Characters: Sara–American woman, 20-40 years old. Khalid-Egyptian man, 20-40 years old

Setting: The top of the great pyramid of Egypt. Full moon.

Time: Night.

(Night. Full moon. On top of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Spooky and beautiful at the same time. The top of the pyramid is an uneven surface of worn stone blocks, forming two or three playing levels. The surface area on top is larger than one would think. Many of the stones are covered in graffiti. A moment of moonlit peaceful silence, then Sara emerges, climbing up over the edge to the top. Out of breath, she looks around, realizes she’s made it, raises her arms in victory!)

SARA

(In a loud whisper…)

YES!

(Spins around gleefully.)

YES! Awesome! Been there! Done that!

(She checks the view from front of stage.)

My God!… Check… this… out!!

(She rushes back to where she first appeared, loud whisper over edge…)

Cal! Come on! This place is incredible! (Pause.) Cal? Where are you? Cal!

KHALID

Quiet! They will hear you!

SARA

What’s wrong?

KHALID

I’m taking a rest. 

SARA

You’re not still scared?

KHALID

No, I’m not still scared.

SARA

Then come on. I’m on the top. 

KHALID

I’m more scared.

SARA

Come on. Only six more feet and you can say you’ve done it. 

KHALID

Up. Only six more feet up but how many feet down?

SARA

Hand me the backpack.

(She pulls up the backpack.)

Ok, now grab here and put your foot in that crack. 

KHALID

Show the flashlight. 

SARA

We can’t. They’ll see us.

KHALID

Maybe they will rescue me.

SARA

You big weenie. 

KHALID

Weenie… what is this?

SARA

(Sara lies down, reaching over.) 

Give me your hand… ok, put your foot there… left, left. No! Right foot but move it left. Got it?

KHALID

Yadi el nila ana eih kan gabne fi el hebaba di! [Oh shit, what the hell am I doing in this mess?!]

SARA

What?!

KHALID

My new jeans! They are cut open.

SARA

Oh my god, we’re all gonna die! Ok, come on, one, two, three… heave!

(He comes sprawling over the edge onto the top. Lies stunned, afraid to move.)

You did it! See, no problem. Check it out. Amazing! Ladies and Gentlemen, you’ve read about it. You’ve seen it on TV. You are now, in fact, standing atop one of the Seven Wonders of the World… The Great Pyramid of Egypt. 

KHALID

How are we going to get down? 

SARA

Open your eyes. 

KHALID

Everybody says going down is even worse. 

SARA

Come on, get up or… (Tickles him.)… Gootchy-gootchy-gootchy… 

KHALID

Ok, ok, stop it. Don’t fool around like this! 

SARA

Gootchy, gootchy! 

KHALID

It’s dangerous! 

SARA

Look how far you can see.

(She opens backpack, takes out water bottle, tangerines, chocolate. Khalid looks down.) 

KHALID

Oh my God! 

SARA

I told you! You can practically see all of Cairo. The stars look so close.  

KHALID

The ground looks so far.

SARA

Ohhh… Do you want me to hold your little hand. 

KHALID

People fall off here every year. 

SARA

Come over here. I’ve got chocolaaate! 

KHALID

You don’t know. They do! Crazy fools… like us. Dead! 

SARA

It’s magical up here. 

KHALID

Backs broken. Heads open. Ha tilai’i emkhakh fi khul hetta. [You’ll find brains everywhere.] 

SARA

Quiet. 

KHALID

The government covers this up so it won’t frighten tourists. I’m Egyptian so I know these things. Smashed like bugs. 

SARA

Ssshhh! Listen… 

KHALID

(Jumps up scared.)  

What? What?!

(Stumbles.)

Oww, oww!

SARA

Listen! 

KHALID

(Pause, whispers…) 

I don’t hear anything! 

SARA

Beautiful, isn’t it? The music of the stars. 

KHALID

My God… I’ve twisted my ankle. 

SARA

Look at that moon… it’s huge! 

KHALID

They’re going to have to send a helicopter to bring us from here. We’ll be arrested, then fired. Maybe they will cancel the film crew’s permit for the pyramids or maybe for all of Egypt. How would you like this? The whole film crew kicked out of Egypt because we break the rules. 

SARA

Come on, enjoy the moment. 

KHALID

Look at the moon, listen to the stars! Do you think I’m enjoying this damn moment? 

SARA

Doesn’t it make you want to kiss? 

KHALID

(Dead stop.) You are serious? 

SARA

(She nods. He leans in and is just about to kiss her when she jumps away, prepares to flee.)

But first you gotta catch me! 

KHALID

Oh my God.

(He gives up and slumps down.)

SARA

Come on! Let’s play scarab, scarab, who’s got the scarab! I’ll be Cleopatra and you be King Tut.

KHALID

They were from different centuries.

SARA

You’re from a different century. 

KHALID

I’m not going to chase you around the top of the pyramid! It’s dangerous. 

SARA

You chased me all the way up here. 

KHALID

I didn’t chase you. 

SARA

What do you call it? 

KHALID

I volunteered to help you. 

SARA

You’re afraid of heights. 

KHALID

So? 

SARA

I practically had to carry you. 

KHALID

I’m sorry you feel this way. 

SARA

Admit it, you’re attracted to me so you did the macho thing and followed me up here. 

KHALID

(Examining the embarrassing hole in the crotch of his jeans.)

These are real Levis! My cousin brings them all the way from China! 

SARA

You probably figured you get me up here all alone, a full moon, a million stars, a loose American woman.

(She leans over to get a playful look at the hole in his jeans.) 

KHALID

Don’t look!  

SARA

“Come with me to ze Casbah, where we will make beautiful music together.” 

KHALID

(Pause.) What is this Casbah? 

SARA

You’ve never heard of the Casbah? 

KHALID

It is for music? 

SARA

The Casbah is where you’re supposed to take me on your magic carpet to kiss me, ravish me, make me wear see-through silky things and write bad checks. 

KHALID

Wait, maybe I know it. In the Cairo Trade Center? 

SARA

I’m devastated. Don’t you ever watch cartoons? Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? Flying carpets! Men with big mustaches and long curvy knives shouting, “open sesame” and sweeping women off to their harems! 

KHALID

Maybe this is Yemen. 

SARA

And what about Anthony and Cleopatra? My god! They probably stood right here! And the English Patient? This is supposed to be the land of mystery and romance!  

KHALID

I like this movie very much, the English Patient. 

SARA

And you’re telling me that my life-long romantic fantasy is just another urban myth. 

KHALID

Sorry? I don’t understand. 

SARA

Well at least you chased me up the Great Pyramid. How many women can say that? 

KHALID

I didn’t chase you. 

]SARA

So, you’re saying you don’t want to kiss me? 

KHALID

(Pause.) 

Of course, I want to kiss you. 

SARA

See! 

KHALID

But that isn’t why I climb here. 

SARA

And I was getting all weak in the knees. 

KHALID

You laugh at me. I am a joke, yes? 

SARA

I didn’t say that.

KHALID

Yanni, because I am afraid. You make fun of me. 

SARA

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rag on you. 

KHALID

Ma’alisch. [Doesn’t matter.] It is nothing. I am a big boy. 

SARA

Really. I’m sorry. Peace, Ok?

KHALID

Sure, sure. Peace. It’s ok. 

SARA

It is beautiful though, isn’t it? Like the dark side of the moon. Spooky and beautiful at the same time. 

KHALID

Enti zayy il amer. [You are like the moon.] 

SARA

What? 

KHALID

Maybe like you. You are like the moon. 

SARA

Ohh… you sweet talking man. Maybe you do have potential. 

KHALID

Shofti baa’. [See!] Like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic! 

SARA

Oh please! 

KHALID

I love this movie! (Holds arms out like the famous scene.) 

SARA

Cal… 

KHALID

Kate Winslet! So beautiful! 

SARA

Cal! 

KHALID

Sixteen times I have seen this movie! 

SARA

I can’t get romantic thinking about Leonardo Di Caprio. 

KHALID

No? 

SARA

No. 

KHALID

Oh.  

SARA

So… what would happen if they caught us up here? Arrest us? 

KHALID

My god, I don’t know. Make us pay a million pounds baksheesh. Which I don’t have. 

SARA

Why’d you come up here then? If not for little old me. 

KHALID

(Pause.) I wanted to see if I could do it. 

SARA

Because you were afraid? 

KHALID

Yes. 

SARA

That’s so fantastic! It’s very empowering to overcome fears. Fear is just of the unknown. You know what I mean? We’re scared of what we don’t know. Like the dark. Like death. Like Egypt! 

KHALID

You were afraid from Egypt? 

SARA

I was about to pee my pants. I got the call for this job and my first thought was, “No way, Jose!” I’m too young to be massacred.  

KHALID

Egypt is not like this!

SARA

It was fear of the unknown! My god, all we ever hear about the Middle-East is hotels bombed, tourists slaughtered, and guys with funny beards shouting, “Death to America!” Like everybody hates us. 

KHALID

We don’t hate you! 

SARA

Exactly! And I love it here! The people! 

KHALID

Egyptians are the friendliest people in the world! 

SARA

The history, sailing on the Nile, Siwa! I’ll never forget Siwa as long as I live. Running down those sand dunes. The oasis. All the little kids shouting, “What’s your name?” “What’s your name?” It’s changed me. The way I look at the world. If I had listened to everybody else I’d still be sitting in Silver Lake, clutching my latte, scared of anybody in a turban. What’s ironic? I feel ten times safer here than walking around LA. And certainly more welcome. 

KHALID

Il ham du lileh. [Thanks to God,] I was here before you know. 

SARA

Wait! Here? On top?  

KHALID

Not all the way. When I was little. For school trip. They give permission for students to climb. 

SARA

You’re kidding. How old were you? 

KHALID

Maybe ten years. I didn’t want to and my friends make fun of me. Calling me names. So, I try but I got sick. 

SARA

Uh oh. 

KHALID

I think I drink too much Pepsis. I… ragaat… (Mimes throwing up)… I don’t know it in English. 

SARA

Throw up? You threw up? 

KHALID

Yes. On the Great Pyramid. 

SARA

Oh, you poor thing. You must have been scared to death. 

KHALID

So maybe many can say they have climbed the pyramid but I think I am the only one who can throw up on it. 

SARA

Ohhhh… was that the most afraid you’ve ever been? 

KHALID

I don’t know. 

SARA

That was my favorite scene from the English Patient. Remember? When he asks her that? “What’s the most afraid you’ve ever been?” 

KHALID

Most afraid? 

SARA

(Looking into Khalid’s eyes.)

And her heart’s pounding and she looks in his eyes and says, “That’s the way I feel right now.” 

KHALID

(Blowing it.) I don’t remember this scene. 

SARA

You have to! 

KHALID

It is from the English Patient? 

SARA

Yes! When they were in the bathtub together? After he ripped her dress off?

KHALID

I think the censors, maybe they cut this scene. 

SARA

That was the best part! He had this great apartment in the old part of Cairo. Totally went native. Carved wood.  

Slow, steamy fans. This huge bathtub. Brrr… it still gives me a shiver. Although maybe it’s just the wind. 

KHALID

You are cold? 

SARA

A little. 

KHALID

I’m sorry. Here… (He tries to put his jacket around her.) 

SARA

No, no really. I didn’t mean that. 

KHALID

No. Ma’alisch [Doesn’t matter.] 

(He puts it around her.) 

I am used to this. 

SARA

Thank you. 

(He sits closer.)

SARA (Con’t)

Hey, look! A shooting star! 

KHALID

Where? 

SARA

There… you missed it. Make a wish. 

KHALID

I wish we get down alive. 

SARA

Something good. 

KHALID

I wish I have seen this bathtub scene. 

SARA

I’ll bet. 

KHALID

I wish to know you more. 

SARA

That’s better. 

KHALID

You think this is possible? 

SARA

You still haven’t answered the big question.

KHALID

What? 

SARA

The most scared you’ve ever been. Now? Sitting here on the edge of the world with the crazy American woman? 

KHALID

No. You are crazy but I am not afraid from you. 

SARA

Come on, what then?

KHALID

I don’t know. 

SARA

I may have to tickle you again… 

KHALID

Ok, ok… maybe… maybe it is when I am a student… at the university. I like to draw, you know? 

SARA

You’re an artist? 

KHALID

No, not really. Cartoons. My friend had a website, a blog. 

SARA

Like a comic strip? 

KHALID

No, no. Political. Political cartoons…about what was done at the university… and here in Egypt. 

SARA

Uh oh. 

KHALID

The police come to my house in the night and take me to the jail. 

SARA

Oh shit. You’re kidding. 

KHALID

They tell me stop. If I want to continue at the university, I must stop.  

SARA

They threatened you? 

KHALID

I sit for many hours with my eyes covered. Blind fold. My friend was also arrested, beaten. I was very afraid. 

SARA

Jesus. 

KHALID

For me. For my family. I prayed very hard. I think they will beat me too but finally they let me go. My father, he is very angry. 

SARA

I guess! 

KHALID

He slaps me. Here in the mouth. 

SARA

He hit you? 

KHALID

He is very angry from me. 

SARA

Why? 

KHALID

I think he is afraid too. The government is very powerful, very serious. Not for cartoons. Not for laughing. 

SARA

I’m sorry. 

KHALID

I don’t think they would do this in your country? 

SARA

My god, sometimes our country is a cartoon. Or a made for TV Fox movie. “Mission accomplished!” “Axis of Evil!” 

KHALID

Ah yes… Bush. 

SARA

Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. 

KHALID

This is wrong. This invasion. 

SARA

Well, no shit, Sherlock. 

KHALID

You agree with this? 

SARA

Anybody with a brain agrees with this. 

KHALID

What about Israel? 

SARA

What about it? 

KHALID

Invading Lebanon, Palestine. Taking their land. Bombing the poor peoples. 

SARA

Nobody should bomb anybody. 

KHALID

But you are American. 

SARA

And? 

KHALID

America gives them the bombs! 

SARA

You agree with everything your government does? 

KHALID

Of course not. 

SARA

So, why would I? It’d be like me blaming you for all the rude remarks I have to listen to from men in the streets here. 

KHALID

This is a bad thing. Shebeb rewesh. [Flashy young men.] 

SARA

Shebeb assholes! I mean what is this?… (Long disgusting kissing noise.)…Why do Egyptian men do that? Is that genetic or just genital? “I want practice make love you.” Why do women have to listen to that? 

KHALID

I think they watch too much western movies. 

SARA

Right. If that was the case then men in the States would be ten times worse and, believe me, at the moment I’ve got a whole new respect for their gender sensitivity. 

KHALID

I’m sorry. I am ashamed for Egypt when I see this. 

SARA

Do Egyptian women have to put up with this? 

KHALID

I think maybe we eat now. 

SARA

Chicken. 

KHALID

No, only chocolate and mandarin. Please? Ok, peace? 

SARA

How do you say peace in Arabic? 

KHALID

Salaam. 

SARA

Salaam? 

KHALID

Bazzapt. [Exactly.] Peace. Sit please… I am your tour guide. Sit! 

(She does.)

I studied Egyptology you know. Yanni, I know all about pyramids. I think you don’t know there are 97 of them.  

SARA

No way. 

KHALID

Giza, Saqquara, Dahshur, Abusir, many. Maybe more still buried. 

SARA

Wow. 

KHALID

That way is Saqquara and Dashur. During the day, you see them from here. There, Cairo. 

SARA

Looks like an ocean of light.

KHALID

Sixteen million peoples. See there… the Cairo Tower that Nasser built… and there is the Sheraton and the Hilton. 

SARA

Major landmarks. 

KHALID

Yes. And here the Sphinx. In Arabic called Abul Hol. “The Father of Horrors.” 

SARA

Whoooaa… 

KHALID

And that way desert… all the way to Libya. Forty days by camel.

SARA

Right. 

KHALID

No, no. I’m serious. Forty days and, maybe for us, 1001 nights. We put our camp under the stars, yes? The camels grazing. The oud and flute playing. Incense. Our tent with many rich carpets made of finest wool. 

SARA

Sure. And we’re eating sheep’s eyeballs and I’m wearing one of those slinky, red belly-dancer things we saw at the bazaar. 

KHALID

Meshi Khalass, [Ok, sure,] as you like… and black khol for your eyes. And I will buy for you the same perfume Cleopatra wears. 

SARA

And I’ll feed you grapes that I peeled with my own teeth.

(She demonstrates on a tangerine.) 

KHALID

You dance barefoot on the sand and then we will, how do you say it? Enjoy the moment? 

SARA

Dream on sucker!

(Playfully mashes tangerine in his mouth.)

After you wouldn’t play hide the scarab? 

KHALID

I wait for more stars to fall and make this wish. 

SARA

Did you really study Egyptology? 

KHALID

Like my father. This is why he names me Khalid. Khalid means immortal. Like the pharaohs. Like the pyramids. 

SARA

Wait, what’s your name? I thought it was Cal. 

KHALID

Khalid, but you Americans call me Cal. This is easier I think. 

SARA

Oh my god. I’ve been calling you the wrong name? Why didn’t you tell me? 

KHALID

Mish mushkilla. [No problem.] No problem. Maybe it is difficult for you.

SARA

Duh! Stupid American! Calling you Cal, like some Texas used car dealer. 

KHALID

Ma’alisch. [Doesn’t matter.] Really! 

SARA

(Tries to pronounce it.)

Ok, Khalid? 

KHALID

Khaaalid. 

SARA

Khaaalid? 

KHALID

Mumtez! [Excellent!] Your Arabic very beautiful. 

SARA

So, then Khalid, how come, if you were destined to be an Egyptologist, you’re working on a movie crew? 

KHALID

This is first time for me. My cousin knows the assistant director. When I leave the university, the only job I am offered is tour guide. But after the Sinai attacks there is no work for me. 

SARA

Sinai… oh my god! That hotel. I saw it on TV. Over and over I saw it. 

KHALID

These are very bad men. Not real Egyptians. This is not the right way of Islam. 

SARA

Same all over I guess. We’ve got our own share of crazies back home. Oklahoma, Texas militias, Cheney. (Pause.) The world should be like this… peaceful… quiet. 

KHALID

Beautiful. 

SARA

Sitting here I feel like I belong. Like I’ve been here before. 

KHALID

Maybe you were a queen here in another life. Very beautiful wife of Pharaoh. 

SARA

More like kitchen slave in the Pharaoh’s palace scraping leftover peacock off the royal plates. 

KHALID

I’m serious. You look very Egyptian. 

SARA

Right. 

KHALID

I think Egyptian women are the most beautiful in the world. 

SARA

And I think the moonlight’s starting to affect your brain. 

KHALID

And your name, Sara, is very Egyptian. [Sara in Arabic rhymes with bar… Sar-a] 

SARA

Really? 

KHALID

Yes, of course. Many girls here have this same name. You pass for Egyptian. 

SARA

I guess I ought to… my family moved from here a long time ago. 

KHALID

Really? You are serious? 

SARA

Ever heard of the Exodus? 

KHALID

Exodus? What is this? 

SARA

When all the Jews left Egypt, and went to Israel. You know Moses? The Red Sea? The Burning Bush? All that? 

KHALID

What are you saying? I don’t understand. You are Israeli? (Laughing.) No. 

SARA

No, but I’m Jewish. I’m going to visit Israel after I leave here. 

KHALID

You are Jewish? 

SARA

Yes. 

KHALID

Why? 

SARA

Why am I Jewish? 

KHALID

Why don’t you tell me this?

SARA

Well… mish mushkilla. (Imitating him.) I think maybe it is difficult for you. 

KHALID

Jewish?! 

SARA

Why should it matter? 

KHALID

So, you think the Israelis are right in everything they do! 

SARA

I don’t think anybody’s right in everything they do. I admit I used to be a bit prejudiced but now I see that there are two sides. 

KHALID

There are no sides! They are wrong! 

SARA

God. Mr. Open-Minded. 

KHALID

(Accusatory.)

Why do you go to Israel? 

SARA

I have relatives there. I want to see them. I want to see Jerusalem. 

KHALID

The Israelis have stolen Jerusalem. They are the terrorists.  

SARA

Maybe they have, maybe they haven’t. I really don’t know. But I think it’s only fair to go see for myself instead of just listening to everybody else. 

KHALID

Jewish, Israeli. These are the same thing. Of course, you are on their side! 

SARA

I’m not on anybody’s side! 

KHALID

Keeping Palestinian people prisoners in their own country? 

SARA

I’m keeping an open mind! Can’t I have an open mind? Can’t you have an open mind? 

KHALID

It’s not us. It’s them. 

SARA

It’s us. It’s them. It’s us. It’s them. I get so sick of that. Don’t you? 

KHALID

What do you know of this? Nothing! My friend, she is Palestinian. When she is young, her family is taken from their land. Everything! Their house destroyed! Her father now has no job. No money. Nobody to hire him. He becomes very angry and his wife leaves him. What of this? Hunh? All is taken from him because of the Jews! Because they want his country! You think this fair? This is open-minded? This is two sides? 

SARA

Khalid… 

KHALID

Why doesn’t America stop this? 

SARA

I don’t want to fight with you. 

KHALID

Because the Jews control America! 

SARA

Well, my god, so much for international relations! 

KHALID

I think maybe it is not a good idea I be here with you. 

SARA

So now suddenly you have to hate me cause I’m Jewish? What happened to the thousand and one nights? Hunh? Same perfume Cleopatra wears? 

KHALID

I didn’t know this before. 

SARA

I knew you were Muslim and it didn’t matter to me. 

KHALID

You don’t understand. 

SARA

Oh brilliant! Great comeback!  

KHALID

I’m sorry. I am leaving. 

SARA

Good. Fine. Take a hike. Who’s stopping you? 

KHALID

My jacket.

(She removes jacket, throws it over the side.)

Hey! Hey! My god! You are crazy. 

SARA

I’m an Israeli terrorist! Remember? 

KHALID

I don’t know why I come here. 

SARA

To overcome your fears, wasn’t it? Only I don’t think you’re doing a very good job of it. 

KHALID

I’m going. (Starts to leave.) 

SARA

And to think… you almost kissed a JEW!

(She turns around and sits down, huddled up, staring out at audience. He looks over the edge, looks back at her, looks over the edge… sits down and puts head in hands. Long pause…)

Afraid? 

KHALID

You have the flashlight. 

(She grabs it out of the backpack like she’s going to throw it too.)

No! Please… please. 

SARA

(She hesitates then puts it down on the rock.)

Take it!

KHALID

(He goes to pick it up very carefully as if she might attack him.)

What about you? It is harder going down. 

SARA

What do you care? 

KHALID

I think we must go together. It is safer this way. 

SARA

Safer for who?! 

KHALID

Please, I am responsible for you. 

SARA

No wonder Cleopatra killed herself. 

KHALID

You don’t understand, this is difficult for me. 

SARA

I think sometimes that people love to suffer. You ever notice that? It’s like a worldwide contest to prove who’s suffered the most. If you’ve suffered the most, then 

somehow it puts you in the right! The Palestinians have suffered so they must be right. The Jews have suffered so they must be right. It seems to me like everybody’s suffering and nobody’s right! 

KHALID

(Pause.)

Sometimes I don’t know what to think. 

SARA

I really liked you!! 

KHALID

I like you also! (Pause.) You are shaking. You are cold again.

(He touches her shoulder, she shakes him off.) 

SARA

No! 

KHALID

Sara… 

SARA

I thought you were leaving. 

KHALID

Please… It’s crazy but I still want to kiss you. 

SARA

Oh yeah? And what if your friends found out? You’d get thrown out of the Arab League or whatever. World’s friendliest people!  

KHALID

It’s not so easy to suddenly change. 

SARA

What do you see when you look at me? Hunh? 

KHALID

Please… 

SARA

What do you see?!

KHALID

Sara. I see Sara. 

SARA

Sara the Semite? Sara the loose American woman? 

KHALID

I see Sara that is very friendly, very kind to people working on their first movie. 

SARA

That’s all? A minute ago, it was Sara, Queen of the Desert! 

KHALID

That is also not afraid from anything. Not from the pyramid… not from Egypt…not even from me. (Pause.) I’m sorry. 

SARA

Don’t say it unless you mean it. 

KHALID

I do! 

(No answer from Sara.)

We have a saying in Egypt. “Min el alb lilalb.” … From heart to heart.

(No answer.)

From my heart to your heart… I’m serious. I mean it. 

SARA

(Pause.) 

Say it again? 

KHALID

Min el alb lilalb. (Pause.) It’s very strange I think… if we would kiss now it will mean more than before… yes? Before it was just… how did you say? “Hide the scarab”? Now it is serious. Now it is political. How is this? How can a kiss be political? But you are right… if my family knows this thing… that we are here… my friends… 

SARA

Maybe they should all get their heads out of their asses. 

KHALID

(Shocked.) 

What do you know of my friends? You say this? 

SARA

Well? 

KHALID

And my family also? Heads in ass?! 

SARA

No. 

KHALID 

My mother? My father?! 

SARA

Cal… 

KHALID

I love my family. My friends. 

SARA

I’m sorry! 

KHALID

We are close! Egyptians are very close! 

SARA

I know that. 

KHALID

I am to give them up because they don’t think as you?! 

SARA

No! 

KHALID

Maybe you are right! Maybe we are too angry about the Jews. But this is many years. Many wars! 

SARA

I know, I know… 

KHALID

And the Israelis too! The Americans! They also must pull heads from ass. 

SARA

Yes. 

KHALID

The British! And the French! 

SARA

And the Iraqis? The Palestinians? 

KHALID

(Pause.) 

SARA

Hello?… Suicide bombs? 

KHALID

This is wrong also, this bombing. 

SARA

You think? Maybe? 

KHALID

But what else can they do?!

(She gives him a look and turns away.)

Ok, yes! Khalass! Enough! Everyone, everywhere pulling heads from asses. This is best, yes?

(Sara nods.)

Including me.

(Sara nods.)

… You think maybe in this “Casbah” there are no politics?

(Sara shrugs.)

… Peace? Ok?

(He tentatively touches her. She pulls away…)  

SARA

Tomorrow too? 

KHALID

Yes. 

SARA

Or is this just some treaty of convenience? 

KHALID

No! 

SARA

And your friends? 

KHALID

(Pause.) 

This peace is harder. 

SARA

Maybe like going down the pyramid by yourself with no flashlight. 

KHALID

Maybe we should just jump. It is easier I think. 

SARA

Aww… you want me to hold your little hand? 

KHALID

Yes.

(She thinks about it and doesn’t. Pause.) 

Sara? 

SARA

Khalid?105 

KHALID

I think this is the most afraid that I’ve ever been…right now. 

SARA

Good line. 

KHALID

Peace… Ok?… Please? 

SARA

(Pause… nods.) 

Salaam… I wish…

KHALID

What?

(She shrugs… No answer.)

Me too.

(Pause.)

Maybe we wait for another star. 

(They both look up at the stars.) 

END