By Catherine Rush
CAST OF CHARACTERS
SAFIYA AL-TAHIR: Mid-20’s
AMMAR AL-HAMZA: her husband, Mid-20’s
SETTING
An apartment in New Haven, Connecticut.
TIME
Second week of September, 2001.
The interior of a new apartment building in New Haven, CT. The second week in September 2001. The apartment is decorated with new furniture and ancient Persian rugs. It is the bright and airy space of a young married couple. A wall of shelves, crammed with books and punctuated with an Arabic-inscribed gold platter here and there. The dining room table is piled high with books. Children’s toys litter the floor. AT RISE: We hear the front door close and see SAFIYAH AL-TAHIR enter. She is in the process of removing her hijab and jacket, both covered in egg. She is smiling and happy.
SAFIYAH
Ammar? Sara? Hello! You’ll never believe what happened at work! I was laughing and crying at the same time.
AMMAR AL-HAMZA enters from another room.
AMMAR
You didn’t return my calls all day.
SAFIYAH
I couldn’t. We have three families in the airport in Berlin waiting to get to the States. They’ve been waiting for three years and now . . . It’s so sad. All their hopes to start again. We don’t know what to do. Between the calls to the State Department–ha there’s a joke–and trying to calm these families down–
AMMAR
You have to call me back.
SAFIYAH
I’m sorry. Things are crazy at the church. Does egg come out of silk?
AMMAR
Someone threw an egg at you? Where! Didn’t anyone drive you home?!
SAFIYAH
It’s not important.
AMMAR
What are you talking about? One day it’s an egg, the next one it’s a shot through your heart.
SAFIYAH
This is America, not Iraq.
AMMAR
I told you this would happen. I told you not to walk home.
SAFIYAH
I’m fine, Ammar, please. It’s just an egg.
AMMAR
It’s not the egg. It’s the hatred behind it.
SAFIYAH
It isn’t hatred, it’s fear. Call it what it is.
AMMAR
It doesn’t matter–whatever reason–people want to hurt you.
SAFIYAH
I don’t want to start this again, Ammar. I’ve had such a wonderful day. The egg is . . . Where’s Sara?
AMMAR
Playing at the Weinstein’s.
SAFIYAH
Oh. Okay.
AMMAR
Safiyah, you have to take it off.
SAFIYAH
No. I’ve told you before. No.
AMMAR
You’ll be killed.
SAFIYAH
You’re being dramatic.
AMMAR
There are stories on the news.
SAFIYAH
The news only chases the bad. I’m not discussing this.
AMMAR
As your husband I command you to take it off.
SAFIYAH
You can’t command me against my religion, Ammar, you know that.
AMMAR
But it’s for your safety.
SAFIYAH
I don’t see any law that says you only need to practice your religion when it’s safe.
AMMAR
And there’s no law that says you have to wear the hijab.
SAFIYAH
There is in my religion.
AMMAR
Not in the Koran.
SAFIYAH
I am tired of this argument. It’s been two years of this.
AMMAR
But now it’s different.
SAFIYAH
No, it’s not. I have worn the hijab since I was eight. You might as well ask me to walk down the street with my shirt off.
AMMAR
Well, no one would try to kill you if you had your shirt off.
SAFIYAH
No one is trying to kill me!
AMMAR
You are so naive!
SAFIYAH
How am I naive, Ammar? Tell me how? I was not safely in the U.S. in 1991 like you were. I was in Iraq, remember? I think I know a little more about hatred and war than you do.
AMMAR
You are disrespectful.
SAFIYAH
I am telling the truth. What do you know of war? Please tell me.
AMMAR
I know more of America than you do. And Americans.
SAFIYAH
I am an American.
AMMAR
Not to them you’re not.
SAFIYAH
I took my oath. And when I promised to take up arms in defense of my country and the principles for which it stands I knew what that meant. I have been shot in the name of freedom.
AMMAR
This isn’t Iraq, Safiyah, it’s America and people here see you and they see two burning piles of rubble in New York and thousands of people dead. Please.
SAFIYAH
Not everyone hates me for my religion. Our religion. America was built on religious tolerance.
AMMAR
People are angry and hurt.
SAFIYAH
I am, too, Ammar, and I’m ashamed. My country was injured and my religion is being held responsible. I am woken with nightmares of the uprising in Iraq. My heart is breaking. But I get up and I work and I stand by the things I know are right for me.
AMMAR
You insist because you are stubborn.
SAFIYAH
I am stubborn, but that isn’t the reason.
AMMAR
If you loved me . . .
SAFIYAH
I do love you.
AMMAR
I’ll never get a job now.
SAFIYAH
Oh, that’s just silly. There will be a cry for more teachers of the Middle East now. All the universities that have experts on Israel or Palestine will have to make a place for the history and politics of the rest of the region. You will get a job anywhere.
AMMAR
Selim says he’s been denied tenure because he practices.
SAFIYAH
Selim has been denied tenure because he’s an opinionated guy who doesn’t get along with his department chair.
AMMAR
There are fewer tenured professors of Middle Eastern background than Asian professors of Asian background.
SAFIYAH
Do you spend your whole day looking for these statistics, just to depress yourself?
AMMAR
I don’t want to walk with you on the street anymore.
SAFIYAH
What?
AMMAR
If you insist on putting your life at risk then I will no longer be seen with you in public. I am not going to risk my life and the chance that Sara will be an orphan for your arrogant refusal to bare your head.
SAFIYAH
Anywhere?
AMMAR
I don’t know. I don’t know yet. I just know I won’t walk with you on the street. I am ashamed of you.
SAFIYAH
Because I wear the hijab?
AMMAR
Because you refuse to listen to me and accept that your religion is not about a piece of fabric on your head.
SAFIYAH
You think if I take off my hijab everything will be different?
AMMAR
It will be better.
SAFIYAH
You think if I do not cover my head then you will get a job and people won’t throw eggs on me?
AMMAR
It’s a start.
SAFIYAH
And will you change your name?
AMMAR
It’s my father’s name.
SAFIYAH
And when you change your name can you change your face? Or mine? Or Sara’s? And will we have to change our name for your wishes? And my accent? Should I go to speech therapy?
AMMAR
You are being absurd.
SAFIYAH
No, I am not, Ammar. Where does it stop? When do you stand and face what you fear?
AMMAR
I am talking about the hijab; nothing more.
SAFIYAH
And if it was Jewish terrorists that killed all these people would you say the same?
AMMAR
What?
SAFIYAH
Would you tell Moredecai you won’t walk with him because he wears a yamulke?
AMMAR
He isn’t my wife.
SAFIYAH
But being seen with him would be dangerous.
AMMAR
Americans don’t hate Jews.
SAFIYAH
Americans don’t hate Iraqis. All the men were Egyptians and Saudis. There were no Iraqis there.
AMMAR
They make no distinction here.
SAFIYAH
They will. They will learn. Why do you insist on being so hard-headed?
AMMAR
I am being prudent.
SAFIYAH
You used to wear a beard and pray with me.
AMMAR
I used to wear diapers, but I don’t anymore.
SAFIYAH
So practicing your religion is immature? Only babies are devout?
AMMAR
In a manner of speaking, yes.
SAFIYAH
I pity you, Ammar. You are a man without a God.
AMMAR
I am still a Muslim.
SAFIYAH
Only when it is convenient. That is no Muslim.
AMMAR
I don’t need you to gauge whether or not I count as a good Muslim or not.
SAFIYAH
No. You’re right. You don’t.
AMMAR
The hijab is ugly. It makes you look ugly.
SAFIYAH
But you get to see me without it.
AMMAR
I want my friends to see your beauty. I look like I married my grandmother.
SAFIYAH
I’m sorry. When we met, you wore a beard and prayed five times a day. You ate halal and didn’t drink. Who has changed, Ammar? I am still the woman you married. You accepted me then.
AMMAR
I want you to change with me.
SAFIYAH
I can’t.
AMMAR
You will ruin my life.
SAFIYAH
It is not my intention.
AMMAR
I want you to take it off!
SAFIYAH
I will start the dinner.
Safiyah exits. Ammar picks up her hijab and examines the egg. He sits at the dining table and begins to take notes from his reading. Safiya enters in a caftan with her hair brushed.
SAFIYAH
Fassenjoon?
AMMAR
It takes too long. I’m in the mood for a hamburger.
SAFIYAH
Of course you are. I’ll make kibbeh.
AMMAR
Kibbeh isn’t a hamburger.
SAFIYAH
Pause. Safiyah turns to exit.
I know.
AMMAR
So what happened at work today?
SAFIYAH
Nothing.
AMMAR
You came in yelling about work.
SAFIYAH
Another time, perhaps.
AMMAR
It was good news? You said your refugees are denied asylum.
SAFIYAH
Yes.
AMMAR
Then what was so good.
SAFIYAH
It was just good to go to work today.
AMMAR
Oh.
SAFIYA
I don’t know if I will have a job there much longer, but . . .
AMMAR
You were fired?
SAFIYAH
No. With no Muslim refugees allowed, what will we do? All our people are Kurds or come from Sudan. The church will have to stop the program.
AMMAR
I am sure there are other refugees from other countries. It’s an Episcopal church, not a Mosque.
SAFIYAH
They won’t need an Arabic speaker.
AMMAR
But you are good at what you do.
SAFIYAH
I am not losing my job. Stop.
AMMAR
So what? What was this good thing?
SAFIYAH
You will make it small.
AMMAR
I will be quiet and listen.
Safiya sits at the table with her husband.
SAFIYAH
After you dropped me off, I was nervous. I admit it. Mary and I have talked on the phone and she has been so kind, but the others–I hadn’t seen them. I thought perhaps if I was there early whoever didn’t want to see me wouldn’t have to come to my office, and those that did could come in. I didn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable with me there. I walked in and they were all sitting in the reception room. They were waiting for me. And every single one was wearing the hijab. Even Kevin and John. They wore them all day. They took me to lunch. All of us walking together. With them, I didn’t need to be afraid. And we laughed. At lunch. It was the first time since the attacks I have laughed. Their love filled my heart with strength. So there was one boy filled with fear that threw an egg at me to feel less afraid–there were seven people filled with love to give me courage. People are good, Ammar. All people are good.
Safiya rises from the table.
AMMAR
Kibbeh sounds good.
SAFIYAH
Thank you, habibi.
END OF PLAY