Scene 9
( In front of the cave)
Hassan – I think I should go in first, lest we give them unnecessary cause for alarm.
Officer – It is fine for me .
Hassan –But who are these people following us ? And What are they here for ?
Officer – they are the media people . They have their own way of finding out ?
Hassan – What is media ? and what are these weapons carrying on their shoulders and the funny lights flashing away like demons ? Don’t forget you gave me your word of honour
Officer – Their job is to inform the public. They mean no harm. You can go in. I will try to control this curious lot.
Hassan – They are closing on me with their one-eyed beasts.
(He retreats, while a TV reporter starts sending his live report)
Reporter - Here is the towering mountain dominating the landscape of the old city where ancient history is invoked and where we moved to be on the scene and right in front of you the cave where three people are believed to have slept in it for one hundred and ninety years. With us the man who could solve this mystery the manager of the castle . Could you tell us first Mr. manager do you believe it is true?
The manager- According to the norms by which we lead our lives and the laws of time and space as we know them, it couldn’t happen, but miracles, although not common, do happen, and if we go back (continues to speak as it fades away and melts into the end of the scene music)
MUSIC
Scene 10
(Inside the cave )
Hassan ( Entering ) Peace upon you
Salem – Peace upon you too , Here you are at last .
Omar –Tell me very quickly , what happened to you ? What made you come late? Are we being found out? Put my mind to rest please?
Hussein – Climbing up this mountain is not an easy task so I have to take my breath first and for both of you to take this drink of water (Pours the water for them) is more important than anything else.
Omar – Do you hear some noises outside? Is somebody following you?
Hussein – Everything is all right. We are saved. We are no more wanted . And the most wonderful and good news are: Muhammad Ali Pasha is dead .You wouldn’t believe it but it is true , Omar . It is true Salem. Let me embrace you. God is great.
Omar and Salem- (Pouring him with questions uttered in the same time or in the same breath) How did he die? When did he die? How did you know? Who told you? What if a trap is set for you and for us, if someone…
Hassan (interrupting) What if I tell you I was in the castle and saw the tomb where Muhammed Ali Pasha is buried with my own eyes?
Salem – Did you say the castle? You went back to the castle?
Hassan – The castle is a safe place now after the demise of the monster .We all have to leave now and go there if you want.
Omar – Not me. I am staying here, I can’t easily accept that the pasha is dead while less than two days ago he was standing over the bodies of all his rivals.
Salem – He was probably killed on the night of the massacre by one of these rivals, was he not?
Hassan – He seemed to have died of old age
Salem – What old age for a man in his mid thirties.
Hassan – It is written on his grave that his age was seventy-five when he died.
Omar – I told you there is a mistake. It is not the grave of the pasha we know. It’s somebody else’s.
Hassan – I wouldn’t have entered the castle and came out alive if the dead pasha is not the pasha we know. But I must tell you there are very peculiar things you are going to encounter as I did. They are very difficult to explain. They are saying for example that we overslept for a long long time.
Omar – What is happening. Are you not feeling well?
Hassan – I am only confused, amazed at what I saw and heard. Everything in our city has changed beyond recognition. Even this mountain which was isolated and surrounded by sands and wilderness when we came here two nights ago today is surrounded with high buildings and busy markets and large black roads filled with buzzing iron animals.
Salem – How long would they say we had overslept? One month? One year? How long could it be?
Hussein – They are talking of many more. How would I say? It is just impossible.
(Media people invade the cave with their flashes and cameras)
Omar – What is happening? Who are these people? What do they want? What all this light for? It is piercing my eyes like spears.
Salem – I feel the same too. Put off these killing lights. I am unable to see.
Lady presenter - Could you tell us briefly how did you manage to stay alive all these years?
Another lady presenter – The spectator is expecting to hear the story from your own mouths, from the horse’s mouth as they say. Because he is refusing to believe us regarding such a very extraordinary story.
Another presenter – We are interested in our show to put a big smile on the face of the spectator, so will you smile for our camera just to confirm that your ordeal is over.
MUSIC
Scene 11
(In the Mayors office)
Ramsy – His Excellency the mayor of our city wants to greet you.
The Mayor – Let me have the honour and pleasure of shaking hands with you. It is a blessing to have a three saintly men, and leaders from the glorious past, visiting my humble office. Your city is holding for you great celebrations. You are in need of some rest so we put the finest guest house in the city at your
Disposal and we shall meet at the party after you had your rest. In the meanwhile if you needed anything please ask and we will fix it for you. Ramsy is one of my best aids I assigned him to accompany you and facilitate things for you. Welcome back to your city.
MUSIC
Scene 12
(In the guest house)
Ramsy – Please make yourself comfortable. You are in your house . Here is the sitting room. You can watch TV, play films on the video, listen to music in the radio or record player; there is a telephone from which you can call any place in the world. There is also a computer with all facilities: multimedia, Internet, DVD, as well as plenty of tapes, disks, and CDs. foods and drinks are in the ketchen where the refrigerator and deep freeze can hold a years supply of the four season fruits and other products. I will leave you now but your attendant Abdou is on duty for twenty-four hours to help you with your domestic needs.
(Exit Ramsy)
Hassan – How could you manage to maintain your silence through all these events. Have you both become dumb?
Omar- I need somebody to pinch me right between the eyes to know that I am not dreaming.
Salem – So am I. It is very hard to believe that all what we are going through is real and not some kind of fiction.
Hassan – Since I stepped out of the cave yesterday and till this very moment I never ceased to think that I am in the land of the jinn.
Omar – How do you expect me to speak while sitting in that moving iron box. What did you say they called it?
Hassan – How do I know. A car perhaps, but did you catch all the names of things existing in this place mentioned by our guide.
(The telephone rings. The three men get startled, uttering sighs of astonishment.)
Abode – (Comes in to answer the phone) I will answer it. Hello, yes, yes. You can call later. (Puts the phone) And when they call later, I will tell them again call later, this is the name of the game with this media people. This call is from London. The BBC wants to do a live interview with you.
Omar – What did you say they are speaking from?
Abdou - London.
Hassan – Do you mean Londra the capital of England?
Abdou – Yes.
Hassan – This is the place where my friend Admiral Nelson lives. He fought Napoleon with us and pointed the guns of his ships to Napoleons army till we both drove him away from our shores. Do you mean I can speak to him there through this?
Abdou – Give me the number and I will get him for you immediately.
Hassan – Say something more logical than this.
Omar – It is only a few hours since anybody knows anything about us. How could our news possibly reach Londra in such a very short time?
Abdou – News can travel very fast indeed, by phone, fax, telex, electronic mail through the Internet, express mail, anything goes.
Salem – What a very strange language we have bean hearing since we came out of the cave.
Abdou – You’d better get ready for hearing lots and lots more.
(The phone rings again. Abdou picks it up) Yes, yes. Call again later. (Puts down the phone) It is the CNN from America asking for an interview.
Hassan – You mean America the new land. How very far away place.
Abdou – They are sending a crew to meet you.
Salem – Why should thy take the risk of crossing the dark seas to reach us after many months have passed by, not knowing whether we were still in this world or left it to a better one.
Abdou – well, in fact they are arriving tonight.
Hassan (Gets angry pointing his sword to Abdou`s neck) We shall not allow you to make us a laughing stock. Tell me how would that happen before I cut your throat.
Abdou – Any plane can make the trip in a few hours.
Hassan – Is it some sort of a demon.
Abdou – You saw enough demons on land to believe there are some in the space too. Please release my neck .Thy said they were showing a special programme about you right now on their channel.
(He puts on the TV channel where the film of the three men is being shown. The reaction is mixed sentences and words and sighs coming from the three men expressing their surprise at seeing themselves in the film. In the background the voice of the presenter)
The three men – Look it is me. It is you. How can that happen? It is not a mirror. It is in the cave. We are now in the cave, but we are in the same time here. Time and place are confused.(They fainted)
Abdou – I wish I didn’t open the TV. Even you great leader Hassan bin Adnan would faint. Awake please. You have to be well and kicking for the big night, the mayor’s party.
MUSIC
Scene 13
? (In the car)
Ramsy – The mayor is having a surprise for you. We are on our way to the castle.
Hassan – what for?
Ramsy - As a special treat for you the mayor is holding the reception party, in the natural surroundings of your golden era, the ancient castle itself where all the notables of the city will be present.
Omar – (In a trembling voice) A dinner party in the castle again. Isn’t enough the one we had the night before last?
Hassan – (Angrily) Stop this iron beast immediately.
Ramsy – You are hurting my arm. I will stop.
HASSAN – No one of us is going to any party in that castle. Is that understood?
Ramsy – Whatever you sir, but
Hassan - No buts, just take us back to the guesthouse.
Salem – What do we need the guesthouse for. We have our homes, our families.
Omar – I am so anxious to see my sons Rajab and Muneer, and my daughters Najla and Laila. I don’t know what have become of them since the massacre, perhaps they think I am dead. Poor little creatures.
Hassan – To tell you the truth I am in a great doubt whether the world as we know it exists any more.
Ramsy – Whet direction do you want me to take.
Omar - To the banks of Ramsis` lake.
Ramsy – We have no lakes in this city, and if there was one long time ago, no trace of it has remained .We do have Ramsis` gardens.
Omar – well then, our good friend, take us there at once.
MUSIC
Scene 14
(In the courtyard of a five-star-hotel)
Omar – I am sure my house was her in this very spot. Come on, you all know it.
Hassan – Don’t ask me. I say, this city is not our city at all. And for this reason I would give up looking for my house.
Omar – The lake has mysteriously disappeared, so has my house, but I can recognize this remaining part of the garden, as well as the way I used to take leading to the castle. Next to my house is my shop right there, in this side is where my horses stable used to be, all are swollen up by this tall, huge building. What matters now is my family; somebody must tell what happened to them. (He starts sobbing)
Ramsy – This is a five-star-hotel. One of the best in town, It has a roof garden with a panoramic view on the twenty second floor.
Omar – Laila, Najla, Muneer, Rajab, where are you. Answer your father please.
Ramsy – I think what Master Omar needs is a cup of tea to calm him down so let us all have a drink inside. (They enter the hotel)
Hassan – Are you seeing what I am seeing chief justice.
Salem – I try not to look but it is unavoidable. This woman with uncovered faces and heads are everywhere in this place.
Hassan – If they are Muslim women, I would only say the earth will soon witness a new flood.
Ramsy – Here is the lift, which will take us to the top. Of course you are not familiar with it but you will enjoy it because you can see through its class door the beautiful scenery of our city, its landscape and skyline. I will lead the way in. (As soon as the lift goes up, sighs of astonishment and panic start filling the air).
Ramsy – It’s going to be fine. Don’t panic. It’s very safe.
Hassan – It is going up and up, and doesn’t want to stop.
Omar – I really feel dizzy.
Salem –There is no god but god. There is no god but god.
Ramsy – We have arrived. . Here we are, on top of the world. Five-star roof garden café.
Hassan – Perhaps they call it so because it is near the stars. Part of the galaxy it seems.
Ramsy – You definitely can tell the difference, having been in the cave and so on.
Hussein – The city looks completely different, although I can sill recognize some features like the castle and the grand mosque and the shrines of our holy men and women, and over there is the mountain where our cave is.
Salem – The trees on this roof remind me of the legendary gardens of Babylon.
Ramsy – The best place in town for fixing cocktails, if you are strong enough to go for the mix.
Salem – What is the meaning of cocktail, Master Ramsy.
Ramsy – A magical drink that makes you forget what age you are in
Salem – Do you mean alcohol, god forbid? How dare you bring us to this cursed place?
Omar – It is not only that. Look at the lower part of the roof, for I can’t look again. It is the den of devil itself.
Hassan –God damn the Satan and keep us away from it. They are almost naked women.
Salem – Mixing shamelessly and scandalously with naked men.
Ramsy – It is only the swimming pool.
Hassan – We should leave this place at once.
(The sound of an airplane creates a state of panic among them, shouting at each other)
The Men – Take the floor. Take the floor, a flying beast is attacking us .
Ramsy – You are making a scene of yourselves, gentlemen.
Hassan – How could we see a giant roaring beast flying over our heads and expect us to stay calm.
Omar – (still panicking) where has it gone.
Salem – Thank god we are saved.
Ramsy – It is only an aircraft. Some thing rather like the car we used for our journey here, but it is bigger, and it flies.
Hassan – With people in it?
Ramsy – Of course.
Omar – God may have mercy on us.
Salem – Let us go quickly.
Hassan – Wait a moment, I think I can see something. Something very strange. It is over there.
Omar and Salem – What is it?
Hassan – (Joyfully) My palace. I can see my own palace. Just opposite the shrine of Fatima. I am sure of it. Take us there please. Now .Now.
MUSIC
Scene 15
(In front of the house of Hassan bin Adnan)
Hassan –It is my house indeed, and the gray colour of the walls wont make it the house of somebody else.
Ramsy – Just to be sure, let us ask this boy. Come here my boy.
Can you tell us please whose house this one is?
Boy – This is the house of our neighbour Hassan bin Adnan.
Hassan – (Very impressed) Thank you my son. You see. I told you. Here is my home. My family. (Knocking on the door and shouting) Lamia, Amina, Sameer, Faheem. (The door opens. A man appears)
Man – (Angrily) what are all these noises and cries for? You are knocking on the wrong house. We have no people with such names in here.
Ramsy – Don’t close the door please. This man is Mr. Hassan bin Adnan, and he thinks, this house, is his.
Man (In a sarcastic tone) The co-incidence is that my name is Hassan bin Adnan too, and I think that, this house is mine, and the only difference is that I was born here and have since then been living here and you are a bunch of crooks trying…
Ramsy – Please do not get us wrong.
Man – You should know that, you are not the first people to try their luck and play games on me. Everyone is mad at me, keeping such an old house, which can make me an instant millionaire if I demolish it and sell the land. Every big company wants this land. Your trick is a little bit out –dated. So please try somewhere else. I won’t let go of this house even if I was offered all the money in the national bank. The memory of my great grand father, who defeated Napoleon, is worth more than that.
Hassan - Are you saying that you are my grand grand son? How could that be while you look older than me.
Man – What is this madman saying?
Ramsy – This man is himself the leader who defeated Napoleon. He is non other than Hassan bin Adnan who built this house.
Man –I chose the career of my great grand father and now I am a retired general, so I don’t like making fun of him, or of me.
Ramsy - I should explain to you.
Man – I need no explanation. You should take your funny looking people and leave right now (Shouting) Would somebody from inside, bring me my pistol. So you’d better go before I grab this killing machine. There are enough people here to bear witness to your insulting and criminal behaviour. Here is the pistol. I will shoot one shot in the air, and if you remain I will aim at you.
(He fires one shot, followed by noise, confusion, and the sound of people running)
MUSIC
Scene 16
(Next day in the guest house)
Salem – I cant figure out what went wrong with time and place, and where to draw the line between illusion and fact, history and fantasy, dream and reality, sleep and awakening. All we see, and hear, and go through is confusing, tiresome, emotionally destructive and even grotesque .I was going to ask to see my house, but again what is the use.
Omar – I stayed all night awake trying to make sense of it all to no avail.
Hassan – How would you expect to sleep after sleeping continuously for two centuries as they are saying, perhaps we need to stay awake for as much time .
Omar – I am not taken in by all that. I think we are the subject of a joke being played on us by Muhammed Ali Pasha himself.
I imagine him sitting somewhere, watching over us, amusing himself before cutting our heads. We will see if that is the case. (He shouts) Abdou.
Hassan – What do you want him for.
Omar – just wait.
Abdou – Yes master.
Omar – Tell me Abdou, is Muhammed Ali Pasha surely and truly dead.
Abdou – To be honest with you, I don’t really know
Omar - (Aside, to his two companions) My suspicions might prove right (To Abdou) so you haven’t heard them announcing his death officially.
Abdou – Not to my knowledge. But who is this Muhammed Ali Pasha, is he a friend of yours.
Omar – Of course, very close friend, dangerously close .Do you mean you don’t know the pasha of your country.
Abdou – These ranks and honours were abolished since long time ago. Although some people are still Pashas nevertheless.
Omar – Who is the ruler of this country then.
Abdou – He could be anybody. I am not interested. I only cast my vote on Election Day, and that is all.
Hassan – What vote, and what for?
Abdou – For choosing the leader.
Hassan – You mean, you take part in choosing the leader of the country? Why you? Are you a member of the high command council disguised in the personality of a houseboy?
Abdou – Everybody goes on Election Day to choose the president.
Hassan – Did you say everybody?
Abdou – except those who are under age.
Salem – You mean women too, have to go out of their houses to choose the new leader.
Abdou – Why not since most of the governmental offices are run by them. (The doorbell rings, Abdou goes to see it) Pardon me.
Omar – If this is true, we are witnessing the signs of the doomsday.
Salem – I think it is the doomsday itself.
(Abdou comes back)
Abdou – They are the media people insisting on seeing you.
(They forced their way into the living room with their lights and cameras)
Hassan – Leave this house at once. We do not want media; we want to be left alone. (Mixed voices of media people trying to ask questions or send a live report)
Presenter – Will you tell us how do you….
Hassan – Give me my sword Omar and take yours.
Salem – Mine is ready to answer him too.
(Great noise and confusion)
Abdou (clapping and laughing) they ran like mad.
Hassan – Well Abdou, keep this golden coin with you since you were a good assistance to us, and listen carefully, we would rather have a very good rest, and till next day we do not want to be disturbed by anybody .Is this understood?
Abdou – Yes master. (Exit Abdou and shuts the door)
Hassan (In a low voice) There is no place for us here, do you agree?
Omar – I am very convinced that we do not belong here.
Salm – I can’t agree more, I think there is something devilish haunting this world. Shall we make our move now?
Hassan – we’d better wait till it is dark to make our escape.
MUSIC
Scene 17
(On their way to the cave under the cover of darkness)
Omar –It is very dark indeed, do we know exactly where we are heading?
Hassan – Trust my sense of direction as you always did, good friend Omar. We are taking the safest route. The same one we took on the night of the massacre.
Omar – Although the massacre seemed to have been forgotten by the people of the city, its monstrous and sinister effect is still there, polluting the air.
Salem - Farewell to all the air and atmosphere of our city which we felt no attachment or loyalty to, as if all the old links and strings were cut off.
Hassan - We’ll be much happier in our beautiful little cave.
Salem – We must make sure, it is firmly closed once we are inside.
Hassan – So we can have another nap with no one disturbing us.
Omar –The happy thing this time is that, we shall go to sleep in the cave, knowing for sure that Muhammed Ali Pasha is dead.
MUSIC