The Persecutor
By David Marriott
Summary
Based on the autobiography of Sergei Kourdakov, a Russian Secret Police
member who persecuted Christians.
Characters
Narrator
Nikiforov, Secret Police chief
Sergei Kourdakov, Secret Police member
Victor, Secret Police member
Alex, Secret Police member
Christian 1
Christian 2
Natasha Zhndanalva
Various other non-speaking parts
Script
Nikiforov – This is big one, Kourdakov, make sure you get at least ten
men and be here by 8:30 sharp.
Narrator – Sergei began calling his men, he usually found it hard to
get 10 men, but today he mustered 14 men. They were all so anxious
to beat-up the infidels.
Nikiforov – The address is 66 Okean Street. You’d better stop
right about here (points on a map). You can make it the rest of the
way on foot.
Sergei – Any special instructions?
Nikiforov – (handing a list of names), these are the ones that we want.
Sergei – What about the rest?
Nikiforov – Do I have to spell it out for you? Give them something
to remember.
Narrator – At last it was time for them to go; they sped off racing
across the city, lights flashing and sirens screaming. As they got
within a few blocks, they turn off the siren, the lights and the engine.
Sergei – Pull over, here.
Narrator – They walked toward the house number 66 and its unsuspecting
praying occupants. Sergei assigned one-man guard each door and the
windows. Stealthily they moved toward the front door. After
one more to check to make sure everybody was ready, Sergei hit the door
in a fly run and snapped the door open. Inside they found 14 young
people praying. Yet some kept praying.
Sergei – These people are incredible (jokingly). What are you
doing.
Christian 1 – Praying.
Sergei – to whom?
Christian 2 – To God.
Sergei – There is no God you fool, don’t you know that? You are
praying to empty air. (Starting to chuckle an evil laugh) Where’s
your God now? Let him help you.
Narrator – Suddenly the fight was on. Vladimir grabbed an old
man, smashed him in the face, and sent him screaming to the floor in a
pool of blood. Anatoly, not to be outdone, grabbed someone else and
was pounding him in the stomach. Then he finished him quickly with
a frightful blow to the mouth. Yuri picked up an old woman, grabbed her
long gray hair, pulled her head back, and struck her across the throat
with a karate chop. Without a sound, the old woman crumpled to the
floor. Nothing in the house – people or furniture – escaped their wrath.
In minutes the house was shambles. Half covered by debris were the
believers, some unconscious and the rest in agonizing pain. Victor reached
for a young girl who was trying to escape. She was a beautiful girl.
What a waste to be a believer. Victor caught her, picked her up and
lifted her high about his head. Then he threw her so hard she hit
the wall at the same height she was thrown. With that, she dropped
to the floor, moaning.
Victor - “I’ll bet the idea of God went flying out of her head.”
Sergei – Get their papers. I want her papers (pointing to the
girl that was thrown across the room). um…Natasha…Natasha…Zhndanalva…
Narrator – The job was done. It was time to go. As they
left, Sergei took one last look around the scene we were leaving behind.
The room was strewn with broken things. Blood spattered the bleak
walls. They had done their work well.
Sergei – What stupid fools, how could my country, Mother Russia, be
endangered by people like that?
Narrator – Three days later Nikiforov came running out of his office.
Nikiforov – Kourdakov, get your men ready and take off right now.
Narrator - They roared, and jumped out before the truck stopped rolling
and rushed to the front door, crashing through. To their astonishment,
they were all young people. They had found a secret young people’s meeting
in progress.
Sergei – That is him, grab him.
Narrator – Sergei quickly scanned the room. One particular girl
caught his attention.
Sergei - There she is, the same girl! It can’t be.
Narrator - Only three nights before, she had been at the other meeting
and was viciously thrown across the room. It was the first time Sergei
really got a good look at her. She was more beautiful than he had
first remembered – long, flowing, blonde hair and large blue eyes, one
of the most naturally beautiful girls he had ever seen. Victor saw
her too.
Sergei – Well it doesn’t look like you did such a good job the last
time
Narrator - Sergei picked her up and flung her on a table face down.
One of the men held her and Sergei began to beat her as hard as he could,
hitting her again and again. His hands began to sting under the blows.
Her skin began to blister, until pieces of bloody flesh came off on his
hand. She fought desperately not to cry. When Sergei was so
exhausted that he couldn’t raise his arm for even one more blow, and her
back was a mass of raw flesh, he pushed her off the table on the floor.
Sergei - There is no point in prolonging our job. We’ve got our
man! Get the names and let’s get out of here. Young people believing
in God - it is just too much for me to grasp. These are people my
generation. But that Natasha has certainly been taught a lesson.
I took care of her tonight. We’ll never see “Gorgeous” again.
Narrator - About a week later they were called to headquarters. When
they reached the meetinghouse, Sergei posted guards and they burst in swinging
clubs wildly. The bewildered believers began to scatter. Sergei boastingly
said that this wouldn’t take long. Then Sergei caught a glimpse a
familiar face.
Sergei – I can’t believe this, there she is again…Natasha
Narrator – Several of the guys noticed her. Alex moved toward
Natasha, hatred filling his face, his club raised high above his head.
Then, without warning Victor jumped between Alex and Natasha.
Victor - Alex, I’m telling you, don’t touch her! No one touches her!
Sergei – Victor, one of my most brutal men, protecting the believer?
Victor - Get back! Get back or I’ll let you have it.
Alex – You want her for yourself, don’t you?
Victor – No, she has something we don’t have…. get back no one touches
her.
Sergei – Alex, get that one that is trying to get away!!! (Alex, clearly
distracted runs away)
Narrator - Victor still stood with his arms out, daring anyone to take
a step toward her. Natasha stood behind him, not understanding what
was happening. Sergei nodded to her, then motioned for her to get
out. She turned and hurried away.
Sergei - For the first time in my life, I am deeply moved. Natasha
does have something. She has been beaten horribly. She has
been warned and threatened. She has gone through unbelievable suffering
at our hands, but there, there she was……… again.
Narrator – Victor and Sergei eventually asked Christ into their hearts.
Victor escaped Russia and came to the United States and God used him to
lead many to Christ.
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Copyright David Marriott, all rights reserved.
More details about this story may be obtained from the author. For those
interested, the book is the Persecutor. This script may be used freely,
provided no charge is made for performance. In return for free use, the
author would like to be told of any performance. He may be contacted at
dmm@wow.com