Water Torture

What is the distance between being rational and being a psychopath? A vessel of water is the answer in this story.

Brady: A highly intelligent but psychopathic murderer who is awaiting his final fate. His manner changes as quickly as a blowfly changes direction: he is erratic in everything he does. In his final hours of life he is having fun at being a psychopath.

Joe: A political prisoner, strong of character with a calm yet determined composure. His leadership qualities are demonstrated in his ability for clear thinking in the most averse of circumstances. His persona is a metaphoric suit of armour he wears for protection against the mind games being played out in the cell.

Note: Slowly and subtly Joe’s manner becomes closer to that of Brady. The distance between rational and psychopathic gets closer and closer as the story unfolds.

Scene 1: One vessel two minds.

Two prisoners in a cell sit on stools either side of a makeshift table. The cell door opens. Written in chalk on the outside of the door are the titles ‘Murderer’ and underneath that ‘Political Prisoner’. A jailer enters carrying a club and a small vessel of water. The political prisoner moves to the back of the cell and places the palms of his hands against the wall. The murderer steps back but not right to the wall and bares his teeth in a defiant grin. The jailer raises the club in readiness to strike the recalcitrant who at that moment moves to the back of the cell and puts the palms of his hands against the wall. The jailer lowers the club, puts the vessel onto the table and leaves closing the door behind him.

Joe: At least they don’t torture us.

Brady: (pointing to the water) What do you think that is?

Joe: It’s just another vessel of water.

Pause and then they move away from the wall.

Brady: How many days you been in here?

Joe: Four.

Brady: Four hot days.

Joe: Yes.

Brady: You’re a political prisoner?

Joe: Yes.

Brady: And I’m a murderer.

Joe: What are you getting at?

Brady: The whole world agrees I should swing; but there’s maybe more than half of the population who think you shouldn’t be here. You’re a political problem!

Joe: What’s all this got to do with the water?

Brady: Only one vessel.

Joe: Water’s particularly scarce right now.

Brady: Not that scarce. What was the colour of the water on your first day in my illustrious company?

Joe: Red.

Brady: Rainwater from the shingle roof of the store house. And what colour was the

water on the second day?

Joe: Brown.

Brady: Right; muddy stuff from the well. We had to strain the lumps out through our shirt tails as I remember.

Joe: Yes and yesterday almost black.

Brady: The brackish stuff from the stringy bark thatch of the stables, I would guess. And almost undrinkable.

Joe: I’ll agree with that.

Brady: And what about the meal, if that’s what you wish to call it?

Joe: What about it?

Brady: Laced with salt.

Joe: To preserve it.

Brady: To make you thirsty more like. Salty meal in the evening then one vessel of water, between two of us, twelve hours later.

Joe: Yes. And we’ve been holding out for that water as bad as it might be.

Brady: No matter what they say it is, it’s torture.

Pause

Joe: I can’t see the point in torturing us. You’re…

Brady: …stuffed – don’t you don’t need to remind me…

Joe: … and there’s nothing more I can confess to. I’m here because I wouldn’t keep my mouth shut.

Brady: It’s not about confessing, it’s about twisting your mind.

It’s like I said; at least half the population don’t reckon you should be here.

That has to change.

Joe: But how can torturing you and me change the minds of others?

Scene 2: A psychopathic sense of humour

The murderer goes to the cell door and looks through the small window in it. He bares his teeth and growls at the guard. Then he looks back at his cellmate.

Brady: Wouldn’t you like to be a psychopath like me?

Joe: No, I would not.

Brady: Ha! I like your directness. Not frightened to tell it as you see it.

Joe: I’m not saying you’re a psychopath.

Brady: Oh but I am. They turn you into one here – and free of charge.

Pause

Brady: What does it take to become a psychopath?

Joe: I think you’d be in a better position to answer that question than me.

Brady: So you do think I’m a psychopath. You see me as mentally disturbed with a violent social behavior.

Joe: No. You seem to have it all worked out for yourself.

What I can see, though, is how this place could send you (he hesitates)…

Brady: Mad! Go on you can say it. Mad! Mad! Mad!

Joe: Deranged.

Brady: Deranged? (With pride) So, you see me as deranged.

Joe: Don’t twist my words.

Brady: (Afterthought) Mind you, violent social behavior is a prerequisite.

This place brings out all your violent tendencies, you mark my words.

Joe: I have no violent tendencies.

Brady: So you say. But everyone has his limit and this place surely finds it.

Joe: Let’s hope not. Two psychopaths in the one cell could be fun.

Brady: Ah-ha! So you do have a sense of humour?

Joe: Must be something in the water.

pause

Brady: What colour is this water?

Joe: Clear!

Brady: From the pipes. And doesn’t it look tasty enough to kill for?

Joe: I wouldn’t go that far.

Brady: Four sources of water and yet only one vessel between us. As the days have become hotter and hotter, the water they’ve given us has become less and less drinkable; until suddenly, today, it’s like nectar. The drink of the Gods.

Joe: They’re playing mind games.

Brady: Enough to turn anyone into a psychopath.

Scene 3: The song of celebrity

The political prisoner goes to the cell door and looks through the little window and then steps back as if the warder outside has threatened him.

Brady: He doesn’t like you. You’re a celebrity.

Joe: I’m not a celebrity.

Brady: Yes you are. A champion of a cause.

Joe: I’m just standing up for what I believe in.

Brady: And without fear. That’s what makes you a champion; a hero even.

Joe: I don’t want to be a champion and I’m certainly no hero.

Brady: Come off it. People follow where you go and you’re gathering momentum. You’re a danger to society.

Joe: NO!

Brady: That’s what they say. You’re a threat to the whole fabric of society, aggressively agitating your radical views.

Joe: There’s no aggression in the way I put my views. I’m simply putting my fear aside to fight for what I think should be – and not aggressively. If people are like minded they’ll support me. If not, they’ll reject me and I’ll accept that.

Brady: See, firm but fair! Strong leadership qualities. People can feel secure in your leadership.

And it comes with integrity. How important is that?

Joe: If they feel secure, it is not in me but in the ideas I stand for; the ideas they stand for; rights we have taken for granted but are now threatened. Rights we must fight for together if we value our society.

Brady: Ah, eloquence at its best. Music to the ears of the repressed. – but a song of anarchy to your political enemies.