choose your own title

It is interesting how people can completely change their minds over night. Only yesterday I was totally convinced that the best way to convey my thoughts is by writing a story, however today I cannot see the wisdom in doing so. How could it change in such short period of time? After a second thought, I finally seem to know what effected my decision; it is time.  No matter how short or how fast. Despite the number of things that can happen within, regardless how they seem the main affect on one's decision, it is time itself that has the major affect. Only yesterday I felt happy about something but today I do not feel the same anymore. What is the point of writing a story everybody knows and been written in a hundred different ways. And so I have decided to expose my thoughts naked instead of suiting them up with disguise. I was going to write about a group of people who lived in another place and time, long time ago, very long that it was ok to bury your own newborn baby alive if it was a female, it was very long that if gays were spotted, they were set on fire for being different. It was the time when a man could kill someone for revenge and be praised. Morals! Of course they had their share of them; the kind which were limited to their simple environment and naive understanding of life, right and wrong were only based on one's beliefs and perspective rather than the greater good. In fact, they lived a harsh life with no hope or future ahead. Until a greedy and brave man stood out. Now we can think about his bravery but that would not be as interesting as thinking about his greed. He gave them false hope along with a ridiculous set of rules that only a child with a blank mind would observe. Now the funny thing is that until now I'm not sure if he himself believed in that hope. Any ways and out of despair, they did. Because of that and after all this time, they are still paying the price…    

Think

People have always assumed that there can only be two ends for every important event in their lives, pleasant and unpleasant. Pleasant when the results go along with their pre assumptions, beliefs and in some cases dreams. Unpleasant when they are not satisfied with the outcome; but nobody really thought about a third possibility, another end. and that's because of our lack of knowledge of things we never experienced. That illusion grew stronger with time to reach life itself. When I'm dead, it's going to be either heaven or hell as if we knew where were we before birth. A certainty that can only exist in a child's mind. Imagine someone that knows absolutely nothing about you and yet they can tell you exactly who you are and what kind of person you are going to turn out when you are older. If you accept that, you are not related to reality at all. life has more possibilities than you can ever imagine, don't force restraints on its end.  

The Day after Tomorrow

15-minute play
This play was acted in the annual event of English day at Kuwait university- English Dept. 2010

written and directed by me

Cast:
Mishari Al-mutairi
Muhammad Al-qhtani
Saad Lafi
Said Al-molla
Bassam Al-molla

Technical assistant: Noraan

Music:
           A7x-strength of the world instrumental- narrator- voice by Mishari
http://www.wikiupload.com/4aYiuM2p
           A7x-little piece of heaven instrumental- scene 3-
http://www.wikiupload.com/yMJrfmkv
           Red-pieces instrumental-scene 4-
http://www.wikiupload.com/3uyRgDLV

you can download the music from the links provided

supervision: Dr. Lamees Al-bustan

The Day after Tomorrow

dedicated to Palestine\contains director's instructions 

Scene 1

The narrator:

 Once upon a time, there was a small village where simplicity, innocence and love were found. People cared about each other and stood together in time of trouble, the sky was always clear as a reflection of their souls and birds were always singing wonderful melodies as an echo of their voices. Yes! They were unified, and nobody dared to go through them.

Until one day a stranger came…

     Group of neighbors are working in a land, Mr. Rami enters.

Mr. Rami:

Work hard people, work! (Shouts) you be careful with these plants.

One of the men approaches Mr. Rami and says:

Sir, we don't have enough wood.

Mr. Rami:

Take some men and go get some. And don't spend the whole day there.

 You be careful with that, are you blind!

(Takes a look around)

I expect to see this finished by the end of the day.

(Walks out)

While later, men sit together having a little talk.

Neighbor 1:

I'm so tired. We should ask Mr. Rami to raise our wages.

Neighbor 2:

Ohh, that's never going to happen, you know how cheap he is when it comes to money.

Neighbor 3:

I told him once that my mother is very sick hoping that he'll raise my wage for that day; instead, he said you shouldn’t have come today. Take this day off!

Neighbor 2:

I remember he sent a doctor for your mother that day.

Neighbor 3:

Oh come on, that doctor looked like a veterinary any way.

(They all laugh)

Who's that man? I've never seen him before!

Neighbor 1:

He must be a stranger.

      

      A stranger came with his black clothes and unfriendly face (what attracts everyone's attention). He headed to them and said" can I have some water?

Neighbor 1:

Who are you sir? I've never seen you before!

The stranger:

You can call me stranger. I've been traveling for days, till' my feet brought me here. I need a place actually to get some rest.

Neighbor 2:

You should go to Mr. Rami, the man whom we all work in his land. You'll find what you are asking for there.

The stranger:

Where does he live?

Neighbor 3: (pointing at the biggest house in the village)

He lives at that house sir.

(The stranger walks away quietly)

The stranger walks towards Mr. Rami's house and while he was walking, he looked around and took a sip of water quickly.

 

Scene 2

(At Mr. Rami house)

     The stranger:

Thank you sir, it was really a delicious meal.

Mr. Rami:

You are welcome. Now tell me stranger what is your story?

The stranger:

It's an old story sir when we used to live in the best land on earth.

Mr. Rami:

We!

The stranger:

Yes sir, me and my people. We believed that we could do anything since we had that land. Until it was taken from us, and since then we've been lost.

Mr. Rami:

What a weird story!

The stranger:

It is sir, but it's a very old story.

Now sir I've noticed your great land out there and this huge house. So I assume that you have a good fortune.

Mr. Rami:

Not really. I'm not satisfied about my income…

(The stranger interrupts Mr. Rami)

The stranger:

I can double your fortune for you sir.

Mr. Rami

Double! That's impossible.

The stranger:

Nothing's impossible sir. I can make you gain a lot of money for only few feet of your great land. You will have to give me only one foot of the land every week; and I'll make you the richest man on earth.

Mr. Rami:

For one foot a week only! I agree stranger! (Shouts) servant…

Show the stranger his room.

The stranger:

Thanks sir.

 Scene 3

 Short musical act indicates a period of time

The neighbors are working on the land, the stranger enters and starts giving directions (with his hands) while the music still on.

The stranger walks out. The music stops.

As usual the neighbors sit together after they finished their work.

Neighbor 1:

This is too bad! I'm so exhausted. It's been one year now since Mr. Rami hired the stranger and we've been working so hard.

Neighbor 2:

Yes, that's how basically Mr. Rami has been making a lot of money. That stranger knows what he is doing! By the way, has any one seen Mr. Rami lately?   

Neighbor 3:

No, he is so busy that he forgot about his own land! And what's even worse, I heard that he's been giving the stranger a small part of the land for every profit he makes.

Neighbor 1:

A part of the land! How could Mr. Rami do such a thing! You mean our land! We've been living on this land and working for decades. does this how money blind people! How did we become so naïve! What happened to our honor and loyalty!

Neighbor 2:

It's all gone now, it's all gone…

Let's just go to see our families after all this work.  

 (Everyone enters their houses)

Scene 4

  Mr. Rami is walking home after a long day at work; he approaches the house, and once he tried to enter, the stranger pushed him back

Mr. Rami:

What are you doing? Are you out of your mind!

The stranger:

This land is mine now as well as this house; I've been waiting for this moment for too long. It's all happened now, and I'm home again.

Mr. Rami: (shouts)

What are you talking about! This is my land…

 Oh how didn't I see it coming; I sold my land for nothing! I sold it for nothing! (Keeps shouting)

The stranger:

Now enjoy the rest of your precious money, because it won't last.

With a victory smile, enters the house and closes the door.

Mr. Rami looses his mind and keeps repeating:

This is my land, open the door! What have I done!

Frantically, he rushes to his neighbors' houses, knocks the door.

Mr. Rami: (shouts)

Help! Help! The stranger took the land away from me.

Neighbor 1: (without caring)

You gave it to him blinded by your greed, now you're asking for my help! Please leave sir I can do nothing for you.

He rushes to the next neighbor.

Mr. Rami: (shouts)

Please help! The stranger took my land.

Neighbor 2:    

Oh, how sad, but don't worry sir god never forgets us. I'll pray for you.

Mr. Rami: (surprised)

Pray! You must stand and fight with me!

Neighbor 2:

I'm sorry sir, I can't. I'm working for him now. He's my master. (Enters the house)

He rushes to the next door.

Mr. Rami: (shouts)

Help! Please, the stranger took our land, our home is gone!

Neighbor 3:

Don't be scared sir, our neighbors and I will have a meeting the next month, and we're going to talk about our unity, so you must wait until that day.

Mr. Rami doesn't believe what he hears; he falls on his knees and repeats:

It's all my fault, it's all my fault!

(music starts)

Mr. Rami sits on the ground; he's putting his arms on his knees with his head down.

He raises his head and says:

There was a time when we used to be one unit. We used to share our fears as well as our happiness, what happened to all that! Where exactly did we lose our unity? And how come we left only with dreams! Everybody's blinded by their lusts and greed. We betray, fight and kill each other; and all that for what! Nothing. But no, I know it's not only dreams; because one day we're going to put all of our problems aside and be one unit again. Today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. (He puts his head down again)

Suddenly one of the neighbors comes out from his house and looks at Mr. Rami. The neighbors Start getting out of their houses. They go to Mr. Rami(with sticks) and put their hands on his shoulder, and in one action they all hit the ground.

The end