Wadjda Page #12

She squints out to get a better look as The Owner looks up

and notices her. He smiles while he talks to the man,

explaining something. The car pulls away. When she can no

longer see the toy shop, Wajda sits back, agitated.

Her Mother watches her and looks back at the shop.

IQBAL:

Madam, only one hour. I don't have

time to wait for you. You are late,

I go. You find taxi.

59.

MOTHER:

(irritated)

We understand that, Iqbal. Enough.

She pretends to text someone to stop him from talking to her.

Wajda looks at the little girl’s picture. She leans forward

and tries to talk to Iqbal.

WAJDA:

Who is this little girl, Iqbal?

IQBAL:

This is my daughter. I didn’t see

her for 3 years now.

He then shakes his head happy with himself.

IQBAL (CONT’D)

She goes to school now. (pause)I

didn’t go to school.

WAJDA:

Obviously you didn’t go to school

because you don’t have manners.

IQBAL:

You have a big mouth.

Wajda sticks her tongue out to him. Her mother looks at her

angrily. The car moves quickly across the dessert.

89 INT. THE MALL - DAY 89

Wajda’s Mother passes ahead of her as she stands mesmerized

by a kiosk selling accessories. Quickly she goes to the

salesperson and points to a rack full of bracelets similar to

the one's she made with a sign that says "Only 20 Riyals!"

WAJDA:

I make better bracelets than these.

How much will you pay me? 10?

SALESMAN:

No thank you, I buy them from

China, I can get like 10,000 for 10

riyals.

WAJDA:

China won't do the national colors!

SALESMAN:

You mean like this?

60.

As he points to one, she hears her Mother calling her from

the upper level. She runs towards the escalator, shooting the

salesman an angry look.

90 INT. DRESS SHOP - DAY 90

They enter a shop that has an assortment of dresses and gowns

in the window. A red dress stands out among the others.

While they talk, Wajda sits on a chair in the entry-way

watching the action outside. The salesman pulls out the dress

and examines the Mother's covered body.

SALESMAN:

It is a beautiful dress but maybe

a little big for you.

The Mother tucks her hands into her abbayah, nervously.

Wajda watches a group of fully veiled women walk past a group

of young men. They turn their heads, flirt with smiles and

laughs. After passing each other, they pull out their cell

phones and text rapidly.

PASSING GIRL:

The jerk, he says I have a big ass!

The group of girls laugh and disappear in the long aisle.

MOTHER:

What size is it?

SALESMAN:

Large.

MOTHER:

All right. Can I try it?

SALESMAN:

Okay, you can try it on in the

women's bathroom at the end of the

corridor. And if it turns out big,

we can tailor it for you after you

pay a deposit.

The Mother looks at a pair of beautiful red shoes on display.

91 INT. PUBLIC BATHROOM - DAY 91

The mother in a small bathroom, with Arabic toilet on the

floor. The floor is wet.

61.

She is trying to finish zipping it up while holding the edge

of it between her legs so the dress doesn’t get wet.

MOTHER:

(whispers)

I know it’s a lot of money but I

have to show your Father he can’t

get anything better than me.

The mother opens the door and shows the dress to Wajda. Wajda

is leaning over the sink and holding her mother’s Abbya.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Do you think your father will like

it?

The dress is too big for her. She pulls the ends of the dress

around her waist to tighten it. Wajda shrugs her shoulders.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Let’s take the dress back to the

salesman so he can tighten it. Then

go quickly before Iqbal gets angry

and leaves us.

The mother raises the dress edge over her feet and enters the

bathroom booth again. Wajda hands the mother her Abbya from

over the door.

WAJDA:

Don’t worry, he won’t leave.

92 EXT. THE ROOF OF WAJDA'S HOUSE - DAY 92

Wajda rides the bicycle, more steadily but still awkwardly,

in a circle.

ABDULLAH:

I think I'm done with the lights

now.

He looks over the edge. The lights are all aligned

beautifully.

WAJDA:

My Mother saw the lights but forgot

to ask me about them again.

ABDULLAH:

She doesn't know? Does your Father?

62.

WAJDA:

I think they like your Uncle now

that he was on that radio program!

MOTHER (O.S.)

Aiiyyyeee!!!!

They turn, both stunned to see Wajda's Mother at the entrance

of the roof. The mother tries to hide the cigarette in her

hand and put it out secretly.

Wajda tips over, lands hard and hurts herself. She looks up

pleadingly at her Mother.

WAJDA:

I'm bleeding… I have blood!

Her Mother grips the railing, screams and covers her eyes.

MOTHER:

You stupid-- you think you can act

like boys? Your honor, your honor!

Oh my God, oh my God. Where is the

blood coming from? Where is it

coming from?

WAJDA:

(confused)

From my knee...

MOTHER:

What? Oh thank God!

She sighs in relief, then grabs Wajda by the shoulder.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Bicycles are dangerous for girls

and you almost saw why!!!

(to Abdullah)

And you!! What were you thinking?

I'll tell your Uncle to teach you

some manners. Get out of here!

Abdullah runs away, panicked. The Mother points at the

bicycle.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

And take that damn thing with you!

Abdullah quickly comes back and picks up the bicycle, then

runs into the stairway, struggling with the bicycle alone.

63.

We hear a loud CRASH as the bicycle falls down the stairs.

Wajda and her Mother look at each other, the Mother trying to

compose herself and then… both burst into laughter.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

(straightening up)

Shame on you, bringing a boy

upstairs with no one home. What

would your Father do if he knew?

He'd kill you!

WAJDA:

Why are you home early, anyway?

Her Mother sits on her knees and faces Wajda, threateningly.

MOTHER:

Listen to me, don’t ever bring him

up here again. I will seriously

tell his Uncle and he will be in

big trouble. If I weren't busy with

your Father's party, I would have

gotten really upset with you and we

would have a long talk about this.

(Switching moods suddenly)

Now let's get downstairs, we need

to start cooking. Your Father's

friends are coming over tonight.

And get your game out of there;

he'll be mad if he knows you are

using his TV.

Wajda looks up quickly at her Mother, surprised.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

You think I don’t know your tricks?

At least you’re learning the Koran.

As they walk off the roof Wajda kicks a piece of ribbon that

had fallen off the bicycle. The ribbon flies in the air as

their figures disappear into the stairwell.

WAJDA (O.S.)

Are you going to tell his Uncle?

MOTHER (O.S.)

He is a nice boy. His only problem

is that you won't leave him alone.

(they both laugh) )

We'll cook the best dinner for your

Father's party tonight.

64.

93 INT. THE KITCHEN - EVENING 93

Wajda helps her Mother prepare the massive plates of food for

the group of men in the other room, talking and laughing

loudly. Trying to relieve the tension, she starts to SING.

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