Justice for Eliette

Scene Four

Eliette sat on a metal chair; her wrist was finally free from the chain that had been on it for the past three weeks. She crossed her legs and eyed the still-closed door. When it opened, she straightened up.

"Bienvenue," Eliette said. A woman with brown hair gave Eliette a small smile.

"Bonjour, Madame Acord." The woman's accent was forced and wasn't as pronounced as Eliette's.

"What questions can I answer for you today? Seeing as how that is all people are coming to me for." The woman sat down in front of Eliette.

"To be quite frank, Madame Acord, we have found a way to pardon you. We have found a way to ensure people are no longer allowed to be abusive towards their partners in the future."

"I never asked to be pardoned."

"I understand, Madame Acord, but to instate this new law, we will have to pardon you."

"And what will this new law be?"

"It will be a policy that we will be referring to as Red Card."

"Red Card?"

"Yes. We will be giving out a certain number of red cards. They will come with a handgun- the same kind as yours -and an instruction manual. Although, we haven't yet decided on how many of them we will give out."

"Why specifically the same kind of handgun as mine?"

"It will be to help track it. We will recall all other handguns like it and use them to send out to the new owners of the Red Cards. We will just be saying you were the first to have one."

"What is so special about this Red Card?"

"It gives you the license to legally kill one person. All you have to do is ensure you have the Red Card."

"How will that make it where abuse cannot happen?"

"The mere threat of someone having a Red Card should be enough to persuade someone against that."

"And if that does not work?"

"Well, it would be mighty unfortunate for the abused to have a Red Card. They would be able to legally protect themselves, Madame Acord."

"Are you just coming up with this to pardon me or are you actually interested in the well-being of the people? Because I can tell you now, this is not a good idea. The people will abuse its privileges."

"Don't be so pessimistic Madame Acord! The government has great faith that people will use it justly."

"What if someone just kills their neighbor for simply being a little bit too annoying?"

"Well, that is a risk we have to take. Think about it, Madame Acord, you can go free. The people will be happy, and you will have a chance at life once more." Eliette stood up from her chair and slammed her hands on the table in front of her.

"Are you an idiot? Do you really think people who are given the power over life and death will use it for good? They will go and kill a man who drives a little too slow. They will kill their husbands for looking at another woman. Or their wives for dressing too scandalously. The people aren't good, yet you want to empower them."

"The people are good. They will do what is right with this just as how you did what was right with Monsieur Dionysus."

"I killed him, and you people don't seem to understand that murder- justified or not -deserves to be punished. What if they decide they like killing people after their card? Then they will carry on."

"Not if they know that someone with the card can kill them and will not be punished for it. That will deter them."

"Fine," Eliette huffed, crossing her arms. "Go ahead. Release this Red Card of yours and pardon me. See where that will land you and the world in some many years."

"I promise the world will be in a better place, Madame Acord."