The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes Read Free Page A

He has a strong Iraqi accent .
    CARLOS: Over there.
    LYDIA: Where?
    CARLOS: (Pointing.) There.
    She looks to where he is pointing .
    LYDIA: Here?
    CARLOS: No. (His foot can’t reach so he indicates with his eyes.) Look.
    LYDIA: (Looking on the floor.) I can’t see anything.
    CARLOS: Look eyes!
    LYDIA: What do you think I’m looking with!?
    CARLOS: No. Look in my eyes.
    LYDIA: In?
    CARLOS: My eyes.
    LYDIA: (Confused.) Your eyes? You want me to look with your eyes?
    CARLOS: No!
    CARLOS indicates with his head and eyes .
    LYDIA: Oh! You want me to look at your eyes.
    CARLOS: Yes!
    LYDIA: You’re going to try hypnosis?
    CARLOS: Hypno…what? I want key. What is hip-nose?
    LYDIA: It’s…never mind. Where am I looking? Show me again.
    CARLOS indicates again. LYDIA looks to where he is pointing .
    CARLOS: See?
    LYDIA: Oh.
    CARLOS: Something?
    LYDIA: Yes.
    LYDIA picks up something from the floor and looks at it .
    CARLOS: Is key? (He pulls at his handcuffs.) Lydia?
    LYDIA: Afraid not. It’s your ring.
    She gives him the ring. It is a large silver ring with a bright red stone .
    CARLOS: Why is this on floor?
    LYDIA sits down in the armchair with a sigh. She picks up a glass of champagne and takes a drink .
    CARLOS: Who put this here?
    LYDIA: Don’t look at me.
    CARLOS: I put in pocket.
    LYDIA: It must have fallen out. Do you want me to keep looking for the key?
    CARLOS: Yes, yes. I need to go toilet.
    LYDIA: Oh you do, do you?
    LYDIA smiles .
    CARLOS: Why are you smiling?
    LYDIA walks over to CARLOS .
    CARLOS: Why are you looking at me like this?
    LYDIA jumps on CARLOS and tickles him under the armpits. He lets out a girlish scream. LYDIA tickles him again mercilessly. CARLOS bursts into uncontrollable giggles. LYDIA laughs with glee as she continues to torment her helpless prisoner .
    CARLOS: STOP IT PLEASE! I’M GOING TO MAKE WATER! I’M GOING TO… PLEASE LYDIA!
    LYDIA relents and gets off the bed. She takes a swig of champagne .
    CARLOS: You are terrible, terrible woman!
    LYDIA: Only playing darling.
    CARLOS: Playing!? I… (Checks if he pissed himself.) I almost. What if I make piss in bed? Would you like this?
    LYDIA: Well, some people are into that kind of thing.
    CARLOS: Uckhh!
    LYDIA: They call it watersports.
    CARLOS: I don’t like to play this sport I think.
    LYDIA: Well we could finish the champers and you could go in the bottle.
    LYDIA offers the bottle to CARLOS .
    CARLOS: I’m not a monkey.
    LYDIA: Well, what do you want me to do? I’ve looked everywhere.
    CARLOS: Lydia, please. I don’t want to play this game.
    LYDIA: OK.
    LYDIA finishes her glass and makes to leave .
    CARLOS: Where are you going?
    LYDIA: To reception. See if they’ve got something to get you out. Failing that we’ll have to call the fire brigade.
    CARLOS: I don’t want anyone to see me like this.
    LYDIA shrugs. She picks up her stilettos and puts on her left shoe. She goes to put on her right shoe. The key falls out. She picks it up and turns around slowly to show CARLOS .
    CARLOS: Thank God!
    LYDIA releases CARLOS . He leaps out of bed and runs to the bathroom off-stage. The sound of CARLOS relieving himself .
    CARLOS returns beaming .
    LYDIA: Better?
    CARLOS: Much better.
    LYDIA pours CARLOS a glass and hands it to him. She refills her glass .
    LYDIA: A toast.
    CARLOS: To our one month anniversary?
    LYDIA: It can’t be an anniversary if it’s less than a year. To a… work in progress.
    LYDIA touches glasses with CARLOS .
    CARLOS: Work?
    LYDIA: Yes.
    CARLOS: I am working?
    LYDIA: No. You’re the work. Do you understand?
    Beat .
    CARLOS: Yes. Yes. Of course I understand.
    LYDIA takes a drink and sits down on the bed. She pats the bed for CARLOS to join her, but he is busy looking inside his rucksack .
    LYDIA: What are you doing?
    CARLOS takes out a book – The History of The British Isles .
    CARLOS: Working.
    LYDIA: That’s not what I meant.
    CARLOS: I must study for test.
    CARLOS opens the book and starts reading. LYDIA snatches