anything terrible to you? Besides abandoning you, of course.

Margareta: No. Just the general neglect we’ve been talking about.

Dr. Hochfels:  Then it would seem that whatever happened was between the abandonment and the orphanage. Your records do show a two-week gap between when you stopped going to school and being placed at the orphanage. Tell you what. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to try hypnosis. I’d like to regress you back to that time. Are you comfortable with that, dear?

Margareta: At this point, I’ll try anything. I’m tired of not having relationships. Besides my brother, that is. I’d like to have some friends, maybe even meet a guy.

Dr. Hochfels: Then let’s begin. Just keep your eye on the pendulum…

 

SCENE 2

 

Margareta is sitting up on the couch, weeping bitterly. Dr. Hochfels is sitting beside her, consoling her.

Dr. Hochfels: Let it all out, Margareta. It’s all right (puts her arm around Margareta, rocks her gently).

Margareta: That horrible bastard! How could anyone…(breaks into tears again)

Dr. Hochfels: Do you remember some of it now?

Margareta (struggles for control): I remember all of it. It was horrible. That evil son of a bitch raped us for ten straight days.

Dr. Hochfels: It’s no wonder that you repressed it. It was an awful experience. But now that we know, we can begin the healing process. Are you all right?

Margareta: Shaky, but I’ll be okay.

Dr. Hochfels: Our time’s up for now, but I think you should come back as soon as possible. I can make time tomorrow. Are you going to tell your brother, or would you like me to tell him what happened to him?

Margareta: Johann’s pretty together. More than me, that’s for sure. But I think it might be better if you told him.

Dr. Hochfels: Very well, Margareta. I’ll tell my receptionist to make time for you. See her on your way out.

 

 

ACT II

 

SCENE 1

 

Split scene: one side is an outside table at a coffeehouse, the other side is Dr. Hochfels office. Johann is talking on his cellphone, Dr. Hochfels is using a speakerphone

 

Johann:  Yes, I’m Margareta's brother. Who are you?

Dr. Hochfels: My name is Dr. Hochfels. I’ve been treating your sister for depression. We had a breakthrough this morning and I’d like to tell you about it.

Johann: Is it about the incident that she doesn’t remember?

Dr. Hochfels: Why, yes. Do you know about it, Johann?

Johann: I’ve always known about it.

Dr. Hochfels: And you never told Margareta? Remarkable!

Johann: Greta was only eight at the time. I was eleven. I thought that if she didn’t or couldn’t remember it, I didn’t want to be the one to drag it up and put her through the pain. Was I wrong?

Dr. Hochfels: I’m not sure there is a right or wrong here. How have you dealt with it all these years?

Johann: Two ways. I found a good priest, and I kept my hope alive.

Dr. Hochfels: Hope for what, if I may ask?

Johann: Hope that someday I’d find the man who did that to us.

Dr. Hochfels: And do what?

Johann: I don’t know. Tell him off or something.

Dr. Hochfels: It’s the something that disturbs me. Would you like to come in and talk about it?

Johann: I’ll think about it. (Margareta approaches) I have to go now. I’ll call when I’m ready. (disconnects)

 

SCENE 2

 

Margareta: Servus Hans! I have great news!

Johann (stands to hug her): Servus Greta. Me, too. You first.

Margareta: I saw my shrink this morning. We found out what happened to me. It was after our parents ditched us and before we went to the orphanage. I was raped and sodomized by that guy who came to our house. You were too. Remember him

Johann (looks very uncomfortable): Yes, Greta.

Margareta (aghast): You knew about it? You remember?

Johann: I’ve always known.

Margareta: Omigod! Hans! Why didn’t you ever tell me? Omigod! I can’t believe this!

Johann: I figured if you couldn’t remember it, it was for a good reason. (pleads) Greta, I was just a kid. And I was ashamed I couldn’t protect my little sister. Or myself. And when I got older I was just plain ashamed of being a punch for a dirty old man. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do.

Margareta (stares at him. Mouth moves, no words):

Johann: Sis, I’m really sorry. Please don’t hate me because I have news, too.

Margareta: (hugs him) I...I don’t hate you, Hans.  I just wish...oh, I don’t know what I wish. I wish it had never happened, that’s for sure.

Johann: I know, but Greta, guess what! I found the son of a bitch who did this to us!

Margareta: You found him? 

Johann: I’ve been following little crumbs through the Internet for years. I finally hacked the right database.

Margareta: One of these days your hacking is going to get you in trouble, Hans. Who is he?

Johann: His name is Holzhauer.

Margareta: That’s vaguely familiar.

Johann: It should be. He was living next door to us when our parents left. He owns a bakery now. It’s called “The Gingerbread House.” Know what else I found out?

Margareta: What?

Johann: There have been sixteen unsolved missing children cases in the area where we used to live.

Margareta: Omigod! What should we do? Go to the police?

Johann: The statute of limitations has run out on us, and we don’t have any information on the missing children. All we can do is point a finger at him and hope the police can get something on him. That’s not going to do it for me.

Margareta (pauses, various emotions cross her face): Me neither. What do you want to do?

Johann: Take a little trip.

 

 

 

Act III

 

SCENE 1

 

Johann and Margareta are sitting in a car down the street from a bakery.

Margareta: So how did you track Holzhauer down?

Johann: He was in the state criminal database. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. It has a picture of him, of course. He hasn’t changed all that much.

Margareta: So he has a record. What did they get him for?

Johann: He was arrested on a minor child pornography charge. Served six months. That’s the only thing on his record.

Margareta: He has done a lot more than that, the bastard. To us, and probably to the missing kids. I bet if we widened the search, we’d find some more cases.

Johann: Maybe so, but you know we’re not tough detective types. I’m just a programmer, and you’re a licensed practical nurse.

Margareta: We don’t need to find any more cases. What he did to us is reason enough for me.

Johann (sits up): Okay, he just arrived. You know what to do. Let’s go.

 

 

SCENE 2

 

Johann, balancing a handtruck with boxes, pounds on back door of Holzhauer’s bakery:

Holzhauer’s voice: Who is it?

Johann: Delivery.

The door opens, revealing Holzhauer, middle-aged and slightly overweight, slightly dissipated mien, wearing baker’s apron. Raises eyebrows in inquiry.  Johann holds a clipboard, but suddenly tags Holzhauer’s bare arm with a Taser as the baker reaches for it. They drag Holzhauer inside and tie him to a chair.

Johann: Greta, are you sure about this.

Margareta: Oh, I’m sure. I’ve kept this bottled up inside for twenty years.

Holzhauer (regains consciousness): What happened? Who are you?

Johann: Recognize us, Mr. Holzhauer?

Holzhauer: What do you want? Money? Take it?

Margareta: We don’t want your filthy money, you bastard. Actually, we’d like to do to you what you did to us, except you’d probably enjoy it.

Holzhauer: What are you talking about? Who are you?

Johann: You don’t remember us? You will by the time we’re done.

Holzhauer: Listen, I’m sorry for whatever it was you think I did. Now let me go.

Margareta: You really don’t remember us, do you? You monster! You raped us for ten straight days, that’s what you did! If you hadn’t gotten drunk and passed out, we wouldn’t have escaped. We’d be dead like those other kids you murdered.

Holzhauer: Who are you?

Margareta: That’s Johann. I’m Margareta. You probably knew us as Hansel and Gretel. Remember now? 

Holzhauer (gasps as recognition sets in): You!

Johann: Yeah, us. We’re the ones that got away. I wish I could make this hurt you as much as you hurt us, but you can’t have everything, can you? Say good-by, you son of a bitch! (knocks Holzhauer unconscious again with Taser. Holzhauer slumps. Johann opens oven, pulls trays out. Margareta helps him shove Holzhauer into oven.  Johann jams door shut with a heavy ladle and turns heat up. They look at each other and hug. Curtain.) 

 

The End