Author’s note: Today, I’ve written something a little different.  This is an allegorical one-act play based on the reaction to Pope Benedict XVI’s September, 2006 speech on Islam.  Some characters stand for individuals, while others represent nations or groups of people.

Setting: A dinner party at Angie’s swanky big city apartment. The guests continue to arrive and are mingling before dinner is served.

** The doorbell rings. Angie opens the door and greets a middle-aged man who looks vaguely Middle-Eastern. **

Angie: Mo! I’m so glad you could make it.

Mo: I wouldn’t miss a party like this, Angela. Who’s here?

Angie: All of my friends. Please, come in. ** speaking to everyone ** Everybody! Everybody! You know my good friend, Mo.

** The guests give Mo friendly smiles and waves. **

Angie: You simply must meet everyone, Mo. Here is my neighbor, Pierre.

** She brings Mo over to talk with a very well dressed man in the near corner of the room. He has a glass of red wine and strong French accent. **

Angie: Pierre, this is my friend, Mo. He’s recently in town from visiting his family in Morocco.

Pierre: Bonjour, Mo.

Mo: Hello, Pierre.

Pierre: Morocco, eh? Sounds very exotic. My family used to own land near there years ago, I think. Beautiful area.

** Pierre and Mo engage in a very lively conversation, while other guests react to Mo’s presence. **

Jack: ** in a sarcastic tone ** Oh good, Mo’s here. Just nobody make him angry and we’ll have a good time.

Libby: What do you mean? Mo’s a great guy. I know some of his family and they’re all very nice.

Jack: ** defensively ** Yes, yes. Of course. I was just joking, of course. Just a joke.

Ben: Well, Libby, Mo certainly can be nice, when he wants to.

Libby: “When he wants to”?  What is that supposes to mean?

Ben: Well, it’s really quite simple.  Mo has an anger problem.  He always has.  It’s why he does so many violent things.

Libby: What? How can you say something like that? That’s terribly judgmental.

Ben: Well, that’s what the record seems to show.  It certainly seems to be the truth.

Libby: That’s just your interpretation of the record, you mean.

Connie: I’d have to agree with Ben, Libby. Just look at Mo’s actions. When he enters a house he’s usually fine for a while, but then he hears something that sets him off and he just makes a scene. He punched a wall and smashed a window over at Jack’s house last year, and you don’t want to know the things I’ve heard that he does in his own house.

Libby: ** to Jack ** Did he really punch a wall at your house?

Jack: Well … yes … I guess he did.  But it really wasn’t his fault. It was a lovely party, but then Sam told a joke that Mo thought was off-color.  He politely asked Sam to stop but he didn’t stop, and Mo became upset and started yelling at him, and I suppose he got a little carried away and hit the wall and threw that chair through the window.  It was all understandable, though. I don’t have to tell you that I immediately asked Sam to leave. We couldn’t have any more episodes like that, and Mo did ask him very politely to stop telling his joke.

Connie: But don’t you think that Mo’s behavior was inappropriate?

Jack: Some people might call it “inappropriate”, but I’d rather not judge people like that.

** The doorbell rings, and Angie opens the door. It’s Sam. **

Sam: Hi Angie.  Sorry I’m late.

Jack: ** under his breath ** Oh Christ. Who invited him?

Connie: ** quietly, to Jack ** I thought you and Sam were good friends?

Jack: Well, I suppose we used to be. But lately he’s said and done a lot of things that I just can’t accept.

Connie: And Mo hasn’t?

Libby: Well, Mo is a different case, obviously.

** Connie opens his mouth to respond, but Sam comes over to talk with them and their private conversation stops. **

Sam: Hi guys.

Connie: Hi, Sam.

Jack: ** with a frozen smile ** Hello.

Libby: ** looking uncomfortable ** Hi.

Sam: Did I interrupt something?

Jack: ** hastily ** No, no. Not at all.

Connie: Actually, we were just talking about Mo. He’s over there in the corner talking with Pierre.

Sam: Oh. ** He glances over to the corner and sees Mo and Pierre talking. ** Mo. I see. I think I’ll go get myself a drink. Would anyone like something?

Connie: Yes, thank you. I’ll have a 7-and-7.

Libby: Another glass of chardonnay, please.

Sam: Jack, Ben? Anything?

Jack: Uh, no thank you. I still have to finish my merlot.

Ben: ** chuckles ** A stein of Lowenbrau would be nice. But if they don’t have that, I suppose I’ll take some cabernet.

Sam: Alright. 7-and-7, chardonnay, and cabernet.  Got it.

** Sam goes to the wet bar. Mo comes over after Sam leaves. **

Mo: ** nodding his head in greeting ** Jack, Libby.

Jack: Hello Mo.

Libby: Mo, how have you been?

Mo: Excellent. Morocco was beautiful.

Libby: That’s wonderful.

Mo: So, I hear you were talking about me.

Jack: Talking about you? My friend, we haven’t said a word about you.

Mo: So no one said anything about an anger problem I have?

Jack: Anger problem? Where did you hear anything about an anger problem?

Mo: One of Pierre’s friends mentioned it to me. He said that Ben and Connie were talking about your party a while back where Sam told that disgusting joke.

Jack: Ah, yes. That. I believe someone did mention that. I told them, of course that it was not your fault. Sam should not have been telling jokes like that.

** Sam comes back from the wet bar with the drinks. **

Sam: I shouldn’t have been telling jokes like what?

Mo: Like that filthy joke you told at Jack’s party. I won’t even repeat it. It was disgusting.

Sam: Hey Mo, listen, the joke wasn’t that bad. I’m sorry if you were offended, but it wasn’t that bad.

Mo: Yes it was! It was horrible!

Libby: ** nervously ** There’s no need to shout, Mo. Sam apologized. It’s okay, right?

Mo: ** grudgingly ** Yeah, alright.  I guess. ** He glares at Sam, who glares back. **

Jack: Well, then. That should do it. You know, I think I’ll have another drink now.  ** He walks briskly to the wet bar. **

Ben: ** whispering to Connie ** This is exactly what I was talking about.

** Connie nods **

Mo: ** very quietly ** What? What did you say?

Libby: ** glaring at Ben and Connie out of the corner of her eye ** Nothing, Mo. It was nothing.

Connie: No, Libby, someone has to say something.  Ben’s right. I think this shows that you have a real anger problem, Mo.

Mo: ** his eyes go wide and his face becomes red ** I have a … How dare you say something like that. How dare you! I don’t have an anger problem! Alright? I don’t! Have! An anger! Problem! Do you understand? ** He shoves Ben. ** Do you?!

Libby: ** Yelling at Sam, Connie, and Ben ** You see what you did?  This is all your fault! Why can’t you people ever act civilized? God, you always have to start these fights.

** Angie and Pierre quickly comes over. **

Angie: What’s going on? Mo – why are you yelling?

Mo: It’s not my fault, Angie. ** Pointing at Ben ** He was telling lies about me. What was I supposed to do?

Angie: Ben? What did you say?

Ben: I just said that Mo has an anger problem, Angie. That was it.

Connie: It’s the truth, Angie. Anyone can see it. I’m surprised he hasn’t punched in any walls yet.

Mo: What?!

** He lunges at Connie, but Sam, Jack, and Pierre restrain him. **

Mo: ** pushing Sam away ** Don’t touch me!

Angie: Mo, I think you should leave.

Mo: What? Me leave? Why?

Libby: That’s unfair, Angie. Mo wouldn’t have done anything if Ben and Connie hadn’t said anything. They’re really responsible for Mo’s behavior.  Them and Sam for the joke he told before. They’re the ones who should leave. ** To Ben ** You should apologize for making Mo angry, Ben. It was wrong of you to say anything.

Jack: Libby’s right, Angie. It’s really their fault.

Pierre: Yes, Angie.  They’re quite right.

Angie: I’m sorry. Maybe they shouldn’t have said anything, but Mo, you have to act more civilized. You can’t start yelling and pushing people when they say something you don’t like. You need to go.

** Jack and Libby look shocked and appalled. Mo looks furious. He puts on his coat and turns to leave. **

Mo: I can’t believe this! I don’t have an anger problem!! You’re a bigot, Angie. You and Sam and Ben and Connie. You’re all liars and hateful bigots!  You all should be careful.  If I see any of you outside here I’m going to kill you!

** Mo stomps out of the apartment and slams the door. **

 

Now, the questions I’d like to ask are: Who do you think would normally be at fault here? and, How do you think the people in the play should have reacted?