( Stage-play / Screen-play : Work in progress …… )

(c) Satori Publishing, 2013.
………………………………

Cast and Characters

: Ali

: Arif

: Zulifikar

: Zia

: Rosemeen

: Rashid

: Carol

: Farook

: Nargis

: Narinder

: Shokat

: Hussain

: Ghanzanfar

: Dick

: Fred

: Brother

: Husband

: Local Girl

: Local Boy

: Hockey Number One

: Hockey Number Two

……………………..

EXT. Road – Day

Dawn breaks as ALI jogs through inner-city streets; a solitary car, or person walking to work ,etc, passes now and then; ALI jogs on to the border of a leafier suburb where there are large houses, converted into flats and mainly let out to students, etc;

INT. Ali’s flat – Day

The main room of ALI’s flat is empty apart from essential film-making equipment. The crew are going about their business : setting up the camera, lights, moving props, going over the script … They have just finished filming a scene and are setting up the next one …

ARIF
You coming out tonight?

ALI
The camera’s going to roll all day. After that I’ll try to do some editing.

ARIF
I’ll probably go to a club afterwards. Anything to stay out of the house.

ALI
As bad as that? … Why don’t you just grab hold of the old man and tell him how you feel about things?

ARIF
The way you did with your father?

ALI
That was different.

ARIF
It’s all the same. We all make noise – break wind, this way, that way, but we all avoid the real issue. We avoid it because we know we’ll have to tear out all our vital organs, clean them out, put them back in again and hope they’ll function better than before. Who wants to go to that trouble? Who wants to take that risk?

ALI
Well, just for tonight don’t put your prick at risk. Save your energy for the work I’ve got lined up for next week.

ARIF
I can hump all night, every night, and still act you off the screen.

ALI
Break wind, this way, that way …

ARIF playfully punches ALI’s shoulder.

FAROOK
Any news about the play?

ALI
Not yet. Seven weeks and still no – They must have hired a
tortoise to do the reading for them.

RASHID
(holding his back)
‘Be in the movies and you’ll get a key to open the door to fame and fortune‘ … That’s what I was told, but look at me.

ZULFIKAR
I was told that slavery was abolished years ago.

ALI
Now, now, lads, just think of it as suffering for your art. One day you will taste the sweet fruit of success, and all this bitterness will be washed away. Stick with me and the sky is the limit.

ZULFIKAR
The stick is with you and you’ve got us bent over to the limit.

ALI
How ungrateful can you get?! After all the trouble I go to : using soft-focus lenses, making sure the lighting is spot on, shooting from the best angle, filming on your best side to make you look good, and this is how you repay me?!

RASHID
We’ll be quits when you repay us with a million dollar contract.

ALI
Two million, my friend, two million. But for now you’ll just have to give me credit every time I say, “Action!”

CUT TO :

CLAPPERBOARD

CUT TO :

ARIF and FAROOK enter at the front door … ZIA storms up to them, followed by NARINDER, RASHID and NARGIS.

ZIA
(angry, loud)
Where the hell have you been?!

FAROOK
(cowed)
We went to the cinema.

ZIA
Cinema?!! Cinemas don’t open in the middle of the bloody night!

NARINDER
(to everybody by way of NARGIS)
The boy’s gone crazy! Trying to bring shame down on our heads!

FAROOK
It was a late show.

ZIA
Who said you could go? Did you ask me? Did you ask any of us?

FAROOK
I thought if I went late once –

ZIA
(slaps him; points to ARIF)
Did he make you go? Was it his idea?

FAROOK
No. I wanted to go myself.

ZIA
You stupid idiot!
(slaps him again)
I’ve been soft on you too long but I’ll sort you out once and for all.
(shoves him towards the stairs, slapping the back of his head).

NARGIS
(to ARIF)
I’m ashamed to be your sister!

NARINDER
(on top)
It’s all your fault! You did this on purpose! You want to ruin my son! Your whole family is jealous of his success! You’re nothing but a son of a bitch!

ARIF
(low, deadly)
Don’t talk to me like that or I’ll knock your fucking head off.

RASHID
(stepping forward)
Hold it, hold it.

ARIF
You hold it! She’s referring to my mother. Nobody talks about my mother like that!

RASHID
Okay. Okay.
(beckoning his mother)
You go on up. I’ll sort this out.

ZULFIKAR has been standing on the landing, watching it all; totally dejected.

NARINDER
I hope you’re proud of your son.

She spits at his feet, and brushes past still mumbling obscenities.

RASHID
Okay. But just because you knock around with white birds doesn’t mean you have to get my brother to do the same.

ARIF
You don’t have to worry about that – your brother is still pure as ever … Anyway, when it comes to white girls, at least I don’t have to pay them like some people I know.

NARGIS
What do you mean by that?

ARIF doesn’t answer; stares hard at RASHID who had thought he could square up to him. But this knocks RASHID off-balance and now he just wants to get out of there.

RASHID
Let’s go upstairs.
(leads his wife away; turns and shakes his finger at ARIF)
I’m warning you – you better watch your step.

ARIF doesn’t give a damn; makes a ‘brush-off’ gesture.

NARGIS
(near steps)
What did he mean?

RASHID
Nothing, sweetheart. I come home and give it to you every night, don’t I?

ZULFIKAR stands there, looking at ARIF, who is lost for words. ARIF leans back against the wall, bangs his head back on it; looks up at the ceiling, then at his father.

ARIF
The way they’re acting you’d think it was the end of the world.
(pause … looks back at ceiling)
He wanted to go. He was always asking me what it was like, always went on about wanting to try it, to get a taste of it. So … I took him.
(slowly turns his head …)
Say something, father. Please … say something …
(no answer; in anguish)
Why don’t you talk to me?

Begins to move towards his father, but ZULFIKAR walks across the landing and up the creaking stairs into the attic. Each step seems
to cut into ARIF. He goes “Aaah” (real low), doubles up, and
staggers out into the night.

ALI
Cut … Set up for the next scene. Hit the camera while it’s hot.

CAROL
Where’s Arif? Didn’t he come back in?

ALI
He’ll be alright … Ready? … Action.

CUT TO :

CLAPPERBOARD

CUT TO :

FAROOK is sitting/slumped on the bed, in tears; ZIA has been slapping him around. NARINDER is wringing her hands; RASHID and NARGIS have just entered.

ZIA
You expect me to believe that?
(pulls FAROOK’s head back)
Tell me where you went or I swear I’ll crack your skull.

NARINDER
(tries to get in the way of her husband)
Don’t – don’t – please … that’s enough.
(to FAROOK)
Son … Tell your father where you went … Son? …

FAROOK
(mumbling)
Disco.

ZIA
Disco?! What the hell is that?!

RASHID
It’s a place where people dance. Mostly white tramps out looking for a good time.

ZIA
Ah-ha! I’m beginning to get the picture now … Can you dance?

FAROOK
No.

ZIA
Then what was you doing there, huh? Trying to get a white girl? You want some of that pink pussy, huh, boy?

NARINDER
Husband!

FAROOK
I – I just wanted to go and … and … I was tired of staying home all the time!

ZIA
What’s wrong with staying at home? You want to be like that bum downstairs? You want to be like him? You want to wear those freaky clothes and stay out all night, screwing around with white bitches, huh? You want to forget your own people and live like a white man?

FAROOK
He’s not like that.

NARINDER
Son! You don’t understand what his game is. He’s trying to –

ZIA
Shut up, woman! Let me handle this! … So you think that he’s right and we’re just mouthing off, huh? All of us are idiots compared to that – that genius! Please, if it’s not too much trouble, tell us where we have gone wrong?
(slaps him)
What the hell’s the matter with you? You must be out of your mind trying to defend that bastard!

FAROOK
He gives me advice and encourages my studying. I can talk to him properly, but not to any of you. You always think you know what’s best for me but you never, never ask me what I want!

NARGIS
(wringing her hands)
It must have been the strain of taking the exams. Otherwise he would never say such terrible things … How can you talk to your father like this after he has made so many sacrifices for you?

ZIA
Yes! That’s right! You say that sonofabitch gives you advice and – and encourages you, but what about me? Who looks after you? Me or him? Who pays for you to have the best? The best clothes – how many suits have I bought you? The best food – you know what most of our people here eat? Beans and stuff like that. But you … you get meat and fruit and – and everything. And don’t I give you advice and encouragement? I’m talking about you all the time, telling everybody about your achievements and how proud I am of –

FAROOK
That’s what I don’t like! It’s as if I’m some kind of a status symbol for you. A pink poodle or something. You feed me, and clothe me, and get me to do some tricks in front of your relatives and friends and then you pat me on the head and everybody goes, “Oooh! You’ve got such a lovely son”. I do all the jumping around and you get all the credit!

ZIA
I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!

NARINDER
Oh, my child, my precious child! How can you say such wicked, wicked things?!

FAROOK
I’m not gong to take it anymore!

ZIA
That bastard must have really brainwashed you or else you’ve been reading the wrong books lately!

FAROOK
You don’t understand! I just want you to give me a little more room so that I can at least breathe!

At this, RASHID jumps on him in a fit of madness and begins to strangle him.

RASHID
I’ll help you to breathe! … I’ll help you to breathe!

ZIA
Ayaz! Stop! I order you to stop!

NARINDER
Husband! Stop him before he kills my baby!

They start to pull him off, but he manages to get in a couple of
punches to FAROOK’s face. ZIA and NARINDER have got him by each arm, and NARGIS is clinging around his waist from behind, but he is still struggling in rage and trying to get at FAROOK.

RASHID
Think you’ve got it made now, don’t you? Think you can go and do just what the fuck you want? All the hard work is over and you can piss through the rest of your life, is that it? You pampered … gullible … idiot!
(kicks him)
I’ll kill you first!

ZIA
That’s enough.
(slaps him)
I said that’s enough!

RASHID
Remember what you done to me when I was in the same situation? You beat the shit out of me, and knocked some sense into my head! Now it’s his turn and I’m going to make sure he gets it the same as me! You’ll let him get away with it over my dead body! Just give me two minutes and I’ll straighten him out! Two minutes – that’s all it will take!

ZIA
He’s not going to get away with it. I promise you that. But there has to be another way out of this mess.

NARINDER
Hush, hush.
(pointing up to the attic)
He can hear you upstairs. Do you want him to get one up on us? Everybody quiet down … just … quiet down.

ZIA
I should have realized; should have made allowances for it …

NARINDER
For what?

ZIA
The boy’s age. His age. It’s only natural that he should be chasing after girls.

RASHID
It’s natural?! It was natural with me too, you know!

ZIA
And what did I do to you?

RASHID
You beat me like a dog!

ZIA
Apart from that?

RASHID
You got me married.

ZIA
There you are then. That’s the answer.

RASHID
(smiles)
We get him married and he can get what he wants at home instead of chasing around for it.

ZIA
You’ve hit the tit right on the nipple.

The women react : acting coy, shocked, etc; but titillated.

RASHID
Who’s the lucky girl?

FAROOK
(mumbling)
I don’t want to get married.

RASHID
(exploding)
Goddamn it!

Jumps on FAROOK again – sits on top/astride of him and starts pounding him. This time no one tries to stop him.

RASHID
Don’t want to get married, huh? … (slap) … Maybe you want to start going on dates … (slap) …nightclubs … (slap) … Want to choose your wife, do you? … (slap) … Blonde, blue eyes, big tits … (slap) …
(really serious and vicious now, grabbing him up by the shirt-front)
You are getting married to who we say, when we say, how we say. We plan it from start to finish. You have no say in it at all. You can take over your wife on the wedding night, but we are over you for life. Have I made myself clear?

FAROOK
(half-hearted)
No.

RASHID beats him into submission with a concentrated attack. FAROOK cries out in pain.

RASHID
What did you say?! … Repeat it! … Come on! …

FAROOK
(sobbing)
Yes! Yes! … Yes!

RASHID
That’s what I thought you said. I didn’t hear you the first time … Good …
(gets off FAROOK)
Good. I’m glad you finally decided to see things our way.
(walks away, flexing his hands)
I’ve taken care of that … Now let’s sort out the rest. You still haven’t told me who the girl is.

ZIA
There can be no doubt about that. He will be marrying Fatima’s younger sister – Shaida.

NARGIS
Say no more. I’ll speak to my father first thing tomorrow morning.

ZIA
It’s my duty to ask.

NARGIS
Yes, but … I’ll just soften him up for you.

RASHID
What if he turns you down after what happened tonight?

ZIA
He’s a fool, but not as big as that.

NARINDER
Where else would he find a boy as handsome, virtuous and intelligent as my son?

NARGIS
It’s a perfect match. You know how well Shaida’s doing at school –

ZIA
Yes, we know. We know everything about her. We’ve had people keep an eye on her, and they’ve been sending in reports for the past couple of years.

NARGIS
I had no idea.

ZIA
The important thing now is to move ahead at full steam. We have to take him to Pakistan, get him married, and then have him back in time for the beginning of term at university. I’ll have to take a month off work. That should give me enough time. Just about … You see what you’ve done? In a couple of years you would have had the biggest wedding anyone had ever seen, but now – I’ll do my best but the fireworks won’t be the same.

NARINDER
People will wonder why we are in such a hurry.

ZIA
We can tell them that he’ll be too busy studying for years to come.

NARGIS
You think of everything, don’t you?

ZIA
I’m not the head of this family for nothing.

NARGIS
(beaming)
I’ve always hoped for this; always prayed for Farook to marry my sister. Now both of us will be together in the same house.
(twirling around)
It’s going to be just heavenly!

NARINDER
But where is my baby going to sleep in the meantime? He’s not going downstairs to share a room with that – that bum ever again! God knows what kind of ideas that bastard will put in his head!

NARGIS
I’ll take one of the kids into my room – Farook can sleep in his place.

NARINDER
That bastard! Its all his fault! Brainwashing my boy … trying to ruin him. But we’ll put a stop to his game. The sonofabitch! … I’m sorry to talk about your brother like this but –

NARGIS
Oh, I agree with you. He’s the worst kind of scum. The worst kind.

NARINDER
It’s hard to understand how two beautiful, beautiful sisters could have such an evil brother.

RASHID
We’ll have to buy another house … Have you thought about that? When Farook gets married, and his wife comes over, he’s going to need a room of his own. Anyway, it’s too crowded as it is. Plus the fact that we won’t have an arsehole upstairs and another one downstairs to stink the place out.

ZIA
Don’t forget that I have a half-share in this house.

RASHID
That’s it. We can kill both birds with one stone. Tell the arsehole upstairs that you want to buy your own house and need the money you put in this one. He’ll have to find the money from somewhere, and after his daughter’s wedding he’s not going to have much left. And he doesn’t get a penny from his fucking son. If he can’t come up with it, say you’ll buy him out, and then offer him some cheap shit. See what I mean? We can make it really tough for the old dog.

ZIA
That’s a brilliant idea! You take after me – you really do! A great idea, but don’t forget we mustn’t rub him up the wrong way just yet. We’ll soft-soap the prick till after the wedding and then kick him where it hurts.
(laughs)
The future looks brighter already. Come on everybody lets get some sleep and as from tomorrow we’ll conquer the world.

CUT TO :

ALI
Cut … And print … My friends, I’m so impressed that I’ve upped your price to three million … rupees.

RASHID
I said dollars! Dollars!

ALI
Are you a patriotic Pakistani or what?

RASHID
One hundred per cent. But when it comes to money I want to be paid in dollars or pounds or euros.

ALI
You’re definitely a Pakistani from Mirpur.

RASHID
A Mirpuri who believes in Allah – and the dollar.

ALI
You’ll get it – once I get to Hollywood.

RASHID
Hollywood?! I’ve got a feeling we’ll all end up in Bollywood! … Or even worse – Lollywood.

ALI
You unbeliever! I condemn you to the cutting-room floor. Off with your head. Snip! Snip!

CUT TO :

INT. Ali’s flat – Day

ALI, wearing plain jogging clothes, carrying a medium-sized suitcase, walks up the hall, followed by a girl – ROSEMEEN –
carrying a backpack plus handbag, etc; ALI enters the back-room, and puts the suitcase in the corner. ROSEMEEN comes in and stands there looking around like a kid let loose in a sweet-shop.

ALI
I’ll just put this over here for now … Make yourself at home.

ROSEMEEN
It looks as if you’ve got a whole houseful crammed into one room.

ALI
I use the front-room for filming, so I’ve had to put everything in here.

ROSEMEEN
(moving about)
You can get an idea of a person by looking at his room, don’t you think.

ALI
Well, if you look at the books I read, the music I listen to, the films I watch …the exercise equipment, the film- making equipment … and the other odds and ends, then I suppose you would get a general idea of what makes me tick.

ROSEMEEN
And you actually make movies?

ALI
Sure. That’s my whole life … Over the years I’ve managed to get all the equipment, and to get a group of people together who are on the same wavelength. This flat is our base. It’s a meeting point, a training centre, a studio.On any given day, at all times, you’ll find people here exercising, reading, writing, watching a movie, dancing in the garden, rehearsing, filming, editing, and so on. It’s a real hot-house.

ROSEMEEN
It’s incredible! I – I can’t believe this is all happening! It’s like a – like watching a dream come true in front of my eyes. Half-an-hour ago I was totally confused, scared to death, not really knowing what was going to happen next, but now …

ALI
This is what you planned for, wasn’t it? Finding a place to stay, getting a part-time job, enrolling at a drama school? … Thing is you’ve done it all at once. You’ve jumped in at the deep end.

ROSEMEEN
I know – and I can’t even swim.

ALI
The only people who get anywhere are those who dare to jump. But that’s the easy part. It gets a little harder when you come face to face with all the sharks. Only a few manage to survive while the rest are swallowed up by drugs, prostitution and other low-life. You would be amazed at the number of Asian girls who are up for sale … I know Pakistani pimps who would love to have a filly
like you in their stable. They could retire off a body like yours.

ROSEMEEN
You have a funny way of handing out a compliment.

ALI
That’s nothing – wait till I’ve warmed up a bit … Would you like some tea? … Or something to eat?

ROSEMEEN
No, thank you. I had some at the coach station.

ALI
What experience have you had?
(a puzzled look from ROSEMEEN)
Of acting?! What have you acted in?

ROSEMEEN
I used to take part in plays at school. But for the past two years I’ve been stuck at home … I just read plays, memorized various scenes and acted them out in my room when I got the chance.

ALI
So your family doesn’t even know that you want to act.

ROSEMEEN
If they’d known they would have killed me.

ALI
There’s still a good chance of you ending up dead. Believe me, your troubles have just begun.

ROSEMEEN
I’ll take them as they come. Anything is better than being buried alive.

ALI
I presume they married you off as soon as you left school?

ROSEMEEN
(after a pause)
I was already engaged to a cousin who was still in Pakistan. It took a long time for his visa to come through. The wedding took place six months ago.

ALI
And?

ROSEMEEN
The rest is a cliche.

ALI
Tell me your story and I’ll use it in my next movie … I bet your old man is an average macho stud who gets on, huffs, puffs, and rolls off?

ROSEMEEN
(giggles)
Yes.

ALI
And?

ROSEMEEN
Please … I don’t want to talk about it … any of it … Maybe one day I’ll be able to laugh about it but for now …

ALI
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be too nosey … Let’s change the subject .. Why don’t I show you some bits and pieces I’ve been working on recently.

ROSEMEEN
That’s why I’m here.

ALI
And I thought you were after my body … I’ll just set up the tape … And …
(presses a button on the remote-control)
Abracadabra …

CUT TO :

Television screen : ARIF is exercising; wearing a pair of kung-fu trousers (the top is draped over a chair in the corner) and a pair of trainers. His father walks in. ARIF is surprised and a little wary, fumbling and a little nervous for a minute, as his father hardly ever comes into his room. ZULFIKAR walks into the centre of the room and takes a disapproving look round, while ARIF goes over to the chair, puts on his top and carries the chair back to his father, who sits down.
ZULFIKAR gets straight to the point :

ZULFIKAR
Imtiaz will be going to Pakistan next Saturday …

ARIF
Because of what happened last night?! That’s crazy!

ZULFIKAR
It’s only for a month or so; or as long as it takes for him to get married. I want you to start thinking of going as –

ARIF
No way!

ZULFIKAR
In a couple of months time then.

ARIF
Not then, not ever!

ZULFIKAR
It’s time you settled down. I will find you a really nice girl –

ARIF
I can find my own girl!

ZULFIKAR
What do you know about girls? You only go with white sluts. They’re all dirty … immoral … They sleep around and –

ARIF
What the hell do you think the Pakistani girls are doing out there? I’ve lost count of how many I’ve made it with!

ZULFIKAR
That’s because some Pakistani girls here have been spoilt by the culture of this –

ARIF
That’s crap! They’re no different back home : screwing all over the place – behind every bush practically!

ZULFIKAR
Don’t be so vulgar!

ARIF
It’s the truth! … And it’s also a fact that every time you bother to speak to me you put a gun to my head!

ZULFIKAR
I am only trying to do the best I can for you.

ARIF
Ah, don’t give me that crap!
(starts to say more – stops – shakes his head)
Do we have to go through this – this shit again?

ZULFIKAR
Yes, we do. I want to settle it once and for all.

ARIF
Go ahead – shoot.

ZULFIKAR
Your uncle and I had a talk this morning. He asked for – What I thought about – How I would feel if Imtiaz was to marry Shaida.

ARIF
(intense, urgent)
And what did you say?

ZULFIKAR
I said I would be delighted.

ARIF
Delighted?! Are you crazy?! Don’t you ever learn?!

ZULFIKAR
Imtiaz is an intelligent boy of good character who has a brilliant future ahead of him. Shaida is of marriageable age, and he is the ideal choice for a husband. Your outburst is uncalled for and totally without reason!

ARIF
I have every reason! Shaida’s my sister and I don’t want to see her end up like that – that one upstairs!

ZULFIKAR
What have you got against Fatima? She’s in a successful marriage, with a nice husband and three beautiful children.

ARIF
Which just goes to prove that she’s a fertile cow. Three kids in four years and another in the pipeline, I’ll bet. Four years! … Seems like … ages ago … Do you remember when you sent me back home during the summer holidays to be present at her wedding to that – that whoring bastard?! Remember? … I do. I think about it all the time. It’s the only thing that keeps me here. Sometimes I wish you hadn’t sent me because then I would’t have seen that there was an alternative to this shithouse. I could have taken off and never –
(stops; pauses)
I got on well with Fatima then, but look what’s happened since. Slowly, slowly she’s changed. Those goddamn bastards have worked on her and changed a nice – changed my sister! – my sister! – into my enemy. Just like them!

ZULFIKAR
Don’t exaggerate so morbidly. There may be misunderstandings now and then between relatives, even brothers and sisters, but when it comes down to it – blood is blood. And that’s all there is. Never mind the quarrels and the fights; try to get on in spite of that because we need each other. Especially in this country where the whites can come down on us at any moment. As for Fatima not being your – not liking you, well, don’t you think maybe she has a reason for that? She says that over the past couple of years you have stopped treating her respectfully, stopped buying her suits or anything, and so on. Also, she says that you go out too much, doing God knows what, and people gossip about you all the time. Apart from that, she likes you very much.

ARIF
Like hell she does! Stabs me in the back every chance she gets!

ZULFIKAR
Let’s not talk about that now. I was about to say something else before you … interrupted me. I agreed with your uncle whole-heartedly. I said, your son can marry my daughter but on one condition only, and that is that my son marries one of your daughters.

ARIF
(total disbelief; voice low)
You are out of your mind.

ZULFIKAR
Wait till I’ve finished and then –

ARIF
Absolutely round the bend!

ZULFIKAR
Your uncle refused at first but I insisted till he agreed. This is your chance, son. Take it.

ARIF
You think I’m going to walk into a prison? … into a concentration camp … torture chamber … voluntarily?!

ZULFIKAR
You’re exaggerating again!

ARIF
Okay, I’ll be rational about it. Let’s suppose, just for a minute, that I was to marry either one of those little bitches, who are the spitting images of their mother – the shittiest cunt in the world! …

ZULFIKAR
Don’t say such –

ARIF
(waves him down)
I wouldn’t be just marrying one of the little cunts but the whole fucking family!
(points to the room above)
That family is the biggest pit-full of poisonous snakes there is and you! – you want me to dive in there head first!

ZULFILAR
It isn’t like that at all! Where do you get all these crazy ideas from? It’s my belief that you hang around with the wrong crowd
and –

ARIF
Nobody puts words in my mouth or tells me what to do! When I’m out I spend my time constructively, doing things that will shape the rest of my life.

ZULFIKAR
What things?

ARIF
(evasive)
Things.

Pause.

ZULFIKAR
You shouldn’t go out so much; every night till late, and all day and night over the weekend. You can’t dance and – and do that silly karate … kicking, flicking … for the rest of your life. There comes a time when a boy has to stop doing childish things, and takes a step to manhood.This is your step. Marry the girl – either one. If not from their family – if that’s what’s bothering you – I’ll arrange it with someone else.

ARIF
I don’t want an arranged marriage. They don’t work anymore.

ZULFIKAR
Of course they do. Your mother and I have been married for … nearly thirty years.

ARIF
It’s different now. I’ve got a choice. I’ve got a choice!

ZULFIKAR
Marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly – like picking out your favourite chocolate from a box. It has to be left in the hands of responsible, more experienced people who know what it’s all about.

ARIF
I do know what it’s all about. That’s why when the time comes – when I meet the right girl and want to spend the rest of my life with her – I’ll be making the decisions, without asking for anyone’s permission.

ZULFIKAR
That is an absurd suggestion! What kind of attitude is that? Other children do exactly as their parents tell them, but you – you have to be so original!

Pause.

ARIF
Listen to me : there are things which are passed on from a father to a son, such as land, property, money and other material goods. There are also other things which can be passed on too, such as disease and poison; such as hatred, and grudges, and quarrels which are inherited and passed on from one generation to the next.

ZULIKAR
But it’s like that everywhere! That’s life!

ARIF
But the line has to be drawn somewhere. Your brother is your enemy. His daughter is your enemy. Don’t give me your disease. Don’t give me your poison. Draw the line.

ZULFIKAR
I am only trying to do the best I can for you.

Pause.

ARIF
At the moment, I just want us – me and you – to be closer together. As it is, when you’re not in the attic you’re in the front-room with those bastards. We live in the same house yet days go by when we don’t even see each other. And if I do bump into you sometime you don’t even say anything.

ZULFIKAR
If you were married and settled down things would be different. We would be closer together.

ARIF
We wouldn’t. Marriage to either one of his daughters would come between us all … create a new battleground – fights, quarrels, gossiping, back-stabbing … and the right to ownership : the king and queen up there would be able to take their little princess away anytime they wanted.

ZULFIKAR
They would never do that! Once it’s settled it’s – settled!

ARIF
I’m number on their hate-list so how could they ever, ever agree to have me for their son-in-law? That arsehole must have thrown up when you suggested I marry one of his daughters. I’ll bet you anything you want that once they’ve got Shaida they’ll worm their way out of … the rest – one way or the other.

ZULFIKAR
Don’t worry about their going back on their word. I’ll make sure they keep it. This is your chance … your last chance … Don’t throw it away.

ARIF
I’m not going to throw my life away.

ZULFIKAR
Son … please …

ARIF
Never!

Pause.

ZULFIKAR
Is that your final word?

ARIF
Yes.
(Pause)
Father, I don’t think you’ll believe it, but I want to do something that will please you. I really do. But not this. It’s too much.

ZULFIKAR
Please, son …

ARIF
I can’t. I don’t want to marry anybody yet – arranged or otherwise. I’ve got too many other things I want to do first.

ZULFIKAR
What other things?

ARIF
Things.

ZULFIKAR
Things! Things! What things?!

ARIF
I … I want to be an actor.

ZULFIKAR
(explodes; jumps up)
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life! Even from you! Why, the only people who do that are – are fags and prostitutes!

ARIF
(shattered; pleading)
Why can’t you understand?! For once in your life at least try and –

ZULFIKAR
I don’t want no son of mine to be a – a actor, or to go out with white slags! Can you imagine what people would say? What they are saying already?

ARIF
Now that’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it? You’ve justit right on the head.
(emphasizes)
What other people think.

ZULFIKAR
What else is there?! You’re alright, out with your white friends at all hours …

ARIF
Most of my friends are Pakistanis.

ZULFIKAR
… but I have to face my own people here every day. They snigger and make snide remarks behind my back, even to my face sometimes, and I have to take it because I know it’s true. You’ve been a thorn in my side for years but I’m not going to take anymore! Why should I? What do I get in return for all my efforts and sacrifices? … I want you out of here! Out of this house and out of my life! Go and
marry some slut! Go to hell for all I care!

ARIF
I’m already there! I don’t need to go anyplace else!

ZULFIKAR
I want you out of this house! You hear me?

ARIF
I hear but I’m not listening! You can’t turn me out just like that! I don’t mean out of the house – I don’t give a toss about that – I mean out of the family. I have a mother and a sister who I love, and they love me. I’m not going to walk out on them. How do you think they’re going to feel when they hear about this?

ZULFIKAR
They’ll feel what I tell them to. I’m the head of the family.

ARIF
Head?! More like the arsehole!

ZULFIKAR
You insolent! … disgusting! … little bastard!

ARIF
That’s right, father mine, tell me how you’re doing it all for me. Tell me how you love and adore me, your one and only son – the light of your life.

ZULFIKAR
I’m going to write to your mother and inform her of the situation here. I’ve tended to gloss things over in order to spare her the worry of knowing the hell you was putting me through, but now you leave me no alternative.

ARIF
She won’t believe you. She knows what’s what. She knows the truth.

ZULFIKAR
The truth is that you have persistently disobeyed me, deliberately ignored my advice …

ARIF
Your orders, you mean.

ZULFIKAR
… thwarted and sabotaged all my well-laid plans, until I just gave up on you and let you slide downhill till you got to where you are now – a degenerate loafer. But one thing I never foresaw was that you would take me down with you. My enemies …

ARIF
Your brothers and sisters.

ZULFIKAR
… took advantage of every mistake you ever made and used it as a stick to beat me with, till I was reduced to being he laughing-stock of the whole community. Me! The laughing-stock! Once I was the pillar –

ARIF
You’re pathetic! You know that! Pathetic! You stick your head up their backsides, and then tell me how it stinks to high heaven! What the fuck am I supposed to do about it?

ZULFIKAR
You should do as I say! But you, you have to be like a white
man …

ARIF
Don’t start that again.

ZULFIKAR
… a third-rate white man. Other boys are successful : in good jobs, driving new cars, buying their own houses, getting married, raising a family –

ARIF
(sharp; final)
I don’t want to hear anymore of this crap. You go ahead and do whatever you want, but leave me out of it.

ZULFIKAR
You’ve always been out of it! I’m the one who’s had to take the full load on my shoulders, without any kind of support from you. The money I get from you now only covers your share of the expenses. Before, you used to practically give me your whole wage packet.

ARIF
You stopped getting it after giving me an earful of shit about you being my master.

ZULFIKAR
I am your master! A father has a god-given right –

ARIF
Fuck you and your right!

ZULFIKAR
(shocked pause)
What did you say?

ARIF
You heard!

ZULFIKAR
You – you …

ARIF
(far gone beyond the point of no return)
Tell me – Daddy! – what does it feel like to fuck a donkey? Now, don’t deny it – the percentage is too high – you can’t be the one guy who’s never done it.

ZULFIKAR lets out a bellow of rage, and charges at ARIF who side-steps out of the way, and then continues to feint and dance around his father as he tries to punch, and even makes feeble attempts to kick, his son, without connecting. (The phone is heard ringing, off).

ARIF
Tell me – is it tight? … hot? … wet? … Was she satisfied?

NARGIS enters (first sentence, just puts her head round, then enters fully).

NARGIS
(to ARIF)
It’s for you … (then) … What’s going on?

ARIF
You don’t know? You mean you wasn’t listening outside the door? You couldn’t hear all this screaming and shouting? You gone deaf all of a sudden, you nosey bitch?!

NARGIS
How dare you talk to me like that! … Father, are you just going to stand there and let him hurl abuse at me? …Oh, Father … you are crying.
(going up to him and putting an arm around him)
Poor Father … What has he done to you?
(turning on ARIF)
You bastard! How dare you do this to my father?

ARIF
Why don’t you piss off back upstairs and get fucked!

NARGIS
(outraged; advancing on him)
You shameless bastard! I’ll scratch your eyes out! I’ll tear you to ribbons!

But she stops when she sees the murderous look on his face.

ARIF
Get out of my way before I kick your head in, you treacherous … toss-bag!
(to his father : fuming, shaking with rage; wildly searching for the words)
You made a deal! Sold off! … Part-exchanged me and my sister! You’re a pimp! … And a whore! … But the worst thing about you is that you’re so CHEAP!

Storms out – about to have a fit …
NARGIS goes up to her father and continues with her comforting routine …

NARGIS
Father, dear … don’t torture yourself like this; he’s not worth all these tears.
(sobbing for a few seconds)
He should have his tongue cut out – I couldn’t help overhearing the vile things he said. But if he wants to know how Mother feels about this then he will get it in black and white. I’ll write her a letter myself and confirm what you are going to tell her. Don’t worry, Father; we’ll be well rid of him; things will get better from now on. When Shaida gets married and comes here you’ll have two devoted daughters in the same house looking after you. Of course, we mustn’t forget Mother; she can come with Shaida and we’ll all live as one big, happy family. Dry your eyes now … and write the letter. The sooner we’re rid of that ungrateful wretch the better.

ZULFIKAR
My son! … My flesh and blood – ruined! … All my efforts to guide him have ended in – what ? … This? … Oh, the waste … the waste of a life!

CUT TO :

ALI presses a button on the remote-control and the scene comes to an end.

ALI
What do you think?

ROSEMEEN
t was okay. I liked the way it pulled one way and then the other … like a tug-of-war.

ALI
It is a war. There’re a lot of walking wounded out there. And it’s going to get worse … Want me to show you more? …

Selects another tape, puts it in, switches it on –

CUT TO :

Television screen : ALI is studying, and making notes, with his feet on the desk, and books all around … ZIA enters quietly; stands there looking round the room and at ALI, with a sneer on his face. (His right arm is held straight against his side). Then,
deliberately, he moves into ALI’s field of vision and again stops. ALI suddenly realizes/senses that there’s someone else in the room and, looking up, sees that it’s his uncle. They stare at each other with pure hatred in their eyes.

ALI
My home is strictly out of bounds to bastards like you.

ZIA
Tch-tch-tch. And here I was thinking that I would be more than welcome – relatively speaking.

ALI
Get out before I break every bone in your body.

ZIA
Temper, temper … Where’s the girl?

ALI
What girl?

ZIA
(smirks, sneers)
I’ll bet you anything that it’s a white girl.

ALI
There’s no one else here.

ZIA
You think I was born yesterday? No Pakistani boy leaves home unless he’s with a girl – a white girl. Now, where is she? Gone to do the shopping? Or in the bath, cleaning her cunt out? … You smart-arse bastard! You thought you could run away from me, but it didn’t take me long to find you, did it?

ALI
You’re a dumb peasant, but you ought to know by now that I don’t run or hide from anybody.

ZIA
You should have done. And gone much further. I must say I was surprised when I found out that you had only moved just round the corner into this … flat. I was calling up people in other towns, all over the country, telling them to keep an eye out for you.

ALI
I suppose your life had suddenly become meaningless without me – your favourite nephew? Every night you tossed and turned, wondering if I was safe and sound, and had a roof over my head.

ZIA
(laughs)
You can’t even begin to imagine the anxiety your departure caused.

ALI
You donkey-fucker! You must’ve been turning cartwheels in the air!

ZIA
(more …)
Oh, I was; I am … All those years of listening to your jumped-up father – that Nawarb Sarb – going on and on bout you becoming a doctor or an engineer. Ha! A doctor! You’re the biggest bastard I’ve ever seen! Your father was whistling through his arse when he came up with that shit, but now he’s finally come off his high-horse. Ha! Ha! Ha! I’ve been waiting for years; hoping, praying that this would happen. Now it finally has and I can’t laugh loud
enough! Ha! Ha! Ha! Can you blame me for gloating? Year after year after year, listening to your fucking father, my beloved brother, banging on his drum; boasting about his own sons, predicting their meteoric rise to fame and fortune, while dumping on everybody else’s sons, including mine. But he’s been proved wrong, has’t he?! And how! Wow! … Look at my son : those years in the madrassa did him the world of good. The priests taught him how to be a real man –

ALI
And a lot more besides : ‘Bend over, my child, and let us pray together’.

ZIA
… He learned about his own faith, his own country, and his own people. When he came back he was a different and better person altogether. I got him a job in the same factory as myself and he worked his way up and now he’s in line to be a foreman. My son – a foreman! … While you’re still stuck in the same dead-end job, my son’s been moving ahead and now picks up twice the money you get.

ALI
Which makes him twice as good.

ZIA
Ten times! A hundred times better! … Snotty, stuck-up filmy star! Bookworm! Always thought you were somebody special, didn’t you? Going round with your nose in the air, looking down on me and your other relatives as if – Fucking bastard! You’ve come off your pedestal now, haven’t you, Golden Boy?

ALI
If my leaving makes you so happy then why bother to try and get me back?

ZIA
What would people say if I didn’t do anything? If I stood aside and let my brother’s son ruin his own life and bring shame on his family? They would drag my name through the mud and say I was an uncaring brother and an indifferent uncle.
(laughs)
It’s true … but I have to show them that at least I tried to get you to come back home, whereas your father just let you walk out scot-free.

ALI
Not just to try but to actually succeed and have those same people hail you as a hero.

ZIA
(beaming)
How sweet it is to be Number One.

ALI
(like ice)
You’ll never be a hero – not even in a Indian movie.

ZIA
We’ll see about that.

ZIA has been holding a poker (approximately 18” long) up his sleeve and now, as he’s speaking, he lets it slowly slide down through his fingers until the handle fits snugly into his hand and the tip is flicking against his leg.

ALI
That’s pretty neat; bet you’ve been practising.

ZIA
Well, I figured I would have to use it again one day. I must be out of shape because the last time I used it your brother didn’t even see it till it was coming down on his shoulder.

ALI
If you want to get out of here in one piece then don’t mention my brother in any way.

ZIA
Tough guy, huh? Le’s find out how hard you really are. For years I’ve been looking for an excuse – any excuse – to crack your fucking Golden Skull.

While speaking, ZIA has moved up closer to the desk – years of frustrated rage, envy, and hatred well-up and look for release :
he raises the poker and brings it down, aiming for ALI’s legs which have been on the desk all the while. Only now does ALI move : waits till the last moment and then whips his legs to the side; the poker comes down on the desk with a bang; ALI’s on is feet now; flicks the writing pad into ZIA’s face, and moves away, making more room for himself, taking the chair with him … ZIA takes a minute to recover; then comes after ALI, twice as mad. ALI
holds up the chair in front of him –

ZIA
That won’t do you any good … Your brother just stood there and took it – only then did he fall down. I bust his shoulder but I straightened him out alright. I’m going to do the same to you.

ALI
And then marry me off to your other daughter.

ZIA
When I’ve finished with you, and after you’ve come out of hospital, you’ll make a good husband for her.

ALI
(relishing it)
What would I want to marry her for : I’ve fucked her already.

ZIA freezes – and then goes berserk, lashing out at ALI, who manages, each time, to block the poker with the chair.

ZIA
That’s a lie! You goddamn animal! That’s a fucking lie!

ALI
It’s fucking, and it’s the truth. Ask her.

Then it’s cat and mouse : ALI taunting, while ZIA is screaming, shouting, and hitting out. (ZIA is jerking around in a frenzy, while ALI’s every move is calculated, at ease, and absolutely arrogant).

ZIA
You pervert! … I’ll kill you … I’ll make mincemeat out of you!

ALI
I didn’t even want her … It was her, jumping on me all the time … Every time I went near she used to whip her pants off, get on her back, and wave her legs in the air.

ZIA
Barstad! … Barstad! … Son-of-a-bitch!

ALI
Sometimes I used to screw her while you were in the next room. I got a kick out of that, but it soon wore off ‘cause she’s lousy in the sack : no imagination! … And that’s not all! I got every prick in town to give her a leg-over! There was a queue stretching down the road two minutes after you and your wife left the house … I took her to other houses, and flats; she spread her legs in parks, in alleyways, in the back of cars … Everywhere … Everybody knew it apart from you. Didn’t you see them, hear them, laughing behind your back? … Your Virgin Princess is world famous … I’ll never be a bigger star than her! …You think I want to be lumbered with that poxy little cow for the rest of my life?!

ZIA
Aaarrhh!!

ZIA strikes and ALI blocks again, moves out of the way, and then stops, stands still – throws the chair into a corner, and then looks his ‘Uncle’ straight in the eye.

ALI
Play-time’s over … Hit me.

ZIA is breathing heavily. He stops, prepares himself : wipes the palm of his right hand on his trousers, takes hold of the poker again, and lashes out, swinging across, aiming for ALI’s head. ALI waits till the last moment – and then ducks under the poker as it cuts through the air where his head had been an instant before. The momentum of the blow/poker throws ZIA off-balance; ALI moves in fast with a kick to his stomach and, as he folds up with the breath knocked out of him, a chop to the back of the neck which drops him onto his knees. The poker falls out of his hand, in front of him, just out of reach. In one movement, ALI picks it up,
grabs ZIA by the throat, raises the poker in the air – murder, vengeance in his eyes – and … slowly lowers it again … his body shaking, but under control, just about. Violently shoves ZIA back onto the floor, and hurls the poker away into the corner.
ZIA stumbles up, groggy, holding his throat, retching.

ALI
You ever come here again – I’ll kill you.

ZIA looks at ALI with the purest hate and fear, and creeps out …

CUT TO :

ALI presses a button on the remote-control and the scene comes to an end.

ALI
I had him … and I let him go. For ten years I had been planning how I would tear him apart, but when I got the chance – I let him go … in one piece.
(pause)
I showed you that scene because I want you to see what’s in store for you. Your relatives are already looking for you and when they find you … anything could happen. Be ready for when it does.

ROSEMEEN
Nothing will happen. They can’t touch me now. If they did they’d be breaking the law. Didn’t I tell you? It’s my birthday today. I’m eighteen.

ALI looks at her, as an old man would at a child, and moves towards the door.

ALI
Let’s go into the front-room … Copycat Pakistanis celebrate birthdays but they don’t give a toss about what they mean. A coming of age means nothing … I’ve saved the best till last.

ROSEMEEN stops in her tracks at the sight of all the film-making
equipment … ALI leads her to the camera & tripod … ROSEMEEN touches/caresses it …

ALI
How about going through one of the pieces you’ve memorised to see how it comes out on film? Find out if the camera likes you or not, as they say in the business.
(to the camera)
You like her, don’t you?
(puts his ear up close)
As much as that? … Already? … Talk about love at first sight.
(to ROSEMEEN)
Think of it as a screen test.

ROSEMEEN smiles, shakes her head; shy.

ALI
No? … Well, just familiarize yourself with the camera … I haven’t told you about the play, have I? … I’ve written a play for television and sent it to one of the companies several weeks ago; I’m sill waiting for a reply. In the meantime, we’re rehearsing and filming various scenes from the play so that we’ll be ready when we get to the real thing.

ROSEMEEN
What’s it about?

ALI
My life story, but don’t tell anybody – it’s supposed to be fiction. Every Asian boy and girl who has read it says it’s their story.
(smiles)
I don’t mind, as long as I’m the only one who gets paid for it.

ROSEMEEN
Judging from what I’ve seen so far I’ll bet it’s really good.

The sound of a car stopping outside, door being shut …

ALI
A few of the scenes still need tightening up a bit, but it’s not bad for a first play. I just think of it as laying a few ghosts to rest, and opening a few doors … It’s the key …

ARIF enters … Strung out …

ALI
Morning, dozy … You alright? …
(ARIF shrugs.)
I’d like you to meet a friend of mine – Rosemeen.

ARIF
(mumbling)
Hi.

ALI
Rosemeen – Arif.

ROSEMEEN
Glad to meet you.

ALI
I bumped into her earlier while I was out jogging. She was looking at the ads for ‘Rooms to Let’ in a newsagent’s window, with suitcases all over the pavement. One look at her and I got the whole picture … Guess why she left home?

ARIF
(gets more sarcastic with each question/answer)
To avoid an arranged marriage?

ALI
No.

ARIF
She’s pregnant?

ALI shakes his head …

ARIF
She likes to travel?

ALI
She wants to be an actress.

ARIF
‘An actress! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life! Why, the only people who do that are – are fags and prostitutes!’ … The best thing for you to do would be to just go back to wherever the fuck you ran away from! Be a productive cow, or some faggot’s surrogate donkey, but don’t ever, ever try to be a human being. It’s a criminal offence … and it hurts too much!

ALI puts an arm round his shoulders, and begins to lead him across
the room; first, turns to ROSEMEEN, apologetic in his tone …

ALI
Carry on looking at the camera.

During the next part of the scene, ROSEMEEN, hesitantly at first,
concentrates solely on the camera; pivoting it round so that it’s
pointing out of the window; she follows pedestrians, cars; points it at the sky, etc;

ALI
What happened?

ARIF
Nothing … Had a fight with the old man … He’s marrying off my younger sister to my cousin, and wants me to marry my cousin’s sister. Can you believe it?

ALI
Believe it? I’ve had first-hand experience.

ARIF
I don’t know what came over me … Said some crazy things to him … Didn’t mean to, just … lost control … went crazy and shot my mouth off … I feel like a shithead. He told me to get out, but I refused … I’ll probably have to … It’s just a matter of time.

ALI
You’re always welcome to stay here.

ARIF
(nodding towards ROSEMEEN)
You’ve already got enough on your plate … Anyway, you always said two was a crowd.

ALI
Fuck what I said. I’m serious – if you have to leave then come straight here. We’ll manage. We’ll sleep on the floor, in the bath, in the hallway, just like our fathers. One day we too will be able to bitch to our children of the hardships we went through … You’ll feel better once we start working … Come on, give me a hand to set up.

ARIF
I don’t want to do that scene today.

ALI
You know the rule : No matter what the problem is –

ARIF
I know, I know – but I can’t do it. I’ll operate the camera … or the lights, or something. But not that scene … I couldn’t go through it twice in one day.

Voices can be heard, approaching, off …

ALI
I’ll do it … If you need help in any way, come to me … Promise? …

ARIF nods.
Several people enter, and shout out greetings, etc; (register ROSEMEEN’s presence but don’t acknowledge it; CAROL goes up to ALI
and gives him a hug and kiss; he’s cool about it); they start going about their business in a professional manner : couple of them fetch a desk, someone gets a chair, some books, pen and paper, etc; ZIA puts on a beard in readiness for a religious ceremony; ZULFIKAR is working out the best way to open and close a
silver razor – tests it’s sharpness (e.g. cuts a hair off his head).

ALI
Be careful with that razor during the scene – don’t want you to slip and cut me for real.

ZULFIKAR
I thought Arif was going to play that part.

ALI
He’s feeling a bit under the weather today. By the way – this is Rosemeen; she’ll be working with us from now on.

Everybody shouts out greetings while going about their business
… ZULFIKAR introduces himself …

ZULFIKAR
Hello … How are you? … I’m Zulfikar … So … I take it you want to be an actress? … Well, that is nice to know. I am so glad that more and more of our youngsters are taking an interest in the arts. I would have liked for my daughters to have been creative but … I suppose that they don’t have the calling. And that is what counts. That is what separates the artistes from the mere mortals … Listen to me going on … Oh, well … If there is anything you need, any way that I can be of help, then please feel free to ask.

ROSEMEEN
Thank you.

ZULFIKAR
I may be just another ham actor – halal but still a ham – but I will do all I can to help you to settle down.

ROSEMEEN
I appreciate that. I am sure I will learn all I need to know from you.

ZULFIKAR
I look forward to working with you … This is Carol … She has big talents – in a number of departments.

CAROL
Thanks for the vote … One of those departments is operating the camera … Want me to show you the ropes?

ROSEMEEN
That would be great.

CAROL
Who’s going to help me with the lights?

ARIF
Me …
(to ROSEMEEN)
I’m sorry – I don’t usually –

ROSEMEEN
It’s okay … I’ve spent most of my life in the kitchen – I know what it’s like to be in the frying-pan and the fire.

ARIF
That’s a good way of putting it.

ALI’s been running on the spot, jumping in the air with his knees up under his chin … takes deep breaths, until back to normal, and then moves to the desk …

ALI
Let’s get the balls rolling.

CUT TO :

Clapperboard

CUT TO :

ALI’s busy writing … His father and five other men (brother, uncle, cousins) enter on tip-toes; quietly as possible, they start making their way over to him; when they enter his line of vision he’s startled and jerks up. In that instant : tension, adrenaline
pumping; he’s not sure whether it’s a joke being played on him or if it’s serious; should he laugh it off or should he run? He sees the silver razor in his father’s hand – and he knows … Stumbles back, knocking the chair down, trips over it, back-pedals till the wall stops him.

ALI
I’d heard that this kind of thing went on but I thought it was just an old wives tale … You bastards! I’ll kill you all before I let you lay a finger on me! … You’re not going to get me!

ZULFIKAR
Don’t make a scene and embarrass me in front of everyone … There’s nothing to be afraid of, son; nothing to worry about. It’s perfectly natural : you have reached the stage – that critical stage in your development as a man – which has to be treated in the traditional way, otherwise it could, one day, prove to be dangerous for other members of our society.

ALI
Fuck off! You – you primitive savages! Crawl back to your caves!

ZULFIKAR
That’s stupid and narrow-minded. Our society is up-to-date along with the best of them. Look at the English – so modern they call something old-fashioned before it’s even been invented or thought of. They do this; so does every other race under the sun. They all have their own methods, but ours is the best because it only takes a second. Why be so modern as to spread all that pain, confusion, fear, doubt, and guilt over a whole lifetime? Why not deal with it in one stroke, so that we can concentrate on what we were brought in this world to do : to live! To really live! Just think of it : you will never have to take risks; never have to push to the limit, or step over the line, or accept a challenge, or face danger, or the unknown. Instead of that you will be assured of a life that is totally safe and crystal clear … How about it, son? Lie down on the table … I promise to make it as painless as possible – afterwards, you will never feel again.

ZIA
Do as your father says, boy.

ALI
Stay away from me.

RASHID
You’re only delaying the inevitable.

FAROOK
Face the fact.

HUSSAIN
Take it like a man.

ALI
Go to hell!

ZULFIKAR signals the other men to spread out as they all advance on ALI slowly, menacingly. ALI reacts the same as a cornered animal : hair standing on end, teeth bared, claws out. With a growl, he snatches up the chair and hurls it at one of the men, who ducks just in time. Then he pushes/throws the table at another man and, head down, charges at the rest, trying to butt his way out. Everybody falls in a heap on the floor, and in the ensuing
chaos the flying/tangled arms, legs, and bodies take shape until it emerges that ALI, outnumbered, has finally been captured and has someone hanging on to each of his limbs. They know exactly what to do : ZULFIKAR drags the desk over to centre-stage and positions it underneath a spotlight, as in a operating-theatre. The others carry ALI, who’s jerking like a fish on the end of a line, and place him on the desk in such a way that his arms and legs are hanging over the sides, in line with the legs of the desk. Each of the four men kneels down and entwines his arm round ALI’s arm/or leg and the leg of the desk, so that ALI can only jerk his upper body (hips) around a little without, now, any hope of escaping. ZIA is standing behind with his hands on either side of ALI’s head. During all this ALI’s been shouting :

ALI
You bastards! Bastards! Let go of me or I’ll kill you! … I’ll get each one of you even if it takes the rest of my life! I’ll kill you all! You perverted! … sick! … sons-of-bitches! Donkey-fucking faggots! Muff-diving cocksuckers! Animals! Primitive! … dumb ! … animals!

ZULIKAR stands between his legs and punches him in the belly causing him to ‘try and touch the ceiling‘, while the men holding him ‘pull him back to the floor’.

ZULFIKAR
Shut up! You are making a mockery of the most serious and important ceremony in any man’s life … Keep still – one stupid move and you may cause me to cut off your prick as well.

ALI
Don’t cut’em, Daddy! Please don’t cut’em. Cut off my arm – my leg! Anything – but not them!

ZULFIKAR
Don’t be childish. You are just one step away from manhood. One small step away from joining the finest set of men ever produced. Nobody in our society has balls. There’s no need for them. If you were to continue as you are, you would be regarded as an outcast – as a leper. Nobody would let you into their home, or marry their
daughter, or anything … We are the most tolerant, fair-minded, liberal people in the world, but if your balls were left intact you would be treated like a nigger. But, most important of all, along with yourself you would ruin me and the rest of your family. I cannot let that happen … I’m doing it for you; for your good; to ensure that you have a guarantee of future security and safety. This is the greatest show of affection a father can ever give his son. It happens once in a lifetime, so make the most of it.

ALI
No, Father! No! Please, don’t! … Brother, stop him! Don’t let him do it!

RASHID
Will you shut up or what? … You’re turning out to be a real cry baby.

ZIA massages the sides of ALI’s head, moving his fingers in a circular motion.

ZIA
Shhh … shhh … relax … relax …

He takes a piece of wood (6” long) out of his pocket and tries to put it in ALI’s mouth (a ‘bit‘ in a horse’s mouth) but ALI grits his teeth. ZIA tries hard but ALI shakes/rolls his head. ZULFIKAR
leans over and roughly grabs hold of ALI’s jaw and pulls it down,
enough to enable ZIA to insert the ‘bit’.

ZULFIKAR
You’re going to need that, so don’t spit it out.

ZULFIKAR goes down on one knee, and positions himself : places his
left hand on ALI’s groin, and ‘pulls a couple of times on his balls‘ to give him ample room to make the ‘cut’.
Then, the slow chant …

ZULFIKAR
I love you.

OTHERS
We love you.

ZULFIKAR
I love you.

ALI
Nhhhh!

OTHERS
We love you.

ZULFIKAR
I love you.

OTHERS
We love you.

ALI
Nhhhh!

… the quick cut –
ALI’s body jerks up in the air, and seems to hang there for a long time … falls back on the desk with a thump, and the most frenzied jerking about imaginable begins to take place …
ZULFIKAR rises quickly ‘holding the balls’ in his cupped hands …

ZULFIKAR
Hold him! Hold him! Don’t let him fall!

THe others put their backs into it : eventually the jerks and spasms slow down, and ALI begins to calm down … ZIA takes the ‘bit’ out of ALI’s mouth, and he breathes in deeply, gasping, moaning.
ZULFIKAR moves round the desk till he’s by ALI’s head.

ZULFIKAR
Give him another minute to regain control of his senses … My pretty, pretty little boy, you have now become a beautiful man … There, there now … Don’t worry, everything went off without a hitch. In a couple of hours time you will be back on your feet and raring to begin the new life ahead of you. You will see just how
wonderful it is, and will thank me for making it possible for you to live in absolute comfort and safety.

He kisses ALI on the forehead; ALI’s staring straight up at the ceiling; stiff, shell-shocked.

ZULFIKAR
Welcome to The Club.

The other men rise slowly, and begin to put on the finishing touches : bring up ALI’s arms and legs onto the desk, and roll him
onto his side. Then, each one in turn kisses ALI on the cheek,
murmuring, ‘Welcome‘ ‘Glad to have you with us‘ ‘Well done’, etc;

ZULFIKAR
(holding out the razor)
And now for my final, and most precious, gift to you. A gift that you will, I know, come to treasure. It has been in our family’s possession for hundreds of years; passed on from generation to generation, from father to son, until, now, it is my honour, pride, and joy to pass it on to you, so that, one day, you too, keeping with family tradition, will pass it on to your son.

ALI’s rolled up like a foetus; sweat pouring out of him, and his eyes popping out, staring straight ahead, seeing nothing.
ZULFIKAR places the razor on the desk; ALI’s eyes twitch, begin to focus, divert their gaze onto the razor, hypnotized by it.
The others, now, concentrate on ZULFIKAR, who is all puffed up.

ZIA
Congratulations! You must be absolutely overjoyed and relieved that this little business has finally been taken care of?

ZULFIKAR
I’m in seventh heaven! That terrible weight on my shoulders has been removed at last … Not being able to sleep at night through worrying about when and whether he would do something spunky and bring shame crashing down on my – But now my head can lie easy once again.

ZIA
I know exactly what you mean. It’s enough to drive you insane, isn’t it? Our children have no idea how they torture us up till the time we operate on them.

ZULFIKAR
True. True. But you and I don’t have to worry about that anymore. All our children have their futures mapped out for them. From here onwards it will be exactly as we have always planned it.

The others too, in turns, congratulate him; slap his back, hug him, etc ;

ZULFIKAR
Thank you. Thank you … I’m sorry about the language he used.

HUSSAIN
It’s only to be expected. You should have heard me when it was my turn : I used all the swear-words in the book, and invented several new ones for good measure.

ZULFIKAR
I’m sorry that he ran around and –

ZIA
There’s no need to apologize for something that’s part and parcel of the ceremony.

HUSSAIN
It would have been boring if he had just lain down and not put up a fight.

FAROOK
He’s a tough guy. Real tough. Boy, he’s sure got a lot of – guts … guts.

ZIA
The toughest ones make the best converts.

ZULFIKAR
Thank you all for your help in this most delicate situation. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to be alone with my son for a while.

RASHID
There’s a pile of food, sweets, and drinks in the front – room, just waiting to be gobbled up.

FAROOK
Yummy, yummy, yum yum.

ZIA
Let’s celebrate this happiest of occasions.

They exit … ZULFIKAR stands over ALI for a moment, beaming proudly; then he kneels by the side of the desk …

ZULFIKAR
I can’t put into words how proud I am of you. You’ve made me so, so happy. My reputation has climbed another rung up the ladder – in fact, it’s shot right to the top. And so has yours, believe me. People will stop being suspicious and wary, like they used to be, as if a time-bomb was in their midst and they didn’t know when it was going to explode. From now on they will welcome you with open arms and hearts. And not only that – after this operation you qualify as a complete citizen, with full rights : one of them being marriage. Those same people, who yesterday regarded you as a threat, will today, gladly have you for a son-in-law … That’s what I wanted to tell – talk to you about. My negotiations with your uncle are in their finishing stages; there are a few differences,but nothing which can’t be ironed out. He knows now that you will make a complete and faithful husband to his daughter. So, you see, after great pain comes the greatest joy. And not just
for fractions of a second, but for life … At this moment, you are, I know, feeling very, very bitter and resentful but after the initial shock has worn off, you yourself will clearly see just how little you have lost compared to the enormous gains. Anyway, your balls will always be hanging around, so to speak. I’ll have them
cleaned up, stuffed, and made into ear-rings, designed to the latest up-to-the-minute fashion, as a traditional
wedding gift to your wife … The Whites think of our women as being meek and slave-like, but we know better, don’t we? … What you need now is plenty of rest. We’ll continue our talk when you have fully recovered. My son …
(kisses ALI’s cheek and rises)
My son … rest … rest …

CUT TO:

CAROL
Okay wrap it up.

ZIA
(stretching)
Ahhhh! That was a tough session. I’m knackered.

FAROOK
Go and get knickered and you’ll feel better.

People move around, packing up, putting things away, etc; CAROL comes up behind ALI and puts her arms around him; bites his neck and cheek playfully.

CAROL
You bring out the cannibal in me …
(puts her hand over his crotch)
Just checking.
(smiles)
Can I stay the night?
(he shakes his head)
Why not?

ALI
I don’t feel like it.

CAROL
You always feel like it! … Are you worried about your lodger being in the way?

ALI
I’m tired.

CAROL
You’re never tired! … Al, don’t be a spoilsport. We can go back to my place … or in my car … Al?
(pause)
You selfish prick!

CAROL walks away in a temper; picks up her jacket & handbag and exits.

RASHID
What’s the matter with her?

ALI
(casual shrug)
The green-eyed monster has found another victim.

ZIA
You turned her down?! She offered herself to you on a plate and you turned her down! Jesus! … I would give my right ball for the chance of taking a shot at her crack.

ALI
You want a shot? You’re a Paki – that means you’ll have to pay for it. Okay, so we’ll do a little business here, have an auction or something, with a ‘Cunt for Sale’. The meat will go to the highest bidder … Rosemeen – come here a minute.

ALI gets on a chair in the middle of the room, and beckons ROSEMEEN to stand in front of him; he places a hand on her head (later moves it to her shoulder); everybody gathers in front of
them.
(They respond during the following by making various catcalls,
wolf-whistles, etc;)

ALI
Gentlemen, you see before you a work of art, a one-of-a-kind, a unique individual who gave me great pleasure to create.I am honoured to present to you my beloved daughter. The time has come for me to put her on the market. It goes without saying that this merchandise is of the highest quality, without any flaws, and therefore will cost you an arm and a leg. But before you start bidding, I will just, briefly, run through her qualities so that you will know beforehand what you are purchasing. As you can see, she is extremely beautiful. Her skin is white as snow. She has style, and grace. She changes her suits several times a day. She is shy and soft-spoken, but her tongue is sharp as a razor if she’s rubbed the wrong way. And she can gossip – Boy! Can she gossip! She knows a thousand and one stories and can fabricate another hundred
and two on the spot. When it comes to cooking in the kitchen she has no equal. And, once you show her how, she will roast your meat like it’s never been deep-fried before. What I’m trying to say, gentlemen, is that the apple of my eye is a virgo intacta. She has an intact membrane. In other words, she is a virgin. I guarantee it
– my wife conducts regular physical examinations. But if any of you have any doubts then bring a qualified doctor and see for yourself –

ZIA
I’m a doctor! I’m a doctor!

ALI
No! No! I didn’t mean a horse-doctor. Wo! Wo! Down, boy! Down! … No, I meant bring a qualified doctor and check it out – this is one hymen that’s not said “Hi” to any man … Now, settle down, gentlemen, settle down. Now, who will start the bidding?

RASHID
(arm up first)
Me! … I’ll give her a dozen orgasms every night for the rest of her life. I’ll Kama Sutra her perfumed garden. We’ll trip the light fantastic on a slow boat to China.

ROSEMEEN
Daddy! I want that boy!

ALI
Darling, of course you can have him – but only on the side. He looks like a real stud, but can he provide a roof over your head, clothes on your back, gold chains around your neck? Get his phone number and hump him all the way to heaven, but no more than that. When it comes to a respectable marriage I will make the decisions. Trust me. I know what I am doing. I only have your welfare at heart … Gentlemen, please don’t insult me. Please only make serious offers.

FAROOK
(arm up)
I’ll close the deal! No competition, man! To start with I’ll give you my complete collection of reggae records. Plus, you can clean my football boots, and hand-wash my designer underpants. I’ll let you wear make-up, short skirts, stockings and suspenders, and I’ll take you clubbing every night and you can get pissed on whatever
you like.

ALI
Thank you for your offer but –

FAROOK
I’ll let her drive my car! Man! That’s something, I’m telling you! I mean, nobody else can get within a mile of my car. It’s super-turbo-charged, and the wheels are two foot wide! It’s got –

ALI
I’m sorry but –

FAROOK
I’ll throw in a kilo of marijuana.

AlI
No, thank you.

FAROOK
She won’t have to live with my mother and father. We’ll get our
own –

ALI
I said : No thank you – boy! You’re out … Now, gentlemen – Gentlemen! – What is happening here?! I put a pearl up for sale and you act like swine. I’m not going to throw my pearl before you. Either you make me an offer I can’t refuse or –

ZULFIKAR
Hey! Don’t be put off by these young arseholes. What do they know? The little punks! … I’m a man of the world. I know a Golden Cunt when I see one, so here’s what I’ll give you in exchange for her. For a start I’ll divorce my wife – the old hag! – kick out my children, and cut them out of my will. Then it will be just the two of us together alone in my house. I’ll sign the deed in her name. I’ll completely refurnish it. Everything new. New furniture, new television, fridge-freezer, microwave, dishwasher, everything, everything. I have two other houses here. In Kashmir I have a large house in my village. Also, a farm, and various fields, and a plot of land in the finest residential area in town, where I’ll build her a mansion with every luxury, including electricity, water, and air-conditioning. I’ll give her all my money, every last rupee. What more do you want? If I could I would coin my heart and offer it to her on a plate.

ALI
That’s more like it. Now that’s what I call a good offer.

ZIA
You call that an offer?! A good offer?! That’s chicken-shit! I’ll show you what a good offer is! I’ll give you everything that this cheap-shit offered you and top it. I’ll kick out my wife, my kids, my parents, and my grandmother! … He offered one television! One!
I’ll put a television in every room, including the outside toilet. I have a dozen houses here. They are all hers. In Kashmir I have farms, and fields. All hers. I have two plots of land with mansions already built on them. I have a couple of luxury cars. I’ll buy more. I’ll hire a chauffeur. I’ll buy her so much jewellery that she won’t need to wear clothes! I’ll hire servants to cater for her
every need, to be at her beck and call. I’ll devote the rest of my life to her. I’ll give her my heart –
(whips off his beard)
And my soul!

ALI
The gentleman there has won the girl – by a whisker!

Everybody is laughing, and in high spirits, as the scene fades …

CUT TO :

CLAPPERBOARD

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s flat – DAY.

Several guys are lounging around, taking it in turns to puff on a marijuana-cigarette. ALI enters, carrying a suitcase, followed by
a girl, ROSEMEEN.

ALI
(beckoning to ROSEMEEN)
Come on; it’s okay.
(to the gang)
Guys – this is Samina. She’ll be staying with us from now on. You won’t believe the shit she’s been through. Her parents really put her through hell, but then she thought, ‘Enough is enough’ – And here she is. Now she’s going to live life her way.

ROSEMEEN
You can bet your last rupee on that.
(to FAROOK)
Is that ‘grass’?

FAROOK
Yeah.

ROSEMEEN
Could I have a drag? … Thanks … It’s ages since I had a smoke …
(puffs on it, holds her breath, and then exhales slowly)
Ooh! That really gets me where I live.

FAROOK
Have another puff.

ROSEMEEN
Thanks.

FAROOK
You’re welcome.

FAROOK casually moves his arm and places his hand on her buttock
… ROSEMEEN looks daggers at him, and he withdraws his hand.

FAROOK
Sorry. The ‘grass’ must have gone to my head and made me lose control.

RASHID
“Grass’ makes him lose control … the little sank.

FAROOK
Watch your frigging mouth or –

ROSEMEEN
(exhaling)
Wow! This is real good shit! …
(hands it back to FAROOK)
…God! My head is spinning like a top.

ALI
Why don’t you come next door and lie down for a while …
(leading her out)
… The journey must have worn you out, you poor thing.

ROSEMEEN
Thanks … I’ll be fine in a minute.

ALI puts his arm around her and leads her out.

HUSSAIN
In a minute, she says. In two minutes Jimmy will have her knickers off.

FAROOK
She’s not wearing any.

HUSSAIN
How the fuck do you –

FAROOK
What do you think I was doing when I was feeling her butt? I’m telling you, she’s not wearing any knicks.

RASHID
Well, at least she gets plenty of fresh air … Yahoo! Get ready for action, boys! We’re all going to get our rocks off.
(thrusting his hips)
Huh – huh – huh.

FAROOK
(thrusting his hips)
Bags I go second.

RASHID
(shoves him)
I’m second in line. Any objections?

ARIF
Hey!

RASHID
(backing down)
After you, of course.

HUSSAIN
And I’m after you.

FAROOK
It’s not fair. I’m always last.

HUSSAIN
Don’t worry, there’ll be some crumbs left over for you.

FAROOK
You’re all married – so why don’t you dicks stay at home and do it.

RASHID
Christ! He’s got shit for brains … Look, fuck-face, we only hump our wives when we have to. If you saw the bitches then you wouldn’t ask stupid questions.

HUSSAIN
The worst day of my life was my wedding day, and night. The rice has been eaten, the video’s been made, the drums have been put away, and at last I’m alone with her in my room, with the door locked – and what happens? … Man, she just lay there … like a piece of meat.

They all laugh, and snap their fingers. There are various cries of ‘And mine’ … ‘Mine too’.

HUSSAIN
I’m not joking. Nothing tastes worse than cold meat. I nearly freaked out. Usually I take all night long, but that time I just forced myself to come after a few minutes … Yikes! … It nearly put me off women. But then I got wise. I got hip to the fact that my wife would supply me with children, would clean my house, wash my clothes, and cook my dinner; but if I wanted good all-round hot sex, then I would have to go out and pick up a chick who can really groove … And everybody’s happy. My parents, my relatives, my wife, me, my bit on the side, and not forgetting, my –

(puts his hand on his cock … more laughter and snapping of fingers).

ARIF
Ah, he’ll find out soon enough. His old man’s probably lining up one of his cousins for him.

FAROOK
I’m not marrying no cousin of mine! I’ve shagged half of them anyway.

RASHID
So what?! I used to poke one of my cousins years ago, just for a laugh, and now I’m married to the bitch!

FAROOK
Well, I don’t give a toss about you. All I know is I’m definitely not marrying no –

ARIF
Yeah, yeah, you’ll be marrying a movie-star.
to RASHID)
You got your blade?
(takes it and goes over to the suitcase)
Might as well check out what this cunt has brought with her.

He kneels next to the suitcase and proceeds to open the locks with the knife; as he’s doing so he talks to FAROOK :

ARIF
Listen, you son-of-a-donkey-fucker, when the time comes you’ll be begging them to marry you off. At first, when you refuse, your father will kick your head in, and your mother will spit in your eye. If that doesn’t work then they’ll start on their Emotional Blackmail Routine … ‘What will people say?’ … ‘I’m too ashamed to show my face’ … ‘ I’m dying, I’m dying … it’s all your fault’ … They’ll get your brothers and sisters to join in. A
few months of that and you’ll be a nervous wreck. After that it’s a one-way street.

FAROOK
Fuck it. It was one-way for you ‘cause you haven’t got any balls, you bunch of arseholes!

ARIF
Keep your wisecracks behind your teeth or you’ll be spitting your teeth out of your behind.

The locks are open; he hands the knife back to RASHID, places the suitcase flat on the floor and lifts the lid back. The others gather round to have a look – gaudy, bright, shiny clothes, etc;

ARIF
What have we here?
(pulls out a jewellery-box)
The family jewels!

HUSSAIN
(jerking his head back)
Hold it! … Quick! They’re coming back!

ARIF quickly puts the box back, closes the lid of the suitcase, locks it, stands it up as before.
ALI strolls in nonchalantly, tucking in his shirt, etc;

FAROOK
Did you get your leg over?

RASHID
(thumps his shoulder)
What kind of question is that?

FAROOK
What’s she like?

ALI
(pause; cool)
I’ve had better.

They all fire questions at him : ‘Did she suck?’ ‘Is she tight?’
‘Did she move around?’ ‘What about the sound effects?’

ALI
(puts his hands up)
Why don’t you go and find out for yourselves. I’ve made sure that she’s ready and willing to give everybody a shot.

ARIF
Aooooh! I’m going to shoot her to kingdom come.

ALI
Hold it. Let Chico go first.

FAROOK lets out a yell and does a little war-dance … ALI puts his arm around ARIF’s shoulders :

ALI
Let the kid have a bit of fun. We’ll go over some business while he’s on the nest.

ARIF
(sulky)
Well, I’m next.

FAROOK
Man, by the time I’ve finished with her you’ll be too late.

Everybody laughs at his youthful arrogance.

HUSSAIN
Hmmm, listen to the expert.

RASHID
I bet he comes after thirty seconds.

FAROOK
(strutting out)
That gal is going to get it good – the best she’s ever had.

ARIF
One of these days I’m going to knock his block off.

ALI
He’s just a kid … Come on, show me what you’ve come up with.

ARIF
I opened the case and found a jewellery-box, but I shut it quick when I heard you coming back.

ALI
Open it up again.

ARIF takes the knife and opens the suitcase; he pulls out the
jewellery-box and hands it to ALI, who flicks it open, and admires the contents.

ALI
Not bad … not bad at all.

HUSSAIN
(whistles)
I bet that’s worth a bob or two!

ALI
At least ten thousand. And she’s got about a thousand in cash in her handbag; plus whatever’s in her bank account … We’ll have to give her the usual treatment …

RASHID
Take her out, while one of us cleans the place out, and then say we’ve been burgled.

ALI
And then I’ll work on her, bit by bit, till she’s ready to walk the streets. But that’s going to take a little more time. Let her enjoy herself for a couple of weeks and then I‘ll start to turn the screws on her … Put this back and leave everything as you found it …

As ARIF puts the stuff back the scene comes to an end.

CUT TO :

CAROL
Cut … Okay; that’s in the bag.

Just then a LOCAL GIRL runs in and breaks hard –

LOCAL GIRL
Hey, you guys! A fight’s just started in the park. Wanna see it?

ALI
What are you all waiting for?
(hamming it up)
This is our chance to film life as it is : totally unrehearsed, captured by our camera in all its realistic glory.

CAROL detaches the camera from the tripod, and they all race out.

CUT TO :

EXT. PARK – DAY.

A white boy (FRED) is pulling along a Pakistani boy (SHOKAT) by the ear – he is crawling on his hands and knees, scared shitless, with another white boy (DICK) mounted on his back and slapping his backside, as if with a riding-crop.

DICK
Giddyup, Paki!! Giddyup, giddyup, Paki, giddyup!

FRED
Ride him, cowboy; ride the Paki bastard.

DICK
I’ll ride him up to the swings and then you can take over.

FRED
Look at the sweat pouring off him. Maybe the Paki wants some water to cool him down.

DICK
Huh?

FRED
(as if delivering a punchline)
A dip in the boating lake!

DICK
Yeah!
(laughing, relishing the idea)
Yeah! … Let’s go, Paki. Come on, Paki, lead us to water.
(whips the ass, etc;).

CUT TO :

ALI and the others have come running up and are rooted to the spot in dumb amazement when they see what’s going on. (CAROL begins filming.) ALI is about to have a fit. Suddenly he lets loose : side-kicks FRED who goes flying, and doesn’t know what hit him.DICK gets a backhand smack in the mouth with such force that he
somersaults backwards off SHOKAT, who stumbles to his feet
bewildered.
ALI grabs FRED and hauls him up …

ALI
You scummy pig! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?

FRED attempts to strike out, but ALI hits him a couple of times and knocks the wind out of him.

FRED
That’s enough! Please … No more, man – I give up!

DICK has got back on his feet by now, mad as hell, and charges at ALI, head down, but ARIF quickly moves in and double scissor-kicks him in the belly. DICK drops to his knees, and throws up his lunch all over the grass. ARIF grabs him by the hair, pushes his head down, and rubs his face in his own vomit. (Later, DICK takes off his t-shirt and wipes his face, etc;).

ALI
I asked you a question.

FRED
Man, we wasn’t going to hurt him. We was having some fun, that’s all.

ALI
Fun?! You call that fun, you shithead. I ought to kick your face in but you’re ugly enough as it is … I came running over here expecting to see a good old-fashioned fist-fight, but what do I find : a couple of assholes riding on another ass.
(turning to SHOKAT)
How come you let them do that to you?

SHOKAT
There’s two of them.

ALI
So?

SHOKAT
I couldn’t do much on my own.

ALI
You could die first, you soft dick. Die rather than let someone treat you like shit. You could have – Just get out of my sight.
(to FRED and DICK)
Listen, you shit-eating pigs : the British Empire is dead and buried. Open your eyes. Other people are on top now. You will always stay under, you will always get fucked, so just lie back, think of England, and enjoy it. If you don’t like it then at least fake it, because it’s going to be a long night … Get out of my sight before I really lose my temper … Hold it! Wait a minute … I want the two of you to come back here tomorrow afternoon. I want to try something out. I’ll rehearse you first and then start shooting in the evening. I’m going to make each one of you a Movie Star! How would you like that?

FRED
Sounds great! I always wanted to be in the movies.

DICK
Hey, I’m sorry about what happened earlier on. We were just fooling around, that’s all. Honest. It wasn’t racist or anything like that. We’re all equal, right? Underneath this skin we’re all the same colour. Right?
(to SHOKAT)
Hey, man, I’m sorry. Let’s shake on it …
(puts his arm around him)
… Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.

ALI
I’m going to spend a lot of time and effort getting things ready for you guys so don’t let me down. Understand?

DICK/FRED/SHOKAT
Understood.

They exit … The rest of the crowd gathers excitedly around ALI.

LOCAL GIRL
Ali, you’re something else, man!

FAROOK
Did you see the way he hit that guy? He exploded, man, just exploded.

HUSSAIN
He’s a Superstar! It’s just that the rest of the world doesn’t know it yet.

LOCAL GIRL
But we know it, don’t we?

FAROOK
(chanting; others join in)
Ali! Ali! Ali!

ALI
Cut out the crap.

LOCAL GIRL
Look … He’s blushing … He’s gone all red.

ALI
Stop dumping the bullshit.

FAROOK
How does it feel to be famous?

ALI
How would you like to feel my boot up your fame-ass?

FAROOK
Ooh! A temperamental star! Now that he’s made it big he doesn’t like to be interviewed. He wants to be left alone.

ROSEMEEN
I want to be alone!

FAROOK
Please – our viewers want to know : what’s your favourite chocolate?

HUSSAIN
What’s your favourite aftershave?

LOCAL GIRL
What’s your favourite colour?

HUSSAIN
What’s your favourite underarm deodorant?

FAROOK
Is your favourite rubber padded? … Ribbed? … Glow-in-the-dark?

ALI
Why don’t you donkey-lovers go and lift a tail or two.

CUT TO :

During the above, LOCAL BOY has led two men (BROTHER & HUSBAND)
close to where ALI and company are gathered; shielded by some
bushes he is still wary/nervous, glancing around to see if anyone is watching – quickly points towards ROSEMEEN and disappears.
BROTHER and HUSBAND start to make their way towards ROSEMEEN.

CUT TO :

ROSEMEEN
Oh, my god!

ALI
Does my language shock you?

ROSEMEEN
Oh, shit!

ALI sees that suddenly ROSEMEEN is in a state of shock, really pale; she’s looking over his shoulder; he turns and sees BROTHER and HUSBAND walking towards them … ROSEMEEN, instinctively, moves closer to ALI’s back.

ALI
(grins)
I was wondering when they would turn up …
(to BROTHER)
Two days – that’s not bad. You ought to take it up full-time. You’d make a great private-eye … and even bigger public-mouth.

BROTHER
(to ROSEMEEN, pointing to the ground at his feet)
Come here!

ALI
(whistles)
He is so masterful.

BROTHER
The note you left said you wanted to be alone. You didn’t mention lover-boy here. Is that why you ran away? To shack up with this prick? Is this your idea of freedom and the right to choose your own way of life?

ROSEMEEN
I met Ali only after I had got here, and he saw that I needed help. He’s just a friend.

BROTHER
Don’t lie to me! Give me more credit, for Christ sake! Don’t think I’m so naive – no Pakistani girl leaves home unless she’s with a boy.

ROSEMEEN
I swear –

HUSBAND
Stop this barefaced bullshit! You’ve already reduced me to a cuckold in the eyes of the world!

ARIF
(laughing)
‘Barefaced bullshit’ … ‘cuckold in the eyes of the world’ … Boy, what dialogue! What a way with words. This guy should be working for us.
(to ALI)
Want me to put out the lights?

ALI
(shakes his head; to CAROL)
Carry on filming.
(to HUSBAND)
So you’re the bum with the needle-dick? Can’t ring the bell or hit the jackpot, can you, stud?

HUSBAND
You didn’t – You couldn’t – Why the hell –
(spins/staggers round, holding his head)
Goddammit! She’s told him! She’s told him! … There’s only one thing to do now – only one way to win back my honour : blood has to flow.

ALI
Kinky.

HUSBAND
Your blood.

ALI
You going to make me bleed? You and which army? You long streak of chicken yellow piss … You want my blood?! Here’s my jugular vein – go for it! Sink your teeth into it, you wild animal you! …
(no response)
… Paper tiger! …
(HUSBAND is seething with rage … bubbling …)
… Paper prick!

Only now does HUSBAND boil over – ALI, with total arrogance, and
one smooth movement, backhands him with a punch to the nose which knocks him back and down – it’s all over in a matter of seconds.
BROTHER looks as if he’s about to join in … ROSEMEEN puts a restraining hand on ALI’s shoulder …

ALI
Back off, boy! You’re out of your league!

ROSEMEEN
Brother, please don’t fight. I don’t want any violence. There’s no need for it.

BROTHER
There’s always a need for violence! If you want to do something, if you want to have something, if you want to go places and someone or something is in the way, then violence is the only answer, the only solution! The only way forward!

ALI
(smiles)
I didn’t think we could have something in common, but those are my beliefs exactly.

HUSBAND has stumbled up, trying to stem the flow from a bloody nose.

ALI
You like the taste? … Is it blood, or water, or just fizzy pop?

ROSEMEEN
Please … No more fighting.

BROTHER
Come here and talk and it’ll be alright. Come back home and we’ll forget everything. Otherwise lover-boy is going to get hurt.

ROSEMEEN
He’s not my –

BROTHER
Do you want him hurt?

ROSEMEEN
No.

BROTHER
Then let’s go home.

ROSEMEEN
I can’t … I can’t function there … It’s as if I’m buried alive … Don’t you see? This is what I’ve always wanted. I belong here. This is my home.

BROTHER
I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about! All this mumbo-jumbo clap-trap! … That bastard has some kind of hold over you … but once you’re back home, with the family, and we talk it over and understand it all, then we can sort it out and get back to normal … Sister, oh, sister, do you know what you’ve done? Do you know? Do you care? … Mother hasn’t stopped crying since the moment she found out you’d run away. Father nearly had a heart-
attack. Neither has eaten a thing. In just a couple of days they have shriveled up … It breaks my heart to even look at them … And it’s all your fault … But you can put it right simply by returning home … I promise no one will lay a finger on you.

ROSEMEEN
I’m sorry to hear that Mother and Father are taking it so badly, but –

BROTHER
What the bloody hell do you expect?!! Everybody – all our relatives know that you’ve run away. They’ve even phoned, sent letters and tapes to Pakistan. They’re all laughing, and stabbing us in the back. They don’t know the facts, but you should hear what they’re making up : that you’ve run off with niggers, or that you’ve become a prostitute, that you were always a slut – Making up filthy, dirty things … And dumping them on our heads, especially on our parents. So how else do you expect them to take it? It’s a wonder they’re still alive … The thought that they won’t last much longer scares the shit out of me.

Pause.

ROSEMEEN
It’s either me or them.

BROTHER
What are you saying?

ROSEMEEN
If I return then I will die … in more ways than one.

BROTHER
You will die if you don’t return.

ROSEMEEN
Meaning?

BROTHER
Your death would solve a lot of problems … Your death would stop people laughing at us … Your death would restore the family honour.

ROSEMEEN
You wouldn’t dare.

BROTHER
I would. I will.

ALI
You’ll have to go through me first.

BROTHER
It’ll be a pleasure.

ROSEMEEN
Ali … don’t.

Pause.

ALI
(takes control; to ROSEMEEN)
I want you to keep out of it. Don’t speak, don’t move, don’t make a sound. Is that clear?

ROSEMEEN
Yes.

ALI
I’m the man round here. You want anything – deal with me.

BROTHER
I want my sister.

ALI
You want her over easy or sunny-side up?

BROTHER
What the fuck you mean by that?

ALI
How do you want her, boy?

BROTHER
I want her to come back home where she belongs.

ALI
Your idea of home is her definition of a graveyard. It’s a miracle if anybody walks out and away from a grave – nobody wants to go back and lie in it again.

BROTHER
Can you speak to me plainly … Please! … All this high-flown stuff is a bit too much for a simple guy like me … You’re a Pakistani – right? You’ve got a sister – right? Then you should know and understand exactly how I feel. Nobody wants his sister to get into bad company … Everybody wants his sister to lead a sheltered life at home.Everybody wants his sister to marry, raise her own family, and to bring them up as her parents brought her up.

ALI
You’re talking about what nobody and everybody wants – you haven’t said anything about what Rosemeen wants.

BROTHER
And what does she want, huh? I bet you know down to the last detail … pillow-talk and all that.

Pause.

ALI
You’re simple, but I’m not, so try your best to understand this : Rosemeen doesn’t want to live a life where she is subjected to the tyranny of the unimaginative; where her failure is concealed. She doesn’t want to be a bought wife or to pass on those mercantile values to her children.

BROTHER
(looking up at the sky)
Way up … up … up there.

AlI
She doesn’t want to be stifled or smothered –

BROTHER
You’re talking about what she doesn’t want – you haven’t said anything about what she does want.

ALI
She wants to live in an environment where she can nurture and develop a desire and a talent, and to express it.

BROTHER
She a poet or something?

ALI
You could say that.

BROTHER
No – tell me the exact words that I should say.

ALI
She wants to be an actress.

BROTHER
She wants to be an actress?! An actress?! AN ACTRESS?! I don’t – Jesus – What a load of – I – Hang on a second – This is a bit – a bit too much … I – I need to … let it sink in … Cool down … Cool down – You goddamn bitch! You whore of a sister! You got a screw loose or something?! Huh?! You gone crazy or just plain loco?!

ALI
Talk to me.

BROTHER
I’ve never heard such crap in all my born days! I – I figured out all the excuses and reasons you might come up with – But wanting to be an actress … Ha! I have to admit that that one didn’t enter my imagination. It didn’t even enter my head! … Tell me it isn’t true. Deny it! … Answer me before I tear you from limb to limb, you godforsaken –

ALI
(final)
Talk to me.

BROTHER
This is all your doing, you bastard! You’re the one who’s led her astray! You’re the one who’s put all these ideas in her head! It’s all your fault!

ALI
She met me a couple of days ago – she’s wanted to be an actress all her life.

BROTHER
A couple of days?! … Don’t jerk me off!

ALI
I don’t need to – you’re a natural hand at it.

Pause.

BROTHER
So you’re in control of all this set-up … This camera … And these must be the actors … And you must be the director?

ALI
Among other things.

BROTHER
You like to run the show? To be in control? To be ‘The Man’?

ALI
Behind the wheel, between the legs, and on the nose.

BROTHER
What if somebody makes you lose control?

ALI
Then he’s dead meat.

Pause.

BROTHER
Tell me more.

ALI
About what?

BROTHER
About yourself … what you do … your plans …

ALI
I’m a man of action. It’s just that when I act I make sure there’s a camera close-by filming it all. That’s my life : he living and the filming of it.

BROTHER
What plans do you have for my sister?

ALI
She has her own plans, which she told you a minute ago.

BROTHER
But she’s not an actress! She’s my sister – I know her. She’s never acted. She can not act! She is not an actress!

ALI
Did you know that for the past couple of years she has been depressed … suicidal? … Did you know that she was isolated … lonely? That she felt she was withering, wasting away? … Buried alive … Did you know?

BROTHER
That’s a bunch of – codswallop! … My sister was always cheerful. Always had a smile on her face. She was always with people, with the family … socialising with relatives. And she was always full of life! What you just said is absolute junk!

ALI
Your reaction just goes to prove that she put on a great act. And that she has the potential to be a class actress.

BROTHER
She’s not going to be an actress! She’s not going to be anything but what she always was : my sister! … And the only thing she’s going to do is to come home with me!

ALI
She’s not going anywhere where she doesn’t want to go; she’s not doing anything she doesn’t want to do.

BROTHER
Step aside and I’ll make her see what she should want!

ALI
Deal with me.

BROTHER
Move out of my way! … Who the fuck you think you are – a movie star?! Stop playing the big hero! You’re not making a film now. This is real life – with real blood, and not tomato ketchup. You get one shot at it – and you don’t get up for another take.

ALI
(patiently, quietly)
Do you think that I, of all people, don’t know that?

BROTHER
Look … this is strictly between me and my sister. It’s none of your business!

ALI
I’ve made it my business.

BROTHER
If it’s your business then you’ll have to pay for it. I’m
going to make you pay!

Pause.

ALI
(ice)
The only reason you’re still standing is because you’re Rosemeen’s brother. I gave you that much credit, and you’ve used it up … I’ve done my best to explain but you refuse to understand. I’m not going to repeat myself. I’m not going to even try and reason with you any further … Walk away … Walk before I put you in a wheelchair.

Everbody holds their breath –
BROTHER and HUSBAND start to walk …

HUSBAND
Your days are numbered! Take my word for it, Big Shot! Your days are numbered!

BROTHER
This isn’t the end of the film yet, Movie Star. I’m part of this picture now. In fact, I’m going to steal the show. I’m going to play the leading role, shoot all the bad guys, and ride off into the sunset … with the girl, of course. Till then – adios, amigo!

They exit frame.

ALI
Very theatrical. That comical duo are tailor-made for an Indian movie … Th-th-th-that’s all, folks! Till tomorrow, same time, same place, same channel.

They start to disperse : alone, couples, groups …
ARIF takes charge of the camera …

CAROL
Will you be okay?

ALI
I’ve got life insurance. I’m even thinking of getting a pension.

CAROL
Shall I come with you?

ALI
I’ve had enough excitement for one day. You want me to overdose?

CAROL
Wouldn’t that be a lovely way to go …
(gives him a quick peck on the cheek)
Take care.

ALI
See you tomorrow.

CAROL exits frame … ALI, ARIF, and ROSEMEEN begin to walk back
towards the flat … ALI, briefly, puts a reassuring hand on
ROSEMEEN’s shoulders …

ALI
Chin up – don’t look so glum. Everything will work out fine … I’ll make sure it does. That’s a promise.

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s FLAT – DAY.

ALI, ARIF, and ROSEMEEN have just entered, and gone straight to the window. They know they’ve been followed … ARIF’s anger bursts out, but ALI’s turns inwards and smoulders …

ARIF
They must think they’re being clever or something.
(starts to exit)
I’m going to bounce them off the pavement!

ALI
There’s no need.

ARIF
You stopped short because they’re related to Rosemeen. You drew the line, but they’ve stepped over it. They must be dealt with – otherwise who knows where it will end.

ALI
There’s no law against standing across the road and looking at my flat.

ARIF
(in frustrated rage punches his
fist into palm of other hand)
Damn!
(goes back to window)
Well, the Peeping Toms have decided to go and feast their eyes on a more attractive landscape … You know, I’ve a funny feeling that those two bums are cooking up a potful of shit. Want me to stick around for a few days, just to be on the safe side?

ALI
Since when did I need a baby-sitter?!

ROSEMEEN
Arif’s right – there is something brewing … I know my brother – I know my husband – I know what they’re capable of. And I know that the best thing – the only thing I can do is to leave and – and go somewhere else, to another town … as far away as possible.

ARIF
There’s no point in running. The people you’re running away from will always be right there behind you, snapping at your heels – if not in person then they’ll surely be in your head … in your mind. That’s where you have to deal with them. You have to face them and get them out of your system. Otherwise they will haunt you for the rest of your life.

ROSEMEEN
But I can’t face them! I can’t reason with them! What else can I do but run?

ARIF
Stay here. Show them that you’re determined to live your life the way you want to, or not at all.

ROSEMEEN
But it’s not just my life that’s in danger.

ARIF
Ali can take care of himself.
(laughs at the irony in his statement; repeats)
Ali can take care of himself.

ROSEMEEN
I don’t want to risk – I – I don’t – I have to go.

ALI comes up behind ROSEMEEN and puts his arms around her … his
hands gradually work their way up to her breasts.

ALI
Don’t go. Don’t leave me all alone. I can’t make it without you.
(kisses her neck; nibbles on her ear)
Little Sis … Little Sis …
(it takes a moment for it to register with ROSEMEEN and then she tries to break loose)
Sister, oh, sister, do you know what I want to do?

ROSEMEEN
Ali! Let me go! … This is not funny! … Let go of me!

ARIF
Al, for Christ sake …

ALI
Keep out of it! This is strictly between me and my sister!
(back to ROSEMEEN)
Little Sis, do you know that I’ve lusted after you for years and years? Do you know what affect all that frustration has had on my mind? On my cock? … My cock has remained soft since the moment it found out you’d run away. In just a couple of days it has shriveled up –

ROSEMEEN
(in tears)
I can’t take anymore! I can’t take it!

ALI
You can … You will, Little Sis. You’re a big girl now, Little Sis.
(manipulating her body)
Don’t struggle so much … Call it fate – Spread your legs a little more – Call it destiny …

ROSEMEEN
No!

ALI
Yes, Little Sis. Yes. It’s in our blood. We have to flow with it. You know how thick blood is … Let’s keep it in the family …

ROSEMEEN manages to break loose when his right hand moves down to finger her fanny; she runs out, towards the back … ALI follows as far as the doorway …

ALI
Wherever you run to I’ll follow and find you, no matter where you go! I don’t give up that easy! I always get what I want! And I want you … Sister, oh, sister … Little Sis, why are you playing so hard to get? Why are you so cruel? … Well, damn it, I don’t give a toss! Shit! If I can’t get in myself then at least I can picture it. I’ve got an imagination that you wouldn’t believe. Plus, you know what? I’m personally going to handpick the cock that is going to penetrate you.
(making copulating movements against the door-frame)
I’m going to be there on the wedding-night. And every other
night …

Walks back.

ARIF
There was no need for that.

ALI
(snaps)
That’s the way it is!
(pause … disgusted with himself; slaps his forehead with the palm of his hand)
I’m a real prick – at my best when I’m hard.

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s FLAT – DAY.

ALI is doing some editing (continues to do so throughout the scene); ARIF enters with GHANZANFAR, who’s dressed in an expensive suit (but cheap taste), white shoes, wearing gold rings on every finger,etc; during the following he constantly rotates the rings on his fingers, straightens his tie, checks the crease on his trousers, crosses his legs this way and then that way, runs his fingers through his hair, etc;

ARIF
Alright?

GHANZANFAR
(with outstretched hands)
Aslaam-alaahkum, brother Ali. It is an honour to meet you.
(pumping ALI’s hand)
How are you?

ALI
Fine. Thanks.

ARIF has been looking at the editing-screen.

ARIF
This is Ghanzanfar. I know you’re always interested in meeting colourful characters – this guy is a rainbow.

GHANZANFAR
(loud laugh)
You movie people can come up with the dialogue.

ALI
Take a seat.

ARIF and GHANZANFAR sit on the sofa; GHANZANFAR looks round at all
the books and equipment, etc;

ARIF
He’s in the import and distribution business.

GHANZANFAR
(laughs)
That’s a good way of putting it. Actually, I’m more into the import side now. I leave the distribution to some niggers and other dumbbells who can’t do better. Man, I don’t go near the street. I just supply the powder and collect the money, which is what business is all about.

ALI
(back to work)
How do you get the stuff into the country?

GHANZANFAR
That’s a trade secret. But I’m a professional at it now. Gone are the days when I got my grandmother to strap some inside her bra.
(laughs)
A lot of dumb village Pakis still do that and get their ass locked up for ten years.

ALI
Don’t your people get caught?

GHANZANFAR
There’s always the risk, of course, but I have connections who have connections who can take care of any problem that comes up. Money talks, and money walks. It’s business, and everybody does it, because it’s business that makes the world go round. It’s not as open here as it is in Pakistan where a policeman will sell you his mother for ten rupees. But it does go on – the English pigs are human, after all – it’s just that you have to be discreet about it.

ALI
It must cost a lot of money to run an organisation like that.

GHANZANFAR
It’s a high-risk business but the profits are even higher. Enormous. You wouldn’t believe the profit on just one kilo of heroin. Sky high … It’s easy money. Easy. I have partnerships in a couple of restaurants, and several other shops so that the tax-man doesn’t ask questions. I ‘black’ the money to Pakistan, anyway, so there’s no trace of it. Here I keep a fairly low profile, just a couple of luxury cars, several big houses and so on, but nothing too flashy. But in Pakistan it’s a different story. I’ve just come back from another trip there and, man, let me tell you, I was treated like a king. The men were kissing my ass, the women were kissing my dick.
(laughs)
I was humping both ways like there’s no tomorrow … It wasn’t just a pleasure trip, though. I went to invest some more of my money – I bought land and property all over the place : near my village, and in Mirpur and also in Islamabad, where I bought acres of land and complete apartment buildings and shops. I could retire right now.
Can you believe that? Twenty-eight years old and I don’t have to lift a finger for the rest of my life.

ALI
That’s what we’re all aiming for, I suppose, one way or the other.

GHANZANFAR
That’s what our fathers were aiming for all their lives – doing double-shifts in dirty factories – but they never hit the mark. That’s why they spent their lives in constant yearning and in constant frustration. Many of them died with bitterness in their hearts. I saw that bitterness in my father. I saw what it did to him. And I swore I would use any means possible to get out of that
trap.

ALI
You escape from that trap by burying other people – which is what you’re doing when you supply them with drugs.

GHANZANFAR
I don’t force it on them. They know the risks and the consequences. But they also know the pleasure. That’s the thing, man. That’s the key. It’s a poison, but it’s a joyous poison. It’s an orgasmic poison. And they can’t get enough of it. Anyway, most of them are English pigs and nig-nogs.

ARIF
They too are somebody’s sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

GHANZANFAR
Not mine. No pig or nig-nog is related to me. My relatives have been taken care of. My mother and father have retired into luxury. My brothers and sisters have got the best of everything. And my sons and daughters, when they are born, will have golden futures … As for the rest – it’s dog eat dog. Hey, if you don’t mind me saying so, you people are too much into this art thing. You’re too … too self- righteous about everything. You don’t understand the
mechanics of business … ‘Love your fellow man’ may look good in a movie but it doesn’t count for much out on the street. Life and the living of it is a commodity. Everything and everyone is for sale. Everything and everyone has a price. You have to decide whether you are going to buy or whether you are going to be bought. You have to
decide what price to put on yourself. Look around you – the majority of people sell themselves so cheaply that it’s unbelievable. They sell their bodies, their hearts, their minds, their beliefs; they sell their time, they sell their very lives. And for what? … Chickenshit … I decided a long time ago that I would not sell myself cheap. I decided that I would buy rather than be bought. In order to buy anything – first you need to have the money. And I decided to make money in any way possible. Most people buy material things and are happy with that. They think that money is only for that purpose. But until you’re in a position where you can buy and sell a human- being then you can’t understand the real value and the real power of money. Until you’re in a position where you have the means to starve someone, or destroy his livelihood, or make him bankrupt or make him your slave – until you’re in that position then you don’t know the true nature of money. Until then you don’t know what it means to do business.

ARIF
But what if a person doesn’t sell himself or buy someone, but only does something because he loves to do it and is completely satisfied after doing it.

GHANZANFAR
(laughs)
Sounds as if you’re talking about sex … No, what you’re talking about is the sale of talent by someone who is gifted with that ability, but how many people can make a living like that? … One-in-a-million … but what about the other million or so poor bastards? They’ve got to make a living somehow; they’ve got to eat, they’ve got children to feed, and bills to pay. Man, they’ve got no choice but to sell their ass.

ALI
You sound like an intelligent guy – why not use your brain to run a proper business?

GHANZANFAR
What am I supposed to do? Open a corner shop? Or drive a taxi? Like all the other little village Pakis?! I deal drugs because they provide the biggest bang for the buck. I don’t have to clock in or out. I don’t have to stand in line, or stand on the spot, or take orders from anybody. I set up the deal, and then I’m free to cruise. My big cars drive up the ass of all the men, and up the crack of all the women.
(rubbing his hands together)
Those babes come running – out of the colleges, out of the houses, away from their prisons – to rub up against a winner. There’s nothing they love more than a winner!

ARIF
Depends on how you look at it. My old man says I’m a born loser, but when it comes to the chicks I get my share, no problem.

GHANZANFAR
That’s because they know you’re going to be a big Filmy Star. They watch a different video every day so they know all about the movies. They want to get your autograph now before you shoot off into the sky.

ARIF
I’ve got my big pen out and I’m signing in as many different books as I can.

GHANZANFAR
(laughs)
Let’s hope you never run out of ink.
(laughs)
Isn’t it funny the way it works? When we first start getting a hard-on we can’t find anything to shove it in. We risk a nervous breakdown trying to figure it out. It takes us years to work out the formula, and it’s : easy money equals easy honey.

ARIF
It may equal that with the Mirpuri Minge, but not everyone has those cheap values.

GHANZANFAR
You could be right … You could be right … Right now, to tell the truth, I’m getting tired of all that easy pussy. My thoughts are turning more and more towards settling down with a nice little Pakistani girl. Not one of those fast city girls, but a sweet, homey village girl who can take care of all my needs, who would love for me to put a bun in her tandoor every year, who can bring up my kids properly, and who can massage the aches and pains out of my parent’s creaking joints. That’s what my mother keeps nagging me about, anyway; and I’m beginning to like he idea. My uncles must have got wind of her plans because they’ve started to kiss up to me even more than usual. If they only knew what I’ve already done to their daughters – Boy!!
(laughs)
How come I’m doing all the talking? … Like my mother says, ‘The boy who talks quick will always be King Dick‘ … I think that’s what she said …
(laughs … sniffs)
Can I smell curry or have I been shoving too much coke up my nose?

ALI
It’s a friend of mine who’s cooking up the first regular good food I’ve had in ages. I’m in constant training and she’s trying to fatten me up for some reason or other.

ARIF
Has she forgiven you after yesterday?

ALI
She hasn’t said anything, but she might be adding hot chillies and cyanide for extra flavour.

GHANZANFAR
A friend, huh? Listen to me, brother, while I give you a few words of advice : When a woman starts to fatten you up you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll soon be led to the slaughter … Hey, Arif, is this the Ali I’ve heard about? Ali the Sex Machine? Ali the Virgin Killer? Ali the Street-fighter? … This guy in front of me is sitting by the fire, wearing slippers, smoking a pipe, and reading the Koran. That’s not Ali!

ALI
She’s a platonic friend who is very serious about acting, and she’s staying with me at the moment while she sorts out a few things.

GHANZANFAR
Nudge, nudge – wink, wink – say no more. We understand, don’t we, Arif? … You know, that’s just what I’m aiming for. To settle down to a regular life; to come home and be met at the gate by the smell of curry wafting on the breeze, to open the door and be greeted by an adoring wife and a couple of kids jumping all over me. Yeah … Sounds good to me …
(stretches back, spreads legs forward)
I’ll have to –
(stops; pats his breast pocket; as he leans forward again he puts his hand in his inside pocket and pulls out a small gun)
Shit! I’d forgotten about this … Can you believe this? Some nigger was short of money on a payment and he made up the difference with this. It’s hot. I don’t know where the fuck he got it from. You wouldn’t believe the stuff these niggers come up with – jewellery, cars, tanks, satellites – you name it.
(looking the gun over)
It’s not much use to … Hmmm … I could have it used to take care of someone, and then dump it, and it would never be traced back to me. That’s a thought.

ARIF
Let’s have a look.

ARIF takes the gun, bounces it in his hand to feel the weight, touches various parts, then aims it at something …

GHANZANFAR
It’s loaded, for fuck’s sake! … You guys make cowboy movies or what?! … What the fuck was I talking about earlier? … Oh, yeah! Settling down and living the boring life. That’s my next step forward. I’ve got everything else – getting married would be the icing on an already sweet cake. Yeah.
(leans back again)
The more I think about it the more I like it. It should give me the final seal of approval, the respectability I’m looking for. It’s alright having loads of money but you need to dress it up. And women know all about dressing up.

ARIF
(concentrating on the gun)
All I know about is undressing them.

GHANZANFAR
(laughs)
I let them take their own knickers off … Man, life is looking good. I’ve got the world at my feet. I’m expecting another shipment to arrive any day now. That should put another million in the bank. That should shove ants up the ass of all my relatives … I’ve got the ability to make an easy million and because of that people think the sun shines out of my arse, and they love me for it. I’ve got a machine that prints money and Mummy and Daddy love me for it. What more could a man want?

ARIF, with gun in hand, starts repeating that line – he does not shout in anger but speaks as if he is only letting a fraction of the words out; he blocks out the rest which threaten to burst his heart, his head, and his lungs.

ARIF
Daddy loves me … Daddy loves me … I supply drugs to little kids and Daddy loves me. I supply the poison which they take into their bodies and Daddy loves me. I fuck up the lives of countless children, and their parents are heartbroken, but what do I care as long as Daddy loves me. Daddy loves me and the sky is blue. Daddy loves me and all is groovy.

While speaking he empties the bullets out, puts one back, and spins the chamber. He then addresses GHANZANFAR, who at first is amused … and puzzled … but ends up petrified.

ARIF
I love the way you measure people … Daddy. They are alright as long as they have the money and the position and the name. Isn’t that right, Daddy? It doesn’t matter how they earn the money – they can sell drugs, alcohol, women, bombs – that doesn’t matter as long as they are living in mansions and driving around in big cars and
their women are wearing silk knickers; that is, when they’re not spreading their legs all over the place. Afterwards, they have a shower and say, ‘Allah this, and Allah that’. That is alright. The men sell their poison and afterwards when they’re counting their money, they say, ‘Allah this, and Allah that’. That is alright. They make the right noises, bow in the right direction and they
are virtuous citizens of your society. And you welcome them with open arms. I tell you that I want to be an actor and you call me a faggot. Other boys tell you that they want to be butchers, mechanics, electricians, taxi-drivers, and you praise them to the heavens. To each one you say, ‘Son, that is wonderful. I am so happy for you, son. Son, you have a golden future ahead of you. You will go far, son‘ … But to me – your son – you say not a word. You cover me – your son – with a thick cloud of disapproving silence. When I – your son – come near you, you draw back, turn away. Other boys you embrace, but me – your son – you walk away from. I know what you feel. I know what you think … Why can’t I be like them? … So clean, and virtuous, and – and full of shit! Those Village Superstars! Those stinking little scumbags! Those midgets! Pigmies! Those taxi-drivers, those little shopkeepers who
think the sun shines out of their faggy rectums! Those shitty little people living their shitty little lives. I hate those bastards! I detest the way they all conform and toe the line … It turns my stomach the way they live, and think, and talk. It makes me puke the way they live the lives of their parents. I throw up when I see the way they are two-faced about everything. Every little thing! And you! – you want me to be like those low-life animals. What’s the matter with you?! Can’t you see that I’m different?! I’m not like those frigging jerks. I can’t walk the straight and narrow. I’m not run-of-the-mill. I’m not an Average Arsehole. I’m not a donkey-fucker … I’m reaching for the stars and you’re trying to pull me back into the gutter. I’m pushing myself to the limit and you’re trying to use limits to cage me … The only people are the creative people. The meaning of life is self- development and self-expression. Don’t you understand that? I have the potential to be a creative artist. I’ve got the ability to write my name across the sky. I’ve got the talent to stamp my face on a star. If I work hard enough I’ll be in the history books. I’ll be so rich I won’t have the time to count all my money. What more do you want? Why haven’t I got your support? Why aren’t you proud of me? Why are you trying to block every move I make? Why are you trying to turn my dreams into a nightmare? Can’t you see that? You’re trying to kill my dream. Kill a man’s dream and you kill the man. It’s all I have and you’re trying to kill it – don’t you know that by trying to kill my dream you’re trying to kill me? Is that
what you want? … All my life all I’ve wanted to do was to express my love for you. If not to express it then at least to show it. I wanted it so bad it made me ache. Not to do anything dramatic, just the simple things such as sitting down together and talking about – about the weather. Everybody talks about the bloody English weather but we can’t even do that much! We’ve never done the things a father and son are supposed to do? If, one day, I have a son, then what am I going to do? What kind of example have you set for me to follow? … You’ve never given me the chance. Always kept me at a distance. My feelings for you have been turned to poison. My love for you is poisoning me. I’m dying right in front of your eyes and you can’t even see it. The only thing that can save me is your love. But you don’t give a damn. Unless, of course, I qualify for your love by selling my soul, by being like all the rest. I could never do that. Therefore I have to save myself, and the only way is to turn my love for you into hate. You are making me hate you. I have to hate you to survive. And in hating you I’m hating myself… I love you – hate you – love you – hate you – hate you! … Oh, Dad … Daddy … Abou-ji … You bastard! … Windbag!

GHANZANFAR is speechless, looking over at ALI, silently begging for help.

ARIF
… I can take anything from you but I can’t take your indifference. I can’t take the way you don’t give a shit about me. You ignore my very existence. You cancel me out. You fill my life with empty silence. My past is Cloud Cuckoo Land, my future is No Man’s Land. You –

Pause …

ARIF
Ah, what’s the point of me talking to you, or you talking to me? … In one ear and out of the other, as you would say. I never listened to you, did I? Never listened to all your formulas, rules and regulations, did I? … Your advice! … If I had I would have been a big success. I would have a job with a big wage; a new car, a big house, a wife, several kids. But I have none of these things,
therefore I’m a bum, a nobody. A nothing. A zero … ‘A child can never succeed without his parents guidance and blessing’ … In that case if I’ve failed, and in your eyes I have, then it must be because you have cursed me … It’s always been you! YOU have poisoned my life! YOU have put a gun to my head. But you’re the one who’s going to get hurt … I’m going to hurt you by hurting myself.

ALI is on his feet … But ARIF forcefully waves him back –
in the instant before pulling the trigger :

ARIF
In one ear and out of the other …

Smiles … Pulls the trigger – the hammer comes down on an empty
chamber … Laughs …

ARIF
Fucking hell! Another failure! I can’t even make a good job of killing myself … Sorry, Daddy. I promise to keep on trying hard as I can till I’m a golden success. I’m going to come here again tomorrow, and the day after, and every day till … till I am your successful son.

ALI slowly walks over to ARIF and carefully takes the gun from his limp hand; he pulls up the paralysed GHANZANFAR, gives him the gun, and shoves him towards the door. GHANZANFAR edges out in a state of shock and disbelief.

GHANZANFAR
I’ve seen a lot of people strung out on every kind of dope but they’re nothing compared to you. You’re nuts! Absolutely one hundred per cent INSANE!

Exits frame.
ARIF is slumped forward, head bowed into his hands. ALI is visibly affected, disturbed by the incident; he begins to stretch his arm out to touch ARIF’s head but withdraws his hand. Although no words are exchanged, a communication is taking place between the two; ALI’s face/thoughts show how much he cares for his friend.

CUT TO :

CLAPPERBOARD

CUT TO :

EXT. STREET – NIGHT.

Filming the scene with DICK and FRED – they’ve been rehearsing all afternoon; ALI has kicked them into shape; they’ve finally got their act together :

FAROOK and CAROL stroll along, with their arms around each other. His hands are roaming; the girl is loving it, but still blocks his moves …

FAROOK
The part I liked best was where he was surrounded by ten guys and he still beat the shit out of them.

CAROL
Oh, yeah! I liked that bit. But what about the car chase?!

FAROOK
God! Talk about burning rubber! Those wheels were on fire!

CAROL
The villain really was on fire after he crashed into that truck.

FAROOK
Serves him right. He had it coming.

CAROL
Yeah; after the way he treated that girl.

FAROOK
I ask you – is that any way to treat a lady?
(stops)
Which reminds me – how many years is it since I kissed your sweet lips?

CAROL
(giggling; keeps moving)
It’s only been about thirty seconds.

FAROOK
Only! Only thirty seconds, you say. Just one second away from your honey-lips is like a life-time.

CAROL
Spare me the dialogue.

FAROOK
Dialogue?! Darling … It’s straight from the heart.

CAROL
You’re a real smoothie.

FAROOK
Believe me – you inspire me. I’m not a poet, but when I’m near you I want to recite original verse. Look – the moon and stars have not come out tonight. Know why? … Because they are too ashamed to show themselves; they know they can’t compare with your face, your eyes … so they’re all hiding behind the clouds.

CAROL
(loving it)
God! Listen to him!

FAROOK
I can’t help it. You make me lose control.
(rains kisses all over her face)
I want to kiss you all over. I want to make passionate love to you. Come on … let’s find a quiet place and do it.

CAROL
(wanting to)
No … Not yet. We’ve only just met.

FAROOK
I know, but it’s as if I’ve known you all my life. Any more waiting would be just wasting time. oh, babe, I get a hard-on just looking at you. I want you so much … Let’s go into this alley for a while.

CAROL
Not here. What if someone passed by and saw us?

FAROOK
There’s a park just down the road …
(kisses her … walk along …)
If I could I would lay you down on silk sheets. But, as it is, have you ever felt grass against your ass?

DICK and FRED, the worse for drink, on the crawl back from several
pubs, pull up short at the sight of FAROOK and CAROL.

DICK
Look what we have here : a paki –

FRED
And a paki-lover.

DICK
Don’t they look pretty together?

FRED
Yeah … all lovey-dovey.

DICK
Don’t these paki bastards have a nerve? They come over on their flying chappattis and take our jobs –

FRED
And our women.

DICK
Yeah … And our women.
(jabs CAROL in the chest)
Traitor!
(another jab)
Paki-lover!

FRED
It must be all the spices they dump in their curry.

DICK
I eat tons of the fucking stuff and all it does for me is burn my arsehole on the way out.

FRED
Whatever it is it turns them into fucking sex machines.
(shoves FAROOK)
Isn’t that right, paki? … You randy kebab.
(slaps his face; FAROOK is petrified)
You’d screw anything, wouldn’t you?
(slap)
Is it true you fuck donkeys?
(slap)
Huh?

DICK
(laughing)
I thought we were a nation of animal lovers, but that is pushing it too far.

FRED
(slap)
Answer the question, paki.
(grabs him by the collar and slaps him again)

DICK
(laughing; circling the others; braying)
Hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw.

Suddenly, FAROOK lets out a blood-curdling scream which makes the others jump out of their skins. Then, FAROOK, turns on his heels
and runs for his life.

DICK
(recovering first)
I’ll get the bastard … You keep hold of that cunt.

Exits frame.

FRED
(grabbing CAROL by the arm)
You try to run out on me and I’ll break your fucking legs … You know, you’re not a bad looking bit of fluff.
(caresses her breast; CAROL draws back)
What’s the matter? … Would it be okay if I was a paki?
(smacks her round the ear)
Huh?
(raises his fist again …)

CAROL
Don’t … don’t hurt me … please …

FRED
You traitor. Paki-lover.

CAROL
I’m not . It was late and I just got him to walk me home.

FRED
I bet you’ve had it off with him.

CAROL
I haven’t! What do you take me for?!

FRED
I bet the paki got his leg over.

CAROL
He didn’t. I swear he didn’t lay a finger on me.

FRED
What’s the matter, bitch – don’t you like your own kind?

CAROL
Of course I do.

FRED
White boys don’t satisfy you, huh?

CAROL
Of course they do. That’s why I only go with my own kind. I hate pakis.

FRED
Prove it.

CAROL
I hate the stinking bastards. They should be –

FRED
Prove that you love your own kind. Prove that you love me.
(embraces her and kisses her neck; then drags her towards the alley)
Traitor … You’ve been polluted, you cunt, but I’m going to clean you out. I’ll show you what a white cock can do. I’m going to make you moan and groan like no paki ever could.

CUT TO :

EXT. STREET – NIGHT.

FAROOK comes running out of a side street, gasping for breath, casting frightened looks behind him, and to all sides. His hair standing on end, ears pricked up, eyes popping out, he is scared out of his wits. He edges his way along a garden wall, then dashes across the road, and takes off down another street.

CUT TO :

EXT. STREET – NIGHT.

DICK staggers up; he too is breathless from the chase. Spins round, looks this way, that way; goes up one side-street and then another.

DICK
Damn! I’ve lost the shitarse.
(in frustrated rage)
Come on out, you chickenshit paki! Show your curry face and I’ll show you some White Power. Stop hiding, chick-chick-chicken.
(kicks out at thin air in impotent rage)
Wait till I lay my hands on you, paki. Just you wait. I’m going to shit on you, you piss-pot.
(moves down the street in a frenzy; makes kissing noises, inviting, as if calling in a pet)
Here paki, paki, good paki, here, paki, come to Dadddy, good little paki, here paki, come and get your yum-yums, paki; don’t be afraid, little paki, it’s halal dog food specially cooked in a tandoor … See how much trouble I take over you, paki, and you don’t even come near me, not even when I call you nicely.
(screaming)
Stop hiding, you goddamned fucking dogshit paki! Come on out and show your brown shitface!
(clenching his fists and grinding his teeth)
Huhhh! I’m going to kill you, you paki shit. I was just going to kick your head in, but now I’m going to commit murder. I’m going to break your back and then kick your head up your arsehole.

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s FLAT – NIGHT.

FAROOK tip-toes to the window and peeks out. Only now can he relax
and get his breath back, but he is still on edge. Suddenly, he spins round – ZIA is standing in the doorway; he’s sleepy-eyed, barefoot (hurriedly put on shirt and pants) holding a crowbar in his hand.

ZIA
Shit! What are you doing here in the dark? I thought you were a bloody burglar or something.

ZIA reaches for the light switch.

FAROOK
Abba-ji, don’t! Please. Leave it off.

ZIA
What’s the matter?

FAROOK
I got into some trouble.

ZIA
(walking over)
What kind of trouble?!

FAROOK
Don’t step in front of the window! Come here …

ZIA
What have you done wrong?

FAROOK
Nothing … I was just walking along when these two white bastards started coming on heavy. Christ! They were ready to stomp on my face! I managed to cut loose, but one of the pigs chased me all over town! I gave him the slip, but only just! He’s still out there looking.

ZIA
(raising the crowbar, and his voice)
Let the English bastard show his face and I’ll crack his bloody skull!

FAROOK
Abba-ji! Please don’t do anything. He’ll find out where I live and then there will be some real trouble … Do you want a petrol bomb through the window?

ZIA
You have to fight fire with fire, otherwise we may as well pack our bags and go back home.

FAROOK
Yeah, well, I say fight fire with water, and make sure there’s at least –
(smacks wall)
… one wall between you and the flames.

ZIA
I don’t want no son of mine to talk shit like that! What are you – a man or a mouse?!

FAROOK
A man – who understands that it’s a wise mouse that hides in his hole when he knows the cat is too big to handle.

ZIA
How big’s the cat that was chasing you?

FAROOK
Big enough.

ZIA
What happened to the friends you went out with? Couldn’t the three of you beat up two stinking pigs?

FAROOK
They picked up a couple of girls and went off with them.

ZIA
Now I get it! You had a girl with you – don’t deny it! – a white girl – and these white pricks had a fit when they saw you. A white man hates nothing more than seeing one of his women with a black man.

FAROOK
If the cunt was their fucking sister or something then I could understand it, but the bitch was just another slag.

ZIA
(smacking the back of his son’s head)
You went with a slag?!

FAROOK
Not a real slag … You know what English cunts are like? Show them your dick and they’re on their backs begging to ride your rocket to the moon.

ZIA
If you brought one of the cunts home then I too could go on a space mission – but when did you ever think of your poor father.

FAROOK
Abba-ji! You know how much I care for you!

ZIA
We live here alone, and you don’t think about how lonely I get. Once in a while I could do with some pussy to ease the tension.

FAROOK
But Abba-ji, it wouldn’t look right!

ZIA
If your mother was in this country then would I need to talk like this?! And I don’t give a toss how it looks! I’m sick and tired of shafting my fist! … Looks, he says – Looks! What kind of son are you?
(smacks him again)
Look at your cousin Sultan, the big-shot salesman; he drives around all day in his flashy car, picks up girls and lines them up for his father.

FAROOK
For Uncle Afsar?!

ZIA
For Uncle Afsar. Uncle Afsar the holy saint. Uncle butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth Afsar, who’s been on a Haj; Uncle Afsar who prays five times a day; Uncle Afsar who acts like Moses-on-the-mountain; Uncle Afsar the muuff-diver!

FAROOK
Uncle Afsar!
(whistles)
It’s hard to believe.

ZIA
Believe it. I know. You can’t see past your dickhead, but I know.

FAROOK
(distracted)
Shhhh!

Outside, drawing nearer, can be heard the voice of DICK, calling,
“Here, paki, paki, here, paki … “etc;
ZIA and FAROOK flatten themselves against the wall till the voice passes by, and is faint in the distance.

FAROOK
(peeking out)
The scumbag’s gone.

ZIA
The coast is clear now so you can stop wetting yourself … Tell me – are you going to see that girl again?

FAROOK
I didn’t have enough time to ask for her phone number, but I know where she hangs out.

ZIA
Well, you go there tomorrow and persuade her to come home with you. I’ll do the rest.
(putting his arm round his son’s shoulders and leading him out)
Son, you’re in for a surprise! I’m going to show you how to charm the knickers off a cunt. You’re going to see a stallion in action. Tell me – has she got big knockers? Because I like them big … I like to have something to hold on to when I’m in the saddle.

CUT TO :

EXT. STREET – NIGHT.

DICK has finally made it back to his starting point – he’s puffing
and panting. So is FRED in the alley. DICK sees what he’s doing, smiles, and rubs his hands together.

DICK
My favourite position! Woof! Woof! Woof! … You stay on her back while I stick my bone in the bitch’s mouth.

He opens his zip, drops down on his knees, and walks like that into the alley, getting ready to pull out his bone …

CUT TO :

ALI
That’s the one.
(to DICK)
Okay, stud, on your feet – zip it up.

DICK
Where am I? … Is this the road to Damascus?

FRED
Wow, man, that was mind-blowing!

DICK
I thought acting was for fairies and poofters but, bloody hell, it’s real hard shit.

FRED
I never sweated so much in my life. Man, you’ve blown my mind. That character I played was the opposite of what I am, but I feel I really got under his skin.

DICK
Listen, anytime you need any help or anything just let me know.

FRED
Me too. Anytime. I love this acting business.

ALI
I’m touched. I really appreciate that. But, as you know, acting is a tough profession, and an actor’s life is one of constant frustration, disappointment, and rejection. You have a lot of natural talent but don’t give up your day job … if you have one. Go home now and catch up on your beauty sleep.

DICK and FRED begin to exit frame …

ALI
Don’t call us …

ALL TOGETHER
… we’ll call you.

They all have a good laugh … they relax, and start to wind down after a hard day’s work … CAROL comes over to ALI, imitating FRED :

CAROL
Man, you blow my mind … and my body.

ALI smiles, a few others laugh … CAROL tries to make a pass at ALI, but he casually rejects her; turns away as if nothing’s happened.

CAROL
(quieter; for ALI’s ears only)
I knew I had competition, but I didn’t think it was so serious.

ALI
Don’t know what you’re talking about.

CAROL
I love you too – you can’t fool me.

ALI
Still don’t know what you’re talking about.

CAROL
You know full well what and who I’m talking about.

Pause … He looks at her … Pause …

CAROL
Well, that’s that then … Put your mask on, Carol, and smile, smile, smile …

She waltzes away and makes herself busy.

ARIF
The problem working with amateurs is that they take all bloody day.
(yawns … stretches … raises his arms towards the heavens)
What a beautiful night. Just look at those diamonds …
(begins to softly sing)
‘Twinkle, twinkle little star … How I wonder what you are …’

ALI
(howls at the moon)
Aooohh!

ARIF laughs, and then ‘attacks’ ALI, and they pretend to fight while shouting out dialogue straight out of an Indian movie. Everyone has gathered round, clapping them on :

ARIF/ALI
How dare you laugh at my nightingale voice?! … Your face makes my eyes suffer but do you have to torture my ears too? … I’m going to punch you so hard that your grandmother will feel it back in the village … I’ll grind you to dust … I’ll pulverize you … I’m tougher than a lion … I’m harder than a bull … I’m longer than
a stallion … I’m badder than bad … The man hasn’t been born who can stand up to me … I kill sharks for breakfast …

ALI pulls ROSEMEEN in.

ALI
You better warn this guy not to mess with me. Is he tired of living or what?

ARIF
You’re the one who needs all the help you can get. You better pray she’s a fully qualified nurse ‘cause you’re going to need intensive care for a month at least.

ROSEMEEN tries to part them, making tragic gestures, and hamming it up.

ROSEMEEN
Children … Children, please don’t fight. The world is a rough, tough place but you must learn to live peacefully … Stop it … Show some love and understanding … Kiss and make up, now …

ARIF
I’ll kiss his face with my boot.

ALI
I’ll kiss his face – after I’ve torn it from his face.

ROSEMEEN
No, please, you don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know what a tragic mistake you’re making. You don’t know just how closely you’re related to each other … Stop! That’s enough! Boys, give me one minute and I’ll explain everything. I can’t stand to one side and watch you fighting each other. I can’t bear it! It’s like a knife thrusting into my heart! I can’t remain silent any longer.
Boys, pay attention – listen carefully : Once upon a time, when you were both little boys, your mother took you to the railway station to do a little begging. You had to beg because your father, that no-good-for-nothing loafer, had abandoned you and run off with a young whore. Your poor mother had to bring you up on her own. It was not easy, believe me. On that station platform she turned her back on you for two minutes, and when she looked again she saw that you were on a train going in that direction – and you were on a train going in the other direction. What could she do? It broke her heart. A whore had taken her husband, and each of her sons had been taken by a train … For many years she wandered all over the country in search of her boys. But they were nowhere to be found … When they had been babies she had taken the precaution of placing half-a-medallion round each son’s neck, so that, if they
ever parted and met after a long time, they would recognize each other by joining the two halves of the medallion together.

ALI
You mean …

ROSEMEEN
Yes.

ALI pretends to reach for the ‘chain‘ around his neck and pull up the ‘medallion’; ARIF does the same. They slowly bring the ‘two
halves‘ together. Then they hug each other.

ALI
My little brother!

ARIF
My big brother!

ALI
I love you so much!

ARIF
I love you even more.

ALI
(to ROSEMEEN)
Oh, thank you for bringing the two of us together again.

ARIF
Thank you. But tell me one thing – how do you know all this?

ROSEMEEN
I know because I was on that station platform.

ARIF
You mean …

ROSEMEEN
I know because I am that woman.

ALI and ARIF drop onto their knees and grab hold of each of ROSEMEEN’s hands and begin to kiss and press them to their foreheads.

ALI
Ma!

ARIF
Amma-ji!

ROSEMEEN
My sons! At long last. We are a family again.

ARIF
But what about Abba-ji?

ROSEMEEN
Son, your father died a long time ago.

ARIF
Oh, god! Even though he abandoned us – the dirty rat – it still breaks my heart to hear he’s snuffed it … How did he die, Ammma-ji?

ROSEMEEN
I’m ashamed to say this, but he died a slow death … from syphilis.

ARIF
Syphilis? Amma-ji, what’s syphilis?

ALI
It’s like malaria. But worse.

ROSEMEEN
Boys, let that be a lesson to you – keep away from loose women.

ARIF
Don’t worry, Ma, I like my women tight.

They all burst out laughing, and can’t carry on.

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s FLAT – DAY.

ROSEMEEN enters the back-room flicking through some letters … ALI enters – he’s been out jogging; sweating, etc;

ALI
Salaam, lazy-bones …

ROSEMEEN
Salaam. The post just arrived.

ALI
(takes the letters)
When are you coming out jogging with me? … How many guys have ever asked you to do that?

ROSEMEEN
I’ll accept your invitation when I’m able to keep up with you; I can hardly move after doing those exercises you showed me yesterday.

ALI
I don’t ask anybody to keep up with me – you should move at your own speed.

ROSEMEEN
Give me another couple of weeks and we’ll be moving at the same speed.

ALI
In the same direction, I hope.
(sorting through the mail)
Bill, bill, junk … This looks interesting.

He tears it open, begins to read it … and it is instantly apparent that it contains good news …

ALI
Listen to this – ‘Dear Sir … blah, blah … have read your play … blah, blah … shows great promise … blah, blah … would love to develop it further … blah, blah … and then produce it … blah, blah … call the following number … blah, blah‘ … I got it! I’m in! I’m in!

ROSEMEEN
Wow! That’s great! I’m so happy for you.

He whoops with joy, picks up ROSEMEEN and twirls her around, kissing her on the cheek, absolutely elated.
There is a brief pause … ROSEMEEN slowly slides down … they
stand close to each other.

ALI
I got the whole picture the moment I first saw you.

They are slowly drawn to each other; they embrace and gently, softly, sweetly kiss each other … they hold each other for a long while without any need to speak – everything is clear, and understood.
ALI snaps out of it first :

ALI
I have to call Arif and tell him the good news … I bet he jumps up and kicks a hole in the ceiling.

He hands her the letter (throws the rest on the desk), gives her a quick kiss, and goes over to the phone in the hallway, next to the door … looks in on ROSEMEEN – can’t keep his eyes off her … after a while she walks over and puts her arms around him, leaning
her head on his shoulder.

ALI
Hello … May I speak to Arif, please … Thank you … Morning … Alright? … How’s your health? … The family okay? … How about the cat? … I’m not trying to be funny! … I call up my best friend to enquire about his pussy, and what do I get for my trouble?
(holds the phone away from his ear and grimaces)
… Okay, okay, listen … Listen … I got the key … Understand? … I got the key. The door is open … I’m on the launch-pad and the countdown to blast-off has started … That’s right … Wo, slow down – think about your blood pressure … Come on over and help me get ready for the mother of all parties! Tonight we’re going to paint the town like a rainbow … Okay … See you in ten
minutes.

ALI and ROSEMEEN walk back in, still locked in an embrace.

ALI
Want to hear something corny? … This is the first day of the rest of our lives.

ROSEMEEN
(smiles)
That is really corny … but sweet.

ALI
Blame it on all the Indian movies I saw as a kid … I better move it. I’ll have a quick shower, and then we’ll get ready for the party of the year.

He kisses her on the nose; as he goes out he skips in the air, clicks his feet together, and marches out with great pomp and gusto.

ALI
Put some music on – loud!
(turns at doorway)
Don’t go away, little girl, I’ll be right back.

Exits frame … ROSEMEEN stands there in a daze; the letter slips out of her hand without her really noticing; she touches her lips
with her fingertips and twirls around with joy.

ROSEMEEN
I still can’t believe it … I can’t believe I’ve found my soul-mate … I’ve been looking for him all my life.

She ‘floats‘ to the music cabinet, selects a record, switches it on, and a beautiful Indian love song comes on. She dances to the music; laughs with joy.
She’s snapped out of this by a noise – HOCKEY NUMBER ONE in the front-room – startled, she spins round – and the men charge in –
BROTHER and HUSBAND go for ROSEMEEN (who has frozen at the speed of events), while HOCKEY NUMBER TWO starts destroying everything in sight.

BROTHER
Sister … Little sister … Don’t be frightened … Come here … Let’s go home.

HUSBAND
Don’t ask her – just grab her and drag her out.

HUSBAND has his arms outstretched, cornering ROSEMEEN … when he’s close enough she kicks him in the groin – he cries out in pain and doubles over … BROTHER jumps on ROSEMEEN and grabs her in a bear-hug; she struggles to break free … HUSBAND has straightened up by now, and he’s mad with rage. He grabs hold of ROSEMEEN’s hair and smashes his fist into her face several times.

HUSBAND
You bitch! You fucking bitch! … I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget …
(to BROTHER)
Let her go! She’s my fucking cunt and I’ll take care of her myself!
(hits her again and again)
I’ve got two plane-tickets right here in my pocket. There’s a car outside which is going to take us straight to the airport. From there it’s non-stop back to our village. Once we get there I’m really going to sort you out. I’ll make sure you never run off again. You poxy cunt! Whore! Did you think you could make a fool of me and get away with it? Huh?
(punches her)

HOCKEY NUMBER ONE has finished his job in the front-room and joins the others; HOCKEY NUMBER TWO and BROTHER have been tipping the bookcases over, smashing the editing equipment, etc; Upon entering, HOCKEY NUMBER ONE smashes the record-player, abruptly ending the song. After a few seconds ALI can be heard, calling :

ALI
Rosemeen? … Rosemeen? … Rose!

HOCKEYS NUMBER ONE and TWO position themselves on either side of the doorway; BROTHER stands in front. HUSBAND puts a hand over ROSEMEEN’s mouth … She struggles and bites his hand.

ROSEMEEN
Ali! No! No!

HUSBAND muzzles her again –
Just then ALI runs in, wet from the shower, only wearing a tracksuit bottom. He doesn’t stand a chance – HOCKEY NUMBER ONE
swings his stick smashing into his legs, as he falls HOCKEY NUMBER
TWO hits him in the back, and BROTHER kicks him in the head. Then they are all over him like a pack of hungry wolves. HUSBAND hurls ROSEMEEN to the floor and rushes to put his mark on ALI – he kicks
him in the groin several times, all the while shouting obscenities
…

HUSBAND
Fucking stud! Bastard! I’d like to see you get a hard-on after this, lover-boy! … Castrate the bastard! … Cut off his balls! … Cut off his fucking cock!

BROTHER
I’m going to do something much, much worse.

ROSEMEEN has managed to get back on her feet, and tries her best to defend ALI by attacking her HUSBAND in a silent do-or-die rage, but he turns on her and punches her senseless.

BROTHER
Take her out and lock her in the car. We’ll be with you in a minute.

HUSBAND begins to drag ROSEMEEN out … She’s groggy, hurt …

ROSEMEEN
Ali! … I’m sorry … I’m sorry … Al? … Ali!

They exit frame.
BROTHER gives a sign, and HOCKEYS ONE and TWO grab hold of ALI’s arms and pull him up into a kneeling position … His head sags and BROTHER pulls it back by the hair.

BROTHER
Well, Mister Movie Star, we meet again, as I said we would. But you’re not such a pretty sight now, are you? What’s happened to that ‘Pose’? Where is the ‘Cool’? Where is the ‘Man’? Where’s it all gone? … I’m going to miss it, because the only part you’ll get now is in a fucking horror movie. People will shit themselves when they see you. But the thing is when they look at you they will see me as well. I’ll be famous too. Know why? …
(takes a craft-knife out of his pocket)
I’m going to write my name across your face.

He lashes deeply across ALI’s face several times; ALI jerks back feebly the first couple of times but he’s too far gone to feel anything now …
When BROTHER is satisfied with his handiwork he casually walks out; HOCKEYS NUMBER ONE and TWO let go of ALI (who sags and flops to the floor), pick up their sticks and exit.
ALI lies absolutely still, arms and legs spread at grotesque angles, underneath a spot of soft light … there is complete
silence.

CUT TO :

INT. ALI’s FLAT – DAY.

ARIF strolls in at the front door, singing ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star … How I wonder what you are ‘ … He’s about to pass on towards the back-room when a casual glance through the open door of the front-room stops him in his tracks – stops with a jolt, hands on the door-frame, leaning, looking in, horrified at the sight of the broken camera, props, lights, etc; … then it all clicks – and he jerks back out, shouting “Ali!” … He charges into the back-room and – Stops – as if he’s run into a brick wall; something escapes, drains away from him; staggers … Slowly stumbles/shuffles forward … The breath was knocked out of him a minute before and he’s forgotten to inhale … Sinks to his knees by ALI’s side; doesn’t know what to do or say … Rolls his head from side to side in wordless pain … Reaches out – pulls back his hand; again … Tenderly caresses ALI’s head/hair. Slowly, gently begins to pick him up, but with every move ALI groans in pain … Finally, ARIF realizes that the best, and only thing to do is – nothing!
(Every time ALI tries to speak the blood gets in his mouth; he gags/chokes/swallows, and ARIF does his best to wipe it out of the way as quickly and gently as he can; first with his fingers, and then with a handkerchief).
ALI is on the edge …

ALI
Gone – finished – and it only just started … Remember the castration scene? … When you film it … add this … Picture this : the guy’s on the table … it’s all over … he’s just lying there, and the camera slowly moves in on his face … His face is … his face tells the story … and his eyes … And then, in a voice that … he manages to say : “They’ve cut them off … Cut’em
off … I can’t produce … I can’t create … I can’t – I can’t give life anymore!”

… and then he falls …

ARIF, totally shattered, slowly bends down and kisses ALI on the forehead; as he straightens up, he hugs ALI to his heart, and begins to wail/howl like an abandoned child for whom the thought/
fact is too final/unacceptable, and the pain is too much to bear.

The light slowly fades …

THE END.

(c) Satori Publishing, 2013.