Free The Black Album by Hanif Kureishi

snorts .
     
    Shahid ( to Chili ) Your closest brush with literature, ever.
     
    Chili ( passing the score to Strapper ) There you go, Strap – you gotta trust me.
     
Strapper snorts .
     
    ( To Shahid .) Got a drink?
     
    Shahid Fortunately not.
     
    Chili Been to evening prayers?
     
    Shahid Go home, Chili. If you can’t, just leave me be. I got things to do.
     
    Suddenly, two Heavies burst in. Strapper shrinks back in fear. Shahid is frozen in shock .
     
    Strapper I told you! Chili!
     

    Heavy 1 ( to Chili ) So?
     
    Chili hands over the money. The man counts it, snorts derisively and takes a step forward. Chili hands over his keys .
     
    Heavy 2 He’s got brains.
     
    Chili The Beamer parked outside. Full tank, too.
     
    Heavy 1 Pardon?
     
    Chili Full tank.
     
    The Heavies look at each other, and kick Chili repeatedly. They leave. Shahid scrambles over to his brother .
     
    Shahid What’s happening to you, Chili?
     
    Chili pushes him away and goes to the still-whimpering Strapper .
     
    Chili ( knocks on Strapper’s head ) There’s someone in there. Oh, yes, I know there is.
     
    Strapper Christ. They … they gone?
     
    Chili For now.
     
    Strapper Right. Phew.
     
    Chili ( to Shahid, as he lays Strapper down gently ) Floor’s very hard. Where’s your landlord?
     
    Shahid What’s going on, Chili?
     
    Chili ( ignoring him ) I want to complain. He’s a fucker. ( Beat .) If Papa were alive, we’d be giving him heart attacks. Which of us, do you think, would he be more horrified by? I’d love to take a picture of you praying on your knees and send it to him in heaven. He’d probably say, ‘What’s my boy doing down there, looking for some money he’s dropped?’
     

Shahid, exasperated, resumes work on his computer .
     
    There you have it, Strap, my hard-working baby brother. Times are moody, I have to admit, but he’ll sort us out, won’t you, bro? Hey, Strap, look at the dreamer.
     
    Strapper Like me.
     
    Chili You?
     
    Strapper Yeah, me, man.
     
    Chili They ain’t dreams, they’re drug hallucinations!
     
    Strapper Fuck off, man. You should’ve sorted the cash! You kept sayin’ London was too small a place for ya. Is it small enough for you now, Chili, eh – this small enough?
     
    Chili Shhh, let the boy work, Strap. Hey, what’s the score, bro?
     
    Shahid ( tetchy ) What’s free speech to you, Chili?
     
    Chili Don’t bend your knee.
     
    Strapper Windbag! You done shat yourself when those heavies came in for their money!
     
    Chili That’s just a game, Strap. But this here now –
     
He clutches hold of Strapper, as he addresses Shahid .
     
    – this here is pure censorship. Nothing terrible will ever happen to us, unless we will it. That’s just the way it is. But evil’s been done to Strap, practically from day one he’s been censored. Don’t do this! Stop there! Stay away from that! He don’t deserve to be wasted. If you want to fight for anything, fight for him.
     
    Shahid I think I want to be a writer.
     
    Chili What’s wrong with being a travel agent?
     
    Shahid You try it! Papa left everything to you. Ammi needs you.
     

    Chili You want me to be like all the other Pakis in their dirty shops, humourlessly keeping their eyes only on the pennies dropping in their palms? Go and work there if you like it so much. I give you my place! But you won’t either. We ain’t ones to make sacrifices, are we, bro?
     
    Shahid Just go home, Chili, please. Papa worked his arse off.
     
Chili remains silent .
     
    ( Insistent .) To give us a decent life.
     
    Chili And what is that? Do you know?
     
He grabs hold of Shahid .
     
    Why won’t you tell me?
     
    Shahid Let go of me!
     
    Chili No one knows!
     
    He slaps Shahid. Shahid goes to punch him, but Chili slaps him again .
     
    Now shut it!
     
    Shahid Fuck, fuck!
     
    Shahid returns to his computer, as Chili and Strapper lie wasted .
After a time, Shahid covers his trembling brother with a blanket and continues working