In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

  • The Silicone Bomb
  • Abir Hamdar (bio)

Setting

Beirut, July 20, 2006, eight days into the Israeli forces’ attacks on Lebanon.

Characters

Fadwa Salameh: A 37 year-old English-educated Lebanese woman

Secretary: A 35 year-old French-educated Lebanese woman

Scene One

[A small modern sitting room. A woman dials a phone number nervously. Sound of a phone ringing on the other side then an answering machine responding.]

ANSWERING MACHINE: You have reached the clinic of Dr. Edmond Barakat. We are currently not available. At the tone please leave a message.

FADWA SALAMEH: [tensely] Good morning. Please, I want to speak to Dr. Barakat. Please let him give me a call when he comes to the clinic. Thank you . . . [pause] . . . please let Dr. Barakat call me . . .

[End of call. The woman then walks around the room nervously. She cleans the ashtray, fixes the position of the table, wipes the phone handle. She places her palms over her breasts and moves her fingers over them slowly and in a circular fashion. She stops abruptly then dials the number again.] [End Page 1168]

ANSWERING MACHINE: You have reached the clinic of Dr. Edmond Barakat. We are currently not available. At the tone please leave a message.

FADWA SALAMEH: I forgot to say . . . my name is Fadwa Salameh. My phone number is 01-672145. Please let Dr. Barakat call me. Please . . .

[The sound of a small distant explosion. Fadwa turns on the TV immediately. A news anchor tells of a building that has been hit and the number of casualties . . .]

Scene Two

[Day two in the sitting room. Fadwa is on the phone again.]

ANSWERING MACHINE: You have reached the clinic of Dr. Edmond Barakat. We are currently not available. At the tone please leave a message . . .

FADWA SALAMEH: Hello. Please, I want to speak to Dr. Barakat. Please ask him to call me. Thank you . . . [long pause] . . . [in a whisper] Please help me . . .

[Later in the afternoon: Fadwa plugs and unplugs the phone wire several times. Lebanese singer Fairuz sings “Bhibak ya libnan” (“I love you Lebanon”) from a radio . . . Fadwa inspects her breasts in the mirror. She raises her arms and observes them closely then moves sideways and observes further. She turns down the radio volume and dials a number. The singing continues in the background.]

ANSWERING MACHINE: You have reached the clinic of Dr. Edmond Barakat. We are currently not available. At the tone please leave a message . . .

FADWA SALAMEH: This is Fadwa Salameh again. I called earlier. Did you tell Dr. Barakat to contact me? If you could just tell him it’s urgent. Extremely urgent . . .

[Suddenly a radio news broadcaster cuts short the singing and recounts the number of villages that have been abandoned in the South of Lebanon. Fadwa whimpers agitatedly then continues to speak to the answering machine.]

FADWA SALAMEH: I want to speak to Dr. Barakat! I called him yesterday and the day before. I have to speak to him! It’s urgent . . . did you tell him it’s urgent? Please tell him it is urgent!! . . . [long pause] . . . I did not want them! I never wanted them! [End Page 1169]

Scene Three

[Day three in the Sitting Room. Fadwa waits as the phone rings on the other side. A French-educated woman answers formally. It is the secretary at the clinic. Throughout the secretary will be heard through the phone.]

SECRETARY: Bonjour. This is Dr. Barakat’s clinique. How may I help?

FADWA SALAMEH: Oh, thank heavens! I am Fadwa . . . Fadwa Salameh. I have been calling for a week. I want to speak to Dr. Barakat . . . I have to see him.

SECRETARY: I am sorry Madame, but he is out of the country. He escaped with his family when the attacks began.

FADWA SALAMEH: You don’t understand. I don’t want a regular appointment. This is urgent. I have to speak to him . . .

SECRETARY: [interrupts] But Madame, c’est impossible! He is out of the country . . . in France. I myself can’t reach him. The clinique is closed. I’m just here to take a few things then leave. This is not a time for plastic surgery, Madame. The country is under attack. You...

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