Denis Goodman interview #6

Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 5:40 p.m.

Denis Goodman is the resident playwright for the Yoknapatawpha Players.

Detectives Magee and Beckwith brought him into the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department for some more questions.

Participants

• Detective P. Beckwith
• Detective J. Magee
• Denis Goodman

Denis Goodman: I'm gonna need a shower and a change of clothes here, soon, detectives. Are you close to winding this thing up?

Detective Magee: Be careful what you ask for, Denis. If we wind it up now, you'll get that shower, but it comes with a delousing, and I'm sure you're not gonna like the clothes you'll be issued.

Denis Goodman: Wait, what?! What are you insinuating?

Detective Magee: I think I was pretty clear, but let me spell it out. The blood evidence on the murder weapon is a match for your blood type. You have no witness corroboration about where you were during the performance, so it's your word against the blood evidence.

Denis Goodman: I wasn't backstage! That is not my blood on whatever murder weapon you have. Do you need another sample from me? I'll consent to any test—blood, polygraph, anything!

Detective Magee: And you had motive.

Denis Goodman: What motive?

Detective Beckwith: Why did you slash Scott's tires?

Denis Goodman: That wasn't me.

Detective Magee: You sure you want to blatantly lie to law enforcement? Because we talk to each other, and we keep these neat little electronic records of things like incident reports and whatnot. I have one here with your name on it.

Denis Goodman: Okay, okay! I was pissed. I was hurting. He was just … going on with life as usual. Ginny was dead, and it was his fault. I was suffering all this grief, and he didn't seem to care at all.

Detective Magee: And that's motive, Denis.

Denis Goodman: No! I realized he was never going to grieve the way I thought he should, so I let it go. I lashed out, but it didn't change anything for Scott, right? It was a stupid, emotional reaction that I regret deeply. I wasn't backstage. I didn't kill Scott. I had nothing to do with it.

Detective Beckwith: So, why did you switch Neal and Erv?

Denis Goodman: I didn't. Janet asked me to. I told you that before.

Detective Beckwith: Yeah, but why? Why make that switch at Janet's request?

Denis Goodman: It was no big deal. She wanted it that way.

Detective Magee: Would you have done that for any other cast member?

Denis Goodman: Depends. This wasn't really anything that affected the plot.

Detective Beckwith: Well, as long as your plot is intact, right? I mean, to hell with Scott, is that what you're saying?

Denis Goodman: No, that's not what I meant! But Scott's not dead because Neal and Erv switched teams, is he? Oh, my God, is he?

Detective Magee: It's interesting that you so casually made the switch at Janet's request and without notifying Anna. And it's interesting that Janet locked Heath in a room and left him in there. Was that your idea?

Denis Goodman: No. Absolutely not. That was all Janet. I had nothing to do with that. It totally screwed up the performance.

Detective Beckwith: Just the performance?

Denis Goodman: Well, obviously not, since Scott's dead, but even if that hadn't happened, what she did really screwed it up. I guess she just got caught up in the action and went rogue.

Detective Magee: No. It was intentional. She intentionally left Heath in a locked room. She meant to screw up the performance, and you know that.

Denis Goodman: But why? What's in it for Janet?

Detective Magee: I couldn't tell you, Denis, but something fairly significant, don't you think?

Denis Goodman: I mean, if Cherie had done it, that'd make more sense, but Cherie was so nonchalant. Almost like she didn't care. Wait. Oh, my God. Did she know? It's like she knew Janet was going to screw me over. Damn it!

Detective Beckwith: Did you make any script changes or authorize any script changes other than the switch between Neal and Erv?

Denis Goodman: No, absolutely not. Any other changes were made without my knowledge or my permission. Oh, my God! Janet set me up. So, she's Cherie's little minion now, huh? Wow. I didn't see that coming.

Detective Magee: Janet and Cherie's friendship is surprising to you?

Denis Goodman: Ha! Friendship? Cherie doesn't have friends. She has flunkies. Well, she must be desperate if she enlisted Janet.

Detective Magee: Why desperate?

Denis Goodman: Cherie can't stand Janet. She thinks Janet is cloying and disingenuous.

Detective Beckwith: Cherie told you that?

Denis Goodman: Not in so many words, of course. Cherie doesn't know so many words, so she said, "nauseating, clingy, and fake," as in "Ugh. I can't stand that Janet woman. She's so nauseating, clingy, and fake."

Detective Magee: When did Cherie say this?

Denis Goodman: Which time? She's said it numerous times, and not just to me.

Detective Beckwith: When was the last time you heard her say it?

Denis Goodman: At the end of the last board meeting, Cherie said it as people were filing out.

Detective Beckwith: To anyone in particular?

Denis Goodman: To anyone who was listening. And it wasn't sotto voce.

Detective Beckwith: How non-sotto was her voce?

Denis Goodman: She just said it in her normal voice, which, as you've heard, can be a little loud and grating.

Detective Magee: You're sure others heard it?

Denis Goodman: Yes, others heard it. I'm surprised Janet didn't hear it, and she wasn't at the meeting. To say that they're friends is just crap. But hey, Cherie doesn't care as long as she gets what she wants.

Detective Beckwith: Why do you think Janet went along?

Denis Goodman: Cherie has a knack for exploiting weaknesses, and Janet has plenty of them. So, if they both plotted the sabotage, Cherie gets to take Anna down, and Janet gets to stand next to Neal for two hours. I mean, Janet's desperate and all, but that seems awfully lame.

Detective Beckwith: And you had nothing to do with adding that incentive for Janet?

Denis Goodman: No, detective! Janet asked if Neal could be switched to her team. It didn't matter which audience member was on which team, so I said yes. Except, she had an agenda. I mean, did Neal know about the sabotage? Or, I don't know, maybe Janet wanted him to see her acting like a badass? To impress him? I don't know!

Detective Magee: I'm not gonna lie, Denis. This doesn't look good right now. We're doing our best to get to the bottom of this and release people, but it makes it difficult when you give us half-truths or withhold information. Understand?

Denis Goodman: Yes. I understand. Thank you.

Detective Beckwith: With that in mind, we're going to cut you loose for now. But we're gonna want to talk to you again, so stay available. Got it?

Denis Goodman: Yes, detective.

Interview ended – 5:57 p.m.