Scene 1: The Communist President was found by his wife, the First Lady, brooding and alone in a room in the Presidential Palace.
Blessing: Ah, so there you are. Good evening, my husband, the President of this nation. I have been looking for you. Why are you here, in this solitary place? Have you been thinking about your brother again?
Aries: I miss my brother so much. You know that he’s my one and only family. After my parents died, he was the only one who looked after me.
Blessing: But that is the past, Mr. President. We have not heard from him since several years ago. For all you know, he might have died in the war – he and his wife.
Aries: Don’t say that. I forbid you from saying that. He is not dead. He and his wife are alive. They are alive.
Blessing: Alright, alright. You are hurting me.
Aries: Forgive me. You know how attached I am to my brother. Please don’t talk that way about him. He and his wife took care of me until the time I joined the army.
James: Your Highness, I have to report to you something about the rebels who have been hiding in the mountains.
Blessing: Those rebels again? They are such pains in our necks! Why don’t you just order that they all be killed? Get rid of all of them.
James: I agree, Your Highness.
Aries: I cannot do that.
Blessing: Why?
Aries: Because every man has the right to trial – to be tried and heard. They should be given the chance to defend themselves.
Blessing: But the law does not apply to the lawless. They are rebels.
James: And they have been giving us so much problems.
Aries: That’s why they are rebelling. They have been unjustly treated – were not given the right trial – to defend themselves. If I don’t treat them justly, the rebels will continue to grow in number.
Blessing: Don’t be paranoid, my husband. Your army is the largest and most powerful in this side of the earth. You are unbeatable!
James: It is true, Your Highness. The other armies are afraid of us.
Aries: That’s easy for you to say. If we continue to oppress and maltreat people, the people will take their side... and who can oppose the citizens? No army is greater than its own citizenry?
Blessing: My husband, you think too much. Don’t worry. Our nation is on our side.
Aries: I really hope so.
James: Hmmm....
Aries: Speak up, Gen. Catipay.
James: Your highness, our soldiers have arrested a handful of rebels. We wish to present these prisoners to you. We will learn so much from them.
Aries: You do what you need to do, but don’t kill them. Find out their hideout. Get names. Who are their leaders – who provides for their weapons and food?
James: Yes, sir! We will do that.
Aries: I want to face the leader. Only the leader.
James: Yes, Mr. President.
Scene 2: The leaders of the rebels are presented to the President.
James: Greetings, Mr. President, First Lady.
Blessing: Ah, my loyal General, come! Tell my husband here that he has the power of life and death in his hands. He can have anyone killed anytime he wishes. He can order all those rebel annihilated if he so wishes. Right?
James: You are absolutely right, Madam First Lady.
Blessing: Ha ha ha ha ha... see?
Aries: So, what brings you here, my General?
James: Mr. President, I have with me now the leader of the rebels who are giving us problems, and his wife.
Aries: Ah, very good. Bring them in.
James: (exits and comes back with Tana and Chris) (pushes them down on the floor) Bow low to your god.
Chris: He will never be our god. There is only one God in heaven and on earth, the Lord God of Israel.
Tana: He is just a human leader. He can never be God. You make him powerful, but God’s power comes from Himself.
Aries: (looks at the rebel with shock) Chris, Tana? My brother. (runs to Chris and embraces him) How are you, my brother... my sister-in-law? I have been wondering where you are.
Chris: Mr. President, my brother, we have been fighting your soldiers who have been abusing our people – thru heavy taxes and land grabbing.
Aries: I miss you so. Prepare the banquet table. We shall have a feast. You and I will eat together. My wife, this is the brother I have been talking about. See? We look alike. And this is his wife, Tana.
Blessing: My husband, no, you do not look alike. He is poor and dirty.
Aries: (lifts up the face of his brother and notices his blood, soaked faces) What have they done to you? Who did this to you?
James: Mr. President...
Aries: Who did this to you? Tell me.
James: Mr. President, we had to interrogate them, and they would not talk.
Aries: What?
James: He is the leader of the rebels, and she is his wife.
Aries: What? That can’t be true. Tell them it’s not true. Just tell them it’s not true and I will have you released right now.
Chris: It is true, Mr. President, we are rebels. We are your enemies. We led the rebellion because we could not stomach your soldiers’ abuses.
Tana: The two of you are brothers, but my husband is so unlike you. You are a tyrant who kills our people for your pleasure. You convict them without trials for crimes they did not commit.
Aries: No, that’s not true. I don’t kill people for no reason. Chris, my brother, you know that. Our parents taught us justice. And you, you can’t be the leader of something that opposes me. You are not the rebels’ leaders. Right?
Chris: It is true, my bother. We are the leaders of the rebels.
Aries: Huh?
Chris: I’m the leader of the rebels. I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. I cannot bow down to you, the tyrant of the people.
Aries: Stop it. Stop it. How can you believe in something that represents everything that’s against me. You are my brother. You should believe me. I am the god – here.
Chris: Yes, you are my brother, but you are not God. You can’t be God.
Aries: Come here, Chris...Tana. You do not understand. I have the power to release you. Stop talking. Don’t oppose me in front of them. Just pretend to believe them. Then, I will have your released. And if you promise never to rebel against the authorities, no one will go after you anymore.
Chris: But we cannot pretend, Aries. We believe in what we are fighting for.
Tana: Yes, we will continue to fight you if you release us. You have committed many crimes against the people and now you killed the poor ones who rebelled. We will oppose you and your rule.
Aries: But I must have you killed, then.
Chris: That’s the only way to stop us.
Aries: Chris, Tana, do you understand what you are talking about?
Chris and Tana: Yes, we understand.
Aries: Your blood is in my hand. I cannot order you to be killed. How can I do that? You are my brother.
Chris: If this is my destiny, I can’t go against it.
Aries: We can change our destiny, Chris. Just renounce Jesus. Pretend that you believe in me and be free.
Tana: We would rather die.
Aries: No, no. I can’t have you killed.
Chris: Then come to us and renounce communism.
Aries: What? I can’t do that.
Chris: Then, do what you must.
James: I am waiting, my Lord.
Aries: My brother, for the last time, I am begging you. Renounce Jesus, the Christ. Tana, ask him to obey me.
Tana: I can’t and I won’t. (cries while shaking her head)
Aries: Then, die a most cruel death. (crying loudly)
Chris: So, be it. Our legacy will be heard by many, who will also be willing to die for Jesus – until Jesus is preached throughout the world.
Tana: Dying for Jesus? It’s an honor. (James grabs them both and pulls them away)
Aries: (wails loud) My brother!!!!
