The Shameful Good

By Rosario Stefanelli

Theatre. Alex, sentenced to death for fraud, can fulfil one last wish. He decides to meet some of the people he has made suffer. But his intention is anything but a request for forgiveness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rosario
• Release date: Jun 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9791220812016

Book preview

The Shameful goog

CHARACTERS

ALEX

AURORA, Alex's mother

SVEVA, Alex's daughter

ARIANNA, swindled

MANFREDI, journalist

JUDGE HANCOCK

MARCO, guard

JOHNNY, Marco's son-in-law

FERNANDO, Executioner

CAPPELLANO

ACT 1

Courtroom. Low lights, uncluttered room. In front of Judge Hankock, reddish and corpulent, is the defendant Alex, dressed in his best, jacket, tie and handkerchief in his pocket. Behind him is only one woman, Aurora, the man's mother. She is kneeling as if in church. In an adjoining room, a handful of people are watching from a screen. The judge grabs the microphone. He lets out a big sigh. Alex turns to his mother

JUDGE HANCOCK I invite the defendant to stand up.

Alex stands up and adjusts his jacket and tie. He also straightens his breast pocket.

JUDGE HANCOCK are you ready Mr Mantegna?

ALEX yes Mr. Judge

JUDGE HANCOCK the law provides that for this type of crime, after a few years of imprisonment, the death penalty is provided for. It is astonishing that you or your relatives have not requested an appeal or a review. At least to lengthen the time for execution. Before making any further judgments, I would like to ask you for an explanation.

Alex opens his arms wide

JUDGE HANCOCK Don't you have anything to say?

ALEX If that is the law

JUDGE HANCOCK So obsequious. Why didn't you think of that before? It would have saved a few people suffering.

ALEX I never hid the fact that I was bluffing. And yet, money pouring in. Why ask you to bluff, procrastinating the inevitable? Why induce you to deceive the one who has always spoken frankly? Why imitate me? I defer to your decisions. I absolve you from committing an offence, and from incurring the penalty for which I will have to bargain for the doom intended

The judge opens an envelope and slides out a paper

JUDGE HANCOCK Alex Mantegna here present shall be sentenced to death in accordance with the eminent law no. 1 article 33 paragraph 4 of the code of criminal procedure.

A roar can be heard coming from the adjoining room. Alex is impassive. Aurora lowers her head and tries in vain to wipe away her tears. The crying is silent

JUDGE HANCOCK The sentence will be carried out in five days from now. The execution will take place in the same penitentiary where Mantegna has served the last four years. The confessed offender will be given a lethal injection, in accordance with the procedures laid down by law to ensure fairness and dignity for the convicted person. The condemned can sit down

Alex sits down

JUDGE HANCOCK Do you have anything to add?

ALEX no

JUDGE HANCOCK Didn't you hear the roar?

ALEX of course

JUDGE HANCOCK and it doesn't alarm you at all?

ALEX it doesn't shock me at all to make people happy. I've always done that.

JUDGE HANCOCK I was referring to the sentence.

ALEX The exalted and venerable lex has already said it all.

JUDGE HANCOCK You have three days and three nights before your execution. Do you have a wish?

ALEX To rise and run

JUDGE HANCOCK Do not offend the authority of the place and do not try to desecrate the moment.

ALEX I beg your pardon

JUDGE HANCOCK Perhaps you were right not to appeal. You retain that shamelessness that suggests you have no regrets at all

ALEX I'd like to meet some people and spend some time with them.

JUDGE HANCOCK I imagine your relatives.

ALEX Not only that, but also strangers whom I have swindled and who have reported me.

JUDGE HANCOCK bizarre

ALEX I'd like to meet them in a nice setting. A nice room, with coffee, biscuits, sofas, carpets and a fireplace to warm the atmosphere.

JUDGE HANCOCK What are your intentions Mr Mantegna?

ALEX You can guess, Judge.

The two look at each other for a few seconds. The judge nods slightly, without a smile.

JUDGE HANCOCK It is commendable of you to want to meet those you have made suffer. Let's see what we can do

ALEX Don't you believe me, Judge?

JUDGE HANCOCK that's not it. We must see whether the people you have caused pain to will accept. And then there can't be that many. I'd say a maximum of three.

ALEX Why shouldn't they? I think they have had time to meditate. In all these years they will have reflected that they were probably devoted to suffering.

JUDGE HANCOCK What? Maybe it's not a good idea...

ALEX They wanted the impossible. They were imbued with a longing for the infinite. What is this shit, if not devoting oneself to suffering?

JUDGE HANCOCK No maybe

ALEX Fortunately some genius has invented God. And in the heavens he has set the dam to all pain

JUDGE HANCOCK Do you have another wish?

ALEX When I met them, they were corpses. They should thank me for bringing out their tears. They were compressed like champagne bottles. And you condemn me for a miraculous cheers?

JUDGE HANCOCK I don't have much time Mr. Mantegna

ALEX I was a simple tap, and not the hydraulic pump, engaged from the beginning of their lives

JUDGE HANCOCK Your shamelessness knows no bounds. I still wonder how they could have given you so much money.

ALEX They didn't give me any money

JUDGE HANCOCK surely