The One Who Knocks

(Kitchen, night. Skylar paces, panic rising under nervous strings.)

SKYLAR:

Walt, a man is dead — a man that you knew,

Shot at his door, and I know that it’s true

That this touches you somehow, don’t tell me it’s not,

You need to go to the police with what you’ve got.

You’re in over your head, you don’t see it, you’re blind,

You think you’re in control but you’re runnin’ out of time,

Whoever’s out there, whoever did this thing —

They’ll come for you next, Walt, don’t you see anything?

(Music stops dead. Walt turns, slow, and steps forward — lights narrow to just him, addressing the audience directly.)

WALTER (spoken, building into rap):

You think I don’t know? You think I ain’t aware?

You think I stumbled into this, unknowing, unprepared?

Skyler, sweetheart, let me paint the picture clear A man opened his door and took a bullet to the ear,

And you think that’s me? You think that’s how I end?

You think I’m the mark, the target, the victim, the friend

Who gets caught lackin’, gets caught by surprise?

No — open your ears and open up your eyes.

(Orchestra builds, drums entering, dark and triumphant)

I am not in danger, Skyler — hear me when I speak,

I am not the lamb, I am not the weak,

I am not the one who trembles, who bends, who bows,

I am not in danger, Skyler —

(full voice, orchestral hit):

I am the danger.

I’m the one they whisper, the one they fear at night,

I’m the reason men stop breathin’ when I step into the light,

I’m not some chemistry teacher hidin’ from the storm —

I am the storm. I am the thing that they warn

Their children about. I am the name in the dark.

You think a man opens his door and I’m the one gets marked?

No. I’m the knock. I’m the sound before the fall.

I am the one who knocks — I don’t fear it. I am it. That’s all.

(Music crashes to silence. He stares at her, cold.)

(quiet, final):

Who are you talkin’ to right now? Who do you think you see?

‘Cause it’s not the man you married — that man’s dead to me.

(Blackout.)