The Anarchist by David Mamet Read Free Book Online

We have discretion.
    CATHY : Which, a new, nonprejudiced, impartial official must see, which so prolonged incarceration they must see as “cruel and unusual punishment.”
    ANN (Simultaneous with “punishment”) : The Courts have ruled . . .
    CATHY : Much of it, of course, at the, the, the instigation of: The Andersons, of Mrs. Fiske, of the Policeman’s Union of . . .
    ANN : And are they not entitled, to protest, to . . .
    CATHY : They’re gone . Those who were affected. The Policemen, the . . . They’re gone .
    ANN : Mrs. Anderson is not gone. Mrs. Fiske is not gone . . .
    CATHY : . . . and a persistence, in my, contrary to all precedent . . .
    ANN : Do you believe in Justice?
    CATHY : . . . and the Court’s refusal to hear. My latest appeals . . .
    ANN : Do you deny the rights of the Andersons, or of the Police Union, to protest? . . .
    CATHY : I beg your pardon. I . . .
    ANN : No. You “protested” didn’t you? With violence . With . . .
    CATHY : I . . .
    ANN : And called it “protest” although it was crime . And the courts have ruled, you are involved in an “ongoing criminal conspiracy.” Which crime has no Statute of Limitations, which . . .
    CATHY : “An ongoing . . .”
    ANN : You communicated with your . . .
    CATHY : . . . please
    ANN : . . . criminal partner, a fugitive from just . . .
    CATHY : And so you’ve given me thirty-five years . For, for, essentially, refusing to . . .
    ANN : You might have left after the initial, minimum . . .
    CATHY : For refusing to inform . I have repented my crime. I have served that sentence four times in excess of that which you would have imposed on a “mere” criminal. I am an Old Woman. I have done wrong. I have spoken my mind. My father is dying. It’s time to let me go.
    (The phone rings.)
    ANN (Into the phone) : Yes. Yes. I know she’s tired. Yes. I know. I’m finishing here. And then I’ll come out. All right. Go ahead. (She hangs up)
    CATHY : Mrs. Anderson.
    ANN : That’s right.
    CATHY : She stayed, as usual, to hear . . .
    ANN : Yes.
    CATHY : And what will she do? When you tell her.
    ANN : When I tell her what?
    CATHY : Of my release. I beg your pardon. You haven’t informed me of your decision.
    ANN : No, that’s right.
    CATHY : But you’ve decided to release me.
    ANN : Which you say because?
    CATHY : You’ve changed my cell. For out-processing. (Pause) I’ve served my time. In Justice. As you know. You know that. (Pause) You say you would like to save me. And I thank you for the thought. Truly. As one who has found that which unites us. Which is the spirit of God. Which isthe soul. I am imperfect. I am headstrong. I am arrogant. I am endeavoring to cleanse myself. In accepting that solace offered to me. The Sacrifice of Christ.
    ANN : Oh, please. It’s a lie.
    CATHY : Is it my Resurrection you doubt, or the Existence of God?
    ANN : Do you think I’ve worked here all these years and have learned nothing.
    CATHY : For, don’t you see? The two are the same.
    ANN : It’s a ruse, Cathy.
    CATHY : Is it impossible I have found God? We read that Sinners found God. Do you deny it, Ann? It’s in the Bible. Do you think I don’t know what you suffer? It’s called “doubt.” It is the bar on the gateway to Belief. Christ doubted Himself, Ann, in Gethsemane. He doubted God. Christ , Ann. How can you believe that which you disbelieve? The Prayer must come first , Ann. “Lord Jesus, I have Sinned . . .” Is it not possible. If Christ rose from the dead, Ann, that he saved me? Even me—that I was sent here—to remind you. (Pause) Pray with me, Ann. “Lord Jesus, I have Sinned . . .”
    ANN : Do you think I haven’t prayed? For you, for the others, for Myself?
CATHY : Have you?
ANN : Do you think. It was less apparent to me, than to you, that I should question the worth of my “work” here?
    CATHY :