OASCAR WILDE AND A NEW DAY.
"IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO BE
AS REMARKABLE AS ONE SELF."
"I NEVER WRITE PLAYS FOR ANY OINE.
I WRITE PLAYS TO AMUSE MYSELF.
AFTER, IF PEOPLE WANT TO ACT IN THEM, I SOME-TIMES
ALLOW THEM TO DO SO."
Oscar Wilde
"WRITING IS REALLY A WAY OF THINKING-NOT JUST FEELING,
BUT THINKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE DISPARATE, UNRESOLVED,
MYSTERIOUS, PROBLEMATIC OR JUST SWEET."
Toni Morrison
"KASTNER SAYS, IN ESSENCE, " ALL RIGHT, THE WORLKD IS FULL OF IDIOTS
AND THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF EVERY THING, YOU FOOL STAY ALIVE AND
ANNOY THEM." AND THAT, IN A SENSE, IS MY FUNCTION IN LIFE, AND MY
CONSOLATION."
John Simon
"DO NOT COMPETE WITH THEM. YOU ARE NOT A DU-KAN-DAR."
YOUR BUSINESS IS TO ENJOY WHATEVER YOU LIKE.
TO DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE. TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT."
BS
"END OF THE DAY,
BEGINNING OF THE DAY."
BY
BINA SHARIF
copyright:binasharif 2019
"BEGINNING OF THE DAY"
UP IN THE MORNING
FORCE YOUR SELF TO GO FOR A WALK
CUP OF TEA DOWNSTAIRS
WALKING CLOTHES
OUT OF THE DOOR
EXCEPT RAIN OR SNOW
BE DILIGENT ABOUT IT...
NO MATTER WHAT!
NO MATTER HOW!
LISTEN TO YOUR OWN ADVICE
FOR A CHANGE.
HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN FOR YOURSELF
YOUR HEALTH, YOUR WELL BEING
EVERY ONE ELSE COMES AFTER YOU
IN THE PAST, YOU HAVE PUT EVERY ONE ABOVE YOU
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER
IT'S THE BEGGING OF A NEW DAY...
FOR YOU
ONLY FOR YOU
A BRAND NEW DAY
JUST FOR YOU...
YOU HAVE BEEN TOO GIVING
WITH YOUR LOVE
YOUR AFFECTION
YOUR TIME
YOUR VALUABLE TIME
YOUR PRECIOUS TIME
HOW DARE YOU STEAL YOUR OWN TIME FOR OTHER PEOPLE?
MOSTLY USELESS PEOPLE
REMEMBER, HOW MUCH TIME, YOUR PRECIOUS TIME, YOU HAVE WASTED ON
OTHERS?
USLESS OTHERS
SELFISH OTHERS
MEAN OTHERS
MANIPULATIVE OTHERS
WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH YOU?
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?
NO?
OK.
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT...
IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY
A BRAND NEW DAY,
GOD CREATED FOR YOU
JUST FOR YOU
A BRAND NEW DAY...
BEGINNING OF A BRAND NEW DAY FOR YOU...
JUST FOR YOU.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT PLACE
AN UNJUST PLACE
AUTHORITARIAN PLACE
EVERY ONE WANTS TO BE PLEASED
PLEASED BY THE OTHER
"JUST PLEASE ME."
THAT'S THE PURPOSE
OF HUMAN RACE...
"JUST PLEASE ME"
"KEEP PLEASING ME."
"BE OBEDIENT"
"ALWAYS BE OBEDIENT."
"I COME FIRST..."
THEY SAY
"YES, I FOR SURE COME FIRST."
"I AM RICHER THAN YOU."
"I AM YOUNGER THAN YOU."
"I AM SLIMMER THAN YOU."
"I HAVE A CLEANING LADY."
"I HAVE A TOWN HOUSE"
"I GET MY FOOD DELIVERED."
"I HAVE A NANY"
"I GO TO THE OPERA."
"I HAVE A BANK BALANCE"
"I HAVE POWER OVER YOU"
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE?"
"TIME? "
"THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE? "
"GIVE IT TO ME"
"GIVE ME YOUR VALUELESS TIME."
"OBEY ME."
"I HAVE POWER OVER YOU."
"WHAT USE IS YOUR TIME TO YOU?"
"CLEAN MY CLOTHES."
"GO BUY MY FOOD."
"TAKE CARE OF MY DOG."
"I WILL THROW SOME PENNIES AT YOU FOR YOUR USELESS TIME."
"AT LEAST YOU WILL HAVE A FEW PENNIES EVERY DAY."
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE NOW?"
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE NOW?'
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE NOW?"
"NOTHING
NOTHING
NOTHNG
"JUST TIME"
"THATS WAHT YOU HAVE"
"TIME?"
"WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT YOUR MEANINGLESS TIME?"
SHE SAYS
"WHAT A LAUGH"
"WHAT ELSE IS YOUR TIME GOOD FOR.?"
"YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE LET YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ON US."
"WE ARE IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW"
"WE HAVE MONEY, YOU KNOW"
"WE HAVE BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW"
"WE HAVE GUCCI BAGS, YOU KNOW"
"WE HAVE SEASON TICKETS FOR EVEY CONCERT, EVERY OPERS, EVERY OPENING
NIGHT OF A PLAY"
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE?"
"TIME", SHE SAYS
"WHAT A LAUGH"
"WHAT A LAUGH"
"WHAT A LAUGH"
"HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME MSS?"
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME MISS?"
"HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME MISS?"
"I WASTED IT ON THE LIKES OF YOU."
"I WASTED IT ON THE MISERABLE LIKES OF YOU."
"I WASTED IT ON THE OBNOXIOUS YOU.'
"I WASTED IT ON THE MEAN SPIRITED, UNEDUCATED, UNSOPHISTICATED
THIEVES."
"YES, ON THIEVES."
"STOLEN MILLIONS AND THEN STOLEN TIME."
"YOU STOLE MY TIME"
"YOU STOLE MY TIME"
"YOU STOLE MY TIME."
"BUT NO MORE."
"NEVER MORE."
"IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY"
"A NEW DAY."
"JUST FOR ME."
"A BRAND NEW DAY."
"JUST FOR ME."
"JUST FOR ME."
"JUST FOR ME."
"TO DO WHATEVER I WANT TO DO."
"TO DO WHATEVER I LIKE TO DO."
"TO DO WHATEVER I WISH TO DO."
"TO DO WHATEVER I DESIRE TO DO."
"WITHOUT YOU...
YES, WITHOUT YOU"
"NEVER WITH YOU AGAIN"
"NEVER...."
"I OWN MY TIME NOW."
I OWN MY DAY NOW."
I OWN THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND
I OWN THE END OF THE DAY."
"I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF MY NEW DAY."
"I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THE END OF THE NEW DAY.'
I OWN MY DAYS FROM NOW ON..."
"I OWN MY TIME FROM NOW ON..."
"I AM THE OWNER..."
I OWN EVERYTHING WHICH CONCERNS ME..."
"I OWN THE BEGINNING
I OWN THE END
OF MY NEW DAY....
"EVERY DAY FROM NOW ON WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF ANEW DAY."
"EVEY EVENING FROM NOWO N WILL BE THE END OF A NEW DAY..."
"AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW DAY
WILL BEGIN AGAIN...."
"THE DAY WILL END
AND THE NEW DAY WILL BEGIN AGAIN"
"AND IT WILL ALL BELONG TO ME"
"ALL OF IT"
"ALL OF IT."
"ALL OF IT."
"NOT ONE MOMENT WILL BELONG TO THE LIKES OF YOU.'
"NO, NEVER..."
"NOT ONE MOMENT."
NO, NEVER.
"NOT ONE MOMENT OF MY TIME."
WILL EVER BELONG TO YOU AGAIN.
"YOU HAVE TO OBEY ME.'
Friday, November 29, 2019
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
THE WINDOW
THE WINDOW: REFLECTS GIGI'S INNER THOUGHTS
BY
BINA SHARIF
(A performance piece)
copyright::binasharif 2019
A LOVELY DOG NAMED , "GIGI" STANDING NEAR THE WINDOW LOOKING OUT ON A
WINTER NIGHT.
GIGI:
LOOK AT ALL THE SLUSH OUTSIDE.
SO MUCH SNOW
SNOW IS TRYING TO MELT ITSELF BUT CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
SNOW CAN FALL ALL ALONE BY ITSELF BUT CAN'T CLEAN THE MESS.
SOME BUSINESSES HIRE PEOPLE TO DO IT BECAUSE THE OWNER--THE LANDLORD
CAN BE SUED IF SOME ONE FALLS AND BREAK THEIR BONES....BUT SOME
BUILDINGS DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE OWNED BY HORRIBLE LANDLORDS
LIKE THE BUILDING I LIVE IN WITH MY OWNER RACHAEL.
SHE IS ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM AND RIGHTLY SO.
MOST OF THE TIME THERE IS NO HEAT IN THE APT.
I SHIVER...
BUT I CAN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
(Rachael walks in, see gigi standing near the window moving her tail, Rachael listens)
GIGI:
I WANT TO TELL THE LAMD LORD THAT HE SHOULD GIVE PROPER HEAT IN THIS
COLD-FREEZING WEATHER.
I KNOW I HAVE A BIT OF FURON ME BUT RACHAEL...
I FEEL BAD FOR HER.
SHE HAS TO WEAR LAYERS UPONN LAYERS OF CLOTHES, EVEN A THICK WOOL
SWEATER AT NIGHT AND IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO WEAR WOOL TO SLEEP IN...
IT ITCHES AND OVERHEATS AND THAT CAUSES SKIN PROBLEMS...
AND I TELL YOU THE CAUSE OF ALL DISEASES STARTS WITH SKIN PROBLEMS.
FIRST YOU ITCH,
THEN YOU SCRATCH
THEN YOU LOOK AT THAT SPOT WHERE YOU JUST SCRATCHED
NOW THAT BODY PART WHERE THE ITCH STARTED IS RED, BRIGHT RED LIKE A
TOMATO FROM THE FARMERS MARKET.
I LIKE FARMERS MARKET
BECAUSE THEY SELL FRESH FOOD
NO PRESERVATIVES, (At least thats what they say)
I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY SAY
ESPECIALLY BUSINESS PEOPLE...
THEY THINK OF MONEY FIRST AND ABOUT PEOPLE'S HEALTH LATER OR NEVER
LIKE THE WHOLE FOOD STORE, THEY SHOULD BE CALLED WHOLE PAY CHECK
STORES...
THEY SAY, THEY ARE ORGANIC."
WHO KNOWS?
RACHAEL ALWAYS GO THERE
OF COURSE SHE TAKES ME WITH HER
I SNIFF AND SNIFF AND SMELL AND SMELL ALL THE FOOD AND I KNOW
MOST OF THE FOOD IS NOT ORGANIC BECAUSE SINCE THE WHOLE FOOD STORES
OPENED, THERE IS MORE CANCER IN THE AIR AND WHOLE FOOD STORES ARE SO
HUGE AND THERE IS SO MUCH FOOD IN THEM, HOW CAN IT BE STILL FRESH THE
NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT?
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THROW OUT ALL THAT EXPENSIVE SO CALLED, "ORGANIC"
FOOD OUT.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
IT'S ALL IN THE FREEZERS
COLD AS ICE
LIKE THE ICE IN THE STREETS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SLIPPING AND FALLING
AND THE AMBULANCES ARE HOWLING AND TAKING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY
ROOMS WHERE THEY SIT FOR HOURS AND HOURS SCREAMING WITH PAIN
AND NO ONE PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO THEM.
SOME EVEN DIE ON THE EMERGENCY ROOM'S FLOOR AND PEOPLE KEEP WALKING
AND STEPPING OVER THEM.
SO THE FOOD WHICH THEY CAN'T SELL GOES INTO THE GIANT FREEZERS THE NEXT
DAY AND BECOME ICY AS THE ICE ON THE STREETS AFTER THAT MAJESTIC SNOW
FALL THE THER DAY.
NO ONE CLEANS BECAUSE THE MAYOR SAYS, "DON'T BOTHER BECAUSE THE SNOW
IS COMING BACK TOMORROW."
THE MOST DISGUSTING THING IS THE SLUSH AFTER THE SNOW MELTS
SLUSH ON THE STREET CROSSINGS, PUDDLES OF DIRTY WATER WHERE RACHAEL
DRAGS ME WITH A LONG LEASH WHILE SHE IS ON HER iPHONE.
NO ATTENTION IS PAID TO ME OR TO ANY DOG WHOSE MASTER IS ON iPHONE...
WHILE MY PAWS BECOME SO COLD AND NUMB AND I NEVER FEEL THAT I HAVE
ANY PAWS AT ALL.
AT LEAST HUMAN BEINGS, THE RICH ONES ARE ALL WEARING LONG LEATHER
DESIGNER BOOTS BUT I AM BARE FOOT...ALWAYS BARE FOOT, IN THE WINTER, IN
THE SUMMER, MY PAWS HOT AS HELL IN 100% HEAT IN AUGUST...ME WALKING ON
THE HOT CEMENT PAVEMENTS BURNING MY PAWS BUT RACHAEL, THOUGH I LOVE
HER TO DEATH KEEPS CONCENTRATING ON HER iPHONE RATHER THAN ON MY FEET
ON FIRE.
AND ON WINTER DAYS LIKE TODAY MY WHOLE BODY GETS SOAKED WITH DIRTY
SLUSH AND THEN I SLEEP WITH HER IN HER BED, WHICH I LOVE AND FEEL VERY
GUILTY BECAUSE I MAKE HER CLEAN LINEN BEDSHEETS FILTHY DIRTY AND THEN
POOR RACHAEL HAS TO TAKE THEM TO THE LAUDRY MAN WHO RIPS HER OFF
WITH A HUGE BILL AND THAT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE I KEEP
MAKING....
HER SHEETS DIRTY AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE IT KEEPS SNOWING AND THE
SLUSH KEEP SOAKING ME TO MY CORE.
IT KEEPS SNOWING CONSTANTLY.
IT STARTS IN SEPTEMBER SOMETIME AND KEEPS GOING TILL APRIL.
I WISH RACHAEL DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK IN ALL THOSE EXTREME WEATHER
AL THOSE SNOWY MONTHS AND THEN THE BLISTERING HEAT OF JUNE, JULY AND
AUGUST. AUGUST IS A HEAT STROKE WEATHER AND SHE HAS TO TAKE ME OUT
TWICE A DAY NO MATTER WAHT...
POOR RACHAEL...
I KNOW SHE IS HARD CORE DEMOCRAT, A LIBERAL, VERY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
ISN'T IT SUPPOSED TO BETTER FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRAT WESTERN WOMEN TO
NOT WORK SO HARD, NOT STRUGGLE SO MUCH, NOT TO BE SO LONELY THAT THEY
HAVE TO HAVE DOGS AND CATS INSTEAD OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR COMPANY?
I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I AM HAPPY THAT I HAVE A HOME. A NICE HOME
WITHOUT HEAT IN THE WINTER AND WITHOUT COOL AIR IN THE SUMMER
BUT I FEEL FOR RACHAEL...SHE IS ALWAYS ALONE, SO ALONE...
WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN GONE OR THE WOMEN GONE? WHY EVERY ONE IS SO
ALONE?
EVERY ONE IS SO ALONE AND EVERY ONE WORKS SO HARD AND THEY LIVE IN
A LBERAL COUNTRY WITH ECONOMY BOOMING...
HERE IS THE BOOMING ECONOMY GOING?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
"BOOMING ECONOM?"
"WHO IS IT BOOMING FOR?"
NOT FOR RACHAEL I AM SURE...NO HELP OF ANY KIND.
SHE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING BY HERSELF.
BUY HER FOOD FROM WHOLE FOOD
CARRY IT HOME
CLIMB UP SIX FLIGHTS
THEN COOK
THEN CLEAN
THEN TAKE ME OUT
I APPRECIATE THAT.
NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WEATHER ENCOUNTERS HER...
HOT ORCOLD
SUMMER OR WINTER
RAIN AND HURRICANES...
SHE HAS TO TAKE ME OUT...
TWICE...
FEED ME, THE SAME ORGANIC FOOD SHE EATS...
THATS WHY I KNOW THAT THE FOOD SHE BUYS FROM THE ORGANIC STORES MIGHT
NT BE ORGANIC BECAUSE BOTH OF US GET SICK AT THE SAME MOMENT AFTER
DINNER.
WHEN SHE KEEPS TAKING US TO THOSE STORES, WHOLE FOOD
COMMODITY
TRADER JOE
FARMERS MARKET
I KEEP MOVING MY TAIL...
THATS MY WAY OF TALKING, OF SAYING SOMETHING IMPORTANT
BUT NO ONE GETS IT...
THEY DON'T EVER BELIEVE THAT I AM EXPRESSING MY INNER THOUGHTS BY
MOVING MY TAIL...
THEY JUST BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A BAD HABBIT OF ALWAYS MOVING MY TAIL...
MANNERISM, THEY CALL IT.
LIKE BAD ACTORS ALWAYS MIVING THEIR HANDS AND FEET ...THEY JUST CAN'T
STAY STILL. THATS CALLED "MANNERISM" IN THE THEATER.
MAYBE THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
"ATTENTION MUST BE PAID."
BUT THATS THE ONLY THING NO ONE PAYS ANYMORE IN THIS FAST MOVING
LIBERAL WORLD.
EVERY ONE IS LITERALLY MOVING FAST,BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER
RUSHING, RUSHING, STEPPING ON MY PAWS...I HOWL WITH PAIN AND THEY KEEP
RUSHING. WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
RUSHING TO THE SUBWAY?
RUSHING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
RUSHING FOR A DATE?
NO ONE HAS A DATE.
MY RACHAEL HAS NO DATE
NO ONE HAS A DATE.
EVERY ONE IS LONELY
THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT BUT THEY ARE LONELY...
AT LEAST THATS MY OBSERVATION...
BUT WHO CARES ABOUT MY OBSERVATION
I AM JUST A DOG...
I JUST MOVE MY TAIL VIOLENTLY SOME TIME TO ALERT RACHAEL NOT
TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON FAKE ORGANIC FOOD BUT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME.
I AM JUST A DOG
A DOG WHO CAN'T TALK
GOD GAVE ME NO TONGUE
I AM NOT HAPPY WITH GOD
I WISH I COULD TALK
AND TELL RACHAEL NOT TO WASTE HER HARD EARNED DOLLARS ON
"ORGANIC FOOD" RIP OFF OF THE CENTURY.
I LOVE RACHAEL
I FEEL FOR HER
I WANT HER TO ENJOY
TO NT SPEND SO MUCH ON USELESS THINGS
JUST REST
READ, TRAVEL, ENJOY MUSIC, NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT ILLNESSES,
EAT ORDINARY FOOD, AS GOOD AS THE FAKE ORGANIC, SAVE HER MONEY,
FIND A BOY FRIEND OR A GIRL FRIEND, WHATEVER SHE LIKES, BE HAPPY,
IT'S THE SAME BANANA WHICH YOU PAY 25 CENTS FOR AND IT'S THE SAME BANANA
WHICH SHE PAYS TWO DOLLARS FOR. OH! THE FAKE ORGANIC BUSINESS IS RIPPING
MY RACHAEL OFF. SHE DOEN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SLUSH AND SNOW TO
WHOLE FOOD STORE WHICH IS SO FAR AWAY DRAGGING ME BEHIND HER, SHE CAN
JUST GO TO THE BODEGA ON THE STREET CORNER...
WE, BOTH ARE GOINGB TO GET SICK ANY WAY RIGHT AFTER WE EAT SO WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE?
BUT NO ONE LISTEN TO ME
BECAUSE I AM JUST A DOG
YES, I AM A DOG
MY NAME IS ,"GIGI"
BECAUSE I AM A FRENCH DOG
THE FRENCH PART OF MY STORY I WILL COME TO LATER ON...
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY WITH MY MOVING TAIL IS, THAT RACHAEL AND EVERY
ONE ELSE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE WHATEVER THE ADVERTISERS TELL YOU.
IAM A DOG AND EVEN I KNOW THAT THEY ARE LIERS LIKE EVRY ONE ELSE
ND THEY ARE ALL MAKING RACHAEL WORK SO HARD WITHOUT ANY POSITIVE
RESULTS.
SHE IS SICK A LOT. COLD AND COUGH AND THEN COLD AND COUGH ALL YEAR
LONG...THEN VISITS TO THE DOCTORS, ALL THOSE CO-PAYS, LUCKILY SHE HAS
HEALTH INSURANCE BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT SO LUCKY BECAUSE BEFORE SHE HAD
HEALTH INSURANCE, SHE WAS HARDLY SICK NOW ALL HER MONEY IS GOING FOR
CO-PAY...CO-PAY AND ANOTHER CO-PAY...
I THROW UP OFTEN
SHE TAKES ME TO THE THE VET...DOG DOCTOR...SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY HEALTH INSURANCE
I AM JUST A DOG
ONLY HUMAN BEINGS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
BUT ALL HUMAN BEINGS HERE IN THIS LIBERAL CIVILIZATION DON'T HAVE
HEALTH INSURANCE...
MAYBE THAY ARE NOT HUMAN AT ALL
MAYBE THAY ARE ALSO DOGS LIKE ME.
ONLY DOGS DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
I DON'T UNDERSTAND MUCH
I DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE
BUT I KNOW A THING OR TWO
RACHAEL READ SHORT STORIES TO ME AT NIGHT
AND I LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THOSE SHORT STORIES.
SHE WAS READING SOMETHING FROM A RUSSIAN WRITER
WHO WAS ALSO A DOCTOR
AND HE SAID IN HIS SHORT STORY
THAT ALL ILLNESSES COME FORM THE FOOD AND FROM THE WEATHER.
AND ALL I WANT TO SAY TO RACHAEL WHOM I ADORE IS NOT TO GO OUT
DURING THHE SNOW AND SLUSH AND DON'T SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON ORGANIC
FOOD BECAUSE BOTH THESE THINGS ARE TAKING US TO DOCTORS WHERE SHE HAS
TO SPEND HER WHOLE PAY CHECK AND THATS WHY SHE IS ALWAYS WORKING SO
HARD AND GETTING SICK SO MUCH...
BT NO ONE LISTENS TO ME
I AM JUST A DOG
GOD GAVE ME NO VOCE
OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE REVOLTED AGAINST EVERYTHING
AND CREATED A REVOLUTION LIKE IN RUSSIA AND FRANCE
I KNOW ABOUT FRANCE...
BECAUSE I AM A RENCH DOG
MY NAME IS GIGI
AND A FRENCH MAN MAN, MY OWNER ABANDONED ME . ON THE STREET...
AND I HAVEN'T YET RECOVERED FROM THAT ABANDONMENT .
I WILL TELL ABOUT IT LATER ON
BECAUSE RACHAEL MUST BE COMING HOME SOON
AND I HAVE TO GO OUT WITH HER IN THIS SLUSHY DAY
WHAT A LIFE WE BOTH HAVE
ME AND RACHAEL
RACHAEL, A HUMAN BEING
ME, A DOG
BUT OUR LIFE SEEMS IDENTICAL...
WE ARE TWINS...
FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE PROGRESS?
IF WE BOTH ARE STILL FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM?
I THROW UP A
BY
BINA SHARIF
(A performance piece)
copyright::binasharif 2019
A LOVELY DOG NAMED , "GIGI" STANDING NEAR THE WINDOW LOOKING OUT ON A
WINTER NIGHT.
GIGI:
LOOK AT ALL THE SLUSH OUTSIDE.
SO MUCH SNOW
SNOW IS TRYING TO MELT ITSELF BUT CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
SNOW CAN FALL ALL ALONE BY ITSELF BUT CAN'T CLEAN THE MESS.
SOME BUSINESSES HIRE PEOPLE TO DO IT BECAUSE THE OWNER--THE LANDLORD
CAN BE SUED IF SOME ONE FALLS AND BREAK THEIR BONES....BUT SOME
BUILDINGS DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE OWNED BY HORRIBLE LANDLORDS
LIKE THE BUILDING I LIVE IN WITH MY OWNER RACHAEL.
SHE IS ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM AND RIGHTLY SO.
MOST OF THE TIME THERE IS NO HEAT IN THE APT.
I SHIVER...
BUT I CAN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
(Rachael walks in, see gigi standing near the window moving her tail, Rachael listens)
GIGI:
I WANT TO TELL THE LAMD LORD THAT HE SHOULD GIVE PROPER HEAT IN THIS
COLD-FREEZING WEATHER.
I KNOW I HAVE A BIT OF FURON ME BUT RACHAEL...
I FEEL BAD FOR HER.
SHE HAS TO WEAR LAYERS UPONN LAYERS OF CLOTHES, EVEN A THICK WOOL
SWEATER AT NIGHT AND IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO WEAR WOOL TO SLEEP IN...
IT ITCHES AND OVERHEATS AND THAT CAUSES SKIN PROBLEMS...
AND I TELL YOU THE CAUSE OF ALL DISEASES STARTS WITH SKIN PROBLEMS.
FIRST YOU ITCH,
THEN YOU SCRATCH
THEN YOU LOOK AT THAT SPOT WHERE YOU JUST SCRATCHED
NOW THAT BODY PART WHERE THE ITCH STARTED IS RED, BRIGHT RED LIKE A
TOMATO FROM THE FARMERS MARKET.
I LIKE FARMERS MARKET
BECAUSE THEY SELL FRESH FOOD
NO PRESERVATIVES, (At least thats what they say)
I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY SAY
ESPECIALLY BUSINESS PEOPLE...
THEY THINK OF MONEY FIRST AND ABOUT PEOPLE'S HEALTH LATER OR NEVER
LIKE THE WHOLE FOOD STORE, THEY SHOULD BE CALLED WHOLE PAY CHECK
STORES...
THEY SAY, THEY ARE ORGANIC."
WHO KNOWS?
RACHAEL ALWAYS GO THERE
OF COURSE SHE TAKES ME WITH HER
I SNIFF AND SNIFF AND SMELL AND SMELL ALL THE FOOD AND I KNOW
MOST OF THE FOOD IS NOT ORGANIC BECAUSE SINCE THE WHOLE FOOD STORES
OPENED, THERE IS MORE CANCER IN THE AIR AND WHOLE FOOD STORES ARE SO
HUGE AND THERE IS SO MUCH FOOD IN THEM, HOW CAN IT BE STILL FRESH THE
NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT?
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THROW OUT ALL THAT EXPENSIVE SO CALLED, "ORGANIC"
FOOD OUT.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
IT'S ALL IN THE FREEZERS
COLD AS ICE
LIKE THE ICE IN THE STREETS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SLIPPING AND FALLING
AND THE AMBULANCES ARE HOWLING AND TAKING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY
ROOMS WHERE THEY SIT FOR HOURS AND HOURS SCREAMING WITH PAIN
AND NO ONE PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO THEM.
SOME EVEN DIE ON THE EMERGENCY ROOM'S FLOOR AND PEOPLE KEEP WALKING
AND STEPPING OVER THEM.
SO THE FOOD WHICH THEY CAN'T SELL GOES INTO THE GIANT FREEZERS THE NEXT
DAY AND BECOME ICY AS THE ICE ON THE STREETS AFTER THAT MAJESTIC SNOW
FALL THE THER DAY.
NO ONE CLEANS BECAUSE THE MAYOR SAYS, "DON'T BOTHER BECAUSE THE SNOW
IS COMING BACK TOMORROW."
THE MOST DISGUSTING THING IS THE SLUSH AFTER THE SNOW MELTS
SLUSH ON THE STREET CROSSINGS, PUDDLES OF DIRTY WATER WHERE RACHAEL
DRAGS ME WITH A LONG LEASH WHILE SHE IS ON HER iPHONE.
NO ATTENTION IS PAID TO ME OR TO ANY DOG WHOSE MASTER IS ON iPHONE...
WHILE MY PAWS BECOME SO COLD AND NUMB AND I NEVER FEEL THAT I HAVE
ANY PAWS AT ALL.
AT LEAST HUMAN BEINGS, THE RICH ONES ARE ALL WEARING LONG LEATHER
DESIGNER BOOTS BUT I AM BARE FOOT...ALWAYS BARE FOOT, IN THE WINTER, IN
THE SUMMER, MY PAWS HOT AS HELL IN 100% HEAT IN AUGUST...ME WALKING ON
THE HOT CEMENT PAVEMENTS BURNING MY PAWS BUT RACHAEL, THOUGH I LOVE
HER TO DEATH KEEPS CONCENTRATING ON HER iPHONE RATHER THAN ON MY FEET
ON FIRE.
AND ON WINTER DAYS LIKE TODAY MY WHOLE BODY GETS SOAKED WITH DIRTY
SLUSH AND THEN I SLEEP WITH HER IN HER BED, WHICH I LOVE AND FEEL VERY
GUILTY BECAUSE I MAKE HER CLEAN LINEN BEDSHEETS FILTHY DIRTY AND THEN
POOR RACHAEL HAS TO TAKE THEM TO THE LAUDRY MAN WHO RIPS HER OFF
WITH A HUGE BILL AND THAT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE I KEEP
MAKING....
HER SHEETS DIRTY AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE IT KEEPS SNOWING AND THE
SLUSH KEEP SOAKING ME TO MY CORE.
IT KEEPS SNOWING CONSTANTLY.
IT STARTS IN SEPTEMBER SOMETIME AND KEEPS GOING TILL APRIL.
I WISH RACHAEL DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK IN ALL THOSE EXTREME WEATHER
AL THOSE SNOWY MONTHS AND THEN THE BLISTERING HEAT OF JUNE, JULY AND
AUGUST. AUGUST IS A HEAT STROKE WEATHER AND SHE HAS TO TAKE ME OUT
TWICE A DAY NO MATTER WAHT...
POOR RACHAEL...
I KNOW SHE IS HARD CORE DEMOCRAT, A LIBERAL, VERY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
ISN'T IT SUPPOSED TO BETTER FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRAT WESTERN WOMEN TO
NOT WORK SO HARD, NOT STRUGGLE SO MUCH, NOT TO BE SO LONELY THAT THEY
HAVE TO HAVE DOGS AND CATS INSTEAD OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR COMPANY?
I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I AM HAPPY THAT I HAVE A HOME. A NICE HOME
WITHOUT HEAT IN THE WINTER AND WITHOUT COOL AIR IN THE SUMMER
BUT I FEEL FOR RACHAEL...SHE IS ALWAYS ALONE, SO ALONE...
WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN GONE OR THE WOMEN GONE? WHY EVERY ONE IS SO
ALONE?
EVERY ONE IS SO ALONE AND EVERY ONE WORKS SO HARD AND THEY LIVE IN
A LBERAL COUNTRY WITH ECONOMY BOOMING...
HERE IS THE BOOMING ECONOMY GOING?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
"BOOMING ECONOM?"
"WHO IS IT BOOMING FOR?"
NOT FOR RACHAEL I AM SURE...NO HELP OF ANY KIND.
SHE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING BY HERSELF.
BUY HER FOOD FROM WHOLE FOOD
CARRY IT HOME
CLIMB UP SIX FLIGHTS
THEN COOK
THEN CLEAN
THEN TAKE ME OUT
I APPRECIATE THAT.
NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WEATHER ENCOUNTERS HER...
HOT ORCOLD
SUMMER OR WINTER
RAIN AND HURRICANES...
SHE HAS TO TAKE ME OUT...
TWICE...
FEED ME, THE SAME ORGANIC FOOD SHE EATS...
THATS WHY I KNOW THAT THE FOOD SHE BUYS FROM THE ORGANIC STORES MIGHT
NT BE ORGANIC BECAUSE BOTH OF US GET SICK AT THE SAME MOMENT AFTER
DINNER.
WHEN SHE KEEPS TAKING US TO THOSE STORES, WHOLE FOOD
COMMODITY
TRADER JOE
FARMERS MARKET
I KEEP MOVING MY TAIL...
THATS MY WAY OF TALKING, OF SAYING SOMETHING IMPORTANT
BUT NO ONE GETS IT...
THEY DON'T EVER BELIEVE THAT I AM EXPRESSING MY INNER THOUGHTS BY
MOVING MY TAIL...
THEY JUST BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A BAD HABBIT OF ALWAYS MOVING MY TAIL...
MANNERISM, THEY CALL IT.
LIKE BAD ACTORS ALWAYS MIVING THEIR HANDS AND FEET ...THEY JUST CAN'T
STAY STILL. THATS CALLED "MANNERISM" IN THE THEATER.
MAYBE THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
"ATTENTION MUST BE PAID."
BUT THATS THE ONLY THING NO ONE PAYS ANYMORE IN THIS FAST MOVING
LIBERAL WORLD.
EVERY ONE IS LITERALLY MOVING FAST,BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER
RUSHING, RUSHING, STEPPING ON MY PAWS...I HOWL WITH PAIN AND THEY KEEP
RUSHING. WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
RUSHING TO THE SUBWAY?
RUSHING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
RUSHING FOR A DATE?
NO ONE HAS A DATE.
MY RACHAEL HAS NO DATE
NO ONE HAS A DATE.
EVERY ONE IS LONELY
THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT BUT THEY ARE LONELY...
AT LEAST THATS MY OBSERVATION...
BUT WHO CARES ABOUT MY OBSERVATION
I AM JUST A DOG...
I JUST MOVE MY TAIL VIOLENTLY SOME TIME TO ALERT RACHAEL NOT
TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON FAKE ORGANIC FOOD BUT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME.
I AM JUST A DOG
A DOG WHO CAN'T TALK
GOD GAVE ME NO TONGUE
I AM NOT HAPPY WITH GOD
I WISH I COULD TALK
AND TELL RACHAEL NOT TO WASTE HER HARD EARNED DOLLARS ON
"ORGANIC FOOD" RIP OFF OF THE CENTURY.
I LOVE RACHAEL
I FEEL FOR HER
I WANT HER TO ENJOY
TO NT SPEND SO MUCH ON USELESS THINGS
JUST REST
READ, TRAVEL, ENJOY MUSIC, NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT ILLNESSES,
EAT ORDINARY FOOD, AS GOOD AS THE FAKE ORGANIC, SAVE HER MONEY,
FIND A BOY FRIEND OR A GIRL FRIEND, WHATEVER SHE LIKES, BE HAPPY,
IT'S THE SAME BANANA WHICH YOU PAY 25 CENTS FOR AND IT'S THE SAME BANANA
WHICH SHE PAYS TWO DOLLARS FOR. OH! THE FAKE ORGANIC BUSINESS IS RIPPING
MY RACHAEL OFF. SHE DOEN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SLUSH AND SNOW TO
WHOLE FOOD STORE WHICH IS SO FAR AWAY DRAGGING ME BEHIND HER, SHE CAN
JUST GO TO THE BODEGA ON THE STREET CORNER...
WE, BOTH ARE GOINGB TO GET SICK ANY WAY RIGHT AFTER WE EAT SO WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE?
BUT NO ONE LISTEN TO ME
BECAUSE I AM JUST A DOG
YES, I AM A DOG
MY NAME IS ,"GIGI"
BECAUSE I AM A FRENCH DOG
THE FRENCH PART OF MY STORY I WILL COME TO LATER ON...
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY WITH MY MOVING TAIL IS, THAT RACHAEL AND EVERY
ONE ELSE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE WHATEVER THE ADVERTISERS TELL YOU.
IAM A DOG AND EVEN I KNOW THAT THEY ARE LIERS LIKE EVRY ONE ELSE
ND THEY ARE ALL MAKING RACHAEL WORK SO HARD WITHOUT ANY POSITIVE
RESULTS.
SHE IS SICK A LOT. COLD AND COUGH AND THEN COLD AND COUGH ALL YEAR
LONG...THEN VISITS TO THE DOCTORS, ALL THOSE CO-PAYS, LUCKILY SHE HAS
HEALTH INSURANCE BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT SO LUCKY BECAUSE BEFORE SHE HAD
HEALTH INSURANCE, SHE WAS HARDLY SICK NOW ALL HER MONEY IS GOING FOR
CO-PAY...CO-PAY AND ANOTHER CO-PAY...
I THROW UP OFTEN
SHE TAKES ME TO THE THE VET...DOG DOCTOR...SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY HEALTH INSURANCE
I AM JUST A DOG
ONLY HUMAN BEINGS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
BUT ALL HUMAN BEINGS HERE IN THIS LIBERAL CIVILIZATION DON'T HAVE
HEALTH INSURANCE...
MAYBE THAY ARE NOT HUMAN AT ALL
MAYBE THAY ARE ALSO DOGS LIKE ME.
ONLY DOGS DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
I DON'T UNDERSTAND MUCH
I DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE
BUT I KNOW A THING OR TWO
RACHAEL READ SHORT STORIES TO ME AT NIGHT
AND I LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THOSE SHORT STORIES.
SHE WAS READING SOMETHING FROM A RUSSIAN WRITER
WHO WAS ALSO A DOCTOR
AND HE SAID IN HIS SHORT STORY
THAT ALL ILLNESSES COME FORM THE FOOD AND FROM THE WEATHER.
AND ALL I WANT TO SAY TO RACHAEL WHOM I ADORE IS NOT TO GO OUT
DURING THHE SNOW AND SLUSH AND DON'T SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON ORGANIC
FOOD BECAUSE BOTH THESE THINGS ARE TAKING US TO DOCTORS WHERE SHE HAS
TO SPEND HER WHOLE PAY CHECK AND THATS WHY SHE IS ALWAYS WORKING SO
HARD AND GETTING SICK SO MUCH...
BT NO ONE LISTENS TO ME
I AM JUST A DOG
GOD GAVE ME NO VOCE
OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE REVOLTED AGAINST EVERYTHING
AND CREATED A REVOLUTION LIKE IN RUSSIA AND FRANCE
I KNOW ABOUT FRANCE...
BECAUSE I AM A RENCH DOG
MY NAME IS GIGI
AND A FRENCH MAN MAN, MY OWNER ABANDONED ME . ON THE STREET...
AND I HAVEN'T YET RECOVERED FROM THAT ABANDONMENT .
I WILL TELL ABOUT IT LATER ON
BECAUSE RACHAEL MUST BE COMING HOME SOON
AND I HAVE TO GO OUT WITH HER IN THIS SLUSHY DAY
WHAT A LIFE WE BOTH HAVE
ME AND RACHAEL
RACHAEL, A HUMAN BEING
ME, A DOG
BUT OUR LIFE SEEMS IDENTICAL...
WE ARE TWINS...
FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE PROGRESS?
IF WE BOTH ARE STILL FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM?
I THROW UP A
Thursday, November 21, 2019
THERAPY OF A DREAM PLAY CONTINUES
THERAPY OF A DREAM PLAY CONTINUES: A.K.A "THE RED LEAK"
SYBIL:
I AM SORRY NOW.
I AM SORY THAT I GOT STUCK A FLOOR ABOVE YOU
I AM SORRY THAT I DON'T HAVE A GUN. MAYBE I SHOULD GO TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TOMORROW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU...
(John mumbles and leave...he mumbles a lot because he is a lier)
MAYBE HE WILL LISTEN. HE LIKES WOMEN OF COLOR. HIS WIFE IS ONE OF THEM. HE MIGHT HAVE MORE COMPASSION
THEN ANY OTHERS I HAVE BEEN WASTING MY TIME WITH.
YOU KNOW IT'S AMAZING. I NEVER EVER REALIZED THAT I CAME HERE TO AMERICA TO WASTE MY TIME. MY PRECIOUS TIME. MY LIFE FORCE ON SHIT LIKE THIS. SHIT AFTER SHIT AFTER SHIT. ONE SHIT ENDS AND THE NEXT SHIT STARTS.
MAYBE I SHOULD WRITE ABOUT SHIT "HI, MY NEW PIECE IS ABOUT SHIT. I'T'S PART OF A TRILOGY. SHIT TRILOGY. WHAT A GREAT TITLE," SHIT TRILOGY." BY SYBIL
COMING UP AT A THEATER NEAR YOU. NO, OT IN A NON PROFIT THEATER BUT PROFIT, PROFIT, BIG, BIG PROFIT THEATER."
BUT RIGHT NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS MOTHER FUCKER.
WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO WRONG?
SINCE I CAME HERE THINGS KEEP GOING DOWN AND DOWN.
I GUESS WASN'T MEANT FOR THE WESTERN CLIMATE. CLIMATE OF AGGRESSION.
HE IS THE WORST, OST UNHAPPY. HE NEEDS SEX. ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE LEAK. MAYBE HE HIMSELF IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. SOMETHING IS FOR SURE LEAKING IN HIM.
BUT I FOR SURE HAVE A SHITTY LIFE LIVING AMONG THIS ASS HOLE.
HE BOTHERS ME ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT 24/7
HE HEARS ME COME IN AND GETS STARTED.
OH! FUCK HIM....
I HAVE A PLAY BOOKED FINALLY ON BROADWAY.
I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE.
WRITE A BRAND NEW PLAY OR FIND THE UNFINISHED ONES AND FINISH AT LEAST ONE AND FUCKING SUBMIT IT...LET ME LOOK ONE MORE TIME...MAYBE THE FUCK WON'T COME BACK. MAYBE HE WENT TO SLEEP. I HOPEHE DIES IN HIS SLEEP, SO I WON'T HAVE TO SHOOT HIM...SO MUCH WORK...BUY A GUN, SHOOT HIM, GO TO JAIL
AND STILL WORRY ABOUT THE ONE CHANCE IN LIFE TO HAVE A PLAY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY...MYBE THE PLAY HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN JAIL. HE WON'T BOTHER ME THERE. HE WOULD BE DEAD. SHOT DEAD BY ME. DEAD PEOPLE DON'T BOTHER YOU. THATS THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S DEATH. PEOPLE ARE HORRIBLE..."HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE." WHO SAID THAT? SOME FRENCH PHILOSOPHER...MY MIND IS FROZEN RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME.
BUT HE WAS RIGHT. HE MUST HAVE KNOWN MY FASCIT NEIGHBOR. I AM SURE HE MEANT HIM WHEN HE SAID, "HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE."
FUCK HIM FOR NOW, LET ME FIND SOME PAGES OF ANY OF MYUN-FINISHED PLAYS.
(She searches in her huge bags, pick up some scripts, starts to read)
1:SYBIL'S DESPAIR, (READ some pages, scenes between sybil and therapist, sybil in class room, sybil with noel)
(SOUND OF BANGING THE PIPES)
(KNOCK AT THE DOOR)
SYBIL:
HE IS BACK AGAIN
(goes and open the door a crack)
JOHN (back at the door)
THERE IS A LEAK COMING
SYBIL:
A LEAK?
JOHN:
YES, A LEAK
SYBIL;
FROM WHERE?
JOHN:
FROM YOU
SYBIL:
FROM ME?
JOHN:
YES, FROM YOU
SYBIL:
I HAVEN'T PISSED ON YOU YET...
JOHN:
WHAT?
SYBIL:
I HAVE TO PISS ON YOU AND PISS A LOT FOR YOU TO HAVE A LEAK COMING FROM ME TO YOU, OTHER WISE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY LEAK COMING FROM HERE IS A MYTH
JOHN:
MY WALLS ARE GETTING MILDOO FROM THE LEAK COMING FROM YOU.
SYBIL;
YOU HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH THE WORD, "LEAK" I AM SURE YOU HAD A BAD CHILDHOOD AND SOME ONE PISSED ON YOU A LOT AND HERE I AM THE ONE WHO GOT STUCK WITH YOU INSTED OF YOUR FUCKING MOTHER.
(Sybil scream and scream)
GO AWAY. GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK. LEAVE ME THE FUCK alone.
I HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO AT LEAST ONCE IN MY USELESS LIFE....
(shut the door on him. she is totally exhausted now, she has difficulty breathing)
SYBIL;
JESUS CHRIST. I CAN'T BREATH. I CAN'T BREATH HERE AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MY HOME. I CAN'T BREATH HERE, I CAN'T BATHE HERE IN MY OWN HOME. I CAN'T WORK HERE IN MY OWN APT. I CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING EXCEPT THIS MOTHER FUCKER. I AM GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK FOR SURE IF HE COMES BACK ANOTHER TIME. I NEED TO GO TO A THERAPIST BEFORE I DIE.
(next night)
SYBIL:
I WENT TO A THERAPIST TODAY. I TOLD HER THAT I HAVE MOUNTAINS OF DESPAIR.
I TOLD HER THAT I SLEEP WITH DESPAIR, I WAKE UP WITH DESPAIR. I HAVE NOTHING
ANY MORE IN MY LIFE EXCEPT DESPAIR AND MY NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MONSTER.
I CAN'T WASH MY FACE BECAUSE OF THE MONSTER. I CAN'T WORK AT ALL. CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANY CREATIVE IDEA. FORGET ABOUT WRITING THE PULITZER WINNING PLAY EVEN IF I HANG MYSELF WITH OPTIMISM AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
AND WHAT DID THE THERAPIST TOLD ME?
SHE SAID, "READ CAMUS. ALBERT CAMUS. THE FRENCH PHILOSOPHER. SHE SAID
CAMUS WILL INSPIRE YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU WILL COMPLETELY FORGET ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND WILL END UP WRITING A NEW PLAY. SHE TOLD ME TO TRY IT. SHE TOLD ME THAT HER ADVICE HAD MADE MANY UNKNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS INTO
THE WORLD FAMOUS OLIVER AWARD WINNERS...JUST BY TELLING THEM TO TEAD CAMUS...SO I BOUGHT THIS BOOK BY CAMUS ON MY WAY HOME...
(She begins to read quotations of camus out loud) (Camus's quotations have to be added here)
(all of a sudden, she takes a few sheets of paper and pen and starts to write. she writes a new short play named, PREDICTION
(She reads out loud her new play)
SYBIL:
WOW, WOW, WOW, THERAPIST WAS RIGHT, A NEW IDEA JUST HIT MY TIRED BARAIN
AND LOOK WHAT CAME OUT OF IT...(She reads) . (The play PREDICTION has to be added here)
MY GOODNESS, CAMUS IS AMAZING, SO INSPIRING. MY FAITH IN THERAPY IS RENEWED. ( read Camus again...more quotations...starts to write, write another short play titled,
FUN PLAY) (fun play has to be added here)
FUN PLAY;
(Knock at the door again, a piece of paper slips in under the door. it's a bill of $6000 for repairs from the neighbor)
(Sybil opens the envelope ...a bill of $6000, includes, repair of all kinds of the neighbor's apt which she has to pay...Sybil has a breakdown)
SYBIL:
OH! FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK...(she screams and screams)
OH! WHY THE FUCK I CAME HERE?
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
LEAVE THIS COUNTRY RIGHT AWAY
LEAVE
LEAVE
LEAVE
GET OUT
GET OUT
OH! JEE, MY DEAD LINE OF THE PLAY
SHOULD I JUST TAKE SLEEPING PILLS AND DIE?
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FUCKING SLEEPING PILLS
EVERY ONE HERE HAVE SLEEPING PILLS BUT ME
NO GUN, NO SLEEPING PILLS...
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN THIS COUNTRY?
MAYBE HANG MYSELF WITH A ROPE
WHERE IS THE ROPE?
NO ROPE EITHER...
NO PREPARED AT ALL IN THIS MODERN CITY OF CHOICES
HAVE NOTHING MEANINGFUL IN MY SHITTY EXISTENCE
NO EMERGENCY PROPS TO KILL MYSELF
MAYBE A BED SHEET...
BUT THERE IS NO PIPE ON THE CEILING
I WONDER HOW EPSTEIN DID IT?
MAYBE SOME ONE SHOULD COME IN, STRANGLE ME AND THEN MAKE A NOOSE
AROUND MY NECK WITH THE SHEET...
MAYBE I SHOULD ASK THE MONSTER NEIGHBOR TO STRANGLE ME?
BUT WHY WOULD HE DO IT BEFORE I PAY HIM $6OOO?
MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT HERE THAN KILLING
MAYBE MONEY FIRST AND THEN COMES THE KILLING
SHOULD I HAVE A HNDLE ON MYSELF AND FORGET ABOUT THE BILL
AND CONCENTRATE ON BROADWAY BOOKING?
FORGET ABOUT THE BILL SYBIL
FORGET ABOUT THE BILL
HOW CAN I FUCKING FORGET ABOUT THE BILL?
$6000 DOLLARS, IT'S 6000 DOLLARS
HOW CAN I FUCKING FORGET ABOUT THIS BILL, THE MOTHER OF ALL BILLS?
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS KIND OFA FIGURE ABUT MONEY IN ANY
FORMAT
$6000, THIS AMOUNT FOR SURE WILL KILL ME
SO FINALLY I WILL BE DEAD SOON ANY WAY
NO NEED OF A GUN OR PILLS OR A ROPE.
DEATH IS DEFINITE.
SO MAYBE I SHOULD WRTE MY PULITZER PRIZE WINNER WHICH IS BEING
CONSIDERED FOR PRODUCTION ON BROADWAY AND IF I DIE BEFORE IT OPENS,
MAYBE IT WILL BECOME A BIG HIT, SYMPATHY FACTOR WILL FOR SURE COME IN...
I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE HEADLINES, "THE GREATEST PLAY EVER WRITTEN,
AUTHOR DIED BEFORE THE SHOW OPENED..."
JUST LIKE THE PLAY RENT. THE AUTHOR DIED BEFORE THE OPENING NIGHT
AND LOOK AT THE SUCCESS...IN THAT CASE IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO DIE
BUT LET ME FINISH THE PLAY, THE ONE I STARTED, THE ONE INSPIRED BY
CAMUS,THE ONE CALLED, "THE FUN PLAY" MY LAST PLAY, THE FUN PLAY...
(starts to look for the papers and the pen, )
HERE IT IS...(Starts to write) . (Silence for a while, she writes and writes)
(then comes another knock) (Off stage)
JOHN:
YOU HAVEN'T PAID THE REPAIR BILL OF $6000 YET AND THE NEW LEAK IS COMING
ALREADY...
SYBIL:
(sit silent for a while, then has a thought and compose her self and goes to the door and open the door a bit, John is visible now)
SYBIL:
A NEW LEAK IS COMING?
JOHN:
YES, A BRAND NEW LEAK
SYBIL:
OH! A BRAND NEW LEAK IS COMING TO YOU FROM WHERE?
JOHN:
FROM YOU
SYBIL:
FROM ME?
JOHN:
YES, FROM YOU
SYBIL:
OH! I SEE...
JOHN:
I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE FROM THE NEW LEAK AS WELL.
THE BILL WILL BE MUCH HIGHER. THE NEW MILDOO, THE NEW DEMOLITION...
SYBIL:
I HAVE NOTICED YOU LOVE CERTAIN WORDS, SUCH AS LEAK, DEMOLITION..
JOHN:
I DON'T LOVE THESE WORDS. YOU ARE GIVING ME THE THE LEAK, THE MOULDING,
THE DEMOLITION...
SYBIL:
YOU WANT THE LEAK?
JOHN:
YOU GAVE IT TO ME TWICE
SYBIL:
THERE IS ALWAYS A THIRD TIME, THIRD STRIKE AND YOU ARE OUT...
JUST WAIT HERE, I AM GOING TO PAY YOU THE $6000 FOR THE LEAK, THE REPAIR,
FOR THE DEMOLITION AND I WOULD ADD MORE MONEY TO THE BILL OF $6000
FOR THE NEW LEAK AS WELL. JUST WAIT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND I WILL
BRING YOU THE CHECK SO THE HEADACHE WILL BE OVER FOR EVER. ALRIGHT?
JOHN:
(confused and smirks)
ALRIGHT...
SYBIL:
JUST WAIT OUTSIDE THE DOOR...
JOHN:
OK. (goes out of the room)
SYBIL:
CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU. I WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE CHECK.
JOHN: (closes thedoor behind him
SYBIL:
(goes o the writing table, take the checkbook out and writes...then she goes to another room and comes back with a huge sharp knife)
SYBIL:
HERE IS YOUR CHECK...
(Opens the door and with a grand thrust of the knife pierce his heart and keep stabbing him like
a ferociously mad Bacchante...music from Psycho, the curtain scene mixed with screams come on
after she has stabbed him many times, she comes back in, she is soaking with red blood, her dress is completely covered, she brings the bloody knife as well as a small bucket full of red liquid with her when she enters her room and puts the knife under the table and brings a bigger bucket out of the other room and starts to pour the red liquid from smaller container into the bigger bucket...
SYBIL:
(while she pours the red liquid into the bigger bucket she says,
NOW HE'S GOT A REAL LEAK AND THE LEAK IS RED.
(She goes back to the writing table. sit for a while in silence. )
SYBIL:
THE DISTURBANCE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ...AND I CAN WRITE MY
NEW PLAY WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS.
THE PLAY WHICH WILL OPEN ALL DOORS, DOORS OF SUCCESS AND FAME AND
PRESTIGE
.PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL KNOW MY NAME FINALLY.
HE GOT THE RED LEAK AND I WILL WRITE MY PRECIOUS NEW PLAY.
"ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WEL"
(She speaks out loud)
THE RED LEAK...
THE RED LEAK
THE RED LEAK...
OH! MY LORD... WHAT A GREAT PHRASE. "THE RED LEAK" THE RED LEAK"
THAT IS GOING TOBE THE TITLE OF MY NEW PLAY...
(She sits down and starts to write and speaks out the words)
'TE RED LEAK
BY
SYBIL
TIME :PRESENT
PLACE: DILAPIDATED BUILDING IN THE EAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN
CHARACTERS:
NAFISA: AN IMMIGRANT WOMAN OF COLOR
SMITH: WHITE RACIST AMERICAN MALE, NAFISA'S NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES BELOW
HER APT...
LOUD BANGING AT NAFISA'S DOOR AS THE LIGHTS GOING DOWN
BLACK OUT
END OF PLAY.
SYBIL:
I AM SORRY NOW.
I AM SORY THAT I GOT STUCK A FLOOR ABOVE YOU
I AM SORRY THAT I DON'T HAVE A GUN. MAYBE I SHOULD GO TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TOMORROW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU...
(John mumbles and leave...he mumbles a lot because he is a lier)
MAYBE HE WILL LISTEN. HE LIKES WOMEN OF COLOR. HIS WIFE IS ONE OF THEM. HE MIGHT HAVE MORE COMPASSION
THEN ANY OTHERS I HAVE BEEN WASTING MY TIME WITH.
YOU KNOW IT'S AMAZING. I NEVER EVER REALIZED THAT I CAME HERE TO AMERICA TO WASTE MY TIME. MY PRECIOUS TIME. MY LIFE FORCE ON SHIT LIKE THIS. SHIT AFTER SHIT AFTER SHIT. ONE SHIT ENDS AND THE NEXT SHIT STARTS.
MAYBE I SHOULD WRITE ABOUT SHIT "HI, MY NEW PIECE IS ABOUT SHIT. I'T'S PART OF A TRILOGY. SHIT TRILOGY. WHAT A GREAT TITLE," SHIT TRILOGY." BY SYBIL
COMING UP AT A THEATER NEAR YOU. NO, OT IN A NON PROFIT THEATER BUT PROFIT, PROFIT, BIG, BIG PROFIT THEATER."
BUT RIGHT NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS MOTHER FUCKER.
WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO WRONG?
SINCE I CAME HERE THINGS KEEP GOING DOWN AND DOWN.
I GUESS WASN'T MEANT FOR THE WESTERN CLIMATE. CLIMATE OF AGGRESSION.
HE IS THE WORST, OST UNHAPPY. HE NEEDS SEX. ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE LEAK. MAYBE HE HIMSELF IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. SOMETHING IS FOR SURE LEAKING IN HIM.
BUT I FOR SURE HAVE A SHITTY LIFE LIVING AMONG THIS ASS HOLE.
HE BOTHERS ME ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT 24/7
HE HEARS ME COME IN AND GETS STARTED.
OH! FUCK HIM....
I HAVE A PLAY BOOKED FINALLY ON BROADWAY.
I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE.
WRITE A BRAND NEW PLAY OR FIND THE UNFINISHED ONES AND FINISH AT LEAST ONE AND FUCKING SUBMIT IT...LET ME LOOK ONE MORE TIME...MAYBE THE FUCK WON'T COME BACK. MAYBE HE WENT TO SLEEP. I HOPEHE DIES IN HIS SLEEP, SO I WON'T HAVE TO SHOOT HIM...SO MUCH WORK...BUY A GUN, SHOOT HIM, GO TO JAIL
AND STILL WORRY ABOUT THE ONE CHANCE IN LIFE TO HAVE A PLAY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY...MYBE THE PLAY HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN JAIL. HE WON'T BOTHER ME THERE. HE WOULD BE DEAD. SHOT DEAD BY ME. DEAD PEOPLE DON'T BOTHER YOU. THATS THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S DEATH. PEOPLE ARE HORRIBLE..."HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE." WHO SAID THAT? SOME FRENCH PHILOSOPHER...MY MIND IS FROZEN RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME.
BUT HE WAS RIGHT. HE MUST HAVE KNOWN MY FASCIT NEIGHBOR. I AM SURE HE MEANT HIM WHEN HE SAID, "HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE."
FUCK HIM FOR NOW, LET ME FIND SOME PAGES OF ANY OF MYUN-FINISHED PLAYS.
(She searches in her huge bags, pick up some scripts, starts to read)
1:SYBIL'S DESPAIR, (READ some pages, scenes between sybil and therapist, sybil in class room, sybil with noel)
(SOUND OF BANGING THE PIPES)
(KNOCK AT THE DOOR)
SYBIL:
HE IS BACK AGAIN
(goes and open the door a crack)
JOHN (back at the door)
THERE IS A LEAK COMING
SYBIL:
A LEAK?
JOHN:
YES, A LEAK
SYBIL;
FROM WHERE?
JOHN:
FROM YOU
SYBIL:
FROM ME?
JOHN:
YES, FROM YOU
SYBIL:
I HAVEN'T PISSED ON YOU YET...
JOHN:
WHAT?
SYBIL:
I HAVE TO PISS ON YOU AND PISS A LOT FOR YOU TO HAVE A LEAK COMING FROM ME TO YOU, OTHER WISE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY LEAK COMING FROM HERE IS A MYTH
JOHN:
MY WALLS ARE GETTING MILDOO FROM THE LEAK COMING FROM YOU.
SYBIL;
YOU HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH THE WORD, "LEAK" I AM SURE YOU HAD A BAD CHILDHOOD AND SOME ONE PISSED ON YOU A LOT AND HERE I AM THE ONE WHO GOT STUCK WITH YOU INSTED OF YOUR FUCKING MOTHER.
(Sybil scream and scream)
GO AWAY. GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK. LEAVE ME THE FUCK alone.
I HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO AT LEAST ONCE IN MY USELESS LIFE....
(shut the door on him. she is totally exhausted now, she has difficulty breathing)
SYBIL;
JESUS CHRIST. I CAN'T BREATH. I CAN'T BREATH HERE AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MY HOME. I CAN'T BREATH HERE, I CAN'T BATHE HERE IN MY OWN HOME. I CAN'T WORK HERE IN MY OWN APT. I CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING EXCEPT THIS MOTHER FUCKER. I AM GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK FOR SURE IF HE COMES BACK ANOTHER TIME. I NEED TO GO TO A THERAPIST BEFORE I DIE.
(next night)
SYBIL:
I WENT TO A THERAPIST TODAY. I TOLD HER THAT I HAVE MOUNTAINS OF DESPAIR.
I TOLD HER THAT I SLEEP WITH DESPAIR, I WAKE UP WITH DESPAIR. I HAVE NOTHING
ANY MORE IN MY LIFE EXCEPT DESPAIR AND MY NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MONSTER.
I CAN'T WASH MY FACE BECAUSE OF THE MONSTER. I CAN'T WORK AT ALL. CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANY CREATIVE IDEA. FORGET ABOUT WRITING THE PULITZER WINNING PLAY EVEN IF I HANG MYSELF WITH OPTIMISM AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
AND WHAT DID THE THERAPIST TOLD ME?
SHE SAID, "READ CAMUS. ALBERT CAMUS. THE FRENCH PHILOSOPHER. SHE SAID
CAMUS WILL INSPIRE YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU WILL COMPLETELY FORGET ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND WILL END UP WRITING A NEW PLAY. SHE TOLD ME TO TRY IT. SHE TOLD ME THAT HER ADVICE HAD MADE MANY UNKNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS INTO
THE WORLD FAMOUS OLIVER AWARD WINNERS...JUST BY TELLING THEM TO TEAD CAMUS...SO I BOUGHT THIS BOOK BY CAMUS ON MY WAY HOME...
(She begins to read quotations of camus out loud) (Camus's quotations have to be added here)
(all of a sudden, she takes a few sheets of paper and pen and starts to write. she writes a new short play named, PREDICTION
(She reads out loud her new play)
SYBIL:
WOW, WOW, WOW, THERAPIST WAS RIGHT, A NEW IDEA JUST HIT MY TIRED BARAIN
AND LOOK WHAT CAME OUT OF IT...(She reads) . (The play PREDICTION has to be added here)
MY GOODNESS, CAMUS IS AMAZING, SO INSPIRING. MY FAITH IN THERAPY IS RENEWED. ( read Camus again...more quotations...starts to write, write another short play titled,
FUN PLAY) (fun play has to be added here)
FUN PLAY;
(Knock at the door again, a piece of paper slips in under the door. it's a bill of $6000 for repairs from the neighbor)
(Sybil opens the envelope ...a bill of $6000, includes, repair of all kinds of the neighbor's apt which she has to pay...Sybil has a breakdown)
SYBIL:
OH! FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK...(she screams and screams)
OH! WHY THE FUCK I CAME HERE?
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
LEAVE THIS COUNTRY RIGHT AWAY
LEAVE
LEAVE
LEAVE
GET OUT
GET OUT
OH! JEE, MY DEAD LINE OF THE PLAY
SHOULD I JUST TAKE SLEEPING PILLS AND DIE?
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FUCKING SLEEPING PILLS
EVERY ONE HERE HAVE SLEEPING PILLS BUT ME
NO GUN, NO SLEEPING PILLS...
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN THIS COUNTRY?
MAYBE HANG MYSELF WITH A ROPE
WHERE IS THE ROPE?
NO ROPE EITHER...
NO PREPARED AT ALL IN THIS MODERN CITY OF CHOICES
HAVE NOTHING MEANINGFUL IN MY SHITTY EXISTENCE
NO EMERGENCY PROPS TO KILL MYSELF
MAYBE A BED SHEET...
BUT THERE IS NO PIPE ON THE CEILING
I WONDER HOW EPSTEIN DID IT?
MAYBE SOME ONE SHOULD COME IN, STRANGLE ME AND THEN MAKE A NOOSE
AROUND MY NECK WITH THE SHEET...
MAYBE I SHOULD ASK THE MONSTER NEIGHBOR TO STRANGLE ME?
BUT WHY WOULD HE DO IT BEFORE I PAY HIM $6OOO?
MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT HERE THAN KILLING
MAYBE MONEY FIRST AND THEN COMES THE KILLING
SHOULD I HAVE A HNDLE ON MYSELF AND FORGET ABOUT THE BILL
AND CONCENTRATE ON BROADWAY BOOKING?
FORGET ABOUT THE BILL SYBIL
FORGET ABOUT THE BILL
HOW CAN I FUCKING FORGET ABOUT THE BILL?
$6000 DOLLARS, IT'S 6000 DOLLARS
HOW CAN I FUCKING FORGET ABOUT THIS BILL, THE MOTHER OF ALL BILLS?
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS KIND OFA FIGURE ABUT MONEY IN ANY
FORMAT
$6000, THIS AMOUNT FOR SURE WILL KILL ME
SO FINALLY I WILL BE DEAD SOON ANY WAY
NO NEED OF A GUN OR PILLS OR A ROPE.
DEATH IS DEFINITE.
SO MAYBE I SHOULD WRTE MY PULITZER PRIZE WINNER WHICH IS BEING
CONSIDERED FOR PRODUCTION ON BROADWAY AND IF I DIE BEFORE IT OPENS,
MAYBE IT WILL BECOME A BIG HIT, SYMPATHY FACTOR WILL FOR SURE COME IN...
I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE HEADLINES, "THE GREATEST PLAY EVER WRITTEN,
AUTHOR DIED BEFORE THE SHOW OPENED..."
JUST LIKE THE PLAY RENT. THE AUTHOR DIED BEFORE THE OPENING NIGHT
AND LOOK AT THE SUCCESS...IN THAT CASE IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO DIE
BUT LET ME FINISH THE PLAY, THE ONE I STARTED, THE ONE INSPIRED BY
CAMUS,THE ONE CALLED, "THE FUN PLAY" MY LAST PLAY, THE FUN PLAY...
(starts to look for the papers and the pen, )
HERE IT IS...(Starts to write) . (Silence for a while, she writes and writes)
(then comes another knock) (Off stage)
JOHN:
YOU HAVEN'T PAID THE REPAIR BILL OF $6000 YET AND THE NEW LEAK IS COMING
ALREADY...
SYBIL:
(sit silent for a while, then has a thought and compose her self and goes to the door and open the door a bit, John is visible now)
SYBIL:
A NEW LEAK IS COMING?
JOHN:
YES, A BRAND NEW LEAK
SYBIL:
OH! A BRAND NEW LEAK IS COMING TO YOU FROM WHERE?
JOHN:
FROM YOU
SYBIL:
FROM ME?
JOHN:
YES, FROM YOU
SYBIL:
OH! I SEE...
JOHN:
I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE FROM THE NEW LEAK AS WELL.
THE BILL WILL BE MUCH HIGHER. THE NEW MILDOO, THE NEW DEMOLITION...
SYBIL:
I HAVE NOTICED YOU LOVE CERTAIN WORDS, SUCH AS LEAK, DEMOLITION..
JOHN:
I DON'T LOVE THESE WORDS. YOU ARE GIVING ME THE THE LEAK, THE MOULDING,
THE DEMOLITION...
SYBIL:
YOU WANT THE LEAK?
JOHN:
YOU GAVE IT TO ME TWICE
SYBIL:
THERE IS ALWAYS A THIRD TIME, THIRD STRIKE AND YOU ARE OUT...
JUST WAIT HERE, I AM GOING TO PAY YOU THE $6000 FOR THE LEAK, THE REPAIR,
FOR THE DEMOLITION AND I WOULD ADD MORE MONEY TO THE BILL OF $6000
FOR THE NEW LEAK AS WELL. JUST WAIT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND I WILL
BRING YOU THE CHECK SO THE HEADACHE WILL BE OVER FOR EVER. ALRIGHT?
JOHN:
(confused and smirks)
ALRIGHT...
SYBIL:
JUST WAIT OUTSIDE THE DOOR...
JOHN:
OK. (goes out of the room)
SYBIL:
CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU. I WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE CHECK.
JOHN: (closes thedoor behind him
SYBIL:
(goes o the writing table, take the checkbook out and writes...then she goes to another room and comes back with a huge sharp knife)
SYBIL:
HERE IS YOUR CHECK...
(Opens the door and with a grand thrust of the knife pierce his heart and keep stabbing him like
a ferociously mad Bacchante...music from Psycho, the curtain scene mixed with screams come on
after she has stabbed him many times, she comes back in, she is soaking with red blood, her dress is completely covered, she brings the bloody knife as well as a small bucket full of red liquid with her when she enters her room and puts the knife under the table and brings a bigger bucket out of the other room and starts to pour the red liquid from smaller container into the bigger bucket...
SYBIL:
(while she pours the red liquid into the bigger bucket she says,
NOW HE'S GOT A REAL LEAK AND THE LEAK IS RED.
(She goes back to the writing table. sit for a while in silence. )
SYBIL:
THE DISTURBANCE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ...AND I CAN WRITE MY
NEW PLAY WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS.
THE PLAY WHICH WILL OPEN ALL DOORS, DOORS OF SUCCESS AND FAME AND
PRESTIGE
.PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL KNOW MY NAME FINALLY.
HE GOT THE RED LEAK AND I WILL WRITE MY PRECIOUS NEW PLAY.
"ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WEL"
(She speaks out loud)
THE RED LEAK...
THE RED LEAK
THE RED LEAK...
OH! MY LORD... WHAT A GREAT PHRASE. "THE RED LEAK" THE RED LEAK"
THAT IS GOING TOBE THE TITLE OF MY NEW PLAY...
(She sits down and starts to write and speaks out the words)
'TE RED LEAK
BY
SYBIL
TIME :PRESENT
PLACE: DILAPIDATED BUILDING IN THE EAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN
CHARACTERS:
NAFISA: AN IMMIGRANT WOMAN OF COLOR
SMITH: WHITE RACIST AMERICAN MALE, NAFISA'S NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES BELOW
HER APT...
LOUD BANGING AT NAFISA'S DOOR AS THE LIGHTS GOING DOWN
BLACK OUT
END OF PLAY.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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....
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....
Friday, October 25, 2019
DANCERS
DANCERS:
A SHORT PLAY
BY
BINA SHARIF
copyright:binasharif 2019
CHARACTERS
JESSICA: A WOMAN OF COLOR
MARY: A WHITE WOMAN
TWO DANCERS PREPARING OR A PERFORMANCE
(Jessica has just finished her rehearsal
Mary is at the bar doing her warm ups.
Jessica approaches her when Mary finishes
JESSICA:
ARE YOU ALRIGHT MARY?
MARY:
(In a very strange mood which is kind of un-expected)
YES, WHY? WHY DO YOU ASK?
JESSICA:
BECAUSE YOU SEEM PALE
MARY:
THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN BUT I AM ALRIGHT AND WHY SHOULD I NOT LOOK
PALE? I AM PALE. I AM OF IVORY SHADE WHICH LOOKS AS PALE AS A PALE PEARL
AND I LOOK THAT WAY...UNLIKE YOU...
MARY:
WHAT? UNLIKE ME? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
JESSICA:
YES, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. UNLIKE YOU. YOU WHO COME FROM SOME GOD
FORSAKEN HOT DESERT AND LOOK LIKE AS IF SOME ONE PAINTED YOUR FACE
YOUR ARMS, YOUR LEGS, YOUR WHOLE BODY WITH DARK CHARCOAL, WITH
BOILING COAL AND HOT LAVA AND YOU LOOK AND SMELL LIKE JET BLACK INK
ALWAYS BOTHERING ME ABOUT MY SKIN COLOR, INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT YOU ARE JEALOUS OF MY IVORY COMPLEXION. AT THE SAME TIME YOU
PRETEND TO BE NICE AND CONCERNED, ALWAYS ASKING ME, "WHY DO I LOOK SO
PALE? AM I ALRIGHT? AM I FEELING WELL."
LET E TELL YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL. I LOOK PALE BECAUSE I AM PALE. I AM WHITE.
NOT OFF WHITE OR OFF OFF WHITE BUT WHITE, PURE WHITE. I AM NOT JET BLACK
LIKE YOU AND YOU ARE JEALOUS, JEALOUS OF MY BEAUTY, MY DELICATE AND
FRAGILE SKIN UNLIKE YOUR SKIN WHICH IS LIKE A PARCHMENT STRETCHED OUT
LIKE TOUGH LEATHER OF CHOCOLATE LAYERING .
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR SKIN COLOR AND COLOR OF COAL.
YOU MUST COME FROM COAL COUNTRY. YOU MUST COME FROM THE KINGDOM
OF BLACKNESS, BLACK AS A DEEP DARK NIGHT.
YOU WHO HATES YOURSELF, YOU WHO WANTS TO BE LIKE ME, YOU WHO WANTS TO
, SMELL LIKE ME, INSTEAD YOU WISH THAT MY COMPLEXION IS BECAUSE OF SOME
KIND OF SICKNESS, CONSUMPTION PERHAPS AND YOU WANT TO SHOW EMPATHY
TOWARDS ME BUT MY SWEET BLACK HONEY, DON'T WORRY. I AM NOT GOING TO
.
DROP DEAD ANY MINUTE SOON.
I AM WELL ENOUGH TO DANCE. HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DANCE AND BREATH
FREEDOM, FIT ENOUGH TO LOVE, TO LAUGH, TO CONSUME, TO SHOP, TO TRAVEL,
TO LIVE, TO LIVE, TO LIVE FOREVER.
IT'S YOU WHO AFTER SEEING ME DAY AFTER DAY CAN'T BREATH.
IT'S YOU WHO IS GOING TO DIE OF YOUR BLACKNESS OR A HEART ATTACK SOON.
I HOPE YOU STOP BREATHING SOON SO I CAN GET RID OF YOU AND YOUR
MANIPULATIVE PHONY CONCERNS ABOUT MY WELL BEING.
JESSICA:
(In total shock, Her body is completely still. She is unable to move, unable to react, unable to
comprehend and absorb what just happened to her. She always knew that she lives in a white an
black world, she knew she is surrounded by racism, bigotry, unpleasantness, but have never
experienced these kinds of emotions, this kind of emotional trauma of such blatant racist attack on
.her person. She started to grasp for air. She started struggling...struggling to breath. She couldn't
breath. She finally collapsed on the dance floor.)
MARY:
( Jubilant)
I KILLED HER. I FINALLY KILLED HER. I GOT RID OF THE NEGRESS IN TEN SECONDS
WHAT THIS COUNTRY COULDN'T ACHIEVE IN 300 YEARS. I ACHIEVED IT IN A
FRACTION OF A SECOND. I FINALLY HELPED END THE WHITE AND THE BLACK
PROBLEM. ALL THIS BULLSHIT...WE HAVE TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT TOWARDS
BLACKS, TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR. FUCK PEOPLE OF COLOR. I WANT TO LIVE
AMONGST WHITE PEOPLE AND WHY NOT? I AM WHITE, I WANT TO BE AMONGST
WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL PALE COMPLEXIONED, THIN BODIED, CLAD IN PALY
COLORED CHIFFON SCARVES, SILK GOWNS, CASHMERE JUMPERS AND DANCE ALL
NIGHT WITH TALL, WHITE PALE RICH MEN ALL NIGHT.
I DON'T EVEN WANT BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AS MY SERVANTS.
THEY GIVE ME TE CREEPS AND I HAVE TO SMILE AND SAY NICE THINGS TO THEM,
HELL NO.
I AM GOING TO SAY RIGHT TO THEIR FACES WHAT WE, THE PALE WHITES OF THIS
ISLAND, THIS VAST WHITE LAND, WE THE OWNERS OF THIS WHITE LAND, WHAT WE
EXACTLY FEEL, HOW WE EXACTLY FEEL ABOUT THEM AND ARE AFRAID OF SAYING
IT BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS...
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THIS WORLD HAS COME TO...W HAVE TO BE POLITICALLY
CORRECT TO OUR SLAVES NOW?
GIVE E A FUCKING BREAK.
AND YOU BLACK AND BLUE WOMAN OF COLR BITCH, STOP BREATHING ALRIGHT...
IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY...
I NAM NEVER GOING TO CALL THE AMBULANCE... THAT'S FOR SURE...
HELL YES, NO AMBULANCE IS COMING FOR YOU BITCH BECAUSE i AM NEVER
CALLING 911. GOOD LUCK IN BLACK HELL FULL OF PEOPLE OF COLOR....
A SHORT PLAY
BY
BINA SHARIF
copyright:binasharif 2019
CHARACTERS
JESSICA: A WOMAN OF COLOR
MARY: A WHITE WOMAN
TWO DANCERS PREPARING OR A PERFORMANCE
(Jessica has just finished her rehearsal
Mary is at the bar doing her warm ups.
Jessica approaches her when Mary finishes
JESSICA:
ARE YOU ALRIGHT MARY?
MARY:
(In a very strange mood which is kind of un-expected)
YES, WHY? WHY DO YOU ASK?
JESSICA:
BECAUSE YOU SEEM PALE
MARY:
THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN BUT I AM ALRIGHT AND WHY SHOULD I NOT LOOK
PALE? I AM PALE. I AM OF IVORY SHADE WHICH LOOKS AS PALE AS A PALE PEARL
AND I LOOK THAT WAY...UNLIKE YOU...
MARY:
WHAT? UNLIKE ME? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
JESSICA:
YES, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. UNLIKE YOU. YOU WHO COME FROM SOME GOD
FORSAKEN HOT DESERT AND LOOK LIKE AS IF SOME ONE PAINTED YOUR FACE
YOUR ARMS, YOUR LEGS, YOUR WHOLE BODY WITH DARK CHARCOAL, WITH
BOILING COAL AND HOT LAVA AND YOU LOOK AND SMELL LIKE JET BLACK INK
ALWAYS BOTHERING ME ABOUT MY SKIN COLOR, INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT YOU ARE JEALOUS OF MY IVORY COMPLEXION. AT THE SAME TIME YOU
PRETEND TO BE NICE AND CONCERNED, ALWAYS ASKING ME, "WHY DO I LOOK SO
PALE? AM I ALRIGHT? AM I FEELING WELL."
LET E TELL YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL. I LOOK PALE BECAUSE I AM PALE. I AM WHITE.
NOT OFF WHITE OR OFF OFF WHITE BUT WHITE, PURE WHITE. I AM NOT JET BLACK
LIKE YOU AND YOU ARE JEALOUS, JEALOUS OF MY BEAUTY, MY DELICATE AND
FRAGILE SKIN UNLIKE YOUR SKIN WHICH IS LIKE A PARCHMENT STRETCHED OUT
LIKE TOUGH LEATHER OF CHOCOLATE LAYERING .
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR SKIN COLOR AND COLOR OF COAL.
YOU MUST COME FROM COAL COUNTRY. YOU MUST COME FROM THE KINGDOM
OF BLACKNESS, BLACK AS A DEEP DARK NIGHT.
YOU WHO HATES YOURSELF, YOU WHO WANTS TO BE LIKE ME, YOU WHO WANTS TO
, SMELL LIKE ME, INSTEAD YOU WISH THAT MY COMPLEXION IS BECAUSE OF SOME
KIND OF SICKNESS, CONSUMPTION PERHAPS AND YOU WANT TO SHOW EMPATHY
TOWARDS ME BUT MY SWEET BLACK HONEY, DON'T WORRY. I AM NOT GOING TO
.
DROP DEAD ANY MINUTE SOON.
I AM WELL ENOUGH TO DANCE. HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DANCE AND BREATH
FREEDOM, FIT ENOUGH TO LOVE, TO LAUGH, TO CONSUME, TO SHOP, TO TRAVEL,
TO LIVE, TO LIVE, TO LIVE FOREVER.
IT'S YOU WHO AFTER SEEING ME DAY AFTER DAY CAN'T BREATH.
IT'S YOU WHO IS GOING TO DIE OF YOUR BLACKNESS OR A HEART ATTACK SOON.
I HOPE YOU STOP BREATHING SOON SO I CAN GET RID OF YOU AND YOUR
MANIPULATIVE PHONY CONCERNS ABOUT MY WELL BEING.
JESSICA:
(In total shock, Her body is completely still. She is unable to move, unable to react, unable to
comprehend and absorb what just happened to her. She always knew that she lives in a white an
black world, she knew she is surrounded by racism, bigotry, unpleasantness, but have never
experienced these kinds of emotions, this kind of emotional trauma of such blatant racist attack on
.her person. She started to grasp for air. She started struggling...struggling to breath. She couldn't
breath. She finally collapsed on the dance floor.)
MARY:
( Jubilant)
I KILLED HER. I FINALLY KILLED HER. I GOT RID OF THE NEGRESS IN TEN SECONDS
WHAT THIS COUNTRY COULDN'T ACHIEVE IN 300 YEARS. I ACHIEVED IT IN A
FRACTION OF A SECOND. I FINALLY HELPED END THE WHITE AND THE BLACK
PROBLEM. ALL THIS BULLSHIT...WE HAVE TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT TOWARDS
BLACKS, TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR. FUCK PEOPLE OF COLOR. I WANT TO LIVE
AMONGST WHITE PEOPLE AND WHY NOT? I AM WHITE, I WANT TO BE AMONGST
WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL PALE COMPLEXIONED, THIN BODIED, CLAD IN PALY
COLORED CHIFFON SCARVES, SILK GOWNS, CASHMERE JUMPERS AND DANCE ALL
NIGHT WITH TALL, WHITE PALE RICH MEN ALL NIGHT.
I DON'T EVEN WANT BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AS MY SERVANTS.
THEY GIVE ME TE CREEPS AND I HAVE TO SMILE AND SAY NICE THINGS TO THEM,
HELL NO.
I AM GOING TO SAY RIGHT TO THEIR FACES WHAT WE, THE PALE WHITES OF THIS
ISLAND, THIS VAST WHITE LAND, WE THE OWNERS OF THIS WHITE LAND, WHAT WE
EXACTLY FEEL, HOW WE EXACTLY FEEL ABOUT THEM AND ARE AFRAID OF SAYING
IT BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS...
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THIS WORLD HAS COME TO...W HAVE TO BE POLITICALLY
CORRECT TO OUR SLAVES NOW?
GIVE E A FUCKING BREAK.
AND YOU BLACK AND BLUE WOMAN OF COLR BITCH, STOP BREATHING ALRIGHT...
IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY...
I NAM NEVER GOING TO CALL THE AMBULANCE... THAT'S FOR SURE...
HELL YES, NO AMBULANCE IS COMING FOR YOU BITCH BECAUSE i AM NEVER
CALLING 911. GOOD LUCK IN BLACK HELL FULL OF PEOPLE OF COLOR....
DANCERS
DANCERS
MARY
JESSICA
DANCERS
DIRECTION:
(When Mary came in the rehearsal room, Jessica was already at the bar and didn't seem like the person Mary thought she knew. so she waited near the bar till Jessica finished her exercises and
then went to her.
MARY:
ARE YOU ALRIGHT JESSICA?
JESSICA:
YES,WHY? WHY DO YOU ASK?
MARY:
BECAUSE YOU SEEM PALE
JEESSICA:
THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN. I AM ALRIGHT.
AND WHY SHOULD I NOT LOK PALE? I AM PALE.
I AM OF IVORY SHADE WHICH IS AS PALE AS A PALE PEARL
MARY
JESSICA
DANCERS
DIRECTION:
(When Mary came in the rehearsal room, Jessica was already at the bar and didn't seem like the person Mary thought she knew. so she waited near the bar till Jessica finished her exercises and
then went to her.
MARY:
ARE YOU ALRIGHT JESSICA?
JESSICA:
YES,WHY? WHY DO YOU ASK?
MARY:
BECAUSE YOU SEEM PALE
JEESSICA:
THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN. I AM ALRIGHT.
AND WHY SHOULD I NOT LOK PALE? I AM PALE.
I AM OF IVORY SHADE WHICH IS AS PALE AS A PALE PEARL
THERAPY OF A DREAM PLAY
THERAPY OF A DREAM PLAY
BY
BINA SHARIF
copyright:binasharif 2019
the play includes following playlets. (The play is about writing the play under
calm and peaceful atmosphere in the playwright's own home but unfortunately
she has a nasty neighbor who is racist and aggressive and at all hours of day and night disturbs her
concentration with false accusations of complaints such as,
MAKING NOISE: (making noise? she sits for hours to write very quietly, no music, no tv, no pet
no children to run around, but he keeps coming back knocking at her door, knocking at the pipes from down below, ordering her to be quiet)
COMPLAINS OF WATER COMING DOWN A LEAK, A LEAK, A LEAK
(She hasn't
even turned a water tap to drink a drop of water or to brush her teeth or to water the plants
but the neighbor has some kind of agenda against this lady for years but at this moment she is really
getting upset and frustrated because finally after writing many plays she has been invited to submit one of her play for a big opportunity and she us going through many of her plays to decide which one to send or this major grant. So she hasn't slept for many nights, keep looking at certain parts of her
plays to decide which one will fit the bill but her agitation reaches a point where there is no return.)
CERTAIN PLAYS SHE GOES THROUGH IN THE SELECTION PROCESS
SYBIL'S DESPAIR
FUN PLAY
PREDICTION
THE DANCER
THE WINDOW
She finally decide to write a new play and submit that one because it suddenly seem perfect and the name of the play she starts to write is....
THE LEAK, THE RED LEAK.
BY
BINA SHARIF
copyright:binasharif 2019
the play includes following playlets. (The play is about writing the play under
calm and peaceful atmosphere in the playwright's own home but unfortunately
she has a nasty neighbor who is racist and aggressive and at all hours of day and night disturbs her
concentration with false accusations of complaints such as,
MAKING NOISE: (making noise? she sits for hours to write very quietly, no music, no tv, no pet
no children to run around, but he keeps coming back knocking at her door, knocking at the pipes from down below, ordering her to be quiet)
COMPLAINS OF WATER COMING DOWN A LEAK, A LEAK, A LEAK
(She hasn't
even turned a water tap to drink a drop of water or to brush her teeth or to water the plants
but the neighbor has some kind of agenda against this lady for years but at this moment she is really
getting upset and frustrated because finally after writing many plays she has been invited to submit one of her play for a big opportunity and she us going through many of her plays to decide which one to send or this major grant. So she hasn't slept for many nights, keep looking at certain parts of her
plays to decide which one will fit the bill but her agitation reaches a point where there is no return.)
CERTAIN PLAYS SHE GOES THROUGH IN THE SELECTION PROCESS
SYBIL'S DESPAIR
FUN PLAY
PREDICTION
THE DANCER
THE WINDOW
She finally decide to write a new play and submit that one because it suddenly seem perfect and the name of the play she starts to write is....
THE LEAK, THE RED LEAK.
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