The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes by Hassan Blasim, Rashid Razaq Read Free Book Online

chair. CARLOS places the belt loop around his neck .
    TANNOY: This is a final call for Turkish Airlines flight number 786 to Istanbul.
    CARLOS stops and looks upwards .
    CARLOS: God?
    Pause .
    TANNOY: Turkish Airlines 786 to Istanbul now closing. Gate one.
    CARLOS looks towards the door .
    Beat .
    CARLOS looks up .
    Lights down slowly .

INTERLUDE 2
    21 August 2008 .
    During the scene change SAHAR appears looking at her mobile phone, willing it to ring. She looks at the screen for several moments. She dials a number. It rings and rings and then goes through to voicemail .
    SAHAR: (Phone.) Salim!? Where are you? I told you it was an emergency. Something terrible has happened. You must call me back straightaway. (Beat.) I am at the hospital. (Beat.) There was a bomb. She…
    She starts to cry. She hangs up and walks offstage .

FIVE
    June 2008 .
    Lydia’s home. Bedroom. CARLOS , wearing a suit and tie, is sat on the edge of the bed. He is absorbed in an online computer game he is playing on a laptop. CARLOS is wearing headphones and laughing to himself .
    LYDIA enters. She is getting ready to go out. She puts on her heels. She looks in the mirror as she checks her make-up .
    CARLOS laughs loudly. He has a fairly strong Iraqi accent .
    LYDIA: (Turning.) Sorry?
    CARLOS is oblivious to her .
    LYDIA: Carlos?
    CARLOS laughs loudly to a friend he is playing against online .
    CARLOS: (To the laptop.) You talk shit man. I blast you with bazooka in your face!
    LYDIA: CARLOS!?
    CARLOS: (Looking up and taking an earphone out.) Huh? Did you say something?
    LYDIA: Are you ready? The taxi’s outside.
    CARLOS: Oh. (To laptop.) Hey, Afzal I have to go. What? Not if I see you first bitch. Ha! OK man.
    CARLOS closes the laptop and stands up. LYDIA stares at CARLOS giving him the once over as she puts her earrings on .
    LYDIA: You’re wearing that suit.
    CARLOS: You said smart.
    LYDIA: I said smart-casual. You’re going to wear that jacket?
    CARLOS: What is wrong with jacket?
    LYDIA: The . What is wrong with the jacket? It looks…dowdy.
    CARLOS: What is dow-dee?
    LYDIA: Frumpy.
    CARLOS: I don’t know this word either.
    LYDIA: Shit! It looks shit. I’ve been telling you to get a decent jacket for over a year.
    CARLOS: This is good quality jacket. It is British Home Stores. Look.
    He tries to show her the label. She bats him away .
    LYDIA: Carlos. How many times have I told you just because it’s called British doesn’t make it good? That jacket looks like you got it off a blind, geriatric tramp who’s let himself go.
    Beat .
    CARLOS takes off the jacket. LYDIA looks at him .
    LYDIA: And the tie please.
    CARLOS: What is wrong with tie?
    LYDIA: You can’t wear a tie without a jacket.
    CARLOS: Who say?
    LYDIA: I do. It’s not done.
    A stand-off .
    LYDIA: Carlos. One of us is an expert in corporate rebranding. Responsible for multi-million pound accounts, advising some of the biggest companies on earth on how to present themselves to the public. How to talk, think and act. (Beat.) The other person is you.
    CARLOS: Maybe you do not know what is best for me.
    LYDIA: Do you want to look like a waiter in a Lebanese restaurant?
    Beat .
    CARLOS takes off the tie. He looks to her for approval. LYDIA walks over to him and undoes his top button, looks at the effect, then undoes another button .
    CARLOS: Happy?
    LYDIA: You look so stiff. Try rolling up your shirt sleeves.
    CARLOS wearily does as she instructs .
    CARLOS: Can we go now?
    LYDIA: Can’t you do anything with the hair?
    She comes up to him and ruffles his hair affectionately. She smiles. He smiles .
    CARLOS goes to kiss her, but she pulls away. He looks hurt, but she smiles .
    LYDIA: Make-up. Don’t want to get it smudged.
    CARLOS: Ah. I thought maybe you are shamed by me.
    LYDIA: A-shamed. (Beat.) Don’t forget everything we’ve worked so hard on darling.
    LYDIA picks up her handbag and looks at CARLOS with a sense of trepidation .
    LYDIA: Right. (Beat.) Ready?
    CARLOS: Yes.
    CARLOS