A L D U S , A J O U R N A L O F T R A N S L AT I O N 1.
Your Majesty, the Elephant by Saadallah Wannous Translated by Andrew Leber
from the Arabic
60
(An empty stage, circled in the background by houses piled high with age and filth. A far-off clamor behind the stage. Someone cries out. A woman screams. Feet run by. This oppressive atmosphere remains for a while…. A man crosses the alley with quick steps, his face grimacing.) THE MAN: Oh dear God... God help us... oh dear God help us... (He disappears down the other end of the alley... The din grows louder, coming from the right, behind the houses. The cries of women, voices, calls for help from people in danger. A woman’s mourning lament is distinct. Then everything in the background dies down, remaining as a distant murmur until the conclusion of the scene... a man appears from the left, crossing the alley in a hurry. He meets another man coming from the source of the noise. His face and his steps are heavy with grief.) MAN 1: (Trying to stop the other) Then the news is true! MAN 2: His poor mother. A death you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. MAN 1: It’s in God’s hands now... where did it happen? MAN 2: Near Ahmed Ezzat’s store. The