Brother Kiyi I’m trying to protect you.
Carl That’s what they use to say in da madhouse before them inject me, in the court house before them send me down, and in my mum’s house before she box me in me mouth! You hurt me, Kiyi, you done fucked up.
Brother Kiyi Carl!
Carl walks out of the door just as Alice comes in. They nearly collide.
Alice Hi Carl . . .
Carl Don’t touch me.
He exits.
Alice What’s the matter with Carl?
Brother Kiyi Nothing. We um, just had a little . . . You know, families do that, right. Alice, I’ve had a really hard day, I’m about to lock up.
Alice I’ve never seen you upset before. I only came to return this. (She pulls a slave narrative from her bag.) I borrowed it earlier.
Brother Kiyi You did?
Alice Didn’t think you’d mind, you lend books all of the time, don’t you?
Brother Kiyi Not those, I don’t.
Alice Why not those?
Brother Kiyi Because they’re really not supposed to leave the store. Why would you do that without asking me?
Alice I’m sorry if I took your book without permission, but I’ve never seen, read anything like this before, I couldn’t put it down . . . I read a story about this woman whose children wanted to play in the dolls’ house of their brother and sister, and the children got sold and the mother got whipped, and she was mixed race like me . . .
Brother Kiyi I know the one . . .
Alice . . . and I’ve found this other story, listen to this!
She reads to Brother Kiyi.
Alice ‘When me mudder see that Mr Reynolds had come to collect me to sell with the other ten or so pickney, she fell to her knees and begged him to spare me. When she seed that it weren’t no good, she simply stood up and asked Him to ask whoever it was dat buyed me, to raise me for God. I was too young to understand what was going on, but now I understand. I never seed my modder again all my living days.’ (Beat.) I was given away and I tried to imagine the pain of this mother, what this mother felt, this parent felt, but I just simply couldn’t.
Brother Kiyi Given away?
Alice Adopted. Yeah! Can you imagine the pain of this parent?
Brother Kiyi No!
Alice The pain of that child when she realised she would never see her mother again? Can you imagine?
Brother Kiyi Have you met your . . . birth parents?
Alice My father yes, mother no.
Brother Kiyi How come?
Alice He was easier to find.
Brother Kiyi I see. I’m sorry.
Alice Oh there’s nothing to be sorry about. My real mum and dad were . . . Actually, you know what? There is a book over there that I wish was out when I was kid. Caring for black hair. I didn’t know you could wear your hair other than in two bunches until I was seventeen.
Brother Kiyi This shop, Alice, will soon be, it will soon be a centre of excellence for black hair products. Run by two very nice-looking Turkish guys. They don’t have a great grasp of English at the moment, but I’m sure they’ve enough to know the difference between Afro sheen and Dyke ’n’ Dryden. It’s not a problem, in fact I feel rather good that in the first months of trading no doubt more black folk will have passed through here than I’d have seen in my whole fifteen years! What is a problem is that I must start anew, afresh. Again. I can handle that, except, maybe, the last time I did that I had a lot to leave behind. However, today you have added power to my depleted strength. You’re an angel and I thank you.
Alice just stares at him. Suddenly she bursts into tears and runs out of the store.
Brother Kiyi doesn’t know how to react to this.
Norma, who had entered near the end of their conversation and overheard ‘angel’, walks forward as Alice runs out past her.
Norma What you and that gal have, Kiyi?
Brother Kiyi We don’t have nothing.
Norma So what, she just up and bawl so? Is mad, she mad?
Brother Kiyi I don’t know!
Norma Woman don’t just bust eye water so!
Brother Kiyi Not all woman is hard like you, you know, Norma!
Norma Indeed.
Brother Kiyi That sounded worse than I meant it to.
Norma No, it’s OK.
Beat.
Brother Kiyi starts to busy himself tidying the books.
Norma What you doing?
Brother Kiyi I was about to call you, actually.
Norma Really? So what was you going to call me to say?
Brother Kiyi I . . . I . . .
Norma Boy, something really must a bite you, dread. Cleaning up? Can’t open your mouth. What?!
Brother Kiyi Norma, Bernie vex you or something?
Norma No. Bernie don’t vex me. Is you making a fool of youself that’s vexating me soul.
Brother Kiyi Me?
Norma Yes, you! One little mix-up girl breeze in here and is turning you head stupid?
Brother Kiyi What you talking about?
Norma You don’t know that girl, Kiyi, and you be laughing up like a fool, talking to her as if you and she is companion.
Brother Kiyi Norma, I converse with the girl, she’s bright, what is the problem?
Norma Oh, she’s bright, is she? What else is there about this gal that you know for two minutes?
Brother Kiyi Norma . . .
Norma No, don’t ‘Norma’ me. Tell me what else she is that makes you talk shit you should be keeping to youself? Or to you people them that has been here, with you, since morning?
Brother Kiyi I don’t know what’s going on here, Norma, but it should stop. Right now.
Norma Why? Why should it stop? It’s the first real conversation we’ve had in a lifetime.
Brother Kiyi That’s not true, we talk all the time.
Norma About what you want to talk about. When was the last time you told me something new? Something you’ve never said before. Something about you? About your hinterland?
Brother Kiyi Norma, what you trying to say here?
Norma How can that rasclaat girl that just reach be your angel, Kiyi?
He is taken aback for a second.
Brother Kiyi I didn’t mean . . .
Norma Then what did you mean? Because words are everything and you wanna be careful about what you say because people might hear it and believe it.
Brother Kiyi All I was trying to say was that . . .
Norma That what?
Brother Kiyi That I appreciate her being here.
Norma And what about me, Kiyi? When was the last time you said you appreciate me, Kiyi?
Brother Kiyi I say that all the time, what you want me to say that for?
Norma Because sometimes a woman needs to hear it. But of course I’m hard Norma, I don’t need to hear nothing.
Brother Kiyi I appreciate you, Norma, there. You OK now?
Norma Don’t patronise me.
Brother Kiyi Well, I don’t know what you want, Norma, because I was simply expressing . . . Look, the licks I’ve been taking, I was simply expressing I’m pleased someone young wants . . . wants to engage. That’s what this place was built for, Norma. It’s what it is . . .
Norma Well, maybe we give too much attention to the young . . . That young girl is playing you, Kiyi . . .
Brother Kiyi What is there to play, Norma? I have nothing . . .
Norma That’s the problem – you don’t see what you have. You have us, you have your shop.
Brother Kiyi I don’t have the shop any more, Norma! It’s gone. I squander you money, OK?
Norma I know. The whole of the street know.
Brother Kiyi I’m sorry. I was waiting for you to come, I was going to call . . . But I plan to go out and . . . I’m going to get you money for you, Norma, it might take a little longer than I thought, but . . .
Norma So that’s it, then?
Brother Kiyi Look so.
Norma Not the shop, me and you? If
you don’t have here when am I going to see you?
Brother Kiyi Come to my yard, I’ll come to yours.
Norma When was the last time you came by my house, Kiyi?
Brother Kiyi Um, I came . . .
Norma You know the last time you come? When the car knock me down and I was lay up in me bed for six weeks . . .
Brother Kiyi Well, there you go then.
Norma That was three years ago. That’s not coming to see your friend. You only came because you thought I was going to dead. When last you just pick up yourself and say you’ll come by me?
Brother Kiyi I don’t like other people’s houses . . .
Norma I is ‘other people’?
Brother Kiyi No, but . . .
Norma But what . . . ?
Brother Kiyi Family homes are for families, alright?
Norma What shit is that?
Brother Kiyi It’s not shit, OK. Now I’m gonna get your money by hook or by crook.
Norma turns to walk out but stops.
Norma Give me little satisfaction, Kiyi. When I come back me and you going to see Mustafar. Together.
Brother Kiyi It’s not going to do no good, Norma.
Norma Did you hear me? If me have to lose ting never let it be said that I didn’t fight. Good.
She leaves.
Lights down.
Scene Five
Fix Up bookstore. The next day, early morning.
There’s a knock on the front door of the store. It’s Alice. She knocks three or four times before Kwesi eventually goes to the door.
Kwesi Kiyi’s out.
Alice Cool, I’ll wait for him.
Kwesi He didn’t tell me to let anyone in.
Alice Oh come on, Kwesi, open the door, it’s cold out here.
Kwesi Let me get the keys. (He opens the shop door.) New hairstyle. Nice.
Alice Thank you for noticing.
Kwesi Any problems, I’m upstairs.
Alice As usual.
Kwesi As usual!
Alice Would be nice sometimes to converse!
Kwesi Yeah, it would, wouldn’t it?
Kwesi goes upstairs.
Alice takes the key to the chest of drawers from the desk. She opens the drawer and removes the box.
The box slips and falls to the ground, making a loud sound. She picks it up after looking to see if Kwesi is coming.
She takes the box to the desk and opens it. She pulls out the old photo album. Alice is a little surprised. She holds it in her hands, but doesn’t open it for a moment. She checks over her shoulder that no one is around, and nervously places it on the table.
If we could hear her heart beating it would be dangerously fast.
As she sits, the lights dim slightly until she is in a spotlight. She opens the photo album and turns to the first page. She gasps, covers her mouth with her hand as if trying to keep in what wants to come gushing out, and stares at the picture.
She turns to the next page and, without trying, tears begin to fall. She quickly turns to the next page, and the next, and lands on one that instantly makes her clench her teeth, cover both her eyes and silently moan.
Suddenly the lights snap back up. A hand lands on her shoulder. She jumps up.
Alice Ahhh! What the hell are you doing?
She slams the album shut behind her, almost hiding it.
Kwesi I heard a bang.
Alice Haven’t I told you before about creeping up on me?
Kwesi I wasn’t creeping up on you.
Alice Of course you were.
Kwesi Easy na! Calm down. I wasn’t.
Alice Don’t tell me what to do! . . .
Kwesi I’m not telling you anything . . .
Alice Yes, you are!
He attempts to grab her.
Kwesi Listen . . .
Alice Get off.
She starts to hit him in his chest.
Get off me . . .
He holds her tighter to calm her down.
Kwesi I don’t know about mans where you come from, but don’t be shouting up at me.
Alice Why, what you gonna do, hit me? I’m use to that . . .
Kwesi Don’t be stupid, what am I going to hit you for?
Alice Then what? What? Whatever you’re gonna do, do it!
She begins to sob. Kwesi doesn’t know what to do.
Still in his arms, she turns away.
Kwesi starts to look at the desk. It must be something she was reading. He sees the photo album.
Alice kisses him deep. Unsure of what is going on, he half-kisses her back.
The kissing becomes more intense. Alice starts to undo his shirt. He is a little surprised but allows her to do it, then she begins to undo his trousers.
Kwesi What are you? . . .
She puts her finger to his lips.
Alice Ssshhhhh!
She starts to kiss him. He takes her by the hand as if to lead her upstairs. She pulls him back into the desk.
Alice No. I want you here.
They kiss.
Kwesi Upstairs.
He takes her by the hand and leads her upstairs. She follows, still staring back at the photo album. As they reach the stairs she kisses him.
Silence.
After a few beats Carl appears from behind a bookcase.
The anger rises. He runs over to a bookshelf and throws loads of books off.
As he is throwing the books all over the place a bare-chested Kwesi comes running down the stairs. He sees Carl wrecking the joint.
Kwesi Carl! What the fuck are you doing? What you doing?
Carl No. What are you doing, Kwesi?
Kwesi What?
Carl Who’s upstairs with you?
Kwesi What you talking about?
Carl I said who’s upstairs with you, Kwesi?
Kwesi No one.
Carl Is Alice up there?
Kwesi I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I figure you’re losing your mind.
Carl But you don’t even like her, Kwesi?
Kwesi Don’t worry about what I like, you need to be . . .
Carl makes to go upstairs. Kwesi blocks him.
Kwesi Where you going?
Carl Get out my way! I need to talk to her.
Kwesi You ain’t got no business up there . . .
Carl Yes, I have. This place still belongs to Kiyi, you know.
Kwesi But right now that’s my space.
Carl Then why couldn’t you settle with that? Why you gotta have everything, Kwesi?
Kwesi Carl, I’m not going to tell you again.
Carl makes to head upstairs again.
Kwesi Carl, didn’t you hear me?
He pushes him back.
Carl I wanna see if she’s alright. (Shouts.) Alice . . . Alice, it’s alright, I’m coming. I’m coming to save you. I’m coming.
He runs towards Kwesi. Kwesi tries to grab him They struggle.
Kwesi I . . . told . . . you . . . to . . . calm . . . the . . . fuck down.
Eventually they land on the floor.
Carl Ahhhh, why you got to take everything? Ahhhh!
Kwesi Calm down, Carl.
Carl (screams) Touch me again and I’ll kill you. You – you stolen from me, you’re stealing from Kiyi . . .
Kwesi I didn’t steal nothing from no one.
Carl Yes, you did. It’s not no Turkish boys taking over the store, it’s you. You and your Somalians. How could you do that to Kiyi? After all he’s done for you!
Kwesi Kiyi ain’t done nothing for me. What Kiyi does he does for himself. Is it my fault he can’t run his affairs? I made him default?
Carl You bastard!
He runs at him again. They struggle.
Enter Brother Kiyi and Norma, unseen by the boys.
Brother Kiyi What the . . . What’s happening . . . ?
He runs over to the boys and tries to separate them.
Boys, what the hell is going on? . . . Boys, stop this!
Norma What t
he arse!
Carl I told you it was him, Kiyi – him! I told you!
Brother Kiyi Carl!
Carl Tell him who’s taking over the shop on Monday, Kwesi. Who’s got boxes and boxes of curl juice sitting upstairs? You’re a thief!
Brother Kiyi Carl, calm down.
Carl Will you listen to me for once! I’ve seen the boxes of perm juice. Ask him, Kiyi, ask the ginal!
Brother Kiyi Listen, Kwesi, tell this boy that . . .
Brother Kiyi looks at Kwesi. He sees the truth in his eyes.
Beat.
Kwesi (makes the decision to go front foot softly) People don’t – want – books. They wanna party, and look good, have the latest hairstyles, and nails and tattoos. That’s where niggers be at, Kiyi. They ain’t spending shit in here. Why should the other man take our money? That’s why we powerless, cos we ain’t where the money at.
Brother Kiyi It ain’t about money!
Kwesi That’s why you’re on your knees picking up books people don’t wanna buy, innit? Where’s the respect in that?
Brother Kiyi Selling Afro-sheen gonna get you respect?
Kwesi It’s gonna get me into the position that when you want to renew your lease you come to me! Five years from now, Afro-sheen gonna buy us a next store and a next store and a next. Before you know it we got all of this place! If we don’t do it, Kiyi, the man next door’s gonna. I’ve been trying to tell you . . .
Alice enters. She is still slightly dishevelled. Brother Kiyi looks at the topless Kwesi.
Brother Kiyi glances at Norma. She stares at him. He looks away, embarrassed. No one knows what to do or say.
Alice stands by the desk.
Brother Kiyi sees the photo album. As he picks it up, Alice places her hand on it.
Alice Are these pictures . . . ?
Brother Kiyi Private.
Alice Is that so?
Alice opens the album and points to the picture on the first page. It’s of a six-month-old baby girl.
Alice What a cute baby! Who is this? (A little more intense.) Who is this, right here? The one with the ribbons and the silly dress? Aren’t you going to answer me?
Norma Kiyi, don’t take this, don’t let the young girl talk to you so!
Brother Kiyi Norma, let we talk later, na?
Norma I’m not leaving you!
Alice produces a picture and shows Brother Kiyi the photo album.
Alice You see this? This is the only picture I have of me as a child. Cheeks are a bit bigger, but hey! They look a lot alike, don’t they? So I ask again, I wanna know who this is in the album?
Plays 1 Page 13