(Scene: Charles' house. Jonathan sits on the floor, despondent. The statue of Aphrodite is on the table. Charles enters and is shocked to see his brother.)

Charles

Demon! How were you able to flee here so quickly?

Jonathan

What do you mean? I have been here all night. And I thought I had told you to—

Charles

You can deceive me longer. I witnessed it all, dear brother. I witnessed you beat that officer. I witnessed you murder Father. But more importantly, I have photographic evidence as well. (Gestures to camera)

Jonathan

Do you mean to tell me that Father is…(Beat)

Charles

Of course he’s dead, after what you did to him.

Jonathan

Oh. I see.

Charles

Do you truly lack the self-awareness to even recognize your wrong-doings? Are you so dense?

Jonathan

(Picks up statue) Father insisted that I destroy this. I had nearly done so, but then I recalled that memory of Mother which you had resurrected from deep within my soul. Afterwards, I couldn’t destroy it. Please, take it. (Hands it to Charles) I am the murderer, Charles. I am the cause of all the death that has befallen my university and your town. If you wish to hand over whatever evidence you have gathered against me, I will not stop you. I will receive whatever punishment is given to me, and happily too. And though I don’t expect nor deserve it, I beseech your forgiveness. I have nothing left, you see; no mother, nor father, nor fiancee, nor a friend in all the world— except you, my brother. In making peace with you, my only remaining friend, I may make peace with the world, and may even die happily.

Charles

You want forgiveness? And in exchange for that, you will give me justice?

Jonathan

Of course.

Charles

(Laughs) Jonathan, Jonathan. I have been thinking over what your father had said about our name. It truly is like a God, isn’t it? And men will go on believing in it so long as you live. Your father may be dead, but who is to say that he still can’t protect you? Had he not an army of lawyers capable of bending the law to his will? Who could present you as a feeble young man tortured by the voices in his head, a victim of an unbalanced mind? Who could entice pity from a public conditioned to believe in the ultimate virtue of the powerful and prestigious? You’ve admitted guilt. I have evidence against you. So what? They will still send you off to a pleasant little hospital out in the country, where you will spend your days picking flowers, writing poetry and eating lavish food that I could not afford with a whole year’s salary. And as you continue to live as a king, I shall be evicted from my house, find myself sleeping in the streets, begging for scraps of bread, becoming fodder for fleas and rats, and coughing up blood before dying alone, just as Mother had. No, no, that is not Justice. That is Evil devouring Justice. That is Evil proliferating itself and infesting the world, a very disease upon humanity, upon God Himself. (Approaches Jonathan, gripping the statue). No, no. By forgiving you, I am inciting Evil to gorge itself upon the world. I will instead do what I ought to have done years ago. I will purify Man from the pestilence of your making. I will claim my justice once and for all! (He throws Jonathan behind the table and beats him to death with the statue. Once he is dead, Charles rises, covered in blood)

(Officer enters, dazed, and with a bandage wrapped around his head)

Officer

Master Edgar… please… allow me to help chase down the… (Horrified to see Charles) It's him! The man I released! The murderer! And he's killed again! (Rummages for gun and aims it at Charles)

Charles

No! No! I'm not the--

(Officer fires. Charles falls down dead)

Officer

(Stupefied) I… I got 'em. (Turns towards door) Master Edgar! (He exits)

END OF PLAY