A Play
Cast
(The bedroom of the First Student and the New Student. It is evening. The room is lit by a single lamp. The New Student sits on a chair. The First Student stands behind him, holding a hood.)
(The New Student turns. The First Student places the hood over his head. The Other Students enter, take hold of the New Student, and lead him out. The First Student follows.)
(Outside the Institute. A small fire burns. The students arrive.)
(The Other Students tie the New Student's hands behind his back.)
The Other Students
Kneel!
(The New Student coughs and kneels. The First Student removes the hood.)
The First Student
Your mother is a democrat.
The Other Students
A democrat.
(The New Student clears his throat.)
The New Student
For now.
The First Student
Are you a democrat?
The New Student
I am.
(Some of the Other Students kick him.)
The First Student
You are despicable.
The Other Students
Despicable.
The First Student
Kick him more.
(The Other Students comply.)
(The First Student takes a burning piece of wood from the fire and holds it before the New Student's eyes.)
The First Student
Shall we make you see?
The Other Students
Make him see.
(The New Student closes his eyes. The First Student briefly touches his forehead with a burning piece of wood.)
The New Student
Ouch.
The Other Students
Ouch! Ouch!
The First Student
We have something to drink for you.
(Some of the Other Students unzip their trousers.)
The New Student
Please not.
The First Student
Say please again.
The New Student
Please!
The First Student
We shall have mercy then.
The Other Students
No!
The First Student
Then bring it out.
(One of the Other Students hands the First Student a cushion.)
The First Student
Poke him! With the soft cushion!
(The bedroom of the First Student and the New Student. It is later. They sit side by side on one of the beds.)
The New Student
The chief weapon is surprise.
The First Student
It is.
(He lays his left arm on the New Student's shoulder.)