Characters:

Shaaban: The strongly built servant, always wearing a suit.

Dr Akeel: The guest, in his thirties.

Shawki: The master, sixty years of age, grey haired.

(The servant sits near the wall-mounted rifle, sipping his tea, frowning, while Shawki and Dr Akeel are seated at either end of a table. Shawki is holding a deck of cards, shuffling it continuously.)

Dr Akeel: Play? (Laughs) I’ve never played anything in my life. All I’ve ever done is study and research the history of sciences. In our profession, you have to master several things at the same time, like history as history, and science as science.

 Shawki: Your life must be so boring. I like science too. The science of games. Playing is an art, a skill and a science. There is nothing more important than playing.

Dr Akeel: (pointing to the cards the master is holding) You mean playing cards?

Shawki: Cards, chess, backgammon, billiards, roulette and so on.
Dr Akeel: (laughing) Frankly, I don’t play these games well

(Lightning strikes and the loud rumble of thunder is heard. The guest shivers)

Shawki: And what do you do on a stormy night like this? Do you study and research?

 Dr Akeel: To tell the truth, I usually fail to work in weather like this.

Shawki: That’s what I wanted to hear. Listen, Doctor… You have to play with me.

Dr Akeel: But I’m a bad player. You will be bored with me and my playing. I don’t want to be any trouble or burden you with my presence.

 Shawki: I’ll teach you. You’re smart and can learn quickly.

Dr Akeel: (with an embarrassed laugh) I don’t think so, I’m a bad student when it comes to these things.

Shawki: But we have to pass the time while we sit out the storm.

Dr Akeel: Why don’t we talk about different topics? I could, for example, entertain you if I told you stories from history, or, let’s say, if I told you about the witty things the old Arabs invented.

 Shawki: Like the great al-Bayroni bores. Those things aren’t important anymore. Pumps have been invented. They’re cheaper than digging lots of wells. Listen, Doctor, what entertains me most is winning a game of cards.

Dr Akeel: If that’s what you want.

Shawki: Then you agree.

Dr Akeel: I will do anything to please you. You’re my host. I can’t find my way home now.

Shawki: You’re a kind and understanding man.

Dr Akeel: And how are you going to teach me to play?

Shawki: First, you have to specify what you want to play.

Dr Akeel: I prefer chess. It’s a game that suits the type of mind I have, and the old Arabs excelled at it.

Shawki: Forget chess now. We’ll come back to it later because it’s more complicated and requires a lot of training. I suggest we start with cards. I have some here.

 Dr Akeel: That’s fine, if you prefer cards. It makes no difference to me.

Shawki: And do you have some coins?

 Dr Akeel: Why?

 Shawki: To bet with. To win or to lose. That’s what playing is about. There’s nothing in the world more enjoyable than winning. I’m not asking you to play for large amounts, just a few liras jingling on the table. When you play, you have to bet with something you own, even if it’s a pitiful sum. That’s how life is, Doctor. A continuous bet, and no one will let you play and win if you don’t bet on something you own.

 Dr Akeel: That’s a convincing argument.

 Shawki: Imagine that you want to get into a partnership with someone in a commercial or industrial business, and such businesses can either make a profit or a loss. That is nothing but a bet. Would he allow you into a partnership with him if you had no capital?

 Dr Akeel: Of course not.

 Shawki: Then go through your pockets to see what you’ve got.

(The guest goes through his pockets for coins. He gets out 5 liras and holds it out to the master.)

 Dr Akeel: I’ve found 5 liras. Is that enough?

 Shawki: Of course it’s enough. Please come with me.

(The guest rises, and the master leads him to the playing table.)

 Shawki: This is your place. Please be seated.

(The guest and the master sit down, with the servant behind the master. The servant hurries with a pen and some paper, moves the tea cups and returns to his place.)

(The master shuffles the cards in a professional manner.)

 Shawki: I will teach you the rules we play by. You see, I’m now the teacher and my house is the school. I’ll teach you the rules as we go.

 Dr Akeel: As long as it keeps you entertained, sir.

 Shawki: Don’t worry about me. I’m entertained even when I’m teaching you rules. Look, the deck has 52 cards. I will deal you half the pack, 26 cards each. (He starts dealing the cards).

 Dr Akeel: (jokingly) I’ve learnt something new. Half of 52 is 26.

 Shawki: You’re clever, Doctor.

 Dr Akeel: I’m your student, sir.

 Shawki: (finishes dealing the cards) Now, put your cards in front of you. Each of us will draw the top card from his stack and put it here. The highest card wins. In the end, we work out the number of cards each of us has. The one with the greater number of cards wins. Understood, Doctor?

 Dr Akeel: Understood. (He seems happy.) The game is easy.

 Shawki: Easy, isn’t it? Now, I put in five liras.

 Dr Akeel: This means that I have to put in my money.

 Shawki: Yes.

 Dr Akeel: Here’s my money.

 Shawki: Please start.

 (The guest plays.)

Dr Akeel: Seven.

 Shawki: Seven of clubs. I play the nine of spades. I win. (Play continues.)

Nine… I play a jack, I win. Three… I play six, I win. King… I put… Ah, I play the ten of clubs.

 (Here the master should lose, but he will change the rules of the game to continue winning)

 I win.

 Dr Akeel: (interjects immediately) But isn’t the jack higher than the ten? That means I win, sir.

 Shawki: On the contrary, you don’t know the laws of the game well. (He mixes between ‘rules’ and ‘laws’ intentionally.) I am teaching them to you. I am winning because my card is a club, and clubs are the strongest suit.

 Dr Akeel: Ah... You know the game better. I play the queen of hearts.

 Shawki: Ace. I win.

 Dr Akeel: Two of clubs.

 Shawki: Jack of diamonds. I win.

 (The guest finds this unusual. He feels the master is imposing the rules that suit him. He objects politely.)

 Dr Akeel: But clubs, as you explained to me... wins.

 Shawki: Play on, please. Nothing can beat the Jack.

 Dr Akeel: Fine, we’re passing time.

 (They continue playing quickly and silently until their cards finish with the master continually winning. The guest’s movements become robotic until he puts down his last card.)

 Shawki: No need to count the cards, right? I’ve won them all.

 Dr Akeel: (joking) I think you have to count them.

 Shawki: Give me the money.

 Dr Akeel: Please.

(He hands him the money)

 Shawki: Nothing is more enjoyable than winning. You have to win to understand, History of Sciences Doctor. Five liras is a small sum, miniscule and pathetic, but what matters in the game is winning.

 Dr Akeel: You’re determined to win, sir. Does it mean that much to you?

 Shawki: Of course...

 Dr Akeel: I’m glad I’ve given you all this happiness. I was a bit embarrassed to find myself in your house. Now I feel more comfortable.

 (The master collects the cards and signals to his servant.)

 Shawki: Shaaban, take this deck of cards and bring me the Sixty Six deck.

 Saaban: At once, sir.

 (The servant does so.  While they talk, the master shuffles the cards in his usual way.)

 Dr Akeel: And what is this game?

 Shawki: I’ll teach you its rules as we go.

 Dr Akeel: (smiling) And will you change its rules to suit...

 (The servant stiffens when he hears the hint, the master becomes serious. Thunder is heard outside.)

 Shawki: We’re passing the time, Doctor.

 Dr Akeel: I’m sorry. Forgive me. I didn’t mean it, I swear to God. I’m ready... Go on, please.

 Shawki: What will you bet with?

 Dr Akeel: (takes out his wallet) My money. I would not be sad if I lost all my money. Your receiving me on this stormy night has no price, I admit.

 Shawki: Please don’t insult me. You’re not paying me the price for sheltering you in my house. We’re playing.

 Dr Akeel: Let’s call it that. What’s the difference?

 Shawki: There’s a big difference.

(He holds out the cards to him.)

 Dr Akeel: Okay, okay. Why are you giving me the cards?

 Shawki: Cut them, please. I don’t cheat.

 (The guest cuts the cards, then the master deals six cards to each of them and places the rest in the middle of the table.)

 Dr Akeel: Okay, you don’t cheat, sir. What should I do with my cards?

 Shawki: You will play the card that you think most suitable. However, you can put down the king and queen together to earn points.

 Dr Akeel: Do I go first?

 Shawki: No, I will go first so that I can explain the laws of the game to you.

 Dr Akeel: You mean, so you can set the rules of the game?

 Shawki: Same thing. As long as you are in my house and holding my cards, and as long as you don’t know the rules of the game, then I can make the laws. It’s the same thing. Look, I’ve earned 40 points because I joined this king and this queen together. (He shows them to him).

 Dr Akeel: And I’ve done the same thing. Record 40 points for me. ( He shows him two cards)

 Shawki: (Laughs heartily) No, you’re in a big hurry. They’re not the right suit, I’m sorry. (He plays a card.) Your turn.

 (The guest gestures compliantly, knowing that the game is not on an equal footing. They play silently, the master winning continuously. The servant moves to the front of the stage.)

 Shaaban: Why do they find it unusual when my master sets the laws of the game so that they always suit him? This is normal… Let me explain the issue to you the way my master once explained it to me. Life is a game, playing and playing… A man wakes up in the morning and goes out of his house to work, and gambles with everything he owns by playing these games. At the marketplace, in the office, at work, in the money market, the stock exchange… everywhere. The man plays with someone else, and that someone else plays with another and so on. All the people gamble with each other. The man may travel with the goods he has to offer. He is gambling with his money and his life. Each of these games has its own laws. Who makes these laws, I wonder? It’s the master. The master sets the rule. I want to ask: Who sets a rule that will be against his interests? The masters make laws in order to win, not to lose. Tonight, my master is the master and a game has to take place here. This game has a law, and my master will set it in place and he will eventually win. It’s a simple idea that doesn’t require deep thinking. My master explained it to me once, and I was convinced, and you see me here standing to attention, because the guest might object, and reject the principle, and that’s when I will intervene… We have many hunting rifles, loaded and ready.

 (He points to the hunting rifle hanging on the wall, and returns to his place.)

 (The master wins. He grabs the wallet from in front of the guest, looking delighted.)

 Shawki: I’ve won, and winning is a joy. I live to win. When I win, I don’t feel bored.

 Dr Akeel: I’m glad you’re winning, and I’m glad to see you delighted with winning, but have I lost all my money?

 Shawki: Of course. You bet all of it, I believe. You didn’t take out a few notes from your wallet and place them on the table… What? Are you backing out?

 Dr Akeel: Of course, not. But I was just wondering how I will continue my trip in the morning. I haven’t got a single lira left. Please leave me 500 liras at least.

 Shawki: You have to play to win 500 liras.

 Dr Akeel: I have nothing to play with. All my money is gone.

 Shawki: I will lend you 100 liras.

 (The guest laughs compliantly but starts to feel uncomfortable. He turns towards the servant who immediately stiffens, so he agrees)

 Shawki: What have you decided?

 Dr Akeel: It seems I have no choice.

 Shawki: Don’t tell me I’m forcing you into making decisions you don’t want to make. If you are upset, you can stop entertaining me.

 Dr Akeel: And… will you get angry?

 Shawki: Yes, I will get angry. We will not be friends after that, and I will not be responsible for what happens to you. You can even leave my house at once.

 (The lightning and thunder are frightening. The guest puts any idea of objecting out of his mind.)

 Dr Akeel: I don’t plan to do that, sir. Indeed, we are passing the time. Here, lend me 100 liras. Besides, money is the last thing I’m worried about, and I’m not used to playing for the sake of feeling the joy of winning.

 (The master takes 100 liras out of the wallet and gives it to the guest)

 Shawki: I trust you.

 Dr Akeel: Ah, by the way, how will I repay you?

 Shawki: You have to keep playing with me until you are able to return the money.

 Dr Akeel: And do I have any chance of winning?

 Shawki: Of course.

 Dr Akeel: Then let’s play another game. I suggest a game of memory.

 Shawki: (Finding it unusual) Memory?

 Dr Akeel: (Enthusiastically) Yes, or let’s call it a game of information. We will compete, and whoever knows more wins.

 Shawki: Information is not something you learn straight away like the rules of the card games I teach you. It is something you acquire over many years. If I ever get bored with cards, I know things that you surely don’t and you will undoubtedly lose.

 Dr Akeel: Like what?

 Shawki: I will ask you a question. Will you bet the 100 liras?

 (The guest loses his self-confidence, and gets perplexed.)

 Dr Akeel: Why… why don’t I ask you?

 Shawki: Your sciences don’t concern me, Doctor, and besides I’m the master here and I set the ground rules.

 Dr Akeel: Can I know an example without betting? At least one?

 Shawki: Fine… (Pause) Who invented Coca Cola?

 Dr Akeel: What? Coca Cola? You’ve caught me off guard.

 Shawki: You can see that you will lose the last thing you own.

 Dr Akeel: Why don’t you allow me to ask you myself?

 Shawki: If you ask me, I will lose my privileges…

 Dr Akeel: And what are your privileges?

 Shawki: I am the owner of this house. If you hadn’t sough refuge here, the beasts of the forest would have eaten you. Doesn’t this confer a privilege or a price? My house saved your life.

 Shawki: Does this mean I am a prisoner of the favour you have done me?

 Shawki: You are the prisoner of your presence here.

 (The guest realises that he is in trouble and gets up.)

 Dr Akeel: I’m afraid I must leave. I thought that what we were doing was a form of pure entertainment. It’s true you’re the master of this house, but that doesn’t mean you can force me to play games where you impose their rules and continually change them so that you always win. Thank you for your kindness, sir, and goodbye.

 (The servant takes the rifle off the wall and comes closer to the guest and aims it at his head. The guest feels a slight movement behind him and turns around to find the rifle pointed in his face.)

 Dr Akeel: What is this? A rifle? Are you going to kill me over a game?

 Shawki: Please sit down. You are an educated and intelligent man. We don’t want to hurt you. All there is to it is that you sought refuge in a house that has its sovereignty.

 Dr Akeel: You took advantage of my need for a shelter in this forest, which you claim is teeming with wild beasts. Let me go, please!

 Shawki: That’s your fate. You have to stay.

 Dr Akeel: Where am I? Have I been entrapped by thieves?

 Shawki: I’m no thief, Doctor. This is a house like every other house in the world. We resemble this world.

 Dr Akeel: You force weird games on me, with weirder rules that you make, and you say “We resemble this world”?

 Shawki: Do you think I’m lying? Everywhere, masters impose their laws. Do you think it’s any different outside to what it is in here?

 Translation: Joseph Abdo