Wadjda Page #17

She meets their eyes right on and starts reciting in a

beautiful voice, which begins weak and then gradually grows

stronger and more intense.

WAJDA:

In the name of Allah, the

Beneficent, the Merciful. There is

(pause)

There is… a disease in their

hearts, so Allah added to their

disease and they shall have a

painful chastisement because they

lied. And when it is said to them,

Do not make mischief in the land,

they say:
We are but peace-makers.

Now surely they themselves are the

mischief makers, but they do not

perceive.

86.

Wajda stops and looks around the room for some indication on

whether or not she should continue.

MS. HUSSA

(softly)

Thank you, Wajda, that was very

good.

Noura looks worried and very angry. Fatima has a small smile

on her face. The two teachers lean in to consult each other.

The moment seems endless to Wajda.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Girls, you did an excellent job and

you should be proud you all made it

this far. Congratulations...we will

announce the winner after the

prayer.

Out of the corner of her eye she sees Noura, peering down at

Wajda's vest pocket. Wajda looks at her, confused, then down

at her pocket and sees the paper sticking out.

Noura’s mouth widens in a devilish grin as she sits straight

up in her chair.

Wajda blanches, pushes the paper down in to her pocket,

hiding it, then looks up quickly, panicking.

As the girls exit the stage Noura approaches the table where

the judges sit. She leans over to Ms. Hussa and whispers

something into her ear. Ms. Hussa furrows her brow, pauses

for a moment and looks at Wajda.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Wajda, please come over here.

Worried, Wajda walks over to the judges' table.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Empty your pockets.

Wajda stares at her.

WAJDA:

I wasn't cheating, I swear!

NOURA:

I saw a cheat-sheet in her pocket,

Ms. Hussa. You said that they were

to have no notes or else they’d be

disqualified.

87.

MS. HUSSA

Thank you, Noura, for your courage.

You may go now.

Noura shoots Wajda an evil smile.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Wajda, empty your pockets, please.

Wajda slowly pulls out the contents of her pockets, first the

rock, then her Father's prayer beads, and puts them on the

table. She pauses, looks down at her vest pocket, and

reluctantly pulls out the folded piece of paper. Not

remembering what it is, she looks at it with despair and lays

it on the table.

The Koran teacher takes the paper from the table and reads

it. Her face relaxes and she suppresses a smile. She hands it

to Ms. Hussa.

KORAN TEACHER:

Ms. Hussa, someone loves you and

thinks you are like the moon! I

don't know if we agree with that!

She laughs teasingly to Ms. Hussa then looks to Wajda kindly.

KORAN TEACHER (CONT’D)

You know very well you shouldn't

bring notes like this to school,

not after the whole saga with Fatin

and Fatima.

Ms. Hussa takes the paper and looks at it, shocked. She looks

over to Wajda for answers. Wajda looks at her wide-eyed,

petrified to be caught with it.

MS. HUSSA

Thank you, Wajda. Please go join

the other girls for prayer.

She smiles and hands the note back to her.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

And when you return this note to

its illustrious author, I assume

you will do so with the benevolence

and graciousness your Koran

learning has taught you.

Wajda takes the note, turns away, still wide eyed, and inches

slowly away from the table. As she moves away from them her

look of fear and shock turns into a very broad grin.

88.

112 INT. CORRIDOR - DAY 112

When she gets out into the hallway, alone, Wajda's smile

breaks into a giggle, until she bursts out into

uncontrollable fits of laughter.

113 INT. MOSQUE - DAY 113

The girls line up into rows. Some are taking out their

abbayahs and wrapping themselves for prayer.

Ms. Hussa is in the first row along with the other

contestants and a very angry Noura at her side.

Wajda sees Fatin and Fatima in the middle of the mosque and

lines up next them, smiling. She unfolds her abbayah and gets

ready to pray. Fatin looks over at her, raising her eyebrows.

FATIN:

You sure you want to stand next to

us?

Fatima holds Fatin's arm, then looks gratefully at Wajda.

FATIMA:

Congratulations.

WAJDA:

They haven't announced the winner

yet.

FATIN:

You won, and you're their favorite

convert, so I'm sure they were all

rooting for you anyway.

Wajda stares uncomfortably at the floor, unsure what to say.

WAJDA:

I… I want to buy a bicycle. I'm

sorry, I had to win.

Fatin pushes Wajda away with her elbow. Fatima shakes her

head at Fatin and turns to Wajda.

FATIMA:

A bicycle? You would never dare.

We all know that you’re a coward.

Wajda looks up to see Ms. Hussa searching for her.

89.

MS. HUSSA

Wajda! We saved you a spot in the

first row with the other

contestants.

Wajda looks back to Fatin and Fatima, fixing their abbayahs

for prayer. Wajda hesitates.

FATIMA:

Go.

Fatin looks the other way but Fatima nods. Sadly, Wajda lines

up next to Ms. Hussa who grabs Wajda's abbayah and pulls her

next to her. She whispers down to her.

MS. HUSSA

Good Muslims have to line up close

to each other so the devil…

(indicates Fatin and

Fatima))

…doesn't get in between them.

Wajda avoids looking at Ms. Hussa as she lines up in her

spot. The call for the start of prayer is announced and all

of the girls pray in one synchronized voice.

GIRLS:

Allhu Akbar.

114 INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - DAY 114

Noura, Salma and Wajda wait nervously on stage. Ms. Hussa

reaches to a megaphone behind the blackboard.

MS. HUSSA

Standing in front of me are the

three finalists of the school-wide

Koran competition. Only one will be

awarded the cash prize, but all

will receive 1st, 2nd an 3rd place

certificates. The third place

winner is..Salma Andul Azziz.

Salma smiles to Wajda.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

And now, the runner up to this

year's competition is…

(pauses)

Noura Al Markoon.

Wajda covers her face, tearing up with happiness, the exact

opposite of Noura’s right now.

90.

Salma rushes up and gives Wajda an ecstatic congratulatory

hug. She scurries back to her seat and savors every second of

Noura, rigid and miserable, trudging up to Ms. Hussa, taking

her certificate and storming off the stage and out of the

room.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Wajda Al Safan, you are our

champion. Congratulations! You are

in this spot because of your

devotion and perseverance, and I

hope all the girls here today learn

from your example.

Wajda's face beams with happiness as she walks slowly to the

front of the stage. She nods "thank you" as Ms. Hussa hands

her the certificate. She looks nervously at the megaphone.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Alf Mabruk bint al Saffon. Don't be

shy! And what are your plans for

the prize money?

As Ms. Hussa hands her the megaphone, Wajda pauses and scans

the faces of the audience.

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