A short play written by Lindsay Ely.

[Tyrant: late 70s, wearing a red turtleneck and a black suit jacket, open.]

[Cannibal: mid 20s, wearing a purple turtleneck with a red thin sweater over it that fits poorly, you should be able to see the purple turtleneck underneath the sweater somehow]

[Target: Mid 20s, wearing a purple turtleneck.]

[The scene takes place in a dining room. There is a dining table with one place set up, This is Tyrants place setting, no one else has one. but two chairs and a black box in the corner. Tyrant is already on the stage, sitting at the head of the table.]

Cannibal enters like they know where they are and immediately takes the only seat available. Target enters after, they are confused about where they are.

TARGET
Where am I supposed to sit?

CANNIBAL
I don’t know, figure something out.

TARGET
(underneath their breath)
Unbelievable.

Target searches around the stage for a chair, they find a black wooden block in the corner of the stage that is just a bit too short for the table, and are annoyed at the idea of that being the only thing available. They set it up across from Cannibal. Tyrant motions to Cannibal causing them to get up and walk off stage. They return with two trays for dinner and set them up. Tyrant starts to dig in. Cannibal does not eat.

TARGET
(confused)
Do we have more place settings lying around?

CANNIBAL
Why would we need one?

TARGET
…to eat?

CANNIBAL
Oh, that food isn’t ours.

TARGET
What do you mean?

CANNIBAL
That’s his meal, he’ll share some if you’re well behaved.

Tyrant throws Cannibal a bit of food off his plate. Cannibal scarfs it down.

TARGET
Well if your not gonna take some-

Target reaches for some food off of the trays. Tyrant grabs his steak knife, and slams it into the table, extremely close to Target’s reaching hand. Target pulls back their hand quickly, and looks at Tyrant with disbelief and anger. Tyrant goes back to eating.

CANNIBAL
(looks at Tyrant)
What do you think of the food?

TYRANT
(between bites, not looking at Cannibal)
It’s acceptable.

TARGET
What the hell is going on here?! He just tried to stab me!

CANNIBAL
No, if he wanted to stab you, you would be bleeding.

TARGET
Who cares if he meant to stab me or not! He lunged his knife at me and stuck it in the table! Why are you pretending this is ok behavior!

CANNIBAL
That was just a warning. If you hadn’t reach over for the food, then he wouldn’t have needed to do it in the first place.

Tyrant wipes his dirty face, then crumples up the napkin and throws it on the ground.

TYRANT
Get me a new napkin.

CANNIBAL
(takes the napkin from what’s left of their place setting)
Here take mine.

Tyrant takes their napkin and puts it by his place setting and keeps eating. Target looks at Cannibal like they are seeing them for the first time. Target looks at the sweater, then at Tyrant’s shirt.

TARGET
What’s with the ratty shirt?

CANNIBAL
(gestures to Tyrant)
It was a gift from him, it would be rude not to wear it.

TARGET
Rude? He’s not even letting you eat!

CANNIBAL
How many times do I have to repeat this? He gives me food every once and a while, if you’d shut up and behave, you’d get some too.

Tyrant throws Cannibal a little bit more food, Cannibal scarfs it down.

TARGET
Shut up and behave? So I’m supposed to sit here and take it while he scarfs down food and tosses me scraps like some begging dog?!

CANNIBAL
I don’t understand what you’re so upset about.

TARGET
And I don’t understand why you’re such a kiss ass! You should get yourself a blazer, then you can be his little twin!

CANNIBAL
You’re just upset that you don’t have a seat like I do, that I am clearly superior to you.

TARGET
The only reason I’m sitting on a box and you’re sitting on a chair is because you got here before me. You aren’t special, he didn’t save the seat for you.

CANNIBAL
Will you shut up! You are so ungrateful, it’s pitiful.

TARGET
Look around and tell me what there is I should be grateful for! God, you’ll do anything to hold onto your stupid “I’m special” bullshit. You’re sitting over there starving as if it’s some righteous calling. If anyone’s pathetic, it’s you.

CANNIBAL
(yelling)
How dare you! Sir do you see the way they’re talking to me, you should really-

Tyrant slams his knife into Cannibal’s hand, then pulls it out once he’s done talking.Cannibal cries out in pain, Target looks terrified.

TYRANT
Shut up now!
(Tyrant gets really close to Cannibals face)
Know your place, you dare to make another demand and I’ll cut your tongue right out of your mouth.

CANNIBAL
(ashamed)
Yes sir.

Cannibal holds their wound with their hand. Target looks at Cannibal in disbelief, then at Tyrant with anger.

TARGET
FUCK. YOU.

Target lunges forward and grabs some food and shoves in their mouth, then turns to Tyrant to mockingly chew. Tyrant slams them down by their arm, then grabs his steak knife and cuts their hand off, not in one motion, he has to saw to get it clean off. Target screams and tries to get away, but Tyrant’s grip is too strong. Cannibal sits and watches. When it’s done, Tyrant tosses the hand onto Cannibal’s plate. Cannibal scarfs it down. Tyrant finishes his last bites then wipes his face, and throws his napkin on his plate.

TYRANT
Well I am stuffed, clean this shit up. Tyrant walks off stage. Cannibal grabs both trays and carries them off stage with one hand. Target is left there bleeding.

BLACKOUT

Lindsay Ely is a creative writing and visual arts student at Wheaton College, in Norton, Massachusetts. Their work thematically focuses on their political beliefs and current events, queer identity and experience, and mental health and trauma. They have had their work published in their school magazine and in Literature Today.