by Rashid Razaq
CARLOS: You’ve got a broom. Why do you want a sieve?
KHALED: A SIV! An S-I-V. A Special Immigrant Visa. (Beat.) It’s a fucking green card for the USA.
CARLOS: An interpreter?
KHALED: Yeah.
CARLOS: You?
KHALED: Yeah. Why?
CARLOS: Your English is shit.
KHALED: Fuck off! My English is excellent.
CARLOS: You learned English from watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
KHALED: So?
CARLOS: You learned English from someone who can’t speak English. He’s Austrian!
KHALED: No. He’s not. He was an Austrian. Now he’s an American. He’s The Governator! That’s the great thing about America. Anyone can be an American.
CARLOS: Even you? And how much do one of these letters cost?
Beat.
KHALED: Twenty thousand dollars.
CARLOS: Twenty grand! That’s a lot of money.
KHALED: Yes. It is.
KHALED ties up the black bag because it is full.
KHALED: Inshallah. (God willing.)
CARLOS: Inshallah.
KHALED carries the black bag off. CARLOS resumes sweeping. He bends down and picks up something from the floor.
CARLOS stands up to look at the object. It is a human finger with a large silver ring on it. It is set with a red stone that sparkles brightly. CARLOS removes the ring from the finger with some difficulty. He inspects the ring, holding it up to the sky.
CARLOS puts the ring on his own finger and admires it. He throws the finger into the yellow bag.
KHALED: (Off.) SALIM!
CARLOS tries to take the ring off. He can’t. He moves upstage and turns his back as he tries to pull the ring off.
KHALED: (Off.) SALIM! SOMEONE HERE TO SEE YOU!
CARLOS tries to yank the ring off. Footsteps. KHALED enters followed by SAHAR, she is dressed in an abaya and has her face covered by a niqab.
CARLOS has his back to them.
KHALED: Salim…
In that same moment CARLOS succeeds in yanking off the ring. He looks at it, without the other two seeing it, and smiles.
KHALED: Your wife is here to see you.
CARLOS looks back over his shoulder. His smile evaporates. CARLOS pockets the ring and turns his body to face SAHAR.
CARLOS: What are you doing here?
SAHAR looks over at KHALED.
CARLOS: (To KHALED.) Can you……
KHALED walks off.
CARLOS: You came here alone?
SAHAR looks back over her shoulder.
CARLOS: He’s gone.
SAHAR takes off her niqab to reveal her face.
CARLOS: You shouldn’t have come here alone.
SAHAR: Don’t tell me what to do.
CARLOS: It’s not safe for a woman.
SAHAR: Where is safe?
Beat.
CARLOS: What happened?
SAHAR: What they warned you would happen.
CARLOS: What?… Did they?…
He touches her face.
SAHAR: No. My father was home.
CARLOS: Who was it?
SAHAR: I don’t know.
CARLOS: What did they look like?
SAHAR: I don’t know. They all look the same. Angry young men with guns.
CARLOS: What did they do?
SAHAR: They beat my father. I had to listen to them beat him. I was hiding on the roof with Lina. Trying to stop her from crying. An old man begging for mercy while they kicked him and punched him. Spat on him. Called him a dog. A traitor. My father. And I could do nothing to help him.
CARLOS: How is he?
SAHAR: Oh he’s great! Couldn’t be better. How do you think!?
CARLOS: What about Lina? Where is she?
SAHAR: She’s with my mother.
CARLOS: And you? Are you OK?
SAHAR: OK? NO! I’M NOT OK! I’m not OK at all. They told you to leave. They warned you a Sunni can not live in a Shia neighbourhood.
CARLOS: This is my home! Why should I leave?
SAHAR: A Sunni can not be married to a Shia.
CARLOS: I am a Muslim and you are a Muslim. That is all that matters.
SAHAR: Not anymore. Not since Saddam. Not to them. They warned you. They told you what they’d do. But you wouldn’t listen. This is your fault. This is all your fault.
SAHAR starts to cry. CARLOS tries to comfort her, but she shrugs him off aggressively.
SAHAR: Don’t!
CARLOS: It’s OK.
SAHAR: It’s not OK.
CARLOS touches her arm.
CARLOS: Please.
SAHAR: Don’t touch me.
SAHAR shrugs him off.
SAHAR: Don’t ever touch me!
CARLOS: Please Sahar. I’m sorry. Forgive me.
We’ll go to another neighbourhood. Somewhere safe.
SAHAR: There is nowhere safe for a Shia and a Sunni in Iraq.
CARLOS: You’re my wife! I will not leave you. I will not leave my daughter. We are a family. If we have to leave Iraq, if we have to go to the ends of the earth, so that we can be safe. So that we can be together as a family, then that is what we must do.
SAHAR: Salim! They will come back and they will kill you. And they will kill me. And they will kill our daughter.
CARLOS: I will fight them.
SAHAR: With what? Your broom? Are you going to sweep them away?
CARLOS: I’m not going without you and Lina.
SAHAR: Lina is five years old. How can she go anywhere? My parents are old. My father is sick. They have no one else to care for them. I will not abandon them. You must go. Salim. Please. I have packed a bag for you. My father…
SAHAR reaches into the bag and takes out a wedge of US dollars tied together by a rubber band.
SAHAR: It will not get you to America. But Europe maybe. Your cousin in London…
CARLOS: I can’t take that.
SAHAR: Take it!
CARLOS: What will you do without a husband? Lina without a father? It is too dangerous for a woman on her own.
SAHAR: I will be safer without you.
CARLOS looks at the money.
SAHAR: Please. Salim. If you have ever loved me then do this for me. I have obeyed you as a wife. I am asking you now to obey me. A Sunni can not be married to a Shia.
Pause.
CARLOS takes the money and the bag from SAHAR.
CARLOS: I will send for you.
SAHAR: No.
CARLOS: As soon as I can. You and Lina.
SAHAR: No. I will not wait for you. You must go and not come back. That is the only way we will be safe.
Pause.
CARLOS picks up the bag.
Beat.
He puts the bag down and reaches into his pocket for the ring. He walks over to SAHAR and gives her the ring.
CARLOS: Here. Keep it or sell it if you can get a good price.
SAHAR examines the ring slowly.
SAHAR: It’s a fake.
CARLOS holds the ring up to the light.
CARLOS: Are you sure?
SAHAR: It’s not worth anything. (Beat.) Why don’t you give me your wedding ring instead?
Pause.
CARLOS takes off his wedding ring slowly and gives it to SAHAR. He looks into her eyes.
CARLOS: I divorce you. I divorce you. I divorce you.
SAHAR takes the fake ring from CARLOS and solemnly puts it on his finger. She kisses CARLOS gently.
SAHAR: Thank you.
Pause.
SAHAR puts her niqab on and leaves.
CARLOS looks at his ring.
Beat.
He picks up his bag.
Lights down.
SEVEN
January 2009.
Lydia’s home. Bedroom. CARLOS, dressed in a white T-shirt and boxer shorts, is sat up in bed. His hands are handcuffed to the bedpost. LYDIA, wearing a slip, is on her hands and knees looking for something on the floor.
CA
RLOS points to a spot on the floor with his foot. He is wearing his ring and has a moderate Iraqi accent.
CARLOS: Over there.
LYDIA: Where?
CARLOS: (Pointing.) There.
She looks to where he is pointing.
LYDIA: Here?
CARLOS: No. (His foot can’t reach so he indicates with his eyes.) Look.
LYDIA: (Looking on the floor.) I can’t see it.
CARLOS: Look eyes!
LYDIA: What do you think I’m looking with? I can’t see the pill. How did you drop it? I’ll have to go and get you another one.
CARLOS: No. Sahar look!
LYDIA: Who?
LYDIA gets up.
CARLOS: What?
LYDIA: What did you just call me?
CARLOS: Call you what?
LYDIA: You called me Sahar.
CARLOS: I did? But you are not Sahar.
LYDIA: I know I’m not Sahar! It’s bad enough you can’t remember you attacked me last night. You can at least try and remember my name.
CARLOS: I know your name. You are…you are…
LYDIA: Your wife. Your second wife.
CARLOS: Yes. You are…You are my second wife. (Beat.) Lydia.
LYDIA: Well done.
CARLOS: This is why you handcuff me Lydia? Because I can’t remember your name? This is not very nice.
LYDIA: (Snaps.) No! I handcuffed you because you tried to bloody strangle me!
CARLOS: I did?
LYDIA: Yes!
CARLOS: But I don’t remember.
LYDIA: You don’t remember?
CARLOS: No. Ah, maybe it was a nightmare.
LYDIA stares at CARLOS.
CARLOS: What? Why are you accusing me like this?
LYDIA: I’m going to get the pills.
LYDIA starts to leave.
CARLOS: Lydia?
LYDIA looks back.
The handcuffs?
Beat.
LYDIA: I’ll get the medicine first.
She leaves.
Pause.
CARLOS: Lydia? (Beat.) LYDIA? (Pause.) LYDIA!?
LYDIA enters carrying a large bottle of water and a plastic glass. She pours out a glass of water.
LYDIA: Here you go.
LYDIA reveals she has a white pill in her hand. She tries to feed it to CARLOS, but he turns his head away.
LYDIA: Take the pill.
CARLOS looks at her suspiciously.
LYDIA: Open your mouth.
CARLOS: What is this?
LYDIA: It’s medicine. For your nightmares. To stop you having the bad dreams.
CARLOS looks at the pill.
CARLOS: I don’t want it.
LYDIA: You have to. It’s the only way we can control the nightmares.
CARLOS: No!
LYDIA: (Smiling.) Take the pill Salim. Please. Take it for me.
LYDIA tries to feed him the pill, but CARLOS turns his head away.
CARLOS: I am not Salim! I’m Carlos… Carlos Fuentes.
LYDIA: No. You’re not.
CARLOS: I am Carlos.
LYDIA: No.
CARLOS: I’m Carlos!
LYDIA: Salim!
CARLOS: Carlos!
LYDIA: Carlos isn’t real. You’re Salim Abdul Husain. From Baghdad. From Iraq. A Sunni not a Shia. Remember? You told me.
CARLOS: (Confused.) No.
LYDIA: You’re Salim Abdul Husain.
CARLOS: Salim?
LYDIA: Yes.
CARLOS looks confused.
LYDIA: You don’t remember do you?
CARLOS shakes his head.
LYDIA: You tried to jump out of the window. You tried to kill yourself. We have to make sure you don’t hurt anybody. You. Or me. Otherwise we’ll have to take you back to that place. And I don’t want that to happen. Let me look after you.
LYDIA tries to give CARLOS the pill, but he knocks her hand sending the glass of water flying.
LYDIA looks at CARLOS angrily. She grabs his head and tries to open his mouth, he struggles but eventually she manages to prise it open and force the pill in. She shuts his mouth.
LYDIA picks up the glass from the floor and refills it with water. She offers it to CARLOS. He pulls at his handcuffs.
CARLOS: The handcuffs?
LYDIA takes out a key and unlocks the handcuffs. CARLOS looks at her warily. She smiles reassuringly.
LYDIA: Let’s try again. OK?
LYDIA offers the glass of water. CARLOS takes the glass.
Beat.
CARLOS spits out the pill from his mouth and throws the water over LYDIA. He jumps up and grabs her around the throat.
LYDIA: Let me go! (Beat.) Please Salim. You’re hurting me.
Pause.
CARLOS lets go of her throat.
CARLOS: Where is our daughter? Where is she? She’s going to be late for school. You better call her for breakfast Sahar. (Beat.) What’s the matter? Where’s Lina? When’s she coming?
Beat.
LYDIA: Lina’s not coming.
CARLOS: Why? Where is she?
Beat.
LYDIA: She’s dead.
CARLOS: No. That’s not true. Where is Lina?
LYDIA: I know it’s hard. But Lina’s dead. (Beat.) And so is Sahar.
CARLOS: (Disbelieving.) No.
LYDIA: She’s dead. Lina was killed by a car bomb in Baghdad. Sahar… Sahar committed suicide. (Beat.) I’m sorry.
CARLOS: No. That was a nightmare. It wasn’t real. It was a dream.
LYDIA: This is real.
CARLOS: No.
LYDIA: This is real. I’m real. I’m your wife. You’re my husband. We’re married.
CARLOS: This isn’t a nightmare?
LYDIA: No.
Pause.
LYDIA: Take the medicine Salim. It’s the only way we can live together.
Pause.
CARLOS looks to the pill on the floor. Beat. He picks it up. LYDIA pours another glass of water. She holds it out to CARLOS. Beat. He takes the glass. CARLOS swallows the pill and washes it down with the water.
Beat.
LYDIA: Good.
Beat.
CARLOS: I… I feel tired.
LYDIA: Why don’t you lie down then? Rest for a little bit.
CARLOS gets into bed.
CARLOS: Will you lie next to me?
LYDIA nods. She gets into bed with CARLOS. He rests his head on her. She strokes his hair.
CARLOS: Do you remember the day we first met?
LYDIA: Yes. In the restaurant.
CARLOS: No. (Beat.) It was the park.
LYDIA: The park?
CARLOS: Yes. In Baghdad.
LYDIA: Oh. The park.
CARLOS: Yes. You were sitting in the park.
Beat.
LYDIA: I was eating my lunch?
CARLOS: Yes. Correct.
LYDIA: I was eating my lunch in the park.
CARLOS: Good. Do you remember what you were wearing?
Beat.
LYDIA: A skirt?
CARLOS: A dress. A short blue dress. (Smiling.) It showed off your legs.
LYDIA: Oh. How could I forget?
Beat.
CARLOS: What were you doing? In the park?
Beat.
LYDIA: I was trying to read my book.
CARLOS: You weren’t really reading though were you?
LYDIA: No. I was trying not to look over at you. You were talking to your friends.
CARLOS: No. I was playing football with my friends. (Beat.) What was it I said when I came over to you?
LYDIA: You said the stupidest thing.
CARLOS: (Smiling.) Did I? Oh yeah! I did, didn’t I? God! (Beat.) Remind me what I said Sahar.
Beat.
LYDIA: Can I borrow some of your grass please?
CARLOS laughs.
CARLOS: What a… I was so nervous. It was the first thing that came into my head.
LYDIA: I could tell you were nervous.
CARLOS: But you weren’t
. You were so confident and poised. So elegant. That’s what attracted me to you. You were different from all the other girls. That’s when I fell in love with you.
LYDIA: Right away?
CARLOS: Yes. The very first time I saw you.
LYDIA ruffles his hair affectionately.
CARLOS: Sahar?
LYDIA: Yes?
CARLOS: I love you.
LYDIA: I love you too Salim.
CARLOS: Is Lina coming?
LYDIA: Yes.
CARLOS: I feel so tired.
LYDIA: Why don’t you go to sleep then?
LYDIA gets out of the bed. CARLOS looks very sleepy.
CARLOS: Will you wake me up when she comes home?
LYDIA: Yes my love.
CARLOS picks up the handcuffs and looks at them.
It’s for your own good.
Beat.
CARLOS holds out the handcuffs to LYDIA. She takes them and handcuffs him to the bed. CARLOS looks to her.
Go to sleep. I’ll watch over you.
Beat.
CARLOS goes to sleep. LYDIA watches over him.
Lights down.
The End.