Jack the Ripper Doesn't Exist

Scene 15

Alice enters followed by 2 Burly Guards.

ALICE: What are you doing?!

2 BURLY GUARDS: Now there! Get off’a him!

2 Burly Guards pull Abberline off Kelly.

ALICE: Get him out! Get him to Dr. Taylor!

2 Burly Guards drag off Kelly’s body.

ALICE (cont): What did you do?

ABBERLINE: He had a knife in his jacket. He cut himself free.

ALICE: Of course he did.

ABBERLINE: He attacked me!

ALICE: I check his cell every day, I’d know if he had a knife.

ABBERLINE: I’ll be speaking with Dr. Taylor about your cleaning habits.

ALICE: You’re a great man, Inspector. Great men do as they please with these savages.

ABBERLINE: I’m telling you the truth.

ALICE: Don’t worry. Dr. Taylor always believes that one, no matter how many times he’s heard it.

ABBERLINE: That knife was going to end up in you.

ALICE: It was one of a thousand.

ABBERLINE: Kate forgives me.

ALICE: I’ll tell whoever asks.

ABBERLINE: No. Don’t tell anyone. Let us sleep. Tell them Frederick Abberline fixed clocks. He did his best as a policeman. Then he fixed clocks.

ALICE: I suppose fixin’ clocks is easier, ain’t it?

ABBERLINE: Not always. Sometimes I come across a clock that’s beyond my capabilities. I’ll work on it all day long, but there’s nothing I can do.

ALICE: So you throw it away.

ABBERLINE: I can’t expect you to understand.

Abberline looks at her a few seconds, shakes his head and exits.

LIGHTS DOWN