89: The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat

The Book of Seasons
Laws of the Sabbath
The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat (Ex. 35:3)

            on the steps of a courthouse

            a grand staircase leads to a neoclassical building

            the door has an enormous lock on the front door

            an ICE AGENT in uniform bangs on the door

            desperate to get in

            standing next to him is a YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER

            the YOUNG MAN wears handcuffs

ICE AGENT
c’mon
c’mon c’mon c’mon
please pretty please oh please
i’ve got criminals
criminals by the boatload
open up

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
aren’t the courts closed on Saturdays?

ICE AGENT
the halls of justice never close

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
there’s a lock on the door

ICE AGENT
WICKED TRICKSTERS IN NEED OF DEPORTATION

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
all right then

ICE AGENT
and they’re ROILING
and they’re RAGING
and they’re RUNNING RAMPANT
THIS MAN MUST BE DEPORTED NOW

            the ICE AGENT pounds and pounds and pounds at the door

            it grows more athletic

            until finally he tires himself out

            thoroughly defeated

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
i guess no justice today

ICE AGENT
COME WITH ME
we’ll find somewhere else

            the ICE AGENT turns to walk down the stairs

            the YOUNG MAN sticks his foot out

            he trips the ICE AGENT

            the ICE AGENT falls down the stairs

            and lands at the feet of a JUDGE

            the JUDGE looks at the unconscious ICE AGENT

            she looks up at the YOUNG MAN

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
it was an accident

JUDGE
no it wasn’t
            the JUDGE rummages in the ICE AGENT’s pocket
            pulls out a set of keys
            walks up the stairs to the YOUNG MAN
but the courts are closed on Saturday
so

            the JUDGE unlocks the handcuffs

            YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER removes the handcuffs

            massages his wrists

            looks at the JUDGE

YOUNG MAN IN A SWEATER
it's not enough

JUDGE
i know

            MAN WITH A SWEATER exits

            END OF PLAY

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