Shahid Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Beat, as Deedee looks at how Shahid is dressed.

Deedee In your pyjamas already?

Shahid You don’t know what’s happening out there – urgent brother business! Chad was this close to carving some serious meat.

Deedee No surprise there – he wanted to chuck a bomb on his parents. That’s after he met Riaz, of course. Changed his name from Trevor Buss to Muhammad Shahabuddin Ali-Shah.

Shahid What? Chad?

Deedee He was brought up by white foster-parents. Foul-mouthed and racist to everyone but their son. No wonder he became a shooter. Riaz took him under his wing. Insisted everyone call him by his whole new name, even when playing football. His mates got fed up shouting, ‘Pass the ball, Muhammad Shahabuddin Ali-Shah – on my head, Muhammad Shahabuddin Ali-Shah.’ So he became Chad.

She offers some wine. Shahid makes a face.

Are there any pleasures you don’t eschew? Or is it only salted lassi you drink?

Shahid What about fighting racism?

Deedee Is that what you think Riaz does?

Shahid He is pure of purpose and risking his life guarding the flat of a persecuted couple right now.

Deedee Riaz denounced his own father for drinking alcohol and praying in his armchair and not on his knees. He made you wear that, didn’t he?

Shahid What’s wrong with them?

Deedee Didn’t take you for a disciple.

Shahid Can’t I admire him for his courage?

The doorbell rings. Deedee opens the door to Chili.

Chili What are you called when someone’s asking?

Deedee Deedee. Deedee Osgood.

Chili (kissing her hands) Tell me, Deedee Osgood, is my baby bro safe in your hands?

Deedee (appraising him) You must be Chili.

Chili At your service.

Deedee One Hasan at a time is more than enough.

Chili Are you sure?

Deedee laughs

A woman’s laugh – better than any rush known to man.

Deedee Quite the priest. I can’t imagine you giving a sermon.

Chili I could be a very Jesus in bed.

Shahid What you doing here, Chili?

Chili I was concerned, bro. Thought that bad posse might have messed with you.

Deedee They have.

Chili (to Shahid) Just say the word, and Chili will have a friendly chat.

Shahid I’ll take care of myself.

Chili Just take her in your arms. Want me to demonstrate?

Deedee I’m not clean enough for him. I’ve become a sort of pork chop.

Chili But his knees used to go weak at the sight of a bacon sarni. (To Shahid.) If Papa were alive, he’d have a fucking heart attack seeing you dressed like Ali Baba.

Shahid That’s who we are, bro! (To Deedee.) We don’t sit swigging wine all evening!

Deedee What alternative are you offering?

Chili And you two not even married yet …!

He picks up a beer and leaves. Pause.

Deedee It’s very original, the way you weave Scheherazade into your story. The Arabian Nights in Sevenoaks. No one’s written like this about England – you have a voice and a future, Shahid.

Shahid is speechless.

This is the new literature – when stories from elsewhere slice into conventional England. Rushdie showed there’s a gap in modern writing that can only be filled by stories like yours. You could be the real deal. You could be published by Faber and Faber and go to literary parties, accompanied by me.

Shahid Yeah?

Deedee If you don’t get distracted.

Shahid You look ravishing, you do.

Deedee Thank you.

Shahid Deedee …

Deedee London was full of Arabs in the seventies. They thought they liked girls. Didn’t treat us badly but wouldn’t talk. So we’d sit in their apartments all night, snorting coke and waiting to be pointed at … Happiest day was being accepted for university. My old man said someone common like me didn’t deserve an education … Met Brownlow there. Off to picket lines, demonstrations and Greenham Common – activists together … When I think about how far I’ve come, I’m proud of what I’ve done.

Shahid Why are you sad, then?

Deedee Am I?

Shahid A little.

Deedee The price might have been too high … I gave up the possibility of children for what?

She invites him to parade.

Shahid Now?

Deedee There’s only now. Let’s see how well you know your Prince.

He parades to music from Prince’s Black Album.

Shahid (with a flourish, quoting Prince’s songs) Aw! Lovesexy! Baby I’m a Star!

Deedee Still like Prince? Your friend Chad?

Shahid U Got that Look …! Na – he’s Rockhard in a Funky Place.

Deedee (joining in the game) I knew him with a Raspberry Beret on his head.

Shahid (concerned) Condition of the Heart?

Deedee No. Sign o’ the Times. Purple Rain. He was a One Man Jam!

Shahid Hot Thing! That’s action to the max. Like when you were on picket lines.

Deedee Our cause was clearer then. We questioned. All authority. Religion.

Shahid (jibing) Now you teach post-colonial literature.

Deedee Thatcher’s worn everyone down. (Defiant.) So let’s just Dance to the Music of the World!

Shahid You Can Be My Teacher, driving a Little Red Corvette!

Deedee I Wanna Be your Lover!

Shahid Let’s do Le Grind!

Deedee Let’s Go Crazy!

They dance.

Shahid Can’t stay tonight.

She stops.

Deedee Why?

Shahid Brother action, you know.

Deedee No, I don’t.

Beat.

Shahid Riaz has seen a miracle.

Deedee Fuck!

Shahid Can’t you just make me come?

Beat.

Deedee You know what you want – that’s something at least. Would your friends say you’re a hypocrite, coming here for a fuck after God’s shown Riaz a miracle?

Shahid I do want to be with you.

Deedee There’s quicker ways to get relief.

Shahid Don’t put me off, Deedee.

Deedee Why not? Do you really understand what’s going on with Riaz?

Shahid Please, Deedee …

Deedee You want me – fine. What’re you going to do for me?

Shahid What do you want me to do?

Deedee Thinking for yourself will be a start. He’s using you for his own ends.

Shahid Aren’t you?

Deedee You came to me with your writing, remember? Do you want Riaz to destroy your creativity?

Shahid Why do you assume he’ll do that? He’s given me his poems to work on.

Deedee I don’t trust him.

Shahid You don’t like him.

Deedee He’s dangerous.

Shahid He needs me – I’m going back.

He picks up his jacket and exits.

Deedee (shouting after him) You’ve got to decide, Shahid – who really are your people?

Interval.