The Black Album (4 page)
Zulma exits. Shahid puts the pakoras away and
switches on some music as he does his yoga exercises.
Chad enters. For a moment, he’s entranced by the
music
.
Chad
What you doin’?
Shahid
Yoga. It gets me in the mood.
Chad
That Hindu shit will infect your mind.
He turns off the music
.
They listen to that Ravi Shankar shit and burn joss sticks. You don’t want to end up like George Harrison, do you? Shahid, I tell you, I used to be an addict – a music addict like you. I listened to it day and night! It was overtaking my soul!
Shahid
You were controlled by music?
Chad
I’m talking of the music and fashion industries. Telling us what to wear, where to go, what to listen to. Ain’t we their slaves?
Shahid
I’m not living without music. Tell me the truth – you miss it too.
Chad
(
pointed
) Don’t you want to swim in a clean sea and see by a clear light? Imagine the warm water holding you up!
He hugs Shahid
.
Are we dancing monkeys? We have minds and sense. Gimme those Prince records!
Shahid
Some of them are imports!
Chad
Allah is the only one we must submit to! He put our noses on our face –
Shahid
As opposed to where?
Chad
Our stomach, for instance. How can you deny his skill and power and authority?
Shahid
I don’t, Chad, you know I don’t. And you know I respect you as a brother too, that’s why I’m asking you to stop!
Chad
We think we cool but we break our trust with Allah. Listen to Riaz. Don’t he say we becoming Western, European, Socialist? We must not assimilate, that way we lose our souls. Like that blaspheming writer! We are proud and we are obedient. It’s not we who must change, but the world!
Shahid
Here – keys to paradise. Have a good meeting.
As he’s about to leave, Tahira enters
.
Chad
This wonderful sister is Tahira.
Chad picks up the foil-wrapped parcel Shahid stashed
away
.
Shahid
(
to Tahira
) Hi. Did you meet my aunt on her way out?
Tahira
(
holding his hand
) That air hostess wear sunglasses to hide her evil eye! Don’t worry – we all have auntie problems. One day all aunties will be under our control.
Shahid leaves, as people begin to gather to meet Riaz.
Music. Shahid makes his way through night-time
London to Deedee’s
.
Deedee’s house. Night. Deedee has had a row with
Brownlow. He storms off into the bedroom. Shahid
enters
.
Shahid
Thanks for inviting me to look at the Prince videos. I wouldn’t be able to write my Prince paper without it. Where are the others?
Deedee
I’ll heat some soup while you watch.
Deedee goes to the kitchen. Shahid watches the video.
He is emulating Prince’s moves, gestures, etc., when
Deedee returns
.
Find him sexy?
Shahid quickly checks his notebook
.
Shahid
His work is … seamless … seamless and not a little cathartic, wouldn’t you say?
Deedee
I hate this fucking house.
Shahid
Pardon?
Deedee
We’re trying to sell it. Sorry, what did you say?
Enter Brownlow, putting on his tie. Stops on seeing
Shahid. He holds out his hand
.
Brownlow
H-h-hello, Tariq. I’m Andrew Brownlow.
Shahid
I’m Shahid.
Brownlow
O-o-of course. Extra lessons, hmm?
Shahid
(
agreeing
) Prince.
Brownlow
Charles?
Shahid
No, the sex symbol.
Brownlow
Of course. F. R. Leavis would be reassured and so would Queenie.
Shahid
Who?
Brownlow
What?
Shahid
Queenie?
Brownlow
It’s true I’m not feeling that heterosexual at the moment. (
To Deedee
.) W-w-well. S-s-see you. B-b-bye.
Deedee
(
cutting him off
) Yes, all right, see you tomorrow.
He leaves
.
‘Yes’ is a lovely word. I love ‘yes’. Yes, yes, yes. No victims, no victors, just ‘yes’.
Shahid
My brother Chili lives by the word –
Deedee
It was discovered in South America. Chilli only came to India in medieval times.
Shahid
I didn’t know that. We’re from Pakistan.
Deedee
Once, years ago, Andrew came home from a party and described kissing a woman.
Shahid
Dr Brownlow?
Deedee
I had never felt so let down – couldn’t sleep for two nights. You would hope that intimacy would leave more of a mark. But now I think, who is this person? I want a smoke.
Shahid
(
apologetic
) I don’t smoke.
She shows him a spliff
.
Whoa! I’ve only smoked that once before. In Brighton.
Deedee
Enjoy it?
Shahid
The person who gave it me said I should come and see you.
Deedee
Well …! What do you say? It’ll make you laugh.
Shahid
It’s okay, I laughed earlier. Could you have a look at this?
Offers his rolled-up manuscript
.
Deedee
Interesting …
Shahid
You haven’t read it yet.
Deedee
Give me a few years.
Shahid
Thanks. (
Quickly, referring to the spliff
.) I want it.
Deedee
Sure?
Shahid takes it, draws mightily and passes it on
.
Shahid
What is this?
Deedee
Moroccan.
Shahid takes his leather jacket off
.
What’re you doing?
Shahid
Feeling good too.
She starts laughing
.
What?
Deedee
If my friends could see me now …! Kids, mortgages, this would not even register in their dreams! What do you want to do when you grow up?
She turns up the music while Shahid takes another
long draw
.
Shahid
(
affecting a Chili-like nonchalance
) Whatever you want me to do, babe.
Deedee
Yes, call me baby. Baby, baby, baby.
She starts moving to the music, slowly, while Shahid
watches her dance
.
Can’t wait to get a place of my own.
Shahid
Why are you splitting up?
Deedee
For years I was involved with his politics. Too involved. It all makes you feel guilty. It limits the imagination.
Shahid
What d’you like now?
Deedee
(
holding up the spliff
) This. Teaching. Music. When I can, I do a lot of nothing. And make stabs at pleasure. (
Pops open a pill box
.) Want one?
Shahid
What are they?
Deedee
E. Ecstasy. It’ll make you see around corners.
Shahid
Is this why you invited me over?
Deedee
No. Because you’re lonely and I like the way you look at me.
Shahid pops a pill. She offers him a bottle of water to
swig with the pill and resumes dancing, after popping
one herself
.
You’ve got
café-au-lait
skin.
She recites
.
A savage place! As holy and enchanted
As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon lover!
Shahid
(
continuing the rhyme from ‘Kubla Khan’
)
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced!
Deedee, impressed, acknowledges Shahid’s participation.
She listlessly flicks through his manuscript
.
Deedee
Tell me your story …
Shahid draws more on his spliff and pops another pill
.
Shahid
Everybody’s free, everybody’s free with Prince on the gas!
Deedee
Cold, wet and worthy – that’s all Greenham Common amounted to.
Shahid
I read Shelley to her, sitting by the pond. Papa was so mad.
Deedee
Dress like a punk and leave home …
Shahid pops another pill while Deedee resumes
dancing
.
Let’s go to the end-of-decade party!
Shahid
The decade hasn’t ended yet.
Deedee
It will feel like it has! See how the under-classes are fighting back against Thatcher’s greed.
She grabs Shahid and they rush out of the door.
Strapper is seen dealing drugs to some students on the
road. Shahid and Deedee go along with them, shouting
‘End-of-decade party!
’
Rave music. Shadows coalesce into a rave scene
.
Shahid’s digs. Shahid returns. Preparing for bed, he
retches and falls
.
Riaz, disturbed by the noise, comes into his room, and
is alarmed to see Shahid choking on his vomit. He picks
him up and lays him to bed. Pulls down his trousers and
covers him with a blanket
.
Confused, Shahid calls out Riaz’s name. The latter
hushes him to sleep
.
When he sees Shahid finally asleep, he recites a prayer,
cleans the room and slips out
.
Shahid’s digs. Morning. Shahid’s lying on his bed, groggy.
Chad enters, excited. Riaz is a pace behind, carrying a
folder bearing his manuscript, with Tahira in tow
.
Chad
You’re definitely the lucky type. The brother asked for you particularly.
Shahid mumbles incoherently
.
Riaz
How are you feeling, Shahid?
Shahid continues to mumble
.
Chad
Shahid!
Shahid
Huh? What is it?
Riaz
Please.
He places the folder in Shahid’s hand
.
Chad
(
bending over Shahid and reading the cover page
) ‘The Martyr’s Imagination’ …?
Riaz
Yes. It is my little book.
Tahira
(
excited
) It’s finished?
Riaz
Pen-written only until now.
Tahira
Is it an attack on that blaspheming writer?
Riaz
(
continuing, to Shahid
) Please, would you do one thing for me?
Shahid
Whatever you want, Riaz.
Riaz
Will you convert it to print?
Shahid
Of course.
Riaz
Many others have volunteered but you are the right person for this task.
Shahid listlessly looks through the manuscript
.
I am from a small village in Pakistan. They are basically … songs of memory, adolescence and twilight. But perhaps they will change the world a little too.
Shahid
I didn’t know you –
Riaz
It’s God’s work.
Shahid
With your name on the title page.
Riaz
(
laughing
) Yes, I am entirely to blame.
Tahira
(
to Riaz
) What message does the book have, brother?
Riaz
(
holding her face tenderly
) The message – and all good art must have a message – is of love and compassion.
Chad
Beautiful.
Shahid
Brother Riaz, thank you, thank you for everything!
Riaz
No, no.
Riaz and Tahira leave
.
Chad
Wow, that’s incredible! I offer you one warning – you must be strictly confidential about this.
Shahid
Are you saying I’m not trustworthy?
Chad
No, no, brother. But many important people in the community wouldn’t like him being too creative. It too frivolous for them. Some of those guys go into a supermarket and if music playing, they run out again. Why don’t you enjoy some rest before you begin such important work?
Shahid lies down, Chad reads the manuscript
.
(
Reading
.) Magnificent, ‘Gibreel’s fragrant green sword will veil the unveiled …’
Shahid sits up and reaches for the bowl beside his bed
.
‘Wet bodies and captivating tongues reek of Satan’s hot breath, Gibreel’s fragrant green sword …’
Shahid whimpers
.
You know, Shahid brother, there’s something else Riaz wants you to do. He was shy of asking you, I know.
Shahid
What is it?
Chad
He needs your help to get the book published.
Shahid
retches into the bowl
.
Shahid
He saved my life.
Chad
He intuitive – you owe him the lot.
Shahid
I’ll do whatever I can to repay him.
Chad
You’ll help him find a publisher for the book?
Shahid
Sure.
Tahira bursts in, followed by Hat and an Old Man
.
Tahira
We need clear space here. (
To Shahid
.) You going to help or lie there all day?
Shahid
What now?
Shahid gets up wearily. He is in his underpants. Tahira
looks at him, then Hat positions himself to hide
Shahid from her view. She seats the Old Man on a
chair. Riaz comes in
.
Hat
(
to Shahid
) Now you’ll hear something about how nice your little England is.
Riaz makes the Old Man sit at ease and listens
attentively
.
Old Man
These boys, please, sir, are coming into my flat and threatening my whole family every day and night. They have punched me in my stomach, spit all the time at my wife when she goes out for shopping, make rude signs at my daughters when they go to school. Five years I have lived there, but it is getting worse. I am afraid.
Riaz
(
considers
) What do you suggest we do to help, Shahid?
Shahid
(
offhand
) Teach the beggars a lesson.
Riaz
Excellent. We’re not blasted Christians. We don’t turn the other buttock. We will fight for our people who are being tortured anywhere – in Palestine, Afghanistan, Kashmir, East End! (
To the Old Man, reassuring, as he
ushers him out
.) Action will be taken very soon. That is my promise to you.
Old Man exits
.
Tahira
Self-defence is no offence.
Shahid
What are you talking about?
Riaz
We want you with us tonight, Shahid.
Chad
Shahid’s always with us.
Shahid
I have to see someone on family business later – after working on your poem …
Riaz
Work on the poem can wait. It is our duty to make sure this man can feel free again.
Chad
No degradation of our people. Anybody who fails to fight will answer to God and hellfire!
Shahid
I’ll be punished if I don’t take part?
Riaz
Punishment is only for those who degrade our people. I’ve written a poem on this subject. ‘The Wrath’. Have you reached it yet?
Shahid
Which one? Is it at the end?
Riaz
No! It’s the second one – ‘The Wrath’. ‘The Wrath’.
Shahid
No, not yet. (
Sarky
.) Why not call ourselves the Foreign Legion?
Chad
I knew you were with us.
He picks up the holdall
.
This is it, brothers and sisters. Grab something warm to wear, Shahid – it be chilly in the East End.
Tahira
(
chanting
) Foreign Legion! Foreign Legion!
Hat
(
picking up the chant
) Foreign Legion! Foreign Legion!
As they leave, Chili enters
.
Chili
Hello – where’s the bad posse headed to?
Chad
(
to Shahid
) Catch you outside.
Chad, Riaz, Hat and Tahira leave
.
Chili
(
to Shahid
) What shit you getting into, bro?
Shahid
Nothing.
Chili
Where’s my Paul Smith?
Shahid
What?
Chili
The red Paul Smith shirt I gave you.
Shahid
(
quickly
) You won’t believe it – coming back from Deedee’s last night –
Chili
You did her?
Shahid
Met some of her students who were off to an end-of-decade party – took me to this rave in a white house out of town. Man, ecstasy was flowing like confetti. I had your famous King’s Road sandwich – shagged three girls who I didn’t even know – puked all over the red Paul Smith I was wearing and had to take it to the laundrette –
Chili
You shitting me?
Shahid
No, I swear, Chili. I wore it to impress her up, like you said.
Chili
(
suddenly hugging him
) I’m proud of you, baby bro. Papa will be smiling up in paradise.
Shahid
Business okay?
Chili
Why?
Shahid
I may not get back tonight –
Chili
Still haven’t told me what shit you’re getting into.
Shahid
I’ve got to rush – they’ll be waiting …
Chili
(
fierce
) I’m your brother, for Christ sakes!
Shahid
I’m helping some people out, that’s all. It’s a charity thing.
Chili
(
dismissive
) Charity! You’re still a baby, bro. There’s only one thing that matters in the world, that’s number one and money. Got myself a partner to keep an eye out for supplies while I meet demands of my varied customers.
Shahid
What work are you really doing? Zulma came round.
Chili
What you tell her?
Shahid
You were at friends playing poker.
Chili
Good boy!
Shahid
She chuck you out?
Chili
Temporary loss of facilities, as they say in the trade.
Shahid
You’re the golden couple of Sevenoaks.
Chili laughs
.
(
Insistent
.) Go home.
Chili
You can’t never go back home.
Shahid
Ring Ammi at least.
Chili
(
admonishing
) Don’t they teach you respect at college?
Shahid
I’ve got to go.
He leaves Chili looking around the room. Chili sees
the copy of
The Satanic Verses,
flicks through it
nonchalantly, then shuts the book and lays out a line
of coke. After snorting, stuffs his remaining stash in
the book and puts it away carefully
.
Music, as Shahid and the gang, carrying rucksacks,
make their way to the East End flat
.