Wadjda Page #9

MOTHER:

Come on, don't you miss us? It’s

been almost two weeks. Are you

punishing us or have you already

found someone new?… If I'm the

original brand, why do you look for

imitation?

After flirting with the Father her Mother hangs up, worried,

goes into her room and makes another call. Wajda takes the

chance to put the mug on the table.

MOTHER (O.S.)(CONT’D)

I collected the money from the

other girls for you, Leila. It’s

been with me for sometime now.

Aren't you coming to take it?…

Really! You're working in the

hospital across the road? What did

your husband say? Doesn't he mind

you working with men?!

(pause)

What? Yes, great, we're home.

She hangs up. Wajda watches her go to her dresser and pull a

wad of money from a drawer. The doorbell RINGS. Her Mother

notices Wajda's curiosity and starts to close the door.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Go see who it is.

64 INT. HALLWAY - DAY 64

Wajda opens the door and sees Abdullah, holding a rolled up

extension cord over his shoulder. They stare at each other in

a confrontational way. Wajda acts annoyed.

WAJDA:

What do you want?

43.

ABDULLAH:

My Uncle wants me to string up

these lights all the way down the

street. Can I attach them to your

roof? And by the way you never said

thank you!

WAJDA:

Use the neighbors; we don't care

about your Uncle or his mustache.

Thanks for what?

ABDULLAH:

(annoyed)

They don't have a pole to hang them

on. Yours is the only roof that

will work. "Thanks" for taking you

all the way to Adira and fixing the

driver situation. He’s taking your

Mother again, right?

WAJDA:

(looking at his bicycle)

Hold on.

She slams the door and runs to her Mother's room.

65 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 65

WAJDA:

(yelling through the door)

Hey Mother! Abdulla Al Noufi wants

to use our roof to string up lights

for the election so his Uncle with

the mustache will win.

Her Mother opens the door, holding the mug, smiling at Wajda.

Wajda smiles back upon seeing the mug.

MOTHER:

Thank you, sweetie. You were such a

cute baby.

(frowning suddenly)

Tell the boy to go away. His Uncle

is not even from our tribe and we

will not vote for him.

66 EXT. FRONT OF WAJDA'S HOUSE - EVENING 66

Abdullah stands, impatiently. Wajda comes back, thinks.

44.

WAJDA:

(casually)

I'll let you onto the roof if you

bring your bicycle.

They look at each other defiantly across the doorway.

They both turn as a minibus full of foreign, mostly Filipino,

nurses stops in front of their building. A fully covered

Saudi woman, LEILA, jumps out. The minibus waits, idling.

Leila hurries up the stairs towards Wajda. She accidentally

bumps into Abdullah as he tries to move out of the way.

LEILA:

Hey Wajda, it's me Leila.

She removes her veil and exposes her face, smiling.

LEILA (CONT’D)

You look so grown up and cute!

Wajda glances at Abdullah, making sure he heard the

compliment. He gets on his bicycle and pedals away.

LEILA (CONT’D)

Can you call your Mother? The bus

is waiting.

Just then her Mother appears behind her. She stands just

behind the front gate, hiding from strangers.

MOTHER:

You traitor! I can't believe you're

working so close to my house

without even telling me!

67 INT. HALLWAY - DAY 67

LEILA:

(laughing)

Working at the hospital is great.

It pays more, they provide

transportation and I don't have to

endure someone like Iqbal for three

hours every day!

Both women laugh. Wajda's Mother hands Leila the money.

LEILA (CONT’D)

Thank you, dear. When is your turn?

45.

MOTHER:

Next month. I want to buy a nice

dress for her Uncle's engagement.

She gestures at Wajda, kicking a rock on the ground.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

All the other potential wives will

be attending his brother's wedding

as well.

LEILA:

God be with the one he chooses-You

might rip her heart out that

night!

Wajda laughs and the Mother glares at her.

LEILA (CONT’D)

Is he going to drive you to the

wedding so he sees you before you

go to the women's section?

MOTHER:

No, his Mother is taking us in a

cab!

The minivan HONKS.

LEILA:

Ugh. I have to go. Oh before I

forget, they're hiring at the

hospital. Think about it. It’s

closer and we can chat all day!

MOTHER:

(rolls her eyes)

My husband would kill me. He's so

jealous. He couldn't stand the

thought of other men looking at me!

LEILA:

(laughing)

Cut it out! You blame everything on

him. If you change your mind, call

me! I'll keep an application at

reception for you.

As she leaves, the Mother watches Leila, enviously.

46.

68 INT. THE MOSQUE - DAY 68

Wajda's black colored shoes sit in a pile with all of the

others by the door. The girls sit on the floor in a circle.

Wajda sits patiently, focused on the teacher.

The Koran Teacher has Salma pass out a copy to each student

from a small shelf in the corner of the room.

KORAN TEACHER:

Now girls let's start our program.

But before we start, I know some of

you may have gotten your period, so

you are not allowed to touch the

Koran.

Some of the girls GIGGLE.

KORAN TEACHER (CONT’D)

This isn't a laughing matter. You

are young ladies now. Your bodies

are fragile like flowers and there

are dangers lurking around every

corner. All right, let's read.

Yasmine flips the pages, using a Kleenex. The teacher looks

at Wajda, sarcastically.

KORAN TEACHER (CONT’D)

Let's start with the new face in

our group - Wajda. Start with Surat

al Nisa, from ayat 59.

Wajda slowly opens the book, looks at the pages, and looks at

the teacher. The teacher looks at her sternly.

WAJDA:

(reading in broken pacing)

O you who have believed, obey Allah

and obey the Messenger and those in

authority among you. And if you

disagree over anything...

KORAN TEACHER:

(correcting her)

…refer it to Allah and the

Messenger...

WAJDA:

(repeating the teacher)

...Refer it to Allah and the

Messenger, if you should believe in

Allah and the Last Day. That is the

best [way] and best in result...

47.

KORAN TEACHER:

(holding out her hand)

Stop, please. Noura, continue.

NOURA:

(in perfect harmony)

...refer it to Allah and the

Messenger, if you should believe in

Allah and the Last Day. That is the

best [way] and best in result

KORAN TEACHER:

Beautiful as always, Noura.

Wajda looks at Noura with extreme envy.

69 EXT. SCHOOLYARD - DAY 69

Fatin and Fatima once again look at a football magazine and

take off their shoes to paint their toenails.

FATIMA:

Where is the blue nail polish? I

hid it under there the other day.

Wajda approaches but ducks back just as Ms. Hussa swoops down

on the two girls.

Fatin and Fatima cover their feet, looking panicked. They

push the magazine under each other's clothes.

MS. HUSSA

What are you doing here? Why were

your hands under her skirt?

The girls freeze in their tracks. Wajda stands motionless,

watching.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote