The Crack

Play in Three Acts

 

 

Translated By: Fadwa Fadel

 

 

 

Act one

 

In the living room: the furniture has been overturned and scattered, the ensuing chaos encompassing the whole room. On the wall a canvas oil painting hangs by only one corner.

 

(Sarah is sitting on a large overturned chair).

Sarah : Every thing has collapsed, every thing has become pointless, (she looks at the chaos surrounding her) but at least everything is clear now, that's more reassuring (she sighs with satisfaction), every thing is clear. (After a pause for thought) No, this clearance is frightening, from every angle I look at it, it's frightening. (She kicks a table lamp close to her, then wipes her face as if she wants to make sure that there are no cuts or lacerations on her body, she hears movement from inside).

What do you think he's doing? For more than an hour he’s been moving between rooms.

If the servant would come one hour earlier, so that would be some point to her coming. She says that she has to send her son to school, every day she talks about her son, his education, his clothes, his wickedness at home, she keeps on thinking about her son with every sweep of the brush. Okay, what now? I need a glass of water to quench my thirst. The servant says that her husband worships her. Worships her? No, I don't believe that, she began to use our words (she notices her leg), oh! Am I getting fat? No, not much, I must regulate my eating. In any case I won't ever be as fat as Leila, or even as fat as Hanna. Hanna says that men like slightly overweight women. She says that birth leaves it's mark on the body, I don't like it, then they try to hide their fatness with big clothes.

(Sammy's voice from inside)

Sammy : Sarah…

Sarah    : Yes.

Sammy : Why 's there no light in the bathroom?

Sarah    : (with artificial affection) The bulb burnt out darling.

Sammy : (After a while) The cooker's not working either (she doesn't reply) I said the cooker doesn't work …

Sarah  : You know I don't like talking between rooms, why don't you come closer and talk? The cooker caught fire, the fire caught ablaze and turned into ash, as you can see (she turns on the radio that overturned on the floor and searches for some classical music).

Sammy : Could you please turn that noise off?!

  (She turns the radio off angrily)

(Sammy comes in)

Sammy : I can't find even one shirt in the wardrobe to wear.

Sarah    : The washing machine has stopped working.

Sammy : The washing machine always not working.

Sarah    : As you know these machines don't last long, they don't stand up to a lot of wear, they're just like .. like.. like people darling. They shine and smile with beautiful forms but they betray you in the moment you need a cup a coffee. Or you need a clean shirt to go out in.

Sammy : (He looks at her suspiciously and then…) You're right, it's as if we can't do any job without them. I don't feel like going to work today, tomorrow I'll go early and carry out all the delayed work.

Sarah    : How did you sleep last night?

Sammy  : Why are you asking?

Sarah    : (Sarcastically) You seem in a good mood.

Sammy : I slept well enough (moves his arm and feels his shoulder) except that the floor crushed my arm. My grandfather used to say that when you find yourself in strange status, try to take from it what you can and don't worry about the rest. (Sarah nods her head in agreement but mockingly) and you, how did you sleep?

Sarah    : A headache disturbed my sleep at sunrise, so I left the bed and came to the living room and I sat thinking (Sammy looks at her as if he waiting for some kind of disclosure). For a moment I wanted to call my sister, or my mother, or any friend, to talk with. But I found the idea crazy because the time was still to early and all of them would be sleeping quietly or perhaps, at that moment they were enjoying some early morning dreams.

Sammy : I was also awake at that time, I felt my arm twisted under my back and it was uncomfortable for a while.

Sarah   : I heard you tossing and turning, and you were saying things in your sleep.

Sammy : That reminds me of the night we spent in the countryside, when the tourist bus broke down and we were overcome by sleep, sleeping in our seats while we were waiting for the company mechanic.

Sarah    : Where was that?

Sammy : In Brazil, during the holiday we spent there, have you forgotten?

Sarah   : (Her mind is distracted) The Brazilian holiday? (She returns to reality and replies harshly) The day you lost the cases in the airport.

Sammy : (He smiles) That's right, and before that you forgot the tickets at home, so we waited ten hours to get the next plane.

Sarah    : Did I really forget them? No doubt that I was so confused (her mind drifts) that day, I was so happy to be traveling, I was so happy with many thoughts about life which filled my head (she returns to reality), but the final days of the journey turned into hell when we argued about how to return. Should we get back via Rome or Paris? It was the only time we traveled together, wasn't it?

Sammy : The only time. Do you remember the day we hired a two-oared dinghy and went for a picnic in the river? And I asked you, when we went a little way from the riverbank, what would you do if we found out that the bottom of the boat had a hole in it and the water flowed in? Do you remember that?

Sarah    : No.

Sammy : You said "you'd save me if the dinghy sank."

Sarah    : Mmmm…

Sammy : And when I said I don't know how to swim you were filled with fear

Sarah   : The trip to Brazil was in the first year of our marriage. But why are you reminding me of it?

Sammy : (He looks at her for a moment, then in hope and excited voice) Let's tidy up this furniture instead of waiting for the servant. Come on let's put some order back into the living room, let's create a spacious, relaxed atmosphere. Maybe our mood will change. I don't trust the servant, I feel that there is something strange about her, it wouldn't surprise me that she arranges things in a way … … how can I say it … she makes them susceptive to fall and collapse quickly, it's better we tidy up the house ourselves, that's what I prefer. (He begins to arrange the furniture) Get up and give me a hand. What do you think if we put these pieces in a new way? What if we put two lamps in each corner? (Sarah shrugs her shoulders as if it makes no difference to her, while Sammy continues to arrange the furniture and talk) Then we can put the sofa close to the window over there, how's that?

Sarah    : I don't know.

Sammy : Why?

Sarah  : These winds will blow up tomorrow, or after tomorrow and every thing will turn upside down again.

Sammy : Shall we leave them as they are? That doesn't make sense, come here, at least we can get rid of this mess, and what would we say if one of our friends or relatives came to visit suddenly? It is not nice to leave our home in this way? (Sarah gets up and helps him without really wanting to). Have you heard what people are saying these days about my cousin Waleed?

Sarah    : No.

Sammy : They're saying that he's involved in a huge business deal. He's a funny guy. one day he'll fall down out of exhaustion and all the money he's accumulated won't save him. It seems as if we're going to need more lights because this corner's still dark, what do you think?

Sarah    : This corner has more light than the rest of the living room!

Sammy : More light here will be better, and the furniture will be more beautiful, we need some small tables as well (he notices that she has stopped). Why have you stopped?

Sarah    : I need to think for while.

Sammy : Why?

Sarah    : Let me think.

Sammy : Are you thinking or is it something else?

Sarah    : There is deep feeling, which tells me that there is no point to all of this.

Sammy : How?

Sarah    : I believe … the problem is somewhere else.

Sammy : Somewhere else? What do you mean?

Sarah    : I mean it's more than just arranging furniture.

Sammy : That's ridiculous.

Sarah    : Please!

Sammy : We're almost finished, now talk about somewhere else. Do you know that you're very clever at creating justifications to destroy things.

Sarah    : That's not true.

Sammy : And creating reasons to destroy any idea that comes to my mind.

Sarah    : Don't exaggerate.

Sammy : All you dream about is lying on a large sofa, stretch out on it and spend your whole day lazily.

Sarah    : Me?

Sammy : You prefer to live in your own imagination. You're always creating wings to soar into space, whenever the issue needs to be looked from the ground (he stamps his foot on the ground) here … the ground.

Sarah    : That's me? (She laughs loudly) Please …

Sammy : You don't find any point to this, you don't find any point to that … just because I think the opposite.

Sarah    : That's not true, I feel that the problem is greater, that's all.

Sammy : You don't care if the problem is greater or smaller, the only thing you care about is that to say "no" when I say "yes".

Sarah    : Ahhh….( she holds her head as a headache is starting).

Sammy : I woke up and can't even make a cup of coffee, isn't that enough do something? To think about the state of our home? So that we can rearrange this mess?

Sarah    : Please, that's enough; my nerves can't take another new fit of headaches.

Sammy : Of course, we only have start talking about the future of our home and your nerves become fraught. I only have to ask about a clean pair of socks and a fit of headaches begin. I only have to request a bite to eat and the house is filled with headaches. And when the headache overcomes you, trains, planes, ships and the whole human race must stop. (He raises his voice) I'm sick of this life, I 'm fed up of it. (He kicks the chair and it lands upside down on the ground, while Sarah holds her head again) I live on tinned food, I wash my clothes at the launderette, I work all day to support this house and in the morning I can't even find some hot water to shave with. (He shouts close  to her head and she is visibly in pain) I'm fed up…(His anger rises) I never asked for complete happiness I only wanted a little relaxation, I never asked for a wonderful family life, only some peace and quiet, and even after all that I'm still to blame, accused of being lacking, without understanding, without feeling of responsibility (he laughs) responsibility! (He pushes another piece of furniture and overturning it) Have you forgotten how many tours you caused us to lose in Brazil? All the people wake up in the morning, take their breakfasts and wait happily in front of the hotel, while you get up from bed then you go back to it. You wear the yellow blouse, then the red one, then you grab the green one and think about the blue one. Finally, when we go down we find that the tourist bus left half an hour ago. You are a useless woman (he throws a china jug against the wall) you are full of pride, you can't even look after a house with three rooms in it, you're incapable of warming your husband's bed, or showing some affection (he points at the painting on the wall) and this wood which you splash paint on it is valueless, so trivial, a waste of time, stupid, (he rubs the surface of the painting and then throws it on the ground).

Sarah    : Enough… Please!

Sammy : You’re wasting money, wasting time, whereas I don't even have a minute for myself, and because of this mess, I am useless person who doesn't even achieve a small part of his aspirations. I have been suspended from opportunities and overwhemed by the worries and difficulties of a little house. I could have become a minister, or a doctor who discovered a revolutionary treatment, or a lawyer who changed the basis of international relations, or an engineer who builds huge cities, if only I had the chance and some peace of mind. But how can peace of mind enter a house devoid of affection, warm, and person cannot find even and someone to understand his needs.

(Sarah still holds her head)

Look at my cousin Waleed for example, he is a simple person of average intelligence and despite that he has extended the activities of his trade office and earned lots of money in few years. Do you know the reason of his success? Peace of mind, the peace of mind which he finds at home (he shouts in her ear) peace of mind!

(She is overcomed with fear by his shouting,then she gets up to look for the bottle of headache tablets, she finds the tablets but the water jug is empty, so she goes to the kitchen).

(Sammy continues talking during her absence)

My grandfather used to say about me, "this boy will do something great", and everyone used to share his feeling. I didn’t know what this "great thing" was but I felt worthy of what he said, so I prepared myself for it but it was my bad luck which led me to this house, to this mess and to this dry well. (pause) The worst thing is when you can't find someone who understands you.

(Sarah enters and stands at the door weak and despondent, she faces the painting and lifts it from the ground wiping the damage incurred, then she  returns it to the wall as it was before).

Sarah    : It's not possible to continue like this, I've been thinking deeply and reached to a conclusion that the solution… the solution is to separate.

Sammy : (Scornfully) Separate!

Sarah    : We can't agree about anything, we cannot understand each other, the situation is unbearable, it is better for us to get separate.

Sammy : Do what you like.

Sarah    : Yes, if there is no hope.

Sammy : It will be just like all the other decisions in your life.

Sarah    : No, not in such case.

Sammy : After two days you'll change your mind again and the chance to go back will have been lost.

Sarah    : I've thought deeply and taken everything into account. (pause) A week ago I consulted my family and all of them said that it's my decision at the end of the day (Sammy trembles a little). I didn't tell you at the time as to leave one last chance to try again. Now I'm convinced that another chance just means more despair, more harm, nothing else (she makes to leave). I'm going to pack my things.

Sammy : You're not serious.

Sarah    : (She stops at the door) I'm very serious.

Sammy : (He seems confused) Is it your right to make this decision alone?

Sarah    : What I decide concerns me initially and I'm telling you now that from today we need to start divorce proceedings.

Sammy : (He smiles) Surely you're joking.

Sarah    : I don't  joking when it's related to my future.

(She makes to leave again then the conversation returns her gradually to the living room)

Sammy : We must give ourselves a chance to think.

Sarah    : A chance? (She laughs) I gave you plenty of chances.

Sammy : (Completely confused then he shouts) This is crazy!

Sarah    : (In a voice louder than his) Don't scream, it's crazy for us to continue.

(She becomes stronger and more aggressive whereas he appears weaker and more confused)

Sammy : It's possible for us to put things right (Sarah doesn't answer) I admit some mistakes have been made.

Sarah    : Some!

Sammy : Okay, there have been a lot of mistakes, each one of us has had his part play but that doesn't mean that we should destroy our marriage.

Sarah    : Our marriage is already over and destroyed.

Sammy : Everyone goes through difficult circumstances, or they are subject to problems for a while, then things improve…

Sarah    : (She interrupts him) It's not the circumstances, or a problem, our life together itself is upset.

Sammy : Don't exaggerate.

(Her situation becomes strongerý)

Sarah    : Look around you.

Sammy : This mess! It happened reluctantly, we're not responsible for it.

Sarah    : I'm talking about our life together which plunges deeper in chaos every day.

Sammy : (He grabs her hand) We can start again, we can create our own paradise, we can be happy.

Sarah    : (she sighs deeply out of despair) How often have I heard that.

Sammy : Trust me.

Sarah    : I can't.

Sammy : You can if you want.

Sarah    : I can't.

Sammy : You trusted me before.

Sarah    :(Looking completely untrusting) Now I can't.

Sammy : (Bitterly) Why? My life's not that different to any other man!

Sarah    : (She moves away from him) In which meaning? In which way?

Sammy : In every way.

Sarah    : No, I still don't know who you are, I live with you under one roof, we sleep in the same bed, we eat on the same table but I don't know exactly who you are. I don't know your real face, so I can learn how to live with you.

Sammy : (Disapprovingly) Oooooh.

Sarah    : You say that I'm a failure as a wife and, you damaged my painting (she touches the surface of the painting) it's simple, maybe it's not valuable but I worked on it for a whole month and I spent some wonderful moments with it. It would amuse me when you were busy spying on your cousin Waleed's life. What has Waleed bought! Where did he travel to! When did he return! The jealousy devoured your heart, you're jealous of him because of your own failure.

Sammy : Me?

Sarah    : (Quietly but challenging, she feels like she has taken complete control of the situation) You…

Sammy : I'm a manager of a factory with number of employees, workers and good market relations…

Sarah    : A pastry factory?

Sammy : Yes the pastry factory, I know it's small but we live comfortably from it, we’re not in need for anything.

Sarah    : That factory was built with my family's money and you were happy to be a servant for them. You were a hypocrite with this individual and praised that one, until you deceived them with the idea of a factory and then you began cheating them in the accounts you supplied. I discovered that and just kept quiet…

(Sammy collapses in exhaustion on the same chair that she was sitting on while she continues talking)

I know the way you played with the accounts (she circles him) I know everything from the time you began bringing the paperwork home. You wait until I fall asleep, then you sneak off to the living room to perfect your clever deception, with the names and numbers. But I know the way (close to his ear) I know it all (she shouts) I know… (she pushes a chair and it falls to the ground).

I kept quiet hoping that one day you would wake up. I always tried to put things right to save this house, to strengthen it's walls to stand in the face of adversities, whereas you only think about yourself, you only dream about your own greatness, you race for the sake of that greatness, you smash this and that, racing…you don't want to stop for even a moment to see the destruction of your home sustains. You don't glance to see the harm that you cause, you just race like a Japanese train (close to his ear) too- too, too-too.

Sammy : (He blocks his ears and shouts) Everything I do I do it for us, for our home.

Sarah    : This home in which nothing is stable! (the noise as before) too-too, too-too, every corner of it reminds me of a moment of despair, every room reminds me of hours of sadness, every piece of furniture reminds me of an argument (She kicks a lamp and it falls on the ground).

Sammy : (He's upset by what's happened to the lamp, so he gets up and returns it to it's correct position).

Sarah    : About the trip to Brazil which you talk about every day and which hurts my feelings deeply, do you know why I was overcome by fear in the boat? I was afraid of you and not of the hole in the dinghy. I was afraid that you would drown me because I saw Leila's address on the table in our hotel room the day before, do you remember? You forgot it …or it fell, but I know you wrote to her. Yes, I'd heard some rumours about the old affair between her and you, that's why I was scared when you mentioned the hole. It came to me that the picnic by the river was planned, so I became afraid, in fact I was trembling inside until we reached the beach. (She laughs) But I've hidden something from you until now… I know how to swim, in fact I'm an excellent swimmer and I lied to you. That was my only useful weapon at that time, if you intended to push me to the water.

Sammy : Why you thought like that?

Sarah    : Why not? …Actually, I heard them saying at home, that my father is thinking about selling the factory and they were thinking of selling it to your cousin Waleed. They're saying that the factory is making too many losses and the profits are too small to be spent on enjoyment and dinner parties. I'm going to pack my things.

(She makes to leave but stops when he shouts behind her)

Sammy : No… (He circles around from a distance as if he fears she will flee if he comes near her) I've made mistakes, I've made mistakes, is that what you want to hear? I've made lots of mistakes, I was trying to build a second floor to the house, so that I could add a spacious garden to make the courtyard bigger, I was racing to get higher position and prestige, but today I'm sure that the mistakes from within my home itself and they are rotting in it, they eat away at it's foundations like a ferocious rat.(He comes closer to her) I've learned, and the lesson was very harsh, there won't be any more mistakes now, you're right, what's the point of a second floor on top of a collapsing house? (He grabs her hand) What will I do with a bigger garden if I don't have you? I've caused you a lot of pain and sadness, you don't know how much that hurts me! (He puts his hand on her shoulder) I was oblivious to what was happening to us, absolutely oblivious, I didn't think about the mist that was surrounding our life, I didn't pay attention to the thorns we were walking on, and you put up with all of the disasters alone,… oh, how cruel I am, (he puts his head on her shoulder) What can I do? I try to control my anger but I can't, I find myself weak when it comes to anger, incapable, without choice, and when I'm harsh on you the regret tortures me, tears me apart. Oh God! What can I do? (she is affected by what he is saying and faces him) Tell me …what can I do? I wasn't fair to you, because of my stupidity, but I love you.

Sarah    : I love you too (he embraces her) You're trembling!

Sammy : I feel scared.

Sarah    : What are you scared from?

Sammy : I'm scared that I'll lose you one day, I can't live without you.

Sarah    : Neither can I.

(They embrace each other with great affection)

Sammy : I won't cause you anymore harm.

Sarah    : Neither will I.

Sammy : We have to move from this house

Sarah    : Why?

Sammy : Because we've faced a lot of problems here.

Sarah    : We'll find the same problems in another place.

Sammy :(He withdraws from her gently) I don't think so. This place seems ill-fated to me, or that problems are attracted to it.

Sarah    : We won't find a better place.

Sammy : Yes, we'll  find an appropriate place.

Sarah    :(Close to the window) Come and look, every where is wrecked, in each corner there's smoke, anywhere you look there's debris.

Sammy : We'll go farther.

Sarah    : Farther? (She casts her gaze further) The same thing…

Sammy : A lot further.

Sarah    :(She shakes her head as if there's no point) The smoke is as far as the eye can see.

Sammy : We'll find a house at the high shade, that's what I'm thinking.

Sarah    : Do you believe that he house will be safe when these aggressive winds blow?…I don't think so. Sometimes the winds speed can reach up to one hundred miles an hour, causing mountains to collapse, oh God…every time I listen to the radio, the news spreads about what happened after the blowing of a storm…I feel something inside shaking then it collapses, boom! When the wind suddenly bursts towards the houses and the things start flying around our heads, our faces are severed with shock, a person thinks only of escaping with his skin.

Sammy : That's what I mean. This place reminds us of a lot of pain and difficult times. If we want to begin a new life, it's better that we have entirely new start to be liberated from the reasons which cause us difficulties and forget the past sadness.

Sarah    : You are making a big issue out of this!

Sammy : Of course. Changing the place will have a great effect on our future life.

Sarah    : Here or there we can start our life again…let's relax first, shall I make you a cup of coffee?

Sammy : But the cooker's not working…!

Sarah    : I know a way of boiling a little water.

Sammy : Then you can.

Sarah    : Do you want anything else?

Sammy : What?

Sarah    : Some thing to whet your appetite before breakfast.

Sammy : No. Coffee's enough.

Sarah    :(She sits down) Coffee then.

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    :(She presses down on her ankle) I feel pain here, at the bottom, do you think the nerves are the cause?

Sammy : A strong pain?

Sarah    : No, light.

Sammy : That's something passing don't be afraid (he sits next to her).

Sarah    :((She exposes her calf) Do you think I've put weight on?

Sammy : I don’t think so.

Sarah    : Then how does it seem to you? (The door bell rings).

Sammy : Who is it?

Sarah    : Fatima, who else will it be? (She gets up) Coffee then?

Sammy : Yes (he follows her), I'm coming with you…(she smiles at him) if you can give a little boiling water I can have a shave.

 

(They both go out. After a while the servant Fatima enter with a brush in her hand and a bucket, she immediately starts work. She sweeps the floor between the overturned pieces of furniture and splinters, without returning anything back to its' place).

 

Fatima  :   Every day the same thing, in every house, every day the furniture's upside down and broken glass everywhere. Strange, and madam Wasal says to me, why do you sweep in a zig-zag and leave the furniture upside down? Okay madam, what's the point of tidying them when everyday they just get thrown upside down? It's better they stay where they are and that I dust between them. If I speak openly without beating around the bush, it's impossible to clean this house because its' things never stay in one place. I put the table here and the next day I find it upside down over there. I put the sofa under the window then I find it near the door facing the wall. If you want everything clean and tidy let me do it myself otherwise your house won't be like the rest of peoples' houses. Honestly, I don’t know what those people want!

 (Sammy comes in).

The Servant: Good morning Mr. Sammy.

Sammy : Hello, (pause) Yesterday I found the platinum light near the door, where it's normally here, on the right side of the sofa.

The Servant: I didn't move it.

Sammy : How did it move?

The Servant: I don' t touch anything, besure of that Mr. Sammy, I only clean the floor I don't even have a chance to known where things are kept initially the living room, or in any other rooms.

Sammy : If you stayed one hour more every day to clean the living room then you know would where every thing is kept but you just pop in and out.

The Servant: I can't stay late, I must prepare my husband's meal, take care of his clothes and clean his work kit, to be ready for the next day.

Sammy : No doubt you spend most of your evenings at home.

The Servant: Yes, we talk, drink tea and watch the evening movie.

Sammy : That's nice. Do you listen to music?

The Servant: Music? Of course, all the evening movies have dancing and music.

Sammy : No, I mean classical music.

The Servant: We don't like it.

Sammy : Modern life, as you know, pressures our nerves and causes a lot of stress strain, what would we do to reduce the tension and stress without music?

The Servant: We put on a lucky charm.

Sammy : What?

The Servant: A lucky charm. Once my husband became stressed and upset so I put a lucky charm on him and from that day he never upset again. There's a lucky charm for nervousness, one for jealousy, one for hatred, one for bad dreams. There's one for every thing.

Sammy :(He laughs).

The Servant: (She laughs as well) Madam Sarah laughs as well, when I tell her that I'll give her a lucky charm that will release her from headaches.

(Sarah's voice from inside).

Sarah    : Sammy…the water's boiling.

(He goes out still laughing, the servant laughs as well).

 

 

Act Two

 

The same place. The furniture has been reorganised, the picture has been fixed on the facing wall. Sammy is alone engrossed  in reading a newspaper.

 

Sammy : It’s strange. I don't understand what's happening to this world (pause). I don't understand why this is happening to the world. (He leaves the newspaper and thinks deeply). Did she reach her family's' house now…? She said she's going to visit her mother. Who else will be there? Her brother and sister. What will they talk about? About the factory and about me. When a mother sits with her daughter the conversation will be about the husband and when a woman sits with her husband the conversation will be about problems at the home. Demands and nothing more than demands. And that boor, her father, has started to think about Waleed, fancied his success at his work. Of course her mother will rabbit on in his ear in her last days in life while her eyes focused on Waleed’s money, she doesn't care that he gained it all by deception.

 (He fixes the position of the lampshade) I spend half of my wealth on fixing and restoring the furniture, and when I say that she smiles and replies, "what that trivial wealth you are talking about?". She says, " God put us in a position between wealth and poverty and we'll stay in this position". Why are we in this position?

 (He thinks) Did she go walking or did she get the bus? Anyway she's happy these days, she laughs a lot and cheerful. When the chairs start flying and turn up side down, I feel like this house is a spiders web and when everything is reorganized it seems like a scorpions lair. These walls lacking something until they become a real home, I don't know what. (He thinks) Where will she go after she's visited her mother?

 I'm supposed to go back to the factory, the engineer needs to change some old parts and there's no one to sign for the order, so the machines have stayed broken down for two days. I promised to pay the lawyer this afternoon but I've forgotten when he'll come. (He thinks) Will she be late if she comes by bus or will she go somewhere else before she remembers her home?

(He hears the outside door slam and knows it's his wife. As he moves a base for a vase is overturned and the china smashes. He bends down to clear up the fragments).

She'll find a good reason to complain unless she's been attacked by the neighbours dogs.

(She comes in a cheerful mood carrying a number of bags and ignores the broken vase).

At last you've arrived, I was wiping the dust off it and it fell from my hand. How's your mother?

Sarah    : I don't know. (Sammy looks at her surprised) I didn't go to see her. I went to the shops, I’ll call my mum by phone. I was going to my family's house and I saw a lot of people walking down the street, all of them going in one direction, they were walking like a groups of giraffe. It was astonishing to see. So I decided to follow them to see where they were going, do you believe that? Eventually I found myself at the shops. I said to myself: Okay as long as you’re here, buy yourself something. Look, what I got for you (she gets a shirt out from one of the bags) this shirt really suits you, look, isn't it lovely? Don't say you don't like it, it's real silk. (Sammy takes the shirt without enthusiasm) I have to call my mum now, don’t worry about the size, fortunately it was the only one that was your size.

Sammy : My grandfather used to say, "don't ask your luck how it came".

Sarah    : Do you love him a lot?

Sammy : Who?

Sarah    : Your grandfather, you talk about him more than you talk about your father, despite the fact that he died before you were born as you told me.

Sammy : That's right, my father's the one who talks about him. Since I was little my father told me about his astuteness, about his generosity, bravery and about the great things he did in his life. I think about him a lot.

Sarah    : I don't know how we love people we didn't see them even once in our life, my mother also talks to me about her father and grandfather, but I don't like to listen to that kind of talk.

Sammy : Why?

Sarah    : I don't know what they say about them is true or not! (She smiles). Have you had lunch?

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : How did you find the cooking?

Sammy : Tasty.

Sarah    : Really? (She lifts the receiver, then she leaves it). Do you know who I met today in the street? Nida and her husband Wafiq. I was coming out of the chemists when I saw a fancy car pull up by the pavement, and before I knew it I was face to face with Wafiq.

Sammy : What kind of car was it?

Sarah    : A Jaguar. It seems that things are going well with them.

Sammy : I don' like those people.

Sarah    : Why?

Sammy : (He replies with an ambiguous move of his head).

Sarah    : If you just saw how happy Nida and Wafiq were to see me. They said that they are living in the new area. Of course it was an opportunity for me to invite them to visit us.

Sammy : I don't know why you rush into things!

Sarah    : Why? You're always talking highly of Wafiq and you worked together for a long time in the corporation, I thought you liked him.

Sammy : I hate that person. He didn't know his role any day.

Sarah    : I heard the opposite from you. Anyway, I’m going to call my mother. (She lifts the receiver again).

Sammy : How do you know that things are going well for them?

Sarah    : How do I know?! The valuable chain around Nida's neck and besides … I don't think that they hired a Jaguar to buy a packet of aspirin from the chemists. If you don't want them to visit, then I won't ring and that's the end of it. Did the servant finish the cleaning? (She looks at the floor).

Sammy : I didn't find her when I arrived.

Sarah    : That woman scares me when she comes, she comes in like a cat, you don't hear her footsteps or anything.

Sammy : I feel sorry for those people they still believe in the old things that's why their thinking is miserable and their way of life too.

Sarah    :(She remembers) Oh, my mother…(she goes back to the telephone) I fancy a cup of coffee, in a café, in a garden, then we can take a stroll until the evening.

Sammy : You've just come in a few minutes ago!

Sarah    : I don't know why I fancy doing that now, maybe because we didn't go out together for such a long time. Maybe it's because we only see gardens only on the TV, when was the last time we went to a café? It's been a long time.

Sammy : Time's the reason.

Sarah    :(Sarcastically) I know, it's time, (then jokingly) you're not the only one darling, all husbands discover their happiness in a café, then they take it home with them and lock the door. (She laughs).

Sammy : You said a Jaguar, but what type?

Sarah    : How do I know? Wafiq surprised me. Suddenly he was in front of me, then how are you, how you doing etc. Do you know, sitting in a café not so enjoyable these days, people are different. Look, take a quick glance while you're walking down the street. You'll see the different appearance of the café's customers, their faces are depressed, and they exhale cegarates smoke and look stupidly at people's faces. That old jokes, the happy event, and the laugh of people isn’t there anymore.

Sammy : It wouldn't surprise me if he hired it.

Sarah    : Who?

Sammy : Wafiq, the Jaguar.

Sarah    : Oh. The Jaguar is still buzzing around in your head, (she thinks) what did you want me to do? Oh! (The telephone before she picks up the receiver the phone rings). Hello…Yes that's us, no, no, of course I'm sure, … what contract are you talking about? No we haven't seen any houses for rent, it seems to be some mistake…

Sammy : Yes, yes … Give me the telephone, (he gets up and takes the receiver from her) hello, yes that's me, a small misunderstanding, sure, afternoon? I'll be there, afternoon, bye.

(He circles the room and she watches him frowning).

Sarah    : What rental contract were you talking about?

Sammy :(Stuttering) It's a new house, big, the living room is..

Sarah    :(Interrupting), which contract?

Sammy : Okay, by chance I found a house for rent. So I asked this property office … to arrange the procedure. I mean the contract..

Sarah    : You choose, agree and sign, without even telling me ..?

Sammy : I was waiting for that call so I could be certain first.

Sarah    : They said that you have been in contact with them for over a month..!

Sammy : Actually I mentioned something in passing.

Sarah    : And you went with them to look at some houses..

Sammy : It's a house which is a bargain that's all.

Sarah    : And you signed the contract two days ago without telling me ...!

Sammy : I told you ..anyway.. I was afraid the chance would slip away, that's why..

Sarah    : Oh..(she puts her hands on her cheeks partly in anger and partly in disbelief)

Sammy : I'm sure you'll like it.

Sarah    :(With anger and sorrow) Hmmm..!

Sammy : We can cancel the contract ... if you like.

Sarah    :(Even more sarcastically) Really..?

Sammy : I was waiting for a opportunity to tell you.

Sarah    : Oh God..

Sammy : The house is a bargain; the surrounding area is so quiet.

Sarah    :(Sharply) I'm not talking about that, I’m talking about t a decision concerning my life and where I live, that you're taking alone without me knowing. (In an even higher voice) What am I going to do with the quietness outside? Oh.. It's always the same beginning.

Sammy : Offf.. Are we going to start arguing again?

Sarah    : What kind of torture is this? That a person spends all his life on guard and alert, completely on edge because of the person he lives with.

Sammy : Okay, if you want to argue, I said that moving is essential for our life.

Sarah    : You're amazing when you go on with the same tune, whereas the other grinds his teeth in anger.

(Sammy starts talking quietly, as he knows that it will get on her nerves)

Sammy : Grind his teeth! Why all this anger? Would you please tell me why you don't want to move from this house? Eh? Why? You are always refusing to leaving this place, you're always giving reasons that I'm not convinced by, so I found myself forced to rent that house, so that we can be rid of any reason to stay here.

Sarah    : Aren't you ashamed to say that?

Sammy : ashamed? (He laughs) Why should I be ashamed? I know the reason which entices you to stay here. The real reason which you never mention when you talk.

Sarah    :(Astonished) The real reason! What's the real reason?

Sammy :(He plods in the living room and delays his answer to torture her further) The dentist.

Sarah    : What?

Sammy : I've seen you spend ages in front of the window that overlooks his clinic and you pay more attention than is normal to your teeth's health.

Sarah    : This is ridicules.

Sammy : And many times you suggested that we invite him for a dinner.

Sarah    : To invite him as a neighbor nothing more.

Sammy : And your always talking about how gentle and caring he is with your teeth.

Sarah    :(Sharply) I'm not the type of women who stands behind the curtains looking.

Sammy :(With complete calmness) Yes.

Sarah    :(Even sharper) No..(she goes towards the door) It's better I check the kitchen than listen to this.

Sammy : I came across his letter.

Sarah    :(She stops) What do you mean?

Sammy : By accident I opened a letter that came by post. It was from him.

Sarah    :(She reflects a long time about what he has said) I don't care how you think, but I know myself. (She moves to leave).

Sammy :(He  rushes and stands in her way blocking her path) You love him!

Sarah    : No..

Sammy : Yes, I've heard so much about his ability, that he's an expert in filling teeth, that he's so quick at removing plaque, that he treats gum disease with such expertise, and you conceder him genius in cleaning dirt away from the mouth. You love him.

Sarah    : No, it's your jealousy that's making you imagine all these delusions.

Sammy : Interrupting) I know you'd deny it.

Sarah    : It's jealousy that's burning you deep inside.

Sammy :(He laughs mockingly).

Sarah    : This isn't the first tale.

Sammy : Maybe, but I held the letter in my own hand.

Sarah    : Do you want me to remind you? Okay, it's enough that you were jealous from your own brother, and that you stood listening behind the living room door... when he came to encourage me to do some voluntary charity work, do you remember  your disgracefully standing behind the door? Do you remember when you said that this charity work is something strange in our community? Do you remember? (She circles him) All your concern was caused by jealousy. All your battles are caused by jealousy (she slaps her thighs) your brain is here.

Sammy :(He still calm) you see, each of us has his sensitive spot (he moves his hand as if play an imaginary lute).

Sarah    : Do you remember our wedding night when you put your head on my chest and you began to cry and plea so that I would say if there was a man who touched me before you? Do you remember? Do you want me to remind you of more? Here..(she points to between her thighs) here, if you had been able you would have encamped here and spent the rest of your life guarding it.

Sammy : But you do like him.

Sarah    : You don't want to end this issue!

Sammy : But you do carry some kind of affection in your heart for him (he circles her) or at the very least you have thought about him as a man. Don't say that you haven't thought about him even an instant when you're alone with yourself, for example before you sleep, or while you're looking in the mirror, or …

Sarah    : Yes, I thought about him...one time, if that makes you happy.

Sammy : You See?! I've seen you change.

Sarah    : Now your illusions will begin to grow in your imagination.

Sammy : No, I won't allow the imagination to enter into our family affairs, we're modern people believing in civilization and casting amorous glances at the neighbors. (pause) For more than a year I've felt a thick fog surrounding me, a strange fragrance fills my home, naked ghosts go round the rooms and hallways and cross the doors before my sight. I didn't say anything, indeed I kept quiet, I waited, hoping that you would be rehabitated one day, or you would become brave to admit it and go to live with him, but it seems that the game itself enchanted you, the passionate of betrayal enjoys you, the secrecy, the lies, inventing reasons for coming and going, the feelings of carelessness and the fear of being noticed, this tense atmosphere is most fascinating enjoyment, isn't it?

(She gives the impression that she's taking no notice of him)

Losing you wouldn't mean anything to me, but exploiting the trust I've put in you hurts me. For a person to find out, after many years that he was foolish, that he put his trust in someone who didn't deserve it, didn't value it, but trample over for the sake of their own desires, this is what tears the heart more than quickly signing a rental contract.

Sarah    :(She looks at him with deep bitterness and disgust) Oh God!

Sammy : (He laughs) A while ago the factory accountant said to me that our home expenses have increased this year, I was surprised, I looked for a new sofa, a new bed, a new cooker, I didn't find any of those. I found that you increased the amount make up you buy and a new wardrobe full of clothes. (He laughs) Make up, what does make-up hide and what does it show? (Pause) This time I'm the one who's leaving the house.

Sarah    : I won't stand in your way, or try to intervene.

Sammy : So you thought about him as I expected.

Sarah    : Yes.

(Sammy loses his previous calmness, he stands irritated overcomed by feelings of rage, Sarah turns her back to leave).

Sammy :(He shouts) Where are you going?

Sarah    : What do you want?

Sammy :(Stuttering and shaking) Did...

Sarah    : What?

Sammy :(He inquires with an obscure movement of his hand) Did...?

Sarah    : Say it. Are you afraid to say it?

Sammy : Did you betray me?

Sarah    :(Vaguely) Yes. I betrayed you, No, I didn't betray you, or Why not? It depends what you want from me. Actually the first person I betrayed was myself when I leaned on you all my dreams for life. I knew a lot about you but despite that I believed a lot of what you said, so that's my punishment.

 

(Sammy is overcome by feelings of insult, he makes to leave but stops at the door and returns, he circles the living room overcomde by anger and confusion. Eventually he picks up a small table and smashes it on the ground as he leaves).

 

(Sarah feels frightened and reaches out her hand to him and then withdraws it as he has already left. After a while, the telephone rings).

 

Sarah    : Hello, yes, What? An hour ago?.. I'll come straight away. (She puts the phone down. She moves restlessly around the living room, then she collapses on a chair and her worry turns to fear).

(Sammy enters carrying his bag, he notices her worry and stays near to the door)

Sammy : Who called?

Sarah    : My family, (pause) my mother's collapsed unconscious (muddled). I hope that it passes quickly. I'm frightened. This is the second time she fell unconscious in a week. That means she's in a dangerous state, Maybe ..oh, no.. what's happening to me? If something happens to her my father's health will deteriorate, or he'll spend the rest of his life depressed. I feel cold, I'm shaking. I feel as if I'm frozen in ice.

(Sammy puts his bag down on the ground and stands close to her without moving).

They're saying, oh no, I need something to warm me up (she gets up slightly but returns to the chair as she feel unable to get up) I need something to cover me. I need.. I feel that my feet are frozen. What's happening to me? Something to put around my shoulders (she shakes violently).

(After pausing Sammy moves slowly, he goes out and then returns with a very thin bed sheet which he throws at her carelessly. She takes it and tries to place in her shoulders with both her hands).

Sammy :(From afar) How do you feel now?

Sarah    : It's getting colder.

Sammy : (He walks and his hands are behind his back, occasionally he glances fleetingly at Sarah) I've been thinking that we should discuss the process of our separation, but this thing…, I mean what happened to your mother, doesn't allow us to discuss it.. I leave the house now and I'll call to you later to talk about it.

Sarah    : What's happened to my mother doesn't seem to have bothered you at all !

Sammy : I feel sorry for her. That's all I can say.

Sarah    : Of course, and you've treated me very gently!

Sammy : What can I do?

Sarah    : For sure you can't do anything, like showing a bit of sympathy!

Sammy : I don't think that sympathy will save your mother from death.

Sarah    : (Irritated) You know how to choose the right words in the right circumstances.

Sammy : I'm sorry, I don’t mean it; I also have my own circumstances. As you know a person is selfish by nature, when he is concerned with his own troubles.. he doesn't see other peoples troubles.

Sarah    : All I know is that human beings are sympathetic to each other in a specific moment.

Sammy : That's what we hope for, or what we wish for, but reality is something else.

Sarah    : If people are the way you describe them, who can we ask for help? Where will we find any sympathy?

Sammy : We don't ask anyone for it, because if we ask we'll never find it. Ask me, I've been left alone more than once, in the cold and in the warmth, without anyone giving me any sympathy.

(He holds out his hand as if to request support but he doesn't find any. He keeps moving his hand because he knows it tortures her).

Sammy : I was left alone especially in the heat in a burning room on the tenth floor of a hotel overlooking a river in Brazil.

Sarah    : Oh .. not again.

Sammy : The heat of the dessert, a heat which peels the skin, a heat of the summer which dries the eyes, but the fire in a burning room that's what causes the fear, especially when you jump from the bed and you find yourself surrounded by flames, everyone thought they had to escape, whereas the smoke enters your head like the breathing of the devil, so that the mind, senses, feet are so confused at such moment you forget the heat and you're overtaken by anger and madness.

Sarah    : (Hesitatingly) you know that I didn't leave the room, except after I had given up waking you up..

Sammy : At that moment, who knows what a person thinks?

Sarah    : I went running in the hotel shouting for help..

Sammy : And there was no door, the cursed door which I could easily reach normally even in the dark. It disappeared. It wasn't visible despite the strong light of the fire.

Sarah    : And when the fireman arrived, they found me unconscious.

Sammy : The window hid as well, the room had turned into walls only, walls and nothing else. Tell me frankly, in that moment.. did you wish I was dead? No, no, don't answer that question (he moves nervously and walks into a chair, he turns to it and kicks it causing it to tumble far away) These cursed things, they are always under our feet and surrounding us. (Then he picks it up and throws it out of the window).

(After a pause he laughs as a thought comes to his mind)

Why don't we just throw all the furniture which is useless? We'll clear some space for ourselves, so that we move freely .. so that we don't trip over wood, iron and glass. What do you think? A lot of things are going to change, I'm sure.

(He throws another piece of furniture out of the window and thinks)

All this mess around us ... it’s so much… it’s doesn't suit our nature, that's what's destroyed our life. Look, what the meaning of four small coffee tables? (he throws a small table out of the window). My grandfather used to say," If the meat of the sheep is lost, don't loose the wool."

(She's drawn to the idea and responds to his enthusiasm and picks up a small basket)

Sarah    : Why are there three fruit baskets? (She throws them out of the window)

(They begin to examine things and disregard them enthusiastically).

Sammy : What's the use of all of these cushions?

Sarah    : Why are there five ashtrays?

Sammy : Why are there three newspapers a day?

Sarah    : Why are there four teapots?

Sammy : Why are there two TVs in the house?

Sarah    : Why are there five lamps..?

Sammy : No, not the lamps.(He grabs the lamp from her and puts it back).

(The phone rings and Sammy replies as he is the closest to the phone at that moment)

Hello, oh, we're fine, (he casts a glance at Sarah) Of course, very well and how are you? Excellent, Do you want to talk to her? Sure. (He passes the receiver to Sarah and she remains looking at him questioningly) It's for you, It's her, your mum, (he laughs) no one else (he drowns in laughter whereas she lowers her gaze showing her dejection) The cold's increasing…(he sits on the bag and surrounds her with his gaze). You were brilliant, I believed you. I really believed you. I didn't suspect for a moment that you were shaking. You're amazing (he claps his hands). Every time I forget my self and believe your lies. (The phone is left off the hook).

Sarah    : I was really shaking.

Sammy : Do you have a new chapter to present?

Sarah    : I was shaking and I was frightened you would leave.

Sammy :(He points at the telephone) this is your mother on the phone and not my mother.

Sarah    : I lied so that you would stay. But I was really shaking out of fear that you would go.

Sammy : And then?

Sarah    : What could I do? I wanted you to stay at any cost.

Sammy : You would have continued the game if the phone hadn't rang (she nods her head. He picks up the telephone to check if her mother is still waiting, or the line is dead) she's gone. She put the phone down. Who was talking with you before?

Sarah    : The hairdresser.

Sammy : Mmm.

Sarah    : I thought you would understand my reasons and forgive me.

Sammy : I'm going in any case. I forgive you but I'm not staying. I'm looking for a new world, new people, I’m going to live a different life even if it means going to live in the jungle. I trust the animals will be more merciful and the pagan tribes safer.

(Sarah's dejection increases)

I'll choose a far away place, in another part of the world, so I can restart my life. What would I lose? Nothing. What's stopping me? Nothing. (He sighs relaxed) I feel like I'm free, as a light as a cloud. Today I'm cleansing everything; I'm ending it quickly. Then I'll go, I won't wait until tomorrow, no, no, (he looks at the living room and it's as if he's returning briefly, enjoying some old memories) and despite that, there were some good times.

Sarah    : There were a lot of good times, if only we'd  organised things better, If only each of us had more sympathetic with the other. We can do that now.

(Sammy shakes his head)

Yes, we can. Do you remember the time we spent in the countryside when we sat on the edge of the bridge and, when we threw grapes at each other, one for you, one for the water, one for you, one for the water, Do you remember?!

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : And when uncle Dawud told us his silly jokes and we were rolling with laughter because our legs were entwined under the table.

Sammy : Yes… There were some nice times, apart from that and, by the way, the dentist's letter was about changing your appointment, there was nothing special in it (she looks at him with astonishment) yes… there was only one line in it, about changing your appointment.

Sarah    : So, you lied to me?

Sammy : I needed to make up that story to make you admit it and I free myself from blame before I go.

Sarah    : Just like that? (Pauses) We've been through some difficult times, that's the reason. I also lied when I said my father wants to sell the factory, he's not thinking of selling and he won't be thinking of selling. Actually, my father and the rest of my family were pleased. In fact I told them that you've found a partner whose willing to expand the factory according to the amount of profit.

Sammy :(He smiles) Mmm.

Sarah    : Your rich friend you told me about.

Sammy : My dear that was a small trick that businessmen use under certain circumstances.

Sarah    : So it wasn't true?

Sammy : No….but as you speaking with spirit of forgiveness and I'm about to leave, you should know that the painting (he points to it) isn't rubbish as I said, there's a certain depth to it. That's what one of our friends said about it.

Sarah    : They really said that?

Sammy : Yes, they also said … (he remembers) it has … a beautiful composition.

Sarah    :(Happily) Who?

Sammy : A friend, he was with me in the car the last time I came to pick up some documents, so I invited him for a cup of coffee. He's the type who’s interested in art.

Sarah    : No doubt he understands a lot about art.

Sammy : A lot.

Sarah    : What else did he say?

Sammy : He mentioned the colours, he said they were a symphony.

Sarah    : What else?

Sammy : That he liked it.

Sarah    : (After a pause for thought due to the effect of what has been said) That's the reason you destroyed it?

Sammy : No, I was angry.

Sarah    : Because you knew it's value (she touches it gently), because you don't like to hear people praising me. I felt like I put my whole soul into it, and my feelings (she cries). I knew I had done something valuable. But you acted without mercy, now… I don't feel any regret about what I did to you regarding the idea of having children, I won't feel any regret again.

Sammy : What have you done?

Sarah    : No, I didn't.

Sammy :(Insisting) What have you done?

Sarah    : I haven't done anything. Forget it.

Sammy :((He surrounds her) No doubt that you're hiding something from me. What have you done?

Sarah    : I sterilized my womb  at the hospital so that I couldn't have your children.

Sammy : You wretch!

Sarah    : I cut it out and throw it to the dogs!

Sammy : Idiot!

Sarah    : You don't deserve children from me.

Sammy : I used to wish that you had died in that fire, that you’d turn into a piece of coal. As long as it's like that, take this then, I was the one who set the fire in the hotel room. Me, do you know how? I put a candle close to the electrical cabling in the bath room before we went to sleep.

Sarah    : I knew the fire didn't start by chance.

Sammy : I wished that the fire had devoured you.

Sarah    : I knew that. I was the one who locked the room door, because I always doubted your intentions, and that night specifically, I knew that you would do something despicablek that's why I didn't sleep a wink that night, and when I smelt a strange smell I got out of the bed quietly, so that you would stay engrossed in your brutal dreams. I locked the door on you so that you would be surrounded by the walls. I locked the door three times, (she moves her hand accordingly) click, click, click (he follows her but she keeps a distance from him while she is backing away) God's fire set alight … click, click. The fire which fries the flesh, click, click, click, so that you would know the punishment before you go to hell, click, click, click, so that you would get your reward here, on the earth.

Sammy : Your small lies don't bother me, it's enough that I made you into little puppet on that trip, I made you explode with rage.

Sarah    : Click, click…

Sammy : And out of jealousy,

Sarah    : Click, click, click…

Sammy : I was the one who put the suggestive letter addressed to Leila on the table so that I could crush your heart with jealousy..

Sarah    : Click…click…

Sammy : And when I left you alone in the hotel lounge I was talking to her at the information desk.

Sarah    : Click …click…

Sammy : And due to her request we cut short our holiday and I came back with you before the end of the vacation.

Sarah    : Cli…….ck.

Sammy : And the telegraph which I told you that it was from a friend was from her as well.

Sarah    : Liar… I don't believe a word you say..

Sammy : Yes, and you'll believe me if I tell you that I had the dinner with her the night before our trip, when I was late coming home.

Sarah    : (Her manner of speech and expression change) Are you serious about what you're saying?

Sammy : And your days that I turned them into a hell in Brazil were because of your doubts about Leila.

Sarah    : Leave Brazil now…

Sammy : (He interrupts her) And all your torture during the trip was because of you were thinking bout her…

Sarah    :(Nearly losing patience) Is it true that you were with her?

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : And that you'd meet her secretly?

Sammy : Yes. And the present that you found in my clothes in the hotel was for her as well.

Sarah    : (shouting in his face) I told you leave Brazil now, is it true what you said about Leila?

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : And you would meet her without me knowing?

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : And the stories about the partnership with her husband, you made it up, you and her so it would be a reason to meet her?

Sammy : Yes. And it was agreed that we would sign the partnership deal as soon as we returned from Brazil.

Sarah    :(She loses her patience and screams) Leave this story of Brazil, I want the truth. You know that the story of Brazil is all lie.

Sammy :( surprised) No…

Sarah    :(She screams again) Lies. We didn't go to Brazil…

Sammy :(He stops her from speaking) Sh, sh, be quiet.

Sarah    : It was a lie that we trumped  it uo to deceive people.

Sammy : Don't say another word.

Sarah    : It was a lie, a lie, a lie..

Sammy : (He shouts) No…. (then as if he's breaking down) Why? Why? Why did you do it?

(A silent pause, they're both exhausted)

Sarah    : It was one of your deceptions.

Sammy : You agreed to it.

Sarah    : But it was one of your inventions.

Sammy : You also have your inventions, have you forgotten? The storm was one of your of inventions. This city hasn't had any storm since we were born, so why did you do it?

Sarah    : Because everything became a lie, everything we say is a lie, everything we see is a lie, everything we hear is a lie, everything we do is a lie. Oh God… I feel as if we're drowning in lies, so much so that I don't think I'm able to say anything, or hear anything.

Our life has become like a lie… it gets bigger, bigger, bigger and it doesn't want to explode. (Pauses) We can't continue like this. We must find a solution, is there a solution? There must be a solution, how do other people live happily? How do they live in serenity.

Sammy : There's no happiness.

Sarah    : Some people must be living in happiness, or a little happiness, with a little affection, or at least they understand each other. Each of them accepting the other. We live in a horrible torture.

(She cries).

This hell is unbearable, why? Tell me why? (she shakes her head in desperation) We've tried everything, even other people we have cut off from them. We distanced ourselves from them and their lives because we think that they're the cause. We've tried everything. Sammy, tell me what should we do? Where's the mistake? There must be some kind of mistake!

Sometimes I dream about calm, moments of serenity, I hold your hand with affection so I feel your pulse say I love you. I come close to you so that I can feel your breath warm me. To walk by your side and be sure that your shadow will protect me from harm, but I always find myself alone, where's the mistake?

Some days go by and I feel that happiness wasn't created for people like us. That there is no meaning to our existence, in fact it's better if we ended it, tell me where's the mistake? There must be a mistake, there must be some kind of big crack here. (She points in side herself) No doubt that the destruction is here, inside, (she clings to him)  Sammy the destruction is here, I've had enough, I can't … (he holds her, then hugs her and they bend down slowly towards the ground, embracing each other). I've had enough. I feel very weak, my heart's aching, Sammy…

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : There's no solution.

Sammy : What?

Sarah    : There's no way…

(A long pause of silence and breaking down)

Sammy : The servant, where's the servant?

Sarah    : The servant ..!

Sammy : When does the servant come? Now I've remembered.

Sarah    : What have you remembered?

Sammy : The servant knows.

Sarah    : The servant knows what? (She racks her brains thinking).

Sammy : You might not believe it but she will be our guidance. When does she arrive?

Sarah    : She should be here in a moment or two, but I don't understand…

Sammy : We'll find the solution through the servant.

 

 

 

Act Three.

 

The same place, the furniture is less than before but arranged in a sharp manner. The painting is in its usual place except that it is covered with a piece of black cloth and the light is dim.

 

(Sarah is sitting on the floor her head lowered over a burner filled with incense. She is covered completely by a green sheet and no part of her is visible. She murmurs with words which are incomprehensible in a low voice, occasionally coughing.)

 

(Sammy squats close to her with his finger placed on a tape recorder, waiting for a sign from her to press the button.)

 

Sammy : Incense, give us some more incense.

Sarah    : Now?

(Sammy presses the button the sound of drums beating in a slow rhythm. Sarah raises the cover from herself with a quick movement. A thick cloud of smoke rises up and she starts murmuring with a faster voice).

Sammy : (He reads from a piece of paper that he is holding) Oh you evil spirit hiding in the deep darkness, fleeing from the light of life, come here, to the house of Sammy, in a appearance of which can be seen but does not harm, stoops but is not resistant, free of any power or any followers…. free of any power or any followers…. free of any power or any followers.

(Sammy and Sarah both get up and move from wall to wall chasing off invisible spirits).

Sammy : There…

Sarah    :(Between coughs) That's a shadow.

Sammy : No, it's a spirit, look.

Sarah    : It's a shadow.

Sammy : It looks like a human apparition, look there.

Sarah    : It's not a ghost and it's not a shadow, the wall itself is moving.

Sammy : It looks like a rambling spirit. That's a vision of a foot, there's the head separated from it.

Sarah    : I can't see anything.

Sammy : There.

Sarah    :(She runs to where he's pointing) There's nothing.

Sammy : You must have faith in what you see… look there.

Sarah    : What's happened to us? You're pointing at the window.

Sammy : Two fingers above the window, what do you see?

Sarah    : Nothing.

Sammy : Come here. (he takes her back to the burner, he puts some more incense and covers her with the green sheet) Read…

Sarah    : I can't.

Sammy : Read.(Sarah murmurs and then lifts the cover from herself in the same way) and now, what's standing over there behind the chair?

Sarah    : I can't see anything!

Sammy : (He examines the walls again as he is coming in and out of the light) It's a vision.

Sarah    : It's a small shadow from the lamp.

Sammy : How do you want the spirit to appear, if it's not going to be a shadow or a veil?

Sarah    : What's that?

Sammy : Where?

Sarah    : There in the corner.

Sammy : Something's moving, it's getting bigger, expanding, it's a spirit, forming itself slowly, it's pushing  some kind of barrier, or thick cover surrounding it…..as if it wants to speak, or point to something behind it. It's rising, it's writhing…

Sarah    : Slow down, you're going to far in your imagination.

Sammy : It's a real spirit freeing itself from its chains.

Sarah    : It's only veils of incense smoke, look.

Sammy : What kind of twaddle is this?

Sarah    : You don’t believe any one except yourself. (She goes to the corner and blows the smoke) Phoooo…You see!

(Sammy stops the tape recorder. pause)

Sammy : I think you lifted the cover off too quickly at the first time.

Sarah    : I couldn't stand the smoke any longer.

Sammy : If you'd only delayed another minute…

Sarah    : I couldn't.

Sammy : And there was only a little incense.

Sarah    : There was a lot.

Sammy : We won't get any results this way.

Sarah    : At the last moment I felt my soul comes up to my nose.

Sammy : Shall we try again?

Sarah    : Now ..? Do you want to stop my breathing? Why don’t you do it yourself?

Sammy : Do you think that I would hesitate if it was down to me? On the contrary, I would bring quick results and, perhaps an amazing results, but Fatima insists that the wife performs the inhaling.

Sarah    : If Fatima was here she would help us some how.

Sammy : Will she be late?

Sarah    : Who knows when Fatima comes or when she goes!

Sammy : She's late, but if she said she’d come, then she'll come.

Sarah    : You're right.

Sammy : You don’t looks to be happy with her?

Sarah    : Me? I don't know.

(pause)

Sammy : It was a vision of a human, not a  shadow like you said, a vision of a naked human, if we increase the light a little.

Sarah    : Fatima won't accept it, she says that the spirits and ghosts run away from light, thieves also run away from the light (she smiles).

Sammy : Why are you smiling?

Sarah    : Nothing..

Sammy : Nothing… I don't know….today your in a disturbed mood. (He puts more incense in the burner).

Sarah    : I've started to feel uncomfortable due to the smell of the incense. Before when I smell incense from afar my senses would be refreshed. Now incense in the night, incense in the day, incense in the morning, incense in afternoon, I've began to feel like there's a dead fish tied to my hair. (She smells a lock of her hair).

Sammy : When you start to complain,  we won't get any results. Shall we try it now?

Sarah    : Let me get my breath back, why all this rush?

Sammy : Calm down, calm down, I said as long as we've started…

Sarah    : Okay, we've been trying since this morning.

(The sound of the door opening and closing is heard).

Sammy : Fatima… (he goes to meet her but after a while he gets back alone).

Sarah    : Who is it?

Sammy : The wind…(Sarah takes a chair to sit on) what have you done?

Sarah    : What…?

Sammy : The chair..!

Sarah    : I want to relax for a while, my knees have become stiff from this position.

Sammy : (He takes the chair from her and puts it back) Have you forgotten that the furniture must stay in the same place, every chair, every table, every piece, shouldn’t move a bit out of place, never.

Sarah    : Oh… (she collapses on the sofa).

(pause the Sammy looks worried and impatient)

Sammy : I have a big hope that we can reach some sort of result that will change all the situation, what do you think?

Sarah    : A little hope. Sammy… did you used to have dreams when you were younger?

Sammy : What kind of question is that?! Of course I had dreams.

Sarah    : What did you dream about?

Sammy : A lot of things.

Sarah    : Do you remember them, those things you used to dream about?

Sammy : Not all of them.

Sarah    : Tell me about one of them.

Sammy : For example, I used to dream about having a big house on the river bank, I would spend some of my time there. I'd sit, especially afternoon, on a comfortable chair, I'd smoke and gaze at the water and trees, filled with feeling that in the house behind me there would be a woman I love. Her face could appear to me at any time, full of love… and so on.

Sarah    : Then we're like the rest of mankind!

Sammy : Who said we're not?

Sarah    : (She breaks down weeping).

Sammy : Why are you crying? What's wrong?

Sarah    :(She controls herself) Nothing, nothing. I just needed to cry, it's nothing.

Sammy : This softness women have, we don't know when does it appear and when does it disappear!

Sarah    : Don't worry about it (Sammy puts more incense) let the house get some fresh air.

Sammy : A little only, so that the fire doesn't go out.

Sarah    : You'll put it out this way.

Sammy : There are things we don't understand, shall we call Fatima?

Sarah    : Fatima flees from the telephone.

Sammy : I'm sure that what she said is true, and all this efforts we are putting will  be rewarded the long run, and a final solution.

Sarah    : Your enthusiasm for things scares me.

Sammy : This is our chance. Shouldn't we be convinced by the proofs that we've heard?

Sarah    : I'm scared.

Sammy : What's scaring you?

Sarah    : I don't no.

Sammy : Oh… I don't know again.

Sarah    : Can't I talk to you about my fear.

Sammy :(Firmly) No, please don't. Because fear disrupts everything, a lack of confidence destroys the result. We've been forewarned from fear. Anyway we'll wait for Fatima to arrive and see what she brings for us.

(A pause in silence and waiting)

Sarah    : Sammy, don’t tell me that at some point I was completely convinced of what she said.

Sammy : But you were convinced and you agreed.

Sarah    : No. I was afraid at the beginning, do you remember that?

Sammy : Have you changed your mind…?

Sarah    : I don't want to start an argument with you now but I'm not completely convinced.

Sammy : I'll take full responsibility, are you happy with that?

Sarah    : I don’t want to argue now.

(pause)

Sammy : I know that this incense is making you uncomfortable, but it's hard once then it's over. Tackle it courageously with patience and perseverance and we'll reach our goal.

Sarah    : (She laughs mockingly) Who would have believed that all my talk, life and disagreements, would have been about incense? Who would have imagined that my days would be spent covered by the smoke of aniseed, gum and herbs? I need a cup of coffee to clear my head.

Sammy : It's not possible. After half an hour you've got to take a herbal infusion and then you can drink and eat as you like.

Sarah    : This soackage, every time I drink it I want to vomit.

Sammy : We must put up with it.

Sarah    : (Sarcastically) Yes… do you know that you haven't gone to the factory for ages?

Mansaur: I know.

Sarah    : What's happened to the machines and the ovens now?

Sammy : Nothing will happen to them, tomorrow I'll have a quick visit.

Sarah    : I'm sure that the staff and the workers neglected them, and that the mice are relaxing in the flour stores.

Sammy : We have to finish this issue first, after that I'll go to the factory (pointing to his head), there're a lot of thoughts and ideas of how to develop production  and add new projects. The profit will be ten fold.

(Sound of the outside door opening and closing strongly)

Sammy : That's Fatima…

Sarah    : Of course it's her, the whole building begins to shake when she comes in.

(Fatima, the servant comes in, she has a bruise round her left eye)

Fatima  :   There's not enough incense in the house.

Sammy :(He glances at her with blame) I forgot the incense because of your talking. (He blows on the burner to light the fire then he puts a large a amount of incense on it).

Fatima  :   (She pulls out a small bag from her handbag) He says it still works but he gave me a new mix of incense. (She puts the case near to the burner and lifts the old incense).

Sarah    : Is…

Sammy : Is it still working until now?

Fatima  :   He is preparing  and working on the new stuff which are with him before he writes for you (she occupies herself with moving the table back to its place). He says that it needs a longer time because you are under the influence of strong force, stronger than him; therefore it requires bigger efforts so that the magician can be overcome.

Sammy :(A quick glance at his wife then back to Fatima) did he say when it would end?

Fatima  :   A day…. A week….a month, nothing's clear so far, but he's started preparing his materials . Yesterday he got a Hoopoes ear and buried it in an abandoned grave, it'll stay there for around a week and now he needs a broken button from one of your shirts.

Sammy : What's he going to do with it?

Fatima  :   We shouldn't ask.

Sammy : I don't know if I have a shirt with a broken button.

Fatima  :   Break it with your hand, after you've drank this blue water (she gives him a small vial) he says that the water is blended with Indian chilies.

Sarah    : Fatima, how much will he want for his services?

Fatima  :   I don't know, after he's finished he give you the bill.

Sammy : How should I drink this?

Fatima  :   One gulp and with a broken breath, then break the button.

Sammy : (He turns to go) I don't know if there is a pairs of pliers in the house to break a button!

Fatima  :   Mr. Sammy… It must be a white button.

Sammy : White…(then he exits).

Sarah    : Fatima, what happened to your eye?

Fatima  :   Nothing.

Sarah    : Do you call this huge bruise swelling your eye nothing?

Fatima  :   Oh, the bruise? The bruise … I fell and banged my face on the ground.

Sarah    : It's a blow of a hand not of a ground, did your husband hit you Fatima?

Fatima  :   Hit me? He's never hit me.

Sarah    : Fatima, that's a slap, dont deny it, does he hit you when he gets angry with you?

Fatima  :   Sometimes.

Sarah    : And you are embarrassed that he hits you?

Fatima  :   No, the important thing is that people don't know.

Sarah    : But you're lying to cover up the reality!

Fatima  :   It's not lying.

Sarah    : What is it then?

Fatima  :   As long as they don't know why should we call it lying?

Sarah    : You hide it from them!

Fatima  :   Exactly, why should I tell them what we do, or what happens to us?

Sarah    :(Shoked) This means that you lie about a lot of things Fatima. I used to think the opposite, I used to think that your life was different.

Fatima  :   They also lie and they don't tell you everything they do.

Sarah    : Who?

Fatima  :   People, believe me, they do many things and hide them.

Sarah    :(Frustrated) I believe you. I ask myself a lot, I say, "If we hide our mistakes we do against ourselves , or against the others, can you escape it's ugliness? Will the harm that we cause be without any sin?

(Sammy enters)

Sammy : Here's the broken button.

Fatima  :  (She takes the button) did you drink the blue liquid before you broke it?

Sammy : Yes, all of it.

Fatima  :  (She makes to leave) Sarah don't forget the new incense.

Sarah    : (As if she's talking to her self) When will this incense end?

Fatima  :   Until the magician's spirit leaves and comes to your house.

Sarah    : Every time I wrap myself in the sheet with and smoke, my soul flees and the magician doesn't appear.

Fatima  :   This incense will bring him from the ends of the earth because it’s a strong mix.

Sarah    :(Meaning something else) Are you sure Fatima?

Fatima  :  (naively) This is a wild incense, mixed with the bladder of a black crow and the bones of a dead gypsy.

Sarah    :(She screams in shock) No, I won't use it.

Sammy :(He takes Fatima by the hand to the door) you can go now.

(Fatima leaves and Sarah follows her, the sound of the outside door closing, then she enters)

Sarah    : Fatima's not coming to the house again.

Sammy : What are you saying?

Sarah    : She's not entering the house.

Sammy : And the book, the incense and all of this?

Sarah    : I'm not using that incense and that's the end of it.

Sammy : Just like that?

Sarah    : I feel sick, I'm beginning to feel humiliated.

Sammy : We'll carry on.

Sarah    : I said I'm not using that incense so I'm not going to use it.

Sammy : You said you don’t want to argue and you're going towards it.

Sarah    : If you want to continue this game you use the incense (she throws the sheet at him) here.

Sammy : I knew it; I expected that you would destroy everything before we reached a result.

Sarah    : I can't stand any more.

Sammy : After all we've done?

Sarah    : I can't take it, the bones of a dead man! I can’t.

Sammy : What's the difference between the bones of a dead man and the bones of a dead sparrow? It's only incense!

Sarah    : Incense? Oh, what's happening to us?

Sammy : Listen, one time then it's over and everything in our life will change.

Sarah    : Who said that? Fatima?

Sammy : it doesn't make sense to give up now.

Sarah    : Please! What sense are you talking about? You use the incense.

Sammy :(He walks angrily in the living room, bur carefully avoids the furniture) Why did you agree at the beginning?

Sarah    : It was your idea.

Sammy : It was your idea too.

Sarah    : You know I wasn't enthusiastic about it.

Sammy : Listen to me, we can't give up now, maybe the magic will turn against us. Maybe the harm will be greater.

Sarah    : Who said?

Sammy : It's magic, maybe we will lose everything.

Sarah    : How comes you want me to inhale the smell of those bones? Oh God, what is happining to us?! What are we doing to ourselves?

Sammy : Calm down, calm down, relax a little. It will be the last time to use the incense, then, I won't ask you to do anything else. (pause) Myself, I couldn't believe it… that we would turn to this, I didn't think that this would be our savior, but as long as there is some hope, however small, why don't we cling to it?

Sarah    : I'm scared.

Sammy : Don’t be.

Sarah    : Yes I'm scared, because the headache has disappeared and the nightmares have taken their place. For a while I've been having strange dreams that disturb my sleep.

Sammy : Bad dreams are part of the human life.

Sarah    : No, I never had as many dreams as this before, especially that scary dreams, which disappear and then appear in my sleep.

Sammy : You didn't discuss these dreams with me!

Sarah    : Because you don't take what I say seriously. When the issue concerns my own problems you close your ears. For a while I've dreamt that we drown in a river, we submerge but with raging, powerful movements of our arms and legs. The strange thing is… and that is the reason why the dream is are frightening is that the water is shallow (she opens a small gap between her thumb and forefinger) like this. The water we drown in is not deep, not even enough to drown a chicken but despite that, it drowns us in a tumultuous and horrible way. I remain clinging in the water and screaming until I wake up and find my hands wiping the sweat from my face.

Sammy : That doesn't mean anything.

Sarah    : You think so…

Sammy : Don't be scared, trust me, just put your trust in me.

Sarah    :(She nods her head vaguely).

Sammy : What we're doing isn't harming anyone.

Sarah    : Not even us?

Sammy : Not even us.

Sarah    : What are you doing?

Sammy : I'm putting some of the new incense.

Sarah    : No.

Sammy : just a little.

Sarah    :(She screams) No! Please! (She backs away)

Sammy : We'll try it. (The smoke rises from the burner)

Sarah    : No…. (she flees to corner after corner of the living room, then coughs as if she's about to be vomit).

Sammy : Calm down.

Sarah    : It's disgusting, it's disgusting.

Sammy :(He shouts at her) Calm down!

Sarah    : I can't, my stomach's churning (she's almost sick and quickly squats on the ground).

Sammy : It's not that different to the first one, calm down. (The doorbell rings) Who could it be? (The bell rings again) Who could it be? I'm not opening it. (It rings again).

Sarah    : Open the door.

Sammy : No.

Sarah    : What do you mean?

Sammy : We won't open the door for anybody.

Sarah    : What do you mean? It could be something important.

Sammy : I don't want anyone to come in now.

Sarah    : It could be one of our brothers!

Sammy : It doesn't matter.

Sarah    : Are you embarrassed that they might see what we're doing?

Sammy : I'm not embarrassed about what we're doing, I don't want anyone to come in before we finish.

Sarah    : are you crazy?!

Sammy : I've began to doubt everyone. Who knows what they're hiding in their hands, or pockets? Or even in their hearts?! An evil spirit, a devil, black magic, who knows?!

Sarah    :(She picks herself up and goes to open the door)

Sammy :(He stops her) No. Don't open the door, I'm warning you.

Sarah    : Why?

Sammy : Go back, go over there. (He grabs her by her shoulder far away) Stand there… (he closes the window) Don't dare move!

(He goes out quickly and returns with a hammer and a large black board. He nails the board over the window and closes the living room door)

Sarah    : What on earth are you doing?

(The door bell rings one last time and then goes quiet)

Sammy : Incense… more incense (he puts some incense while Sarah is overcome with fear because of his actions) we'll use the incense together. I'm going to fill the house with incense… and the world, incense, incense… (he's overcome with dizziness and falls to his knees).

Sarah    : What's happened to you? (She goes to him) What's happened to you?

Sammy : My head's dizzy.

Sarah    : Come and sit here.

Sammy : I can't move.

Sarah    :(She brings him a glass of water) Drink this.

Sammy : No.

Sarah    : What have you done to your self? What do you feel?

Sammy : My head's spinning quickly.

Sarah    : I'll call an ambulance.

Sammy : No. I'm getting back to normal. (He gets up weakly and sits in a chair)

Sarah    : How do you feel now?

Sammy : Better. For a moment I thought I lost consciousness. I lost all feeling in my body.

Sarah    : You never suffered from dizziness before, what happened to you?

Sammy : I don't know.

Sarah    : You've exhausted yourself with this madness.

Sammy : I'm better now.

Sarah    :(She feels his brow with her hand) Your temperature is normal, despite that it’s better if the doctor examine you. This dizziness is strange.

Sammy : Don't worry.

Sarah    : How can I not worry? I'm scared by all of this.

Sammy :(He gets up) It's over. It was a passing phase.

Sarah    : Have you suffered with dizziness at work recently?

Sammy : No.

Sarah    : What caused it then?

Sammy : Now I remember, the blue liquid I drank.

Sarah    : The one that Fatima brought?

Sammy : Yes, maybe that's the cause.

Sarah    : That's the cause for sure. Did you drink all of it.

Sammy : All of it.

Sarah    : I told you, my heart warned me of the danger of these games.

Sammy : On the contrary, it's an important sign that the whole process is producing results.

Sarah    : No.

Sammy : The water must have had some effect.

Sarah    : No, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to continue with this game.

Sammy : What are you saying?

Sarah    : I'm withdrawing from the whole affair.

Sammy : Now it's your turn Sarah, every thing depends on you.

Sarah    : You can't force me, don't dare force me, do you hear?

Sammy : This is our chance, don't let me down now, I don't believe that you'll leave me alone. Do you know that I'm not only thinking about myself, do you know how much it hurts me seeing you unhappy?  You have no big house, no car, don’t have a lot of things that gives life a different outlook and make us like everyone else.

Sarah    : Oh, how scared I become when you act rashly!

Sammy : Don't be scared.

Sarah    : You've caused me a lot of difficulty previously because of your rashness.

Sammy :(He leads her by the hand to the burner) This time things are different, come, please.

Sarah    : I can't stand the smell, it's disgusting.

Sammy : Don’t think about it.

Sarah    : How can I not think about it?

Sammy : We'll be together, come (then harshly) sit down.

Sarah    : Let me put a little perfume on my nose.

Sammy : Perfume? No. Without perfume, we should be completely submerged in the experiment, sit down. (He puts some more incense)

Sarah    : I can't.

Sammy : Imagine that you can't smell anything.

Sarah    : How can I imagine while this smoke is penetrating my lungs?

Sammy : Imagine that you can't see the smoke. (He continues to put the incense on the burner)

Sarah    : How can I imagine when I can see things with my own eyes?

Sammy : Free yourself from your senses for a minute.

Sarah    : I can't (she tries to loose herself from him, but he grabs her harshly).

Sammy : We'll finish quickly; in a blink of an eye.

Sarah    : Please…

Sammy : Now what's all this resistance?

(He rises and picks up the green sheet. He performs animated movements while searching for an expecting ghosts in the living room. Meanwhile, Sarah observes him with fear)

Oh you putrid spirits, oh you demon bats and rats, I know where you're hiding, I know the dark corners in which you lurk, and the shadowy shapes you adopt… … I will grab you from your ears and fling you in the middle of the house, Sammy's house to which you brought evil, and blocked good luck, and destroyed my life. I know that you're moving around in here, above me and surrounding me, under this chair, or here in the drawers, (he moves the furniture as he's searching) or here behind the table, come on, come out.

Sarah    : Sammy!

Sammy : Or in this bowl or under that chair, or under the carpet, I'll follow you everywhere until I smash your evil magic. What do I lack to be like Waleed? Or to be wealthy like Wafiq? If only the evil spirits weren't settled in my house. Come on, come out, show yourself to me, I'm not scared of you, where are you? You're using your demonic powers to hide! Okay ... we'll see who is the winner at the end.

(He covers his head with the green sheet)

Sarah    :(She rushes behind him shouting) Sammy what are you doing?

Sammy : You love the dark, eh! Come on then, come close to me, come, I can see your ugly demons, your ugly faces! (He laughs hysterically) We'll see who is making a fool of who, we'll see whose going to destroy whose house at the end! (He stumbles so  Sarah grabs him to keep him away from the chair) Who's that? A demon?

Sarah    :(She screams) It's me! It's me. What are you doing to yourself?

Sammy :(He pushes her away from him and continues to stumble about) Get out of my house! Get away from me! May the heavens curse you. God will throw you into the depths of hell and strike you with bolts of fire, frying you and his anger and flames will be upon you. (He falls)

Sarah    : Sammy.. (she leans towards him and removes the sheet from him with difficulty) Sammy. What happened to you?

Sammy : Dizziness.

Sarah    : Dizziness again?

Sammy : I can't control myself.

Sarah    : Come here (she puts his back against the chair, then she rushes to take off the board from the window) Air, air, you need air.

Sammy : Don’t open it.

Sarah    : I must remove this board, we need some air, can't you see that we're suffocating?

Sammy : (Weakly) No, leave it. I feel better with the smoke from the incense, close it.

Sarah    : You need some clean air.

Sammy : Close it, don't force me shout.

Sarah    : (She moves her hand confused. She goes to the window and closes it) Sammy, we must call a doctor.

Sammy : No, it'll pass in a minute. It's only a little dizziness that's all. (He becomes weaker) If you'd only been patient just another minute..

Sarah    : (Affectionately) Calm down now. I'll do what you want but be calm. Bones of the dead, or bones of the frogs, I'll do what you ask, I'll do it to the full. Lean against the chair (she helps him and then brings him a glass of water and sit in front of him) drink, it'll refresh you (he drinks) how do you feel now?

Sammy : Better (pause) don't worry.

Sarah    :(Ambiguously) No. I'm not worried. Do you know we haven't eaten or drank anything since this morning? We haven't seen anyone for a time, apart from Fatima. (He tries to get up but he feels weak) You can't stand up? Stay where you are. We need to relax for a while.

(She sings)

Trin .. Trin … Trin … … … …

Trin … … Trin            … … …

… Trin … … Trin … …

I didn’t sing for a long time, and that's another habit I've lost. I used to hum while I was tidying the bed or wasing the fruit and vegetables.

… Trin … … Trin … …

Trin … … … … …

(Sammy hands her the glass and she takes it. She wants to put it on the small table but she finds it too far away)

Look at this table, what's the use of it when it's so far away from where we're sitting? Fatima put it there, I don't know why. If only we hadn't kicked over the furniture and overturned it, as we used to do. Or throw a chair out of the window and laugh. The living room seems as if there's nothing in it. Your lamps, there's only one left and without a bulb (she laughs). And the painting, I was thinking of repairing it but I haven't done anything, then Fatima came and covered it up.

(She gets up and puts the glass on the table, then she walks between the furniture looking at it disapprovingly)

We can't be anything but ourselves, this depression, and all of this that we're doing there's no point to it. It's … it's like a race on the sea, nothing more, nothing less.

Sammy : But you promised me.

Sarah    : What? Ah, of course, you're still thinking about the incense.

Sammy : You forgot then? We're so different me and you!

Sarah    : We're different? No. That's right, each one of us looks at things in a different way, but we're not that different.

Sammy : I don't understand you.

Sarah    : Don't move, stay sitting down, so that you relax. They say that a woman was created from a man's rib, if it's true then I'm from your rib Sammy, from your rib and with the right size. Shall I put a cushion behind you so that you can make your back comfortable?

Sammy : No, it's not necessary.

Sarah    : Of course you do, support your back with this, that's better isn't it?

Sammy : It's better.

Sarah    : When they said to me, at home, this young man praises you a lot, it seems that he wants to marry you, I said to them this man will be the trial of my life (she laughs). Don't get upset, that was a long time ago and what do you expect from a spoilt young woman, except frivolous talk to hide her pleasure of such praise and flirt behind it! You were always looking at the contents of our house greedily, not to the people living inside it.

So I felt, between the feelings of happiness and arrogance that, overcomed me, a deep trepidation pierced my heart. Fear, like a silk thread when it touches the skin but I didn't say no because this "why" is also scary for a young girl, who’s lost so many chances of marriage due to her first failure in love.

Sammy : Do you feel regret now?

Sarah    : What a question?

Sammy : Why?

Sarah    : Because some questions are so strange, you looks as who’s handing a short rope to someone in a well and asking him, "Will you throw yourself in again if I save you?" Sammy I'm talking about the past, about a dead part of our lives, so don't be afraid.

Sammy : This cushion's not comfortable.

Sarah    : Do you want to sit on the floor? Come down (she assists him in descending) strech your legs and lean your back against the chair. That's better.

Sammy : Why are you looking at me like that?

Sarah    :(Surprised) I felt that your body loosened  in a strange way (She lifts up his arm) can you move it?

Sammy : Of course, but feels a little heavy.

Sarah    : Your exhausted (she sits in front of him separating him from the burner) I also feel tired. I need a deep sleep for half an hour (pause) you say that you're not embarrassed by this (She points to the burner). As for me … I felt embarrassed when I thought about ringing the doctor … Sammy … Have you ever thought about suicide?

Sammy : Killing yourself is not allowed.

Sarah    : Even in our miserable circumstances.

Sammy : It's not allowed.

Sarah    : It seems that we've fell into a wicked trap. (pause) Why you are so sleepy? Your eyes are closing, are my eyes closing too?

Sammy : I can't see your eyes clearly.

Sarah    :(Surprised) What do you mean? (She waves her hand in front of his face to test his vision).

Sammy : No, it's not that bad.

Sarah    : It's not that bad! Apart from my eyes, can you see everything else around you?

Sammy : Absolutely clear.

Sarah    : And can you walk straight without and stumbling?

Sammy : Absolutely straight.

Sarah    : Can you move your arm from left to right and vice -versa?

Sammy : And vice versa.

Sarah    : And can you carry me in your arms to the bedroom if I overcomed by the smoke?

Sammy : No, not that much.

Sarah    : Not that much. (pause) If only we knew … the limits of things, between perfection and destruction, between life and death, and if only we could cross it without pain or difficulty.

Sammy :(Very weak) Shall we try it now?

Sarah    : What? The incense? Of course, if you want, but do you remember Sammy, that this time it's going to be more difficult on both of us?

Sammy : That's why I want to.

Sarah    : If you like (pause) but before that, I feel hungry, what about you?

Sammy : I feel regret.

Sarah    : What?

Sammy : I feel a regret that is torturing me.

Sarah    : Why?

Sammy : When you cried a while ago, in that moment I wished I could hold your hand, or put your head on my chest.

Sarah    : Did you feel like that?

Sammy : Yes.

Sarah    : Honestly? (He nods his head) then why didn't you?

Sammy : I don't know. That's why I'm tortured by regret now, because I didn't do it.

Sarah    :(She kicks the burner over) Come on, come close (he stretches his hands towards her) no, come close to me like a man, I want a child in this very moment, that something is created from these feelings that you feel right now.

Sammy : Are you joking?

Sarah    : Come …

Sammy :(He smiles embarrassed) I can't.

Sarah    : Come close  (she crawls towards him then stops when her head hits the burner. The feelings of inability and exhaustion overcome the remainder of  her desires). This smell kills the senses. (pause) Who was it who threw stones at our hotel window so that we couldn't sleep?

Sammy : Where was that?

Sarah    : In the Philippines, when we spent the summer holiday there …….

 

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