Page 120 of Murder in the Family

MITCHELL CLARKE

I see what you mean.

JJ NORTON

So how did you play it?

BILL SERAFINI

(smiles)

Very, very carefully.

CUT TO: Bill, in short-sleeved shirt and sunglasses, by a high chicken-wire fence. The building behind looks like a school, with a concrete basketball court and a stars-and-stripes flag hanging limply from a pole. The light is very bright. Bill’s standing with a man in his seventies, who’s wearing a check shirt and baseball cap. Sub-captioned ‘Frank Tappin, Former Little League coach’.

FRANK TAPPIN

Jeez, I haven’t heard the name Eric Fulton in over twenty years.

BILL SERAFINI

You taught him ball, back in the day?

FRANK TAPPIN

Yes, sir. Eric was a good kid. Quiet. Never gave me any trouble. Even though it was obvious he hated every goddamn minute. Mainly because he was no good at it. It was his dad made him play.

BILL SERAFINI

What did you know about the family?

FRANK TAPPIN

Not so much, to tell you the truth. There were three brothers. Eric was the youngest. His mom worked in a supermarket and his dad worked two jobs. Eric was always in hand-me-downs that were too big for him. Both his brothers were way taller than he was.

BILL SERAFINI

Do you remember the brothers’ names?

FRANK TAPPIN

Can’t say I do. I never had no dealings with ’em. Just with Eric.

BILL SERAFINI

Does the family still live around here?

FRANK TAPPIN

No, sir, not for a while. Mr and Mrs Fulton both passed away and I don’t know what happened to the other boys. Though they’re not living here, that I do know.

BILL SERAFINI

Did it surprise people when they found out that Eric had been in Beirut?

FRANK TAPPIN

Could’a knocked me down with a feather, to tell you the truth. Eric had never seemed like the adventurous type. I was surprised he even had a passport. Most folks here don’t.

---