| Of Life in Gush Katif - Scene 6 |
| Back in the house. Disengagement starts.
Tamar: "Well, father, we tried everything." Father: "Indeed we did. And we did win in the Likud referendum." Tamar: "But Prime Minister Sharon chose not to listen to his own party!" Father: "*sigh*" Tamar: musing to herself "We did try everything: demonstrations, prayer vigils, a human chain, going door to door, even blocking streets! And yet - -" Father: speaking quietly "And yet Disengagement day has arrived. And, Tamar, I think disengagement from Gush Katif will happen � and quickly." Tamar: "Father?!" Father: "Yes. How can we stop it now? We can't fight against the soldiers�it's too late. We've failed." Tamar: "But� but all the youth and all the families that came in the past couple weeks to be with us and help us?" Father: "Too few too late. I'm sorry, Tamar, but we needed ten times the number that came to really make a difference." Mother enters the room Mother: "Look! Look! Soldiers are going around the neighborhood. The Cohens are already on the bus and so are the Hofmans! Starts to cry. Tamar: rushes up to her mother and hugs her. "Don't cry! You mustn't! The soldiers will be here soon." Father: "Tamar is right. The soldiers will be here soon, and we need to decide how we want to greet them." Mother: drying her tears "How to greet them? Why, at a meal of course! We should all be as normal as possible." Tamar: "Oh yes, a regular family � except for the fact that we're being kicked from our home!" spoken a bit bitterly. Mother: "Tamar, come dear, help me set the table." They're setting the table. Suddenly a knock on the door. They all freeze. Father: "Come on in." Four soldiers enter � two men and two women. The men look stern, the women � uncomfortable. Mother: "You all are just in time for lunch. Two more forks and the table is set." Spoken warmly. Father, mother and Tamar sit around the table. All four soldiers remain standing stiffly. Tamar: "Really! This is probably our last meal in our house and I'm not having four soldiers ruin it! Turns to the soldiers You all heard mother, sit down by us or return in an hour, because we are going to have a last meal in our house whether you all like it or not!" Her voice shaking towards the end. The soldiers join them at the table. Mother: "So, what are your names and where are you all from?" spoken conversationally. Soldier 1: "I'm Dekel. I'm from Haifa." Soldier 2: "I'm Chaim. I'm from Yavne. And I'd just like to say that I'm really sorry." Tamar: "If you're really sorry, then why are you doing it?" Soldier 2 (Chaim): "I don't feel that I have a choice. I'm a soldier and as such I have to obey orders whether I like them or not." Mother: "That has never been an excuse." Spoken in a tight voice. Soldier 2, Chaim, shifts uncomfortably in his chair and stares down at his plate. The other soldiers seem frozen, except for soldier 3 � she is eating as if nothing is wrong. Soldier 3: stops eating for a few seconds "I'm Eden. From Katzrin." Soldier 4: "Liat. From Rehovot." Father: Nods his head. "Well, I'm sorry I can't say I'm pleased to meet you all, but � under the circumstances�I'm sure you understand." Mother: "We did everything we could so that this moment wouldn't arrive. You know, almost every Shabbat my husband would invite soldiers home for a meal. So I'm used to having soldiers at my table. But I'm not used to them being under orders to throw me from my home!" Spoken painfully. Soldier 2: In an obvious attempt to change the topic. "I'm sure the food is delicious, but I've, um, lost my appetite." Soldier 3 (Eden): "Come on Chaim, try the meat � it's really good." Soldier 2 (Chaim): "Look. We can give you 1/2 an hour. But that is all. Then you have to board the bus that is waiting outside." Soldier 1(Dekel): "You will all leave peacefully, right?" Tamar: "Peacefully? Yes, peacefully enough. We won't make a fuss. But I insist on being carried out!' Father: looks around the house slowly "I've lived here for 15 years. Yes, fifteen years. And I haven't packed. I couldn't; I did try to, I started taking a picture down � yes, that one over there points to it and�I just couldn't! To pack would have been to have given up all hope of stopping Disengagement. I mailed our photo albums to my brother. That's all the packing I've done." Mother: "I want each of you soldiers to know, that you will not manage to break us! We've lived here for 15 years, the past five of which have been under Arab terror, and yet the Arabs weren't able to make us leave. No indeed! We leave only because our government is forcing us to � forcing us to leave our houses, our gardens, our communities and our friends. But one day, we will return. And if not us, than our children or perhaps our grandchildren� finishes while wiping tears. Soldier 1 (Dekel): "I'm sorry. The half hour is up. Your neighbors are all on the bus." Father slowly leaves, the mother leaves crying. Tamar is carried out by the two female soldiers. Soldier 2 (Chaim) leaves looking miserable. |