Justice is not Revenge

Justice is not Revenge*

By Ezat Mossallanejad

Scene 1.

A senior officer is sitting behind a desk, playing with his pistol. Guard #1 brings a detained woman.

Senior Officer – Who is this?

Guard # 1 – This woman is a revolutionary leader. She has provoked an uprising and mobilized many crowds. She wants to topple the government.

  1. O. – (to himself) topple the government? Revolutionary! (to the woman) What is your first name?
  2. – Parvin.

S.O. – What’s your last name?

  1. – Hana

S.O. – What’s the name of your father?

  1. – Rahim.

S.O. – Is he alive?

  1. – No.

S.O. – What did he do?

  1. – Public Service.

S.O. – Was he a revolutionary too?

  1. – No.

S.O. – Are you married?

  1. – No.

S.O. – Why not?

  1. – I don’t know.

S.O. – To devote yourself fully to stupid political activities?

  1. – No.
  2. O. – Who are you collaborating with?
  3. – No one.

S.O. – Who are your comrades?

  1. – I have no comrades.

S.O. – Where have you hidden the weapons?

  1. – What weapons? I know of no weapons.

G.1. – She isn’t talking, sir. She is totally uncooperative. We tried our best to make her talk; we failed. That’s why we brought her to you for advice.

S.O. (To woman) – Do you want to give us your information or do you prefer torture and rape?

  1. I have no Information.

G.1. – She keeps on saying “no”, “I don’t know”. What shall we do with her? Your highness.

S.O. (to the women while she he points his pistol to her heart) You are a dangerous woman, an enemy of the state. (To the guard) I grant you full power to make her talk. Take her away. Do whatever is necessary to extract information and confession from her. Beat her; flog her; hang her. Do it until she confesses. Rape her; have her be gang-raped. Break her bones, break her spirit. Cut her skin, extract her nails, burn her buttocks.
G.1. – Yes, sir.

Guard #1 starts to take the woman away. She protests. He drags her by force, shouting and insulting.

  1. – What are you doing? What is this? Is this how you treat people?

Guard # 1 takes her away, shouts and screams are heard off-stage. Then, silence.

One minute pause.

Scene 2.

Sounds and noises of revolution are heard off-stage. The same woman, who is now in charge, is sitting behind the same desk, reading. A different guard, Guard # 2 (preferably a woman), brings in the Senior Officer, who wears a torn shirt and is wounded.

  1. – (to the guard) Who is he?

G.2. – This is the Chief of Intelligence in the previous regime. He tortured many civilians. He ordered many rapes and was behind countless mutilations. We saved him from an angry mob.

  1. (looking at the senior officer) – Do you recognize me?

S.O. (Shocked) – Yes!

  1. What do you have to say for yourself?

S.O. – Nothing. I don’t have anything to say. You know me well. What they say is all true. I ordered your rape and torture. I did the same to many others. There is no escape for me – you are the main witness against me.

  1. – So what do you want me to do with you now?

S.O. – Be quick. Don’t waste your time! Take your revenge! Torture me, kill me!

  1. – Do you have a lawyer?

S.O. – A what? No, I don’t have a lawyer.

  1. (to Guard # 2) – Take him to the doctor first, and then find him a lawyer.

G.2 (To the woman) – I will make sure he receives good treatment. (to the Senior Officer) We will treat you with dignity. No torture; no degradation. If you cannot retain a lawyer, we will get you a good lawyer of your choice. You will stand trial. There will be a fair trial for you, and the due process of the law. Your fundamental human rights will be observed.

S.O. (To the woman) But why? I did so much to you! Why don’t you take your revenge?

  1. Justice is not revenge.

G.2 – (While taking the prisoner away) We don’t treat our enemies the way they treat us.

The end