Good Husbands: Kabul May 2007

Good husbands - An original play in 2 Acts

Written by Peter Gillies and the Drama Club of the International School of Kabul

World Premier 23 May 2007 at the International School of Kabul



Pictures on "Kabul-e"


Characters in order of appearance

Alia Wife of Elias
Afsaneh Wife of Zaheed
Maryam Wife of Ahmad
Ahmad President of The Afghan Construction Company (TACC)
Zaheed VP of TACC
Elias Director of HR TACC
Vicky Jones President of The American Reconstruction Company




Act 1 scene 1: March 2006. The gym at the Serena Hotel


Alia is lifting weights. Afsanah strolls in dressed casually but with some nice jewellery.

ALIA: (drops the weights and the girls exchange checks and eternal greetings to the count of twenty) Hi!!!

AFSANAH: Heh you’re looking good. Its so nice to see you.

ALIA: How are you mom and dad?

AFSANAH: (more reserved but still enthusiastic a little more proper) Great! How are your kids? (moves to the chair and sits down. Adjusts her self necklace earrings)

ALIA: The boys are fine. Wait a minute - Wow that is a killer necklace

The girls proceed to complement each other and make a little small talk. Then AFSANAH breaks the news

AFSANAH (smiling a little sly). So I have great news. I am pregnant

ALIA (a little squeal of happiness more gushing): Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you. Does Zaheed know?

AFSANAH: Yes and he is Soooooooooooooooooo. Excited!

ALIA: I bet. Wow! That is so great . Well - is it a boy or a girl?

AFSANAH: ummm??? (big smile proudly) I hope it’s a girl.

ALIA (looks a little disgusted) Really? Girls are such trouble. You know You have to give them an education. Get them married. (Pause). And what do you get in return?

AFSANAH (thinking) You can dress them up, Play with them, Take them Shopping (Pause) Teach them to act like a lady. (longer Pause) I didn’t think you were so closed minded.

ALIA: (defensively) No No it’s not me. Its the people . Elias and I are very open minded heh we are even thinking of having a little girl.

AFSANAH: (Profoundly) They are a blessing from God

ALIA: You’re gonna need a maid, and a nanny, and housecleaner

AFSANAH: (big smile) We are going to need a bigger house for the new baby

ALIA Elias just got my brother a new house. They have such a big family. (Pause) Its sooooooooooooo big

AFSANAH: It’s so important to have a man who cares about you

ALIA Elias is so good to me. He is so generous. (frown) Some people have tons of money but they are such misers.

AFSANAH: (pause then philosophically) That’s what a good husband should do.

Maryam enters and has a much briefer check exchange with Alia.

MARYAM (amazed) Hi Alia

ALIA: Hi Maryam

MARYAM: Heh what are you doing here I didn’t think Elias Jan would let you come to the gym

ALIA (offended) What? Elias is such a modern man. Heh we lived in America for several years. He let’s me do whatever I want

MARYAM: Hi Afsanah

AFSANAH: Hi Maryam. (Pause) Heh (Pause thinking) I didn’t see you at the Magdalena Santa Maria Nawroz Party in Shar E Nau last nite?.

MARYAM: (starts to look dreamy) I was at the Touching Lives centre distributing clothes to the orphans

ALIA: (amazed) You missed the Magdalena Santa Maria Nawroz party in Shar E Nau for that?

MARYAM (dreamily - hasn’t really heard them) It is just so terrible the conditions there. How they are living. They have no clothes. Not enough to eat. It was so cold! No blankets they were freezing. It was all so pitiful. Those poor children. It reminded me of the days when Ahmad and I were in the refuge camps and .(fade to a mumble)

AFSANAH (catches Alia’s eye and makes a little grimace and touches her stomach) Oh! I don’t feel well.

ALIA (nods and strolls over and takes Alia’s arm and helps her up and they stroll out of the room) Honey! Here let me help you

MARYAM: (still dreamingly) Every day there were children dying. I remember one day saving a child from drowning. Oh it was so heartbreaking.


CURTAIN


Act 1 - Scene 2: A few days later. In the living room of Maryam and Ahmad’s house


It’s an evening a few days later. Ahmad and his wife Maryam are sitting at the dinner table. She serves him a cuppa tea

AHMAD: (Hesitatingly) So Maryam, I want to ask your advice. (Pause) Well What should I wear for tomorrow’s big meeting.

MARYAM (She is surprised at the question) What’s the big deal?

AHMAD: Well the Western diplomats all wear suits.

MARYAM: (Pause examines his clothes) You look so good in traditional Afghan dress. And the cute little hat.

AHMAD (seems lost for words) Well honey (pause) you know (pause) I’m feeling so good about the improved security situation in the country. It seems like the tourists are coming back and all that road construction is really paying off and

MARYAM (blurts out suddenly) Isn’t it sad (pause) about the kidnapping of the Prime Minster’s daughter.

AHMAD: Who?

MARYAM: The Prime Minister of France’s daughter.

AHMAD (appears puzzled long pause) Well honey (pause) You know we ARE getting old

MARYAM (a bit offended) YOU are dear

AHMAD We’ve been married for seven years and isn’t it about time that

MARYAM: Time that what?.

AHMAD: Well that we - well you know.

MARYAM (raising her voice slightly) What is the issue Ahmad?

AHMAD: (Big pause deep breath and a large swig of tea to build up his courage)

Ah .
Children
Our children
Biologically ours .
That look like us
Not adopted .

MARYAM (looking puzzled) Have you not loved me all these years. (pause) Now you want me to have a child??? .

MARYAM (She unfolds her arms very slowly in front of herself - imaging a swelling profile) Well . on three conditions

AHMAD: (looking a little excited) Yes?

MARYAM: I want a 24 carat diamond necklace .

AHMAD (reaches immediately into his right pocket and pulls out a necklace)

MARYAM (slowly puts it around her neck and models it for the audience) Do you like it? what do you think?

AHMAD: (matter of factly) It’s lovely

MARYAM: I want a house for my brother

AHMAD: (thinks for a moment - reaches into his briefcase and pulls out an official looking piece of paper ).

MARYAM (turns the paper over in her hands and inspects it not too carefully) What’s the address? .. He has a very large family you know

AHMAD: (matter of factly) It’s a big house.

MARYAM: (Looks at her feet) I want a new pair of shoes

AHMAD: (ponders a moment looks around the room .. Maryam passes him the phone . Calls an aid) Baryalay . It’s me . Book the private jet to Dubai for tomorrow morning

AHMAD: (listens to the objection then says) Just cancel the meeting.

MARYAM: Oh Ahmad I am so happy .. we are going to have a baby!


CURTAIN


Act 2 scene 1: March 2007. The office of the President of TACC.


Ahmad, Zaheed and Elias are sitting inside Ahmad’s office


AHMAD: (very nervously straightening his tie) So do I look OK?

ZAHEED: (nervously reassuring) You look good man

ELIAS: (innocently) Heh man you always look good. What’s the sweat?

AHMAD: Yeah but do I look good enough. This is a big one

ZAHEED: Yeah yeah I know we gotta win this one. And Nawroz is comin up. We gotta win this one.

ELIAS: What are you guys talking about

AHMAD: (combing his hair) Yeah yeah yeah this is a big one. So is my tie straight?

ZAHEED: Today is the big meeting with the President of the American Reconstruction Company.

AHMAD: I hope

Maryam and Afsanah appear outside the door to the office with bundles in their arms. Maryam and Afsanah enter the office- they quickly move to beside their respective husbands.

AHMAD: (startled) Oh hi honey?

ZAHEED: (surprised) Baby what are you doing here?

MARYAM: We have a big date at the gym

AFSANAH: Can’t get out of it

MARYAM: (handing the baby to Ahmad) We need you to look after the kids for a while

AFSANAH: (handing the baby to Zaheed) Baby you are so sweet

MARYAM: (leaving) Love Ya

AFSANAH: (leaving) Bye

AHMAD: But uhhhh

ZAHEED: Heh what about our meeting?

ELIAS (angry) You mean you guys called a meeting with the president of the American Reconstruction Company and didn’t tell me

ZAHEED: No time man. And we gotta make sure this doesn’t leak to the media.

Phone rings. Zaheed fumbles in his pocket and pulls out the phone.

ZAHEED: Hello

ZAHEED: (flustered) What! Wait! you uh you gotta stall her. Do something. Like uh Show her your gun. (hangs up) The president will be here in two minutes.

AHMAD: (jumps up -freaking out) The president what’s he doing here?

ZAHEED: (stands up) Take it easy man it’s the president of the American Reconstruction Company

AHMAD: I can’t do it man

ELIAS: (stands up) I can’t believe you guys made this plan without me

ZAHEED: Chill man we gotta get ready

AHMAD: Whatta we gonna do with these babies

ELIAS: You guys just don’t trust me

Zaheed and Ahmad looking conspiratorially at each other

AHMAD: Of course we do.

ZAHEED Here take these kids.

ELIAS: Heh man I don’t know what to do

Zaheed and Ahmad push Elias out the back door, just as Vicky Jones President of the American Reconstruction Company - walks right into the office

VICKY JONES: Hi I am Vicky Jones President of the American Reconstruction Company

AHMAD: (totally flustered) Jones ah Jones . ah . good to meet you . Ah . Welcome to Afghanistan;

ZAHEED: (recovering) Ah yes . President Jones . How do you do. Please have a seat

JONES: (all three sit down) Well thank you

ZAHEED: So ah how was your trip

JONES: No problems well except the road from the airport was full of holes

ZAHEED: Well that’s why we are here right

AHMAD: Yes indeed. Let’s get down to business. On behalf of the Afghan Construction Company and the people of Afghanistan let me say how happy I am to receive you.

JONES: Thank you

AHMAD: Let my VP brief you

ZAHEED: Well President Jones its great that you are here. You know the reconstruction effort is proceeding quickly and the opportunities for investment are enormous. We just need a few more billion dollars and we will have the infrastructure of this country ticking right along.

A wee squeaky sound is heard in the back ground

JONES: Excuse me what was that?

ZAHEED: Oh nothing. Probably just a cat

JONES: (not panicking but a wee hint of worry) Oh yikes. I am allergic to cats

ZAHEED: Oh no problem its an Afghan cat. Never comes inside.

JONES: Well

ZAHEED: As I was saying we are making remarkable progress thanks to the support of the international community. The Afghan Construction Company is now the largest in the country and positioned to deliver any infrastructure improvement that is needed

A louder cat like sound which grows louder

JONES (looks around) Excuse me but (gets up out of her chair): That didn’t sound like an outside cat to me

ZAHEED: (stands up as does Ahmad) Don’t worry about it. The dog will take care of it

JONES: The dog. Oh my God! My allergies

ZAHEED: Ms President please. Sit down

JONES: I can feel my throat tightening up

AHMAD (pushing Jones back into her seat) Ms President I can assure you there is nothing to worry about!

Elias storms into the room

ELIAS: I have had enough. These babies just won’t keep quiet

Elias looks in surprise at Jones.

Jones looks in surprise at the babies.

Ahmad and Zaheed look in shock at each other..

Elias smiles, and then hands Jones the babies


CURTAIN


Act 2 scene 2: The next evening at the Magdalena Santa Maria Nawroz party in Shar-e-Nau.


Afsanah and Maryam stroll in arm in arm


AFSANAH: (looking around). Isn’t this fantastic

MARYAM: I know! Look at all the people.

AFSANAH: The Magdalena Santa Maria Nawroz Party in Shar-e-Nau is always the social event of the year. And don’t we look good!

MARYAM and AFSANAH: The diamonds (show off the diamonds). And the shoes (show off the shoes).

AFSANAH: (sigh and then a long pause) But it won’t last.

MARYAM: I know. What are we going to do?

AFSANAH: (a little angrily) Those husbands of ours can’t even do a business deal right.

MARYAM: (unbelieving) But Ahmad looked so good in that traditional Afghan dress with that cute little hat.

A VOICE BACKSTAGE: Ladies and Gentleman. The Magdalena Santa Maria Nawroz party in Shar-e-Nau welcomes this year’s honoured guest the President of the American Reconstruction Company Ms Vicky Jones!

Much applause. Vicky Jones enters and steps up to centre stage to address the audience.

JONES: (looking briefly at her notes, then around at the audience/crowd) Thank you. Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here this evening. On this most important event of the year. The beginning of the next year. A year of hope. Of growth. The first year of the rest of our lives. (pause) And so, on behalf of all Americans I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!!

Much applause continues thru ...

Alia appears on the side of the stage. She hurries across to Ms Jones, shakes her hand, and leads her to Maryam and Afsanah.

ALIA: Vicky, I would like you to meet two of Kabul’s most important leading ladies Maryam and Afsanah.

MARYAM: Hi Vicky. How are you?

VICKY: Fine Fine. How are you ladies?

AFSANAH: Fine. How are you enjoying the party?

VICKY: It is lovely

ALIA: And how has your time in Kabul been?

VICKY: Oh this is my first trip and I am really enjoying it.

AFSANAH: Are you getting any opportunity to go shopping?

VICKY: Well I have been pretty busy with work lots of meetings you know the routine.

MARYAM: ( a little surprised) I guess being the President is a tough job.

VICKY: Yes it is. But occasionally I do get to see the human side of things. Yesterday, for example, I held the two most wonderful babies in the middle of an important meeting (sighs looks off into space) They were soooooooo cute

MARYAM and AFSANAH: (look at each other with frowns on their faces)

Two babies?
Little wee things?
In the office of the Afghan Reconstruction company?

VICKY (dreamingly) And what darling little things! I wish I could have a little baby like that

ALIA: You do?

VICKY: Yes my husband and I have tried - but so far no luck

ALIA (looking at Maryam and Afsanah conspiratorially): Well . I think maybe we can help you.

VICKY: (skeptical) You can?

AFSANAH (nudging Maryam) Yes well

MARYAM (stumbling at first) Yes ah well (puts on her dream persona) I work at this orphanage in Khair Khona and the children there are so cute and they have such darling little faces and they are all so poor

ALIA: (interrupting) And we can help you adopt a baby!

VICKY: (eyes wide open with disbelief) You can???

MARYAM, AFSANAH and ALIA (together) We can. (long pause) If our good husbands get the contract.

VICKY: (short pause, pulls the phone out of her pocket and dials) Hi Honey. Yeah Yeah everything is fine. And I am so happy. We are going to have a baby!

CURTAIN

The End