The Anarchist by David Mamet Read Free Book Online Page A

What did you pray for?
    ANN : Do you think I’m blind ?
    CATHY : What did you pray for?
    ANN (Simultaneous with “pray”) : I prayed for forgiveness.
    (Pause.)
    CATHY : And did you find forgiveness? (Pause) Then the time has come to stop praying for, and to pray to God.
    ANN : . . . in the midst of all this suffering . . .
    CATHY : And pray to God.
    ANN : . . . for one sign
    CATHY : How would that sign appear, Ann? Could it be: the plea of a murderess? That you accept Christ. He told us, Ann, the heart is Stone. To open it must shatter.
    ANN : I . . .
    CATHY : It’s called “doubt.”
    ANN : I . . .
    CATHY : Open your Heart and be Saved.
    (Pause.)
    Lord. (Pause) Who ordains all things. Who took the most depraved of women and bid her to Your side to be the Queen of Heaven. Who blessed the good Thief with the vow that he would that day abide with Him. Thank you. For your miraculous gift of Grace. To this poor, wretched sinner. Thank you, Jesus. For permitting me to pray.
    (Pause.)
    ANN : Cathy, it’s a lie.
    CATHY : No.
    ANN : It’s a lie.
    CATHY : Then Christ is a lie. You say you asked for a sign.
    ANN : Yes.
    CATHY : Of?
    ANN : Redemption.
    CATHY : It’s here before you.
    ANN : No.
    CATHY : Then tell me what a sign would be.
    ANN : If you revealed the location of your accomplice.
    CATHY : No, I don’t know it.
    ANN : Cathy.
    CATHY : Yes.
    ANN : I know it’s a lie.
    CATHY : No. You suspect it’s a lie. I’m asking you to trade suspicion for Faith.
    ANN : Where is Althea?
    CATHY : I don’t know.
    ANN : You asked what a sign would be. That your heart has changed.
    CATHY : I cannot confess to that of which I have no knowledge. Even to save you .
    ANN : If your heart has changed.
    CATHY : My heart has changed.
    ANN : Then . . .
    CATHY : But how can I confess to that of which I’m ignorant? How . . . how . . .
    ANN : Only in this room.
    CATHY : The ultimate Corruption of Power is the belief that it can do all things. But with all its power the State cannot compel me to confess that which I do not know. The State . . .
    ANN : Not the State, I swear to you . . .
    CATHY : The State does not have the power.
    ANN : . . . Just you and me. For me.
    CATHY : . . . Neither to suspend the natural laws, nor to force me . . .
    ANN : Cathy.
    CATHY : To corrupt my . . .
    ANN : Only in this room.
    CATHY : They pleaded with Jesus: “Come down from the Cross. If you are the Christ.”
    ANN : Is it absurd to ask for a sign? . . .
    CATHY : The sign was not that he descended the Cross, Ann, but that he did not. That is the meaning of Faith.
    ANN : Not to go free?
    (Pause.)
    CATHY : You disappoint me. “Confess and Go Free.” How does this differ from an Inquisition, which the laws, in their wisdom . . .
    ANN : . . . Cathy
    CATHY : No. The State does not have that power. To put me on the Cross ? To . . .
    ANN : I have that power. Do you understand? I have to choose. And you are in my power. As was the Officer, when you shot him to death.
    CATHY (To self) : . . . oh.
    ANN (Reads) : “Cathy shot the guard. Althea stood over the second officer, and shouted, ‘he’s a witness.’ He crawled on his side, away from her, and Cathy shot him.”
    CATHY : No. You. Have put yourself into a false position. (Pause) You are a truthful woman. You’ve asked me to “ confess ,” to establish, my suitability for release. But you know that is against the law. It is a criminal misuse of power.
    ANN : I asked for a sign.
    CATHY : And if not, what ? Am I a witch? Do you think I’m the devil ? Do you want to end your time here in absurdity ? But then, it was all absurd, was it not? Your “Good Works” and your “Life of Sacrifice.” And what has it brought you? Your child abandoned you, your husband left you. You have grown old. I have love waiting for me. You leave here with nothing. Having, you are correct, accomplished nothing. Which of the