SCENE 6

In the cell. Yusef is praying, his head to the ground, as Tariq is let back into the cell. Tariq stops and watches him in silence.

TARIQ: I didn’t know you prayed.

YUSEF: Good for my back.

        (Yusef finishes.)

        It also softens my secular image into something more pious and sagely.

TARIQ: Maybe we could use God’s help at this point.

YUSEF: What does God have to do with any of this? It’s all about the pounds and dunams. Land leases, population registries and business ownership ratios.

TARIQ: Numbers?

YUSEF: It’s all just a complicated real-estate deal.

TARIQ: I want to make it right.

YUSEF: I know.

TARIQ: Then help me. Give me orders.

YUSEF: You know, I can almost see myself disappearing sometimes. Just now when I woke up, I couldn’t even see my right arm! It flickers in and out of sight like a mirage on the horizon of my body.

TARIQ: Samuel Hirsch came . . . He got me out. Everything arranged. Later today, he said.

YUSEF: That’s good.

TARIQ: I said no.

YUSEF: Are you out of your mind? Get out of here, man! Go!

TARIQ: I won’t leave you.

YUSEF: I’d leave you.

TARIQ: No. You wouldn’t. Anyway, in here I’m a hero! Out there, I don’t know, but I’m not that. I’m afraid, Yusef.

YUSEF: What’s to be afraid of? Like I said, it’s about numbers and you’re good with numbers.

TARIQ: They’ve paid off Baybars.

YUSEF: What?

TARIQ: He’s taken money from the Zionists to shut up.

        (Beat.)

YUSEF: How much? I mean, how much do you think a bribe like that will get you?

TARIQ: You’re missing the point.

YUSEF: No. I’m not. She’s got something up her sleeve.

TARIQ: Who?

        (Rajib and Michael enter.)

MICHAEL: From your wife sir.

        (Yusef takes the note and reads it.)

YUSEF: It’s signed Abdel Qader Salah al Din. Which means Mohammad Ali Baybars has just been reincarnated.

RAJIB: As a very wealthy man.

YUSEF: So what’s the plan?

RAJIB (Quietly): During the ball tonight, at midnight, while the general drinks and dances . . .

MICHAEL: . . . With a particularly pathetic creature at his side . . .

RAJIB: We, well-armed with lots of cash, will unlock your gate and slip you out unnoticed . . .

MICHAEL: . . . Into the serene Palestinian night full of gunshots and distant explosions . . .

RAJIB: We take you as far as you need to go and then . . . we all disappear our own ways. There’s enough to pay off one of the guards and get me and Mr. Monte Carlo as far away from the Britishers as possible.

MICHAEL: She’s like a bloody casino, man.

RAJIB: Be ready at midnight. The signal is three knocks and a sneeze . . .

MICHAEL: And then another knock.

YUSEF: And how did she look?

MICHAEL: She is quite a stunning specimen sir, and sharp as a knife. Not to mention her—

        (Rajib smacks Michael again.)

YUSEF: Stay. Have a drink.

        (Michael complies but Rajib stops him.)

RAJIB: We have to prepare. And pack our things.

MICHAEL: In that case, it’s on me, boys. We’ll have a round later. On the other side of these stinkin’ walls.

        (Michael hands his flask to Yusef. They salute and exit, leaving Yusef and Tariq.)