**Earth**
**Scene 118 – "The City"**
*Labib agreed with his friend Bassem to meet on the weekend by one of the beautiful rivers and spend some enjoyable time watching the ducks.*
*On the agreed morning, Bassem arrived at the river and began feeding the ducks. He had brought some bread for them, throwing a piece here so they swam quickly toward it, then throwing another piece there so they rushed in that direction.*
*While Labib was heading to the same place, he encountered a man on the way trying to move some furniture into his house. The man asked Labib for help, and although Labib dislikes dealing with or helping any stranger—seeing everyone as exploitative, a rule he believes cannot be broken—his conscience also forces him not to fully apply that rule.*
*This time, however, he would pay the price for breaking the "legal rule" he had set for himself. Labib broke the rule and helped the man carry the furniture, taking it all the way to the door of his house.*
The man said: **"Wait a moment, boy."**
*The man left the door open and went inside to make a phone call, and Labib heard everything.*
The man on the phone:
"Hello… listen to me. You have to bring the whole truck… just do that.
Bring all the furniture. I've found a good Samaritan.
No, no, don't worry about that—he seems stupid and won't ask for any pay.
Hurry before he leaves and the chance to move all that furniture is gone.
If the boy leaves, you'll be responsible—bring workers to do it.
I'm not paying them a single dinar. I warned you."
*Labib laughed mockingly at himself and spoke to himself:*
"A good Samaritan… he seems stupid and won't ask for any pay…
Labib, you deserve this, because you truly are stupid… you deserve it.
When will you learn? When will you see people for what they really are?
Interests overpower morals and values.
You know that if you are weak, the beasts will devour you.
Yet you have a conscience that makes you pity hungry beasts and feed them with your own skin…
Labib, not everyone is like you.
The age of living consciences is gone… it has passed, Labib, you fool."
*He did not leave. He pretended he hadn't heard anything. The truck arrived, loaded to the brim and more. Labib kept carrying furniture from morning until the sun was about to set.*
The man said: **"You can go now, strong boy."**
*Labib walked on silently, laughing mockingly inside himself, saying:*
"You can go now, boy… even help should be met with thanks, shouldn't it?
That's only true with you, my dear.
If people find a donkey, they'll ride it without caring.
Labib, have you ever seen a donkey being thanked before?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."