THE VERDICT

A woman dressed in a large
gown / burlap sack is sat on a chair,
possibly bound to it and with a gag in her
mouth. Two people approach.

CAMPBELL

And so, here’s the witch, judge Boyle.

BOYLE

Now that we can talk face to face, let me see if I understood this properly: you are conducting a witch trial?

CAMPBELL

Correct.

BOYLE

(at loss for words)

Wh… what? Why?

CAMPBELL

What do you mean ‘Why’?

BOYLE

But…

CAMPBELL

This woman is a sorceress.

BOYLE

But… It’s not the middle ages anymore!

CAMPBELL

What would you suggest then? We have this witch in our hands-

BOYLE

Please refrain from calling the accused a witch, Lady Campbell.

CAMPBELL

Why should I do such thing? Shall we let her go only because electricity had already been invented?

BOYLE

As the Crown representative, you should know that one is innocent until proven otherwise.

CAMPBELL

Officially, yes. But I would be mighty surprised if you were to find this one innocent, my good sir.

BOYLE

What makes you say so?

CAMPBELL

Well… For example, she was accused of having taken the communion wafer from mass and having it sprinkled all over her allotment, that’s clearly an incantation-

BOYLE

Or the superstition of a devout woman.

CAMPBELL

I very much doubt it.

BOYLE

You know, Lady Campbell, when I was but a child, every night I could hear talons scratching next to my bed, in the dark. Every time I’d try and check, the noise stopped…

CAMPBELL

Was that an imp that plagued your sleep?

BOYLE

No, it was a mouse who made its way into my chest of drawers.

CAMPBELL

As a representative of Her Majesty, Mr. Boyle, I am sure I don’t need to tell you that I am busy.

BOYLE

Of course, Lady Campbell.

CAMPBELL

I would like to get this verdict quickly. So, and please forgive me my bluntness, just say what you’re saying without beating around the bush.

BOYLE

(with a slight bow)

My most heartfelt apologies, Madame. I am just saying that sometimes the easiest solution is the correct one. At times, a noise in the dark isn’t an imp, ‘tis only a mouse-

CAMPBELL

And sometimes a mouse isn’t simply a vermin, but a familiar.

Campbell stares at Boyle
for several seconds.
Both are silent until Boyle
breaks eye-contact, looking down.

CAMPBELL

But I see what you mean. Very well, then: I shall refrain from calling the accused a witch until proven guilty. I trust that won’t be too far in the future.

BOYLE

We shall see, won’t we?

CAMPBELL

(subtly threatening)

Well, someone will burn.

BOYLE

(quickly changing subject)

Now, has the witness been interrogated? Was a jury gathered?

CAMPBELL

No.

BOYLE

No? (points to the woman, who is bound in the chair) I am scared to ask for how long this has been the case! When everybody will be summoned?

CAMPBELL

Nobody has been summoned.

BOYLE

Where’s this lady’s lawyer?

CAMPBELL

Maybe you should indeed be scared to ask such questions, Judge. The bucket ends with you.

BOYLE

Please, I am very confused. Can you please give me a straight answer? What is going on?

CAMPBELL

Listen to me, Joel. The public wants to believe the witch hunt has ended centuries ago?

BOYLE

Yes, but-

CAMPBELL

And we’re happy to let them believe that. That doesn’t mean Her Majesty has given up in seeing unholy people put at the stake.

BOYLE

But… how many of these executions there have been in recent years, then?

CAMPBELL

That is none of your concern, judge. You’re here only to pass the verdict.

BOYLE

Madam, with all due respect: whatever the accusation, you cannot expect me to pass a sentence for witchcraft? A death sentence at that-

CAMPBELL

Judge-

BOYLE

-without a lawyer. Without due process! I don’t have to tell you how illegal all that is! We’ll all land in an ocean of shit, Campbell!

Campbell suddenly strikes Boyle in stomach,
causing him to drop to his knees, out of breath.

CAMPBELL

(standing over BOYLE and checking her own knuckles in annoyance)

Listen to me.

BOYLE

What are you doing, Campbell?

CAMPBELL

I know you judges are used to going through life like you’re at the top of society, so I really need you to pay attention, because I am going to give you a very big lesson in a very short time. 

(Campbell leans closer to Boyle’s ear)

You’re worthless. The Crown is at the centre of a cobweb the like of which your simple mind couldn’t even conceive. Nothing happens without us knowing and there is nothing we cannot make happen. All you people’s lives are entangled in our web, every move of yours sends vibration to us. We know everything. We know about you, we know about your family, from your still living grandpa to your niece and nephew, five and two years old. We know that two days ago you were playing the video games where you have to escape the room – whatever the title was - and you cheated: you checked the solution on the internet, didn’t you? I know you had your tea black this morning, because you were out of milk and didn’t have time to go get more.

BOYLE

What the fuck is this?

CAMPBELL

Interrogate the accused, and stop wasting the Crown’s time. After that maybe we could fix you a cup of tea. With milk.

Campbell takes off the gag from the woman’s mouth.

BOYLE

(towards the woman in the chair)

I am so sorry… Could you… could you please state your name?

SUSAN

Susan Wilson.

BOYLE

Who accused you of witchcraft, Susan-

CAMPBELL

(interrupting)

Susan?

BOYLE

‘tis her name, is it not?

CAMPBELL

Shouldn’t you call her, ‘Ms. Wilson’?

BOYLE

This woman has been interrogated by your lot, Madam Campbell. Surely a little bit of humanity wouldn’t go amiss?

Campbell scoffs.

BOYLE

Now Susan, where were we? Let’s see… Oh yes: who accused you?

SUSAN

It was my daughter, Vera.

BOYLE

(horrified)

Your daughter?

SUSAN

She lives with her boyfriend in my flat. It is only a tiny place, I guess she wanted the space… I would have happily moved, if she asked me to!

BOYLE

(to CAMPBELL)

Ma’am, surely we’ll have to look into this! Speak with this woman’s daughter and her boyfriend!

CAMPBELL

You clearly didn’t understand that we need this conviction to get through quickly, did you?

BOYLE

But… why the rush? There’s a woman life on the line!

CAMPBELL

I thought I told you to mind your business. The only person you’ll get to interrogate is the accused, and we expect you to be swift about it.

SUSAN

No matter what my daughter would say anyway…

BOYLE

Why not? Witnesses are often vital during trials… especially the one who pointed the finger in the first place.

SUSAN

Because Vera was paid by this lot to accuse me.

CAMPBELL straightens her back up and scoffs.

BOYLE

What? What is this about, Crown Representative?

SUSAN

They want my case done and dusted because I am carrying the Prince’s child!

BOYLE

CAMPBELL!?!

CAMPBELL

(as if lost in thought)

Maybe I should use the needle…

BOYLE

The needle? What is that? One of your witch-hunter devices?

CAMPBELL

No…

Campbell faces Susan aggressively.

CAMPBELL

It’s a simple needle and some thread, to sew this woman’s mouth shut!

BOYLE

Campbell, help me out here, please… these are serious accusations.

CAMPBELL

They are. That’s why we want her sentenced.

BOYLE

We need to at least have a doctor to take a look at her. You’re keeping her in a dungeon, she could be pregnant. You could send two people to death.

CAMPBELL

You know what the fact that you’re not dismissing these accusations straight away means?

BOYLE

Yes, that I am doing my duty.

CAMPBELL

OH WILL YOU WAKE THE FUCK UP?!? Nobody is going to entertain any of this. Don’t you get it, yet? Sow the tiniest hint of doubt that this can be true, and you’re saying that maybe the Prince has slept with anyone else but the Princess.

BOYLE

But we cannot dismiss the accused’s claim straight away!

CAMPBELL

You’re saying things akin to treason!

BOYLE

Lady Campbell, please!

CAMPBELL

Do you want to get tied together with her, on the pyre?

BOYLE

Think of what we’re doing here! Surely you can see that this is appalling! I beg you, at least give me some more time…

CAMPBELL

There is no more time. Bonfire night is tomorrow night, Her Majesty wants to celebrate it with a witch burning. Now, there isn’t any questions that the Her Highness will get what she wants, it’s just a matter of who will be the kindling.

Campbell stares down Boyle again.

BOYLE

What can I do to make you take in consideration a different approach?

CAMPBELL

We need a judge to approve the execution-

BOYLE

This goes against all I believe in.

CAMPBELL

We call you to sign it off, but make no mistakes: you’re like a rubber stamp the Crown picked from the drawer. We’re going to use you and we’re going to put you back where you belong. We’re not to ask a rubber stamp of its moral battles. And you

CAMPBELL turns towards SUSAN

CAMPBELL

You’ve done chatting.

Campbell places the gag back on Susan’s mouth, who struggles.

BOYLE

Hey! Whoa! Wait, Lady Campbell! Please! Please, wait… let’s take a breath here… You are saying that this woman is witch, yeah?

CAMPBELL

(calm but clearly at the end of her tether)

Indeed I am, judge Boyle. And I am being saying so the whole time, why are you wasting my time?

BOYLE

(pleading)

Just a second, please! Witches belong to covens, to the Devil… are you therefore saying the Devil is real, correct?

CAMPBELL

(zealously)

Correct, and we shall eradicate the evil when we encounter it!

BOYLE

(cautious)

Absolutely, but if the Devil exists so does God…

CAMPBELL

(interrupting)

Of course!

BOYLE

And don’t you think we should do God’s will, instead that killing for the Queen?

CAMPBELL

(outraged)

THE QUEEN WAS APPOINTED BY GOD!

Boyle looks defeated, he knows that whatever
he’s going to do it would be
stopped straight away.

CAMPBELL

(after regaining composure)

Look, Mr. Boyle, let’s do a witchcraft test, so that it may feel better for you when you’ll sign the verdict.

BOYLE

(without any strength left anymore)

And what that might be?

CAMPBELL

We’re going to prick the skin of Mrs. Wilson, the accused, looking for the Devil’s mark. Let’s see whether we can draw blood or not.

BOYLE

So, if she bleeds she’s not a witch?

CAMPBELL

Oh, quite the opposite.

BOYLE

If she doesn’t bleed, she’s a witch?

CAMPBELL

Not necessarily, as the Devil’s mark could be well hidden and we may take a while before we’ll find it.

BOYLE

Oh good God…

Campbell approaches a panicking Susan while unsheathing a knife.

The STAGE LIGHTS go off, plunging the STAGE in darkness.

When the STAGE LIGHTS goes back on, the only
person on stage is Susan, still wearing her huge
penitent gown and a bag over her head, clearly
ready to be executed. Her hands are
tied behind her back.

Boyle enters the scene. He approaches Susan
and starts talking to her.

BOYLE

I am sorry. I can scarcely believe it had come to this.

Boyle removes the BAG from Susan’s head, revealing
it is Campbell instead. She looks groggy, like she’s recovering from a
drug or a blow to the head. She’s gagged under the hood.

BOYLE

I became a judge to serve this country, to punish evil. We should have worked together, brushing shoulders, but your zealotry had turned into bigotry. May God have mercy upon your lost soul.

Boyle replaces the BAG over Campbell’s head.

BOYLE

(leaning closer to CAMPBELL’s ear)

Down with the Queen.

BOYLE

(standing straight back up, calling)

Right, the prisoner’s ready to go!

LIGHTS go off again.

LIGHTS on, Boyle is standing alone on stage.

Susan stealthily enters the scene.

SUSAN

Thank you, sir. I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.

BOYLE

Don’t mention it, and please take this, it’s the fee for approving the execution, all cash to be untraceable.

Boyle gives Susan some money.

BOYLE

It should be enough to start a new life away from here. God bless you!

SUSAN

Why would God bless me? Suicidal tendencies?

BOYLE

(taken aback)

What?

Susan snaps her fingers, Boyle drops dead,
revealing that Susan is indeed a witch.

Susan exits the scene.

Lights Fade Out