Inspirations Play: Ami Ami

Kiran - mother (Amira)

Elise/Sami - daughter (Ammaya)
Anna - social worker (Sarah)
Ayse - Fahim
Jake - Habibte
PLEASE PLAY THIS MUSIC SOFTLY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE THING EXCEPT
WHEN THERES OTHER SOUND THEN FADE INTO OTHER SOUND AND OUT OF
THIS MUSIC AND IN BETWEEN SCENES IF IT WOULD BE POSSLIBLE TO BE A
LITTLE LOUDER FOR TRANSITIONS THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO PLEASE AND
THANK YOU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm9cos_e81Q
Scene 1: walking to refugee camp; desert sounds
(http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6jLtAAEyMDo)
Ammaya: *points* Omi Omi, is that it?
*SOUND STOPS*

Scene 2: Amira asks Sarah for help

Amira: *walks into the room; looks around* Marhaba, hello, can
you help me (pause)
Sarah: *flustered; looks up from comp; Sarah focused on computer*
Yes, (pause) of course *gestures to seat*
Amira: *sits down* Yes, so, I am a refugee from Al Safira and I
recently came here with my daughter. (pause) I'm looking for my
husband. I haven't seen him in over a year.
Sarah: Oh, ok whats his name? *rummaging; no eye contact*
Amira: Akhmed Nazari but *leans forward like shes about to say
something but stops, long hesitant pause*

Sarah: *ruffles through papers and stops* But?

Amira: Nothing(pause) I just want to know where he is. *seems to
be thinking about what to say*
Sarah: *spitfire* But do you know anything else about him? Where
he last was? (pause) Maybe *Amira stands up* if you
Amira: I didnt mean to be this much of a burden please
Sarah: *hastily; stands up, stutters while saying this* No, no
its fine. I should have known that you Please, sit back down.
Amira: *sits down* Please understand, its not just me, (pause)
but my daughter as well I just need to get into contact with
him, he can help us, get us out of here, take us somewhere
safe...
Sarah: *moves forward and grabs Amiras hands* I understand. Ill
try my best.
Amira: *opens her mouth to say something but Habibte walks in*
Habibte: *sees Amira; nods to Sarah* Marhaba. Youre Amira? You
just came a few days ago, right? Its dangerous for a woman to
walk outside alone at night. Can I escort you back to your tent?
Amira: *stutters, obvious discomfort; looks at Sarah and then
Habib* Yes, of course
*Habibte places his hand on Amiras arm, and they walk away;
Amira hesitates; Habibte roughly pulls her arm so they continue
walking; Sarah is looking down at her papers the entire time and
looks back up when they exit*

Scene 3: Amira gets the letter from her husbands relative

Ammaya: *sitting on the floor, playing with her doll*
Amira: *is talking to Habibte (a lot of discomfort; Habibte is
coming a little too close) and quickly pulls away; he leaves and
she walks into the room*
Ammaya: Omi, mamma! *Amira comes forward and hugs Ammaya* A lady
came to give you something. She put it on the table.
Amira: *goes to table; doesnt pay attention to what Ammaya says
after that* *looks at the letter; on the front there is a note
from Sarah, opens and reads the letter*
Sarah: *not in room, reading letter* I was able to contact one of
your husbands workmates in Al Safira. He wrote a letter to you.
(pause) I dont know whats in it, but I hope that its good
news. Afudal alhazzaic, best luck.
Amira: *opens the letter and starts reading*
Fahim: *insert letter here; he is sitting down writing the
letter*
Dear Amira,It is with a heavy heart and great distress that I
inform you of your husbands death. He was with *stand up and
continues his monologue; walking around* a group of the
alththwwar, the rebels, me included. We were hiding in a half
bombed building, on the outskirts of Aleppo. We were bombed out,
but Ahmed stayed behind to get the guns out. *sound of someone

beating on the door saying Aftah, open up!* Im sorry to say

that he didnt make it out. I tried to go back to look for his
body, but the Islamic State had the area secured. *more banging;
hastily finishes letter* 'Utib al'hmani, best wishes and hza
tayibana wafake alllah, good luck. Please, take care. Fahim.
*exits the stage*
Amira: *finishes reading the letter; pained expression; hugs
Ammaya*
Ammaya: *confused expression* Mommy, you hugged me already, why
are you hugging me again?
Amira: I know albi, (my heart) are you playing dolls? Lets play
dolls.
Ammaya: *satisfied with response, and both play*

Scene 4: Sarah talks to Ammaya

*Sarah is walking around, maybe giving supplies to other people;
Ammaya is talking to Habib; He gives her a doll (hes playing
nice with her and smiling, but is staring at Ammaya in that way);
Sarah notices Ammaya and Habib; gives a weird look and walks up
to them*
Sarah: Marhaba (gives Habibte a sketchy look; walks closer;
Habibte sees and leaves) How are you Ammaya?
Ammaya: I'm...*looks up curiously* Who are you? Ive seen you
before.

Sarah: Yes.. Ive been around your house

Ammaya: I like you. Youve talked to my mother, right? She
doesnt speak much anymore, but when you come she talks to you.
Youll tell me what she says right? Youll come by more often to
help her?
Sarah: Yes, Ill try...
Ammaya: *inclines head* Adreak lafita (you are very kind) *goes
back to drawing; looks back up* *indicate doll; working through
emotions*
Sarah: *confused look*
Ammaya: Oh, it means you are kind.(pause) You have to say thank
you when someone does good things for you. Thats what my father
says. *goes back to drawing*
Sarah: Your father?
Ammaya: Yeah *gestures to the drawing* Do you want to see?
*motions Sarah closer* You see, this ones my mother and this
ones my father. And here's me. And this is our happy family. My
fathers not here right now, (pause)but hell come back. He
promised.
Sarah: *slowly prodding* Oh, so where is your father?
Ammaya: He went to fight off the bad guys. My fathers really
good at that. When we were back at our home, where we lived with
my jidd, my grandmother, he would always come home, but not every
night like he used to. Maybe every other night. But hed come

back. And then he would go up to my grandmother, hug her, and

then he would come up to my mother and kiss her, and then he
would come up to me and give me a hug and a kiss. Because he said
I was the most special. And he would always come back with a
sweet, or maybe an orange, and he wouldnt let me share it with
him, because he said it was a gift. *pauses* My fathers been
away for a long time now Since were not at our old house
anymore Im afraid that he wont be able to find us. But he
always does. When he comes back, hell take us away, away from
the bad guys, and we can be happy. Together. He promised.
Sarah: But theyre not smiling, why arent they? *indicating
picture*
Ammaya: ...because theyre not happy. But Ill change it to a
smile when my father comes back. Because hell be happy.
Amira: Ammaya! Come in now!
Ammaya: *looks at Anna and waves goodbye*
Sarah: *picks up Habibtes doll and looks at it*

Scene 5: Sarah talks to Amira about what actually happened to

them
*Amira is sitting down and Habibte comes in and gives her some
food; He should seem really nice; Amira nicely inclines her head
in thanks, but is seemingly indifferent; Habibte is unsatisfied

and grabs her shoulders and shakes her; Amira pulls away; Habibte
raises hand to slap her, Sarah walks in at this moment, tableau*
*Sarah looks at Amira and Habibte; Habibte nods in
acknowledgement and leaves; Amira adjusts her headscarf*
Amira: *greets Sarah* Marhabaa *goes back to ironing like nothing
happened*
Sarah: *nods head in greeting; looks down at ironing* *silence*
Amira: Can I help you with anything misses Sarah?
Sarah: I talked to I talked to your daughter today. Does she
know what happened to her father?
Amira: No... she doesnt.
Sarah: Will you tell her?
Amira: I will when she's older. But until then please, I don't
want her getting hurt anymore.
Sarah: Okay, but what actually happened? To your husband?
Amira: *keeps ironing but doesn't say anything*
Sarah: At least tell me. I gave you the letter, I think I deserve
to know what happened to your husband.
Amira: *continues ironing*
Sarah: *stands up frustrated* I need more details about your case
if I can help you further. Do you think I havent noticed your
situation *gestures to the stuff that Habib left behind*? That
man that always hangs around you? Its getting more dangerous for
you, and you should know that its going to get worse for Ammaya,

especially since shes reaching an age where *pauses and Kiran

looks stricken* I just want to help you. And for that I need to
know if your husband is going to come back. *seems exhausted and
sinks back into seat*
Amira: *has long since stopped ironing* He was with the
alththwwar, the rebels. Do you know the rebels? *looks at Sarah*
Theyre fighting against the government because theyre bad
people right? (sorta sarcastic and bitter) *slowly stands up,
cloth on lap falls* Bad bad people. But whos bad in this world?
The people who dont fulfill their promises, like Bashar al-Assad
or the rebels who are disobeying their leaders? My husband, to
him, the government was the bad one. But to me? The bad people
are the ones that kill the innocent, the children, the elderly,
the ones who just want to desperately live. The ones who just
dont want to see their family die. And what good is there in two
groups who dont care about the destruction as long as they rule
it in the end? *laughs bitterly* And how good is Ahmed when he
can massacre hundreds with the people who are bringing justice
and come back to his little girl and look at her like those dead
childrens fathers looked at them? *pause * Im just so tired.
And thats why I left. With Ammaya. Without Ahmed. *more pause*
Hes dead. Killed in fighting. And I was so noble, trying to find
Ahmed, after I left him, after I placed my beautiful, my pure, my
own daughter into this situation. I should hate the hukuma

(government) right? But no. Now, I just want to leave. I want

Ammaya to be safe. I want to be safe.
Anna: *gets up and hugs Kiran*

Scene 6: Sarah sends an email to the Regional Asylum Units of

Attica, Greece
Sarah: *sits down at computer; starts typing letter; reads aloud*
To Whom it May Concern, Hello, my name is Sarah Smith, and I am
an aid worker with the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
(stands) Ive been working in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
A family Ive been working with, a young woman, and her 8 year
old daughter have come from war-torn Syria, and are seeking
refuge in Greece, preferably in Attica. The mother can cook, sew,
and teach, and she left behind a family grocery store in Syria.
She is willing to take a post as a maid as well, to support
herself and her daughter. Shed appreciate the ability for her
daughter to go to school, but she recognizes how full schools are
already and is prepared to teach her daughter and any other
children at her own home. They ask for a place to live in Attica
until they can support themselves and move on. Many thanks, Sarah
Smith.

Scene 7: Email response to Sarah

Regional Asylum Units of Attica, Greece Person: *Comes on stage

and stands center while reading letter*
Dear Ms. Smith, We understand the situation these refugees are
in; however, weve already taken more than our quota, and can
only take one refugee. As you must know, we get many requests for
refuge every day, and offering one spot is a tremendous
opportunity. I am very sorry for any displeasure this causes you.
Sincerely, the Regional Asylum Units of Attica, Greece

Scene 8: Sarah tells Amira about the ticket; Amira decides to not
take it; introduce the idea of illegally smuggling them via boat
*Amira is sitting and brushing Ammayas hair, sees Sarah and then
stops and come over to Sarah with an expectant face while Ammaya
plays with her doll*
Amira: Well? What did the officials say?
*Ammaya glances up towards Amira and Sarah*
Sarah: *pained expression on face* I
Amira: *already bracing herself* Theyre not letting us come.
Sarah: No! Theyre just only letting one person go, and your
daughter could...
Amira: But thats out of the question, isnt it? I couldnt leave
Ammaya here, and she cant go by herself We must go together,
and we must go *realizing something* There is another way isnt
there?

Sarah: *pauses* Well yes, but its not safe! Did you know that
the death rate is...
Amira: *very forceful* I have to get out of here, you said it
yourself. This is my way of getting us out. *changes to a more
maternal tone and pauses* When you have children youll
understand.
Sarah: *has a worried look on her face and hugs Amira for long
time; enthusiastically hugs, then Amira brings hands up to hug
her back*

Scene 9: Amira and Ammaya are getting on the boat; same as the
first scene (movement and background noises)
DIM LIGHTS
Storm sounds: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UOeMcAeFhUo
Ammaya: Omi Omi, Im scared.
Amira: *hugs Ammaya* Alssamt alan, silence now, shhh... Dont
worry albi...
(the background noises eventually get louder and louder, then
sound stops suddenly; the lights go out)
Ammaya: *screams* Omi!

Scene 10: News reporting the sinking of another boat coming to

Greece

Anchor: Good Morning Washington! Today will be a nice sunny day

with a high of 74 and a low of 65. In terms of international news
there is another report of an unfortunate incident in Greece, as
yet another boat carrying illegal refugees from refugee camps in
Jordan and Lebanon has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. It was
carrying about 60 refugees and it is quite likely that it sank
due to overcrowding. *clears throat* Now for local news, the
Washington Nationals have (fades out)

Scene 11: Where we speak directly to the audience about whats

happening in Syria and educate them more about the refugee crisis
*stage goes black*
Ammaya: *comes on stage* There are about 5 million Syrian
refugees, and over half of them are children. Over half of the
total camp population are children as well. Children are directly
affected by these crises that make a permanent dent in their
lives. *exits*
Amira: *comes on stage* Women and children make up over of
registered Syrian refugees. Women are typically fleeing with
their family whom they are trying to support and become the heads
of their households. *exits*
Sarah: *comes on stage* Organizations like UNHCR, UNICEF, and
CARE are working to ease strain put on the countries where
refugees are flooding in. They provide counseling, medical aid,

and help to distribute resources such as rice, water, and wood.

Unfortunately, the US only allots less than 1% of the federal
budget for foreign aid.
*Amira, Ammaya, and Sarah come back on stage; still completely
dark on stage*
(these are arabic proverbs)
Amira: Yudhik w yudhak alealam maeak. abkaa w tabakka wahadak.
Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone.
Sarah: 'Iidha kunt ghyr qadir ealaa mukafa'at , thumm ta'akkad
min 'an 'ashkur. If youre unable to reward make sure to thank.
Ammaya: Hnak dayimeen ghadaan. Theres always tomorrow.
*all leave stage; lights come up and there is Amiras headscarf
and Ammayas doll*
BOW