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You’re No Better

Page 31

by Andrew Joseph White

GR: I was going to say that you have a history of lying and manipulative behavior.

Ms. Slaughter is quiet, staring at the interviewer as if daring him to continue down this line of conversation.

GR: And this pattern’s continued, yes? And escalated, if I’m not mistaken. Dr. Reich never actually had his license to practice revoked, he left the profession of his own free will, there was never any evidence of misconduct toward you—

MS: [irritated] That was years after the trial.

GR: My point is, it makes sense that they would be hesitant to believe you.

MS: I was fucked up. Seeing your father standing over a mutilated body will fuck anyone up, and nobody knows what to do with a kid who doesn’t act right.

GR: Are you a sociopath?

Ms. Slaughter’s lip twitches.

MS: The only people who think sociopathy is a real diagnosis in the DSM are cops and kids who spend too much time on their phones.

GR: Your mother referenced doctors who have considered conduct disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder—

MS: Is this necessary?

GR: Have you ever gone out of your way to hurt an animal? Or a person?

MS: This is bullshit.

GR: January Xth, 20XX—

MS: Fuck you.

GR: You physically assaulted William Campbell, resulting in his hospitalization, your expulsion from public school, and charges pressed against you. Aggravated battery, I think it was. A year of probation, anger management classes, court-required therapy, only reason you didn’t go to juvie was your mother paying the twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine—

MS: [growing more agitated, leaning forward as if to intimidate. Editing note: Juxtapose this shot with the clip of GNS losing his temper at the judge. Place particular focus on the eyes.] I wouldn’t have done it if he hadn’t touched me—

GR: I’m going to be honest, Morgan, I’d think that after everything your father did to those girls, you’d want to make it easier for sexual assault victims to be believed, not harder.

Ms. Slaughter, in a distinct contrast from her mounting anger not seconds previous, suddenly returns to her predatory stillness, except for the rise and fall of her heavy breathing. Viewers should have the sense that this is a girl teetering on the edge of a violent, short adulthood.

MS: [quiet, unnerving] This is fun for you.

GR: You know this won’t make it into the final cut.

MS: You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you. Upsetting me.

GR: I’m only asking the questions that our viewers want answered. You don’t make a habit of speaking to the press, so we have a lot of gaps to fill.

MS: You don’t care about answers, you want good TV.

The interviewer pauses, then folds his papers in half.

GR: Daniel, if this ends up in the edit, I’ll fire you.

Cameraman: Hey, man, I don’t even—

GR: Ms. Slaughter, you are an intelligent young woman. You clearly understand how this works. Do you want your money or not?

Ms. Slaughter does not reply.

GR: Your mother’s credit is a mess. Did you know that? She took out way too many loans and had to get a second mortgage on your house to pay your legal fees on top of her husband’s. She told me about that trust she’s dangling over your head—but if she doesn’t get the money from this documentary? Maybe she’ll dissolve it, if she really needs to pay that next bill. You know she took control of the account, right? It’s not your father’s anymore, technically.