1998
Character List:
Aida - 14
Sadia - 17
Setting:
A concrete room with a jarring metallic door.
A Christmas tree suitable for a high-end retail store.
A television.
SADIA enters carrying a bowl of cereal. Only SADIA can hear a commotion; she closes the door to shut out the noise. She watches AIDA while eating her cereal, standing up for one minute. There is a glint of resentful protectiveness in her eyes. AIDA occasionally touches her stomach, indicating a tummy ache.
AIDA:
One day, I’ll have my own house. My house will have the biggest tree.
AIDA moves closer to the Christmas tree, touching its branches and decorations as if becoming part of it.
AIDA:
A real tree. I’ll buy baubles from Boots. The shiniest baubles this world has ever seen.
SADIA is lost in her thoughts. She takes another minute before responding.
SADIA:
I think I should take her on holiday.
Lost in her head, plotting.
SADIA:
I am taking her on holiday.
SADIA packs a bag containing a toothbrush and toothpaste. She holds up a bottle of Head and Shoulders for the audience.
SADIA:
Two-in-one.
SADIA holds up a bar of soap, deeply considering whether to take this.
SADIA:
Twenty-three p.
AIDA, noticing SADIA’s activity, is momentarily distracted from the tree.
AIDA:
A red bauble, a green bauble, but no blue or tinsel.
I don’t like blue. I'll save the tinsel for my hair. My tree will be the best.
SADIA:
Might as well chuck in a towel. Must keep her... (slowly looks at the audience) ...dry.
AIDA turns back to the tree, more wistful now.
AIDA:
I know Santa isn’t real—Sadia sorted that right out—but... I don’t care, I’m leaving out cookies.
AIDA is pulled out of her reverie by the Christmas tree. There is a vulnerability to her. SADIA views her as a commodity.
SADIA:
I’ll take her to Manchester Airport. I’ll arrange for someone to drive but... no.
What’s the point?
We’ll take the train. Walk into town, past the roundabout, the stupid car parks, onto Albert Road.
I’ll guide her up the stairs. We can sit in the waiting room, shivering. Platform one, change at Darlington.
Maybe we’ll see Tony Blair.
SADIA looks at the audience with a cheeky grin.
SADIA:
Will he approve? At Manchester Airport, I’ll decide where. Somewhere hot. Not Pakistan. I’m taking my baby sister on holiday.
AIDA:
One day, I’ll have a massive shower in my house, just like the one in... (slowly pronounces each word) ...Dressed to Kill.
SADIA:
When did you watch Dressed to Kill?
AIDA:
I’ll have a massive shower with dead nice shampoos. Australian ones that smell like berries.
I’ll comb my hair, my layered hair, I will comb my layered hair.
SADIA:
I’ll comb it.
AIDA:
Or I could cut it. Be one of those girls who cut off all their hair. A short-haired girl.
SADIA:
Whatever you want.
AIDA:
Three sisters are a lot of sisters.
SADIA:
Do you not like me anymore?
AIDA is confused.
SADIA:
What’s wrong?
AIDA:
I want a house where I pull the curtains to find a red robin. She smiles at me. Robin will fly up high, like a flying fireball.
SADIA:
What have I told you about going mental?
AIDA:
I won’t have three sisters, I won’t have a brother.
SADIA:
Don’t be like that.
AIDA:
Do Robins feel the cold?
SADIA:
I don’t know.
AIDA:
I’ll look after Robin. Robin will be my friend.
AIDA unwraps a present. It’s a remote control. She turns the TV on and selects Teletext. AIDA selects a channel which is playing Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews sings "A Spoonful of Sugar". AIDA is mesmerised and lost within the film.
Sharp disconnect as SADIA gently removes the remote from AIDA. The television, as if possessed, cycles through channels chaotically before settling on EastEnders.
AIDA:
Oi.
SADIA:
My name is Sadia.
AIDA:
I was watching that.
SADIA:
I know.
AIDA:
Oi.
SADIA:
Sadia.
AIDA:
Why do you always get what you want?
SADIA:
Watch it later.
AIDA:
Go away.
SADIA:
He’s gonna kill her, you know.
AIDA:
I don’t care.
SADIA:
She's not getting away with it, is she?
AIDA:
What?
They watch Grant kill Tiffany.
AIDA is traumatised by watching the murder, so she hides her shock.
AIDA:
I’m bored.
SADIA touches AIDA’s shoulder as if she is a porcelain doll.
SADIA:
It could happen to anyone.
AIDA:
My stomach hurts.
SADIA:
Have you had breakfast?
AIDA:
Why is EastEnders playing at breakfast?
SADIA Looks to the audience.
AIDA:
We’re watching EastEnders at breakfast. That’s not right.
AIDA puts her hand down her pants. There is blood on her fingers, and she is shocked into silence.
SADIA:
(False endearment) Aww.
AIDA:
(Confused) Oh well.
SADIA:
Is that all you have to say?
AIDA:
Everyone has theirs.
SADIA:
(Authoritative) You’re all women now.
AIDA:
I’m fourteen.
SADIA:
Mam was married at sixteen. What are we going to do with you?
AIDA:
What are we going to do with you?
SADIA:
What?
AIDA:
Nowt.
SADIA:
(Sharp tone) You’re a woman now, behave like one.
AIDA:
Alright, calm your knickers.
SADIA:
(Sinister tone) Or what?
AIDA fearfully steps back.
AIDA:
I'm bored.
SADIA:
Stop making that face.
AIDA:
What face?
SADIA:
That one, the one that looks like it’s about to be murdered.
AIDA faces SADIA as if they are about to go into battle.
AIDA:
Will you hold me?
SADIA:
(Surprised) W-what?
AIDA:
Will you hold me?
SADIA holds AIDA and turns to the audience, keeping hold of AIDA. She holds silence for a minute and breaks into the closing monologue.
SADIA:
Under ten seconds of Britain’s north-eastern sunshine, her skin breaks. (Softly) she scratches and scratches.
The sun will stroke my face as the plane's door is pushed open, but what will happen to her?
(Filled with concern) She will learn to love it, (teary) she will adjust. I’ll take her straight there.
The quickest way, hmm, probably a taxi. The driver will know English. He will have to know English.
We’ll get in the taxi and drive her straight there.
Oh man, it’s a proper bazaar, a bazaar on the docks. Everyone everywhere. I’ll place her on the highest step and start the bidding.
Confidently holds silence before saying the next line.
Hello foreigners, I’m here to sell my sister - please form a queue and assess the goods.
AIDA pulls away, smiles at SADIA, and SADIA gently kisses her on the forehead. Then, AIDA climbs into the Christmas tree.
SADIA composes herself.
What? Have I not been patient?
If I were that person, I’d have smothered her with a pillow from the start and placed that baby pillow over her tiny nostrils. But this, this has been humane. She will adjust.
And me, what do I get?
I get my three camels. What am I going to do with three camels? In Middlesbrough?
(Thinks) Take them for a stroll along the Tees.
SADIA closes her eyes and opens the door. There is silence, and she exits.
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