A THREE CHARACTER PLAY

by
SETTING:
Fatima, a married young woman is standing outside her home,
waiting for Ali to come out (he forgot his car keys inside). He
comes out, looking a bit pale. Fatima notices his behavior and
asks what is bothering him. To which he replies in a normal way
that it’s nothing, he’s just late for work. This wasn’t the first
time Fatima noticed his weird behavior. However, she believes him
at the moment and they both leave for their work.
Later, in the evening, Fatima is very tired after work. She
decides to cook something simple. She breaks a block of uncooked
noodles and adds it to the water which is not hot. Bubbles start
to form as the water boils. Next, she adds some spices to the
half-cooked noodles now. At this moment, she hears a car stopping
in front of the house. Thinking it’s Ali she goes towards the
door and through the window sees that as Ali gets off the car,
another man with a suspicious disguise walks towards him,
whispers something in his ear, and leaves.
Ali after hearing whatever that man said gets very scared and
stays stunned for a moment. He turns his face to look for that
man but he vanishes immediately. Fatima opens the door and greets
him.

SCENE – 1:

FATIMA
Hey! I’ve been waiting for you. Cooked some noodles, and they’re
almost done.

ALI
(Again acting a bit scared)
Hey! Let me just freshen up quickly then we can eat.

FATIMA
Sure, I’ll set up the table in the meantime.

ALI
(Starts eating the food on the plate)

FATIMA
So? How was your day?

ALI
It was normal...
(Awkward silence during the conversation)

FATIMA
Hmm… Won’t you ask about my day?
 ALI
Of course... Yes! Sorry, I am just tired.

FATIMA
It was good except for the part where my new boss is making me
work twice as hard as compared to the previous one.

ALI
That must be hard for you. Why don’t you ask for a raise then or
perhaps an assistant to help you with some of your work?

FATIMA
That’s a good idea. But I don’t think he will agree.

ALI
(Stays quiet, lost in his thoughts)

FATIMA
What is it, Ali?
It looks like something’s been bothering you for quite some days
now.

ALI
What? No, it’s nothing.

FATIMA
I don’t think so. I feel like you’re hiding something from me.
 ALI
(In a rude tone)
It’s nothing, Fatima. You’re just overthinking again. It’s all
good.

FATIMA
Okay. I’m done with dinner. Good night.
(She goes to her bedroom and sleep)

SCENE -2

SETTING:
The next day Fatima wakes up and sees that Ali has already left
for work. She tries to call him, but he doesn’t pick up the
phone. She then texts Sofia and asks if she can meet her during
their break from work. During the day, she meets Sofia and shares
how Ali has been acting distant. Sofia advises her to talk to him
one more time to get to know what is going on in his mind.

Sofia
Maybe it’s just about work Fatima. But on the other hand, it’s
better to clear things out and talk to him.

Fatima
I’ll try to talk to him again about it. Thank you!
I’ll see you later. Take care.

SCENE-3:

Later in the day, Fatima receives a text from an unknown person

which says “Ali knew about the leak.” Fatima sees that text and
starts to panic all of a sudden. She can’t breathe properly. Her
boss after witnessing her condition gives her a short leave. She
leaves work and calls that number. No one answers. After a
moment, she receives another text with an address to the Bistro
coffee shop and the mentioned time is 6 pm. She goes to the
coffee shop. A man appears in front of her, sweating profusely
with a worried look on his face. It was Hamza. Another colleague
of Fatima’s ex-husband Omer and Ali. Fatima is surprised to see
him there.

Fatima
Hamza? You sent me that text from an unknown number? Why?

Hamza
Yes. I can’t hide the truth anymore. You deserve to know what
actually happened Fatima.

Fatima
I don’t get it…What do you mean Ali knew about the leak?

Hamza
(Just when he was about to speak, Ali enters the café.)
I…
Ali
Hamza! What are you doing here? I told you to stay away from me
and my family!
(Ali moves forward intending to hurt Hamza)
Hamza
It’s unfair Ali. People should know what you did. Specifically
Fatima.

Fatima
Ali, you need to calm down. I called him here, I want to know the
truth!
Either you will tell me the truth yourself, or Hamza here can do
it for you.

Ali
(Takes a deep breath)
Yes.. You deserve to know the truth. Fine. Let’s go home I’ll
tell you everything I promise.

SCENE – 4
SETTING:
(Both Fatima and Ali leave the cafe. As they reach the front of
their house. Ali stops the car, and pulls the hand brake.)
Ali
I just want you to know that I did this for you... I just
couldn’t control my feelings anymore.

Fatima
Ali. What did you do?

Ali
(After a long pause)
I knew about the leak from the very beginning.
It was on Omer’s site of work. I was going to tell the supervisor
about it but then I just couldn’t…

Fatima
And?
 Ali
I knew and I kept it to myself. I wanted him to die.
But then he found out about the leak and started to locate the
main point. I got everyone else out before the explosion, but
him. The door got jammed and I left him in there, it wasn’t an
accident Fatima.

Fatima
How could you?
(Her voice starts breaking, eyes filled with tears)
I trusted you

Ali
I did this for you Fatima!

Fatima
YOU LEFT HIM THERE TO DIE. I never want to see you again Ali.
NEVER.
(Fatima gets out of the car, locks the door of the house from the
inside)

(END OF SCENE)