Wadjda Page #13

MOTHER:

Be quiet! Do you want them to hear

you? Put this in the oven.

Wajda stops singing and looks at her Mother, pushing back a

lock of hair off her forehead, looking exhausted.

Her Father KNOCKS once and they pass the plates through to

him at the door. He smiles as he takes it.

FATHER:

Wow! All this food!

He kisses the Mother’s forehead and looks her in the eyes.

FATHER (CONT’D)

They'll be really impressed. You

make me so proud!

MOTHER:

Obviously not proud enough.

She goes back to the kitchen and starts fixing the next dish.

94 INT. THE MAJLIS - LATER 94

Wajda and her Mother clean up dishes from a long sitting area

on the floor.

WAJDA:

Wow! What is this?

Wajda examines a gift given to her Father. It is a family

tree. She runs her finger along the branches.

MOTHER:

(cynically)

Your Father's glorious family tree.

Her Mother eats discarded food from the plates, then finds

her husband's prayer beads and picks them up tenderly.

Wajda leaves the family tree and hooks her game into the TV

as her Mother leaves the room.

65.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Make sure you clean that all up. I

don't want to do anything that will

get him upset with us again.

Distracted, Wajda puts down the controller and looks at the

family tree. The names read: “Khalid, Mansour, Mohammed,

Omar…” Her Father's name stands alone while all of his

brothers have leaves with boy's names below them. Wajda cuts

a piece of blank paper from the Koran, writes her name on it

and adds it under her Father's name.

MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

I almost forgot. Ms. Hussa called

earlier.

Wajda looks at her, wide-eyed, while hooking up the game

controller. The Mother enters, smiling suspiciously.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

She's really pleased with you!

Honestly, the way Ms. Hussa was

going on I wasn't sure we were

talking about the same person!

She looks at Wajda expectantly, but Wajda shrugs, turns the

game on and busies herself with it. Her Mother stops cleaning

for a moment.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

You keep surprising me!

95 INT. THE MOSQUE - DAY 95

All the girls crowd around Salma who passes around pictures.

The girls laugh and reach for them.

NOURA:

Let me see! Let me see!

Are you wearing this only?

Noura covers her face in astonishment. The Teacher comes in

and Wajda pulls herself away from the scene. The other girls

don't notice. Noura points at a picture.

NOURA (CONT’D)

Is this your Father?

SALMA:

(upset)

That's Khalid, my husband!

66.

NOURA:

He looks like your grandfather. But

I guess that’s the best your family

could do-

Humiliated, Salma snatches the photo back. All the girls

except Wajda laugh. The Koran Teacher appears behind,

catching them off guard.

KORAN TEACHER:

What's going on here?

The girls immediately go silent.

WAJDA:

(quickly)

I told them they can't have

pictures at school.

NOURA:

No you didn't!

(turning to the teacher)

Salma just got married. Look, she

brought in pictures!

KORAN TEACHER:

(grabbing the pictures)

Let me see. Who's this, your

Mother? Is this your husband?

As they talk, Wajda looks out to the hallway where Fatin and

Fatima pass by with their furious MOTHERS. Fatin tries to

explain something but her Mother silences her with an angry

look. Fatima notices Wajda watching sympathetically. Fatima

looks away.

KORAN TEACHER (CONT’D)

Okay, put them away now. Wajda's

right, you're not allowed to show

pictures at school.

Wajda looks down, trying to hide being ashamed.

KORAN TEACHER (CONT’D)

Let's get started. Yasmine, read

from page 13.

YASMINE:

(whispering)

I need a Kleenex.

KORAN TEACHER:

Wajda, read.

67.

Wajda closes her Koran and looks at the teacher hesitantly.

WAJDA:

I'll try without looking.

The Koran Teacher looks at her, surprised.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

(reciting nervously)

And whoever opposes the Messenger

after guidance has become clear to

him and follows other than the way

of the believers - We will give him

what he has taken and drive him

into Hell, and evil it is as a

destination. Indeed, Allah does not

forgive association with Him, but

He forgives what is less than that

for whom He wills. They call upon

instead of Him none but female

[deities], and they call upon none

but a rebellious Satan.

KORAN TEACHER:

Very nice Wajda, you remembered it

all. But you have to recite. You

can't just go..badababdababdaba!

(turns to Salma)

How about our young bride? Let's

hear that voice. And listen Wajda,

you have to recite like this if you

want to win.

SALMA:

And whoever opposes the Messenger

after guidance has become clear to

him and follows other than the way

of the believers - We will give him

what he has taken and drive him

into Hell, and evil it is as a

destination...

The sweet sound echoes through the room, while the girls

follow along. Noura’s eyes stare at Salma through angry

slits. Wajda looks out at the empty hallway, disappointed.

96 EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF THE TOY SHOP - DAY 96

On her way home from school Wajda looks over and sees the

green bicycle in front, relieved that it’s still there. She

enters the shop.

68.

97 INT. THE TOY SHOP - DAY 97

WAJDA:

Who were talking to yesterday aboutthe bicycle? I saw you showing itto some kid when we drove by.

TOY SHOP OWNER:

I don’t know what you’re talking

about.

WAJDA:

You know exactly what I’m talking

about. I don’t want you showing my

bicycle to anyone else.

He shakes his head. She reaches into her pocket.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

Here, I made you a mix-tape. Sincewe are friends now.

TOY SHOP OWNER:

(Sarcastically)

Thanks for your generosity.

WAJDA:

(Sarcastically)

Don’t mention it.

my bicycle.

But don’t sell

98 EXT. FRONT OF WAJDA'S HOUSE - DAY 98

Wajda walks past Abdullah by his Uncle's election tent,

without saying anything.

ABDULLAH:

What, are you the one who is upsetwith me now? Your Mother almost

broke my neck pushing me down thestairs!

WAJDA:

My Mother doesn’t want me talking

to you anymore.

She smiles and walks towards her house. He pulls out abicycle helmet and runs after her.

ABDULLAH:

Since when do you listen to yourMother? Here - I got you this. It'sa helmet, like the ones on TV.

69.

Wajda’s whole face lights up as she takes the helmet.

Abdullah is pleased.

ABDULLAH (CONT’D)

Do you want to ride in the empty

lot behind the tent? We have a few

minutes before people come.

99 EXT. THE CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY 99

Wajda, wearing her abbayah and the helmet, rides in circles

in the empty lot. Abdullah sits on a cinder block, watching.

WAJDA:

Watch this? See! See!

She takes her hands off the handlebars. He nods. She quickly

puts them back on but periodically takes them off while

riding.

ABDULLAH:

The Toy shop owner told Khalid and

his Father that someone reserved

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