Babylon Street

Author: Besi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: (Inside the entrance hall of an Ottoman-style building, the main gate. The walls are light brown stone, with huge stone pillars. The only seasonal detail: a Christmas tree adorned with lights at the entrance of the concierge's door. At midnight, there's no one on the street. The streetlights pass through the cast-iron gate, casting dim light. G, a man, is coming home, wearing a dark coat, a suit with a tie, and carrying a briefcase. G presses the password on the gate from outside, pushes open the heavy cast-iron glass gate, and turns on the timed lighting switch. Just as the gate is about to close, a gray shadow suddenly appears: another man, H, looking like a homeless vagrant.)
H: Sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but perhaps you happen to have a few coins handy. That is, if it's not too much trouble. I know it's very late, and the street is deserted. So, if you could help me out by giving me seventy cents, I'd like to buy something. That Arab shop is still open. Seventy cents, do you have it?
(G is taken aback at first, then shows disgust, then guilt washes over him. He reaches into his wallet to find some change.)
G: But you're out of luck, sir. I only have thirty-five cents left. That's all I have.
H: Well, thank you, sir.
G: It's nothing. (G walks away. The gate is about to close, slowly.) H takes the opportunity to stick his foot through the gap in the door and calls out to G.)
H: Sir!
G: What?
H: Am I bothering you here? Actually, sleeping in this entrance hall would probably upset you, wouldn't it? It's very late, no one can see me, and no one would say anything.
G: Where do you usually sleep?
H: Usually?
G: Yes, on other nights, in someone's house, right?
H: I just sleep here, outside.
G: Here?
H: Yes, right here.
G: But where?
H: In the iron window of the garage.
G: The iron window of the garage.
H: Yes, the ventilated window. There's heat rising up there. The air in the garage is always warm. I don't know why. Maybe it's the subterranean air.
G: But you're saying you were right there, by the roadside?
H: Yes, I know you. I've seen you.
G: Under that down blanket, there? You? And you also had a big cardboard box, right?
H: Yes, but, the reason is, two days ago, someone stole them all.
G: Really?
H: Yes. I know who did it, but I haven't been able to find them yet.
G: I didn't recognize you.
H: Didn't you notice me?
G: Not really. Lately, I've seen you, but I've never seen your face. You're right. That soft bedding is piled there, close to the ground. In the corner, you could almost guess there was someone inside. Besides,
H: Oh, really?
G: Yes, it was a blue bag, right next to the wall.
H: Then, there must have been someone inside. Just one person. You want