Wadjda Page #5

21.

29 EXT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS - DAY 29

Abdullah is amongst A CROWD OF MEN heading to pray at the

mosque by the toy shop along with HIS FATHER and mustached

UNCLE. As Wajda sees him she turns away and hides the

distinguishing yellow flower on her veil under her abbayah.

As she turns back Abdullah sees her in the crowd. They look

at each other. She gestures with her eyes to the handle of

the green bicycle showing underneath the blanket.

Abdullah rubs his fingers together to show that it will take

money to buy it. Wajda takes out twenty riyals from her

pocket and waves it defiantly at him. She turns her head

proudly and struts off.

30 INT. WAJDA'S PARENTS’ ROOM - NIGHT 30

Wajda’s on her Mother's bed, legs on the headboard, her

toenails now painted blue. Her Mother sits in front of the

mirror straightening her hair and singing beautifully.

MOTHER:

I'll write you a love letter. Tell

you how much I miss you…

She takes another lock of hair and runs the iron over it.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

I wish I could cut my hair shorter

like Lubna Abdul Aziz.

WAJDA:

Do it.

MOTHER:

Your Father loves my long hair.

(singing)

I'll write you a love letter. Tell

you how much I miss you…

She takes out a bandana to wrap her hair and sees a new tube

of lipstick in front of her.

The Mother looks at Wajda in the mirror with a touched smile.

Wajda sees her Mother smiling and turns away shyly. Her

Mother applies the lipstick.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

I’d thank you for this but I'm

afraid to ask where you got the

money. Did you ask your Grandmother

for it?

22.

WAJDA:

I sold her stuff! It's not charity!

MOTHER:

I don't want you going over there!

Your Father finishes his shift

early tomorrow night. What should

we cook? Margoog?

WAJDA:

I hate margoog. And is he going to

give me my allowance this month or

is he going to skip it again?

MOTHER:

(ironing her hair)

Your Father loves margoog. We’ll

cook it for him.

WAJDA:

Cook me kapsa! He’s paying the

second wife's dowry off with my

allowance!

Wajda's Mother stops ironing, her body language becomes stiff

and tense.

Wajda reddens, Her Mother remains silent, ties the bandana

into place, rises, and exits to the kitchen.

31 INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY 31

As Wajda she sees Ms. Hussa at the end of the hall, glaring

intensely at her.

32 INT. MS. HUSSA'S OFFICE - DAY 32

An avalanche of items comes pouring out of Wajda's backpack

onto the desk as Ms. Hussa shakes out its contents. Wajda

sits nervously in a chair. The rock her Father gave her

tumbles off the desk and onto the floor next to her.

Ms. Hussa shakes her head as she goes through the bracelets,

cassettes, schoolbooks, notebooks and candy bars. She picks

up one of the tapes and relaxes back into her chair.

23.

MS. HUSSA

(Authoritatively)

Tapes full of love songs,

bracelets, all of this… You know

are not allowed in school!

She opens a folder, signing papers as she talks.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Abeer was always a good girl. Do

you know how she ended up getting

picked up with a strange boy by the

religious police?

Wajda remains silent, trying not to fidget.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Thank God they found someone to

marry her off to, it's not like her

family will let her come back to

school after this.

Ms. Hussa stops signing, sits back in her chair and stares at

Wajda, who looks back at her nervously.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

So, did you arrange this whole

rendezvous for Abeer and her lover?

WAJDA:

(defensively)

No, I didn't!

MS. HUSSA

Don’t lie. I know you took part in

this. I just don’t know how. What

shall we do with you now? Expel

you?

Suddenly her secretary, MS. JAMILA, enters the room. Ms.

Hussa stops and looks at the folder in her hand.

Wajda looks down and notices her black stone. She quickly

pockets it.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

(To Ms. Jamila)

Just a moment please.

(To Wajda)

You may go back to your class.

We'll finish this matter later.

Wajda takes her notebooks off of the desk and puts them

slowly back into her backpack. She walks towards the door.

24.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

And Wajda, wear normal black shoes

like all the other girls!

33 INT. MRS. HUSSA’S OFFICE/CORRIDOR - DAY 33

Wajda stands outside and listens.

MS. HUSSA

Call Wajda's Mother and see if she

can come in for a meeting tomorrow.

We have to decide once and for all,

what to do about that girl.

Wajda becomes terrified.

MS. HUSSA (CONT’D)

Now what is this?

MS. JAMILA (O.S.)

The proposal for the Koran

competition in the religion club.

We just need your signature to

request the prize money awards.

$800 riyals.

Wajda’s ears perk up at the amount of money. Thinks…

MS. HUSSA (O.S.)

At least we have something good to

show the superintendant. Thank God

not all the girls are delinquents.

All right, let’s get started on it.

Wajda’s heart races. She pulls together all her courage and

knocks on Ms. Hussa's door.

34 INT. MS. HUSSA'S OFFICE - DAY 34

Ms. Hussa takes a deep breath, and looks at Wajda, who

nervously crosses her feet to cover her black high tops.

WAJDA:

I thought about what you said. I

was wrong and am ready to change. I

would like to join the religious

club.

MS. HUSSA

(incredulous)

You are becoming a Shiekha

all of a sudden?

25.

WAJDA:

Maybe I'll learn something. You

know… to put me on the righteous

path.

Ms. Hussa peers at her, suspiciously.

MS. HUSSA

I will call your Mother tomorrow

and speak to her about this. If we

agree, it’s your last chance.

35 INT. THE KITCHEN - EVENING 35

Wajda's Mother makes margoog, working handfuls of dough

between her hands while she sings. Wajda cuts the dough as

the Mother puts some in the pan.

MOTHER:

I'll write you a love letter. Tell

you how much I miss you…

WAJDA:

Don't you wish you were a singer?

You sing so well!

Wajda's Mother feigns shock.

MOTHER:

Never! I seek refuge to God from

what you said! Woman's voices

shouldn't carry beyond the front

door.

Her Mother continues singing, now performing dramatically.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

I'll write you a love letter;

Tells you how much I miss you.

Explains my pain in your absence.

Wajda joins her Mother in singing.

WAJDA AND HER MOTHER

Why did you leave? You forgot our

nights? I'll write you a love

letter…

Wajda and her Mother laugh together. After a moment…

26.

WAJDA:

So I've saved up 87 riyals already

and I only need 413 to get the

bicyc-

MOTHER:

(annoyed)

Ouuuff! Again! We closed this

subject! You are not getting a

bicycle. It is haram!

They stand in silence while they cook idly. Wajda sighs and

after a moment smiles and looks away casually.

WAJDA:

They said I need to wear the full

abbayah to school from now on. I

also registered in the religious

studies club.

The Mother smiles reluctantly.

MOTHER:

Wow, wearing the full abbayah now,

religious study, someone has become

a woman, maybe we will marry you

off!

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