Wadjda Page #10

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

This is all we need at our school:

two girls hiding in the back yard,

putting their hands all over each

other! Tell me what that means?

The girls recoil from each other, mortified.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

“Sorry” isn’t going to cut it this

time. In my office. Now!

48.

70 EXT. SCHOOL - LATER 70

Wajda sees Fatin and Fatima leaving the school, extremely

upset. They pull their veils down covering their angry faces.

Crowds of girls bump past Wajda, all wearing black abbayahs.

Wajda wearily puts on hers as well.

71 INT. THE TOY SHOP - DAY 71

Wajda heads straight to the bicycle and runs her hand over

it. She sees that it is locked down with a chain. The Owner

comes out with a box.

TOY SHOP OWNER:

What are you doing? Still browsing?

WAJDA:

No. I know what I’m here to get.

She picks up the "Learn the Koran the Easy way" game while

the owner restocks the shelves, watching her.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

How much?

TOY SHOP OWNER:

Only 80 riyals… Cheaper than a

bicycle.

WAJDA:

(in a polite tone)

How about 62?

72 EXT. THE ROOF OF WAJDA'S HOUSE - DAY 72

Wajda sits on Abdullah's bicycle, trying to turn it in

circles on the small flat surface of the roof. She awkwardly

pedals and turns, barely keeping her balance.

Abdullah fastens a hook with lights attached. He looks over

at a crudely constructed mess of metal hanging off the edge.

ABDULLAH:

What is that?

She looks at him defensively, offended.

WAJDA:

What do you think? It's an

antennae. I can get signals from

beyond your world on that thing.

(MORE)

49.

WAJDA (CONT'D)

How do you think I make my "Awesome

Mix Tapes”?

ABDULLAH:

(while he works)

With all the people shouting?

“Awesome” indeed. My Uncle now

listens to the Koran radio station.

He will speak on the channel now.

They have all those famous Koran

readers. “It makes your heart

melt,” my Uncle says.

WAJDA:

(her hand over her heart)

He should hear my Mother sing! She

should have a channel of her own.

Wajda leans over against the railing to push herself along on

the bicycle. She idly switches a broken bare light-bulb on

and off on the side wall.

ABDULLAH:

Stop, you'll burn it out!

WAJDA:

It doesn't work anyway.

She looks down at the campaign tent.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

Why does your Uncle look different

now?

In the poster the Uncle has shaved his mustache and has grown

out a big beard.

ABDULLAH:

Didn't you hear? Men shouldn't

shave their beards! It is haram!

What do they teach you at school?

WAJDA:

(challengingly)

I don’t know. “Women’s stuff.”

Our “special days of the month”...

She bursts into fits of laughter as Abdullah, embarrassed,

goes back to work. Wajda balances awkwardly on the bicycle

and RINGS the little bell.

50.

ABDULLAH:

(smiling while he works)

Everyone in the neighborhood will

hear you ringing that bell.

WAJDA:

Who cares? Look, I'm a natural.

She swerves and falls hard. Abdullah giggles.

ABDULLAH:

Yeah right. All that fuss for a

bicycle and you don't even know how

to ride?

WAJDA:

How would I? Where would I ride a

bicycle?

She makes a face as Abdullah jumps up and stands behind her.

ABDULLAH:

Go ahead.

He holds the bicycle steady and trots alongside her while she

goes in circles around the edge of the roof.

73 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - NIGHT 73

Wajda sits on her bed tuning her radio. She stops, lingers,

then idly turns to the Koran station.

ANNOUNCER:

You are listening to the one and

only Koran station. Tune in to hear

your favorite readers. Now, Al

Hudafi will recite Surat al Baqara.

READER (V.O.)

In the name of Allah, the

Beneficent, the Merciful. Alif Lam

Mim. This Book, there is no doubt

in it, is a guide to those who

guard against evil.

She lies down in her bed listening.

Her gaze falls on the video game she just bought. Her Mother

comes in and closes the Koran.

MOTHER:

Don't leave the Koran open! Satan

will spit in it!

51.

Wajda jumps up, takes the video game box and leaves.

74 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 74

Wajda sits on the floor trying to hook the game to the small

TV in the living room. She fiddles around with the cords.

WAJDA:

This game doesn't work on our

“state-of-the-art TV”.

Her Mother looks perplexed, then realizes.

MOTHER:

Don't even think of it. Your

Father will go mad if you mess up

his TV.

Wajda sighs, staring at the locked Majlis door, where her

Father's TV sits.

75 INT. THE MOSQUE - DAY 75

Wajda listens as the teacher finishes a lesson passionately.

KORAN TEACHER:

Wajda, what do you think?

Wajda takes a moment and exchanges a glance with Noura, who

elbows Yasmine and rolls her eyes.

WAJDA:

I think this competition is very

hard for me.

Noura and the girls all giggle.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

But I heard on the Koran channel

yesterday that if it is easy for

you, you get only one reward. But

if it is hard for you to read and

remember you get two rewards. One

for reading the Koran and one for

the trouble you go through!

KORAN TEACHER:

Thank you, Wajda, for sharing this

with us. Girls, I want you all to

take Wajda as an example of a

person who tries hard and is

devoted to God.

52.

Noura and her cronies look dumbfounded.

WAJDA:

(surprised)

Thank you!

ANOTHER TEACHER passes by and motions for the Koran teacher.

They talk for a moment. She looks over at Wajda.

KORAN TEACHER:

Ms. Hussa said she needs to see

you. Go to her room now. I told her

how well you're doing.

76 INT. MS. HUSSA'S OFFICE - DAY 76

Wajda stands nervously in front of Ms. Hussa's desk.

MS. HUSSA

Wajda, I have to say, I didn’t

believe it but apparently you’re

doing well in class. If this is a

permanent thing I will be very

impressed.

Wajda puts on a polite smile. Ms. Hussa looks through a

filing cabinet. She deliberately pulls out a file, looks at

it, and puts it on her desk.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

You may not believe it, but I was a

little reckless at your age too.

And look at me now.

Wajda watches Ms. Hussa sit back and thumb through the file.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

If you keep going the way you’re

going, I believe you may actually

be able to win this competition.

She leans over and presses a button on the intercom.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Ms. Jamila? Please come by later

and pick up the Koran competition

file. All of the questions are

complete now. Thank you.

She leans back in her chair and pushes the folder to the

front of her desk, towards Wajda.

53.

MS.HUSSA

I'll bet the other girls would die

to know what is in that folder.

Wajda looks at the folder on the desk, puzzled. A KNOCK and

then and Fatin and Fatima walk in.

MS. HUSSA

Close the door, please.

Fatin politely turns, closes the door and stands next to

Fatima. Wajda is surprised to see the girls and shuffles her

feet nervously. Ms. Hussa sits back.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

So you still insist that you

weren't doing anything there behind

the school?

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