57: Not to show favor to them

The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to show favor to [idolaters] (Deut. 7:2)

            a modest home in a rural setting

RESIDENT
this is our home

SOLDIER
and now it’s not

RESIDENT
you can’t possibly be this cruel

SOLDIER
this is righteousness you might not understand

RESIDENT
my grandfather wired these lights they’re shitty but they’re ours

SOLDIER
you’ll need to clear out in twenty minutes

RESIDENT
and see on the wall?
markings of our children’s heights
three generations growing up
you wouldn’t destroy that would you?

SOLDIER
i pity you yes but not too much
it’s important there isn’t more pity than one can bear

RESIDENT
i’ll accept more pity if it’s on the table

SOLDIER
i know you mean no harm except you are and i’m sorry to say this
quite wicked

RESIDENT
i’ll cry if it helps

SOLDIER
your tears are lies everyone knows this
my tears are sacred and yours are lies

RESIDENT
i’ve got a pot of soup going at least let me finish

SOLDIER
this is justice you might not understand

RESIDENT
I LIVE HERE I LIVE HERE AND YOU DO NOT

SOLDIER
your customs are frightening
black spells cast at night
human sacrifice i’ve heard tell?
your language and your clothing and your smiles
they’re not what God wants

RESIDENT
they’re what our God wants

SOLDIER
tell your God to take it up with our God
we show no mercy no hesitation
this is virtue
you might not understand

RESIDENT
this is our home

SOLDIER
i’ve lost a home too
no tears for me then none for you now
this is history
you must understand

RESIDENT
i do yes understand
the terrible thing is i understand

SOLDIER
how much longer will your soup take?

            the sound of a large vehicle outside the window

            the RESIDENT goes to see what it is

RESIDENT
you said twenty minutes

SOLDIER
demolition day waits for no soup
we’ll make the desert bloom

RESIDENT
we already did

            demolition begins

            END OF PLAY