Face in the Mirror

(Playwriting Prize)
 Cast of Characters
Angelica: A psychotherapist. A woman in
her 40’s
Fatima: The patient. A young woman of
27 years old.
Mother: Fatima’s mother. An old
fashioned woman in her late
40’s

Kim: Fatima’s best friend and

colleague. A young woman,
like Fatima in her late 20’s
Leon: Fatima’s love interest. A shy
young man in his early 30’s

Scene

A psychotherapist’s cabinet in contemporary England

Time

Now
 2.

ACT IV
SCENE I
A white room. No furniture. A mirror. FATIMA is
dressed in a red gown. She is pacing the room,
wringing her scratched and bruised hands.
FATIMA
He should be here, any minute now. Any minute. But
maybe those minutes could extend to..infinity. Maybe he
won’t come. But I want him to come..I Don’t want to see
me. I want to see him. But no...not like this. Every
moment now, I’m going to hear the doorbell. What if I
didn’t answer? What if I never answered the telephone.
What if I was left alone. Any minute now and I Don’t
know what I’ll do. Am I even beautiful enough? At all?
I don’t, I Don’t want to see that look again. Not from
him, not from anyone. Not from him. Especially not from
him. I want to believe. I want to believe. I do. That
there is some goodness in this world.
The doorbell rings. The sound is fading away.

FATIMA
He’s here. Is it him? God, I hope it’s him. Maybe if I
was alone tonight. I could just go to sleep. And never
wake up again. No, no I can’t hide for forever. I can’t
hide forever.

The doorbell rings again, with an echo. This time,

a bit more loud.
FATIMA
Make up your mind! You can’t run forever. It’s
ridiculous. I’m not obligated to open the door in any
way. No. I am not. That door, that damned door! If it
only was a wall instead of a door. I hate that door.
The only thing keeping me safe, from them, from the
world. I hate that door. I hate it when they ring, when
they look, I hate it when it opens, and I hate it when
I close it.
The doorbell rings again, but it is a distorted
sound. A knock on the door.

FATIMA
(looking in the mirror)
What are you going to do now? Live like a hermit? Be
afraid for the rest of your life? I’ll be damned if I
let that door...I won’t let that door...control me.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

The doorbell rings for the fourth time. A knock on

the door. The sounds is clear, no echo, no
distortion. FATIMA exits the scene.
SCENE II

FATIMA’s living room. FATIMA is dressed in a white

blouse and black pants. She heads to the door.
Leon enters the room.
LEON
Hello, FATIMA. I hope I didn’t disturb. I was afraid I
would wake you up. I was afraid you weren’t home. Did I
wake you up?
FATIMA
No Leon. You didn’t. I am wide awake.

LEON
Glad to hear that. I won’t stay too long. It’s quite
late and you need to go to sleep.
FATIMA
It’s no problem. you’re welcome. I didn’t know if you
would still come.
LEON
Oh, of course I would.

FATIMA
Tea, or maybe..some wine.
LEON
No, thank you. A glass of water will do.

FATIMA
What are your plans, for tonight?
LEON
Hmm. I thought of going to the movies?

FATIMA
The movies. I ve never been to a cinema. Maybe when I
was a child.
LEON
Well, who goes to the cinema nowadays right?
FATIMA
Indeed. What movie?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

LEON
An old one with Cary Grant.

FATIMA
Oh, a film noir?
LEON
It’s a comedy.

FATIMA
I would go..but..I don’t like..
LEON
You don’t like movies?

FATIMA
I don’t like the rude people. The ones who laugh to
loud, make lewd remarks.
LEON
Oh, I assure you this is a respectable one. No
hooligans there.
FATIMA
I see. Maybe we should go.
LEON
Great. I will wait for you to get ready.
FATIMA
Alright. just wait for a moment.

FATIMA leaves the stage. Leon look at the books on

the table. He browses through them. FATIMA comes
back.
LEON
Computer programming. I didn’t know you were a
programmer.
FATIMA
A beginner for sure. But I want to learn. I like
working with a machine instead of..

LEON
People.
FATIMA
Right.

LEON
I would like to learn that, as well. I know its hard,
but it’s quite interesting.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

FATIMA
You are a writer are you not?
LEON
I like to think myself as a writer.

FATIMA
Well, programming is writing as well.
LEON
It is, isn’t it?

FATIMA
Yes. A different kind of writing. Leon..I am ready.
LEON
Great. We should go.

FATIMA
(to herself)
I can’t do this. I can’t go.
LEON
Well, let’s go. I have my car outside. It’s a short
driving distance from here.
FATIMA
Leon, would you like some more water or maybe a tea?

LEON
No, I think we should go. It starts in half an hour.
FATIMA
We still have time, don’t we?

LEON
Well, we could--
FATIMA
Leon I can’t go. Not right now.

LEON
Well, we don’t have to hurry.
FATIMA
Right we don’t.We can wait some more, don’t we?

LEON
Of course. What’s this?
FATIMA
It’s a mug from a friend.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

LEON
From Prague. Nice one.
FATIMA
Did you travel Leon?

LEON
Yes, quite a lot.
FATIMA
What places did you see?

LEON
Plenty, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey,
Greece. I have seen a lot of places.
FATIMA
I would like to travel. But I’m..Weren’t you afriad?
LEON
Of what?
FATIMA
Of people. Of the unknown.
LEON
Well, at first. But then fear starts to turn into awe.
You are amazed at what you see. It is better to face
your fear, then live like under siege, all your life.

FATIMA
I do hear that, a lot. You have to face your fear. But
Leon fear, make me..
LEON
I think we should go. It’s only 15 minutes until it
starts.
FATIMA
I don’t want to go.

LEON
Okay, We can leave in 5 or 10 minutes.
FATIMA
Yes that’s better. I hope that’s not a problem.

LEON
Of course it’s not. No one will hold us accountable if
we come later. Don’t worry.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

FATIMA
I try not to worry. But that’s what I do all the time.
LEON
Why what’s troubling you?

FATIMA
People are. I like to be left alone. I wish everybody
would just mind their own business.
LEON
Is someone bothering you? Who? Tell me!
FATIMA
(smiling)
No one. No, Leon, Don’t worry. Thank you for your
concern.

LEON
Then? I am afraid I don’t understand.
FATIMA
I don’t understand either Leon.

LEON
FATIMA, if there is something I can help you with.
FATIMA
Well, no it;s alright. I’m okay.

Someone knocks at the door. Persistently rings the

doorbell.
FATIMA
Oh no. Who is it now? There are some...some..some
bloody idiots who ring the doorbell for no reason. I
wish they would go.
Leon gets up from the sofa and heads to the door.
He opens the door ready to get into a fight with
the unwelcomed guests. FATIMA’s mother walks right
in.
MOTHER
I see you have guests FATIMA.

FATIMA
What is it mother, why are you here?
MOTHER
can’t I just visit my daughter, once in awhile.\

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

FATIMA
Not without calling first, you can’t.
MOTHER
Well, are you going to introduce me to your friend?

FATIMA walks up to her and stares right into her

eyes.
MOTHER
Oh, I understand it’s not the time. Alright, alright.
I’ll see myself out.
LEON
Maybe it’t better if I leave.
FATIMA
No Leon. Stay. We have to to the cinema.
MOTHER
Well, have fun then.
Mother walks out of the stage.

FATIMA
I apologize for that.
LEON
God no, it’s your mother.

FATIMA
She doesn;t care about privacy too much.
LEON
We she go to the cinema now. If you still want to.

FATIMA
Yes, we should. Just let me get my bag.
FATIMA leaves the scene. She comes back with her
bag.
LEON
Okay, let’s go if you are ready.
FATIMA
Leon. I can’t go. I don’t want to go.
LEON
But..why..I don’t understand.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

FATIMA
I just don’t want to go now.
LEON
Is it because of your mother?

FATIMA
No, its not because of her. I just think it would be
better if I stayed home tonight.
LEON
FATIMA, you know I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you,
right? You know that?
FATIMA
I know. It’s..I Don’t know how to explain. Just that..

LEON
You Don’t have to explain anything.
FATIMA
I just want to be alone now.

LEON
Of course. I will leave now.
FATIMA
No, don’t go.

LEON
FATIMA, what is happening? I don’t understand all this.
FATIMA
I want you to be alone. But I feel so much safer and
calm when you are here. Leon, please don’t be angry.

LEON
(taking her face in his hands.)
I’m not FATIMA. I’ll go now, but I am going to wait in
my car until you turn off the light. Just so you should
now, I am close by. You are not alone.
FATIMA hugs Leon. She tries to speak, but she
can’t. She shows Leon to the door. Leon leaves.
SCENE III

FATIMA, dressed in her pajamas, is reading a

books, sipping from her tea. Someone knocks at the
door, twice. Then again, repeatedly. The doorbell
rings.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

FATIMA
If it’t that psychotic idiot from flat 40, I;m going to
smash his, crack his brain open, I swear.
The doorbell rings again. The knocks intensify.
FATIMA, put down the tea and the books. She is
suddenly shivering. She embraces herself.
FATIMA
They creep me out. But it won’t be long.. It won’t be
long until I will finish this once and for all.

Mother barges in the room, with a few shopping

bags in her hands.
FATIMA
Good God, what are you doing here? can’t you knock,
can’t you call? Is it too bloody difficult for you to
dial my number?
MOTHER
I must have rang 10 times at that doorbell. Did you
have your headphones on?

FATIMA
I didn’t wanted to be disturbed.
MOTHER
Is your friend still here?

FATIMA
Yes, he is. In my bedroom.
MOTHER
nice try darling. I saw him leave.

FATIMA
Then why, why, why the hell are you asking these stupid
questions?

MOTHER
Oh, calm down dear. You don’t have too get mad. Blow up
at me like this. I brought some tea, some food, I
bought you a shirt. Isn’t it sweet.
FATIMA
thank you. But I Don’t want anything from you.
ANGELICA
Don’t be so grumpy. Your taste in clothes is not quite
fashonable. Take some advice from me.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

FATIMA
Idon’t need your advice, you food or you damned tea. I
want to be left alone.
MOTHER
My dear, you can’t live as a hermit for your entire
life. Did you go to the cinema?
FATIMA
Another one of your stupid questions. Why are you so
mean? You saw Leon leave. What do you want?

MOTHER
I am not mean. It would do you some good to go out.
Seems like a respectable boy. I hope he is a
respectable boy.

FATIMA
He is a man. Not a boy. Is it something that you want.
I would like to continue my reading.
MOTHER
I just want to talk to you. How’s work? How are your
neighbours.
FATIMA
It’s all fine?
MOTHER
I am glad to hear that.
FATIMA
Not it;s not. Yeah my work is okay, but I hate my
neighbours, I don’t like how they bheave, I don’t like
the way they look at me.
MOTHER
Pardon me? Why is that?
FATIMA
You know...you damn well no.
MOTHER
FATIMA, just tell me.
FATIMA
It reminds me of..you know..
MOTHER
Of what FATIMA? Of whom?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

FATIMA
(yelling)
You know! You damn well now. Stop pretending like you
don’t know. I am sick of these games you play.

MOTHER
Oh, FATIMA don’t start again. I thought we were over
that.
FATIMA
We? Who the hell is we? I went through that. You
didn’t/ You are clueless. A stupid woman.
MOTHER
Are you trying to point out that was my fault.
FATIMA
No mom, It wasn’t your fault. It;s not your fault you a
re frigid cold hearted bitch of a woman. It;s just the
way you are. you never cared about me, about dad. you
only cared about the way you look, your name your
reputation. It’s not your fault, you are a horrible
woman. the woman that gave birth to me. I bet I wasn;t
the child you wanted mother, was I?
Mother gets up and heads ot the door. FATIMA block
her path.
FATIMA
Sit down and answer me. You are not going anywhere? No
answer me! Was I? I was unwanted, was I mother. It
would have been better if I haven’t been born. It is,
mommy? IS IT SO OR NOT?

MOTHER
(sobbing)
How can you ask me that? I can’t believe you are asking
me that. You were the..Of course I wanted you. You were
the..When I brought you home, the only thing I did was
to look at you. When you were sleeping, when you were
crying. Look at you and adore you. That’s all that I
wanted. You were my greatest joy.
FATIMA
Then why did you..

MOTHER
Act like this for so many years? I didn;t no what to do
FATIMA. I am stupid and foolish. You are right. I
thought If I would have tried to talk to you, to find
out what happened, to comfort you. I only thought it
would only open your wounds. My wounds. Our wounds. It
was an unbearable pain. To see you suffer so much. To
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

MOTHER (cont’d)
know my little girl went through to such an ordeal. To
such pain, it was too much for me. So, I tried, to
toughen you up a little bit, to hide away the pain. I
wanted to kill that man and that woman. I wanted to
kill them both. I couldn;t sleep. A full year. I
couldn’t sleep. I had to hide all that pain. And I made
you hide it as well.
FATIMA reaches her hand, trying to caress her.
Mother kneels down.

MOTHER
(crying)
Forgive me FATIMA. Will you ever forgive me. Can you
ever forgive me. I have been living with all this pain,
trying to mask it all. Now the mask fell off, and you
see now exactly how I am. Ugly, horrible. This is your
mother FATIMA. I never wanted you to suffer. But I
didn’t nothing to erase your pain. I don’t deserve you
FATIMA. I know. I don’t deserve to be in your house. I
don’t deserve anything. I understand if you never want
to see me again. All I ask FATIMA, that you forgive me.

FATIMA
(staring blankly)
I forgive you mom. That’s all I can do now. forgive
you. I caused you so much pain. I caused everyone pain.
I caused myself pain, my friends, everyone. Especially
you and daddy.
MOTHER
No FATIMA. You never hurt anyone. You are still that
innocent little girl I loved so much. I love you now
more than ever.
FATIMA
I forgive you. I know you tried to help. In your way.
you didn’t know better. I hold no hate or grudge
against. I forgive you. Go, now mother. I want to be
alone.
MOTHER
FATIMA, I want to stay with, just a little more time. I
don’t want you to be alone now.

FATIMA
You have to go now, mother.
MOTHER
FATIMA, don’t drive me away!I beg you!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

FATIMA
I’m not. But I just want to be alone now!

Mother wipes hear tears and heads out.

SCENE IV
FATIMA is in the same white room. There is a table
and a mirror door in the center of a room. On the
table there is a glass of water.
FATIMA
(drinks from the glass)
Oh, poor mom. She couldn’t sleep for a whole year. What
is that, compared to my white nights? White nights. Who
named them? What a silly name. White nights. My nights
aren’t white. They are dark. Dark as night. Dark as my
soul. Dark, as the soul who decided, that day to ruin
my life. Dark. Pitch black darkness. If I could escape
this constant fear, this terror, I would roam the
streets. It would help me sleep.

FATIMA, walks to the exit door.

FATIMA
I can’t. I can’t go out. I can’t face that. It would
be. It would kill me. It would kill me.
(looking in the mirror)
It would kill me, wouldn’t it. It would. But I would
still alive. Dead inside, but still alive. Carrying
myself, a dead soul, inside a live corpse. Where would
that lead. Wouldn;t that be better. If I was dead
altogether? Would anyone miss me?

FATIMA looks up, as she could see the sky.

FATIMA
Would you miss me? Out of all the people, would you
miss me Father? If I was dead?
A shadow crosses over the mirror. Something is
glittering on the table. She looks into the
mirror, then walks to the table.

FATIMA
A blade. Shimmering in the moonlight. Sharp teeth
glistening, exposed like a wolf shows the fangs to his
prey. Funny thing that is, I don’t remember putting it
here. Maybe I was hungry. I wanted to eat something.
I’m starving. I was. No, he wants you. He doesn’t want
to eat anything. He wants to take a bite of you.
FATIMA drops the knife back walking to the mirror.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

FATIMA
This is foolishness. I should go to bed. I have to meet
with ANGELICA.
FATIMA is looking at the mirror displaying a
sarcastic smile.
FATIMA
What use? To go on like this. Who guarantees you that
tomorrow is going to be different from today? That
knife, FATIMA, is quite a view, isn’t it. Quite a
temptation?
FATIMA walks back to the table.
FATIMA
It;s just a piece of cutlery. A blade, a knife.
But..yes it is a temptation. How many murderers,
holding a knife didn’t fall to this temptation. The
knife asks for blood. But whose blood?
FATIMA
Mine of course. What a weird way of meeting. So
bizarre. My dear, perhaps today you will have taste of
my blood.
FATIMA
No. No. Foolish thoughts. I have to go to work
tomorrow. I should eat something. I really should.

FATIMA
Work, eating meeting with yoour stupid friends. That’s
your life. A life of banality.

FATIMA
The knife. Would it go away, the pain, the suffering,
the shame? Just a cut. And it’s over..And I’s over.
FATIMA gets closer to the mirror

FATIMA
Do it now.That’s all you can do now, FATIMA. Remember
all pain gone.
FATIMA
(distancing herself from the mirror)
What if i walk through this door.
V.O
You know what’s there FATIMA. Who’s expecting you there
FATIMA. It’s me your pain.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

FATIMA
Maybe if I..
V.O
Do you really want this?

FATIMA opens the door and walks through it.

FATIMA
Nooo! N.o! It is too much!

V.O
I told you FATIMA. You could go back. You can’t take
the pain.
FATIMA
Bring back the pain. I’ll face it. Yes, it hurts. I
know!
FATIMA falls on her knees
FATIMA
It’s too much. Why? FATIMA, I never wanted this to
hapen. No, please, make it stop! I Don’t want to live
through this again. Goood, make it stop. I beg you.
Stop now! Please!!!
FATIMA looks one more time at the knife and
throughs it away.

FATIMA
I forgive you.. I forgive youu, I swear, I forgive you.
There is nothing to forgive. I forgive you FATIMA„ I
forgive you mother, I forgive you father, I forgive
you, my teacher, I forgive everyone. Forgive me...I
forgive you.
FATIMA lies down on the floor, in a fetal
position, crying.

FATIMA
I forgive you..It is done.
SCENE V
FATIMA is laying on the floor.

FATIMA
ANGELICA, ANGELICA, it is all over now..
 17.

ACT IV
FATIMA’s living room. A powerful knock on the
door. Two more knocks. ANGELICA bursts into the
room.

ANGELICA
FATIMA, FATIMA!! Where are you? I came as soon as I
could after you called. FATIMA, where are you?
ANGELICA
(facing the stage)
I hope...No„ she mustn’t be. She can’t be. She just
can’t be...dead
A door opens and FATIMA comes in. She is dressed
in a white dress, her hair and her clothes are all
tidy.
FATIMA
I’m here. ANGELICA. Welcome to my house!
ANGELICA
(runs to hug her)
You are alive. You are alright! God, I feared, I feared
so much. But I knew, I knew you were strong, the
strongest.
FATIMA
The strongest. I did die. I died a thousand deaths, and
bled from a thousand wounds.
ANGELICA looks at the knife on the floor.

ANGELICA
You tried to..
FATIMA
I didn;t try anything. I went through all the pain. I
confronted it. I let the pain and the fear, go right
through me. I was the first to forgive me, the first to
love. The first to accept the pain. I didn’t even
wanted to even think of that before. But last night,
something happened. I desperately wanted to feel the
pain and the fear. Once I did, they were gone. I knew
that once I stepped through the door, through my pain,
I would be whole again. I wasn’t whole. A part of me
was os far away. Hid somewhere and I suffered a great
deal because of it. Now I am whole again. It;s me
ANGELICA. Now it is FATIMA sepaking to you. It is I.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

ANGELICA
Now you understand what I told you? That you are the
best psychotherapist.
FATIMA
The best healer. That only I can heal myself
completely. I am. Now I understand. I prayed to God to
take the pain. But how can he take something I kept so
dearly inside me? Now it is gone. It is taken from me.
The pain, the fear. Burned away with the dawn.

ANGELICA
I knew it. I had faith in you.
FATIMA
Would you care to sit down and drink a cup of tea.

ANGELICA
A cup of tea? Yes FATIMA. I would like that.
FATIMA and ANGELICA sit down on the sofa, close to
each other. FATIMA brings two cups of tea.

FATIMA
ANGELICA, what is there on your hand. Did anything
happened to you. Are you hurt?
ANGELICA
Old wounds my dear. Old wounds that have closed. I wear
them like medals
THE END