Scene

  1 Ded|    school mistress for girls~Mr Adham-Uti - a healer and a writer~
  2 1  |                 Scene 1~Zeneli, Adham-Uti~(The characters enter the
  3 1  |      left is a wall telephone.)~Adham-Uti (angrily): What is going
  4 1  |       not inform him that I, Dr Adham-Uti, have arrived and am presently
  5 1  |   because he is not here today.~Adham-Uti: What the devil!...~Zeneli:
  6 1  |      that word again because...~Adham-Uti (to himself): I think this
  7 2  |                         Scene 2~Adham-Uti, Vurko, Zeneli~Vurko (in
  8 2  |         ll wait until he comes.~Adham-Uti (pompously): I shall wait
  9 2  |     Naim Bey comes from, and...~Adham-Uti (interrupting him): Naim
 10 2  |         so dreadfully sorry, Dr Adham-Uti!~Vurko (snickering): Crocodile
 11 2  |         of name is that anyway?~Adham-Uti (scowling): You do not seem
 12 2  |        say our prayers to Saint Adham-Uti, ‘forever and ever, amen’!~
 13 2  |        forever and ever, amen’!~Adham-Uti (solemnly) However my name
 14 2  |    gentleman is a famed healer!~Adham-Uti: And a writer and a poet
 15 2  |        admirable of you, Doctor Adham-Uti. It is indeed a pleasure
 16 2  |         newspaper ‘Lightningg.’~Adham-Uti: Oh, a reporter, are you?~
 17 2  |         issue in our newspaper.~Adham-Uti: You mean you want me to
 18 2  |        publish in ‘Lightningg.’~Adham-Uti: Stop pronouncing it ‘Lightningg,’
 19 2  |       the Congress of Monastir.~Adham-Uti (furiously): Congress of
 20 2  |        did you not attend, sir?~Adham-Uti: Hah! First you call me ‘
 21 2  |       be opposed to newspapers!~Adham-Uti: Well, now you know, and
 22 2  |      quite a surprise they are!~Adham-Uti (in a fit): What do you
 23 2  |       article about me: "Doctor Adham-Uti, the famed healer, author
 24 2  |        Zeneli: Yes, why indeed?~Adham-Uti (arrogantly): Don’t you
 25 2  |         women, and therefore...~Adham-Uti: Therefore what?... Keep
 26 2  |       as two times two is four.~Adham-Uti (emphatically): You fool!
 27 2  |      Miss Lulushe, wouldn’t it?~Adham-Uti: And in the hands of Skëndo
 28 2  |        amazed): Friends indeed!~Adham-Uti: That, I tell you, is why
 29 2  |        nor to "The Sun" either?~Adham-Uti: No!~Vurko: Nor to the ‘
 30 2  | Lightning,’ nor to ‘The Staff’?~Adham-Uti: Not at all!... Good Lord,
 31 2  |         it to Albania for free?~Adham-Uti: For free? What an insane
 32 2  |       Is she coming today, too?~Adham-Uti: Indeed she is. Skëndo Bey
 33 2  |       Do you know Miss Lulushe?~Adham-Uti: Of course I know her. Her
 34 2  | wondrous drug! One times one...~Adham-Uti (turning to Vurko): Such
 35 2  |          he departs in a rush).~Adham-Uti (angrily): Damn. He got
 36 3  |                         Scene 3~Adham-Uti, Zeneli~Adham-Uti (tapping
 37 3  |       Scene 3~Adham-Uti, Zeneli~Adham-Uti (tapping his watch): Strange.
 38 3  |         our way in a long time!~Adham-Uti (angrily): What is this
 39 3  |       just giving up the ghost.~Adham-Uti: What, and has not died?
 40 3  |       is ready for him anytime.~Adham-Uti (glancing at the text):
 41 3  |        other figures of renown.~Adham-Uti: Figures of renown, you
 42 3  |       just like the rest of us.~Adham-Uti: Yes, I suppose you are
 43 3  |       asking me if you are old?~Adham-Uti: No, I mean, do you consider
 44 3  |       Zeneli: With a long life?~Adham-Uti (patiently): No, Zeneli,
 45 3  |     what you, I mean, they say.~Adham-Uti: Tell me openly, am I, Doctor
 46 3  |         me openly, am I, Doctor Adham-Uti, a figure of renown, or
 47 3  |         or not?~Zeneli: A what?~Adham-Uti: A great man!~Zeneli: Why
 48 3  |        of considerable stature.~Adham-Uti: You’re not making fun of
 49 3  |         that you are a big man!~Adham-Uti: How do you know?~Zeneli:
 50 3  |      Because you are not short.~Adham-Uti: Why else?~Zeneli: Because
 51 3  |         s why you must be wise.~Adham-Uti (satisfied): Where did you
 52 3  |       taught me, God bless her.~Adham-Uti: God bless her indeed. She
 53 3  |         can assure you of that.~Adham-Uti: Alright, alright, Zeneli.
 54 3  |       word?~Zeneli: About what?~Adham-Uti: Can you keep a secret?~
 55 3  |         don’t think so, anyway.~Adham-Uti: Very well. You have done
 56 3  |    Zeneli: A real coin? For me?~Adham-Uti: For you.~Zeneli: I may
 57 3  |          with my own two hands.~Adham-Uti: Why is that?~Zeneli: They
 58 3  |         a bit stingy, actually.~Adham-Uti: Don’t listen to rumours.~
 59 3  |     Zeneli: A coin, all for me?~Adham-Uti: I have two others for you,
 60 3  |       print when you pass away.~Adham-Uti: You will tell me, won’t
 61 3  |        out a few cents a day...~Adham-Uti: What do you want of me,
 62 3  |    barely enough to survive on.~Adham-Uti: And?~Zeneli: I was thinking
 63 3  |        to Egypt, to Alexandria.~Adham-Uti: And then what?~Zeneli:
 64 3  |        so that I can get a job.~Adham-Uti: Do you know his name?~Zeneli:
 65 3  |       body and two eyes that...~Adham-Uti: What you mean is a big
 66 3  |       who live off their wives!~Adham-Uti: There is nothing wrong
 67 3  |    crier at the stock exchange.~Adham-Uti: Do you know how to do that?~
 68 3  |        voice as deep as a cave.~Adham-Uti: You do have a good voice,
 69 3  |      haven’t tied the knot yet.~Adham-Uti: Tied the veil, you mean.
 70 3  |    mentioned I was married too.~Adham-Uti: So you and the ‘Kuvendi’
 71 3  |     here on a trip to Salonika.~Adham-Uti: What the hell?~Zeneli:
 72 3  |         the Lord... the Lord...~Adham-Uti: You can’t remember a thing,
 73 3  |         it, doctor. I found it.~Adham-Uti: You found what? You sound
 74 3  |      president’s name is Machi.~Adham-Uti: And what did this Mr Machi
 75 3  |     trying to deceive everyone.~Adham-Uti: It’s true, the Albanians
 76 3  |       must be a great Albanian.~Adham-Uti: Dressed up in his fine
 77 3  |     What were we talking about?~Adham-Uti: Oh yes! We were talking
 78 3  |        me two more, didn’t you?~Adham-Uti: He can remember things
 79 3  |       you.~Zeneli: You promise?~Adham-Uti: I give you my word. For
 80 3  |         t remember where it is.~Adham-Uti: Well, look for it then!~
 81 3  |        have to come back later.~Adham-Uti: Alright.~Zeneli: Fine.
 82 3  |        And the day I find it...~Adham-Uti: What day, you fool? I want
 83 3  |          Yes, of course. Doctor Adham-Uti has arrived and is waiting
 84 3  |       not come yet. (Turning to Adham-Uti): It’s my boss, Skëndo Bey.~
 85 3  |       It’s my boss, Skëndo Bey.~Adham-Uti: Let me speak to him. (He
 86 3  |      telephone): Hello. This is Adham-Uti speaking. Very well, thank
 87 3  |      the eye infection, doctor?~Adham-Uti: You don’t know? Mehdiu.~
 88 3  |   Mehdiu.~Zeneli: The governor?~Adham-Uti: Skëndo Bey has asked me
 89 3  |         want to remove his eye?~Adham-Uti: If we don’t, he’ll lose
 90 3  |   headache? Do you chop it off?~Adham-Uti: Don’t talk nonsense, Zeneli.
 91 3  |    silver coins either, milord.~Adham-Uti: Cash in your little hot
 92 3  |      doctor. Have a good time!~(Adham-Uti departs.)~
 93 5  |         two of us, it is Doctor Adham-Uti who wants to know what is
 94 5  |         praise. Zeneli, is this Adham-Uti going to pay you anything?~
 95 6  |    Lulushe~Zeneli (to himself): Adham-Uti will be delighted. When
 96 8  |       like another obituary for Adham-Uti?~Zeneli: No, my good friend,
 97 8  |         my good friend, not for Adham-Uti, but for someone else.~Vurko:
 98 11 |        must be dreaming. Doctor Adham-Uti has died. How appalling!.
 99 11 |      gone tomorrow... (She sees Adham-Uti approaching slowly, is horrified,
100 12 |               Scene 12~Lulushe, Adham-Uti~Lulushe (frightened): A
101 12 |         Go away. Away with you!~Adham-Uti (surprised): What, me? A
102 12 |    makes the sign of the cross)~Adham-Uti (solemnly): I beg your pardon,
103 12 |         What? You are not dead?~Adham-Uti: I’m as alive as they come!~
104 12 |        are you absolutely sure?~Adham-Uti: I swear to God.~Lulushe:
105 12 |        I thought you were dead!~Adham-Uti: Why is that? Who told you
106 12 |       your obituary here and...~Adham-Uti: Oh, now I understand...~
107 12 |     from what Zeneli told me...~Adham-Uti: Let me have a look at the
108 12 |           Today we learned that Adham-Uti, a self-proclaimed healer,
109 12 |         Let dregs cover dregs!"~Adham-Uti (furious): That is what
110 12 |         me?~Lulushe: That’s it.~Adham-Uti: How cruel can people be?
111 12 |          Absolutely incredible.~Adham-Uti: And that I died of a stroke?
112 12 |      not made of mud and dregs.~Adham-Uti: I am supposed to have died
113 12 |        is a very good question.~Adham-Uti: An evil person, me? What
114 12 |       you are a... fine person.~Adham-Uti: Oh, a world of deceit indeed.
115 13 |                        Scene 13~Adham-Uti, Lulushe, Zeneli~Adham-Uti:
116 13 |      Adham-Uti, Lulushe, Zeneli~Adham-Uti: Why in God’s name did you
117 13 |     forgot it was on the table.~Adham-Uti: That was a big mistake.
118 13 |         I, I don’t really know.~Adham-Uti: And what kind of death
119 13 |      slip and fall off a cliff.~Adham-Uti: Very good, but I do not
120 13 |        is probably a good idea.~Adham-Uti: But why does the obituary
121 13 |        your temper quite often.~Adham-Uti: That is quite true, but
122 13 |        Damn, you promised me...~Adham-Uti: Promised you what?~Zeneli:
123 13 |          Two more silver coins.~Adham-Uti: What? You insult me and
124 13 |      What? You mean that Doctor Adham-Uti is breaking his word of
125 13 |      you whatever they say. (To Adham-Uti): We only want to know what
126 14 |          Scene 14~Miss Lulushe, Adham-Uti~Adham-Uti: Isn’t what I
127 14 |         Miss Lulushe, Adham-Uti~Adham-Uti: Isn’t what I have suffered
128 14 |      Nothing is sacred anymore.~Adham-Uti: Truth? So you believe what
129 14 |        the truth will come out.~Adham-Uti: In two hundred years! I
130 15 |                        Scene 15~Adham-Uti, Lulushe, Zeneli~Zeneli (
131 15 |      like me to light the fire?~Adham-Uti: Why not? (Zeneli lights
132 16 |                        Scene 16~Adham-Uti, Lulushe~Adham-Uti: Let
133 16 |     Scene 16~Adham-Uti, Lulushe~Adham-Uti: Let us see what they have
134 16 |       Why is my hand trembling?~Adham-Uti: You are not afraid, are
135 16 |      faint. I think I am dying.~Adham-Uti (taking the article from
136 16 |      satisfied): Angel! Flower!~Adham-Uti (furious): Damn! Praise
137 16 |       yourself to become upset.~Adham-Uti (furious): No, no. You are
138 16 |      How he must have loved me!~Adham-Uti: Are you finished?~Lulushe:
139 16 |         mention what I died of.~Adham-Uti: They at least let you die
140 16 |    neighbours are your friends.~Adham-Uti: In my case, they were all
141 16 |       suffer while I was alive.~Adham-Uti: And now?~Lulushe: What
142 16 |        lose their significance.~Adham-Uti: Don’t worry. You’re not
143 16 |         you’re not dead either!~Adham-Uti: Me? If I hadn’t wanted
144 16 |       What? For a bad obituary?~Adham-Uti: No, no! And I do not intend
145 16 |       for some time now, and...~Adham-Uti: Nonsense! The Moslems are
146 16 |        Christians.~Lulushe: So?~Adham-Uti: So, I put my brain to the
147 16 |       And what is the solution?~Adham-Uti: Using Greek letters to
148 16 |      Lulushe: Very good, but...~Adham-Uti: And we must learn to write
149 16 |       learn to write like that?~Adham-Uti: That is precisely what
150 16 |       harm to our poor nation?.~Adham-Uti (in a rage): Yes, yes. Let
151 17 |        Vurko~Zeneli (angrily to Adham-Uti): What are you doing, sir?
152 17 |        the whole building down?~Adham-Uti: I hope all of Albania catches
153 17 |      back where it belongs. (To Adham-Uti): Listen, Doctor Efendi,
154 17 |         your Albanian alphabet.~Adham-Uti (angrily): He is not going