Wadjda Page #6

WAJDA:

(scowling)

Ha ha. That's not funny.

Her Mother tries not to smile, acting busy with her cooking.

She puts last bit of dough in the pan, washes her hands and

goes to the bedroom.

MOTHER:

Come with me.

36 INT. WAJDA'S PARENTS’ ROOM - NIGHT 36

The Mother pulls out an abbayah from the cabinet and hands it

to Wajda.

MOTHER:

Try this.

(laughing) )

It might be long for you. Carry it

like this:

Her Mother bunches her dress up in her hands and walks around

the room as if she were wearing high heels. Wajda copies her

exaggerated movements.

27.

WAJDA:

Just like Ms. Hussa!

(bashful) )

Oh no, a thief!

She shakes her butt and pretends to scamper away.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

I know! The girls told me the

story about the thief that jumped

the fence of their house to see

her…

MOTHER:

(suppressing a smile)

Shame on you, talking like this.

We don't know, it could have been a

thief.

They burst into laughter together. Wajda puts on the abbayah

and the veil while her Mother looks out the window.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Your Uncle’s wedding is coming up,

you know. I have to buy something

really nice so all the other women

know what they’re up against.

Wajda turns to her Mother, all in black. The phone RINGS.

37 INT. KITCHEN - DAY 37

Her Mother talks on the phone while checking the margoog.

MOTHER:

I'm so sorry, Leila. Iqbal our

driver is so rude. He shouted at

poor Aiesha today. Aiesha who never

raises her voice! She cried the

whole three hours on the way home.

38 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - EVENING 38

Wajda counts her money. The abbayah is on the bed. She goes

to the list with "500 Riyals" written at the top, crosses out

"25 Riyals" and counts and sorts the banknotes she has.

WAJDA:

45, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 81, 82,

83, 84, 85, 86...87 riyals.

She writes "87 riyals" on the chart.

28.

MOTHER (O.S.)

Leila, dear, we're completely full.

Honestly, you'd be better off with

another driver.

Wajda kisses the money with an enthusiastic "smack" and puts

it in the drawer.

MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Really? Abeer? Daughter of Mariam?

How did she even end up in a car

with him? Who is he? Of course,

he’s a playboy like his Father.

(laughs)

You have to admit, he is good

looking.

Wajda sits up on the edge of the chair, concerned.

MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Religious police? Mariam must be

dying! They should have married her

off a long time ago. Pretty girls

are like curses.

They hear the front door open and someone come in.

39 INT. THE KITCHEN - DAY 39

MOTHER:

I have to go, our Father has just

come. Keep me in the loop on this

Abeer scandal. Yalla bye.

She quickly hangs up, removes her bandana and fixes her hair.

40 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - DAY 40

Wajda sits in her room waiting and looking concerned. Her

Mother peeks in.

MOTHER:

Go and say hello to your Father as

I prepare his dinner. What's wrong?

Are you okay? Don't worry we won't

marry you

off…

(smiling)

Not just yet!

29.

41 INT. THE MAJLIS - DAY 41

Her Father sits on the floor playing a video game on the TV.

His gutra and Oqal are folded up next to him with a brand new

cell phone on top. A string of light blue prayer beads are

next to him as well. He turns and smiles at her.

Wajda walks past him to a side table and casually turns a

framed certificate of excellence in math towards him. He

quickly glances at it. She collapses casually onto the couch.

FATHER:

I'm losing, I should have stayed

with my usual fighter.

On the screen a warrior rests, haggard from the fight.

FATHER (CONT’D)

(teasing)

So is that a real certificate or a

fake one like you made last year?

WAJDA:

What?! I'm great at math, do you

want to hear…

(mispronouncing it)

pythagoreium’s theory? It's a

miracle of God, all the things come

out the same!

FATHER:

Sounds like you know what you’re

talking about.

He laughs and continues playing. She waits a moment, then…

WAJDA:

I'm saving to buy a bicycle!

Her Father is so focused on his game he doesn’t hear her. He

loses and the MUSIC announces the end of the match. He leans

back.

FATHER:

Oh, where is the margoog? Didn't

your Mother finish cooking?

Wajda watches him as he runs his prayer beads idly between

his fingers. Her Mother enters and sets dishes on a little

mat on the floor just beside the Father who lights up at her

presence. She is all dressed up, looking her best.

30.

FATHER (CONT’D)

Wajda, who is this movie star who

just entered? Look at this hair, a

beautiful black waterfall of silk!

The Mother tosses back her hair, pleased, but hiding it.

MOTHER:

Cut it out!

(teasing, yet bitter)

A movie star huh? Then why is your

Mother checking all over town for

available women for you?

The Father looks up and their eyes meet with pained looks. He

reaches out and puts his hand on hers. She pauses for a

second and looks at him tenderly. She playfully pulls her

hand away and tosses her hair over her shoulder.

He bursts into a charming laugh and pulls her towards him.

Wajda watches them together, happily.

FATHER:

I'm not sure she's working that

hard! Sit and play with me!

She laughs seductively while she frees herself and continues

setting up the plates.

WAJDA:

Let me play! I'll take the old guy!

Prepare to die!

She jumps off the couch while the Father is laughing.

42 INT. CLASSROOM - DAY 42

Wajda sits in class, looking out the doorway into the

corridor. Suddenly she sees her Mother walking with Ms Hussa

to her office and goes rigid.

Her Mother nervously fixes her hair and adjusts her blouse.

43 EXT. STREETS IN FRONT OF THE TOY SHOP - DAY 43

Frazzled, Wajda walks quickly home staring straight ahead.

She looks up and sees the bicycle in front of the shop.

The Toy Shop Owner sits, drinking tea with ANOTHER MAN. A

BEARDED MAN approaches.

The other man puts down his tea cup and quickly exits.

31.

The Owner gets up to walk into the store with the Bearded

Man. The owner is trying to be cordial with him.

The man breaks one of the toys.

Wajda hurries off. She hears the man shouting.

BEARDED MAN (O.S.)

No idols! Don't you fear God?

44 INT. THE KITCHEN - DAY 44

The Mother cleans a pile of dishes from the previous night.

One slips off her shaking hands and falls to the ground. She

leans on the edge of the sink and yells loudly.

MOTHER:

All this for a bicycle that you'll

never have as long as I'm alive. Do

you think I'll wait around until

you get expelled?!!

45 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - DAY 45

Wajda covers her ears as her Mother breaks another dish - on

purpose this time. Wajda turns on the radio to a ROCK SONG.

MOTHER (O.S.)

And turn off that damn radio and

those evil songs! You're no better

than Abeer. She's staying home and

her parents are marrying her off.

And that is what we'll do with you

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