The Black Album by Hanif Kureishi Page A

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