Room 103
– A Title IX Drama –
Room 103 is a stage play set on a contemporary college campus. Warning, what follows involves sexual violence, courage, entitlement, narcissism, and the troubling level of privilege we afford student athletes.
For a cast list, scene summaries, and basic stage instructions, please click here.
All material copyright (c) 2023 by William Walker. Contact at rubycreekboathouse@gmail.com
Act I
Scene 1
Room 101 – Barbara Woods’ office, untidy, stacks of papers, cheap furniture: desk, conference table, 8 chairs.
Barbara Woods, preparing for an interview, sits at her desk urgently reviewing papers. If stage allows, could show Nancy Doe waiting next door in Room 103, in shadows.
PAULINA NETTLES (knocks, enters, seems harried): What are you doing, Barbara? Aren’t you coming?
BARBARA WOODS (baffled): Coming where?
PN: Barbara… softball stadium. There’s a-
BW: Oh yeah. Can’t. I’m booked. Got an interview waiting in 103. With another in 105 right after.
PN: President Clemons just called. He expects us all there. He’s not gonna be happy.
BW: Clemons called? I bet he did. He’s all about PR. It has to look perfect. That’s his job. Why can’t he let us do ours?
PN: Fifty years is a big deal, you gotta admit, Barbara.
BW: Sure it is. Fifty years of Title IX. I can see the whole thing. Brass bands, flags, video vignettes. A dozen 70-somethings on the mound for the first pitch. And you bet they should celebrate, Paulina. You know what it was like fifty years ago? Everything you’ve heard, it’s all true. And then some. My mom still talks about it. Crappy gear, cold showers, and my god, the way they were treated, like sub-humans. They were spit on, they had their gear stolen. Mom had a bucket of human piss dumped on her. I’m not kidding. It all came from small-minded, scared little men. And from “ladies,” y’know? Jealous women who thought sports were only for men. But they persisted, Paulina. They kept going, and we wouldn’t be here today-
PN: I know, Barbara, the change is amazing.
BW (sighs): Yeah, amazing. Right. It sure looks amazing today from outside this shiny little bubble, doesn’t it? To the public, it looks like we’ve come a long way, a hell of a long way, in a couple short generations.
So people think Title IX is settled, history, an old battle, like female athletes have their righteous victory, equality in sports, so the fight is over and the problem is solved and we’re supposed to celebrate it on the ballfield because that’s what the people care about.
But here we are, Paulina, because it goes way beyond ballfields. Title IX prohibits gender and LGBTQ discrimination all over the university. Sexual assault is discrimination. And sexual assault is still epidemic on college campuses.
PN: I know. We’re buried. There’s not enough of us. But that’s why I came to work here, Barbara. I want to make a difference. We got more new cases this afternoon and I need to go over them with you. But the President-
BW: You go ahead, Paulina. Take a couple hours. See the legacy. Celebrate. But I’m not walking out on that woman in 103. She needs me more than the president does. He can go ahead and show off Title IX’s sunny side at that golden anniversary.
PN: (snickers) If that’s the sunny side, what are we? The nasty ugly underbelly? The part nobody wants to hear about?
BW: Ha! Yeah. The underbelly. As slimy and unchanged as men’s – some men, mind you, thank god they’re not all like that – men’s attitudes on women and sex.
PH: And their entitlement to women. And to sex.
BW: (sighs) God, Paulina, I’ve done hundreds of these, maybe more, I’ve lost count. I was such an idealist. Such a… a warrior. Full tilt, knives out, every case. And now? Clockwork, check the box, take the statement, dry the tears, next, next, next. It’s a beatdown. Fifteen years ago I was like, yeah, I’m gonna save lives, change men’s behavior, run the bad guys right outta here. Today I struggle just to get through my day. Four thousand new freshmen women on campus every September, and eight hundred get sexually assaulted some time in the next four years. One in five. Nothing changes.
PH: But that’s why I admire you, Barbara. You keep going anyway. Someone has to do it. I’m glad it’s you.
BW: But it’s never enough, Paulina. It doesn’t stop. We send so-called experts and trainers and student advocates all over campus talking consent, and respect, and no-means-no, things every kid oughtta learn at home, before he shows up here thinking he’s entitled to whatever he wants from whatever woman he meets. We try so hard, and still… one in five. Nothing changes.
PH: Gotta go, Barbara. I’ll tell the President you-
BW: Tell him… y’know, I may be burned out, Paulina, but this is still more important than fake smiles, sunshine and rainbows, smoke and mirrors. Tell him that for me, OK? Because these cases… guy takes advantage, woman says no, he does it anyway, she ends up here, I wish… just once… we could make a damn difference. But no, here we go again…
PH: Good luck, Barbara.
Paulina exits. Barbara gathers papers, glances at shuffles them, hurries out the door heading for Room 103.
Scene 2
May 7
Room 103 – Comfy, low budget seating. Scruffy couch, easy chairs, art on the wall, soft lights, soft music.
Nancy Doe sitting on couch as lights come up. Body language erect, tense. She holds papers in her lap. Barbara enters, sits in chair next to couch, jots notes on clipboard.
BARBARA WOODS (droning): Nancy, I’m Barbara Woods. Relax. We’re just chatting here. We’re recording. (starts recorder) It’s Monday, May 7, 3PM. I am Investigator Barbara Woods, in the Title IX enforcement office, Room 103, with reporting party, for the record, Nancy Doe. You’ll need to tell me everything. Do you understand?
NANCY DOE: Um, yeah. I guess so.
BW: You read all the forms we gave you, right?
ND (glances down at them): Uhh-
BW: Good. What are you reporting?
ND: It’s all there where I wrote it down, I mean, didn’t you read it?
BW (abrupt): It’s been a busy day. Please just answer the question.
ND: It was a sex… I mean, a… a rape.
BW: You hesitated. You don’t seem so sure now.
ND: We were on a date, well, it wasn’t a-
BW: So he’s your boyfriend?
ND: He’s, um, no not really, but I mean, I like him.
BW: If you like him, why are you here?
ND: What?
BW: You like him, but he raped you? Why would you be reporting this if you like him?
ND: Liked. I guess. Past tense. I did. I don’t know, maybe I, um…
BW: Noted. Go on.
ND: So we went out, then later we were at-
BW: Stop. We need the whole story. What time did this all start?
ND: The rape?
BW: The date. You said you were on a date.
ND: Well it wasn’t a planned thing, I mean I ran into him earlier that day, Saturday-
BW: This is getting more complicated. Start at the beginning please.
ND (agitated): I’m trying to, but you keep-
BW: Miss, if you don’t tell us the whole story we can’t go anywhere with this.
ND (shouting): I’m trying! I got raped! It was just two days ago and I’m so upset and confused I can’t even go to class! I can’t sleep in my room ‘cause that’s where it happened, and I’m scared to go outside. I barely even dragged myself over here, I mean you’re supposed to help me with this but I’ve heard about how victims get treated, and right now (stifles a sob) I just want to leave. In fact, no. No! (stands) I can’t do this today. Maybe I can’t do it at all. I gotta go. Can I have a Kleenex?
BW: Sure. (offers a box of tissue) Take a handful. Come back tomorrow, 1PM. Meanwhile, go to class.
ND: I can’t! He’s in two classes with me! With a bunch of his football friends, and they’re already texting and messaging me with their vile comments. He texted his friends a picture of me in… in my… oh, God…
BW: We can’t solve that for you if you don’t come back tomorrow.
ND exits, screams from outside the door as she sees Welly Harris entering Room 105.
BW: God. Always the same…
Barbara exits, heading for Room 105
Scene 3
Same day – May 7
Room 105
Interview room. Stark. Bright lights, table, four chairs.
Welly Harris and Pop Hughes enter as lights come up, sit at table. Harris squirms, unsure, uncomfortable, as they wait. Hughes sits tall, sneer on his face. Woods enters, does not greet them, sits opposite them, starts recorder, jots notes.
BARBARA WOODS: It’s now 3:30PM, Monday, May 7, Title IX investigation, Barbara Woods taking preliminary statement from the accused, recorder is on. In the room is the accused party, Wellington “Welly” Harris, and Coach Gerald “Pop” Hughes. This is not a criminal investigation, Mr. Harris. You have been accused of violating the student code of conduct under Title IX, prohibiting all forms of discrimination including sexual assault.
POP HUGHES: What are we doing here? Why is this kid being grilled?
BW: Settle down, Coach Hughes.
PH: Settle… You feminist trolls are all the same. Kids get accused of stuff all the time. Stuff they never did. All the time! You gonna ruin this kid’s whole life over some random wench who hated herself the morning after? …all because she’s taking her own mental issues out on him?
BW: I have a few questions for Mr. Harris, Coach. And he’s no kid. He’s a grown man. As I said, settle down. You weren’t even asked to come here.
PH: Nope, but here I am. And you know what? I got a policy on my team. I tell these kids everyone’s out to get them. Especially the women. They want it, they want it, they want it, then when they get it they claim they didn’t want it. And every one of the kids on my team, they’re all at risk. It’s like every man today’s got a target on his back, and that goes exponential for a college athlete.
BW: That’s what you tell them? That they’re at risk?
PH: Damn right. And my policy is, when this happens to a kid on my team, and I don’t mean if, I mean when, when it happens and he gets a call from the Title IX office just wanting to ask a few questions, his butt doesn’t leave that chair wherever he’s sitting without me being there to go with him. Because who knows what kinda stupid stuff a kid might say that’ll send my team and his life right down the dumper when that kid did nothing wrong. Am I right, son?
WELLY HARRIS: Right, Coach, that’s what you tell us. Thanks for coming with me.
PH: That’s what I’m here for. Because, listen, kid, I’ve seen it all before, it’s all a setup, right down to the way they paraded her out of the room next door – I mean, did you see it? They paraded her out as you walked in, perfect timing, and she freaked out when she saw you. She was hysterical! For god’s sake, somebody’d already handed her a tissue! It’s scripted like a damn clown show, is what it is.
BW: Ok Coach, I get the picture. Still, my questions are for this student, not for you.
PH: Student-athlete.
BW: Fine. We treat all students the same here, athletes or not. We got a report of a sexual assault, alleged to have been committed by you, Mr. Harris, against a woman named-
PH: See, kid? See what I mean? A hardworking student-athlete out enjoying himself over the weekend and he gets his whole future trashed by a-
BW: Coach Hughes, I don’t have to allow you in this room. One more outburst and you’ll be gone.
PH: Yeah? if I’m gone he’ll be gone. He doesn’t have to be here. This process is so unfair anyway, why even take part?
BW: Suit yourself. But as long as we’re all here, let’s get to my questions. Mr. Harris, her report says you spiked her drink and raped her.
WH: No way, ma’am.
BW: What happened, if that wasn’t it?
WH: She wanted me, she was all over me.
BW: Can you start at the beginning?
WH: Saturday around noon, we were-
BW: Who’s we?
WH: Me and some guys from the football team, we were playing hoops at Memorial Park, and-
BW: This was off campus?
WH: Yes, ma’am. So we’re playing, all sweaty, and when we take a break this girl from my chemistry class shows up. Says she lives just a block away-
BW: So she lives off campus?
WH: Yes, does that matter?
BW: Well maybe. Makes me wonder why you’re here and not down at the police station. Title IX is federal law and the Education Secretary keeps jerking us around on jurisdiction. We’ll see. Go on. What happened next?
WH: We played a couple more games, and she stayed to watch. The guys were ribbing me about my hot girlfriend. Swear to god, I’d never even talked with her before. She was there to get to know me, that’s what she said later.
BW: Ok, then what?
WH: We finished playing around 2. One of the guys had a cooler of beer so we-
BW: In a public park?
PH: Careful, Welly, don’t answer that.
BW: We’re not the police, Coach. I believe I already made that clear. Just clarifying what happened where. Go on, Mr. Harris.
WH: So we offered her one, and man I’ve never seen a girl chug a beer so quick. We gave her another and she just kept on. The guys started to roll out and pretty soon it was just me and her, finishing the last two beers.
BW: What time was it by then, and how many had you each had?
WH: It was about 4PM. I’d had two, maybe three, so I had a nice buzz but I wasn’t drunk. That was at least her fifth. I mean, at least. Plus, I’m way bigger than her, so that’s a lot more alcohol for her.
BW: How would you describe her behavior?
WH: She was drunk. She was touching me. A lot. She slid right up next to me on the park bench, holding her beer and rubbing my leg with the other hand, I liked it, I was into her, I mean she was starting to get me-
PH: Son, stick to the woman’s questions.
BW: So this was around 4PM… what happened then?
WH: I asked her what she was doing that night, if she’d like to go get something to eat. I said we could each split for our own place and I could meet her somewhere. But I had clean clothes in my gym bag so she said why didn’t I just come over and shower at her place.
BW: Moving fast, was she?
WH: Well, yeah. But we get there and suddenly she’s all shy. Or giddy, or embarrassed. Or something. Anyway she hands me another beer and the remote and says she’ll be back in a minute, and I hear the shower running and it turns into like 45 minutes. I’m chillin’, watching the Celtics game, and she comes out in this silk robe, tosses me a towel, giggles, and disappears into her room.
BW: Did she say anything?
WH: No, like I said, she just giggled. So I’m like, where is this going, because she seems pretty open about wanting me, and when I walk past her room on the way to the bathroom, uh…
PH: Careful, son. They’re trying to trap you here.
WH: It’s ok, Coach. Anyway she’s standing in front of a mirror, her back to me, and she flashes me. In the mirror.
BW: OK, flash can mean a lot of things. Please describe exactly what she did.
WH: She pulls the robe apart all the way, and she’s naked underneath. And she just stands there for a second. Then she covers up and blows me a kiss. I pull out my phone and hold it up so she can see it in the mirror. So she knows I’m not trying to sneak a picture, like, it’s her choice if I take it or not. She nods, smiles, turns around, like, to pose for me, staggers, falls on the bed, then holds her robe open again. I snap a picture, then I decide it’s now or never-
BW: Meaning what?
WH: Meaning she wants me.
BW: Just to clarify, you believe that a woman who flashes you, who lets you take her picture, wants to have sex with you?
WH: Well yeah, what else would it-
PH: Stop, Welly. That’s not how these people think.
WH: Ok, Coach…
BW: Go on please. What happened next?
WH: So I take two steps toward the bed, she wraps up, holds up her hands and says something like eeewww, stinky! Go shower! So I’m thinking I’ll clean up and we’ll do it when I’m done.
BW: Do it? The sex?
WH: Well, yeah.
BW: Let’s step back a second. About that picture. Was that the one you texted to all your friends?
WH: That I… you knew about that?
PH: Dammit, son! I told you to watch your step! Lady, we are outta here. This interview is over, or interrogation, or whatever you say it is, it’s a kangaroo court and we’re not gonna take part. Let’s go, son.
BW: Before you go, gentlemen, let me remind you both that a choice to not participate means that only the accuser’s story will be heard.
PH: She’s the only one you’re listening to anyway!
Hughes, Harris exit. Woods stands, shaking her head as lights go down.
Scene 4
5PM, same day, May 7
Outside Nancy’s apartment
Nancy Doe, alone, paces outside her door as lights come up.
NANCY DOE: I don’t know what’s happening to me. How did I even get into this mess? I just feel so numb… like I’m this separate being, detached, looking down on some girl, a girl who thinks she’s me, a girl who tried to have a little fun but got raped, I mean, maybe that was me last Saturday but is it even me now? Did it happen to me or am I telling someone else’s story?
Why keep going? Why put that girl through this? She’s so scared, so confused. I don’t think she’s strong enough. What difference will it make? For her? Or for me?
Why let her get grilled again like they did to her today, grilled like she did something wrong, grilled like she caused this whole thing? Like, hey Nancy, why did we pull Welly Harris into an interrogation room if you’re the one that came on to him in the first place? Hey Nancy, you’re wasting our time here. Hey Nancy, just stop. Go see a shrink.
Hell with it. I can’t do this, I’m gonna cancel. I’m gonna walk in my house, call that woman at Title IX, put this whole thing behind me. Then I’m gonna sit down with Agatha and roast a big ol’ doobie…
Nancy reaches for her apartment door as lights go down.
Scene 5
Next day – Tuesday, May 8
Room 103
Woods, Doe, and Agatha Tulitsky enter, sit; Woods starts recorder
BARBARA WOODS: Reconvening with the reporting party, Nancy Doe, and a second person. Who is this, please?
NANCY DOE: My roommate, Agatha.
BW: Last name, please? And is she a witness?
ND: Tulitsky. And, no. She’s not. She was gone last weekend. It was just him and me. I need her here though. Without her, I feel like I wanna…
AGATHA TULITSKY: It’s OK, Nancy. You gotta push on.
BW: Well, whatever it takes, Nancy. I’m glad to see you back today. I mean, I’ve done hundreds of… anyway… I’m sorry I was short with you yesterday. I had a lot on my mind and I should have been focused only on you. Let’s start over, OK?
ND: OK. Thank you.
BW: You walked out when you were telling me how it started. Some women, when they leave like that, they never…
ND: I know. I walked, and I almost didn’t come back, I mean, but Agatha…
BW: She told you to come back?
AT: I wouldn’t let her not come back. How many more women will this guy-
BW: I wonder the same thing, every time. It takes courage to report, to tell the whole story, so others don’t have to suffer like you.
AT: That’s what I told you, Nancy.
BW (hands Nancy a card): Before we get started, here’s the name of a therapist I want you to see. The initial assessment is no charge to you-
ND: This is exactly what I knew would happen. You’re sending me to a shrink. Lady, I’m not fucking crazy, OK? I’m not lying either. Is this a test? This (looks at card), uh, Dr. Estrella, is she gonna call you back and tell you if I’m, what, credible?
BW: Nancy, a sexual assault is a traumatic thing. The investigation can drag on for months, and we want you to have the support you need, OK? The doctor won’t contact this office except to confirm that you showed up. Beyond that, it’s confidential.
ND: Well… fine.
BW: This morning I read your entire report, Nancy. Can you start over for me please, about how this all happened?
ND: Um, yeah. So there’s this guy from my chemistry class, Welly Harris, he’s on the football team, and I liked him. Liked. In the past.
BW: What did you like about him?
ND: He’s tall, confident, handsome in a rugged way. Nice smile. I see him every Saturday at the park near my house, playing basketball, so I went down there and said hi, and watched. And eventually we ended up back at my apartment.
BW: Ended up there? How did that work? People don’t just end up somewhere. Things happen, and those things lead to other things. Please tell-
ND: So I invited him. Does that make this my fault?
BW: He says the sex was consensual. Can you think of what you did to make him believe that?
ND: Now it’s about what I did, not about what he did?
AT: Ma’am, my friend was raped. One minute ago, you acted like you understood this. Can you show some respect?
BW: I have to ask these questions. This is how we determine whether to proceed. Because believe me, ladies, the accused will ask these questions.
ND: He’ll ask? You mean I have to-
BW: Face him in a hearing? Yes. And you’ll need to be strong enough to answer that question from him. So, think of this as practice. Now please tell me, what did you do to make him think the sex was consensual?
ND: I’m not in his head. I don’t know why he thought that, and how do you know he really thought that? Maybe he told you it was but he knows it wasn’t, because I guarantee you it wasn’t, and maybe he knows that and he’s lying to you, saying he thought it was. Have you thought of that?
BW: Of course I’ve… I mean, you’re going to keep fighting this idea, aren’t you? Fine. You invited him to your place. Why?
ND: To shower and go out.
BW: Excuse me, but is that normal? Girl meets guy in the park, first time they’ve ever talked, they make a date to go out, but first she invites him to her apartment so they can shower.
ND: It, um, sounds like, uh, yeah, but that’s what we did.
BW: Were you drinking?
ND: I had a couple beers.
BW: A couple?
ND: Ok, more, those guys kept giving me more.
BW: Do you like to drink?
ND: Ummm, I’m underage.
BW: Answer the question.
ND: What’s it got to do with-
BW: Answer the question.
ND: Well sure. I like to.
BW: Do you drink often?
ND: I, ummm, well… what’s often?
BW: How many days a week do you have a drink?
ND: Well… usually just on weekends.
BW: So, Friday Saturday Sunday? And sometimes midweek? Is that fair?
ND: Sure.
BW: And how often do you drink a lot?
ND: Meaning what?
BW: Meaning, hammered. Sloshed. Blotto. Not in full control. Maybe even blackout. Where you can’t remember things.
ND: Why is-
BW: Answer the question please.
ND: I know where this is going. And I’ll put it this way. Yes, sometimes I drink too much. Now and then. But nothing has ever happened like last Saturday. I barely remember anything after we went to dinner. That’s how I know he put something in my drink.
BW: Ok, so go on… after you got to your place.
ND: I showered, then he showered while I got dressed. I put on this red dress that I love, I keep it for parties, it makes me feel sexy…
BW: So, before you put on the red dress, anything else happen?
ND: I, uh, yeah.
BW: What happened?
ND: He took a picture.
BW: Of?
ND: Me. Naked, lying on my bed.
BW: You let him?
ND: I believe I encouraged him. I’d already had a few beers.
BW: What message were you sending here? You invited a man you barely knew to shower at your apartment, when your roommate was gone, and you drank a few beers with him, got naked, and let him take your picture. And yet the sex, when you had it, was not consensual?
ND: I’m… dammit! Yes! That’s exactly what I’m saying! And he had no right to send that picture to his friends! I don’t even know how many he sent it to, but someone already posted it on a fake Onlyfans account. I’ve been violated once by him when he raped me, again by him sharing that picture, and now again by you putting me through this like the whole damn thing is my fault! I was… I was raped! Welly Harris raped me, he did not have my consent, and I don’t have to listen to your shit.
BW: OK, take a breath, Nancy. Let’s move on. Anything else happen before you went out?
ND: Like what?
BW: You showered, he took your picture, he showered, then…
ND: He came out of the shower in just a towel, decided to grope me.
BW: Grope? Can you be more specific please?
ND: This is really… OK then… He kissed me, put his arms around me, lifted up my dress and grabbed my butt. Is that specific enough for you?
BW: And then?
ND: And at first I liked it, thought it was just a kiss, maybe a little more. But it was clear he wanted way more.
BW: How clear?
ND: He was… do I have to?
BW: Please answer the question.
ND: He was, um… aroused. Under the towel.
BW: OK. And your reaction?
ND: I said, “Later. I’m hungry, let’s go eat.”
BW: Later what? You told him you’d have sex later?
AT: That’s not what she said! And it’s not what she meant!
ND: I swear to God, I’m gonna-
BW: If that’s not what you meant, what did you mean?
ND: I don’t… maybe that is what I meant, then, but even if I meant it then, does that mean I still meant it later, if I said no later? Can’t I still say no later?
BW: Valid question, Nancy. That may be the key to this case, right there in the signals you gave him.
AT: The signals? Are you serious? Damn the signals! There’s only one thing that matters here. Nancy said no, and he raped her anyway! Can’t we stop this-
ND: It’s OK, Agatha. You’re damn right that question is key, Barbara, because even after all those signals, as you call them, I still said no later, and later is when he raped me.
BW: We’ll get to that. First, what happened when you went out?
ND: We went to this place just off campus. Pizza ‘n’ Pints. It’s fun, relaxed, and they have dancing. I couldn’t order a beer so I had a Diet Coke. Welly reached in his coat and pulled out this pint of rum, looked around, I held my glass under the table, and he poured me a shot.
BW: So you’d already had, you said, “a few” beers that afternoon, and now you’re switching to rum? At what time of day?
ND: Six, maybe 6:30.
BW: So you had pizza, rum, and Diet Coke. How many shots of rum?
ND: That’s what I don’t remember. After, I think, the second one, I was eating my pizza, and started feeling funny. I don’t know if he gave me more after that.
BW: Funny how? Happy funny? Amusing funny? Funny like you’d had too much?
ND: No, that wasn’t it. I’ve been too drunk before, since you asked earlier. I’ve puked, I’ve stumbled, I’ve fallen on the ground. This time, like I told you, it was different. I mean, it was all of a sudden. Bam! First I felt super horny. I just wanted to grab him, maybe pull him into the women’s room or the alley or something, so I started groping him under the table.
BW: You remember doing that? You remember feeling that way?
ND: Yeah, but I remember that feeling didn’t last. A couple minutes later it was like I realized I’d been drugged, and I got scared. Mad. I knew it was the rum. I said something to him about it, can’t remember what, except I called him a son of a bitch…
BW: Right there? In the pizza place?
ND: Yeah, I think so.
BW: You only think so?
ND: Yeah, I mean, my brain was so fogged by that time I don’t remember if I mumbled it or yelled it or maybe I just thought it. I guess you could go ask our waiter.
BW: What’s his name?
ND: Don’t remember.
BW: OK… what happened next?
ND: I knew I might be in trouble, everything was so cloudy and confusing. I remember wanting to stay and dance but I don’t think we did. I don’t know… I lost track… and that’s it…
BW: What else do you remember?
ND: Him on top of me, back home in my bed. Me telling him no. I don’t remember how or when I got there, but I know for damn certain I told him no. I yelled it, I yelled no no no, I tried to push him off me, but he’s too big.
BW: Do you remember his reaction when you told him no?
ND: I remember exactly. Shut up bitch you know you want it.
BW: That’s what he said?
ND: That’s what he said.
BW: And what time was that?
ND: I don’t even know. We did it, or might have done it, I mean, he might have done it to me, once, twice, who knows, half a dozen times. I didn’t look at the clock until 2AM when he went home. And I went back to sleep.
BW: Why did you slip up like that just now — “we did it” instead of “he did it to me?”
ND: (voice rising) Because I thought it was my fault. Mine. That’s what I woke up thinking at 9AM. I liked him, I drank with him, I invited him over, I flashed him, I let him take my picture, I made out with him at dinner. Of course he had sex with me. It had to be my fault. I got up and showered, spent the morning trying to scrub the guilt off myself.
BW: And that’s why you didn’t go to the police? Because you thought it was your fault?
ND: Yeah. Plus, sex assaults have less than a 3% conviction rate. You know that, right? And how do the cops complete a rape kit, when the victim’s already removed all the evidence herself?
BW: Believe me, Nancy, I know the stats. I deal with these facts and numbers every day. For years now…
ND: I’m more than a statistic, Ms. Woods. I’m more than just another piece of your workday. Look at me, I’m a human, and I feel like I’m dying here.
BW: Anything else happen that morning?
ND: I got a text from him. Somewhere in there, I guess I gave him my number. Anyway he wanted to see me again, and I told him to forget it. Not interested. The whole thing was a mistake.
BW: And was he ok with that?
ND: I don’t know if he was ok with it or not. But he sent me the naked picture.
BW: Was there any text with the picture?
ND: That was it. Just the picture.
BW: Have you had any contact with him since? Text, email, social media?
ND: Yeah. I replied, you share that, motherfucker, and you’re a dead man. After that, no. No contact.
BW: You threatened to kill him?
ND: There’s other ways to be dead than actually dying. I oughtta know, that’s how I feel right now. That’s why I’m here today.
BW: So, Nancy, to confirm again… that was your last contact with him?
ND: Yeah. Unless you consider all those Onlyfans hits “contact.”
BW: Good. I urge you to keep it that way. We’ll be seeking a 400-foot no-contact order.
ND: Oh my god, thank you. That’s a tiny step, but, I mean, if I could just know I won’t see him… Thank you.
BW: Back to Sunday, when you thought it was your fault? What changed your mind?
ND: It wasn’t a “what.” It was Agatha.
BW: Agatha?
AT: I came back from a weekend at my parents’ house and found Nancy on the couch, puffy eyes, wrapped in a blanket at 3 in the afternoon. It was a hot day but there she was, shivering. She told me everything. I told her there’s no way she should let this go. No way. How many other girls has he done this to? How many more will get hurt, if she doesn’t say anything?
ND: She told me that on Sunday, she told me yesterday, she told me last night when I wanted to call and cancel this meeting. She’ll probably say it a hundred more times, whenever I lose my strength. Agatha has been my rock. She walked in right after someone forwarded me the picture, after they got it from someone else. How am I supposed to show my face on campus? What the hell am I going to tell my parents? My dad will want to actually come and kill that guy, beat him to death with his fists. I can’t let them find out. This morning I woke up and wanted to kill myself. Seriously. Meanwhile here’s my roommate, telling me I have value, that I have to have courage, that all I gotta do is get up every morning and keep going.
AT: And we’re counting on the Title IX office to help us.
BW: What does that look like to you, Nancy? What’s the best ending you could imagine, knowing you can’t change what already happened to you? Do you need Welly Harris to be punished, for you to feel better?
ND: I… that’s what’s so confusing. I just want to tell the truth. I want the truth out – the truth about Welly Harris. I want to be believed. But I can’t make what happened, not happen, can I, and it’s so out of control already, I mean, I can’t even think of what I want anyone to do to him. I just don’t want him doing that to someone else. Maybe it’s all a pipe dream.
BW: (stands) It took guts to come back here today, Nancy. Just be aware, you’re going to need plenty more courage as we do our investigation. And patience. This is going to take a while. Weeks for sure, maybe months. (hands Nancy a card) here’s an email address to send names and contacts for any witnesses who might know even the slightest bit about what happened that day. Even if it’s hearsay, gossip, opinion, you get us the information and let us sort it out. Agatha, thank you for coming. I’ll walk you both out.
All exit
Scene 6
Next morning – May 9
Room 101
Barbara at desk; phone rings.
BARBARA WOODS: Title IX Enforcement, Barbara Woods. Can I help you?
POP HUGHES: (voice only, on the phone) 400 feet? Are you kidding me?
BW: Good morning, Coach Hughes. (picks up pen and paper, takes notes during conversation)
PH: How the hell is he supposed to go to class? How is he supposed to stay-
BW: It’s a big campus, Coach. He can do it. I suggest you lean on Welly Harris, not on us, if you really care about him. If he wants to stay in school, he’ll have to switch classes, and he’ll have to follow the rules.
PH: If he wants to… really? You can’t kick him out. You know what football means to his future? You know what football means to this school? You think you can push him around over some made-up accusation?
BW: Like I said, Coach. It’s in his hands now.
PH: He’s gonna fight this. And I’m gonna be right with him. I’m gonna see you burn, Woods. If I’ve gotta get the whole Athletic Department behind me, you have no idea who you’re screwing with.
BW: I’ve been doing this fifteen years, Coach. Threats like this are nothing new to me. I guess I’ll see you soon. (hangs up)
BW (alone): Every time. Every damn time. Victim comes in, broken, barely hanging on. Accused perp denies it, says she wanted it. Perp says he’s the victim. Perp’s friends won’t speak up. And I have to validate everyone, give everyone their say, even an elitist prick like Hughes, and that just doesn’t play for the victim. Like she thinks I’m attacking her too. It’s just not right. One day this shit’s gonna break me.
Barbara finishes notes as lights go down.
Scene 7
Wednesday, May 23
Room 105
Woods, Hughes, Sean Dunham at interview table.
BARBARA WOODS: Title IX investigation, May 23rd, Sean Dunham witness statement. You’re being recorded.
POP HUGHES: This is bullshit. It’s been over two weeks and you still can’t pull your head out of your ass.
BW: Coach, you’re wearing yourself out. Do you need to handhold every player that comes in here?
PH: Told you before, Woods, I gotta be here for them. Son, you don’t have to say anything you don’t want to say.
SEAN DUNHAM: Uh…
BW: Coach Hughes is right, Mr. Dunham. This isn’t a criminal court. Still, the stakes are high. So, tell me please, what happened that Saturday in the park?
SD: There were ten of us playing basketball…
BW: Full court, five on five?
SD: Yes ma’am.
BW: How long did you play?
SD: Two hours, ma’am.
BW: And afterward?
SD: We had a few beers, ma’am. And that girl, Nancy, she was there.
BW: Anything unusual about her? Or about her relationship with Mr. Harris?
SD: Yes ma’am. She drank a lot, I mean, oh boy, a lot. And she didn’t talk to the rest of us, only to Welly. He bragged about it right there in front of her, like, see, the hottest chicks all come to me.
BW: Well Mr. Dunham, so far your story matches every other guy I’ve talked to. Almost like you’ve rehearsed it. Tell me, did Welly Harris brag about anything else? Then, or later, like maybe the next day or two?
PH: Don’t answer that, son.
SD: But Coach, in the locker room that Monday, with all the guys there, he-
PH: Shut it.
SD: OK.
BW: You sound like you have something to say, Mr. Dunham.
SD: Ummm, no ma’am.
BW: You are, let’s see, the 9th player we’ve talked to, of ten players from that day. We haven’t seen Jake Samuels. Do you know where I can find him, Mr. Dunham?
SD says nothing, glance at Hughes
BW: Coach, can you-
PH: Jake Samuels is not available. In fact, he’s no longer on the team.
BW: As of when? For what reason?
PH: As of whenever the hell I feel like it. And the “why” is sure as hell not your concern.
BW: Actually, Coach, I’m very concerned. I’m concerned that you are obstructing this investigation. How do you think the Athletic Director would feel about that?
PH: Why don’t you call him and find out? Let’s sit here while you call him. In fact, I’ll call him. I’ll put him on speaker.
BW: No need for that, Coach.
PH: See that, son? All bluster, no balls. We’re done, let’s get outta here.
Scene 8
Thursday, May 24
Room 101
Barbara at desk; phone rings.
BARBARA WOODS: Title IX enforcement, Barbara Woods, how can I –
JAKE SAMUELS: (voice only, on the phone) Are you recording?
BW: Not unless you want me to. Who’s this, please?
JS: I heard you were looking for me. I know what everyone’s told you. They’re all lying. And Welly Harris bragged about it, you bet he did. He bragged about the roofies, the booze, the sex, the picture, he’s a hero to those guys. I told him he’s sick, told him it’s a crime, even told the coach he should be expelled. And instead, Coach Hughes kicked me off the team, yanked my scholarship, and I had to leave school. I got jumped at a bar last night by my former teammates. Like I was the bad guy.
BW: Hello, Jake. Mr. Harris is no hero. But you can be one.
JS: Sorry, not interested. I got too much to lose. And you’re not just investigating an athlete. You’re trying to take down a whole institution. Good luck with that.
BW: Jake? …hello? …dammit!
Barbara hangs up as lights go down.
Scene 9
Friday, May 25, 1PM
Pizza ‘n’ Pints
Barbara Woods enters the restaurant; hostess is Alyssa Simon
ALYSSA SIMON (bubbly customer service voice): Welcome to Pizza ‘n’ Pints! Sit anywhere you like!
BARBARA WOODS: No thanks. Just a question. There’s a waiter who was on duty, uh, three Saturday nights ago, 20s, dark hair-
AS: That’s Billy. Saturdays are all-girl wait staff nights, except Billy.
BW: Is he around?
AS (no longer bubbly. Serious.): What are you, a cop?
BW: I work at the college. Just following up on something-
AS (whispers): Is this about that douche who drugged a girl?
BW: Um, can I just talk to Billy?
AS: Yeah. I’ll get him. You can meet him in my office. Take as long as you want. And nail that guy. He swaggers in here all the time like he owns the place. Owner won’t let me kick him out, says he’s a big star and we’d lose business.
———-
Scene moves to office, Barbara alone, Billy Blackstone enters; they shake hands
BW: Are you nervous, Billy?
BILLY BLACKSTONE: Do I look nervous?
BW: Others have told us they’re afraid for their safety.
BB: I’m so sick of this shit, I’ll tell you everything. It’ll be a relief. Someone comes after me, I got friends too.
BW: Can you tell me what you saw at the table?
BB: Yeah. Dude came in here again with a different woman. He’s never with the same one twice.
BW: Just to be clear, you’re talking about Wellington Harris.
BB: Yeah. Welly. And he’s always hiding a bottle. That night, he pours under the table like always, thinks we don’t notice.
BW: Isn’t that illegal? Aren’t you supposed to kick him out?
BB: Boss says use discretion. Much as I’d like to launch him, I don’t want a scene, not with a football star. Everything else is going great, why ruin it for a hundred other customers having a good time?
BW: Fair point, I guess.
BB: So I’d just brought their pizza, and I walk by like always, you know, the ‘is everything ok’ routine, and notice she’s, like, incoherent. She’s all over him, too.
BW: All over-
BB: Yeah, like making out. Like she’s the aggressor. But a couple minutes later one of our servers points over at their table, and the girl is, like, freaking about something. I go to see what’s wrong, and it’s all, like, still incoherent, but now she’s clearly upset. She slurs out, “sonofabitch” and goes back to just, like, loud, and angry at the dude. I ask if I can help, she starts crying, like sobbing, like, hysterical, I don’t even know if she heard me, but Harris tells me no get outta here man, I back off a little but keep an eye on them, he gets up, pulls out a hundred, leaves it on the table, looks at me, points at the C-note, puts a finger to his lips. Then he drags her out of the booth and pretty much carries her out the door. And he left all that pizza just sitting on the table.
BW: How’d that make you feel?
BB: Bought. I felt bought. God I was hoping he wouldn’t do anything to her. But I guess…
BW: And what time was this?
BB: Maybe seven, give or take. I could go find the ticket if you want.
BW: Thanks, not necessary. How much was the check, everything, with tax?
BB: Just short of forty.
BW: So, let’s see, a sixty-buck tip and some leftover pizza was enough to make you feel bought. Paid to keep your mouth shut. Bought, but not obligated? Why are you talking now?
BB: Obligated for what? To cover for him? Not a chance. If I’d known about the roofies, I’d-a called the cops that night. She just seemed drunk and upset. If I’d even suspected… God, I hope that guy fries for this…
BW: Can’t guarantee anything, Billy. But thanks, you’ve been very helpful.
Both exit.
Scene 10
July 27
Room 103
Nancy Doe and Agatha Tulitsky wait on couch. They stand as Barbara Woods and Paulina Nettles enter.
BW: Nancy, Agatha, thank you for coming. I’m sorry this has dragged on so long.
ND: Did you make a decision yet? (to Paulina) Oh, hello.
BW: No decision.
AT: Y’know, it’s been-
BW: Nearly three months, I know. It’s the last week of July. As I said in May, this is a long process. Nancy, have you continued seeing the therapist? It helps to have someone you can trust, to-
ND: Yes. Once a week. I don’t know what you’re paying her, but she’s almost as helpful as (grabs Agatha’s hand) my friend here.
BW: Fair enough. I’m still happy you’re sticking with it. We’ve interviewed dozens of people, including friends and teammates of Mr. Harris. (hands over large, stuffed manila envelope) Here are the transcripts. I suggest you look these over carefully. In the next phase, you will face Mr. Harris and his representative in a meeting. Each side asks questions of the other side. I will be there to be sure-
AT: Wait, wait. His representative? Does he have a lawyer? Who’s paying for that? Why weren’t we given the opportu-
BW: He gets to have an advocate. He has chosen to hire an attorney as his advocate. You can do the same if you wish, Nancy. But I recommend you speak with Paulina first. I believe you’ve met.
ND: In passing. Yes.
PN: I can walk you through the whole process, Nancy, including what to expect from their side and what we can ask them. I’ve read all of your case files and if you’re OK with it, I will be your advocate from now until this situation is resolved.
ND: Can Agatha still be here for me? I need-
PN: Of course. You’ll need both of us.
AT: That bad, huh?
PN: It can be.
BW: Actually, in this case, we expect it to be. Paulina will explain it all to you.
PN: So, to get started-
ND: Wait, wait, this is just moving too fast for me.
BW: Are you OK, Nancy? I mean, we have time. Take a breath here if you need to.
ND: I came in here in May, confused. I’m even seeing a therapist, and I’m still confused. Now I’m scared. Scared I’m gonna wake up one morning with some friend of Welly’s standing next to my bed, out to keep me quiet. I can’t shake that, it’s with me every day, like a wet blanket tangled around my feet and my brain and my lungs and I can’t even think straight for school so I dropped out of summer quarter and I… I’m smoking, I mean, can I be honest here? Is the recorder on?
PN: Not today, I’m your advocate and this is confidential.
ND: …and I’m smoking so much weed, just to numb me, I’m on edge every day, all day if I don’t, and it’s just taking over, and now I feel like I should have smoked a joint on the way over here…
AT (to Paulina): …and now you’re gonna tell Nancy what she’ll face in front of Welly and his lawyer? You’re just gonna keep jerking her around? Making it worse?
PN: I know…
ND: Do you? What do you know about how I’m feeling?
PN: Actually, it was six years ago, at another college, but I sat right where you are now. Everything you say, every word, it just brings it all back. I am… right with you, Nancy.
ND: What happened?
PN: Nothing. Title IX failed me. He kept on doing what he did to me, to other women. Five other women told me about it. Then he graduated, got a job at his dad’s law firm.
AT: What!
ND: And you took this job because…?
PN: …because I know it’ll get better for me if I make it better for others.
AT: Cheesy.
PN: What?
AT: Cheesy. I said cheesy. You’re just in it for your-
ND: Stop it, Agatha. Doesn’t matter. She gets it.
AT: But-
ND: It’s OK. Really.
PN: Title IX failed me, Nancy, but I don’t want us to fail you. That’s why you need to be ready for the next step.
ND: (sighs) OK…
PN: Some of these hearings, the accused might not show up. He might leave the whole thing to his advocate.
ND: That’d be fine with me.
PN: But on the other hand, they might coach Mr. Harris to sit and stare at you the whole time.
AT: (agitated) He’s not gonna intimidate-
ND: It’s fine, Agatha. I can stare right back. (takes Agatha’s hand) As long as you’re there with me.
PN: Actually, I was about to suggest you find an object to look at. We call it a focus point. If Mr. Harris is there, and it gives you enough strength to answer the questions, sure, go ahead, lock your eyes on him. Calmly. Without malice. Just stare.
ND: So, will it just be him and his attorney, us three, and Barbara?
BW: Actually, um… We expect Coach Hughes will be there too.
AT: That creepy son of a bitch! He’s been in the paper, playing this whole thing down. He said-
PN: I’ve seen it. It’s horrible. Like a lesson in how to call someone a slut without calling her a slut. For a man paid millions of dollars a year to make boys into men, think of the kind of men Hughes is making from those boys. But Welly Harris gets to have him in the room if he wants him there.
ND: When’s the hearing?
PN: This Friday.
ND: Two days? Well, let’s get at it. I mean, the problems I’m having, all this trauma, maybe I’ll be OK when it’s over. I just… all I want is him not to do it to anyone else. And this is the only way to make that happen. I feel like I’m drowning right now, but then I wonder how I’d be if I never said anything last May. I didn’t want any of this. But I guess…
PN: Let’s start with your drinking. He’ll press you hard. We should assume he’s seen your interview comments about how much and how often you drink. He’ll push you, ask if you have a problem, if you’ve blacked out, what age you started drinking, if you’ve ever been to treatment-
ND: What does this have to do with getting raped?
PN: That’s what I get to ask, Nancy. You just give truthful answers. It’s my job to challenge him, make it all irrelevant.
ND: Speaking of truthful…
PN: Something I need to know?
ND: I was in counseling about alcohol in high school, spent two weeks inpatient, thought I had it resolved, then came here…
PN: …and started drinking again? If he asks, you tell him the truth. It just makes Welly Harris more culpable, taking advantage of you when you had no control of your alcohol consumption. I will drill him with that point, I promise you. Any drugs in the picture?
ND: Just pot. Pot’s legal, right?
PN: You’re underage. He’ll ask. But, again, irrelevant.
ND: You said he’d ask about, um…
PN: Sexual partners. He’ll want to know how many…
ND: Does “sexual partners” mean actual intercourse? Because there’s different-
PN: I want you to pause for a second before you respond to any question about sex, OK? Give me time to ask him to define his terms.
AT: Don’t you think Nancy’s capable of asking for clarification herself?
PN: Of course. But think about it. Nancy asks him to clarify because she knows there’s a bunch of different types of sex that may not mean intercourse. And he plays her question into an assumption that she’s done all of them, which-
AT: Which is irrelevant! You said so yourself!
PN: Yes it is. Totally irrelevant. But we’ll fare better if we play their game on this. And that means, Nancy, you let me make him clarify before you answer those questions. He may ask how often you’re the initiator, whether you’ve done oral, how many times you’ve had sex on the first date, what positions you like best, if you’ve ever been with another woman, if you’ve ever had sex in a group, why you like to wear sexy clothes like the red dress you put on that night, and if you’ve had sex or been sexual in any way with a guy you just met.
ND: Like, he’s trying to establish a track record?
PN: He’ll try to paint it exactly that way, yes.
ND: He’s allowed to ask all that? And I have to answer, with Welly and Pop Hughes both sitting there staring at me?
PN: That’s right. Unless he retracts a question after resistance from me. Which is rare. You still think you can stare at Mr. Harris for all that time?
ND: What’s the best outcome?
PN: Suspension. Maybe expulsion. A ban from campus. So he doesn’t assault another woman here at this school. Worst outcome, nothing happens to him.
ND: And the chances of any of that?
PN: Can’t comment on that. But the more resolute, the more calm you are, the better your shot at it.
ND: (all 4 stand up) I’ve got a big mirror. And 48 hours to practice staring in it. Let’s go, Agatha.
BW: Hey! (picks up manila envelope, hands it to Nancy) Don’t forget to read these. See you Friday.
All exit
Please click here to continue to Act II
All material copyright (c) 2023 by William Walker. Contact at rubycreekboathouse@gmail.com
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