YOUNG WOMAN She has. She has a torn hand. Look. Her hand has been bitten. This is blood.

SERGEANT (to Young Woman) What is your name?

OFFICER Shut up.

He walks over to Elderly Woman.

OFFICER (cont.) What’s happened to your hand? Has someone bitten your hand?

The Woman slowly lifts her hand. He peers at it.

OFFICER (cont.) Who did this? Who bit you?

YOUNG WOMAN A Doberman pinscher.

OFFICER Which one?

Pause.

OFFICER (cont.) Which one?

Pause.

OFFICER (cont.) Sergeant!

Sergeant steps forward.

SERGEANT Sir!

OFFICER Look at this woman’s hand. I think the thumb is going to come off. (to Elderly Woman) Who did this?

She stares at him.

OFFICER (cont.) Who did this?

YOUNG WOMAN A big dog.

OFFICER What was his name?

Pause.

OFFICER (cont.) What was his name?

Pause.

OFFICER (cont.) Every dog has a name! They answer to their name. They are given a name by their parents and that is their name, that is their name! Before they bite, they state their name. It’s a formal procedure. They state their name and then they bite. What was his name? If you tell me one of our dogs bit this woman without giving his name I will have that dog shot!

Silence.

OFFICER (cont.) Now—attention! Silence and attention! Sergeant!

SERGEANT Sir?

OFFICER Take any complaints.

SERGEANT Any complaints? Has anyone got any complaints?

YOUNG WOMAN We were told to be here at nine o’clock this morning.

SERGEANT Right. Quite right. Nine o’clock this morning. Absolutely right. What’s your complaint?

YOUNG WOMAN We were here at nine o’clock this morning. It’s now five o’clock. We have been standing here for eight hours. In the snow. Your men let Doberman pinschers frighten us. One bit this woman’s hand.

OFFICER What was the name of this dog?

She looks at him.

YOUNG WOMAN I don’t know his name.

SERGEANT With permission sir?

OFFICER Go ahead.

SERGEANT Your husbands, your sons, your fathers, these men you have been waiting to see, are shithouses. They are enemies of the State. They are shithouses.

The Officer steps toward the Women.

OFFICER Now hear this. You are mountain people. You hear me? Your language is dead. It is forbidden. It is not permitted to speak your mountain language in this place. You cannot speak your language to your men. It is not permitted. Do you understand? You may not speak it. It is outlawed. You may only speak the language of the capital. That is the only language permitted in this place. You will be badly punished if you attempt to speak your mountain language in this place. This is a military decree. It is the law. Your language is forbidden. It is dead. No one is allowed to speak your language. Your language no longer exists. Any questions?

YOUNG WOMAN I do not speak the mountain language.