Uncle Saddam (film script)

As promised, I now present to you all the screenplay version of “Uncle Saddam”

Uncle Saddam (film script)

FADE IN:

Music: ‘Balrog Theme’ from the game Street Fighter II on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), playing over montage sequence which cuts between various locations.

 

MONTAGE:

EXT. STREET IN ASTON, BIRMINGHAM. FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 1993.

BABA walks along a busy street, it is rush hour and a mosque can be seen in the background. Baba is in his 40’s, wearing a shirt and tie, he is Iraqi and has a thick black moustache.

Baba searches through vegetables on the street outside a grocery shop. There is an ethnic mix of people also shopping for vegetables.

 

INT. IBRAHIM’S BEDROOM.

We see a television with Street Fighter II being played on it.

IBRAHIM sits on his bed engrossed in the game. We can see the SNES console on top of a drawer next to the television. Ibrahim is around 12 years old. There is a cat sprawled out on the bed.

 

INT. GROCERY SHOP.

Baba walks along aisles in the grocery shop looking at foodstuff.

A bearded PAKISTANI MAN at the shop counter smokes a cigarette and watches the news on a small television.

 

NEWS CLIP.

Crowds of Iraqis cheer and throw flowers at Saddam Hussein as he visits a school in Baghdad.

 

INT. HOUSE. LIVING ROOM.

BIBI sits in armchair watching same news clip on television. Bibi wears a black shawl and white headscarf, only her face and hands are uncovered, she is an elderly Iraqi woman, around 70 years old.

MUM walks in and gives Bibi a cup of tea. Mum is an English woman, around 40 years old.

 

EXT. OUTSIDE GROCERY SHOP.

Baba steps out of shop door looking a bit angry and shaking his head. He lights up a cigarette.

Baba walks down a quieter street. We can see the Aston Villa football stadium in the background.

 

NEWS CLIP.

More crowds cheer in Baghdad, some of them are holding up framed pictures of Saddam Hussein and they jostle frantically to be seen by the camera smiling and having a good time.

Iraqi policemen keep an eye on the crowd.

 

INT. IBRAHIM’S BEDROOM.

Same view of the television with Street Fighter II game in progress. Both characters are down to their last bits of life.

Ibrahim plays very enthusiastically.

 

EXT. OUTSIDE HOUSE, FRONT DOOR.

Baba puts key in lock and enters house.

 

INT. HOUSE HALLWAY.

Baba puts down shopping bags and hangs up coat. Mum comes into hallway and they exchange greetings, a small kiss on the lips.

Music begins to fade and montage sequence ends.

 

INT. IBRAHIM’S BEDROOM.

Music is now at normal level and it is evident it comes from the Street Fighter II game. From behind Ibrahim we can see the television screen. Ibrahim bounces up and down on the bed, desperately trying to win. Ibrahim loses the game and throws the controller, simultaneously swearing as the controller hits the floor and brings the SNES console down with it.

Ibrahim:          Bollocks.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Mum is cooking on the hobs, stirring rice in a pot, when she hears a bang from upstairs and looks up instinctively. She sighs, stops what she’s doing and walks out of the kitchen. The camera follows her as she walks into the hallway and glimpses inside the living room.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Baba and Bibi sit in different sofas. Baba is reading a paper whilst Bibi just sits.

 

INT. HALLWAY.

Camera continues following Mum as she walks up the stairs and in to Ibrahim’s bedroom.

 

INT. IBRAHIM’S BEDROOM.

Ibrahim has already put the SNES console back on the drawer and now the title screen to Street Fighter II is loading.

Mum:              Ibrahim, what was that noise?

Ibrahim:          Nothing… I dropped the controller.

Mum:              Well be careful, that thing wasn’t cheap you know.

                        (pause)

                        You should go out and play with your friends tomorrow.

Mum leaves the room but we can still hear her talking as she makes her way down the stairs.

Mum:              You’ve been playing that stupid game all week.

Ibrahim, not listening, begins to play a new game. He selects his character and then starts fighting.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

MONTAGE:

Mum washes and peels vegetables.

Mum turns on radio; ‘Would I Lie to You?’ by Charles and Eddie is on.

Mum stirs a pot on the hob.

Mum tastes food from the pot then adds more salt.

 

INT. IBRAHIM’S BEDROOM.

Ibrahim is busy playing the computer game when suddenly he hears raised voices from downstairs. The voices get louder so Ibrahim pauses the game and tiptoes out onto landing.

 

INT. LANDING (TOP OF STAIRS).

Ibrahim listens for a second to the raised voices and then tiptoes down a few of the stairs so he can see through the patterned glass door of the living room. We can see indistinct shapes moving in the patterned glass.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Baba and Bibi are arguing in Arabic.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Mum hears the argument and pauses for a second contemplating whether or not to go in to the living room, then she decides not to and turns the music on the radio up a little louder. She carries on with the cooking and then Ibrahim enters.

Ibrahim:          Mum.

Mum:              What do you want?… I’m busy.

Ibrahim:          What are Baba and Bibi arguing about?

Mum stops what she’s doing.

Mum:              They’re not at it again are they?

Mum turns the radio off and they both listen for a short while.

Mum:              Your father and his mother are as bad as each other.

                        (pause, as they listen)

                        I’ll have to go in there… the neighbours’ll complain again.

Mum walks out of the kitchen and is followed by Ibrahim. Ibrahim does not follow her into the living room but waits at the bottom of the stairs where he can watch with the door open.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

As soon as Mum walks in Baba starts talking to her.

Baba:              Can you believe this? She wants to go to the fucking mosque.

Mum:              Well what do you expect? She’s worried and –

Baba:              And you think that’s going to help?

                        (pause)

                        It’s pathetic.

Bibi looks at the clock on the wall, stands up using her walking stick, hobbles around to the back of her armchair and rolls out a prayer mat. She begins praying. Mum takes Baba by the arm and pulls him into the hallway so they won’t disturb her.

 

INT. HALLWAY.

Baba:              (to Ibrahim) Go to your room.

Ibrahim runs up the stairs but stays listening from the landing.

Mum:               I can take her to the mosque tomorrow morning… it won’t take long, I’ll use the car.

Baba:              No. I forbid it.

(pause in which Baba begins searching his coat, which is hanging up, for something)

                        She’s not going.

Baba finds a packet of cigarettes and then goes out the backdoor without a word. Mum, irritated, walks back into the living room.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Ibrahim also enters the living room.

Mum:              Shh… you’re granny’s praying.

Mum goes out of the living room and Ibrahim watches Bibi praying. Bibi bows up and down and her praying has a rhythmic quality, it is soothing. The camera focuses on Bibi.

 

INT/EXT. HOUSE IN BAGHDAD. 2AM ONE MORNING. 1992.

MONTAGE:

Bibi is asleep in bed when suddenly there is banging on the front door to the house, and shouting.

MEN outside the house bang on the door and shout in Arabic.

Bibi and other FAMILY MEMBERS are awake, they are sacred and a BABY is crying.

A MAN is being put into a Toyota Land Cruiser roughly by the men who banged on the door.

The family watch from the door, they are terrified and the baby is still crying.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Ibrahim is still watching Bibi pray, he seems to be lost or hypnotized by it, then suddenly his face lights up with an idea. He goes to the coffee table and takes a pencil tin and drawing pad from underneath it. Ibrahim lies on the carpet in front of the television and begins drawing in the pad. Mum walks into the living room. Meanwhile Bibi finishes praying and hobbles back around to her armchair.

Mum:              (to Ibrahim) What are you drawing?

Ibrahim:          It’s for Baba.

Mum:              Oh good… he’ll like that.

We see the drawing now. It is only a pencil outline but it is clearly two people fighting and is inspired by Street Fighter II.

 

INT. HALLWAY.

Baba comes in through the backdoor into the hallway.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Mum:               (hearing the backdoor) The news’ll be on soon… I’d better get dinner ready.

Mum walks out of the living room and shortly Baba walks in, sits on the sofa and turns on the television.

Baba:              What are you drawing?

Baba tries to look at the drawing but Ibrahim covers it up.

Ibrahim:          No… it’s not ready yet.

Baba:              Ok, habibi.

Ibrahim continues drawing whilst Baba and Bibi watch television. We hear the announcer on television say that the news will be on next.

Baba:              (shouting to Mum in kitchen) The news is going to start.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Mum is plating up food onto four plates.

Mum:              Ok… just a minute.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Everyone is in the living room. Ibrahim is still drawing, colouring in now, whilst the others are watching television and eating from plates on their laps. Ibrahim’s plate is on the coffee table.

Mum:              Ibrahim, your food’s getting cold.

Ibrahim:          Ok, I’ve nearly finished.

Baba:              Shh… It’s Baghdad.

Baba sits up in his chair and puts his plate down on the coffee table. Baba and Bibi are concentrating on the television. The television shows images from inside Baghdad during the embargo. Baba and Bibi are engrossed and mumble to themselves in Arabic. Ibrahim sits up and admires his drawing, pleased.

Ibrahim:          Finished.

Ibrahim stands up and walks over to Baba with the drawing. Baba is still engrossed by the television. Ibrahim offers the picture to Baba.

Ibrahim:          Look Baba.

Baba does not respond, does not appear to notice Ibrahim, because he’s watching the news. Ibrahim becomes more persistent.

Ibrahim:          Baba… look.

Again Baba doesn’t respond, the television is now showing pictures of Saddam Hussein. Ibrahim puts the picture up to Baba’s face so it obscures his view of the television and he has to look around it.

Ibrahim:          Baba.

Suddenly Baba snatches the picture from Ibrahim’s hands in a violent burst of anger, tearing it up a few times as he does.

Baba:              What? What do you want?

                        (pause)

                        Can’t you see I’m watching the news?

Ibrahim begins to cry loudly. Mum and Bibi watch but don’t do anything as Baba gets even more angry.

Baba:              Shut up.

Baba pulls off his leather sandal and stands up, going for Ibrahim as if to hit him. Ibrahim runs away and out of the living room. Baba is standing now in the middle of the living room with the sandal still in his hand, there is a pause and then Baba turns to Mum.

Baba:              What?

                        (pause)

                        What are you looking at?

                        (pause, Baba begins to pace the room)

Your son spends all his time playing those fucking computer games when his cousins are in Baghdad living at the mercy of a madman.

Baba continues pacing the room, there is silence as Mum and Bibi watch him. Baba suddenly turns to Bibi.

Baba:               And you… your son’s in prison for no reason at all… (here Baba speaks in Arabic, translating for Bibi)…

Baba’s speech continues.

 

INT. LANDING (TOP OF STAIRS)

We can still hear Baba’s speech, the part in Arabic, but it is a little muffled. Ibrahim is sitting at the top of the stairs watching the living room through the patterned glass and listening, he is sobbing quietly.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Baba’s speech continues.

Baba:               …being tortured and beaten… (again Baba repeats in Arabic)… and you want to go to the ‘President Saddam Hussein Mosque’ –

Mum:              (irritated, angry) Oh let her go and pray.

Baba:               (quieter, as if seeking reassurance) I don’t mind her praying… but in the bloody Saddam mosque?

                        (pause)

She’s not one of these Pakistanis… You know what the man in the grocery shop said to me today?

Mum:              (fed up) What did the man in the grocery shop say to you today?

Baba:              He told me that Saddam’s a great man… I nearly punched the –

Mum:              She’s worried that the Ba’athis are watching.

Baba:               (angry again) So what if they are… I beat up hundreds of those coward bastards in Baghdad.

                        (pause)

(turning and pointing to Bibi) What shall we do next?… Put up a picture of Saddam? Shall we have our son call him ‘Uncle Saddam’ in case there are Ba’athi spies in the community?

Mum:              Your brother had a picture of him up in his warehouse.

Baba:               (angry) That was in Baghdad… (louder and angrier) and anyway, he put it up near the roof where nobody could see it.

Baba approaches Mum threateningly, shouting loudly.

Baba:              Do you hear me, you bitch?

Bibi raises her walking stick as Baba approaches and shouts back at him.

Bibi:                Hey.

Suddenly there is a banging coming from upstairs. They all freeze and look up.

 

INT. LANDING (TOP OF STAIRS)

Ibrahim is angry and crying, he punches the door to his bedroom a number of times. The banging continues into next cut.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Mum walks quickly out of the living room, leaving Baba and Bibi in there. Baba sits down and shortly the banging stops, he looks over at Bibi, he has tears welling up in his eyes. The television now shows some other, more light-hearted news story.

FADE OUT.

 

FADE IN.

INT. KITCHEN. NEXT MORNING.

Ibrahim is sitting at the kitchen table eating Coco Pops cereal.

 

INT. HALLWAY.

Mum is helping Bibi put her coat on; she walks out of the hallway into the Kitchen.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Mum:              And you promise you’ll go out and play with your friends today?

Ibrahim:          (quietly) Yeah.

Mum:              No computer games.

Ibrahim:          (louder) Yes… I know.

Mum walks out of the kitchen but we can still hear her as she continues talking to Ibrahim.

Mum:              You can’t stay in here all day.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

Baba is sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Mum walks in a starts searching for something.

Mum:               Have you seen the car keys?… Ah, here they are. We’ve got to go or we’ll be late. We’ll be back around lunchtime.

                        (pause, Baba doesn’t respond)

                        Ok?

Baba still doesn’t respond, just continues reading the paper. Mum walks out of the living room and into the hallway.

 

INT. HALLWAY.

Mum and Bibi leave out of the backdoor. Mum calls out to Ibrahim as they leave.

Mum:              Bye, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim:          Bye.

 

INT. LIVING ROOM.

As soon as the door clicks closed Baba lowers his newspaper and listens for a few seconds to make sure they’re not going to come back in. Baba stands up, takes a piece of paper from under a magazine on the coffee table and walks toward the hallway.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Ibrahim hears Baba moving about in the living room.

Ibrahim:          Baba?

Baba comes into kitchen.

Baba:              Yes, habibi?

Ibrahim:          Are they going to the mosque?

Baba:              (glumly) Yes, habibi.

There is a short silence. Baba looks at the cat eating from a bowl on the floor and then suddenly he smiles, holding up the piece of paper he brought through from the living room.

Baba:              This is one of the best you’ve ever drawn.

Baba stands up and sticks the picture to the fridge using some magnets that were already on there. We see the picture. The picture is of two men fighting, reminiscent of a Street Fighter II scene. The men look similar so names are written underneath each. One is ‘Baba’ and the other ‘Saddam’. Saddam is flying through the air from a kick and blood is spurting out of his mouth. Saddam wears his signature military uniform. The paper has been taped back together and is warped and crooked. Baba sits down next to Ibrahim and kisses him on the head.

Baba:              Have you finished Street Fighter yet?

Ibrahim:          (still eating) No. Not yet… I can’t get past the final boss.

The faint sound of a car pulling off can be heard from outside. They both look in the direction of the sound.

 

EXT. OUTSIDE HOUSE.

Mum and Bibi pull off in a car.

‘Balrog Theme’ music begins quietly and plays through at same level until end.

 

INT. KITCHEN.

Ibrahim:          I can’t play today though… I’m going out with my friends.

                        (pause)

Baba:               (mischievously) That’s a shame… because together I think we can beat the bastard.

FADE OUT.