between julien camille elie cotonnet and lucien marie-isadore levasseur

E: tell me to my face.

L: I don't understand – 

E: tell me, to my face, that you believe me to be a counter-revolutionary and a traitor. 

L: Do you doubt it? Do you be here if I didn't? Do you doubt – 

E: I doubt very readily. 

L: – Do you doubt my honesty? 

E: Is that a crime now? 

L: No. no. I only represent what the committee has decided. And in this the committee represents the assembly, which represents the people. 

E: [eyebrow raised] And by protesting my own innocence, I deny the will of the people?

L: You haven't. Protested your own innocence, I mean. 

E: Oh. You're right, I haven't. And after I came all this way to plead my case. 

L: That's very like you. Always getting distracted. 

[both laugh]

E: [suddenly serious] You've known me since we were both eleven years old. You know that I was a Republican when it was death to say that word aloud. And I knew you when you prayed every night for Asmodeus to show you how his teachings might serve the interests of the people of Galt – which I've never told anyone, by the way, though I could have at any time – and when you realized he'd never answer and prayed to the Inheritor instead, I was the first person you told.  

If I am to die tomorrow because you truly believe I have betrayed the revolution, I could bear it. But I don't think I am. I think I'm going to die because I am – how shall I say it – politically inconvenient. I could even forgive you that. You're not in a position to tolerate inconveniences these days. But I want you to admit it. I think I deserve that much.

[a pause]

L: You didn't think about our friendship when you chose to undermine public trust in the government, did you? 

E: I thought you'd say neither of us should think of friendship in matters of public – 

L: – I don't think you're a traitor. 

E: ...

L: I think you have been seriously misled. My position – my position does not allow me to spare anyone who furthers the work of our enemies through their actions, even  – even if they are loyal in their heart – 

E: [smiling] Why, Lucien. That's the kindest thing anyone's said to me in a very long time. 

[a long pause]

L: I want you to leave Galt. 

E: I won't. 

L: You'll be condemned tomorrow as a friend of the diabolists. 

E: I know. 

L: I can't stop it, and I wouldn't if I could. 

E: I know. I think I should just make you sign my death warrant. It'll be good for you. It should hurt, every so often. 

L: All of them hurt.

E: ...

L: I don't care about the fate of my soul. I haven't for a very long time. But I promised when I accepted this position that I would never allow myself to become complacent – and if there's one thing I can still say for myself, Julien, just one, it's that I keep my promises. 

Now I want you to promise me something. Leave Galt. Go somewhere far away. Never return. Remember what we were trying to build. I don't know who else will. 

E: You speak as if you were already dead. [a pause] Wishful thinking?

[both laugh]

L: Six months. At the outside.