C.J. and Nancy in “The Women of Qumar”

C.J.

They beat women, Nancy. They hate women. The only reason they keep Qumari women alive is to make more Qumari men.

Nancy

So what do you want me to do about it?

C.J.

How about instead of suggesting that we sell the guns to them, suggesting that we shoot the guns at them? And by the way, not to change the subject, but how are we supposed to have any moral credibility when we talk about gun control and making sure that guns don't get in the hands of the wrong people? God, Nancy! What the hell are we defining as the right people?

Nancy

This is the real world, and we can't isolate our enemies.

C.J.

I know about the real world, and I'm not suggesting we isolate them.

Nancy

You're suggesting we eliminate them.

C.J.

I have a briefing.

Nancy

You're suggesting that...

C.J.

I'm not suggesting anything. I don't suggest foreign policy around here.

Nancy

You are right now.

C.J.

It's the twenty-first century, Nancy. The world's gotten smaller. I don't know how we can tolerate this kind of suffering anymore, particularly when all it does is continue the cycle of anti-American hatred. But that's not the point, either.

Nancy

What's the point?

C.J.

The point is that apartheid was an Easthampton clambake compared to what we laughingly refer to as the life these women lead. And if we had sold M1-A1s to South Africa fifteen years ago, you'd have set the building on fire. Thank God we never needed to refuel in Johannesburg!

Nancy

[nods] It's a big world, C.J. And everybody has guns, and I'm doing the best I can.

C.J.

[in tears] They're beating the women, Nancy!