Act 2

Scene 1

Sinjar village outside the Mazin family home. The town is in utter chaos. The buildings are shot up and smoke billows from large bullet holes. Several Yazidi men are lying dead. Nala is lying dead across Fadil's still body. Their friend Mariam lays dead near Layla who is tied up along with other Yazidi girls. Armed men wearing masks guard them with machine guns and knives. They taunt the girls.

Keen: (to the Yazidi girls) You will make decent wives for our top officers. (He points to a particularly frightened girl.) You, I may save for myself.

Layla is sobbing along with the other prisoners.

Envy runs onto the scene in her Peshmerga fatigues. She isn't prepared for the carnage she faces. The "Sand Monsters" immediately surround her with swords drawn.

Envy: (horrified she raises her arms) Please, just let my sister go.

Keen: Your sister is she? Which one? I don't remember. All you Yazidi girls look alike.

Layla: Envy!

Keen: Oh this little thing...

Layla: Envy, they've shot Papa and Nala. (She looks at Mariam's dead body nearby) and Mariam... (she starts to cry) They've killed Mariam. (crying) But she's Muslim, not Yazidi, I don't understand.

Keen: (with disgust) She wasn't like us. No women should teach. Women shouldn't even read books!

Layla: (innocent, confused) What?

Envy: (hands still in the air she bravely steps closer to Keen) Take me instead.

Keen: Such an interesting proposition.

Envy: (she pleads with the gunman) Please, trade me for my sister. Aren't I worth something to you, being a member of the Peshmerga?

Keen: Hmmm... I'll tell you what I'm gonna do... (places a knife to Envy's throat) I'll take you both!

Layla: (screams) Envy!

Keen shoves Envy towards the group of girls, while another Masked Marauder ties her up.

Keen: No one's gonna envy you when I'm through with you. (to his unit) Men, let's move out.

The girl prisoners are shoved and mocked as they are led across the stage. Just before they exit Papa moves out from beneath his wife. He sees his girls being led away. He tries to call out after them but it's no use. He looks lovingly at his wife.

Papa: Nala... Nala? (Realizing she's dead he sobs, then hugs her to himself.) What did you do? Why did you have to jump in front of me? (He sobs again. Then gently places her on the ground.)

Reprise: "Talk to Me Fadhil" (Track 12)

Papa sings:
When we were younger I'd take you by the hand,
I'd whisper in your ear, we had such big plans,
It was the war that changed me so.
Talk to me Nala I want you to know...
Nala, you're the girl of my dreams,
When you're around I still get weak in the knees...
Don't you know how I love you so?
Talk to me Nala I need you to know...
(He hugs his wife one last time during musical interlude.)
Fadhil (speaks): Don't you know I can't live without you? I cannot lie, except next to you.

End of Song

Fadhil sobs as he gently removes Nala's lavender head covering and places it over her face and body. He slowly moves away from his beloved and assesses the damage done to his village and neighbors.
A group of battered elderly people and boys walk through. Many are wounded and tired (as if they've walked a great distance,) some are crying.

Reprise: "Beyond the Mountains"

Wounded villagers sing:
Out there beyond the mountains, out there beyond the sky,
Out there beyond the mountains; can you hear us die?
We're crying out for you; we're dying out it's true,
Genocide is such a dirty word.
We're a simple people who lead a simple life.
Where the least of these, for this were despised?
We're crying out for you, we're dying out it's true,
Genocide is such a dirty word.
End of Song

Villagers exit. Papa sits on a low rock wall. Malak enters
.
Malak: Grace? Grace! Oh God! We're too late. (He sees Papa Fadhil sitting on the rock fence. He approaches him gingerly.) Sir? Are you alright?

Song: "They're All Gone" (Track 13)

Papa sings:
They're all gone, or they're dead...
It could've been me, it should've been me
They're all gone, or they're dead,
I wish it was me, and not my family.
Why didn't I listen? Why didn't I hear?
I was stubborn and proud; a man should show no fear.
Oh God, give me a second chance,
To avenge their death and be the man, they thought I was...
They're all gone, but I'm alive...
What's the purpose for me? I feel so dead inside.
Help me to muster up the courage I need.
Now that they're gone, can I right this wrong?
Why didn't I listen, why didn't I hear?
I was stubborn and proud; a man should show no fear.
Oh God, give me a second chance
To avenge their death and to be the man,
They thought I was...

End of Song

Malak: Are you saying?...

Papa: (He nods towards his wife) Nala is dead. My wife, she's gone.

Malak: Oh no! Where's Grace? I mean Envy. She wanted to try and talk with you one more time.

Papa: She's gone too.

Malak: (stunned) She's dead?

Papa: No, they took her; she might as well be dead. They've got Layla too.

Ari enters and crosses to Malak.

Ari: Malak, Officer Aziz is looking for you.

Malak: They took her. They've captured Envy and Layla.

Ari: (horrified) Layla too?

Song: "A Passage in the Dark (Track 14)

Ari sings:
I don't understand, I feel so abandoned,
So many roads of rubble, all lead back to trouble
Once can't there be, a way for just for me
A passage in the dark, a light in the tunnel.

Malak sings:
Green pastures traded, for lands devastated,
Cool mountain breezes, became shattered pieces.
Once can't there be a way just for me?
A passage in the dark? A light in the tunnel...

Papa sings:
A family of four, became a family of one,
One night of terror, my life is undone.
Once can't there be a way just for me?
A passage in the dark? A light in the tunnel?

Papa, Malak and Ari sing:
Once can't there be a way for Yazidis?
A passage in the dark? A light in the tunnel?
(repeat)
End of Song

Papa: I've decided. I'm re-joining the Peshmerga!

Malak: (shocked) What?

Papa: We've got to defeat those tools of Satan!

Malak: I thought Yazidi's never said the name (whispers) Satan.

Papa: We do when it fits and this fits.

Malak: You're so right but... (He glances at Ari.)

Papa: (intimidating) What? You two think I'm too old?

Ari and Malak: (with respect) No sir!

Papa: I'm probably a better shot than both of you combined.

Ari and Malak: Yes, sir!

Lights out. End of scene 1.