A DREAM PLAY CONTINUESTHERAPY OF

THERAPY OF DREAM PLAY CONTINUES

DIRECTIONS;

Big writing table in the center

 A few books on the table including a book by ALBERT CAMUS

Lots of scripts on the table as well.

A huge bag near the table full of scripts and papers full of notes

A chair

A chez divan upstage

(Sybil enters carrying a big heavy shoulder bag.

classical music is playing

She starts searching from her pile of scripts

she search for some particular script from the bag on the floor.

finally picks up CAMUS BOOK AND STARTS TO READ IT...

(SCENE ABOUT QUOTATIONS OF CAMUS)

(FINALLY SHE STARTS TO TALK)

SYBIL:

I AM LOOKING FOR A PLAY.  I KNOW I WROTE IT A WHILE AGO.

I KNOW I DIDN'T FINISH IT BUT I REMEMBER THAT I STARTED IT.

ACTUALLY I STARTED MANY PLAYS BUT DIDN'T FINISH MOST OF THEM

BECAUSE I COULD NEVER FIND THE UN-FINISHED SCRIPTS.

I HAD PUT IT IN A HUGE BAG LIKE THIS ONE...

I HAVE MANY HUGE BAGS IN THE ATTIC.

BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IN WHICH BAG DID i PUT MY UNFINISHED PLAYS,

THE ONES I AM LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO FIND THOSE PLAYS SO I CAN FINISH ONE OF THEM AND GET READY

FOR THE DEAD LINE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT FINALLY MY PLAY HAS BEEN

BOOKED IN A HUGE THEATER WITH THOUSANDS OF SEATS WHICH WILL BE ALL

FILLED BY MY BRILLIANT NEW PLAY.

THERE IS NO AUDIENCE YET BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLAY YET.

I HAVE TO FIND IT FIRST AND THEN TAKE ALL THE ILLNESS OUT OF THE PLAY

IT'S CALLED ,"DRAMATURGY" BUT I CALL IT , THERAPY OF THE PLAY.

EVEN THE PLAYS NEED THERAPY LIKE ALL HMAN BEINGS.  WE ARE ALL SICK

AND WE CLAIM TO WRITE PLAYS SO THE PLAYS HAVE TO BE SICK AS WELL.

I AM THE PLAY DOCTOR AS WELL

I DO TE THERAPY OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE PLAY AND I HAVE SO MANY PLAYS

HIDDEN IN THE ATTIC, IF ONLY IF I COULD FIND SOME OF THEM BECAUSE NOW

IT'S URGENT BECAUSE I HAVE DEADLINE.  PLAY IS BOOKED...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

A WOMAN OF COLOR, AN IMMIGRANT WOMAN, NOT SO TALL, NOT SO THIN,

NOT SO YOUNG AND HER PLAY IS BOOKED IN A HUGE THEATER AFTER

TRYING FOR THIRTY YEARS AND NOW I CAN'T FIND THAT PARTICULAR

PLAY WHICH WILL FILL THE THEATER AND I WILL BE ON MY WAY TO THE WHOLE

STARDOM BUSINESS...AND NOW I CAN'T FIND IT...

(Looks in the bags)  (A persistent loud knock at te door)

SYBIL:

WHO IS IT?

JOHN:

JOHN...

SYBIL:

JOHN WHO?

JOHN:

YOUR DOWNSTAIR NEIGHBOR...

SYBIL: (Goes to the door and open it a crack.  John peeks through)

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JOHN:

YOU ARE MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE

SYBIL:

I AM MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE?  I AM MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE?

ARE YOU HARASSING  ME AS USUAL? DO YOU HEAR A BAND PLAYING IN

MY PLACE? DO YOU SEE A ROCK OPERA BEING PERFORMED HERE?

DO YOU HEAR DRUMS BEATING? GET OFF MY BACK.  YOU HAVE BEEN

BOTHERING E FOR YOU FALSE ACCUSATIONS FOR 25 YEARS.

 AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS FUCKING BUILDING WHO MAKES THE LEAST NOISE.

I AM THE ONLY TENANT IN THIS LOUSY PLACE STUCK ON A FLOOR ABOE YOU

UNFORTUNATELY WHO IS ALWAYS QUIET LKE A PERSON IN A COMA...

I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS GODFORSAKEN BUILDING WHO HAS NO TV, NO

ROOM MATE, NO STEREO, NO CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND, NO PETS, NO DOG

LIKE YOU, YOU WHO HAVE A FEROCIOUS DOG WHO BARKS ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT

AND YOU FUCKING SCARE ME WITH THAT AWFUL DOG BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT I

AM FRIGHTENED BY YOUR DOG AND YOU HARASS ME AND HARASS ME AND

HARASS ME AND THE FUCKING MANAGEMENT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

IT IS YOU WHO . MAKE NOISE, IT IS...

 YOU AND YOUR ILLEGAL AIRBNB RENTALS WHO MAKE NOISE...GET LOST AND

NEVER COME BACK AGAIN OTHERWISE...

JOHN:

(Loudly)

ITS YOU WHO MAKE NOISE, YOU ALWAYS MAKE TOO MUCH NOISE WHEN YOU WALK

INSIDE YOUR APARTMENT...

SYBIL:  (Hysterical)

GET LOST, YOU MONSTER, GET LOST.  GO AWAY.  YOU HAVE DRIVEN ME CRAZY

FOR YEARS.  YOU ARE THE REASON THAT I CAN'T FUNCTION IN MY OWN HOME.

YOU HAVE BEEN KNOCKING AT MY DOOR FOR THIS OR THAT FOR QUATER OF A

CENTURY. GET LOST OR I WILL...

JOHN:

WHAT WILL YOU DO?  SHOOT ME? YOU COLORED BITCH

SYBIL: (Shut the door on him)

THE REASON  I HAVEN'T FINISHED ANY OF MY PLAYS, THE REASON I CAN'T FIND

ANY OF MY PLAYS IS HIM.  I HAVE A MONSTER ON MY BACK FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

DID YOU HEAR ANY NOISE EXCEPT THE BARKING OF THE DOG?

DID YOU SEE ME MAKING ANY NOISE?

WHEN I COMPLAIN TO THE RACIST MANAGEMENT THEY HANG UP ON ME CALLING

ME, HYSTERICAL" WHO WOULDN'T BE HYSTERICAL DEALING WITH SUCH AN

AWFUL NEIGHBOR?

THE MANAGEMENT HAS AN EXCUSE.  THEY HATE IMMIGRANTS, THEY HATE PEOPLE

OF COLOR.  THEY HATE WOMEN.  THEY LIKE HIM.  THIS WHITE PURE AMERICAN

FELLOW LIKE THEM.

THEY ALWAYS ACCUSE ME FOR YELLING.  "YOU ARE YELLING."  "DON'T YELL"

YOU ARE YELLING" STOP YELLING" "YOU ARE YELLING" . AND THEN THEY HANG UP

ON ME.  THEY JUST WANT ME TO GET OUT SO THEY AN HAVE A RICH NEW YORKE

WHO CAN PAY 5 THOUSAND A MONTH.  WHERE AM I GOING TO GO?  SO I FUCKING

TAKE THE ABUSE DAY AND NIGHT.  HOW CAN I CONCENTRATE ON MY

PLAYWRITING?  HE KEEPS ACCUSING ME BLATANTLY RIGHT TO MY FACE TO

DISTURB ME, TO AGITATE ME AND TRUST ME I DO GET DISTURBED.

I AM AN ARTIST.

I AM ALSO A THIN SKINNED IMMIGRANT ARTIST WHO IS ON THE DARKER SIDE.

I AM AN IMMIGRANT WOMAN OF COLOR ARTIST AND HE IS PURE, WHITE AMERICAN

IT'S HIS COUNTRY.  HE CAN BOTHER ME.  IT'S HIS FUCKING RIGHT.

WHEN I COMPLAIN TO THE MANAGEMENT ABOUT THIS NEIGHBOR'S HARASSMENT,

THEY SAY, "PROVE IT...PROVE IT."  HOW AM I GOING TO PROVE IT?

MY PROOF OF HIS HARASSMENT IS THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO

CONCENTRATE FULLY O FINISH A PLAY.

I START A PLAY, I WRITE A SCENE OR TWO AND HERE COME

THE BANGING ON THE PIPPES, (sound of banging on the pipe)

SYBIL:

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

JOHN: (0ff stage)

WATER IS COMING DOWN

SYBIL:

WHAT?

JOHN:  (stick his head in the door which Sybil forgot to lock)

WATER IS COMING DOWN TO MY BATHROOM FROM A LEAK

IN YOUR BATHROOM

SYBIL:

(To the audience)

DO YOU SEE ANY LEAK COMING DOWN?

DO YOU SEE ANY BATHROOM HERE/

DID YOU SEE ME OPENING A WATER TAP?

DID YOU SEE ME WASHING MY FACE?

DID YOU SEE ME BRUSH MY TEETH?

DID YOU SEE ME WATER MY PLANT?

DID YOU SEE ME DRINKING ANY WATER?

I AM ALWAYS DEHYDRATED, AFRAID OF TURNING

THE WATER ON IN CASE THE MONSTER ACCUSE ME

OF A DAMN LEAK...

HE IS BEEN FALSLY ACCUSING ME OF A LEAK COMING

FROM MY BATHROOM TO HIS FUCKING WALLS OR CEILING

OR FLOOR AD THE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT

I AM SO AFRAID OF THIS MOTHER FUCKER IN AN MANHATTAN APT

THAT I HAVE LOCKED MY BATHROOM...

I AM NOT ALLOWED IN BY MY OWN RULING.

I DO NOT TURN ANY WATER ON...

I HAVEN'T TAKEN A SHOWER SINCE A YEAR.

I AM SO DIRTY NOW THAT I SMELL LIKE A RAT

I AM SURE YOU SMELLED SOMETHING ROTTEN WHEN YOU CAME IN

THATS ME

SMELLY ME

FILTHY ME

WHEN I IMMIGRATED HERE IN THIS DREAMLAND

I SMELLED LIKE THE PERFUMES OF ARABIA

NOW I SMELL ROTTEN

NOW I SMELL LIKE SHIT

HE IS ALWAYS ACCUSING ME OF A LEAK...

MAYBE HE HIMSELF IS LEAKING SOME STUFF INSIDE HIS PANTS

AND ACCUSING ME INSTEAD.

MAYBE THIS BASTARD IS SUFFERING FROM SOME ILLNESS

WHERE HE IMAGINES LEAKS AND SOUNDS OF THE DRUMS,

LOUD TV

AND PEOPLE SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER IN MY APT

DO YOU SEE ANY ONE ELSE HERE BESIDE ME?

IT'S ME WHO SHOUTS AFTER HE BOTHERS ME CONSTANTLY

AND IT'S ONLY ME WHO SHOUTS (shouts and shouts) AND SHOUTS

AND KEEP SHOUTING LIKE A MAD WOMAN...

DO YOU SEE ANY TV HERE?

DO YOU HEAR ANY MUSIC PLAYING/

I LOVE MUSIC

I ALWAYS USED TO LISTEN TO MUSIC AND DANCE WITH IT

I HAVE SO MANY CD'S, THOUGH THEY ARE OUT OF FASHION

BUT I HAVE THEM IN MY ATTIC...

I HAVE ALGERIAN MUSIC, NIGERIAN MUSIC, LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC,

PUNJABI MUSIC, URDU MUSIC, PERSIAN MUSIC, INDIAN BHNGRA MUSIC,

BEATLES, DOORS, MO TOWN MUSIC, OH! HOW I LOVE THAT MUSIC...

WHEN I IMMIGRATED HERE THIS WAS NOT THE LAND OF HORROR

BECAUSE THERE WERE NO HORRIBLE NEIGHBORS...

THEY DIDN'T LIVE IN THE EAST VILLAGE

THEY WERE TOO RICH TO LIVE IN THE EAST VILLAGE

I USED TO TAKE TWO SHOWERS A DAY...

BLAST MY CHARLES BROWN AND DIANA ROSS

AND TAKE SHOWERS AND THEN DANCE NAKED...

THAT WAS FREEDOM

AMERICAN FREEDOM

THERE WERE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE PARK

THEY WERE MY FRIENDS

I WILL BRING SHERRY, MY HOMELESS GIRL FRIEND

AND TELL HER TO FEEL FREE TO TAKE A SHOWER

AND SHE WOULD OFTEN

AND THEN I WOULD MAKE HER A CUP OF TEA

AND WE WOULD SMOKE CIGARETTES...

NO, I DIDN'T SMOKE MARIUANA...

IT WASN'T SO GOOD HERE, STALE TASTE

ONLY IN MY COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED

OPPRESSED BY WESTERN STANDARDS

ONLY THERE I SMOKED JOINTS WTH ONE OF MY COUSINS

WE WOULD GET HIGH AND THEN TAKE A RIDE IN HIS OPEN SPORTS

CAR AND LAUGH AND LAUGH AND LAUGH

MY JET BLACK LONG HAIR WOULD FLOW WITH THE WIND

LIKE IN THE MOVIES

AND THEN WE WOULD STOP ON THE ROADSIDE TO HAVE

GHARAM, GHRAM JALEIBIES...A SWEET, HOT AND MELTING

WITH HONEY.

AFTER ONE GETS HIGH ONE WANTS SWEETS...

THATS HOW IT WAS BACK HOME...

I WONDER WHY I CAME HER?

THIS QUESTION BOTHERS ME

PEOPLE COME HERE FOR FREEDOM

BUT I WWAS TAKING A RIDE IN A SPORTS CAR

STONED LIKE CRAZY, LAUGHING LIKE CRAZY

AND HAD NO FUCKING NEIGHBOR ...TO HARASS ME 24/7

WITHE HOMELESS IN THE EAST VILLAGE I FELT MUCH MORE FREE

THEN THESE RICH CRIMINALS BOTHERING US THE FEW REMAINING

ARTISTS IN THIS REAL ESTATE HEAVEN...

I WISH I COULD JUST GET AWAY FROM HIM

HOW THE FUCK DID I GET STUCK ABOVE HIM?

(noise of banging on the door)

SYBIL:

(to John who is at her door again)

I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE...

JOHN: (stick his head in the door)

(Smirking)

WHAT WILL YOU DO?  WHAT WILL YOU DO?  SHOOT ME? HAHAHAHA

SYBIL:

DO YOU WANT ME TO SHOOT YOU?  I THINK YOU DO...I WOULD HAVE SHOT YOU

LONG TIME AGO BUT I DON'T HAVE A OTHER FUCKING GUN...

EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS A GUN

EVERY ONE IS SHOOTING EVERYONE ELSE RIGHT AND LEFT

ONLY ME, ONLY FUCKING ME HASN'T SHOT YOU YET

IF I ONLY HAD A GUN YOU WILL BE DEAD AS DOOR NOB LONG TOIME AGO.

JOHN:

IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE ATER COMING DOWN

YOU WILL BE SORRY.

SYBIL:

I AM SORRY NOW.

I AM SORRY THAT I GOT STUCK WITH YOU FOR YEARS

I AM SORRY THAT I DON'T How are you?VE A GUN

I AM GOING TO GO TO THE MAYORS OFFICE TOMORROW

TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU.

JOHN:

(smirks and make fun of her)

MAYOR? OUR MAYOR HAS THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE LIKES OF YOU?

IT WILL TAKE YOU AT LEAST ONE YEAR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

AND THE MEAN TIME YOU WILL BE SORRY FOR BEING BORN

 MY BATH ROOM IS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE LEAK

I WILL GET THE REPAIRS DONE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY

AND PAY A LOT OF MONEY.  I AM GOING TO GIVE MYSELF

A BRAND NEW BATHROOM WITH MARBLE TILES AND ALL

AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THROUGH YOUR FUCKING MINORITY NOSE.

SYBIL:

(screams and screams and bang the door on him and lock the door this time)

GO FUCK YOUR SELF. GO FUCK YOUR SELF.

YOU PIECE OF SHIT

YOU PICE OF FILTH

GO FUCK YOUR MOTHER WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE LIKES OF YOU...

GO FUCK YOUR SELF..... (screams)

HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON WRITING?

HOW AM I GOING TO HAVE ANY CREATIVE IDEA AMONGST

THIS UNENDING HORROR?

WHAT A SHITTY LIFE?

WHAT AN AWFUL MESS WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION?

THIS FUCKING ASS HOLE BOTHERS ME, ACCUSES ME FALSLY..

HARASS ME ALL DAY LONG AND ALL NIGHT LONG

AND MY UNFINISHED PLAY IS FINALLY BOOKED...

MY LAST CHANCE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF A CAREER

AND I AM AMONGST A MONSTER WHO WILL KILL ME

EVENTUALLY...I WILL HAVE A HEART ATTCK BECAUSE OF ALL THIS STRESS

BEFORE I BUY A GUN OR GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH ANY OF THESE

ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS URBAN JUSTICE, LEGAL AID LAWYER, HUMAN RIGHTS

CENTERS, MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE...

SOME WELL WISHERS GAVE ME ALL THOSE NAMES TO SEEK FREE HELP

AND I HAVE TRIED BUT EVERY TIME I GO TO ANY OFFICE, THEY INFORM ME THAT

THE PERSON I WANT TO SEE IS OUT FOR LUNCH OR GONE HOME FOR THE DAY.

IT'S AMAZING, THE DAY How are you?D JUST STARTED AND THE PERSON OF MY

INTEREST HAS ALREADY GONE HOME FOR THE DAY.

YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEEK HELP FOR FREE

THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE LEAST IMPORTANT PERSON

DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER AND BY THE TIME MY

TURN WILL COME, IWOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF THE

BUILDING AND WOULD BE A HOMELESS PERSON.

I WISH THE HOMELESS WERE STILL IN TOMPKIN SQUARE PARK SO I WILL HAVE

SOME COMPANY...

BUT THEY ARE ALL DEAD AND GONE...I WONDER WHERE DID THEY ALL GO?

I MEAN THE ONES WHO ARE STILL ALIVE...

THEY WERE CHASED OUT OF THE PARK BY POLICE MEN ON HORSES...

BEATING AND ARRESTING THEM...

IT WAS A SCARY SIGHT.

SINCE THEN THE WORD HOMELESS HAS ALWAYS SCARED ME

AND THIS BASTARD, WHITE FASCIT NEIGHBOR OF MINE

IS TRYING VERY HARD TO MAKE ME A HOMELESS IMMIGRANT

WOMAN OF COLOR...

I HAVE TO BUY A GUN BEFORE THAT HAPPENS

BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO FUCKING LET HIM GO

FROM MY MIND AND CONCENTRATE ON MY UNFINISHED PLAY

AND GET READY TO FINISH IT AND SUBMIT IT

AND THAT'S MY ONLY CHANCE OF A DECENT FUTURE

AND THAT IS IN CASE IT'S A SUCCESS AND MAKE

PRODUCERS A LOT OF MONEY

THEN FOR SURE I WILL BUY MY OWN TOWN HOUSE LIKE ALL THE

SUCCESSFUL PLAYWRIGHTS WHO ARE ALWAYS CHERISHED BY THEIR

OTHER SUCCESSFUL PLAYWRIGHT WHO LIVES NEXT TO THEM IN THEIR

OWN TOWNHOUSES...

WHAT A GLAMAROUS LIFE...

THAT'S REAL AMERICA

THAT'S REAL SUCCESS...

A PLAYWRIGHT WITH A TONY, A PULITZER, A BROADWAY SHOW AND A TOWN

HOUSE OF HIS OWN...

AND ME?

PLEASE...

I HAVEN'T TAKEN A SHOWER IN AMERICA FOR THE LAST ONE YEAR

BECAUSE OF THE POWERFUL AMERICAN NEIGHBOR AND NO GOLES OR

URBAN JUSTICE HAS COME TO MY RESCUE.

MAYBE I SHOULD SHOOT MYSELF.

PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.

NO GUN.

I NEVER HAVE THE THINGS I NEED WHEN I NEED THEM.

I WAS FOR SURE NOT EQUIPPED FOR AMERICA.

FOR SURE NOT EQUIPPED FOR THIS CULTURAL HUB, NYC....