SCENE ELEVEN
The canteen at college. Fists pounding on desks and tables. Shahid enters, sees Hat, who is with Tahira.
Shahid What’s happening?
Hat Democracy in action. Student protest full on.
Shahid What about?
Hat This morning, that woman, Miss Osgood – she hold up the book.
Tahira That book. You hear?
Shahid (sarky) A book, in a college?
Hat I say, ‘Put down that book before I … You know what I’m saying, Miss Deedee Osgood?’ I say straight out, our parents pay taxes, here should be British scholarship and brainwaves, not curses. She keep going, ‘This is a classroom. There must be discussion, debate, argument!’
Shahid She’s right …
Tahira Then we start fisting the desk.
Hat All the class take it up, smashing down together.
Tahira Dr Brownlow say we have to be listened to. Our voices suppressed by Osgood types with the colonial mentality. To her we not cool, we coolies.
Hat So Miss Deedee has to stick the book away before someone sticks it –
Tahira That pornographic priestess encourages brothers of colour to take drugs. Then she force them into orgies. They tattoo one another.
Hat (curious) With what?
Tahira Tattoo equipment.
Hat (understanding) I see.
Deedee enters in a rush.
Deedee (to Hat) Thanks for the protest, Hat. It’s given me an idea for a new course. (To Shahid.) ‘The History of Censorship and the Importance of Immorality.’
Shahid Just what we need. How do we sign up?
Deedee Help me circulate these leaflets.
She hands over some leaflets.
We’re going to look at everyone from Plato to Brecht –
Tahira (to Hat) Yeah, the whole white doo-dah.
Deedee If anyone from your Nation of Islam’s made a contribution to world literature, add them to the list. Can you think of anyone, Tahira?
She stares at Tahira. A stand-off. Chad enters, carrying a copy of The Satanic Verses. A beat. He exchanges looks with Deedee. And sees the leaflets in Shahid’s hand.
(To Shahid.) Get as many students as you can, Shahid.
Deedee exits. Chad snatches the leaflets from Shahid and flings them after her.
Tahira Isn’t it funny that nudists always keep their shoes on?
Chad Give me the stick, Hat.
Shahid You’re a joker, man, if you think you’re going to start beating people!
Tahira Yeah, just what she needs!
Chad (to Hat) The string, too! What you waiting for?
Shahid (to Chad) Listen Chad, that man, whatever he’s done, he never called you Paki scum, did he?
Chad (wound up) Shahid, I mean it – where are you spiritually, man?
Shahid (considers. Pause) Chad, brother – I try never to do anything Prince wouldn’t do.
Chad (in his face) Where’s the typing we entrusted you with?
Shahid I want to talk to brother Riaz.
Chad We had a talk and you left with that air hostess! Brother Riaz more annoyed with you than ever.
Shahid Without Riaz, you’re nothing.
Chad I agree with you.
Shahid You’re a dog without a master.
Chad A dog, yeah?
Chad chucks the book to Hat and pulls Shahid down by the wrists.
Shahid A dirty dog.
Chad Least I recognise that a master is required. Did I make the world? But I do know that I not a coward. Because you are always talking, never taking action! Because you always had a sitting-down life! That shit you told me the first day, you invent it to make yourself interesting! Actions will be taken!
Shahid Make sure they’re the right actions.
Tahira (intervening) This isn’t the time for giving up, Shahid. Otherwise they’ll put us in camps and turn on the gas.
Chad Don’t forget the paraffin, Hat.
He pushes Shahid forward.
You in front with me.
He leads Shahid off into the courtyard. Hat has strung the book up and pours petrol on it. Riaz enters, followed by Brownlow, then Deedee.
Deedee My God. What is happening to us? Shahid! Andrew! What’s going on?
Brownlow’s stutter prevents him answering.
Riaz Fellow students!
Deedee Are you going to burn that book, Riaz?
Riaz If you will permit me, in one moment I will explain.
Deedee Do you even know what that means?
Riaz Is the free speech of an Asian to be muzzled by the authorities?
Various cries from the crowd around Riaz: ‘No, no.’ / ‘Let the brother speak!’ / ‘His turn on the spot!’ / ‘Say it, brother!’
You understand? This is democracy!
Deedee (incredulous) Democracy!
Riaz Are the white supremacists going to lecture us on democracy this afternoon? Or will they permit us, for once, to practise it?
Crowd cries: ‘Get off, white bitch! ’/ ‘Punk priestess!’
Deedee Why? Just explain why, Riaz?
Riaz To uphold values in our new society.
Deedee God save us from values!
Riaz You see? You see how feeble Christians are? A religion that’s lost its hatred is not a religion – it is empty!
Deedee Then hooray for emptiness! My emptiness is the value. We’ve had too many values in Europe already. Doubt is our greatest need.
Riaz It’s the sure road to filth! Filth like this book that people like you use to laugh at us. Well, it is time for your Western arrogance to understand it cannot interfere with God’s decree.
Chad Jihad!
Riaz Come, Shahid, take up your brother’s cry. Look – the TV-wallahs are here.
Shahid You called the press?
Riaz I listened to your advice.
As the crowd chants ‘Jihad! Jihad!’ a Cameraman and Reporter take up positions, filming the action.
Let loose the piercing sword of truth!
Chad Allah-u-Akbar!
Crowd Allah-u-Akbar!
Chad Don’t mess with Muslims and their religion!
Deedee This can’t happen!
Deedee rushes out.
Riaz (to Shahid) Consign this filth to the fate it deserves! Let the whole world see we shall not be overcome!
Reporter (to Riaz) Can you get a bit closer to the book?
Riaz complies. He signals to Chad, who tilts the book while Hat thrusts a lighter into the pages.
Shahid No, Riaz!
Hat repeatedly tries to get the book to catch fire.
Hat The book too thick – he written too much.
Riaz Put more paraffin!
Shahid No!
Shahid rushes out, returning to his room, where he furiously starts pounding on his computer.
In the background, the book can be seen going up in flames. Police sirens are heard, and Riaz and the gang scarper. Deedee is seen dousing the burning book.
Shahid’s typing gains in volume.
Chili comes in, with Strapper in tow.
Chili Still working, bro?
Shahid (flaring) I’ve got to be free to do what I want!
Chili Just a family enquiry, bro – chill. (To Strapper.) Park yourself in the corner, Strap, and keep mum!
They lie down, spaced out. Shahid continues his work. We see him editing Riaz’s poem on his computer screen.
THE MARTYR’S
IMAGINATION
by Riaz al-Hussein
The fire-swept pavement fizzes treachery in this green land,
Here Satan and Eve dance around the Martyr weeping into the setting sun.
Wet bodies and captivating tongues promise a paradise of pleasures,
But the curved green sword slices a curtain of certainty down on the sun.