An Eye For An Eye

A Play by

Gholam Hossein Sa'edi

Illustrated by
Bahram Davari
1973


Edited and Translated by

Iraj Bashiri
1976











     
  Characters:
      Governor
      Executioner
      Young Man
      Old Woman
      Retailer
      Blacksmith
      Royal Hunter
      Flute Player





Act One

A huge bench with a decorated cushion. On the far side of the cushion there is a hidden bed. As the curtain rises the stage is empty. Several moments later, two big feet appear over the cushion and the sound of a loud yawn is followed by the appearance of the Governor's short and chubby body as he slowly and quietly gets up and sits on the bed. He wears gaudy clothes and carries all kinds of things including a shield, a sword, a shoulder belt, a bow, and an old pistol. He yawns again, rubs his puffy eyes, and beats his chest several times. He crawls lazily and throws himself onto the bench. For the sake of security, he examines the things that he has fastened onto himself, then, as if coming to, he looks around suspiciously and begins to think. Several minutes pass like this. The Governor bends, looks to the right and whistles. Nothing happens. He then bends to the left, looks and whistles. Nothing happens. With a loud voice he shouts "Hey!" Nothing happens. He gets up and with a still louder voice says, "Hey, hey!" Something moves under the bench. The Governor kneels, raises the curtain and shouts:

Governor: You fat slob! You scoundrel! You stinking rubbish!

Sound of yawning from under the bench.

You thick-necked, good-for-nothing fatso. Come on out!

He aims his club and strikes a blow at something underneath the bed. Several moments later, the Executioner, on all fours, comes out from underneath the bed. He appears well-fed and well-rested. He wears the same type of colorful clothes as the Governor, only somewhat sloppier with more weapons and tools including a number of cleavers, knives, cutlasses, clubs and other odds and ends. As soon as he comes out from underneath the bench he beats his chest several times and yawns loudly.

The Governor shouts:

You good-for-nothing scoundrel! Wake up!

The Executioner comes to and, straightening his clothes, smiles.

Executioner: A very good morning to his Excellency the Governor.

Governor: You scoundrel, you mean a very good afternoon to His Excellency the Governor, not a very good morning.

The Executioner with surprise.

Executioner: Afternoon?

Governor: Yes, you stupid calf! You senseless fool!

Executioner: Are you telling me that we were taking our afternoon nap?

Governor: That's right you beast, that's right.

Executioner: But His Excellency the Governor does not usually wake up from his afternoon nap until evening.

Governor: That's right you scoundrel. That's what I want to question you about.

Executioner: Question me about what, Your Excellency?

Governor: I want to know if you woke me up?

Executioner: Me?

Governor: Yes you, beast.

Executioner: No, Your Excellency. You woke me up.

Governor: Who woke me up then?

Executioner: I don't know, Your Excellency. I was asleep.

Governor: It is for several days now that, around late afternoon, sleep totally abandons us. We wonder why? Why should our afternoon nap be spoiled like that?

Executioner: It's obvious, Your Excellency, you become sleepless.

Governor: But why should we become sleepless?

Executioner: Perhaps because of overeating, Your Excellency.

Governor: Do I overeat or you, you scoundrel beast!

He approaches the Executioner threateningly.

Executioner: Well, it's obvious, Your Excellency, of course I do.

Governor: Then why do I have trouble sleeping?

Executioner: Probably for many reasons, Your Excellency.

Governor: Such as?

Executioner: Such as ... , I mean... Could it be that your conscience might not be at ease?

Governor: What! My conscience not at ease? How can that be possible, you beast?

Executioner: Of course it's not possible, Your Excellency, but it is probable.

Governor: What is probable, you calf?

Executioner: Uneasy conscience.

Governor: For what reason you scoundrel?

Executioner: It can have many reasons, Your Excellency. But the one that appears to this worthless slave at your threshold is this: For some time now there has been very little business. For three or four days not even one case has come up for judgment.

Governor: How do you know that, you stinking, uncouth ass?

Executioner: How do I know? Am I not the prosecutor and the executioner of justice? After all, I deal with these things, Your Excellency.

Governor: Are you quite sure?

Executioner: Quite sure, Your Excellency, quite sure. Let me see. How many days ago was it that we extracted the last eye? Yes, it was three days ago.

Governor: Then, is that the reason for our insomnia?

Executioner: A hundred percent, Your, Excellency. Uneasiness of conscience may sometimes start in the morning, but mostly it starts in the afternoon. Sometimes it starts with a headache, sometimes with a prolonged, loud burp. Sometimes it starts with jumping in one's sleep and sometimes by jumping into the water. Sometimes it starts with a sneeze and sometimes with a hiccup. Sometimes it is before getting tired and sometimes after getting tired, but once started it doesn't go away. It's then followed by backaches, abdominal colic, foul stomach, bile, and excessive saliva. Then the eyes become uneasy and glittering, one's hair stands on end and, eventually, there is a total collapse of the senses. However, the remedy of all these, Your Excellency, is the extraction of one eye. Only one eye!

Governor: Only one eye?

Executioner: Yes, may I be sacrificed for you!

Governor: Why an eye?

Executioner: In order for justice to be served.

Governor: Now, let me see, where can we find an eye?

Executioner: There are many eyes, Your Excellency!

Governor: Yes, I know there are many eyes. But how long can we wait for someone to come and seek justice so that we can accomplish our task? After all, one cannot grasp a person by the collar and drag him here.

Executioner: Why not, Your Excellency? Among all those cows and donkeys out there, can't we find one worthy of this honor?

Governor: I'm sure we can, but how can we recognize him?

Executioner: Let me worry about the finding, recognizing and bringing. I'll get it all on the way, in a wink of Your Excellency's eye.

Governor: Why are you waiting then, you beast? Cut out the verbosity and get to business.

Executioner: I hear and I obey.

As he hurries out of the stage, the Executioner bumps himself into a Young Man. The Young Man, who is moaning loudly, is covering his face with his hands. The Executioner shouts

Executioner: Your Excellency, he has come voluntarily.

He laughs heartily and grabs the Young Man by the collar.

Governor: Very good. That's excellent! Hang on tight to him, and don't let go of him!

The Executioner drags the Young Man to the middle of the stage. The Young Man moans loudly. He takes his hands off his face. One of his eyes had been extracted from its socket. Large clots of blood cover his face. The Young Man frees himself from the clutches of the Executioner and throws himself at the Governor's feet.

Young Man: Your Excellency, the Governor. I beg of you, I beg of you. I'm helpless, I am done for. Save me! Save me!

Governor: Get up. What do you want'?

Young Man: Retaliation, retaliation. I'm seeking justice. Retaliation, retaliation.

Governor: Tell me, what has happened? Speak!

The Young Man holds the Governor by the tail of his robe. He rises half way and shows the Governor the socket of his eye.

Young Man: Eye, my eye, my eye.

He moans loudly.

Governor: Your eye? What's happened to your eye?

Young Man: Your Excellency, it's out of the socket, out of the socket. Revenge me, revenge me.

Governor: Out of the socket?

Disappointedly, he Looks at the Executioner.

His eye is out of the socket.

Executioner: Your Excellency the Governor, that's all right. As soon as we find out who has done it, we will proceed with the retaliation process, and all will be well.

He winks.

Governor: Well at least that's something.

He Leans over and says to the Young Man.

Young Man, tell me who's done this? Who took your eye out?

The Young Man, as he moans, produces a thin iron rod and shows it to the Governor.

Young Man: This has done it, Your Excellency. This has.

The Executioner and the Governor come closer and look at the rod. The Executioner takes the rod from the Young Man.

Executioner: This has done it?

Young Man: Yes, Your Excellency. Yes, yes, this has done it. This good-for-nothing object has done me in. It has crippled a Young Man like me. It has made me sick and helpless.

The Governor takes the rod. The Executioner and the Governor examine the rod with surprise.

Governor: Tell me, what can we do to this?

Young Man: Revenge me, revenge me. I'm done for, I'm helpless, I've lost my life.

Governor: How can I retaliate against this? Tell me, how?

Turning to the Executioner.

How can we retaliate against this rod?

Executioner: I doubt it if we could retaliate against this lifeless rod, but...

Governor: but what?

Executioner: We can retaliate against its owner.

Governor: Against its owner?

Executioner: Yes, Your Excellency. It is just that the owner of this murderous weapon be punished for his reprehensible actions.

The Governor happy and smiling.

Governor: Bravo! Bravo! It's obvious that your hollow head is still working.

Executioner: Please, Your Excellency, please. This servant's head is worthless in comparison to Your Excellency's auspicious head.

The Governor starts to think and, with a very serious look, he turns to the Executioner.

Governor: Let me see, you scoundrel. What if he himself is the owner of this rod?

He points at the Young Man.

Executioner: He himself be the owner?

He thinks.

Governor: Yes. What can we do then?

The Executioner with happiness.

Executioner: What better than that! What better than that! If that is the case, our job will be extremely easy.

Governor: How can that be?

Executioner: Your Excellency, his other eye is unharmed. Look, Your Excellency.

He runs forward and points at the Young Man's unharmed eye.

Governor: In that case what are you waiting for, you beast! Get on with it, and get it done.

The Executioner unsheathes his dagger and holds the Young Man by the hair. The Young Man crawls forward and embraces the Governor by the legs.

Young Man: Your Excellency, Your Excellency, I don't own this rod. I, I am not the owner.

Governor: You are not the owner? Then who owns it? Go ahead, answer.!

Young Man: An Old Woman, Your Excellency. An old hag.

Governor: All right, all right. Where is this old hag. Huh!

Young Man: In her good-for-nothing house, Your Excellency.

Governor: And how has she extracted your eye?

Young Man: Last night, about midnight, a thought entered my head that for once, at least, I should break into this hag's house hoping that something may come out of it. Your Excellency, even though I am not inexperienced, I certainly entered the wrong place this time. I was searching in the dark and feeling the doors and walls. Not only did I not find anything, but I also lost my eye.

Governor: You good for nothing bum! Then your huge, useless form is good only for putting into a wall. How is it that you, with that thick neck of yours, could not overpower an old hag?

Young Man: The hag was asleep, Your Excellency. She had pounded that, that damn rod into the wall. I poked my eye on the rod and then shouting and moaning ran out. No doctor or occultist could do anything about it.

He breathes heavily, and with feeling.

But Your Excellency, what burns me is not that! It is that I had wished to lose this worthless eye serving His Excellency the Governor. But that beggarish hag has deprived me of the honor.

He cries.

Now, I have come to seek justice. His Excellency, the Governor, should revenge me. He should restore my rights. He should recompense an eye that was to be sacrificed to his own sublime person. He should administer justice. Justice... Justice... Justice.

Governor: Old woman! Old woman!

















Act Two

The Governor to the Executioner.

Governor: Don't let her argue! Take her eye out!

The Executioner holds the old woman's head up and draws his dagger out of its sheath.

Old Woman: Your Excellency the Governor! Your Excellency the Governor!

She disentangles herself from the Executioner and grabs the governor by the tail of his robe.

What have I done? If I have done anything against the law, please tell me, so that I know what my crime is.

Governor: What have you done? You have taken this poor Young Man's eye out of its socket. You have paralyzed him.

The Old Woman starts to rise. She eyes the Young Man with astonishment.

     Old Woman: I? By God I don't even know him. I don't know who he is. This is the first time that I have ever set eyes on this Young Man.

Governor: All right. What about this?

He holds the rod up in front of the Old Woman's eyes

How about this iron rod? Don't you know this either?

Old Woman: Yes, Your Excellency. Yes. This I know. It is the rod to my spinning wheel. I have been looking for it since early this morning and haven't been able to find it.

The Governor with utmost anger.

Governor: Eye. Don't wait! Take out her eye!

The Executioner prepares to take her eye out. The Old Woman moans.

Old Woman: Your Excellency the Governor. Your Excellency the Governor, tell me, these two...

She points to the rod and the Young Man.

How are these two related? Why should I lose an eye?

Governor: For this. If you had not pounded this dangerous object into the wall of your house, this Young Man, who had entered your house late last night, would not have lost his eye.

Old Woman: Tell me. What business did this Young Man have in my house in the middle of the night?

The Governor with anger.

Governor: Now, now. Stupid hag. Don't you try to change the subject! You are the owner of this bloody blinding rod and now your own eye has to be blinded.

To the Executioner.

Eye! Eye! Eye!

Old Woman: May I be sacrificed for you! If for the sake of one rod I must lose an eye, what about the Retailer around the corner who has boxfuls of these. You should take hundreds of eyes out of his skull. Besides, I bought this rod from that crook.

Governor: There you are. Now we have the real criminal. The Retailer. Summon the Retailer!

















Act Three

The Executioner comes to the front of the stage and assumes the role of the story-teller.

Executioner: The Retailer is taking his afternoon nap in his store. For lunch he has had a belly full of bread and onion; whenever he burps, his complexion turns red and drops of perspiration appear on his nose. His Excellency the Governor's messenger appears at his threshold. The Retailer thinks that he is dreaming. Is it possible for anyone to appear in front of his shop at this time of day? He rubs his eyes. But it is true. There is a customer. He finds himself face to face with a customer in gaudy clothes.

The Executioner with the voice of the Retailer:

Executioner: Hello, sir. A real hello indeed!

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: Were you taking a siesta old man?

The Executioner with the voice of the Retailer:

Executioner: No. May I be sacrificed for you. No. May I be sacrificed for your pains. I was just getting ready to serve you.

The Executioner in his own voice

Executioner: The Retailer burps. His burp makes the governor's messenger take several steps backwards.

The Executioner with the voice of the Retailer:

Executioner: What can I offer you? A tripod, a mouse trap, a chain, a skimmer, a bead to ward off evil, strychnine, ringworm medicine, maidenhair, a wig, eye drops?

The Executioner in his own voice

Executioner: Keep all of them for yourself, old man. His Excellency the Governor summons you. An important task is at hand.

The Executioner in his own voice

Executioner: The Retailer is confused. He turns about himself.

The Executioner with the voice of the Retailer:

Executioner: With me? His Excellency the Governor wants to discuss something with me? Tell me the truth. Are you pulling this old man's leg?

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: Come on. Move it. From now on your life will be different.

The Executioner in his own voice

Executioner: The Retailer, taking long strides, jumps out of the shop. In confusion, he reenters the shop and prepares a number of gifts for His Excellency the Governor. He rubs his beard with his hand and, burping, enters the governor's court.

The Retailer, who is carrying several bags in his hands, is pushed into the court. He bows deeply several times.

Retailer: Your Excellency. No living being can even conceive this thought that the luck of a poor, insignificant Retailer would reach such heights that one day he would find his way into such a holy and splendid court, and visit with Your Excellency and be this close to you. I was so overcome with joy, that I could not recall whether I ran here on my feet, or on my head. All I know is that I have run. At this moment, I am so enraptured and proud as when I see several customers at my shop at the same time. I request permission to present the worthless gifts that I have brought for Your Excellency.

The Governor smiles

Governor: O.k., o.k. What have you brought?

The Retailer is confused.

Retailer: A bag of extremely, extremely good, sweet smelling and of extremely deep hue henna for His Excellency's beard.

He throws the bag in front of the Governor's feet.

Governor: What else?

Retailer: And a bag of large jujubes for when his Holiness's temperament is hot.

He throws the second bag in front of the Governor's feet.

Governor: And then?

Retailer: And a bag of extremely pure crystal sugar for when His Excellency's temperament is cool.

Governor: All right. What else?

Retailer: What else! What else?

He does not know what to do. He looks all around him then, as if realizing the situation:

And my worthless life to sacrifice for His Excellency and teach the world the meaning of devotion.

He goes forth to throw himself on the Governor's feet. The Executioner grabs his head from behind.

Governor: We have no need for your useless life old man!

The Retailer is confused.

Retailer: Have no need? Then... Then...

Governor: At the present only an eye is asked for.

The Retailer is astonished:

Retailer: An eye? What is an eye for?

Governor: Yes, an eye. A small eye, the size of your useless eye.

The Retailer even more astonished.

Retailer: What good will that be for?

Governor: For justice to be done, old man!

To the Executioner:

Governor: What are you waiting for, you dirty scoundrel?

Executioner: I am waiting for Your Excellency's command.

Governor: Given.

The Executioner drags the Retailer to the ground. The Retailer is confused.

Retailer: Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Please tell me what has justice got to do with my eye? Or, indeed, what has it got to do with me or my profession? God knows that I have nothing at all to do with such very good and very excellent things as nobility, bravery, truth, hospitality, and justice. I am sitting in a corner selling mouse traps, the saint's hand, eye drops, ringworm medicine, horseshoes, ox-yoke, sesame seeds, fire starters, straw fans, and medicine for lice. Your Excellency. I haven't hurt even an ant.

Governor: Tell me, besides all these odds and ends that you enumerate, do you happen every now and then to sell one of these?

The Retailer frees himself from the Executioner and walks to the Governor. He stares at the Governor's hand.

Retailer: What is that?

Governor: It is a spindle rod used in a spindle to spin yarn. Do you sell these?

The Retailer, with humility and happiness.

Retailer: Yes sir, I do. Of course, I sell those.

The retailer laughs. The governor angrily:

Governor: Take out his eye!

The Executioner rushes forward and pursues the Retailer.

Executioner: You are proven guilty and you are done for. Had you not sold that damn rod to this incapacitated hag, that innocent youth's eye would not have been extracted from its socket.

The Executioner, dagger in hand, pursues the Retailer around the stage. The Retailer as he circles the stage with the Governor and others in the center pleads and shouts:

Retailer: Your Excellency, may I be sacrificed for you. Don't let him catch me. Have mercy on me. Don't let him catch me.

He embraces the Governor's legs from behind and continues.

Retailer: I'm scared of him. I'm scared of him!

He trembles

Governor: You son-of-a-bitch. Then why weren't you scared when you sold this murderous weapon?

Retailer: But Your Excellency, I sold that for spinning not for taking peoples' eyes out.

Governor: These excuses will not save your skin. Do you understand?

Retailer: Why not, Your Excellency? Until this day with my diagnoses and medicine, I have cured thousands of defective eyes. Has anyone thanked me for those? Now it so happens that a situation like this has developed and now you want to take my eye out! Besides, I am not the real guilty person either. The real guilty person is that damn Blacksmith who makes these objects day after day.

Governor: The Blacksmith?

Retailer: Yes, Your Excellency, the Blacksmith. All these things, all the murders are of his making.

Governor: All right. All right.

To the Executioner:

It makes no difference to us whether it's the Retailer of the Blacksmith, does it?

Executioner: No difference whatsoever.

The Governor as he lays on the bed:

Governor: Summon the Blacksmith!

















Act Four

The Executioner approaches the front of the stage. He walks proudly and in the role of the narrator:

Executioner: The governor's messenger reaches the front of the Blacksmith's shop. All these comings and goings have made him tired. He is frowning. The Blacksmith is working at his forge. In fact, he is making some more of these same rods.

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: Hey there! Shabby old man. Come on. Let's go!

The Executioner in his own voice.

Executioner: The Blacksmith turns and sees the Governor's messenger. He puts down the hammer and the vice, takes off his leather apron and throws it aside. Smiling, he comes forward.

The Executioner with the voice of the Blacksmith.

Executioner: Let's go! Let's go where?

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

His Excellency the Governor has prepared such a bed of roses for you!

The Executioner with the voice of the Blacksmith.

Executioner: Are you serious? But I am not worthy of such kindness and graciousness.

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: You stupid old man. Don't pretend that you don't understand. Come on! Let's go. His Excellency the Governor is waiting.

The Executioner with the voice of the Blacksmith.

Executioner: Yes sir. Is it possible to tell me why I am being taken there?

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: You poor man. They want to take out your eye. Come on! Don't waste time!

The Executioner with the voice of the Blacksmith.

Executioner: My eye! What for?

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: For the things that you are making.

After a hearty, happy laughter, the Executioner in the voice of the Blacksmith

Executioner: What an auspicious occasion! What can be better than that? I have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time now. Allow me a moment to adore the pair of unworthy eyes that are to be sacrificed for the Governor. Then we will go.

The Executioner as he walks.

Executioner: No doubt you know that they adore only the eyes of the bulls and the sheep which are intended for sacrifice.

The Blacksmith enters. He bows deeply and addresses the Governor:

Blacksmith: Your Excellency the Governor, the accused is ready for punishment.

The Blacksmith falls to the ground. He crawls on hands and knees and reaches the Governor. He kisses the Governor's feet and rubs his own face in the dirt. Then he goes to the Executioner's feet. All the spectators watch him with surprise. When he reaches the Executioner's feet, he raises his head and pleads:

Blacksmith: Take'em out! Take'em out!

Executioner: Take'em out! Take what out?

Blacksmith: Both of them. Both my eyes.

The Governor comes closer.

Governor: Who is this mad man?

Blacksmith: The murderous Blacksmith who must be punished so that true justice is done.

Governor: Then you are the Blacksmith.

Blacksmith: Yes, Your Excellency. Yes, I am the culprit.

Governor: Are you sure that you really are guilty?

Blacksmith: Yes, Your Excellency. I'm absolutely sure.

Governor: What makes you so sure?

Blacksmith: His Excellency the Governor's decision.

Governor: My decision?

Blacksmith: If His Excellency the Governor has decided that I am guilty, then certainly I am guilty, and there is no way around it.

Governor: Do you believe in what you say?

Blacksmith: I firmly believe that His Excellency the Governor's penetrating insight would never go wrong.

Governor: In that case there is no doubt that you are guilty.

Blacksmith: That is right, Your Excellency.

Pleading, the Blacksmith returns to the Executioner.

Blacksmith: I beg of you, please take them out, take'em out, take'em out. What are you waiting for? Get on with it!

Executioner: Do I have permission, Your Excellency?

The Governor comes forward. The Executioner retreats.

Governor: Are you aware of our kindness and benevolence?

Blacksmith: Your kindness and benevolence are as clear as day to everyone.

Governor: Why then aren't you pleading for forgiveness?

Blacksmith: Plead for forgiveness for what? I have committed a crime and I have to be punished for it.

Governor: Don't you think that you will be remorseful?

Blacksmith: Remorseful, never. But,... but, it is possible that I may feel sorry that...

Governor: That what?

Blacksmith: That I will no longer be able to make horseshoes for the governor's messenger, or to polish his generals' swords or to make chains and locks for his countless prisons.

Governor: Why not?

Blacksmith: Your Excellency the Governor, to do such things one needs a pair of eyes.

The Governor starts thinking and then with a loud voice:

Governor: In that case, it is not possible to take out your eyes.

Blacksmith: Why not Your Excellency? It is a very easy operation.

Governor: Who would do all those jobs that you enumerated?

Blacksmith: Those jobs? I don't know anyone who can do them.

Governor: And if I don't take out your eyes, what happens to justice?

Blacksmith: Your Excellency, there are many useless eyes. Take one of those out, and everything will be just fine.

Governor: Where are those? Show me one!

The Blacksmith thinks and then suddenly.

Blacksmith: The Royal Hunter's right eye.

Governor: The Royal Hunter's right eye? My hunter?

Blacksmith: Yes, Your Excellency. Your Royal Hunter's right eye.

Governor: How do you know that my hunter's eye is useless?

Blacksmith: Everyone knows that, Your Excellency. Haven't you seen His Eminence the Royal Hunter at work? Before pulling the trigger, he always closes his right eye and uses his left to aim.

He imitates shooting a rifle.

Governor: So that's how it is, that's how it is.

As he walks around.

Until now we did not know that our Royal Hunter's right eye was useless. Well, well, what do you know?

He suddenly stops and shouts:

The Royal Hunter! Summon the Royal Hunter!
















Act Five

The Executioner approaches the front of the stage and in the role of the narrator:

Executioner: Around noon time, His Eminence the Royal Hunter, having filled his belly with partridge kabob and taking a long siesta, is in the bathhouse for a good rub down. He has drunk several glasses of sherbet and, for hours, has stood in front of the mirror looking at his countless medals of honor. With a long pair of scissors, he is trimming his mustache. Suddenly, the Governor's messenger knocks.

The Executioner with the voice of the Royal Hunter.

Executioner: Who is it that seeks permission to enter?

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: His Excellency the Governor's messenger.

The Executioner with the voice of the Royal Hunter.

Executioner: Come in. You certainly must have some good news.

The Executioner with his own voice.

Executioner: The Official enters politely.

The Executioner with the voice of the Official.

Executioner: His Excellency the Governor has summoned His Eminence the Royal Hunter.

The Executioner with the voice of the Royal Hunter laughs heartily.

Executioner: What luck. There comes another medal, another medal of honor.

The Executioner with his own voice.

Executioner: And then, in the twinkling of an eye, he is ready to leave.

The Executioner with the voice of the Royal Hunter.

Executioner: Let's go before it gets late.

The Royal Hunter with odds and ends, hunting gear, medals of all colors, rifle in hand, enters and bows.

Royal Hunter: The Royal Hunter is ready for service.

Governor: Good day to you my dear Royal Hunter!

He approaches.

Governor: I hope that today, too, like all other days, you are ready for service and self-sacrifice.

Royal Hunter: Whatever His Excellency the Governor orders.

The Governor eyes the Royal Hunter from head to foot.

Governor: Well, well! You have come quite prepared with hunting gear.

Royal Hunter: I thought that His Excellency the Governor might have desired a fully-grown pheasant or a large partridge or, at least, a young, full-blooded mountain goat.

Governor: Of course. We always have desire and appetite for such good and delicious things. But this time we have desire for something else.

Royal Hunter: Desire for what? May I be sacrificed for you?

Governor: A useless eye.

Royal Hunter: A useless eye? Oh, a useless eye. Yes sir! How about the eye of a full-mained lion, or the eye of a swift-flying eagle?

Governor: Royal Hunter, we have desire for the eye of a two-legged animal.

Royal Hunter: The eye of a two-legged animal?

He looks around himself, and then, as if suddenly realizing the situation, he smiles.

Royal Hunter: But only His Eminence, the Executioner, can do that.

Governor: Yes, you are right. In fact, this uncouth scoundrel is the only one who can do it.

The Royal Hunter with chest thrust forward.

Royal Hunter: What service, then, can this servant render?

Governor: A small sacrifice so that true justice can be done.

Royal Hunter: I am ready with my soul and heart.

The Governor turns to the Executioner.

Governor: Very well. Grab him by the collar.

The Executioner draws his dagger. Smiling and bowing, he approaches the Royal Hunter. The Royal Hunter retreats.

Executioner: Your Eminence the Royal Hunter, with due respect, please kneel!

Royal Hunter: I kneel. Why should I kneel?

Executioner: So that I can tie this loincloth around your auspicious neck.

Royal Hunter: What for?

Executioner: Your Eminence's right eye is needed.

Royal Hunter: Your Excellency, Your Excellency. My right eye? Why my right eye?

Governor: Your Eminence the Royal Hunter. I am surprised. Don't you agree with our administration of justice?

Royal Hunter: But my right eye is not guilty of any crime.

Governor: That is right. That is right. But since your right eye is the only useless eye, we have no other alternative.

Royal Hunter: My right eye is useless? Who says that?

Governor: Everybody says that. Isn't this right that when hunting you close your right eye and aim only with your left?

Royal Hunter: That is right, Your Excellency. But I close my right eye only after I have found the game, and after I am sure it is within shooting distance. In order to find the game, I need the use of both eyes.

Governor: Are you telling me that your right eye is not useless?

Royal Hunter: Definitely, Your Excellency.

The Governor, angry.

Governor: As things stand, it seems that we cannot extract an eye, and thus we cannot set our mind at ease.

Royal Hunter: Why, Your Excellency? There are many people who have no use for their eyes.

Governor: How can that be possible?

Royal Hunter: It is possible, Your Excellency. It is possible.

Governor: For example?

Royal Hunter: For example, the Flute Player at Your Excellency's court.

Governor: Why do you think our court Flute Player's eye is useless and unnecessary for his profession?

Royal Hunter: Because when playing he closes both his eyes.

Governor: Why does he close his eyes?

Royal Hunter: Because, with closed eyes, one can play the flute much better.

Governor: What has the closing of the eyes to do with playing the flute well?

Royal Hunter: It's very obvious. In this there might be a hidden wisdom which, so far, has eluded everyone. We should consider the fact that...

Curtly and calmly.

the best musicians of the world have always been blind.

Governor: If that is the case, then by taking both eyes out, in addition to administration of justice, we will be doing our royal Flute Player a favor.

He turns to the Executioner.

What is your opinion, you scoundrel?

Executioner: It is a very apt, suitable, and wise suggestion. Because by doing so we have administered our justice as well as enriched the art of His Excellency the Governor's court musician.

Governor: Then open your ears and listen carefully. When the Flute Player arrives, we will not have any argument or discussion with him. We will not accept any explanation or logic. In fact, there is no need for our foolish artist to consider his eye necessary for his profession and art; neither does he need to produce reasons for his keeping his eyes. Therefore, as soon as he arrives at our presence and begins playing the flute, without discussion, the Executioner should extract both eyes from their sockets and, thereby, increase his art and decrease our discomfort.


















Act Six

The Executioner approaches the front of the stage and in the role of the narrator:

His Excellency the Governor's messenger, tired of all the comings and goings, has discovered a new trick--a pretty good one at that. Now, in the Flute Player's house, leaning against a multi-colored, embroidered pillow, he speaks freely.

The Executioner with the voice of the messenger.

Executioner: Yes, that's how it was. We were praising you in the presence of His Excellency the Governor. But His Excellency the Governor was not satisfied with your work. He thought that you were not skilled enough in your profession. This is because, he thought, like the great musicians of all ages, when playing your flute, you do not close your eyes. We said, in your support, however, that when you are playing, you press your eyelids together so hard that one would think you were born blind. Now His Excellency the Governor has summoned you so that you can do your best and, if things go the way we have planned, you will be rewarded generously.

The Executioner in his own voice.

Executioner: The Flute Player fills the scoundrel messenger's fists with gold and, hurriedly, accompanies him.

The Flute Player enters, bows flatteringly, and kisses the ground.

Governor: Well, well. We have been yearning for listening to your flute for a long time. And just a few minutes ago, it struck Our Exhaulted Person, while administering justice, that we should summon you and, by listening to the lament of your flute, pacify Our Soul and get Our Body rid of all the fatigue incurred on Us by much hard work. You know very well the value that we ascribe to the men of arts, and you know very well that if they are obedient and if they execute our command, we do our best in elevating their station. Well then, come closer. Come close and sit right here in front of our royal bench.

The Flute Player goes and takes his place facing the bench. His back is turned to the audience

All right. Now play your most pleasing, most sweet, most lovely, and most sad song for Us!

The Flute Player makes himself comfortable and starts to play. The Governor comes forth, bends and stares at the Flute Player's face. Then he motions the Executioner to join him and, together, they look at the Flute Player and they nod. Then the Governor motions all present to come and look at the Flute Player's face. They all come, look at him and nod. The Executioner sharpens his dagger, circumambulates the Flute Player several times and, finally, stands behind him. The Governor holds his fingers before the Flute Player's eyes and moves them. The Flute Player does not seem them. The Governor smiles. Suddenly, the Executioner grabs the Flute Player's head and places it between his knees. The sound of the flute is stopped abruptly. A short moment later a muffled cry is heard. The Flute Player, both his eyes extracted from their sockets, falls to the ground.

Governor: Very good. That's excellent!

Everyone shouting.

All: May the rule of the just Governor remain eternal!

The Governor turns to the Young Man.

Governor: You are now revenged!

The Young Man shouts.

Young Man: May the shadow of the just Governor never diminish! May he eternally rule over those who are subjected to tyranny!

Governor: Ah... How refreshing!

He yawns and beats his chest.

Governor: Well, well. Now that we have shaken off the heavy burden of carrying out our duty, the best thing for us to do is to take a nap. We will feel much better after that.

He approaches the bed slowly then returns and, facing the others:

Now go and inform the citizens that justice was done, and that the rights of an individual were restored to him.

He climbs over the bench and, slowly, disappears into the bed behind the bench. Only his big feet remain on the edge of the bench. The Executioner, too, crawls slowly and goes under the bench. The others gather together. They face the audience and, in unison:

All: Justice was served! Justice was served! Justice was served!

They quiet down then, cautiously, look all around. They retreat. The Governor's feet disappear. The sound of his snoring can be heard. Again they all come forward and, cautiously, bend towards the audience and ask:

Was justice served? Yes, it was? Justice was served! Which justice was served? What justice was served?

The End




Other Sa'edi-related links:
Muslims or Shamans: Blacks of the Persian Gulf



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