The Anarchist (9 page)

ANN
: Why?

CATHY
: Because it was the end.

ANN
: You thought it was the end because?

CATHY
: Because you're leaving.

ANN
: Well. Then it would be the end for me.

CATHY
: Why are you toying with me? Your replacement,
must
endorse my parole. Based upon my behavior. Based upon Time Served . . .
far
. . .

ANN
: But the Courts have denied . . .

CATHY
: Far in excess, of that served for any similar crime.

ANN
: 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 is
the 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
: 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 “clients” you've seen, over the years, has done anything but lie to you—while you took notes?? And you would lie, too. If the machine, which you serve, had oppressed, rather than co-opted you. You served a corrupt State in a failed institution. That's the story of your life . . .
Why
?

ANN
: . . . all right.

CATHY
: For the sick thrill of hearing women cry. And lie to you. To see them wonder, “Can I seduce her?” And you, who could have had
any
of them. Yes, as I did, had and have
nothing
. Having had nothing but
power
, and too weak to use it, and now it's gone. It's
you
who should confess. And then you would be saved. Give me a cigarette.

ANN
: I haven't smoked for years.

CATHY
: Does the girl have one?

ANN
: I don't know.

CATHY
: And shall I tell you what I plan to do?

ANN
: When?

CATHY
: I beg your pardon. No. You haven't “said” it.

ANN
: But I've changed your cell. For “out-processing.”