SCENE: comfortable, if plain, living room. AMERICAN GENERAL sits in an armchair, reading a newspaper. SAUDI GENERAL sits on a sofa nearby. Pause.
SAUDI GENERAL: Come on. You know you want to.
AMERICAN GENERAL: I said no.
Saudi General gets up and walks to where the American General is sitting. Saudi General stands behind him and whispers in his ear.
SAUDI GENERAL: (seductive) I've got something you want...
AMERICAN GENERAL: I know what you've got.
SAUDI GENERAL: And, you want it.
AMERICAN GENERAL: I... (puts newspaper down) Yes. I want it.
SAUDI GENERAL: Bad.
AMERICAN GENERAL: Yes. I want it very much.
Saudi General comes around the chair to face the American General.
SAUDI GENERAL: And, you've got something I want.
AMERICAN GENERAL: I can't give it to you.
SAUDI GENERAL: What are you afraid of?
AMERICAN GENERAL: I...I just can't. That's all. I can't.
Enter ISRAELI GENERAL. Saudi General nonchalently hoes back to sofa. American General guiltily picks up newspaper.
ISRAELI GENERAL: What's going on, here?
AMERICAN GENERAL: Nothing!
ISRAELI GENERAL: I don't believe you!
AMERICAN GENERAL: (drops newspaper to the floor) Honey, this was all very innocent, I assure you!
ISRAELI GENERAL: What kind of an idiot do you take me for? I've seen the way you look at his oil supplies. You think I don't know?
American General rises to face Israeli General.
AMERICAN GENERAL: We haven't done anything.
SAUDI GENERAL: Yet.
American General looks daggers at Saudi General.
ISRAELI GENERAL: You promised him the latest aircraft, didn't you?
AMERICAN GENERAL: I didn't!
ISREALI GENERAL: You promised those aircraft to me!
AMERICAN GENERAL: But -
ISRAELI GENERAL: You promised! (pause)
SAUDI GENERAL: if we both got weapons from him, would it really be so bad?
ISRAELI GENERAL: Oh, shut up!
SAUDI GENERAL: Really, would it be -
ISRAELI GENERAL: I'd scratch your eyes out if I thought you were worth the trouble.
SAUDI GENERAL: Hey! Don't blame me for this situation.
ISRAELI GENERAL: No? Who should I blame?
SAUDI GENERAL: Him!
ISRAELI GENERAL: Him?
AMERICAN GENERAL: Me?
SAUDI GENERAL: Of course! Look at him - his dependence on oil makes him weak.
AMERICAN GENERAL: Now, wait just a -
ISRAELI GENERAL: But, we depend upon him for money and weapons.
AMERICAN GENERAL: That's right. You -
ISRAELI GENERAL: If he's weak, what does that make us?
AMERICAN GENERAL: Hey!
SAUDI GENERAL: Feh! Jews and Arabs have existed for thousands of years - long before there was an America. And, we'll be around long after it's gone.
ISRAELI GENERAL: Good point.
AMERICAN GENERAL: Sweetie! Let's not allow history to blind us to current reality...
SAUDI GENERAL: Typical American ahistoricism.
ISRAELI GENERAL: Current reality? Would you be referring to the fact that you supply both sides in a conflict with weapons, intelligence and funds? Do you enjoy seeing us kill each other?
AMERICAN GENERAL: Now - hold on - that's not fair!
SAUDI GENERAL: Sounds right to me.
AMERICAN GENERAL: I...I believe in peace!
SAUDI GENERAL: The peace of the grave, perhaps
.American General collapses into his chair.
AMERICAN GENERAL: I - oh, my god! I just realized...
ISRAELI GENERAL: (contemptuous) What?
AMERICAN GENERAL: Hell is other Generals!
Curtain.
