Judge Dredd

SIXTEEN

THE SETTING:

This is Chief Justice Fargo’s private study, just off the Great Council Chamber. Fargo’s quarters reflect less of the man’s lofty position than of the man himself. Instead of the dark, heavy furniture, thick carpets, and rare objets d’art other high officials might demand, Fargo’s quarters are almost Spartan. There is a bookcase against one wall. On a simple table is a pitcher of water and two glasses. There is an ordinary plastic desk stacked with papers, and two relatively comfortable chairs.

The plastered, white-washed walls contain no pictures, certificates, holos, or awards. The one feature of Fargo’s quarters which sets them apart is something few might notice at all, unless they were familiar with the architecture of the Council Chamber. The immense marble shield and eagle is, of course, the focal point of the chamber. The back of this enormous stone forms one inner wall of the Chief Justice’s study. It is hard to miss the symbolism here: Here is the emblem of power, and the man at its foundation who makes that power real. This interesting bit of mythos and wisdom is pointed out to each new class of Cadets. For most of them, this place will remain a mystery throughout their careers as Judges. The chance of actually seeing the Chief Justice’s quarters is something on the order of none.

[Chief Justice Fargo stares out a small window overlooking the sprawling order and chaos of Mega-City. At this moment in his life, he would gladly trade places with the most ordinary Citizen below.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

What have I done? How could I have been so wrong? Dredd, Rico—both of them homicidal. Only this time it will be impossible to cover up. Damn it all, this simply couldn’t happen!

[Fargo buries his face in his hands. Judge Griffin walks up behind him to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.]

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Chief Justice, it did happen. We can’t know how or why, so there’s no use whipping ourselves over that. The point is, it’s not too late to pull our boots out of the fire. We carefully buried the Janus Project nine years ago, along with Rico and all his victims. No one will ever learn of your involvement. Nothing that happened leads back to you.

[Fargo shakes his head. Griffin makes it sound easy to forget about the past. Fargo knows that yesterday is always there, dogging the heels of the present.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

No, we can’t hold it back this time, my friend. The media know how close I am to Dredd. They’ve got connections, they always do. They’ll dig until the whole mess comes out. And they’ll love it, too. It’s the perfect excuse to ruin what little government, what little control we have left.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Your motives were pure, untainted, Chief Justice. You thought Dredd was—different, or you would never have spared him.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

And that little mistake may just bring down our whole judicial system. All of us. It won’t just be me, you know. Once they get the taste of blood they’ll go after everyone who wears the badge.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

You can’t look at it that way. We are all Judges, all responsible for the acts of one another. And if they bring us down, then… Sir, you and I have not always agreed in judicial matters, but I shall be proud to stand beside you, Chief Justice Fargo.

[Fargo looks at Griffin a long moment, then abruptly turns away to hide his emotions.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I am grateful for what you have said. Your words mean much to me. And you have done me a greater favor than you know, my friend. So much greater than you can know!

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Chief Justice—

[Fargo turns and faces Griffin again. Griffin knows this man well, but he is startled by the strength, the will, the terrible sense of anguish he sees in Fargo’s eyes.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

There is another way to resolve this problem. It is the rational way, and, more important, it is the responsible way. Responsibility is the brother of privilege—we must never forget the truth of that.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

What are you saying, Chief Justice? I don’t understand…

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I think you do. I think you must know exactly what I am saying. I have the option, and I have the desire to exercise that option, Judge Griffin. I will retire. I will take the Long Walk…

[Judge Griffin stares, then violently shakes his head, as if this gesture might deny Fargo’s words, his intentions.]

JUDGE GRIFFIN

You cannot. You will not, Chief Justice. The Long Walk is a death sentence and you know it!

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

Then it is my death sentence, is it not? It is my choice.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Your… choice grants you certain rights, of course.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I am quite aware of those rights, Judge Griffin…

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Sir, I did not mean to imply—

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

It does not truly matter at this point what you may or may not imply, my friend. I hold you blameless. And yes, I will use the power of my retirement to save Dredd’s life. This was on your mind, I believe? Fine. If everyone sees this as my motive, so much the better. They will not bother to look for any other… benefits of my decision. I believe the media will be so ecstatic at the chance to innundate Mega-City with countless holos, videos, broadcasts of my actions, they will have neither the time nor the inclination to turn over any other rocks searching for dirty laundry.

[Chief Justice Fargo pauses to pour himself a glass of water. Griffin’s mouth is parched as well, but he finds he cannot bring himself to break the spell Fargo has cast upon this room.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

The judicial system we have worked these many years to establish will remain intact. And the secret of the Janus Project will be secure. That should be… adequate work for one day, don’t you think?

JUDGE GRIFFIN

What you do is… more than anyone could ask of you. Your action shames us all, sir.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

We shamed ourselves, Judge Griffin, when we allowed ourselves to become involved in Janus. There is no need for all of us to pay for that foolish mistake, but I cannot say that it is asking too much for one of us to bear that burden.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

I wish it were someone else, Chief Justice. I would—I would take your place if I could, sir, and consider it an honor.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I appreciate the thought, Judge Griffin. But do not be in such a great hurry to give yourself to the cause. It is not necessary. Someone will make the decision for you one day—long before you’re ready to be so noble yourself…