Wadjda Page #7

too! There's no school for you

tomorrow!

Wajda turns it off and lies down, looking at her shoes.

46 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 46

Wajda's Mother paces, talking on the phone, agitated.

MOTHER:

I know Iqbal, but my daughter had a

problem at school. I didn't have

time to tell you. You're paid for

the trip whether I am there or not.

Don't come tomorrow.

(pause)

How dare you speak to me that way?

(MORE)

32.

MOTHER (CONT'D)

Do you think you are the only

driver in town?… Fine! I'll find

someone else!

She SLAMS the phone down hard and leans back into the couch.

47 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - NIGHT 47

Wajda sits on her bed with her knee to her chin, coloring in

the white toe and sole of her shoe with a black marker. She

pulls out the colored laces and sadly replaces them with

black twine from her bracelets.

We hear the door opening and her Father comes in. Wajda tries

to listen.

MOTHER (O.S.)

Really? I should pay for it? Why

can’t you pay for something for

once?

FATHER (O.S.)

What about your transportation

allowance? You should use it

instead of doing that group where

you all pool your money.

Wajda puts down her shoes and leans her head on the door.

MOTHER (O.S.)

Yeah, and what about the dowry

money, you handsome groom?

FATHER (O.S.)

Do you think I want to support two

families? I'm the joke of the town.

Are you going to give me a son? We

both know that is not going to

happen.

(frustrated)

Forget it, and don't count on me

coming next week at all!

MOTHER (O.S.)

(yelling after him)

I don't care! Go to your mother’s

house to discuss potential brides

all night!

A door SLAMS, then only silence. Wajda's eyes fall on the

chart she made to map out her savings for the bicycle.

33.

48 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - DAY 48

As Wajda prepares to leave for school she looks through the

half open door of her Mother's room. Her Mother’s talking on

the phone, her hair a mess, looking exhausted.

MOTHER:

Can't you count it as emergency

leave? I still have some days. You

know I've been working hard,

covering for everyone. I'll open up

for the entire month if I have to.

Okay, thank you, see you tomorrow.

She hangs up, distraught then sees Wajda through the doorway.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Where do you think you're going?

Didn't you hear me yesterday?

WAJDA:

I sorted everything out with Ms.

Hussa!

MOTHER:

Back to your room and don't come

out. I don't want to see you today

at all, I don't want to hear a peep

from you - nothing!

WAJDA:

Aren't you going to work today?

MOTHER:

(sarcastic)

No darling, I'm staying here to

watch over you. Happy?

The Mother gets into bed and rolls over, covering herself

with the blanket.

49 INT. WAJDA'S ROOM - DAY 49

Wajda turns on the RADIO and lowers the volume until it’s

barely audible. She looks through her doorway at the house-

keys hanging by the front door. She can see her Mother on the

couch, smoking, watching TV, completely depressed.

50 INT. HALLWAY - DAY 50

Wajda sneaks past her Mother to the stairwell to the roof.

34.

51 EXT. COURTYARD OF WAJDA'S HOUSE - DAY 51

Wajda carefully lowers herself down a pipe along the side of

the house. She slips and her black rock falls from her pocket

onto the ground. Through the window she sees her Mother cover

herself and rush over. She pulls herself against the wall and

freezes. The Mother looks out, cautiously. Wajda holds onto

the pipe, holding her breath. Her Mother finally returns to

the couch and Wajda lowers herself down.

She opens the gate, takes gum out of her mouth and sticks in

into the lock so it doesn't close completely.

52 EXT. ABDULLAH'S SCHOOL - DAY 52

Wajda waits by the boys' school, hiding behind a wall, until

Abdullah finally arrives on his bicycle. Wajda throws a stone

next to him and he looks over, surprised to see her.

WAJDA:

Do you know how to go to Adira?

53 EXT. ADIRA STREET - DAY 53

Wajda rides on the back of Abdullah's bicycle as he pedals

them along. As they pass the toy shop she sees the green

bicycle glimmer in the distance. His feet spin the pedals.

ABDULLAH:

You have to get off once we see

someone on the road. I don't want

people to talk about me. And cover

your face, I'll say you're my

sister!

WAJDA:

No one will believe you, I'm too

good looking to be related to you!

ABDULLAH:

Yeah right. And isn't the principal

going to call your Mother for

skipping school like this?

WAJDA:

I’m taking a personal day.

They approach a busy road. Wajda gets off and walks alongside

him.

35.

They arrive to an older part of the town where foreign

workers pass by. AN INDIAN MAN sits in front of a house,

smoking. Wajda approaches him, cautiously.

WAJDA (CONT’D)

Hey, do you know where Iqbal the

driver lives?

THE MAN:

Do you know how many "Iqbal"

drivers there are around here,

little girl?

Wajda shrugs. They continue searching the area, from one

street to the other. Wajda suddenly sees the minibus with the

taped headlights parked next to a dilapidated house. She

moves closer and looks into the car. She sees the picture of

the little girl placed on the dashboard.

She motions for Abdullah to knock at the door, but he shakes

his head and stands behind his bicycle.

ABDULLAH:

It’s your war!

WAJDA:

Fine!

Wajda frowns at him and knocks at the door. She waits several

moments and looks over at Abdullah, who looks away, ashamed.

She knocks again and the door slowly opens.

Iqbal stumbles out, rubs sleep from his eyes and sees Wajda.

IQBAL:

You! What do you want?

WAJDA:

You can't do this! You..you..

Wajda is overtaken by emotion and cannot speak. Iqbal

dismisses her and tries to close the door. Suddenly Abdullah

puts his foot inside.

ABDULLAH:

(assertively)

Where is your Iqamah (residency

card)?

Iqbal looks at him threateningly, enraged.

IQBAL:

Go away!

36.

ABDULLAH:

(more assertively)

It is a good job, there are no

problems. Just go back to it and

we'll all forget about this

incident. Do you know who my Uncle

is? The one with the moustache?

Have you seen his election posters?

I'm sure he'd be interested to look

further into your legal status.

Abdullah holds his ground as Wajda folds her arms behind him,

looking at Iqbal challengingly.

54 EXT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS - DAY 54

Wajda laughs hard as she runs after Abdullah, riding ahead on

his bicycle. Wajda mimics him.

WAJDA:

“Don't you know my Uncle? With the

giant mustache?”

Abdullah laughs as he dismounts.

ABDULLAH:

He knew him, right? That mustache

is a registered trademark!

Abdullah directs her attention to a house busy with MEN

coming in and out. He directs her away from the scene.

ABDULLAH (CONT’D)

Their son put stuff around his

waist that blows up and died. Boom!

He acts out pulling a cord and makes an explosive noise.

WAJDA:

He's crazy! That must have hurt.

ABDULLAH:

No, if you die for God, it's like a

prick of a needle, and then you fly

up and you have seventy women!

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote