Hanif Kureishi: The Black Album

They go, and Chili flings Riaz out .

RiazWe will start another experiment, insha’Allah !

ChiliYeah, yeah.

Deedee( concerned ) Shahid …

ShahidI’m all right. Really.

DeedeeTime we had a proper meal.

ChiliI’ve had all I can stomach, babe.

A beat .

DeedeeTake care of yourself, Chili.

Deedee goes to the kitchen .

Chili( to Shahid ) Hug me, bro.

They embrace .

ShahidThanks for saving my balls.

ChiliCool entrance, eh? Someone should have videoed it. You okay?

ShahidSore all over. Going somewhere?

Chili nods .

With Strapper?

ChiliYeah.

ShahidAfter what he did?

ChiliWill you talk to Ammi for me? Say I’m okay? Getting better? You know what to say.

ShahidToot sweet, brother.

ChiliYeah.

Chili exits, with Strapper. Deedee leaves the room .

There is a tapping on the window. Shahid grabs a knife and investigates. Hat is knocking. Shahid opens the window .

HatWill you listen if I say something? Please, Shahid.

ShahidWhy should I trust you?

HatI trying to say I sorry about what happened.

ShahidOh, yeah.

HatPlease listen! There’s no one else — I alone! Because Allah is forgiving and merciful, I will only show love and consideration for others. I ashamed of what we did.

ShahidWhy?

HatWhatever you done, it not my place to condemn another person. Only God can do that. I was wrong to put myself in that position, as if I never done wrong things. I hope you don’t turn away from Allah.

ShahidTo tell you the truth, Hat — I’m sick of being bossed around, whether by Riaz or Chad or God himself. Brother, what we do, and the things we make, is more interesting than anything that God is supposed to have done. Do your accountancy, Hat. You’ll regret it if you don’t pass.

HatI disagree. But I get what you say. I said what I have to.

He starts to leave .

ShahidWhere are you going?

HatTo paradise. Please forgive me. Forgive all of us and may there be mercy.

Hat leaves. Deedee enters .

ShahidI want to be with you.

DeedeeFor as long as it lasts?

ShahidFor as long as that.

They embrace .

A beat .

Dawn. Hat is seen carrying a rucksack. He bends down to take it off his shoulders. An explosion. Hat is killed. Sounds of sirens. Ambulances, fire engines, police cars and flashing lights .

Deedee and Shahid go out. There is a pall of smoke.

Shahid and Deedee look at each other .

ShahidI want to see my mother. Come with me? Then we can go to the sea — I know a place. I’ve decided. I know what to write.

She holds out her hand. He takes it and they walk off, towards the dawn .

Mobile phones start ringing, coalescing into sounds of wild celebrations at news of London winning the 2012 Olympics. Four young men appear, wearing baseball caps and with rucksacks slung on their backs .

Blackout .

Hanif Kureishi is the author of novels (including Something to Tell You, The Buddha of Suburbia, The Black Album and Intimacy ), story collections ( Love in a Blue Time, Midnight All Day, The Body ), plays (including Outskirts, Borderline and Sleep With Me ) and screenplays (including My Beautiful Laundrette, My Son the Fanatic and Venus ). Among his other publications are the collection of essays Dreaming and Scheming, The Word and the Bomb and the memoir My Ear at his Heart .