Denis Goodman interview #4

Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 10:20 a.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

Detective Beckwith: Mr. Goodman, you're being questioned in connection with the death of Scott Bryant and have been read your rights. Do you understand these rights?

Detective Magee: We need an audible response, Mr. Goodman.

Denis Goodman: Yes, I understand them and am not requesting a lawyer. I welcome you to use anything I say in a court of law.

Detective Magee: Thank you. We need your clarification on a couple of things.

Denis Goodman: Well, okay, but I'm not sure anything I've previously said is terribly confusing.

Detective Magee: Right, nothing you've said is confusing, but maybe it could be a little more specific.

Denis Goodman: I'll try, detective.

Detective Beckwith: Whose idea was it to lock Heath in the quarantine room?

Denis Goodman: I've told you, it was Janet's idea to lock him in there.

Detective Beckwith: But you wrote the script, so wasn't it your idea?

Denis Goodman: Uh, to lock Heath in there? No. It was in the script that someone would be quarantined, but I had nothing to do with the casting.

Detective Magee: So, you had no idea that Heath would be the person chosen?

Denis Goodman: Person? Heath? He hardly qualifies, but he has a pulse, and he's on the board, so … lucky us. I knew it was a possibility that Heath would be the "person" chosen.

Detective Beckwith: Did you want it to be Heath?

Denis Goodman: It didn't matter to me who they chose, just that someone would get exposed and need to be quarantined.

Detective Magee: Was it ever suggested in an earlier draft that the person would be locked in there?

Denis Goodman: No. It was never my intention, nor was it ever discussed, to lock anyone in the quarantine room. Janet made that decision without authority from Anna or me. She's the one to blame for that. She locked him in there and left him in there.

Detective Beckwith: Did anyone on that medical team of Anna, Janet, Heath, and Neal have an issue with Scott?

Denis Goodman: No, as far as I know, everyone on the medical team was friendly with him.

Detective Magee: Everyone?

Denis Goodman: Yeah, everyone. I mean, Anna and Neal were his friends, and maybe Janet and Heath weren't Scott's friends, per se, but they were friendly, you know?

Detective Beckwith: Can you recall any incident between Heath and Scott?

Denis Goodman: Oh, please. No, never. Heath is self-destructive. He doesn't act out when he doesn't get his way, like … like other people.

Detective Magee: Which other people?

Denis Goodman: Like Martin, as long as I'm being specific.

Detective Magee: When we spoke to you before, you mentioned that Martin was "miffed" about script changes to simplify fight choreography. How did that play out?

Denis Goodman: You mean the actual choreography?

Detective Magee: No, like did Martin confront you or Scott or Anna about the changes? Or has he been threatening in the past?

Denis Goodman: Martin's demeanor is threatening. He's like the guy in the gym who wants the machine you're on, and he gets a little chesty as he glares toward you. You know, nothing specific, just an aggressive attitude. Combined with his massive ego, it's exhausting. To be honest, I don't know how Scott could stand working with Martin.

Detective Beckwith: Okay, Denis. Relax for a bit. We'll be back soon.

Interview ended – 10:29 a.m.