Short Eyes is a play set in prison. The plot of the play is set off when a new prisoner enters the scene. He is a white man called Clark Davis. Another prisoner, called Juan, introduces him to the rules and workings of the prison, and warns him when to be careful.
A guard enters the scene soon after and in a disgusted manner reveals the reason Clark is in prison. It is because he was accused of molesting children. Other prisoners start to alienate Clark and compare him to trash and other degrading synonyms. Afraid and desperate Clark confesses to Juan about what he's done, his reasoning behind it and his self-awareness of being a monster that molests children.
Juan is put in a difficult situation after the aforesaid confession, knowing that the other prisoners will try to eliminate Clark. The prisoners corner Clark and give the knife to a black prisoner called El Raheem to go forth with the plan. El Raheem is unable to harm a scared and cornered man, which is why Longshoe, another white prisoner, takes the knife himself and kills Clark. This is all done with officers turning a blind eye to it.
Captain Allard comes to investigate the incident, but all the prisoners keep quiet about what happened insisting it was an accident. The play ends with an irony where Captain Allard reveals that Clark Davis was about to be released because there was no evidence against him.
The short play is introduced with a preface that reveals that the writer wrote it during his time in prison and that it was mostly performed by previous prisoners who wanted to get back on track. The short play portrays a variety of themes, such as race, pedophilia, religion and sexuality.
