Achidi J’s Final Hours by Amy Evans Characters Isa a Black woman in her mid-twenties, Senegalese Awa Thiam Isa’s friend, a Black woman in her thirties, political refugee, Senegalese Achidi J young Black man, nineteen, seeking asylum from Cameroon Guy friend and colleague of Awa, early thirties, political refugee from Cameroon Alex Isa’s husband, late twenties, White German Andy Alex’s friend and co-worker, early to mid twenties, White German Jürgen F (Officer 1), a White German man in his early forties Stephan S (Officer 2), young White German man, twenty Civil Servant a White German man in his early to mid forties Setting A city near Frankfurt/Main, 1999 – 2001. Dates indicated here are used to clarify time sequence for the benefit of the company, and may or may not be made explicit to an audience. amyevans@gmx.net (1) 917 345 5232 Achidi J’s Final Hours was first performed on 6 May 2004 at the Finborough Theatre in London. The cast and creative team were as follows: Achidi J Winston Atour Alex Martin Brody Andy Dan Rabin Isa Amanda Wright Awa Thiam Linda Gathu Civil Servant Carsten Hayes Stephan S James Alper Jürgen F Kevin O’Donohoe Guy Eddie Daniels Director Ché Walker Designer Dick Bird Design Direction Fiammetta Horvat Lighting Director Alex Wardle Sound Designer Jack C. Arnold Stage Manager Vanessa Mobiglia Assistant Stage Manager Catherine Tronzo Production Assistant Jaci Clyde-Smith Photographer Clive Moore Fight Choreographer Steve Medlin Print Design David Hardcastle at rubbaglove Produced by Frontline A staged reading of Achidi J’s Final Hours formed part of Frontline – New Plays, New Directions at the Soho Theatre and Writers’ Centre in November 2003, and was directed by Ché Walker and dramaturged by Jo Ingham. Frontline is headed by Artistic Directors Timothy Hughes and Rebecca Manson-Jones. The Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre in London is Neil McPherson. Playwright’s Note Thank you to everyone who lent their creative talent and critical readership to the development of this play. Also special thanks to the African Refugees Association of Hamburg, Black Students Organisation, Aischa Ahmed, ADEFRA Berlin, Nicola al-Lauré Samarai, Marcy Arlin at the Immigrant Theater Project of New York, Rose Ekoule-Djengue, Grada Ferreira, Timothy Hughes, Initiative Schwarze Deutsche, Caroline Jackson-Smith, Rotraut Junker, Al Laufeld, Jelka Lehmann, Rebecca Manson-Jones, Sipua Ngnoubamdjum, David Roderick, Otana Thiede, Ché Walker, and an exceptional company of actors and artists for allowing this story to be told. Finally, very special thanks to the memory of Dr. Slayton A. Evans, Jr. for making it all possible. Dedicated to the memory of Mareame N'Deye Sarr and countless others who have suffered at the hands of racist violence and police brutality. Language Notes Scene 1 Deutschland für die Deutschen, Ausländer raus Germany to the Germans, foreigners out Au secours! Fire! Scene 7 Bourde ta mère motherfucker Scene 10 Leck mich (bitte) lick me (please) pleite broke Scene 23 Deutsche Polizisten, Mörder und Rassisten German officers, racist murderers Performance Notes / indicates where one speech is interrupted by the speech or action that follows. / at the end of a line indicates where the following speech could cut the previous speaker off. ( ) indicates a line spoken low or aside, as someone muttering to herself or whispering under her breath. Upper and lower case letters are used to suggest pace and delivery. Prologue Complete darkness. Faint sound of traffic on a bridge, wind. Footsteps, shuffling; breath and laughter. Alex and Andy’s voices. Alex hey Andy. Feel that? Andy yeah Alex oh fuck . . . fuck fuck fuck FUCK Andy Shhhh! Alex yeah Andy you like that, don’t you? Alex (fuck) Andy OK. Let’s do it. Alex What are you doing? Andy Come on! Alex Andy, Andy, wait – Andy what, you scared? Alex Look Andy what are cops doing out here, shit! Alex can you see it? Andy no, asshole, that’s a shadow Alex Andy . . . Andy . . . Andy if there was someone in the river they wouldn’t just be standing there Alex oh shit Scene 1 August 1999. A bed in an asylum hostel. A pair of running shoes are under the bed. Achidi lies in the bed, tossing and turning. Chanting can be heard outside: ‘Deutschland für die Deutschen, Auslånder raus!’ and other racial slurs. He pulls the covers over his head. Then he holds his hands over his ears. A scream from the next room, hysterical: ‘Au secours! Au secours!’ Annoyed, Achidi puts his pillow over his head. The sound of glass shattering. Achidi bolts upright. The chanting is very near. It is joined by the sound of frantic footsteps. Somewhere there is smoke, flames. Achidi gets up, pulls on ragged sweats. He starts to run out of the room, then goes back for his running shoes. He exits. Scene 2 Alex’s apartment. The space is nearly bare except for a sofa and a window. The place is a mess, the remains of a party having been left to linger for some weeks. There is a second door, leading offstage, presumably to a hallway, bathroom and two bedrooms. Alex is inside, looking at Isa. Isa stands near the door, staring at the mess. Alex it was nothing nice, believe me. You don’t want to know. Isa I would like to know Alex are you OK? Isa I’m fine. Alex Someone should’ve told you to stay away from the station at night. Isa Who? You? Alex I needed cigarettes. Isa Cigarettes are dangerous. Alex Skins are worse Isa . . . skins are children Alex they’re horrible to people like you Isa Who ‘like me’? Alex You know what I mean Isa tell me . . . Alex People / Isa yes? Alex people who aren’t / Isa yes? Alex people who aren’t / like Isa white. Alex no Isa yes Alex just / different Isa just white Alex No! Isa of course Alex I’m not Isa what? Alex not a Isa you’re trying to say I’m not white Alex No! But you aren’t, you’re Isa do you have a bathroom? Alex Through there. Isa disappears off. Once she’s gone Alex frantically begins to straighten the room. Isa returns. Isa I’ve forgotten your name. Alex Alex. Isa Alex Alex . . . yes? Isa do you have toilet paper? Alex I do. Of course I do Alex searches through his pockets and produces a plastic packet of tissues. Isa . . . thank you. She disappears off. Alex finds one bottle that’s half-empty, opens it and downs the contents. He chokes on the alcohol, coughs and sputters. The phone starts to ring. Isa returns and watches, amused. Isa Do you want to answer that? Alex no Isa . . . oh. Alex Do you? I mean use the phone? Call your friend? Isa Do you work? Alex By the river at the moment. Isa Shipping? Alex Counting bricks. And stacking them one on top of the other until we’ve made a wall. Then we start all over again. Isa That’s . . . interesting. Alex You know this bridge on the highway? Blue? Suspension? Isa no Alex I’ve climbed that bridge. Isa oh Alex see bridges shake but they have to or they’ll ripple, metal can ripple and concrete and asphalt bends with the metal but snaps if it’s not made to absorb a certain amount of tension -- the wind starts blowing and it starts to sway, the air gets to your head and you’re like oh fuck – you can see forever up there – the factory, the plant, the lights on the towers and the houses -- and you’re flying and swimming all at once even though really you’re perfectly still – and everything from there looks like a sketch – if you don’t like what you see, you take it back and start again – I didn’t mean to tell you all this, but -- I was up there tonight – no cables, no harness, nothing -- it must’ve been hours, I don’t know, I guess I thought if I stayed there long enough -- and then it was cold and I was down to my last cigarette -- and that’s why I came to the station and you were in the waiting room and He looks in Isa’s direction. She has fallen asleep. He goes to her. He touches her. He examines her skin: her neck, wrists, whatever is exposed. He takes one of her hands. He touches his face with her hand. He kisses the hand. He moves to kiss her face. This wakes Isa. She looks at him. Isa Bastard Alex I’m sorry Isa that’s not why I came Alex wait, please Isa you’re all the same Alex They’ll attack you. Toss you in front of a moving train. Beat your brains out / it’s happened – Footsteps on the stairs outside. Alex hears, reacts. Isa Not another train for hours, you said – Alex Sh. Isa ‘I won’t lay a finger on you / don’t worry’ Alex Shut up! He covers Isa’s mouth. She struggles to push him off. The footsteps begin to fade. He releases her. She springs to her feet. Isa . . . don’t touch me / don’t come near me FUCK OFF I SAID -- ! Alex I’m sorry I’ll do anything just don’t go DON’T, THERE’S SOMEONE OUTSIDE Isa Where? Alex The stairs. Pause. They listen. Isa Did they follow us? Alex maybe Isa they wouldn’t Alex I told you. We’re horrible to people like you. Isa the rest of them are horrible so you want a kiss for being good. Poor . . . it’s Alex, right? She blows him a kiss and starts to leave. Alex I’ll sleep out here. Isa stares at him. I do it all the time. Isa you do? Alex (well) . . . sure Isa pervert Alex I’m . . . (shit) Isa I’ve made fools of men much richer than you Alex Fuck! Isa what? Alex I’ve forgotten your name. Isa Isa. Beat. Goodnight / Alex Isa goes to leave. Alex fishes through his pockets, removes a set of keys. He holds the keys out to her. Alex Yours. Isa What’s this? Alex One is for that door. And the other – Isa Are you out of your mind? Alex There’s drinks in the kitchen. I don’t have anything to eat, but . . . the phone’s there. You can order something Isa everything’s closed Alex make yourself at home. Alex tosses Isa the keys. She catches them, but doesn’t come inside. Isa Your home is a dump. Alex Goodnight, Isa. Alex lies down on the sofa, his face turned away from her. After a long pause, Isa enters, watching him. She crosses and disappears through the door leading to the back bedroom. Once she’s gone, Alex gets undressed and lies back down on the sofa. Blackout. Scene 3 Alex’s apartment, very early next morning. Alex is asleep on the sofa. His clothes are strewn all over the floor. Loud knock at the door, then Andy enters, dressed for work. Andy You know what it is about hotels? Every room has the ghosts of a least a hundred fucks. It’s like a Fuck Cemetery Alex (shit) Andy Christ, Alex, you’re not even dressed. Alex what’d I do with my keys? Andy You cleaned. Jesus, she must be special. Alex Who? Andy Sleeping, right? I’ll be very quiet. Alex Andy, quit fucking around, Andy –! Alex struggles to keep Andy from going off. Andy Have you ever thought that whatever’s wrong with your mother could be hereditary? Alex Fuck Off. Andy When’s the last time you got laid? Alex With your wife. Andy Christ, has it been that long? Alex It would’ve been last night, but you had to scare her off. Andy How’d I manage that? Alex Cunt. I thought you were coming, I told her she should go. Andy You said ‘try a hotel’ Alex I thought I heard you on the stairs. Andy Really? I’m touched. Alex Touch this. Andy Should I call Chris? She’ll do anything if you make her feel guilty. Alex Is that why she threw you out last night? Andy fucking neurotic. Tell me the point of being married if you still have to shrink-wrap your cock? Alex I can’t imagine Andy She goes, ‘I’m insecure’. I’m like, you’re married for fuck’s sake, how much security do you need? Alex Maybe she doesn’t trust you. Andy She’s my wife. Alex So talk to her. Nod your head like this. Chris loves to talk. Beat. Andy Bitch. Alex Don’t call her that. Andy I’m talking to you. Alex What’d I do? Andy You barebacked my wife. Alex I didn’t! Beat. She wasn’t your wife at the time, OK. Andy You prick. Alex Big deal. I even forgot about it, see? Andy Liar. Pause. You want to tell me what it was like? Alex You know that bridge on the highway? Andy What bridge? Alex Blue? Suspension? Andy Is that where you did it? Alex Remember that time we climbed up? Andy hurry up, we’re late Alex there were cops everywhere, we almost got caught and we had this idea / to jump – ? Andy I’LL BE DOWNSTAIRS. Blackout. Scene 4 Awa’s apartment, September 1999. Isa is seated on the floor, fooling around with a camera. Awa is behind her trying to braid her hair and talk on the phone at the same time. Isa first tries to photograph herself, then aims the camera at Awa. Awa Âllo? Âllo? Is Awa. Awa Thiam. Yes and how are you, are you fine? Good . . . Is Alain there? Thank you . . . Isa . . . phone-in orders, delivery service, gift items, quality hairstyling on the side and we split everything fifty-fifty. Awa? Awa Âllo? Oh, hi. Oh yes, fine, I need to speak to . . . Thank you, it’s good to hear from you too. (To Isa) You’re welcome to pay me if you wish, now shut up! Isa That’s not exactly what I meant Awa Â-âllo? Is that you, Alain? Oh, hello! Yes, how are you, good, listen I am trying to reach Alain, I said I would call him at two o’clock . . . TWO O’CLOCK . . . (Hissing at Isa) Hold still! Isa He’s late! Isa holds still, but as Awa goes to work again, she begins to slump, pretending to faint. Awa . . . Alain? Thank god. I have news. A boy. In Frankfurt. We don’t know, they say Cameroon. He was in the shelter when it was attacked. Guy is finding out what he can, we have an appointment at the embassy . . . we sent someone . . . OK. When can I call you again? Alain, wait, I have to tell you . . . Alain? Alain? Awa hangs up. ISA . . ! Isa swooning. Your community needs you Awa I’m about to strangle my ‘community’ on her own hair Isa straightening up. Tell them it’s a conspiracy. How you have to take the train all the way to Frankfurt just to find a bag of okra Awa they have okra in the Asian shop Isa 4.99!? For a little bag of okra? That is injustice Awa What do you know about injustice? Stop playing with my camera! Isa You expect your man to be waiting by the phone and still lecture me Awa Alain never misses a call. Isa mimicking Awa. (here we go) Awa From the beginning I told him, I have two things in my life, my studies, my struggle and that’s it. Most men can’t understand that but Isa why don’t you let me introduce you to people who sleep with blankets and pillows instead of books and switchblades? Awa why don’t you BE STILL. Awa continues working. Isa sits still. Long pause. Isa Alex never misses a call. Pause. His great grandfather built the house he grew up in. Must be a pretty place. Pause. I always listen to you when it’s about who you love Awa You’re in love? Isa That’s not what I said, I said Awa with a man you met at a railway station? Isa Yes, so? Awa Why were you there so late? Isa Awa, please – Awa Don’t ‘Awa please’ me Isa I missed my train! Awa how old is he? Isa don’t start Awa twice your age Isa stop it, Awa Awa did he show you money? Isa begins to laugh. What’s wrong with you? Isa he can’t even afford toilet paper. Awa Be serious! Isa Why should I? You’re already serious enough for all of Senegal Awa I’ve seen it many times, these men are all the same Isa you don’t know him Awa I know that he doesn’t use toilet paper, that’s more than enough for me Isa You’re too young to be so like my mother Awa if your mother only knew Isa She knows she can depend on me. She knows she’ll always have what she needs as long as I’m alive and that’s enough. Maybe to you it’s dangerous for a woman to know what she’s worth. Awa I will pull your hair out by the roots Isa OWW . . . ! During Awa’s speech, we see Isa lose interest in the camera; she’s getting dizzy, growing faint. Awa The reality is that nobody here owes you kindness. Nobody is going to commission you for enlightenment. They’d sooner throw you from a bridge and watch you drown. Stop looking at me like that! What is your ambition, your okra and hair extensions going to do about that? Go to Paris find your friends and your business partners do whatever you want to do but I’m staying right here and waiting until it’s time to make my call. Isa Awa? Awa Isa, I’m not in the mood – Isa collapses. (Scared) I’m not in the mood for this girl, get up. Get up! Isa? Do you / hear me? Isa I can’t see. Blackout. Scene 5 August 1999. Railway station, morning rush hour. A bench on a crowded platform. Achidi is crouched nearby, wearing same clothes and running shoes as in Scene I. A train approaches. Commotion as people rush to get on board. In the tumult a McDonald’s bag gets abandoned on the bench. Achidi watches and when the moment seems right, races over, grabs the bag. Once alone Achidi sits down and opens the bag. He pulls out a half-eaten hamburger and quickly devours it. In the bottom of the bag he finds a strange object. He reaches in and pulls out a small plastic bag. He opens it and finds that it’s full of weed. He sniffs it, smells its potential. Then suddenly remembers he’s in a public place and pockets it. He looks in the bag for more, finds nothing. He discards the bag on the bench. He exits. Blackout. Scene 6 Alex’s apartment, October 1999. Alex enters, he is very energetic. He plops down on the sofa, starts to light a cigarette. Isa follows behind and shuts the door. Alex . . . just ignore her Isa ignore her? Alex see she’s been messed up all her life and Dad’s too lazy to, well, to not do something about it – for himself, I mean – they still hold on to each other, but – whatever, she’s an asshole, she’s a fucking mess – Isa You enjoyed that. Alex The look on her face Isa I couldn’t see much from the garden Alex fucking priceless Isa beautiful garden. Cherry trees, apples, plums Alex Sorry we made you wait so long. Isa Did you tell her? Alex Sort of. Isa She was angry Alex No . . . Isa then why was she screaming? Alex had nothing to do with you. Isa My German maybe isn’t perfect but I know anger when I hear it Alex come here, let’s work on your German Isa The neighbors were at their windows Alex were they? Imagine Isa they were looking for the noise. Watching me Alex thinking, ‘Can’t be her. Screaming her head off in perfect German.’ Beat. A joke, Isa . . . forget it, come here . . . Isa takes the keys from her pocket and tosses them on the sofa. Then she grabs her jacket and opens the door. Isa . . . I’m sorry . . . / Isa wait Isa Goodnight. Alex I’m serious, listen Isa all I do / is listen Alex close the door Isa I won’t / close the door Alex close the door do you want everyone to hear? Isa let everybody hear I don’t care! Alex you can’t just run away every time it’s difficult Isa not ‘running away’, leaving Alex Where? Where to? Isa Home – Alex Where ‘home’? Isa AWAY FROM HERE Alex shh ok listen would you listen to me? Isa don’t touch me! Alex You want to know what she said Isa I know what she said – ! Alex she said GET HER OUT like that she said she said if I wanted a neger I could have one but not marry one, not bring her home, that’s what she said, isn’t it? yeah, and then you know what else she said? she said she asked me did I want to be a neger too don’t you want to be a neger don’t you want to fuck negers then get out of my garden out of my house quick before the neighbors see her that’s what she said / isn’t it that’s what you want to hear Isa stopitstopitstopit STOP IT Alex is that better? Isa get away from me Alex she said it not me Isa then why did you repeat it! Alex you think I believe Isa I believe what comes out of your mouth Alex for fuck’s sake Isa DO YOU WANT TO BE HURT Isa freezes, scared. He sees her fear and softens. Is that what you want, to be – fucking – tortured? Pause. She asked me how we met. I swear that’s all. Pause. Isa And? Alex I told her. Isa And? Alex She called me . . . unconventional. Pause. Isa Bourde ta mère. Alex What’s that? Isa Ancient African proverb, it means ‘don’t make it your problem if people dislike you.’ Alex Close the door Isa Alex Alex fucking peepshow Isa look at me. Alex Close the door first? Isa Look at me with the door open. Pause. Alex looks at her. Alex OK Isa Do you love me? Alex No Isa no? Alex I’m not playing. Isa It’s no game Alex bullshit Isa You don’t have to say it if you don’t Alex then tell me what you want to hear. Because that’s what this is about Isa no Alex yes it is, it always is. For once let me get it right. Because in spite of your very stupid behavior I would be sad, I would be very sad, if you left. Isa exits. Alex sits down on the sofa, stunned. Long pause. Isa reappears at the door. Isa I don’t really like your skin. Alex what – ? Isa Too red Alex (you’re crazy) Isa But when you bend your lips like you did just now. I like that. Or the sound of your breath when you exhale. And your fingers, how they twist back like that -- you don’t notice it, do you? When you scratch your head. Pick open the buckle on your belt. Rub your eyes. I take care to notice it. Will they ask questions about that? How does your husband rub his eyes? When he smokes, which breath is the loudest? All those things I could answer, no problem at all Alex Come here. Isa comes in and closes the door. Alex kisses her. She responds. They hold each other for a long moment. She starts to pull away. Isa Not a good idea right now. Alex What’s not a good idea? Isa This. Alex Don’t you want to? Isa Well – Alex You do. Yes, you do . . . He moves to kiss her. She dodges him and places her hand on her belly. Isa I want to wait. Alex What for? Isa stares hard at him. Finally Alex gets the point, starts to laugh. Isa Don’t laugh at me Alex Isa, please Isa Can you not wait? Alex Can you? Isa Yes. Alex He’s this big, Isa, he won’t feel a thing Isa I’m tired Alex you don’t look tired, you look beautiful Isa I said I’m Alex tell me when to stop and I will. He kisses her. She doesn’t respond. Tell me when. He continues to make love to her. The telephone rings. Andy and Chris speak on the answering machine, their voices competing with the background noise of a bar: VO: Andy Alex? A- lex! Pick up the phone you prick VO: Chris in the background. Prick! VO: Andy Chris and I VO: Chris hi Alex! VO: Andy we’re in town VO: Chris we’re unifying VO: Andy laughing. (shut up!) VO: Chris we’re coming together . . .! VO: Andy and where’re you? VO: Chris where the hell are you Alex? VO: Andy they’re asking about you, what do I tell them Alex? Alex? (don’t think he’s there) VO: Chris (he’s not there –) End of message. Blackout. Scene 7 November 1999. A cramped immigration office. The Civil Servant sits at a table, a middle-aged man. He is looking through a pile of papers, among them a passport. Isa sit across from him. Servant Where do you come from? Isa is struggling to understand. Where Are You / From Isa Senegal. Servant Sorry? Isa Senegal. Servant And your parents? Isa Also Senegal. Servant What about your grandparents? Isa My . . ? Servant Grand. Parents. Isa Senegal. Servant Great grandparents? Isa My . . ? It’s . . . / They Servant And their parents? Isa Senegal. Servant Are you sure? Isa no clue what he wants. . . . no Servant Are You / Sure? Isa Yes . . . / no Servant Yes or no? Isa Yes, I think so. No, not sure. Servant Why not? Isa Lost. Servant Sorry? Isa Contact is lost / Servant They’re dead. Isa Yes. Servant Who else is dead? Isa . . . don’t understand. Servant Are your great grandparents dead? Isa Yes. Servant Your grandparents too? Isa No, I have . . . / my mother’s Servant Warum sind Sie hier? Isa What? Servant Warum? Sind Sie hier? Isa The letter said come / today Servant Wann sind Sie fällig? Isa . . . don’t understand. Servant Wann sind Sie fällig? Isa . . . don’t know. Servant jeering. Sind Sie nicht schwanger? Schwanger? Isa touching her belly. May. Servant Junge? Mädchen? Isa A son. Servant Was ist die Nationalität Ihres Sohnes? Isa What? Servant Seine Nationalität. Isa He’s not alive. Servant Fraglich… Isa Doesn’t have a name. Servant Kein Name? Isa . . . no Servant So spät und kein Name? Isa We haven’t decided. Servant Sie haben sicherlich Optionen. Isa . . . options? Servant Alternativen? Optionen? Isa No . . . Servant indicating Alex’s chair. Dieser Mann nannte Optionen. Isa But we haven’t decided. Servant Was ist die Nationalität Ihres Sohnes? Silence. Isa shakes her head. Was ist seine Nationalität? Isa stares. Seine / Nationalität, was ist – Isa Senegalese Servant (Yesses Maria) Isa and German. Servant Senegaleser oder Deutscher? Isa Senegalese and German. Servant Das macht überhaupt kein Sinn Isa but he Servant he can’t be – Pause. Dieser Mann. Wie haben Sie ihn kennengelernt? Isa How . . ? Servant Dieser Mann. Isa Yes. Servant Am Bahnhof, sagte er. Isa At the railway station in Frankfurt – Servant Ja? Isa . . . more slowly Servant handing Isa her papers. You have until July 2001. Good luck with your son. Isa takes the papers and exits. The Civil Servant watches her leave. Blackout. Scene 8 Railway station platform, rush hour. Achidi is seated on the bench as before. He still wears the running shoes, but his sweats are clean and new. He carries a McDonald’s bag. He sees Officers 1 and 2 approaching. Very cool, he rises, slides the bag under his arm, and walks off. Awa appears, talking on a mobile phone. Awa Guy? It’s Awa. Start without me, don’t keep them waiting. I have copies of the reports, the same things they faxed to you . . . yes. We can forget the embassy. See you soon. She puts the phone away. Officer 2 approaches her, followed at a distance by Officer 1. Awa ignores them. Officer 2 clears his throat; this fails to get her attention. Officer 2 Your passport, please – Awa Have I committed a crime? Officer 2 Routine verification / Awa then I’m innocent? Officer 2 That’s not the question. Awa You didn’t observe me committing a crime, otherwise you would be obligated to stop me, arrest me, or at least let me know, is that not so? Officer 2 This is not a debate Awa It is therefore unclear to me why you need to see my passport. Officer 2 General routine inspection. By refusing to cooperate Awa there are other people here, you haven’t asked them. Officer 2 I’m asking you at the moment. Awa Then there’s nothing general about it, why do you say it’s general? Officer 2 A random check that’s Awa what is the probability of, out of twenty people standing on a platform, you would happen to choose the one with the darkest skin? Statistically there is nothing random about your routine. Officer 2 This has nothing to do with race. Awa Then why haven’t you approached anyone else on this platform? Officer 2 Because there is only one of me and I’m asking you. Awa nodding toward Officer 1. Who’s that over there? Officer 2 I don’t have time for this Awa and why isn’t he asking anyone else? Officer 2 It’s my duty Awa Clearly there’s more than one of you, why did you say you were alone? Why aren’t you performing a truly random general inspection? Why don’t you tell me / what this is really about? Officer 2 By not cooperating with me Awa I am trying to cooperate but your requests are so convoluted Officer 2 you realize you are breaking the law. Awa What law? Officer 2 Would you prefer to come with me? Awa With us! Us! There are two of you! Officer 2 Quiet down please Awa Tell me what law and I’ll come with you, I’ll even show you my passport if you can tell me what law says that Black people in this country / must at all times Officer 2 No law says / anything about Black people Awa must at all times carry identification and produce it on demand Officer 2 it’s valid for every German citizen in this country now if you don’t mind Awa Had a similar law in South Africa, do you know about South Africa? Officer 1 snickers. Officer 2 We’re not in South Africa. Awa Then why am I the only person on this platform that you and your partner are bothering at the moment? Officer 2 We are looking for someone and would therefore appreciate your cooperation Awa Looking for someone? Officer 2 Yes. Awa You should’ve said that before. Officer 2 That’s not your business Awa I’m also looking for someone, maybe we’re looking for the same person, who are you looking for? Officer 2 We don’t Awa tell me, maybe I can help. Officer 2 You can help by showing us your ID. Awa I have extensive connections within Frankfurt and am well informed about individuals who have disappeared without single plausible trace, it’s part of being involved in organizations whose purpose it is to keep track of our community / Officer 2 That’s fascinating Awa since generally speaking, randomly speaking, official channels do not seem particularly interested in protecting us Officer 2 Are you protecting someone? Awa In fact one of our white allies Officer 2 Your what? Awa presented information to the local police some time ago about a youth who’s been missing for quite a few weeks now, which gives me reason to believe that you and I are looking for the same person Officer 2 a drug dealer, does that sound like someone you know? Awa The person I am looking for is registered as an asylum seeker, I don’t think drugs are the reason he came / to this country Officer 2 That doesn’t mean / anything Awa his shelter was nearly burned to the ground, better off even so because the shelter was like a prison but still Officer 2 you want to see the shelters burned, is that what you said? Awa at least prisoners are protected, asylum seekers are left to fend for themselves Officer 2 Most of whom you call asylum seekers end up / drug dealers Awa DROWNED IN THE RIVER Officer 2 capitalizing off poison and getting filthy rich or what do you call them? Awa I don’t know a single capitalist with refugee status. Officer 2 Come with me. Awa Why? Officer 2 Refusing to cooperate with an officer and slander. Awa How have I not cooperated? Officer 2 This way, please Awa how have I insulted you? Train pulls in. Officer 2 rushing to write out a ticket. THIS WAY. Awa You’re the one who’s insulted me. Officer 2 What’s your name? Awa That’s my train. Officer 2 Your name! Awa Awa Thiam. Officer 2 How is that spelled? Awa Just as it sounds. Officer 2 You’re due in court on this date Awa I can’t make that date Officer 2 you’re due in court Awa boards the train. The train pulls away. Once the train is gone, Officer 1 comes forward, laughing freely. Officer 2 looks at him, humiliated. Officer 1 Asshole. He bursts out laughing again and ushers a confused Officer 2 off. Blackout. Scene 9 November 2000, one year later. Alex’s apartment. Isa enters carrying her son. Suddenly she winces; the baby has bitten her. Isa What kind of man are you? You get a little bit and you want more. Maybe you should go back to where you came from, how’d you like that? Warm, plenty of shade and very good food wasn’t there? But you can’t go back. You’re stuck here on this side of the world, you have to find a way to be happy Alex enters in the middle of her speech and stands listening. Alex He bit you again Isa You’re early. Alex We finished. Isa Already? Alex Yeah, imagine. Isa The whole building or just the wall? Alex You’re funny. He goes to kiss Isa; she pulls back. Isa Hard to imagine that someday he’ll be as big as you. Even harder to imagine him lying to his mother the way you just did to yours / if he ever, ever did that to me I’d take back the life I gave him and pass it on to someone who deserves it Alex I didn’t -- ! You wouldn’t do anything because you would never know he was lying to you, that’s the point, you’re not meant to find out Isa people in this country they raise their children like dogs, no manners, no discipline, well I am not afraid to slap him one or two good times before I let him – Alex if you ever hit my son Isa if I ever have to hit him, I will hit his father first because whatever bad behavior he’s picked up belongs to you not me. Isa passes him the baby and stands, buttoning herself up. Alex Isa . . . I’m sorry, forget it Isa I saw a space today Alex Stop. Isa down the road, five minutes away. Glass front doors, tile floor, shelves built into the walls and a tiny kitchen in the back with a water closet and storage room Alex Do you know how much it costs to rent commercial space? Isa it’s being renovated. Alex So? Isa I could work Alex doing what? Isa we could save money, take the baby, visit my mother and bring back some things to get started once the space opens up. Alex You’ve got it all planned. Isa What do you think? Alex No matter what I think the fact is that we’re pleite and thinking about it won’t change that. Isa Beer in the middle of the afternoon will. Alex We drink after work, what’s wrong with that? Isa I thought you ‘finished’ Alex and him? Isa I have friends who’ll help Alex the ones who hardly notice when you’re gone Isa and you have friends. I’ve heard their voices on the machine. Alex You barely speak the language . . . Isa Leck mich. Alex You’ll need more than that. Isa Leck mich, bitte. Alex We’re OK right? Not starving, are we? Isa I’m bored. I have a thousand ideas and nowhere to put them. Alex I know women who’d kill to be bored Isa then hire them to marry you Alex I’m not saying never Isa how much longer? Alex just till we’re secure Isa HOW MUCH LONGER Alex Three months! Yeah? Isa I’ll be dead in three months Alex Isa, don’t Isa what? Alex nothing Isa say it Alex Nothing! Beat. I was going to say don’t exaggerate Isa ah! Alex but I know you don’t exaggerate / Isa what happens when he grows up eh? then what do I have to show for myself? what about the things my mother needs? what happens if she were to die and me without the money to bury her because I was sitting around here all this time Alex are you leaving me now? Beat. Isa Our business partners keep threatening to pull out of The Deal. I fear sometimes I might have made the wrong decision when I introduced the idea of collaboration. Alex What? Isa How did you say it, like superstructure that can’t take no tension, even in the best of times, it snaps Alex Come here. She waves him off and goes to pick up the baby. Isa The world is changing, today’s small business is all about the future, ‘Mama, can I have a this, Mama, what about that, Mama you promised we’d fly to Nana’s this year –‘ Promise me one thing Alex yeah. Isa that my son will meet his grandparents while they’re still alive. Alex going off . . . grandparents live in Frankfurt Isa his other grandparents Alex (sorry) Isa promise me Alex he will Isa she’ll put him on her knee, look at him like to figure what he’d fetch at the market – then she’ll turn to me and say, Isa, it’s your grandfather, and I’ll say, yes, he’s beautiful – Alex yeah During this next speech, the phone starts to ring. Isa no gardens where she lives – but plenty of neighbors – if they hear a fight, oh, no staring out of windows like goats – come out, pick a side, join in . . . The machine picks up. VO: Andy Alex? A – lex? You there? We’re heading out tonight. Call when you get this . . . otherwise I’ll see you at the job office, bright and early . . . and grab a number for me when you get there, will you? Alex enters just as the message ends. Long pause. He moves toward Isa; she brushes past him and goes off. Alex watches her go. Blackout. Scene 10 February 2001. Unemployment office waiting room. Alex and Andy sit on a bench. Both hold slips of paper. VO: 6. Andy heaves a deep sigh. He looks to Alex for a reaction and gets none. Andy Adam and Eve are in paradise Alex very original Andy and one day they go to God and say, ‘God, I want a divorce.’ God says, ‘Divorce? Whatever for? You have a beautiful wife.’ Adam says, ‘I know.’ ‘Weren’t you sad and lonely? Didn’t you want a companion? Someone to make you happy, make a man out of you? Look at her, she’s perfect, what more could you want?’ Adam says, ‘I know!’ And God’s getting pissed now, he says, ‘I had to take out half your ribs to make her, you ungrateful little shit!’ And Adam says, ‘See, God, that’s my point. You took out too many.’ Andy waits. Alex gives up. ‘I can suck my own cock now, what do I need her for?’ VO: 7 Andy Genius. You should’ve been there. Alex I was Andy tired, right. Alex Busy. Andy you’ve just got the hump[1] Alex shut up Andy come on, Alex, give us a kiss . . . Alex She heard your message on the machine. Andy So it’s my fault? Alex I was going to tell her when the time was right. Andy THE TIME IS NOW. Look at the sign! Alex Could you shut the fuck up please? Andy Forget her. Some money-hungry girl. Alex You don’t know her. Andy you want pity? Alex no Andy ‘poor Alex . . . ‘ Alex look, it’s complicated Andy complicated? Alex yeah Andy you wouldn’t know complicated if it kissed you on the ass Alex I said shut up Andy it’s not like you’ve got a wife and a baby on the way Alex What? Andy You heard me. Alex How did you find out? Andy How do you think? Alex I don’t know what to say Andy ‘My condolences,’ that’s not a bad place to start Alex Let me explain – Andy Two weeks she wouldn’t speak to me. I tried to tell her that half the crew’s out of work, but it didn’t matter. Not a word. So I brought up you. Foolproof. Asked her like this, what’s so special about you that she’ll do you without a condom and not me? I mean, you got laid off too in the end, right? And Alex, let me tell you, she exploded. We shouted till the neighbors were banging on the walls. I ended up calling her a slag which I guess I shouldn’t’ve done but then she said she’d show me what a slag she was and man, there is no better fuck in this world than a desperate liberal with a point to prove VO: 8 Alex . . . congratulations. Andy we’ll name him after you Alex thanks Andy if they’re twins, you can have one . . . twins, Christ VO: 9. Alex your number’s up. Andy Chris loves you. So do I. Maybe even more than Chris does. I’m not kissing you, though. Andy gets up. Rum and Coke, please. Andy exits. Alex watches him go. Blackout. Scene 11 March 2001. Alex’s apartment. Isa stands before the mirror. Clothes and makeup are cluttered around her. Awa sits on the sofa, books and newspaper beside her. Awa Where is he tonight? Isa He has his friends, I have mine. Best not to mix them. Awa Afraid it may cause an explosion? Isa It might cause more babies, we wouldn’t want that – Awa I thought you hated going out Isa ‘hate’ isn’t the word Awa there’s a meeting next week. Guy is in town, a friend of mine. Alain knew him from when the student movements began Isa more comrades, sounds exciting Awa you could explain to him this business you want to do. He must know people, Guy knows everyone – Isa showing her dress. What do you think? Awa When will you be back? Isa Too tame, yeah? (She starts to pull off the dress) Awa Isa Isa finally satisfied. Yes . . . yes . . . Awa will you at least protect yourself? Isa starting on her face. My mother sends condoms in the mail – then a month later I get a postcard asking if I’ve used them. ‘European men are paid great sums to infect us with HIV, it’s a fact, Isa’ Awa you haven’t answered my question Isa the best part is that she sends ten at a time. Every three months, ten condoms . . . you think Alex is getting paid? Awa Isa look at me Isa one minute, let me line my eyes Awa I won’t ask you anymore to tell me what’s happened. I understand not wanting to talk Isa Really? I never knew anyone who loved to go off at the mouth like you. Meetings this, meetings that. What is it you like to say? ‘No one’s going to commission you for enlightenment.’ So go do something that they will commission you for, why don’t you and your comrades have a meeting about that? Awa Did he hurt you? Isa No. Disappointed? Awa grabs Isa and forces her to look in the mirror. Awa She came back from Frankfurt one day in a rage. Why? Because the okra cost too much. 4.99 a bag, outrageous. Back home she could buy ten kilos for what one little bag cost here, she said, you know, all that talk about revolutionary transformation is very good, but in the end, you still have to eat. And I told her, shut up girl, stop wasting my time on your silly dreams Isa spots a flaw in her make-up, pulls herself free of Awa’s grasp and leans forward to correct it. But she didn’t shut up. She never shuts up. So what if the world is going mad, she’ll keep going on about her okra and hair extensions and wholesale trading companies and no matter how I try to get her stupid dreams out of my head, I nevertheless discover that I’m hungry. Isa shrugs Awa off. Isa there. Queen of the fucking Nile. Sound of the baby crying. Awa doesn’t move. Isa puts finishing touches on her face, then turns around. How do I look? Awa don’t ask me to look at you, I can’t stand the sight of you Isa patting her pockets. ( . . . keys, where are my keys) Awa . . . here are your keys. She thrusts them at Isa. When Isa moves to take them, she hurls them at Isa’s feet. Isa slowly kneels and picks up the keys. She exits. Scene 12 Train station, platform. Late. Isa enters and sits down on a bench. She holds the keys in her hand. She looks at them, then puts them in her pocket. Achidi enters. He still clutches the McDonald’s bag. He sees Isa on the bench and sits down. He tries to get her attention. She finally turns her head and looks at him. Achidi suddenly remembers the McDonald’s bag. He fumbles to slip it under his arm, finds there’s no place to hide it. Isa doesn’t appear to care about the bag. Achidi smiles. Civil Servant approaches the bench. He sits on the other side of Isa. Isa appears not to notice. Servant looks Isa over, ignoring Achidi. Achidi sees him and his smile fades. Servant slides his hand into Isa’s. Isa turns away from Achidi, but still does not look at Servant. Together Isa and Servant rise. They start to leave, but Isa discovers she’s left the keys on the bench and rushes back for them. Servant stops, looks at her accusingly. Achidi picks up the keys, hands them to Isa. She takes them from him. She goes back to the Servant and tries to comfort him with a smile. They continue off. Achidi watches them go. Then he opens the McDonald’s bag. Cocaine wrapped in tight plastic pellets spill out onto his lap. He swallows them slowly. The sound of police sirens in the distance. Achidi stands calmly, and goes off. The sirens grow louder. Scene 13 Early next morning. Alex’s apartment. Awa tosses and turns on the sofa. Isa enters. She turns on the lamp on the table, digs into her jacket pocket and removes a handful of bills, which she straightens and folds onto the table. She takes off her jacket and drops it on the floor: her dress is torn. She starts to struggle out of the dress, and bumps herself against the table. Awa jerks awake. Awa Isa? Isa Don’t touch me don’t come near me leave me alone / FUCK OFF I SAID Awa shhh Isa, is Awa. Beat. What happened? Isa nothing Awa your dress is Isa yes it is, isn’t it Awa going to help Isa out of the dress. He kept calling. I tried to explain but he wouldn’t listen. After an hour I stopped answering. All those messages are his – Isa shaking her off. I know how to take off a dress Awa Your man’s got a problem, you know? Isa We all have problems Awa No, he has a problem. I’m telling you, Isa. You pack up your boy and come with me tonight. Isa takes off the dress and leaves it crumpled on the floor. You can’t stand the sight of me and still you want that I follow you into your house like a puppy you found on the street. You aren’t going to like what I’m about to say, Awa, but you really do remind me of the men in this country. Awa gathers up the dress. Awa I’ll get his things Isa What are you doing? Awa It’s stained Isa Put it in the trash on your way out Awa think / Isa --! Isa THROW IT OUT. Awa touches Isa very gently. Isa brushes her off. Awa straightens and exits. Once she’s gone, Isa plays the answering machine. VO: Alex over the sounds of a crowded bar. It’s it’s ok, it’s me uh it’s me, are you . . ? listen, I I was thinking, I look listen End of first message. Sound of a key in the door. Alex enters. Isa turns and they stare at each other. He approaches her unsteadily and pulls her to her feet. VO: Alex (Long silence, except for bar noises) . . . yeah whatever, later. End of second message. He embraces her and kisses her. She tries to pull away, but he holds her. VO: Alex this time over the sounds of a train station. where are you? (fuck) Isa you can’t can’t just Isa (fuck) you can’t don’t do this, you can’t keep running ok (ok) End of third message. Alex holds Isa tight, she struggles against him. Finally she breaks away; he grabs her, pulls her back. VO: Alex over the sounds of a street, late night. (fuck) ok ok look I can’t don’t don’t make me fuck where are you pick up! why don’t you fuck – ! The recorder is full. Finally Isa gives up. Alex continues to kiss her. Blackout. Scene 14 May 2001. Police station. A table, chair and a bottle of Coke. Officer 1 and Officer 2 enter, dragging a limp Achidi with them. They force Achidi on the chair. Officer 1 . . .behind the door with an axe. Officer 2 God. Officer 1 Lucky for him there was a mirror in the foyer. Officer 2 You saved his life? Officer 1 I did my job. Pause. Great guy. You remind me a lot of him. Officer 2 . . . thanks. Officer 1 I told him a hundred times you can’t tiptoe your way through a minefield. You have to know what you’re doing. That’s the only thing that’ll keep you alive. Not stepping light Officer 2 I’m sorry Officer 1 that’s why they make the big money, those guys out there weeding for explosives. If you had to attach a price tag to your dick, what would you say? Don’t be modest Officer 2 uh . . . hundred . . ? Officer 1 No amount is worth your life. Officer 2 Right. Officer 1 You should ask her how she feels about it. Officer 2 Huh? Officer 1 Your kitten. Officer 2 Oh yeah Officer 1 My first wife was tough as nails. But sometimes you don’t want tough as nails. Really you want the kitten. Officer 2 The thing is – Officer 1 Because with her you’ve got two things. Comfort and control. The mobile buzzes to life. Do you know what kills it in the end? Officer 2 Scared you might get hurt? Officer 1 The hours. Officer 2 Should I get that – ? Officer 1 There was this other time, it was all over the news. You listen to the news? Officer 2 I read the papers. Officer 1 Which papers? Officer 2 The local. And the Times. Officer 1 You read a lot. Officer 2 Every other day. Officer 1 Do you read them on odd or even days? Times on the odd and local on the even? I’m fucking with you. No, that’s funny. All the best shit happens on the odd day. Things are normal and then you realize, fuck, today is going to be odd. This one was a talker. We followed him in the car until we got to the bridge. Blue suspension, you know the one, your kitten’s been across it a hundred times. We cornered him and he jumped, fucking swan dive into the water. That was just before the shelter burned Officer 2 the papers said Officer 1 We were on our way home. My wife had a bug that just wouldn’t go away and here we were chasing some bastard down river in the middle of the night Officer 2 the ‘bastard’ drowned. Beat. Eyewitnesses said. Pause. Officer 1 Listen carefully. Because I don’t want you to end up the way my first partner did. Officer 2 I’m Officer 1 and I don’t want your kitten to end up the way my first wife did Officer 2 I’m sorry Officer 1 do you have any idea how many years I’ve seen this? Officer 2 no Officer 1 more than I can fucking count. Officer 2 the papers said Officer 1 A gold medal Olympic dive! I can see it on his face and I tell him, don’t do it, don’t even think it, anyone who can pull off a jump like that doesn’t need some rookie punk to save him. But the press got him down. Great guy. Don’t remember what he does now. Something to do with kids. Do you like kids? The phone starts to ring again. Officer 1 looks at Achidi. Officer 2 answers. What do you think? Is today even or odd? Officer 2 the ambulance is downstairs Officer 1 who called an ambulance? Officer 2 I did. Officer 1 Did anyone ask you to? Officer 2 but Officer 1 did I ask you to? Officer 2 yes Officer 1 did I? Officer 2 yes Officer 1 oh Officer 2 should I --? Officer 1 Everyone you pick up thinks they’re the first. It’s exhausting. It’s time-consuming. It kills you. Scene 15 May 2001. Unemployment office waiting room. Alex sits alone, smoking. He has two slips of paper in his hands. VO: 123. Andy enters and sits down beside him. Alex wordlessly hands him one of the slips. Andy Prenatal fucking nightmares. Ever had one? Alex No Andy you sure? Alex pretty sure. Andy My cock was this long. I could use it to scratch my chin. But Chris didn’t even notice. I kept expanding and this huge . . . mushroom thing started blowing up inside her and tumbling around in her gut. I tried to hold off, but I couldn’t help it. I killed her in the end. We talked about it this morning and you know what she said? ‘It’s the most natural thing . . . ‘ Andy waits for a reaction, gets none. Does that sound fucking natural to you? Alex starts to respond, Andy cuts him off. Prenatal joke, stop me if you know it Alex (fuck) Andy Saturday night and this woman she’s pregnant right she’s got to have tuna with ketchup, tuna and ketchup for fuck’s sake. So they get up and look and of course no tuna, no ketchup, so she says, ‘Forget it, I’ll go get more’. The only place that’s open is the shop near the station so she goes in and there’s this colored girl at the register Alex Andy Andy trying to explain what soy milk is, why? because this baby, this – fucking – kid she has Alex Andy Andy but she can’t make him understand and Chris pregnant liberal bitch butts in and saves the day, and they start talking baby shit, how long, how old, oh, how sweet Alex (shit) Andy and this girl puts her hand on the counter and she’s got keys in her hand -- little silver key ring with initials scratched into it -- stop me if you know this one . . . Alex fuck off Andy ‘Looks just like one that Alex used to have. Coincidence . . . ‘ Alex coincidence, right Andy and Chris goes, ‘Can I see your key ring?’ And there are the initials, right there along the edge and she goes fuck the tuna and ketchup and she comes home and says Alex mind your own fucking business Andy ‘Have you met Alex’s girlfriend?’ And the man goes, ‘Alex’s girlfriend left him. Why?’ And she’s all quiet, then suddenly she says, ‘Has he got a slave?’ Alex cunt Andy who’s a cunt? Alex she’s not my slave Andy that’s exactly what I told her, I said Alex screwing a girl like that, he’s so frigid, he, how could he possibly . . . then she started laughing and so did I because I thought the joke’s over, and I asked her open the tuna, pour the ketchup, I’m hungry, I mean I wasn’t really going to eat it, but I wanted to change the subject, you know, because this was disturbing, this was really OUT, you know? but she says she forgot the tuna forgot the tuna you go out for the sole purpose of purchasing a can of tuna in the middle of the fucking night and FORGET. How could you forget, I’m asking her like that, because if she forgot then it means maybe this bullshit story is for real and this can’t be for real because he would’ve told me, there’s no way he would not have told me something like that, now where’s the tuna, you wanted tuna, where is it? In the middle of the night bitching about your soft skin and your cravings and your cramps and all this crap I don’t care about, I don’t care about your cravings, I didn’t ask for a baby, all I wanted was a decent fuck for once I didn’t ask for the whole fucking world to change, and she goes Andy! looklooklook and sometimes I don’t want to fucking look sometimes I want to be left alone can you understand that please? NO. no. So I help you look. All over the house. Why? Because I love you, right. Come up empty. Don’t worry, I’ll go out. No I’ll go. No let me. Where are my keys, I give her her keys. And she comes back and wakes me up in the middle of the fucking night with this BULLSHIT not a can of tuna in sight CHRIST ALEX! Alex you didn’t hit her Andy you’ve heard it already? You should’ve stopped me Alex DID YOU HIT HER Andy all that time. Where’s Alex? Don’t know. Home. Alone. Out with his girlfriend? Could be. Probably. No, this girl is having his fucking baby. Just some girl he met, who knows. Christ Alex, who knows? Does anyone know? Your mother, does she know? Them in there, do they know? Alex of course they know Andy how? Beat. Andy realizes ‘how.’ You stupid fuck. Alex What was I supposed to do? Andy Not marry her Alex maybe I wanted to. Andy Why? Alex She’s special Andy special? Alex yes. Andy What’s her name? Alex . . . her name? Andy if she’s so special Alex what do you want with her name? Andy Is she paying you? Pause. Slowly Alex starts to laugh. Alex Isa Andy huh? Alex her name is Isa Andy where’d you meet her? Alex on a train, why are you making this so complicated? Andy you walked up to some colored girl on a train and started talking? Alex STOP ASKING ME STUPID QUESTIONS IT’S MINE NOW LEAVE IT VO: 124. Alex My son’s got a German name. I had to fight her for it. But it’s better like that. His second name can be different. Pause. Did you hit her? Andy Your number’s up. Blackout. Scene 16 June 2001. Awa’s apartment. There are photographs strewn on the table, one of Achidi. Awa sits before the table, holding the baby. Isa is getting ready to go out. Awa Let’s sleep for a bit, eh? You dream something nice for me, eh? How about a fog in Senegal -- so thick you can climb it like a flight of stairs and ride it all around the world and if it rises high enough people in heaven can get on it too and ride down to earth to visit the living -- so no borders in the world can separate them, not even death can keep them apart – can you do that for me? – yes? Isa What’s your urgent news? Awa Tell me, if someone hit you, would you call it a kiss? No. You would call it a hit. You might even hit back, who knows? If they strangle one of your children, what would you call it? Murder? Oh no, that’s terribly problematic, we’re sure to get in trouble for that. They embraced him a little too tight, that’s all, yes, why don’t we call it an embrace? We’ll be up half the night debating over words, ‘problematic’ words, if you lie, you’re diplomatic but if you tell the truth, ah, ‘problematic Awa’ Isa Are those the only bedtime stories you know? Pause. Ah. No answer. Pause. My man complained that the baby could say Awa before he could say Papa Awa Fuck your man. Isa Ah! She’s ready to engage in a proper conversation. Awa You’re welcome to find another babysitter if you wish. Things are happening around you if you would stop to take a look around Isa Did you hear that? I am now to take a look around. She does so. I don’t see anything urgent. Awa You’re right. It’s nothing. Go out and play. Isa If you want to fight, you only have to say so. Urgent business, ha. You urgently need to tell me what to do, is that it? Urgently need to tell me what a whore I am, and how sick I make you? Yes, Awa, don’t let me forget, I don’t have enough people to remind me Awa it’s all about you, yes Isa yes, who else? To my family you say fuck your man, and my son, you forget half the time he’s mine Awa then act like he’s yours! Isa you can’t stand it when I do! Awa what if you don’t come home tonight, then what? What kind of mother will you be when you’re dead! Isa I’m not in the mood for this, good night Awa That’s right, don’t let me bring you down. Your good mood is important, right? Like your make-up, like a new dress, that’s a pretty dress you have on tonight by the way. It really brings out your inner beauty. Shame you’ll bring it home torn to pieces. Isa After tonight I will find another babysitter. Isa heads for the door, Awa stops her. Awa They arrested him in front of the station. An ‘unfortunate occurrence’ involving police officers and drugs Isa happens every day Awa they killed him! Awa forces Isa to look at the picture. on the way to the hospital, heart attack they said, if he died from a heart attack, why are there bruises on his neck, how can a nineteen year old boy die from a heart attack Isa Let go! Awa Tonight we decide what to call him. We have a thousand names to choose from. Including yours. Pause. Isa tosses the picture to the floor. All right. Queen of the fucking Nile. Run. (She opens the door wide.) Before you miss the last train. Isa doesn’t go; instead, she picks up the picture and looks at it. Isa Achidi. Blackout. Scene 17 A rally outside the police station. Awa want safe there is no safe back to the place we risked our lives to leave risked lives to save lives shelter asylum shelter no asylum ‘home’ not home like a prison not protection skins do the job that home office can’t do ministry of interior can’t do call it accident call it youth out of control but I call it murder all the same keep the home office clean police station clean politicians clean come and take take take all the industry machine laser oil motor raw materials we industrialized Europe we industrialized this continent the cars run on Africa it’s Africa on the operating table Africa in the morning coffee Africa at the bottom of the river Africa in the hospital dead what great ‘economic burden,’ what ‘socio-economic crisis’ show me the gold in ‘golden exile’ police you / murder politicians you murder home office you murder the same accident again and again the same mistake over and over see it happen over and over it’s murder to kill a man it’s murder for the love of god murder! murder! murder! Scene 18 Immigration office. Alex sits at the table. Civil Servant sits across from him. Servant You understand the situation in this country. Alex Yes. Servant The implications. Awkward pause – Alex clearly doesn’t understand. (Explaining) You’re unemployed. Alex I know. But -- Servant You’re obviously not incapable. Alex Incapable? Servant I don’t believe, from what you’ve told me, that you are a lazy person. I know Lazy People. Unemployed because they are incapable. Incapable because they are selfish. Selfish because they simply don’t want to work. I’ve had them in my office, sitting where you are now. They call themselves all sorts of things, but in the end they really are the same. Alex uncomfortable. I have a son. Servant opening his dossier. How old is he? Alex Thirteen months . . . Servant reading. Here it is. April, millennium baby . . . no luck on the German market? Alex utterly lost. The contractor went bankrupt . . . Servant Your wife’s from Senegal Alex yes. Servant Senegal is a very long way from Germany Alex yes . . . Servant How could such an ambitious, capable young man land so far outside of this country’s society? Alex Is this . . . part of the interview? Servant brightening. Would you like a cup of coffee? Alex No. Thanks. Servant Do you mind if I drink mine while we talk? Alex Of course not. Servant Don’t you get tired? Alex Of what? Servant All this. Bureaucracy. Alex I suppose it’s necessary Servant but it must exhaust you. Reinventing yourself again and again . . . Alex reinventing what? Servant What if she’s told me that her husband can’t resist a good cup of coffee? You don’t trust her. So you sit there. Dying for a cup – Alex realizing. I said I’m fine Servant you’re sure? It’s only in the next room. Alex No. Thank you. Servant So your wife works. Alex I’ve heard her talk about starting a business Servant a what? Alex sensing that he’s slipped up. It’s talk. That’s all. Servant Does your wife speak German? Alex Yes Servant and do you speak Senegalese? Alex There is no ‘Senegalese’ Servant a few words? Something she taught you? Alex I know a little French Servant demonstrate. Alex Bourde . . . ta . . .mère Servant and what does she think she could sell? Alex I don’t know. Pause. Servant puts a cigarette in his mouth and offers one to Alex. Alex accepts. Servant lights his cigarette and then lights Alex’s. Servant Alex. Can I call you Alex? Alex Yes . . . Servant Nobody has a problem with you. I want to make that clear. I know that this atmosphere, the circumstances, can lead one to believe that we’ve got a problem with you. I want to make it as explicit as possible that this is not the case. Yeah? Alex Yes. Servant Wouldn’t you like to go into business? Alex It’s not my thing. Servant Right, what is your ‘thing’? Alex I’m looking -- Servant You’re not looking, you’re smoking! In Senegal. And waiting for returns on an investment that once it turns eighteen will leave you right back where it all started. Sitting on your ass and smoking Alex Look, can’t I smoke a cigarette? Servant Go right ahead Alex You offered it to me. I took it because you offered. Servant What else would you take if I offered it to you? Alex This is bullshit! Servant as if Alex has finally seen the light. YES. Alex thrown off by such hearty agreement. I don’t know how to say this, but -- Servant yes? Alex my Servant yes? Alex my son is all I have. Slowly the Officer begins to applaud. Alex starts to get up. Servant Have a seat, please. Alex Look, I don’t have to – Servant SIT DOWN. Alex sinks back into his seat. What kind of mother is your wife? Alex Huh? Servant Is she a good mother? Caring, attentive? Is she shit? Alex She’s good. Servant Could she be better? (Alex starts to protest, the Officer cuts him off.) Look. (He rolls up the leg of his pants and shows Alex a scar.) My dog did this. She used to attack me if I came too close to her puppies. I got this the day I finally sold them. But you realize that the predicament you’re in is very different. Everyone loves puppies, even cross-bred pit bulls. Cross-bred people don’t enjoy the same kind of attention/ Alex My son is not a puppy. Servant Of course he’s not – Alex He’s human. My wife / is human too. Servant Right, I’m only trying to point out that / Alex What are you trying to point out? Servant No matter how you see / them Alex Yeah? Servant . . . well . . . frankly, Alex . . . Alex What? Servant Fatherhood is the only job you’ll have forever. The pay is quite bad, but it’s better than nothing. Scene 19 Early July 2001. Alex’s apartment, late evening. Guy, Awa and Isa are seated on the sofa. Guy The way she climbed the steps -- like an Olympic runner going to light the torch except slow motion, and imagine the torch is a microphone. And people clapping like rain crashing down, stamping feet and singing songs, the men first, then the women shouting back, and then all one on top of the other and the crowd looks like it’s churning ocean water and they’re chanting and it seems as if nothing can stop them! But when she – she there, yes – when she takes the microphone in her hand – there’s a crack – feedback squealing, ooh, it hurt – and the rest of us down on the ground thought noooo, it’s always like this, always such moments technology is destined to fail Awa nobody checks these things. Guy Awa! Awa 27, 582 students Isa Guy Awa listen Awa and who among them can repair a broken microphone? Guy That was not the problem Awa what was the problem then? Guy We concluded it was Awa’s magnificent voice Awa ah! Guy that had short-circuited the cables in the sound system. It seemed that all was lost. But then something incredible happened, I will never forget it as long as I live. Silence. Like the top of a mountain, silent. Thousands and thousands of people, ever heard a place where there are people and they’re all still? It’s like the ground is breathing is what it sounds like. The sound before an earthquake is how it feels Awa you were never in an earthquake, Guy Guy like a storm speaking, if thunder had a tongue. Everybody listened. And then when she was done – you hear this one big breath – 27,000 lungs filling up with air – and then an explosion of chanting, a cloud of dust and for a moment it seemed there was no oxygen left in the air -- and I still remember how the dust stung my eyes, and how the crowd became a blur of faces Awa it wasn’t the dust that made you cry. Beat. Guy You should never interrupt someone who is singing your praises Awa to Isa. Give him to me. Awa takes the baby from Isa and exits off. Guy That was before the massacre -- her children were still alive, she and Alain were always together – they’d never spent a day apart. So on occasions like these, when I want to cheer her, I remind her of who she used to be. You know she’s due in court in a few week’s time? Isa What happened? Guy She said some words she shouldn’t have said. I tried to warn her -- it’s like trying to warn a bird not to fly. Isa It’s going to get her killed. Guy I don’t think so. Isa If something were to happen to her . . . Pause. Guy You know your eyes. They’re very big. They take up your whole face. You look like a baby antelope. And the shade of your lipstick is not one I would choose. In fact you’d look better without it. You should emphasize your natural beauty more. And you don’t talk very much, although I can see in your big eyes that you have plenty to say and your voice is not bad, why don’t you say a bit more? Look at Awa, how she goes on and on and Isa is that the way you talk to a woman in her own home? Guy I’m trying to flirt with you. Am I succeeding? Awa returns, ready to go. Awa Is he telling you more about the mountains he’s climbed? Guy I’ve climbed many mountains Awa ignore him, Isa Guy you see she always interrupts at the point where I am about to sing her praises Awa ushering him out. It’s after midnight already. Goodnight, Isa Guy Isa . . . Isa . . . I did climb a mountain once. Horrible – alone, I was dizzy, my stomach was weak, my knees – but at some point there’s no more choice of direction – if you’re afraid, well, you take your fear with you -- and the view, such a view -- but better than the view is the silence – thick, round, and gentle – I thought this must be the sound of death – Guy opens the door and finds himself face to face with Alex. After a beat, Guy realizes, lets Alex in. Alex to Isa. Are you leaving? This dialogue runs simultaneously over the lines that follow it: __________________________________________________________________ Guy who . . ? Awa Her man Guy should we Awa no Guy leave them alone Awa no Guy but Awa not alone with him. __________________________________________________________________ Isa Alex listen to me Alex FORGET IT / doesn’t matter Isa listen to me / would you listen? Alex yeah . . . yeah . . . Isa I’m not going / I’m not Awa She’s coming with us – Isa Awa – Alex with you? / Awa to Isa. Time. Alex (who) the hell are you? Awa don’t act like you don’t know who I am Alex what’s she saying? Isa you know her Alex / you’ve met her before – Alex yeah . . . yeah / we met . . . Isa Alex listen / to me Awa not going without you, Isa. Isa no Awa Alex no it’s fine, it’s Isa Alex please Alex can’t you, can’t you at least / tell me Isa they’re friends / Alex friends of yours? Awa can she have friends? Alex sorry I don’t know WHO THE FUCK YOU ARE Awa you’re lying Alex (I’m lying) Guy to Isa. Are you all right on your own? Awa no Alex she’s not / ‘on her own’ Awa I’ll stay with her Guy you’re / sure? Awa yes Isa you don’t / have to Alex not here / you’re not staying Awa then come with me. Alex to Isa. what’s she saying? / Isa? Guy you heard her Alex Isa? Isa rushes off. Awa do you hear me / talking to you Guy (careful Awa) Awa break her / think that makes you a man Alex (get out of here) Awa she’s not yours anymore Alex I’m married to her Awa stepping up to Alex. So am I, so is he / what’s special about you Guy don’t Alex GET OUT Awa to Alex. COME ON Guy reaching for Awa. Awa Awa let me go! Alex advances toward Awa. Guy steps between them just as Isa returns. Guy go on touch her Isa don’t touch him! To Guy. Take her and go. Awa you can’t, don’t leave her with him! Isa Now! Awa is hurt; reluctantly Guy ushers her out. Guy to Alex, warning. I’ll come in the morning / Isa Isa just go. They leave. Alex sinks down on the sofa. What’s the matter with you? Pause. Answer me Alex are you going? Isa tired. Alex, no Alex ARE YOU LEAVING ME? Isa Stop shouting! Alex You like that Isa . . . what? Alex his skin, that’s what you want Isa (you’re crazy) Alex you’re right, too red Isa turns toward the baby’s room. Alex grabs her, manipulates her to the sofa and forces her on it. He begins to rape her. She screams, tries to fight him off. Knocking, then pounding at the door. Guy enters. Alex stops. Without hesitation, Guy lays into Alex. Isa gets up and runs off. She returns holding her baby. Guy steps away from Alex and stands looking at him. Isa goes to Guy and together they leave. Alex gets to his feet. He goes to the window and looks out. Blackout. Scene 20 July 2001, a week later. Scene split to reveal on one side the unemployment office waiting room and on the other Awa’s apartment. Alex and Andy sit in the waiting room; Awa’s apartment is completely empty. VO: 589. Andy Christ Alex. Awa I don’t like it Andy You could press charges. Assault. Kidnapping . . . Isa can’t you wait until I’m through the door? Andy I mean, what can she do? Alone? With a kid? You hear me, Alex? Alex! Alex yeah Isa you have to negotiate these things, Awa. But I suppose negotiating isn’t something you do Awa we’re not in Dakar Isa not yet Andy go to the child protection agency, the police, get a lawyer Isa I did her hair once. She’s fine, just young Awa young and stupid Isa Would you rent a shop to a single woman wheeling a baby around? Awa I would, in fact Isa you are a sorry excuse for a businesswoman, all of you ‘activists’ are Andy Are you listening to me? Alex yes! Andy so what do you think? VO: 590. Awa I would feel better if we had something. Documents. Signatures Isa No one can take a nursing baby away from his mother. Awa He won’t be nursing forever Isa I know men who nurse for decades – Andy I’m not trying to tell you what to do. Awa Security. Custody, Isa Isa I’m his mother Awa I’ve heard stories you wouldn’t believe Isa about men who breastfeed? Does the German man have tits? Awa He has citizenship. Isa bitten again. Ah, hey! Andy But get someone Alex yeah Andy knowledgeable on your side Alex ‘someone knowledgeable on my side’ Andy yeah! Isa you’re jealous Alex yeah how? Awa shut up, girl Andy Chris . . . Chris must know people, she knows people like that . . . Isa Nothing I could do to tempt you away from your precious meetings. But still you mix your business with mine, always telling me to be serious and criticizing what I do, why? But I figured it out. It’s his face you keep coming back for. To look at him makes you feel that the world is on your side -- even though it’s not on your side at all. Go on to your hearing. Stop trying to live everyone’s life but your own Andy Forget how! Fuck how! I’d fucking do it if I could, toss her off the next bridge, if it were me Alex it’s not ‘you’, is it? Isa Guy told me about your children. Awa Guy is full of talk! Andy I know that, I’m only saying – Alex good. Isa Tears don’t frighten me – Awa there’s a box on the landing Andy For fuck’s sake, Alex VO: 591. Andy gets up. If there’s anything we can do, just – Awa are you coming? I can’t carry it alone. Awa exits. Alex extinguishes his cigarette and slowly stands. He crosses to Awa’s apartment. He collects the baby gently and hushes it as he carries it off. Isa I can see him. There he is in front of me, his red face, his cigarettes, I can see him, he’s saying I’m his father, we’ll be back in an hour, and she’s looking at her watch and she’s letting him go . . . you were right, Awa, you should’ve left it at ‘embrace’ because that’s murder that’s what murder means, yes Awa, come here, let’s work on your German, you come from a place where a kiss is a kiss and a slap is a slap but here, ha, you need an extra stamp in your passport if you want to speak your mind, yes, Awa, let everyone hear, say murder loud, say it, Murder! Scene 21 Alex’s apartment, late. Alex is alone, lying on the sofa, wide awake and perfectly still. The phone rings. He ignores it. Finally, it stops. Silence. The phone starts to ring again. He tries to ignore it, finally gets up and kicks it over. He returns to the sofa, rubbing his side where Guy struck him. He lies back down on the sofa. A knock at the door. Alex ignores it. Another knock, then the sound of a key in the door. Andy appears. Andy . . . the unmistakable stink of abstinence. Alex she keeps calling, over and over until the machine is full. Every message exactly the same Andy Look. See that over there? Alex what? Andy Open it and then close it behind you. Alex Andy Andy It’s easy, watch. Andy opens the door of the apartment. See? Alex (close the door) Andy talking to imaginary neighbors. What? This? Oh it’s just a scratch. Fuck me, you should see what she did to my ribs, look Alex CLOSE THE DOOR. Andy shuts the door. Andy Nice neighbors. You should meet them. Alex Who? Andy now you Alex leave me alone Andy gotta open the door if you want to kick me out, see? Alex gets up and opens the door, thoroughly annoyed. Very good, now again and this time turn off the lights and take these with you. Alex How is he? Andy Chris can’t get enough. Alex Is he sleeping OK? Andy He waits until you’re just drifting off, then he starts howling like a fucking wolf, every hour on the hour till the crack of dawn Alex (fuck) Andy Chris adores him. Calls him her chocolate bunny. She goes, ‘ask Alex if he wants to trade.’ And I tell her, how about getting rid of the one she’s got and all three of us can share. It’s not too late Alex Tell her to come around some time. Andy I did. You know what she said? ‘Why doesn’t he come around?’ She’s all concerned, I tell her, don’t worry. Alex can’t even get off the sofa these days Alex a few days more During this next speech, Isa appears silently at the door. Andy Come on, Alex. You’re free! Let’s go get fucked – Isa Did you hear? I got the lease. Alex Congratulations Isa I cut the man a deal he couldn’t refuse. He thought he could outwit Dakar. But my tongue was much faster Pause. Then Andy slowly leaves, staring Isa down on his way out. Alex he’s at my mother’s, ok? Isa how is your mother Alex it’s two in the morning, Isa Isa I suddenly remembered her garden today. I called to tell her what I thought about all of her beautiful fruit. And do you know what she said? Alex can’t imagine Isa she had no idea when she’d last heard from her son Alex that’s nothing new Isa or her grandson Alex maybe it slipped her mind Isa I warned her in case she tried to call, her own son may refuse to pick up – Alex that’s enough, Isa Isa and do you know what she said? Yes, you do Alex go now, I think you should go Isa ‘at least he won’t pick up any of your dirty African ways.’ And I almost hung up, but before I did, I thought to ask her, who? You mean my husband or my son? You can’t just take him Alex Christ, Isa, he’s not yours Isa whose is he then? When the people look and wonder, what will you say? When he cries, will you hold him? Or will you leave him and let him cry on his own? Alex catches her by the wrists. She tries to push him off her; she loses her balance and falls. He tries to pin her down. She fights him. Pounding on the door. Officer 1 (off). POLICE Alex tries to go to the door. Isa realizes, struggles to hold him back. Isa no Alex don’t let them in Alex don’t Alex don’t / don’t let them in Alex no Alex NO! Officer 1 (off). POLICE OPEN THE DOOR. The door is being shaken from outside. Alex wrenches himself away from her. He reaches the door just as it is being forced open. Scene 22 Officer 1 and Officer 2. Alex is seated between them, perfectly still. The rest of the space is completely dark. Officer 1 My partner and I received an anonymous call at approximately 2.30 am. Something about a break-in and a domestic dispute of a violent nature. The caller was very upset Alex OK . . . let’s do it Officer 2 she’d broken into the house Officer 1 the caller stated that she had forcibly entered the man’s home Officer 2 you could see it on her face. Her hands. She’d wrecked the place. Broken glass was everywhere. Broken furniture. The man had a scratch on his face Officer 1 injured confirmed that he was OK. My partner assisted him and tended to the injury Officer 2 he kept saying make her leave. I didn’t know it was his wife Officer 1 the woman was clearly agitated Officer 2 (that’s your wife?) Alex hey Andy. Feel that? Officer 1 We arrived at the address Alex oh fuck . . . fuck fuck fuck FUCK Officer 1 the situation was out of hand Alex yeah Officer 2 they were both on the floor. He was cut and she was screaming at the top of her voice for him not to open the door. Alex (fuck) Officer 2 she got off the floor and ran into the kitchen Officer 1 there was an exchange of words, insults directed at ourselves, at the injured man. She was very agitated. A woman of her physical capabilities combined with an obviously excitable temper alerted me to potential danger. She had already ransacked the house. She could’ve been armed. Physical restraint at that point would have been justified. But I opted instead to talk her down. Officer 2 I don’t remember that part. Officer 1 shoots a look at Officer 2. Officer 1 my partner had concerned himself with aiding the injured and most likely did not hear our exchange Officer 2 I just heard her running Officer 1 she went to the kitchen and came back armed Officer 2 armed? Officer 1 She was brandishing a culinary implement. Officer 2 I don’t recall that Officer 1 do you recall shooting her? Officer 2 you said Officer 1 do you recall shooting her? Silence. Officer . . . Officer 2 you said not to talk about it Officer 1 answer the question. Officer 2 She had a knife Officer 1 and Officer 2 she tried to Officer 1 what? Officer 2 use it Officer 1 so Officer 2 (no) Officer 1 you fired Officer 2 you said I didn’t have to answer you said don’t worry don’t answer Officer 1 my partner acted in my defense and shot the woman once. Internal bleeding later lead to her very unfortunate death Officer 2 you said Officer 1 we administered first aid and did all we could to stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived Officer 2 I don’t recall that Officer 1 my partner was in shock Alex Andy. Andy look at that. Down there Officer 2 Her husband came and looked . . . he went back and sat on the sofa . . . he kept . . . he kept . . . Officer 1 understandably. He’s young and quite inexperienced Officer 2 I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn’t Officer 1 I was cut during the attack, but nothing serious. Hardly worth mentioning, except for the purpose of this report. During this next monologue, Officer 1 and Officer 2 stand and retreat into darkness. Alex get down – did they see us? you’re sure? – what are cops doing out here, shit! – wait a minute, hold on – what’s that? can you see it? sh! – no, asshole, that’s a shadow – if there was someone in the river they wouldn’t just be standing there – Andy – Andy – oh shit Blackout. End of play. ________________________________ [1] You’re just sore.