"Justice" - Es' Trial One Voice Drama
Jackalope: You understand now, right?
Es: I believe so, yes…
Jackalope: Good! Good! Now, come with me. We have to go now. The prisoners might realize we’re not there yet. Since you prepared, MUGRAM, the first trial begins now! Or whatever! Let’s move!!
Es: Eh–??
: Go where?
Jackalope: Panopticon. It has a panoramic view of the prisoners’ rooms.
Es: Panopticon…?
Jackalope: Your head is a little foggy right? Sorry about that. I’ll explain a few things to you on the way.
Es: Okay. My memory problem won’t interfere with being the Warden.
Jackalope: …
: That’s good to know.
[footsteps]
Jackalope: Hey, Es, can you open the door?
Es: Eh? Can’t you… Right, you’re… never mind. [footsteps]
Jackalope: Look, the only door I can’t open is the one to your bedroom. Other rooms have an entrance for me.
Es: Oh, that’s… nice. Do I really have a… “rabbit” as another Warden?
Jackalope: …
: My feelings, Es… But, yes, I am technically another Warden.
[door opens, the pair walk]
Es: Eh… This hallway is long.
Jackalope: At the end of this passageway is your bedroom. There are various rooms and facilities along the way. Explaining it would take too long, so I’m skipping it, alright?
Es: What’s opposite my room?
Jackalope: My room! You can’t enter without my permission, though.
Es: Eh, I don’t plan on it. Plus, there’s no door big enough for a human anyway.
Jackalope: Oh, that’s true. [more footsteps] This is the prisoners’ shower room. Across is the storage room. Necessities are mostly here.
Es: The prisoners are allowed to go in and out of this passageway?
Jackalope: Yep, they need their necessities, correct?
Es: …
: Mhm.
Jackalope: Anyways, when they’re allowed in the passageway, whether showers should be separated by male and female and so on, the specific rules for their lives are things you decide later.
Es: …I can decide?
Jackalope: Yep! You can decide how MILGRAM is administered. So, if you want to make it heaven or hell, it’s up to you.
Es: I would ask why, but it’s probably because I’m the Warden, right? Even if I can’t remember.
Jackalope: Oh, yes.
Es: Oh, Jackalope. You might have to move faster. I might step on you.
Jackalope: I’m going as fast as I can, alright?! Hold on.
Es: …Sorry.
Jackalope: Anyways, this is the dining hall.
Es: Wait, who prepares the meals? Apart from the two of us, is there anyone else who–
Jackalope: I do.
Es: Oh. Wait– What??
Jackalope: I’m the head chef of MUGRAM. I can make anything you’d like.
Es: How can you even do that?? How do you hold a frying pan or a knife with like… your paws? Hands?
Jackalope: If I hold it firmly, I can.
Es: What…? How does your… fur not get into it??
Jackalope: If it’s molting season, then a lot of it gets in.
Es: What–
Jackalope: Alright, we’re finally at the heart of MUGRAM: the Panopticon.
[door opens]
Es: This is… Panopticon. It’s… a dome?
Jackalope: We’re at the north of the dome. The entrance is at the twelve o’clock position.
Es: So, I’m assuming each door is a prisoner’s room?
Jackalope: Yep, it’s pretty much like a clock. The prisoner number and the times match. Pretty easy to remember, right?
Es: Mhm.
Jackalope: Oh, there’s still some time left. Okay, I think I have time to introduce the prisoners. I’ve only seen their faces, though. [footsteps] So, the one o’clock room, prisoner number one, Mayumi Kubo.
: She has a… serious expression on her face. Honestly, I don’t really know if you’ll learn anything about her.
Es: Well, she’s a murderer. That’s all I need to know, isn’t it?
Jackalope: Yes… But… [sigh] Let’s just move on.
: Next, at two o’clock, prisoner number two, Masaru Iwai. He has an angry expression on his face. If I were you, I’d ensure he didn’t cause too much trouble. He looks like… a young adult. I couldn’t really tell that much, though.
Es: You don’t know the prisoners’ ages?
Jackalope: Ehh… Well, I’m not allowed to look into stuff like that. But, you are. So, figure them out the prisoners for me, will ya? [footsteps] At three o’clock, we have prisoner three, Keisuke Izumi. He looks… normal, I guess. It’s not like he seems shocked or anything; he’s just… normal.
Es: Well, he’s a murderer, isn’t he? I wouldn’t believe that if it were true…
Jackalope: Well, first impressions reveal a lot about a person, so…
Es: Huh. Anyways, the next prisoner is… Prisoner number four is Tomoko Shiratori.
Jackalope: Another serious-looking person. It’s sort of hard to understand these types of people; they never try to reveal anything about themselves unless they have to.
Es: Well, no matter, I’ll figure it out in the end and judge them according to the law–
Jackalope: Eh? According to the law? Well, if we just judged them according to the law, then there’s no point in you being here. [Es makes an annoyed noise] You should make decisions based on your own standards. Even if it's based on sex or love, I have no problem with it.
Es: …Let’s just move on.
Jackalope: Alright. The next prisoner is Shun Minami. They’re around… 25, I believe? She seems oddly happy, which I won’t question. I suppose you’ll have to find out why she seems so happy. Or it could be pretend. I don’t know.
Es: Due south. Six o’clock. We’re halfway through already?
Jackalope: Yep, this is prisoner number six, Daiki Kawaguchi. He looks pretty strong. I’d be careful around him as well. He seems like the type to tell you off if you did something bad.
Es: That sounds like a father, Jackalope.
Jackalope: …
: Okay, I wouldn’t know that, alright? Leave me alone.
: Either way, you’ll find out their true colors eventually.
Es: Sure.
Jackalope: Alright, prisoner number seven, Isamu Takao. He looks pretty kind and nice. I’d believe his expression if his hand wasn’t in a fist. I’d be careful of him as well.
Es: It seems like there are loads of prisoners I have to be careful around. What happens if I get attacked by one of them? It feels awkward to say, but I don’t think I could put up a fight with the likes of Daiki and Isamu.
Jackalope: They can’t attack us, guards. Don’t worry.
Es: Guards? So… It’s not the same for the prisoners? They can attack each other?
Jackalope: Pretty much. That could happen, but it really depends on your judgment. [footsteps] Now, this is prisoner number eight, Mia Fukuda. I believe she’s around your age, Es.
Es: Eh? Around my age?
Jackalope: Yeah. I don’t know if you two would relate because of that, but if it helps you find the truth, then I guess I don’t mind. You need to determine if they’re good people by talking to them. It’s basically your duty as the prison guard.
Es: Oh, I see. So, interrogating them is the only way to determine if I should forgive them or not, even if I don’t want to at all.
Jackalope: You got it!
Es: You sound awfully like a parent, J. [laughs]
Jackalope: Well, I am supervising you, so… [laughs] Anyways, next prisoner. Prisoner number nine, Ryuu Seki. He looks… interesting. I don’t know. He seems like one of those people who pretend to be someone else. I wouldn’t know, I guess.
Es: …Well, that is an interesting comment, isn’t it?
Jackalope: Last is prisoner ten, Sora Mochizuki. She looks exhausted. I’d say make sure she doesn’t pass out on you, but that’d be seriously out of taste. I hope whatever she committed relieved her of her exhaustion.
Es: That’s ten.
Jackalope: And, that’s the end of all of the prisoners I have to introduce. You just have to talk to them afterward and decide things for yourself.
Es: Hey, J?
Jackalope: Hm?
Es: At eleven o’clock, there’s another cell. It’s pretty old, judging by how rusty it is and its lack of a lock.
Jackalope: Ah, don’t worry about it. There’s nothing.
Es: What do you mean there’s nothi– [bell rings] What the hell was that?
Jackalope: It’s finally time for you to finally meet the prisoners face-to-face! If you have any doubts or confusions – anything! – you have to kill them all now. You’re supposed to be the Warden. Don’t hesitate. Make the prisoners respect you and your authority.
Es: Well… I guess, J. I am MUGRAM’s Warden. That’s all I have to know about myself, right? There’s nothing else I have to know. I’m looking forward to it a little… Meeting all the prisoners here and learning of their murders. [Jacklaope makes a noise of understanding.] With my own will, I’ll reveal their sins. I can put some of my feelings aside and decide if I really want to forgive these murderers. I wonder what their thoughts are… I want to know the truth.
Jackalope: …I see, Es.
[mechanical sounds]
Jackalope: Good luck, Es. I believe in you.
Es: I can do this. It’s my first job as the Warden.
[ominous footsteps]
Es: Good day, prisoners. I am Es, your Warden. This is the MUGRAM prison. It exists to judge your sins, all ten of you prisoners. I may not know much about you, but I am aware that you are all murderers – And, that’s all I know. So, from now on, I’ll have you enlighten me about yourselves. Welcome to MUGRAM. Have a nice life in prison.
MUSIC VIDEO - Judge, Jury, Executioner
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