flying into darkness

8/9/2019 Flying Into Darkness

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Flying

into

Darkness

Afraz Publications

2014


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Flyinginto

Darkness

by

Afshin Hashemi

Translated into English by

Buna Alkhas

Afraz Publications2014


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F lying into Darkness / copyright 2014

Translated from Farsi into English by Buna Alkhas

First published in 2014by Afraz Publications

No. 1, Afshar Deadend, Vahid Nazari St., South Felestin St.Tehran, Iran

Printed in Iran

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or

reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,mechanical, or other means; now known or hereafter invented,

including photocopying and recording, or in any information

storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing fromthe publisher.

This material is copyright.The author retains all rights; stage, cinema and broadcasting.

[email protected] www.afshinhashemi.com / [email protected] /

ISBN 978-600-326-097-9

National Library of I. R. Iran Data

Afshin Hashemi, 1975 -.

F lying into Darkness / copyright 2014

Tehran, Afraz, 2014128 pages

English- PersianIranian Plays, 21stcentury

Alkhas, Buna, translator

PIR8299/ALEF6685P420138Fa2/62

3377417

Web: www.afrazbook.comEmail: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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For Zoheir Yari , Rouzbeh Hosseini

And Mohammad Kh.Who left us while this was being written,

after giving us years of hope.


6/57

Flying into DarknessLoosely based on the Persian translation by the late Houshang Hesami

from theEnglish translation of the French Two-Headed Eagle

by Jean Cocteau,along with modern world poetry taken from the book

You Were Busy Dyingtranslated into Persian by Mohammad Reza Farzad.


7/57

From history1:

February 1, 1956: A bill ordering the founding of the Iranian

Secret Service was passed by the Senate.

Reza-Ali Divanbeygi and Ibrahim

Khajenouri were opposed to founding

such an agency in Iran.

March 13, 1956: The Legislative Assembly passed the

same bill without debate or opposition.

March 13, 1957: A royal announcement was made regarding

the impending divorce of Mohammad-Reza

Shah Pahlavi and Soraya Esfandiari-

Bakhtiari.

April 6, 1958: The divorce became official and Soraya

was presented with the documents in

Germany.

November 21, 1959:The engagement of Farah Diba and

Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlavi was

announced, and they were wed a month

later on December 19.

1 . From Chronology of Iran (1896 1979) by Bagher Agheli


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Flying into Darkness

This historical fiction takes place

between the Shahs divorce from Soraya in April 1958and his marriage to Farah in November 1959.

List of Characters:Lady Parizad

Mr. Dargahi

Esmail1also known as Morning Lark

Stage setting:A hall or basement in a ruined mansion;

or a semi-burned down theater;

in a city; most likely in Bandar Pahlavi whichis referred to by Lady Parizad as Anzali2, its

former name.

There are furnishings, and a window or doorin the wall. Backstage there is a staircase

leading upstairs.

1. Ishmael in Persian2. Bandar-e Anzali (Anzali Port) is a harbour town ("Bandar" means "port") on theCaspian Sea, close toRasht.Bandar-e Anzali is one of the most important seaports in thenorth of Iran. Anzali Port was also known as Bandar-e Pahlav, during the Pahlav period.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea


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Parizads VoiceThe wind, one brilliant day, called

to my soul with an odor of jasmine:

'In return for the aroma of my jasmine,

I'd like all the aromas of your roses.'

'I have no roses;all the flowers in my garden have wilted.'

'Well then, I'll take the withered petals

and the yellow leaves

and the waters of the fountain.'

The wind left. And I wept.

And I said to myself:

'What have you done with the garden

that was entrusted to you?'1This land has only death. This land kills all

those who wish to sow their fields.

This land... oh, this land...

and nothing can be done about it.

1. The Wind, One Brilliant Day; a poem by Antonio Machado (1875-1939; Spain)


12/57

Light.

Dargahi is setting the table. Lady Parizad is standing in

a corner, playing with and shuffling around her papers.

PARIZAD Have you finished with your duties?

DARGAHI Yes, everything is almost done.

The sound of thunder and rain

PARIZAD [walks to the window happily] I havent seenweather like this for a long time!

DARGAHI Dont open it! Flies and mosquitos will get in.

PARIZAD Oh! Ive forgotten how these northern

mosquitos can bite. They are quite

dangerous!

DARGAHI Both the mosquitos and the lightning. The

lightning here has been known to knockdown even the largest trees.

PARIZAD Most of my ancestors trees have already

fallen; there is no need for lightning! I even

saw the trees in Farzads orchard today.

They have dried up during these past five

years, even with all this rain falling from

the sky. Now there are no more trees for

you to be frightened of.DARGAHI [feeling the walls] The walls here are damp.

Dont you have trouble breathing in this

humidity?

PARIZAD [wants to change the subject] Isnt the table set yet?

DARGAHI [placing the last object] Oh, yes! Please forgiveme. I had to rearrange everything to make

sure things were in order. Ive tried to put

everything back in its place. Please excuse

my clumsiness if the table is not as


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Flying into Darkness | 13

organized as it was at first. The table had

been set for two, correct? Well, esthetics is

not a good match for security.PARIZAD No, its fine. Everything is in its place.

Dargahi begins to walk away.

Mr. Dargahi!

Dargahi stops.

Put this two-person soiree in your report. It

would be a shame to leave out anything,

especially the humidity!

DARGAHI [smiling] I will attribute this lack of courtesy

to your long journey today.

PARIZAD You are also tired. Write your report before

you lie down on your soft bed. [shows her

papers] As since before your arrival, I have

been doing my paperwork. Although your

presence hasnt allowed me to finishDargai still smiling, begins to walk away, but again is

stopped by Lady Parizads voice.

And, please, forgive me, this is not a proper

place to invite you to stay.

DARGAHI Thank you, very much, I have trouble

breathing in these old mansions. This is my

inheritance: shortness of breath. Onceagain, I beg your leave. Good night. [leaves]

Parizad opens the window. The lights slowly dim. She

lights a candle on the table.

PARIZAD Tonight we dine together... in the very place

where we first embraced [pours white wine in both

glasses] with monsieurs special wine, Shah

crusher as you called it. [brings out a framedphoto of Farzad Paydar, her dead fianc, from an old suitcase

and places it on a broken table, by the lit candles] On our


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14 | Flying into Darkness

wedding day, the same day you departed

[smiles and swallows trying to suppress her tears; picks up a

pen, perks up her ears] the sound of a shot fired inthe distance [writes it down] The people are still

enjoying fireworks, on our wedding night

the sky was as wild as it is now, You called

it wild, a wild sky [Again perks up her ears] A

shot rings out close by. [writes it down; then takesoff her necklace and removes something from it which she

puts in a goblet. The white wine turns red. She lifts the goblet,

her hand shaking] To your health! [struggles withherself...]

Lightning! A young man throws himself on to the

stage, from the open window or another place. He is

frightened and disheveled, one side of his body is red

with blood, he is wet from the rain. He resembles

Farzad Paydar, it may indeed be him. Parizad

doesnt believe it. She gets up and goes to him.

PARIZAD [to herself] Farzad?! [slowly goes forward and calls]

FarzadThe frightened youth shouts out and points his

weapon at her. Parizad is frightened and presses her

back to the wall. She is struck dumb. They lock eyes

dumbfounded. The youth steps forward and lowers

his gun.

Youth Hide me somewhere for Gods sake!...

But he runs out of strength and falls face down on the

floor. Parizad lets out a short scream. Shouting and

shots from outside. Parizad pulls herself together,

Blows out the candle. Darkness.


15/57

Parizads VoiceWhat I write is not history; and no history

until now can match it. A nightly diary that

has yet to be written, anywhere. A diary, a

letter, a testament

for you and about you

in memory of that rainy night you left.A dark night like the times of this land,

and the writing begins like this:

One dark night,

A woman sits thinking of her death

Rain falls on her lovers tomb

Strange and cold winds at her side

And a mirror of the times before her eyesThe moon sets on the rain, the sea turns milky;

In memory of a man who was a poem

Night and the moon and the rain slide into

the poem on this page; this nocturnal diary.

The wind blew away the moon

and the paper darkened.1

1 . Inspired by The Prediction; a poem by Mark Strand (1934; USA)


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Shouts from outside, stomping of boots. Light.

Shadows and running. Parizad sits paying no attention

to the sounds. She is playing solitaire, pulling out

random cards. Dargahi runs in, out of breath.

PARIZAD [talking about the cards, ignoring Dargahi] The

outcome will be the same, no matter how

much we shuffle the cards. [ignoring Dargahi,

turns over a few cards]

DARGAHI [out of breath] Thank God nothing happened.

PARIZAD [turning over a king] A king... A king without a

queen!

DARGAHI [talking to someone outside] Search the grounds; I

will search inside the building.

PARIZAD [still ignoring Dargahi, turns over more cards, a queen and a

jack] A queen and a knave! [laughs] It must beme, of course!

DARGAHI [still breathing heavily, to Parizad] Please excuse this

intrusion into your privacy.

PARIZAD [still just playing cards, turn over another] A joker!

The little devil! [to Dargahi] Oh, please, Mr.

Dargahi! Make yourself at home!

DARGAHI With your permission. [begins to leave]

PARIZAD [steps in front of him] How ridiculous! You breakthe lock, enter my chamber and disrupt my

evening. What more permission do you

want? How much more ridiculous can

things get?DARGAHI It is not ridiculous, my lady! If I had not

broken the lock and come in, we could have

been in danger!PARIZAD Danger for whom?


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DARGAHI For you! I have told you a thousand times

this mansion is not safe, even the

surroundings are not safe, but you do notheed my advice!

PARIZAD I have no problems here. I am as

comfortable as can be!

DARGAHI Yes, you are comfortable. But I am very

uncomfortable when you are here! My

officers who keep guard night and day are

not comfortable!

PARIZAD Tell them all to go home right this minute. I

do wish to be the reason for the discomfort

of others!

DARGAHI If not for them, there would be a murderer

standing here instead of me!

PARIZAD What would a murderer want? My

permission to enter?

DARGAHI [takes a deep breath] Murderers do not usuallyask for permission!

PARIZAD [pointing at Dargahi] The police arent much

different!... How interesting! Yesterday I

decided on my own that I would be in

Anzali tonight. I set off in the afternoon, the

chauffeur drove quite fast. It had been years

since the doors of this mansion were last

opened. So, isnt it strange that the police,the murderers and everyone else knew

before me where I was? [shuffles in anger]

DARGAHI The rebels have infiltrated everywhere -

PARIZAD [turning a card over] A knave! The young man

who plots against us!

DARGAHI - perhaps they have heard about the betrothal

and want to assassinate our future queen.


18/57


PARIZAD Only I and Mohammad Reza1 know about

the betrothal... even his sisters and the

Queen Mother do not know about it.DARGAHI Well, it is not just the betrothal

PARIZAD What else is there?

DARGAHI Youve seen the newspapers; and especially

the leaflets.

PARIZAD So!?

DARGAHI New Extravagances in Spending; Budget

Deficit Caused by -

PARIZAD - the building of a new theater and on, and

on, and so?

DARGAHI The excessive spending has heated up the

left; the theater has angered the clergy; your

being a woman has fired up the zealots and

the riffraff.

PARIZAD Im not the first one. For fifty years women

have -DARGAHI Most of them were not Moslem women,

they were minorities who have never been

seen in such a respectful light. The people

think that they make spectacles of

themselves, that they are of ill repute -

Parizad glares at him.

[backs off] It is not my point of view, I amrepeating what the people say.

PARIZAD You always speak for the people!

DARGAHI I do not speak for them; they truly think in

this way. And still you want to build a

theater for these people? And you believe

this will not fire up the religious?

1. Mohammad Rez Shh Pahlav; (19191980) was theShah of Iran from September1941 until his overthrow by theIranian Revolution in 1979. He was the second and lastmonarch of thePahlavi dynasty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_of_Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_of_Iran


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PARIZAD You are the one who fires up the people!

How else would they have knowledge of

such things?DARGAHI [takes out the last cigarette from his pack[ When did

we do such a thing?! [fiddles around for his lighter

and then lights his cigarette]

PARIZAD Time and time again! For one, when it

rained so hard here in Anzali during the

performance of Tartuffe1 which included a

female actress; the police encouraged a fewextremists to attack the show, saying the

event was put on by socialists. In Tehran

they did it to the Womans Nationalist

Society. They burned their newspapers, the

believers threw stones at them, and the

police just stood by and watched. [pulls the

cigarette out of Dargahis mouth and steps on it] In fact,

whenever you want to suppress anideology, you attack the theater.

DARGAHI Maybe during the reign of Reza Shah2 the

Great, things like this happened, and even

then rarely, but now, never!

PARIZAD So what were you just saying from the

mouths of the thugs and riffraff and the

religious extremists?

DARGAHI I am a mouthpiece for no one, my lady. I

just pass on to you what we surmise they

are saying, things we have overheard.

PARIZAD So perhaps you could pass it on to them that

this place will be rebuilt with what Ive

inherited from my ancestors.

1. Tartuffe or the Imposter; A play by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, a French playwright andactor, better known by his pen name Molire, (16221673).2. Rez Shh Pahlavi (1878 1944) was theShah of theImperial State of Iran from1925 until he was forced toabdicateby the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah


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DARGAHI The people will not believe this, because the

money is being spent by our future queen.

PARIZAD I have not said yes yet.DARGAHI Your answer is obvious if not; I would

not be here protecting you.

PARIZAD Then go and do your duty!

DARGAHI Rest assured that we will find them soon;

both the assassin and the informer. [walks

toward the steps]

PARIZAD Finding them should not be too difficult!

Dargahi pushes aside the curtains and dust rises.

Other than the Shah and I, only you knew

about this, and only because you are my

protector.

Dargahi begins coughing. Parizad shuffles the cards,

then lays out three cards.

When only three people in the whole worldknow about this, [lays another card aside] then the

informer is one of these three. [turns another card:

the joker] The little devil; its Mr. Dargahi

himself.

Dargahi has a fit of coughing.

[laughs] Im just kidding! Dont take it so

seriously.As if he has completely lost his breath.

Oh, Oh! Allow me to give you a glass of

water. [walks up a few steps and speaks to Dargahi] Now,

truthfully tell me who you think they are.

DARGAHI [trying to fight his coughing] Who?

PARIZAD The assassin and the informer.

DARGAHI [looks at the steps; now that Parizad is gone he looks around]

We do not know who the informer is, but

the scoundrel must be a follower of the


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previous queen, one of the Bakhtiaris1 in

the government. There are those who still

hope that Sorayas malady can be cured2.[notices a stain on the floor and rubs it with his finger] But

we are quite sure about the assassin; one of

these relatively popular poets of today. [goesto the steps to be sure that Parizad has not come down; looks

for stains] The same poet who prints his

poems on cheap newsprint, like the leaflets

[finds fresh blood on the railing] which are even now

recited by heart by our school children.[triumphantly pulls a kerchief from his pocket]

PARIZAD [comes up the steps with a glass of water] The poem

Flying into Darkness?

DARGAHI [wiping the blood from his hands with his kerchief] Ive

heard that you also liked the poem. [hides the

bloody kerchief in his pocket]

PARIZAD [walking down the steps] Yes! Unfortunately it

seems as though the old belief is true, that

such insignificant people are not worthy of

fame. [gives Dargahi the glass of water, then with a smile]

Do what you need to do, but leave me out

of it. [goes back up the stairs]

DARGAHI My lady. Make sure the windows are all

shut. Something dangerous could come in.

PARIZAD Then shut them. Yes, do!Dargahi goes toward the window. Parizad stares

straight ahead.

Darkness.

1. The Bakhtiari are a tribe in southwestern Iran2. Princess Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari; (19322001) was Queen of Iran as the secondwife ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi.The imperial couple's marriage had disintegrated byearly 1958 owing to Soraya's apparentinfertility
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infertilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infertilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi


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Parizads VoiceDeath flies over this land; everywhere and

always, occasionally by ones own hand,

occasionally by the hand of others; by poison

ordered for oneself or a bullet from a martyr.

And in the end it is just another life taken.Now, where we first met, holding these

scribbled notes in my hand, I sit waiting

Our visit is not far off, you who have always

shared my heart. And now, Esmail, the poet

of the people, with his nom-de-plume

Sword and later Morning Lark, author

of the beautiful poem Flying into Darkness.


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24/57


no proper replies were foreseen for such

circumstances; neither from our side, nor

from the party, nor from your faction.And now, I am neither a queen nor are you

an assassin. So now shall we make up the

rules as we go along. [picks up Farzads photo and

along with the first aid items approaches Esmail] This is a

picture of Farzad, Farzad Paydar, thirty

years old at the time of our betrothal seven

years ago. You were just a youth of

fourteen or fifteen then, uniformed and

waving flags as we rode by. Cant you see

how much you resemble him? [looks at Esmail

who remains silent] It seems as if conversation is

not part of your groups manifesto! [sits down

to bandage Esmails wound] Pull up your shirt.

Esmail pulls away

[leaves the items and stands up] Either let someone

tend to your wound or do it yourself.

Esmail begins to bandage his wound

How did you know I wasnt at the hotel

tonight?... Perhaps one of your informers

told you, but how did you know I was here,

in this place? This mansion has been closed

for years, furthermore it is full of rooms and

you came to the exact one I was in.

ESMAIL I did not know you were here!

PARIZAD How nice to hear your voice... well... now

you know who I am! And you know that

the Shah has asked for my hand. Why dont

you finish what you came here to do?

Esmail remains silent. Parizad looks at the picturethen looks at Esmail.


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It was a clever choice. Your group knewthat your resemblance would disarm me.

But it did not know that I have been seekingthe angel of death for five years. [looks at

Farzads picture] Tonight, I so wanted to go tohim...but you came

ESMAIL Do not compare me to him.PARIZAD Oh, my apologies, you are right! You are

pure. But he was with the regime,contaminated, a close friend of the Shah.And I am his wife, the one you do not evenwish to resemble. So get on with it! Whatare you waiting for? Kill this Lady Parizad,this excessive lustful debauchee! Is this notwhat they say about me? Is it not rumoredthat another freeloader has been taken in bythe monarchy? Do they not say that some

Westernized woman has taken money fromthe Shah to build a theater? [pushes the gun into hishands] So kill this Jezebel to save the country.This is how you can become a great hero.

ESMAIL You you saved me!PARIZAD Forget about that, for you might never get

another chance. From now on Mr. Dargahiwill make the decisions! He is the one who

will decide what is in his favor; my death,whether by your hand or any others, or mestaying alive and becoming queen. Dontbecome his plaything. Do what you must.

ESMAIL I dont feel well!PARIZAD Ha! Take a look at our rebels! When you

entered, for a second I thought you wereFarzads ghost, I thought his blood was on

you. But you fell on the floor, like a... Ha!True rebels do not fall down like this!


26/57


ESMAIL [comes forward holding the gun, with what little strength he

has] Do not ridicule me, Maam! When I

leapt into this room I knew nothing. I wasafraid. When I first arrived, I went straight

to my mothers and waited for orders.

Suddenly the guards attacked. I didnt know

who had set me up. I barely had enough

time to burn some of my writings. I was

lucky that it was stormy out. I was chased

by the guards and their dogs. I ran through

the rocks and the trees and the rubble. Fire

rained from both the land and the sky. I

threw myself into this ruin out of fear. It

was the only thing to do. Suddenly I saw

you standing before me, a woman, alone, in

the middle of the night, inside an

abandoned building! I did not know you

were here, I did not know that this was yourplace, I did not know that you were even

the queen for I would not have hesitated for

even an instant to...

PARIZAD [after a moment of silence; calmly] Do you mean that

we are that bad? [smiling] So show us your

revolutionary spirit.

Esmail tries to lift up his gun but passes out, falling

down on the floor. Silence. Parizad calmly looks at

Esmail and then at the window.

Its overthe storm is oversuch a brief

storm

Darkness


27/57

ParizadsVoiceI, lady Parizad would rather be executed by

revolutionaries than be drowned in the sea

or be given a potion to reunite me with my

ancestors. Execution is forever thought

about and spoken about. It is after such an

event that many things become clear. Whodied for what.

So hurry it up;

A white sword in our hand

Like the moon over our land

Shining light on all who stand

On their pillows they lean

Both the king and his queenTheir long scroll of tyranny

So many lies and cruelty

The new moon sword so white

Burning in the fire bright

Wings in darkness spread apart

Splitting open a black heart

The king so full of fear

Runs away far from hereBut however far he is still too near

Together we catch the king

We spread our wings and sing

Now liberated and free

We will rebuild our country


28/57

Light.Parizad is standing over Esmail. Esmail opens hiseyes and fearfully aims his gun at Parizad.

PARIZAD [ignoring the gun] How is your wound? [goes to thetable and lays out food and drink that she has brought for Esmail]

ESMAIL [calms down and lowers his gun] Its better.PARIZAD Is it infected?ESMAIL Its just a scratch.PARIZAD So you were able to sleep last night.ESMAIL Yes.PARIZAD We sleep better in our twentys. How old

are you?ESMAIL Twenty-five,PARIZAD Then compared to you I am an old woman.

Have you studied at university? Literature or -ESMAIL I never had the money to go to school.PARIZAD So you know what its about. When I was a

child my nanny read to me. She wasntproperly educated, but she read well andbrought the words to life. [smiling] How doyou read? Id like to hear you read!

ESMAIL What should I read?

PARIZAD [takes a book out of her handbag] Recently I havebeen studying the works of Mirzadeh-Eshghi

1, I plan to adapt it for the stage to be

performed at my theater, providing it getsbuilt. [hands the book to Esmail] Id like to hearthese lines read by a different voice. [points inthe the book] Read from where I have itmarked, thats how far Ive gotten.

1.Mirzadeh Eshghi or Eshqi (1893 - 1924), was a political writer, poet and playwrightofIran.He published newspapers in which he fiercely attacked the political system ofIran, and was murdered by two gunmen in his house in Tehran by order ofReza Shah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran


29/57


Esmail wants to open the book to the right page but

drops the gun.

Be careful; its loaded!Esmail loses his composure then regains it.

From here, When the loud shots rang out

throughout our townThe words of an old

man who has lost his sons:

ESMAIL When the loud shots rang out through our town

The bodies of both my sons fell down

One of them took his last breaths in my arms

I watched as in their own blood they drown

With all the love that a father has to give

Since it was for this cause they no longer live

This only for libertys sake I forgive

An end was put to all the darkness and dread

The treacherous bishop with the others fled

The king now a pawn mated by the bishop

But the endgame was not sweet, it did not stop

Again his inner circle and their cohorts

Took over the courtiers and all the courts

They became generals, one the prime minister

No care for the people they were so sinister

Freedom, was why I traded peace for war

Freedom, was what I used all my strength for

Freedom, I gave it the sons my wife bore

I wrote these constitutionalists a letter,

They replied:

Parizad joins Esmail in reciting the poem.

PARIZAD Take our advice and leave these things undone

& Esmail No bread and water come from revolutionFrom this tough revolution, what was to be won?


30/57


Esmail stops talking.

PARIZAD Only justice and liberty; owing no one

[says this in explanation] Here the old man speaks:From this tough revolution what wasto be won

Only justice and liberty; owing no one

Yet the result was prison and this cell

Wasting our days in a place worse than hell

What can I say about a revolt ill begun

That it became a tool for every charlatan

The good people lost and the evil wonIf this is change, long live the devils spawn!

Our hearts to the infamous poet we gave

The one who sent so many alive to their grave

As soon as he saw the king fall off his throne

He yelled

Down with the king! more than anyone

Now he has become one of

our well known greatsAnd been made governor of one of our states.

Farzad loved this poem. He said it very

much reminded him of our times, as if it were

written yesterday... Lets read something else.

[rummages through her bag and pulls out a leaflet] Here

it is! [gives it to Esmail]

ESMAIL [takes the paper and reads] As children we sat for

hours watching the sky[is shocked]

PARIZAD I know it by heart but would like to hear it

from its authors own voice.

Parizad stands away, her back to Esmail Esmail is

still hesitating.

I am all ears.

ESMAIL [reads with emotion] As children we sat for hours

Watching the sky pour out showersThe mud and the slime were ours


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While others got the plants and flowersAlways starving and hungry

Thirsty in a flooded cityLet the clouds bring the rainWash away cruelty and painMoonshine upon our fruitsPulls up injustice by the roots

PARIZAD How the moon does glowAt war with shadowA white sword in our hand

Like the moon over our landShining light on all who standOn their pillows they leanBoth the king and his queen

ESMAIL [can take no more; crumples the paper and throws it away]Enough!

PARIZAD [laughing] When it came to the part aboutdeath, you were frightened, no?

ESMAIL Do you think that I since do not shoot youwith this gun, it is because I am afraid?

PARIZAD Do you have any other option? When youleave here, you either face Dargahi and thepolice or your own people who will callyou a traitor!

ESMAIL This is what you desire. Why? Have you

decided that I belong to a den of assassins?Only because you lack the nerve to commitsuicide! Or is it not proper, not aristocraticenough? Oh, it lacks humility andsensitivity. But being murdered does! Whatdo I get from this? The honor of being apart of history? Sharing the infamy of thishorrific crime with you? To go down in

history as the killer of the Shahs mistressor our future queen?


32/57


PARIZAD Didnt you come here to kill me, dont you

seek equal rights, well then here you are;

your equal right! We have spilled yourblood for years, now it is your turn!

ESMAIL Has it crossed your mind that rather than

being a murderer, I am a poet? That until

now I have never touched a gun. My hands

know only pen and paper. Hasnt it crossed

your mind that -

PARIZAD I forbid you to -

ESMAIL And I forbid you to interrupt me. Did I

interrupt you last night? So listen closely. I

come from the depths of darkness, from a

place you have no idea about, from the

people. I come from those who seek an

inspiration, however small, to live their

lives. This is why we rebelled, to have

inspiration to live.I came here with resolve,a revolutionary resolve, the resolve of a

revolutionary, a resolve that butted heads

against another resolve. When I came to, I

saw another being before me, one creature

before another, a man before a woman

I couldnt understand. It was as if I fell

asleep, into a long deep sleep, yet for just a

few seconds. It was a nightmare. I heardyour voice and woke up. I saw you. The

woman who, the more I thought about, the

less I knew. Why is she saving me? I who

had come here to kill her.

I trembled, I struggled, I fought it, but... I

could only think of youabout why I had

come here and why -PARIZAD I demand silence!


33/57


ESMAIL Ha! More demands! For me to be silent,

silence for all! I was sure that we could

never be equals.PARIZAD Equals, us? The Lady Parizad and some young

poet who has sneaked into her chamber.

ESMAIL Then let everyone know; scream, holler!

PARIZAD It is you who are hollering!

ESMAIL I have no qualms about being executed for

my beliefs.

Both Parizad and Esmail seem to hear a noise.

PARIZAD [shocked] The doorbell!

Parizad regains control. She hands the book by

Mirzadeh-Eshghi to Esmail and puts Farzads

overcoat on his shoulders.

Go upstairs. If you hear someone walking

up the stairs, start reading, as loudly as you

were just now hollering. If they ask who

you are, tell them you are an actor, a localactor, some kind of cabaret entertainer who

is planning to bring your show here.

Again they both seem to hear something... perhaps

approaching footsteps.

[to Esmail] Go! Hurry!

Esmail goes upstairs and Parizad walks to the other

side. A moment later Dargahi comes in conversingwith Parizad. He is muddy.

DARGAHI I went to the hotel, didnt see you and

guessed that youd be here and came

straight away. I apologize for my muddy

appearance.

PARIZAD The road was supposed to be paved. As I

remember the funds were withdrawn from

the treasury long ago.DARGAHI [laughs loudly] Your spies serve you well!


34/57


PARIZAD Actually no! For such news, there is no

need for the skilled spies you refer to. I read

it a few days ago in the newspaper.DARGAHI Yes, it is true that the funds were

withdrawn, but they had to be redirected for

security purposes.

PARIZAD To protect our future queen no doubt!?

DARGAHI All these expenses are for the protection of

the regime! Whether its you or another, it

makes no difference, expenses to protect

the regime. What does it matter if some

mud ends up on my trousers.

PARIZAD Perhaps you dont care that your trousers are

soiled, but it matters to me what people think.

DARGAHI You are right. Its a good thing for this

nonsense to come to an end. Its good that

you are trying to breach the gap between

yourself and the people. Although its a bitdifficult, yet -

PARIZAD There were no difficulties, No one had any

idea I was coming. I had just gone to collect

fees from some of my lands to build my

theater. The Shahs amorous affections

ruined everything. Such are the virtues of a

queenless Shah! It all began the day after.

Suggestions and messages and responsesfrom and to the Shah, Accusations and

pressure and threats from others! Just think

if they get wind of his proposal! Daily

contempt and insults; from government

officials because Farzad and I supported

Mossadegh1; from the people for our

1. Mohammad Mosaddegh or Mosaddeq (1882 1967), was the democratically electedPrime Minister of Iran from 1951 until 1953, when his government was overthrown in acoup d'tat orchestrated by theBritishMI6 and the AmericanCIA in 1953. Mosaddegh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Iran


35/57


foreign connections and airs. Not to

mention the jealousy of those who wished

to be queen! And add to these my royalancestry and my deceased husbands

friendship with the Shah during their

university years. In the middle of all this

various newspapers are putting these events

in the spotlight. It seems as if your

organization is funding them as well.

During Parizads speech, Dargahi notices the foodand things on the table, and without Parizad noticing,

looks around the room.

DARGAHI They have performed you a disservice. butyou are also not without fault. For example,your absence at the state religious mourningceremony; that in itself was the product ofthe sick minds of the government officials

and the ideals of the newspaper reporters, isit not so? It was!PARIZAD I myself was in mourning last night, for my

husband.DARGAHI Private and public mourning are not the same.

Government officials must always respectthe customs of the people, for politics.

PARIZAD I am not a government official nor do I like

politics!DARGAHI Politics was the way of your ancestors and

still is, whether you like it or not. Its thesame for me; even though I dont care forinterrogations and investigations and ahundred other such stupidities, it is myprofession!

was then imprisoned for three years, and put under house arrest until his death. He causeda range of progressive social and political reforms such as social security, rent control, andland reforms. His government's most notable policy, however, was the nationalization ofthe Iranian oil industry, which had been under British control since 1913.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom


36/57


PARIZAD Is it possible to find out, with these hundredstupidities, what happened to the fees from

these lands? It was your Shah who said itwould be done within a few days.

DARGAHI Up until, now Ive busied myself with lastnights events.

PARIZAD Last nights events?DARGAHI The matter with the assassin and -PARIZAD Ah, yes! What has come of it?DARGAHI I have come for this very reason... to inform

you that he has been apprehended.PARIZAD Who?DARGAHI The poet- [corrects himself] last nights assassin.PARIZAD When?DARGAHI Today at dawn. He tried to escape by sea. I

interrogated him myself. It wasnt clear howhis faction discovered your whereabouts,but we quickly found that out.

PARIZAD What kind of person is he?DARGAHI One of those disoriented and irresponsible

cowards whose disease contaminates oursociety; a poet of course. He confessedeverything after one slap; his name, addressand he gave up his accomplices.

PARIZAD [smiling and staring directly at Dargahi] That is good

news.DARGAHI And I await good news from you.PARIZAD Concerning what?DARGAHI [hands her a telegram] They have sent us a

telegraph, and await your reply.PARIZAD [after a silence] Tell them I havent decided.DARGAHI Then with your permission, I take my leave.

[is about to leave but hesitates] I mean no disrespect,

but I need to ask you this. [with uncertainty] Iknow that your wishes are that no one


37/57


should become aware of the proposalthisis very good and it wouldnt hurt if

you enlisted the aid of a few officials; onesthat you trust. I believe -

PARIZAD I know that I am not held in high esteem,neither by the people nor by those in power.

DARGAHI This is not what I meant. I wanted to saythat... [regrets having spoken] Never mind, forgiveme if I have spoken out of turn. Whatshould I tell them?

PARIZAD [pauses] Tell them I am thinking about Farzad.DARGAHI [pauses and then] Perhaps it would be better if we

spoke of this tomorrow. I hope that the goodnews I initially brought makes up for myinsubordination. Will there be anything else?

PARIZAD No.DARGAHI [offers his respects and leaves, only to return again] My

ladyWhat I say to you is said only out ofthe deep respect I have for you. For bothyou and Farzad, who once was a friend ofminewith your permission. [leaves]

Footsteps fade in the distance. Parizad at long lastcollapses. Esmail comes downstairs. He looks aroundmaking sure Dargahi has left. He wants to saysomething but notices Parizads state. Silence.

ESMAIL [calmly] Were you deeply in love with him?

PARIZAD [notices Esmail] The clothes suit you. Theywere Farzads winter clothes.

Lights fade. Darkness.


38/57

Parizads VoiceFarzad; friend and university chum of the

Shah; yet an advocate for political

prisoners. The whole time he stood by

Mossadegh against the Shah. So much so

that he refused to publicly welcome him

home. Yet the Shah loved him for hishonesty. He could have easily had the

position of prime minister or chancellor,

especially since after the coup dtat, the

Shah needed someone from the people, yet

he never chose to do so. He was contented

to write his historical essays, some of which

he published in the newspapers[takes a deepbreath] The pure and good-hearted people of

this land either kill themselves or are killed

by others. It is as if this land does not

tolerate purity.


39/57

Light.

Parizad and Esmail sitting across from each other at

the broken table with Farzads framed photograph

between them.

PARIZAD He wanted to build a better world, but he

did not live long enough. On our wedding

day a man in the street ran forward carrying

flowers. I thought he pushed the flowers on

Farzads chest out of devotion... I smiled

there was a gun in the flowers a shot

his white shirt turned crimson... [with a bitter

smile] a revolutionary execution! As simple

as that.

ESMAIL Sometimes guns are fired in error. And we

do not understandDid you truly mean tokill yourself that night?

PARIZAD It is better that I die than be the mother of

the next Shah. After all this hatred for the

monarchy, how can I turn my back on all

my beliefsI dont know I do not know

anything... perhaps he asked me to marry

him because I refused his invitation to sleep

with him! Ha! It wouldnt be the first time!Beware of the day when blue bloods should

desire something!

ESMAIL When I was burning my papers I did not

think of such things.

PARIZAD Why not?

ESMAIL I did not think it would be possible...

PARIZAD No... why did you burn your papers?ESMAIL What? For fear of interrogation.


40/57


PARIZAD Were they poems?

ESMAIL Yes!

PARIZAD What a shame!

ESMAIL If I hadnt burned them yesterday, I would

have burned them today. Some were against

you, against the Shahs mistress or the

future queen!

PARIZAD [smiles bitterly] One who gives sanctuary to a

revolutionary cannot become queen, even if

she wanted to. The remaining, compromisingand reforming that Farzad spoke of were

just dreams. Nothing can be done. [smiling]

That is why each year at this time I want to

commit suicide I go through the actions

yet do not dare. [shows necklace] He put this

around my neck on our wedding night.

There was perfume in it. Now it hassomething to connect me with my ancestors.

[takes off necklace] It kills quietlywith all the

mingling; all the smiles, no one knows you

are carrying death around in your

automobile, accelerator to the floor, a few

moments later a cliff and fire but you were

already dead everything was prepared, on

our anniversary, in the very place where wefirst embraced, on the day he died... but

then suddenly you appeared... you look so

much like Farzad.

Silence. From this moment on it seems like everything

happens in a dream in the candlelight. The flames

dance on the faces and there are shadows all around.


41/57


ESMAIL From childhood I heard from the altars that

Allah mojeebadavat1; which means God

hears what we say, he can fix many things.Why suicide? Suicide is a sin. There are a

thousand other paths to choose. Why do

you never try for the peoples support? I

come from among them... among those who

wish you dead, but they brought me to this

world. They do not know you. So go among

them. Speak with them. Tell them what you

will do if you become queen. I and

thousands like me will tell them that all that

has been said about you are lies. The people

will believe us; because we are from them.

Then accept the Shahsproposal. After that

the loyalists cannot oppose you since they

are dependent on power. And your power

will be from the people. The people whoare in such darkness that they are attracted

to the smallest flicker they would give

their lives if they knew that there is one

person in power who has them in mind. If

you do this the people will worship you.

PARIZAD Years ago I read a French play about a

queen who wished to go amongst the

people. In public carriages, on foot... [as if she

recalls the original lines] I want my people to see

me and I them. I want them to love me, for

I want to be their queen. As soon as I

become queen I will free all political

prisoners. I will welcome my people with

open arms and ask for their help. This is my

first step on my path to the people

1. An Arabic prayer


42/57


ESMAIL And I shall run to the jungle; to Siahkal1or

some other place and wait for you to be

victorious. Then, like an eagle, I will fly toyou wherever you are, for it will not be

important where I am. It will matter that

things are changing for the better,

reformation! You and the people will be a

double-edged sword, like the sword of Ali2.

You and the people, the people and power.

PARIZAD [struggling to breathe, runs to the window, takes a deep breath.

silence] How calm it becomes after a storm!

ESMAIL [approaching Parizad calmly] Do not tell me one

short breath can change everything.

Esmail takes the necklace from Parizadshands and

wants to go closer.

PARIZAD [stops him] Be still Let things stay as they

are; awake or a dream, fact or fiction. Let it

stay as it is.Then if we want, we can see it when we are

awake.

ESMAIL If this dream comes true, then [struggling to not

show his emotions] everyone will love you... we

all will love you... I am speaking for the

people [with difficulty and awkwardly] Ilo-

PARIZAD I must become queen! True?

ESMAIL [hesitates a bit] Of course. You must become

the queen Become the queen...

The Shahs wife.

Esmail places the necklace on the table

Darkness

1. Siahkal: small town and district on the Caspian Sea.2. Al ibn Ablib (600 or 607 661) The cousin and son-in-law of the prophetMohammad, and Caliph from 656 to 661. Ali was also the first male who accepted

Islam. He wielded a double-edged sword known asZulfiqar.


43/57

Parizads VoiceIs this all an illusion? Or is there truly hope?

Dargahi knows the answer!

Dargahi; secret service agent.

My bodyguard by the Shahs direct order.

Yet neither my life is of import to him northe Shahs command.

He only cares about founding and heading

an intelligence service.

Despite his backing by those in the present

regime, I asked the Shah by telegraph to

dispense with him.

The first step toward a great goal.Can it be achieved?

Doubts, doubts, doubts

We go forward looking back

What a hell it was, what a heaven

The people of my land review the future.1

1 . Nostalgia for the Present; a poem by Andrei Voznesensky (1933; Russia)


44/57

Light.

Esmail is writing; surrounded by letters and

envelopes. Dargahi enters and sees Esmail seal an

envelope and begin writing another letters.

DARGAHI You are a great man, I congratulate you!

Esmail gets shocked, quickly stands up.

Is the Lady not here?ESMAIL [keeps his composure] She is out but will soon

return.

DARGAHI Excuse my not informing you of this visit.

In my profession the next move is always

unknown. Yet, this very profession - oh, I

havent introduced myself. How would you

know my profession! I am Dargahi; asecurity service agent. As I was saying, this

profession contains many poetic nuances,

quite a few. It depends on simple yet

unpredictable things. You being a poet

yourself can understand this better than any

other. Am I correct in saying you are a poet?

ESMAIL I write poetry, from time to time.DARGAHI Here is where one can witness the strength

of art! What politicians with all their

boasting could not accomplish, the artists in

one night have brought to fruition. How

were you able to change the ladys mind?

ESMAIL I know not of what you speak. I am here to -

DARGAHI Then you are not he who...? Oh, I thoughtthat -


45/57


ESMAIL I am not who?

DARGAHI The rebellious poet who overnight turned

from insurgent to government servant. [picks

up an envelope, looks at it] Who for a month now

has been writing praises and sending them

here and there.

ESMAIL [insulted yet maintains composure] Im not sure I

follow you. I am here assisting the revision of

some plays for Lady Parizad, nothing more.

DARGAHI What I mean isonly art can bring a

rebellious grief stricken widow around with

such fervor to accept the Shahs proposal,

and then go through our streets on public

transportation, sit at the side of the masses,

holding their children on her lap.

ESMAIL I have no knowledge on the subject of the

Shahs proposal nor about the poet you

mention, yet if the Lady is doing such

things, she does so to breach the gap between

herself and the people. The result has nothing

to do with art.

DARGAHI Who said such a thing?

ESMAIL It really has no connection, it is a reaction -

DARGAHI Not that... the there being a gap between

herself and the people who was it that

said this... or is saying it?

ESMAIL [realizing his mistake] I didnt say there is a gap, I

said that the reason might be for -

DARGAHI [as if he has uncovered something] Aha! I thought you

looked familiar! You are the splitting imageof her deceased fianc. Are you related?


46/57


[becomes kind] You seem tired, please sit down;

in this semi-dark ambience of intellectuality

you must feel very comfortable. Especially

since intellectuals must have such comforts.

Especially now that the accomplishments of

your comrades will have a place to be

displayed, what with the completion of the

theater... Please, do sit down; you are not at

police headquarters. [sits and pours himself a glass

from a pitcher; notices the necklace on the table] You

know, that night, about a month ago, when I

came to see Lady Pariz -, from now on, Her

Majesty, I imagined - forgive me - but I

imagined that you were here, hiding

somewhere, eavesdropping on us.

ESMAIL I have just recently become acquainted with

Lady Parizad, I do not know of where or

which evening you speak, and it is not right

that -

DARGAHI No! No! Do not misunderstand me, do not

be angry! I did not say you were here, I said

I imagined that you were here! However, I

could not say anything directly to the Lady.

An agent must always be careful, for this

reason I employed an old trick. I said that I

had apprehended you, interrogated you, that

you confessed that you planned an

assassination and that you gave up your

accomplices and so on. I had hoped, I speak

of that night, I had hoped to tread on yourhonor and that out of sympathy for an


47/57


innocent you would show yourself. Lady

Parizad knows of this ruse. That is why she

looked me directly in the eyes when she

spoke to me. She is really quite intelligent!

But regarding you, you kept it to yourself in

such a way that I respectfully take my hat

off to you!

ESMAIL [a bit flustered] What do you want from me?!

DARGAHI Ill tell you. Because you tried to make me

believe what you say, I admire you. The

Lady has made up her mind... and will most

likely become the queen. This is indebted to

your endeavors... or at least I like to think so...

and, I am ready to wager that I am correct.

Esmail wants to speak. Dargahi stops him.

Allow me to continue! Now Lady Parizadwishes to travel to the capitol, but what will

be the outcome of this pleasure trip? All the

officials will be pleased that the leader of

our country will once again be living with a

queen; just the fact that we have a queen!

But what is on the other side of this? She

will be considered reluctant in her duties,regarded as lowly, accusing others of

conspiracy. Ha! Conspiracy! Do you know

how many times she has said such things

just in this past month? Things like When I

become queen Ill do this, Ill do that,

and all this before making her final

decision. And now that she is becomingqueen she needs to know what is expected


48/57


of a queen; pomp and grandeurThat is all!

We are in need of an influential man, who

is not in the government. We do need such

a man! A man, who can control Lady

Parizad; to ensure her that the government

is on her side. To assure her that she has no

great duties. To be just a symbol, that is all.

Do you understand what I am saying?

ESMAIL If I am by her side... for the reason of my

great resemblance to her late fianc, Dont

you think -

DARGAHI Yes! How right! You have the potential to

cause a great scandal -

Esmail wants to speak. Dargahi stops him again.

- but with the help of the regime and some

other forces everything will end well.ESMAIL And if I stay by her side and do not

cooperate with you?

DARGAHI Both of you will be disgraced! Very easily!

The proposal for marriage will be retracted,

instead of being queen she will be known as

the woman who sought queenhood to get

revenge for the death of her fianc, for thisreason she conspired with a rebel who had

an uncanny resemblance to her ex-fianc,

and now after the coming to light of the

illicit affair of the Lady with the rebel and

the diabolic goals of their rebellious faction,

to cause chaos in order to blackmail the

Shah and then escape the long clutches ofthe law. It is easy as this!


49/57


ESMAIL But if I use my connection slyly and hand

her over to you bound as a gift, then you will

erase my name from the list of terrorists!

DARGAHI Who spoke of handing her over?! And to

whom; What for?! All we ask of you is to

hinder some probable events, that is all!

ESMAIL And in return?

DARGAHI Freedom. And even a job! In her officeor

where ever you desire, with a good salary.

ESMAIL Is it worth it?

DARGAHI If you spend some time in jail youll know

how valuable it is. And let me add this in

confidence, the powers of government

cannot be overthrown overnight. Even if

you have something planned it is better to

be within the system.

ESMAIL Thats enough! Enough of your old tricks!

The people know everything now. They

know this government doesnt want a

libertarian and anti-coup dtat queen! They

fear being seen for what they are. This is

why they are putting out false rumors and

thousands of lies about her! They pay the

newspapers to slander her. But things have

changed, the people know everything. They

know you want to take away her power

because she wants to disrupt the foundation

of this regime! So much the better that this

woman, before becoming queen is seen

with a man resembling her deceased fianc!Whether as an advisor or co-worker or


50/57


whateverPlay your games as long as you

wishbut beware!... This time, the people

are standing behind her I would not like

to change places with you.

Esmail begins to leave. Dargahi is silent. He makes a

decision and quietly takes out a gun.

DARGAHI You are under arrest for the crime of

conspiring to kill the queen!

ESMAIL [shocked] I... I am under her protection!

DARGAHI And protecting her is my responsibility,

even against her wishes or in her home; and

this is not even her home.

ESMAIL You cannot do this.

DARGAHI Of course, I can, do not doubt it! But first

let me tell you a story so you have

something to think about at your execution!

One day a young man, a member of some

unknown political faction, goes home to

visit his family. As he kissed his mother the

agents arrived. Who knew where he was?

Only he and his faction! But this is not

the time to think about such things. He has

to destroy his worthless papers, to escape

from the agents, is this possible? If he must,

he must! It is the only thing to do! Escape

through the jungle, the lightning, running

through mud and slime, jumping over

walls The youth sees an open window.

Can he get in? If he must, he must! It is the

only thing to do! The youth enters and isshocked. A beautiful woman, elegantly


51/57


dressed, heavily made up in the middle

an old mansion! What is she doing there at

this time of night? But this is not the time to

think about such things. Can he fall in love

with this woman? If he must, he must; even

if she is the future queen and you have

come here to assassinate her. It is the only

thing to do! The game starts here.

Now all the people love the new queen for

this is what their poet wanted. There is no

more gap. She is the sweetheart of the

masses. And what if the masses dislike us?

Either I will be dismissed with a telegraph or

I will be sent to a different posting; it makes

no difference. It only matters that we exist.

The Shah, the queen, the regime exists.

So, my good pawn, with complete bravery

you have gotten to the last line. And now

you must leave the board and be replaced by

the queen, and we continue our game.

It was an interesting play. Act one: the plan

to kill the future queen. Act two: persuade

the future queen to accept the Shahs proposal

to be his wife and gather supporters for her.

Act three: the death of the foolish hero.

Once again, thank you for your role. Wait

here to be taken into custody. [picks up the queens

necklace and studies it] This must be expensive.

Is it an antique? Put it someplace safe.

[throws it to Esmail

] It might get misplaced here.[begins to walk away but stops] By the way, did you


52/57


know that Lady Parizad herself is a

playwright and wants to turn this place into a

theater? [leaves]

ESMAIL [in disbelief] But this is not possible, Lady

Parizad would never lie to me.

DARGAHI [stops in the doorway] The Lady Parizads of this

world always lie, recall your own poems!

Queens, from Cleopatras time until her

own grandmother Mahd-e Oly1 and even

herself, not much has changed. They set

examples and instructed each other. If they

have slaves, they put them to work; if they

are threatened, they use flattery; if they

have a lover, they kill him... I beg your

pardon, first they drag him through the

mud, then they kill him. I bid you good

night, even though it is daytime. [leaves but his

voice echoes from outside; jokingly] The bad thing

about these old mansions is just this, it

seems to be night even during the day.

Sweet dreams!

Esmail is dazed and lost. He looks at the letters,

muffled sounds of long live and Viva are heard

from outside. The shouts attack his ears. He looks atthe necklace. He takes it up with shaking hands.

Darkness.

1. Mahd-i Uly or Mahd-e Oly, was a common title for empress mother, mothers ofShahs, or crown princes in Iran during theSafavid andQajar eras. One of them, whowas Nasseredin Shahs mother, was very cruel and cunning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran


53/57

Parizads VoiceDeath rains on this land

and there is no umbrella to protect it.

So you know beforehand that a flood of

death is coming and there is no dam.

Love says stay, but logic urges you to leave,

which one will you answerin this realm of darkness.

The desire for the colors and bright lights of

the other side; and the memories of

mugginess and the muddy alleys on this side;

the memories of the ignorance and lack of

culture and superstitious worship and

middlemen on both sides.Oh, if only these were just nightmares that

would disappear with the dawn

Oh, for memories of love and of this land, I

want to weep so my tears may turn this desert

into a meadow

Oh, these dreams are just hallucinations of a

weary mind waiting for perhaps a miracle...

a miracle?... Hmm!Further and further on... we will drown in

expectation... in expectation for the one who

will one day come with his boat to save this

landyet when that day comes we shall all

have withered away.

And now, the final line of my letter, or will

and testament, or play that I write for you,

with ink that is mixed with my blood.


54/57

Light, perhaps from a fire.

Esmail is burning the papers and letters and is lying

motionless in a corner, the necklace is in his hand and

the half full vial is in front of him. Parizad is calm. As

if once again in a dream flight.

PARIZAD What stories will be told of our romantic

times! About the love between the peoples

poet and a bloodthirsty queen! But I was nota queen. I was in love, in love with a man,

with a land. [walks toward Esmail with less than stately steps]

ESMAIL I went in to a tavern one night. I threw a

stone at the framed picture on its wall.

I always hated the government and its

leaders; from the king to the bribe-taking

police in the streets. They chased me. They

beat me til morning. And the loyalists?They drove around uptown and laughed at

us So I wrote poetry. I wrote my poetry

down, against the government, against

power, for the people and the people

loved me Until one day when I entered

this theater... and saw you... you who I had

composed poems against and the game

began... now the people love you. [lifts up the

necklace]You said it was gentle. So stay andlook into the face of a foolish poet.

PARIZAD [removes her shawl; her blouse is bloody and there is a bullet

hole] Last month, when you came, it was

important for me to have a great death, and

when the bullet struck me today, I wished a

thousand times over that it were your bulletthat entered my liver. But who knows?


55/57


Perhaps it is better like this. Perhaps if we

had become part this regime, we would

have lost face. Or we would have becomelike them, perhaps the people would have

been beaten down. Perhaps there is no such

thing as the people, and all these shouters of

slogans would retreat after their first attack,

abandoning us to face the dragons of the

enemy alone, perhaps just as they so quickly

cheered for us, they would also cheer for

another and a thousand other perhapsWe

were supposed to be a two-edged sword.

You and I; the people and the power. When

even one edge of this sword ceases to exist,

then it is better that the other half should

also not be. [takes up pen and paper with bloody hands

and writes] And these are my last lines, written

with ink that is mixed with my blood. Aletter, my last will and testament, or my play

written for you who nothing stood in your

way

[writes and reads] neither good times, nor calm,

neither a stormy sea,

nor a woman who warned you.

You were busy dying

You let the cold crawl through your clothesYou let blood seep into your stockings

Your face paled, Your voice cracked in two

And nothing stood in your way

You were busy dying.

Neither the life you wanted, nor the life you

had, nothing stood in your way...

You were busy dying.

1

1 . Inspired by the poem Your Dying by Mark Strand (1934; USA)


56/57


[to Esmail who speaks no more] You wanted to say

I love you that night... and now you are

dead. When a poet dies, God is the first toknow.

1Now, I want to tell you, that I also

love you; even though you are dead.

And, well, death always ends romantic

dramas... perhaps tomorrow morning

another drama... without a bitter ending...

tomorrow morning...

Now, it is nightit is late

Perhaps someone is singing, someone in the streets

passing by, a song from the times of the constitutional

government, perhaps Cry by Aref Ghazvini2.

December 2002June 2003

F inal revision: June of 2012

1 . A poem by Fazl Hsn Dalarca(19142008; Turkey)2 . Aref Qazvini; Iranian poet, lyricist and musician. (1882 - 1934)


57/57

This play was performed as a playreading in April

2004 in Ershad Theater in Abadan, performed byShabnam Moghadami, Seyed Mehrdad Ziyaie and

the playwright himself. Then in January, 2012 it

was selected as one of the best plays of the year by

The Iranian Drama Institutes. It was performed in

the Av Theater from June until September 2012. The

complete line-up for these performances were:

Actors:Shabnam Moghadami / Elika AbdolRazaghi )Lady Parizad(

Milad Rahimi (Esmail)

Afshin Hashemi )Dargahi(

Music: Reza Mortazavi (Singer: Hadi Feyz-Abadi)

Decorator: Aran Ebrahimi

Directors assistants: Ehsan Bayatpour, Mahan Khorshidi

Brochure & Poster Designer:Saman KhadamCostume Designer: Baran Kosari )assisted by Samaneh Hosseini- with special thanks to Donya Madani)

Photographer: Mehrdad Emrani (with special thanks to NegarHassan-Zadeh, Studio Ochra)

Metal framing:Saeed Bojnurdi

Designer & Director: Afshin Hashemi

flying into darkness

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