The Death Penalty: A short play in two Acts

Act 1

Scene 1

A mob is picketing outside a courthouse with signs against the death penalty.

The signs emphasize the inhumanity of taking a life as a penalty, the ethical wrong of causing death – even though the prisoner is guilty of murder.

The court is represented by three people sitting in a row: in the middle a judge in dark robe. On each side a prosecutor and a magistrate (who will read the verdict).

Scene 2

A villain comes into the crowd with a knife, singles out one person, hunts him down and murders him, viciously stabbing him multiple times. Then he grabs a girl and beats her to death. The crowd disperses and the villain runs away.

In the dark a police siren is heard.

In the half dark stage hospital workers come to remove the bodies.

Scene 3

The court, the judge primarily, talks of the law of the land: the intentions of capital punishment (all for the protection of the weak, for the innocent, for the benefit of the community).

They advocate the legal aspect: The law allows for capital punishment, and in some cases this is the best suited sentence for the crime committed.

Aside, in a corner of the stage,  a jury is debating the fate of the villain (who is in jail). They describe his deliberate acts of murder, of singling out his victims. It is first-degree murder.

Scene 4:

The convict is led in in to the judges (orange suit, handcuffed) with two police officers.

A member of the jury walks in and hands over the jury’s deliberation. Guilty.

The judge reads the verdict, and meets out the punishment: Death Penalty.

As they all go from their seats, the picketing mob shows up on the podium, with their signs and shouting their slogans.

Act 2

Scene 1

Court room (three seats, a desk)

In the dark (or behind the curtain), one individual (or more) is dressed in nude colours and lays in fetal postion. His/her back is to the audience. He/She is dead.

The three members of the court come and sit again in their seats.

They see the individual.

The prosecutor says: what has he/she done?

The same mob comes in to the room, this time with Free Choice! Right to Abortion! signs, and they shout slogans. Death to the Unborn!

The prosecutor rises up and says: But s/he is innocent!

The judge demands order, and he declares that it is the Law of the land: It is legal to kill the innocent.

Scene 2:

As the mob walks out, proud and rectified, cheerful, several more individuals  (3-4) in nude colours, some with blood stains, silently gather and make a small heap… and lay there still and dead for 30 seconds-1 minute. Silence.

The spotlight is on them, and around them it is dark. Then the spot light goes out.

THE END.

Martin Hudáček, Monument to an Unborn Child