WADI: A thin man in his thirties. Brave and loyal.
HAJI MA’RUF: An old man who has made the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) before. Wise, religious, and obedient.
KRESNO: A sixteen-year-old boy who didn’t finish elementary school. He has memory problems, so the guards frequently trick him.
MULYONO: Thirty years old. Wicked.
HARSONO: A bit older than WADI. Adores WADI’s braveness.
GUARDS:
SERGEANT ANDI: Commander of guards for the Wanayasa unit. A well-built man in his forties. Stern and serious.
PICKET OFFICER: Responsible for managing the prisoners’ data. A serious man.
SETTING:
Buru Island political prisoner camp. The play specifically takes place in one of the units, Wanayasa.
TIME:
The arrival of political prisoners to Buru Island in 1969. Three to four years after the mass killings.
ACT I
SCENE 1
Namlea, the capital city of Buru Island, Indonesia. A wide, dry savanna with yellowish tall grass all over the place.
SEVERAL PRISONERS, all men with the same appearance, walking in a long line under the bright sun. They are heading for their barrack on that island. They wear the same clothing: a khaki T-shirt with a number printed on the chest and khaki shorts. None of them have anything valuable, some have ragged bags hanging on their shoulders. They’re dirty, sad, and tired.
WADI walks slowly while looking at his surroundings with an amazed expression. He's in his thirties, thin, with sunburned skin.
Next to him, HAJI MA’RUF (much older than WADI) walks slowly and stops several times to catch his breath.
HAJI MA’RUF: Why isn’t it the same?
WADI: What do you mean, Pak Haji?
HAJI MA’RUF: You can see for yourself. All the grass is dry, there’s no sign of prosperity whatsoever. They said this was the land of hope.
WADI (bitter smile.): That’s how propaganda works.
HAJI MA’RUF: But . . . it’s totally different from the information I’d heard.
WADI: Where’d you get that information? From our friends?
HAJI MA’RUF: Yes, from our friends, but they said it’s from the guards. But why is it so different here? So dry . . . (quiet.) So it’s just gossip?
WADI: That’s how it is being a political prisoner, anyways. Hope upon hope.
SERGEANT ANDI is a guard commander in his forties for the Wanayasa Unit, wearing a full uniform and walking steady. He walks beside the line of walking prisoners.
SERGEANT ANDI (os): There it is! You can see your unit right there!
KRESNO is another political prisoner, a young man around the age of sixteen. He runs until he is next to WADI.
KRESNO (to WADI): Where? Where’s our unit?
WADI: There . . . (pointing.) Behind the yellow grass and bushes. Kresno, can’t you see the shiny zinc roof?
KRESNO (nods.): So it’s there.
SERGEANT ANDI: There, gentlemen, you will eat, drink, sleep, work and don’t forget to worship. Every day, until death grabs you.
HAJI MA’RUF stops and rolls up his pant legs. He taps WADI’s shoulder to wait for him. After rolling up his pant legs, he continues walking.
HAJI MA’RUF: What Sergeant Andi just said . . .
WADI: Patience, Pak Haji. I know we won’t give up that easily . . .
Enter SERGEANT ANDI running from the back of the line and taking long strides towards HAJI MA’RUF and WADI.
SERGEANT ANDI: Hey! What did you say?
HAJI MA’RUF: Nothing, sir. Just giving thanks, sir, because finally, we arrived at Hope Island.
SERGEANT ANDI: Have you ever been to the Arab world?
HAJI MA’RUF: Yes, sir, when I went on the Hajj.
SERGEANT ANDI: What school taught you religion?
HAJI MA’RUF: Islamic boarding school.
SERGEANT ANDI: How can someone who made the pilgrimage to Mecca be a Communist? (to WADI.) You! Have you made the Hajj?
WADI: Not yet, sir. I don’t know much about religion. I’ve just learned the Arabic alphabet in Salemba Prison.
SERGEANT ANDI (sarcastic smile.): Great. You have to study religion here, so you’ll be a holy and religious person when you die.
He walks fast ahead of HAJI MA’RUF and WADI.
KRESNO: Are we there, sir?
WADI: Seems that way. Judging from these signs.
KRESNO: What do the signs say?
(WADI saying the words, “Guard Commander . . . Enlisted mess hall.”)
HAJI MA’RUF: And political prisoners’ barracks.
LIGHTS DOWN.
ACT II
SCENE 1
The Wanayasa Unit is one of dozens of units scattered in Buru Island, specifically located in the Namlea area.
It’s made of rusted zinc planks for the walls and dried sago leaves for the roof. It’s built in a U-shape with an open field at the center. A barbed wire fence surrounds it. A big chain and lock are on the gate.
The field of Wanayasa Unit. Several POLITICAL PRISONERS are lining up to report to the guard platoon. A wooden table and a wooden chair placed on the field with AN OFFICER sitting at it, busy with papers with prisoners’ data on it.
SERGEANT ANDI walks around the field while looking at the POLITICAL PRISONERS.
SERGEANT ANDI: Report first to the picket!
WADI walks to the picket table and bows in front of the GUARD obediently.
WADI: Suwadi bin Roeminah reporting! Shirt number 435, photo number A325.
The PICKET OFFICER searches for WADI’s name, writes a check mark, then nods to WADI.
WADI leaves the line. HAJI MA’RUF moves to the head of the line.
HAJI MA’RUF: Ma’ruf bin Sanusi reporting! Shirt number 440, photo number B1495.
PICKET OFFICER searching for HAJI MA’RUF’s name, writes a check mark, then nodding to HAJI MA’RUF.
HAJI MA’RUF leaves the line. SERGEANT ANDI walks towards HAJI MA’RUF and WADI.
SERGEANT ANDI: Don’t you know your barracks?
WADI: Yes, barracks nine.
SERGEANT ANDI: Go there right away.
WADI and HAJI MA’RUF walk to their barracks. KRESNO approaches the officer obediently.
KRESNO: Kresno bin Suroso reporting! Shirt number 439, photo number . . . emm . . .
SERGEANT ANDI walks toward the table.
SERGEANT ANDI: What? What is your number?
KRESNO looks down, scared.
KRESNO: Emmm.
SERGEANT ANDI: Did you forget? Idiot!
ANDI slaps KRESNO.
SERGEANT ANDI: Squat under the table!
HAJI MA’RUF and WADI stop walking and look at KRESNO.
HAJI MA’RUF: Yaa Allah . . . How can Kresno forget his photo number? Poor kid.
WADI: It’s a miracle he can remember his own father’s name. (quiet.) I also wonder how a child like him was arrested as a political prisoner.
HAJI MA’RUF: What will happen to him, Brother?
WADI: I also don’t know, sir. Hopefully, he can survive.
HAJI MA’RUF (sigh.): And how long can I survive? This body is as old as it is, almost every night it’s feverish and stiff.
WADI taps HAJI MA’RUF’s shoulder.
WADI: Don’t say that, Pak Haji. We never know about life and death. Let’s go to the barracks and take a rest while we wait for all the political prisoners to finish reporting.
WADI and MA’RUF continue their journey to their cells.
ACT II
SCENE 2
The terrace of the barracks. The Wanayasa unit consists of several barracks that look like rows of rooms capable of accommodating dozens of political prisoners.
WADI and HAJI MA’RUF walk along the terrace.
MULYONO, a prisoner of similar age to WADI, enters from the sixth barrack.
MULYONO: Brother Wadi?
WADI turns around, smiles, then to HAJI MA’RUF:
WADI: You can go to our barrack, Pak Haji. I’ll be there later. (to MULYONO.) Brother Mul?
They greet each other.
MULYONO: I never expected we would keep bumping into each other.
WADI: You’re right, Brother.
MULYONO: I haven’t heard any news since my move to Nusakambangan. Where have you been the last three years?
WADI: I was transferred to Salemba prison, with Kresno. He also came here.
MULYONO (laughing.): Kresno?! Hahaha, the child who was almost shot dead for forgetting the order of the Pancasila?! Hahahaha, how does that stupid kid survive!
WADI: Aren’t you the one who taught Kresno the sequence of Pancasila? You deliberately mixed up the order.
MULYONO silent for a moment, looks confused.
MULYONO: Ah! It also depends on his brain, Brother. If he’s sharp, he won’t believe what I teach.
WADI (serious.): Kresno is now being punished in the guards’ mess.
MULYONO: Wait, wait, what again? He forgot his own name?!
WADI: I want you to stop mocking Kresno. All of us have already suffered from this nonsense.
Sirens. PRISONERS come out from the barracks and walk to the unit field quickly. Exit WADI.
ACT II
SCENE 3
PRISONERS line up on the field. The Wanayasa unit field is bare, with sandy soil. The heat is overwhelming.
KRESNO squats on the field, his hands on the top of his head. He looks terribly afraid and anxious.
SERGEANT ANDI (to PRISONERS.): See your friend here?! Do you know why he must be punished? Do you know why? (Quiet.) Because he forgot his photo number! Idiot! (Hits KRESNO’s head.) I don’t want you to be like this dumb boy! All of you are here to be trained as smarter, better people than before. Understood? (Quiet.) Everyone lay down!
All POLITICAL PRISONERS on the ground. SERGEANT ANDI walks around them.
SERGEANT ANDI: Push up!
All PRISONERS hold a push-up for about a minute.
SERGEANT ANDI: Stop! Everyone stand up!
The PRISONERS stand up obediently.
SERGEANT ANDI: That’s the punishment for anyone who tries to mess with us. Why is it so hard for you to remember your numbers? While I, the commander, supervise each of you every single day. Stupid Communists! (Quiet.) Return to your respective barracks, no one will leave at dusk for any reason. Understand?!
PRISONERS: Yes, sir!
SERGEANT ANDI: Dismissed!
Exit ANDI.
PRISONERS leave the field.
ACT II
SCENE 4
The ninth prisoner barrack of Wanayasa Unit; a small, dim room. There are several wooden bedsteads nailed to the ground and wall, without beds. There is a writing desk and chair in the corner, also nailed to the ground and wall. The barrack wall is made of zinc plates and the roof is made of dried sago leaves.
KRESNO and WADI sit on their bedsteads, facing each other.
KRESNO (doubtful.): Sir.
WADI: Yeah?
KRESNO: You’re not angry with me?
WADI (frowning.): Angry about what?
KRESNO: The punishment. (Deep breath.) I’m really sorry, sir.
WADI: What should you say sorry for? You needn’t feel guilty.
KRESNO: But because I forgot my photo number, everyone got punished.
WADI: It’s okay, it’s the guards’ habit to punish us collectively. It’s better for us to take it. I don’t wanna see them beat you up. Don’t take it too hard. (Quiet.) Let’s go to sleep.
KRESNO: Yes, sir. Sorry . . .
KRESNO and WADI lay on their beds. All PRISONERS in the ninth barrack fall asleep immediately after the collective punishment given to them.
LIGHTS DOWN.
ACT II
SCENE 5
Namlea sago forest. There are lots of tall sago trees and grass, growing from the swampy soil. The sun shines brightly.
The PRISONERS work in the forest; some of them try to take down the trees, dry the land, pull out the grass. They’re ordered to open a paddy field on the swamps by taking down the trees and pulling out the grass.
WADI has his ax, trying to cut down a sago tree.
HAJI MA’RUF approaches WADI.
HAJI MA’RUF: What will you do today, Brother?
WADI: Cut down this tree, Pak Haji.
Knocks on the sago tree.
HAJI MA’RUF: Are you sure you can do it alone?
WADI: I’ll try it alone first, after all, this tree doesn’t look too old.
From a distance the sound of "Hijau! Hijau!"
HAJI MA’RUF: Watch out, that means the guards are coming. Look busy.
WADI: What else will they try to do this morning?
HAJI MA’RUF is silent and begins to pull out the grass.
SERGEANT ANDI: The state has paid you to work on this land, and this is all you can do up until this week?! (Turns to KRESNO.) Hey you! 439!
KRESNO stands and looks up at SERGEANT ANDI.
SERGEANT ANDI: You didn’t forget your assignment, right?!
KRESNO: No sir, I’ll cut down this tree.
SERGEANT ANDI: Lazy Commie! Back to work!
Exit SERGEANT ANDI.
WADI: Poor Kresno, he’s always be treated like that since our first coming here.
HAJI MA’RUF: Yes, the guards will be happy to treat him as their own personal joke.
WADI returns to his job, cuts down the tree and observes the sago stump in front of him, then whispers to HAJI MAR’UF.
WADI: Pak Haji, look what I found.
HAJI MA’RUF (looking at WADI.): What?
WADI: Please come here, Pak Haji.
HAJI MA’RUF turns to the right and left, then approaches WADI.
HAJI MA’RUF: What?
WADI smiles brightly and points to a fallen tree.
WADI: This can be an additional protein for our dinner later, sir.
HAJI MA’RUF: Don’t joke, Brother! Will we eat them?
WADI: Yes, these plump sago worms!
HAJI MA’RUF (hesitant.): Then . . . how do we cook them?
WADI: We can just eat them alive, sir. The locals usually eat them alive.
HAJI MA’RUF: Natives eat this raw because they don’t have any other food, Brother.
WADI (grunts.): Pak Haji, try to remember what the food has been our first week here.
HAJI MA’RUF is silent while thinking . . .
WADI: Five spoons of steamed rice with salt and a glass of bland pickled vegetables without taste and water. It’s just that every day, while our work is getting harder, isn’t that unfair, Pak Haji?
HAJI MA’RUF: Of course it’s not fair, Brother. But what can we do? Fighting only brings us misery.
WADI: Then how long will we let this go, sir? I just want to remind our friends here that we’re not that weak. We still have the power!
HAJI MA’RUF: Patience, Brother . . . Remember the painful risk when one of us violates the rules.
WADI: It’s up to you! I keep taking these sago worms and I bring them to the barracks by putting them in the sack of equipment. All political prisoners are hungry, sir, if you want to eat this, and I’m not going to let it happen without doing anything. If you don’t want to join us, I hope you can survive with that pickled broth that they call food!
Sirens, break time.
HAJI MA’RUF: Time to go back to our barrack.
WADI turns and puts the sago worms into his sack.
WADI: I’ll be there when I’m finished.
HAJI MA’RUF looks irritated, then exits.
After packing the worms, WADI exits.
