Henri Where is that music coming from?
Sam The church.
Pause, as Henri takes it all in.
Henri You’re building a city.
Sam It’s becoming organised.
Henri It’s becoming permanent. You’re building it to last.
Sam Because the problem is not going to disappear.
Henri They’re not here because of my border, Sam. They’re here because of yours. If we ripped up the treaty of Le Touquet today the Jungle would move to Dover tomorrow.
Sam This would never happen in Britain.
Henri Are you so sure about that?
Sam We all have responsibility for this.
Henri Responsibility for what? You are giving these people not only everything they need, but anything they want. You are making it appealing.
Sam Anyone who comes here and says this place is appealing has a problem.
Henri You think I’m cruel because I don’t help these people in the way you want. But I don’t want to go to bed thinking my actions have in any way persuaded someone in, let’s say, Afghanistan to get inside a rubber boat, expecting to find happiness here. You give them false hope, Sam. Tell me, who do you think is cruel?
The singing ends.
You said in your message you have a proposition?
Sam I think we can help each other.
Henri How?
Sam By working together. Meeting and talking regularly. I’ll update you on the situation in the camp and you can keep me informed about the prefecture’s plans. I want to build a new area by the motorway. I need to know if it’s worth the investment.
Henri How long do you think you have here?
Sam I was hoping you would tell me. At least until March.
Henri Why do you say that?
Sam You can’t make people homeless in winter. That’s French law.
Pause.
Henri This isn’t France.
Sam Six months? A year?
Henri You’re very impressive for a nineteen-year-old.
Sam What do you think?
Henri I would need to be discreet.
Sam So would I. It will be a good thing.
Sam holds his hand out. Henri shakes it.
Henri Don’t build by the motorway.
Sam Why?
Henri Just, don’t. That’s all I can say. Joyeux Noël.
Christmas Day.
Boxer enters dressed as Father Christmas, carrying a big sack. He hands out presents.
Boxer Ho, ho, ho! Merry Calais Christmas! Ring your Jungle bells, cos Santa’s on the straight and narrow. Don’t leave brandy by your open fires. Ribena for me. Ribena with a little kick in it.
He gets his banjo out. Sings to the tune of ‘Blaydon Races’.
It’s Christmas in the Jungle, so it’s time for something pleasant,
Court’sy of the British public, everyone’s gettin’ a present,
So forget your Christmas jumpers, hampers and your cotton socks,
Cos ev’ry school in ev’ry county in the country’s sent a shoe box.
Oh, me lads, step up before it’s all gone,
Pans from Pembroke, pots from Perth and gloves down from Glamorgan.
Hats from Hampshire, scarves from Shropshire, dungarees from Dorset,
Gannin’ alang Chemin des Dunes, and back across the border!
The look upon his face, when he sees the Nike shoe box.
Score, I got a pair of Airs, a pair of brand new high tops,
He rips it up and looks inside and ‘haddaway again!’
Finds several dozen tampons and some Nivea for Men!
Oh, me lads, step up before it’s all gone,
Pans from Pembroke, pots from Perth and gloves down from Glamorgan.
Hats from Hampshire, scarves from Shropshire, dungarees from Dorset,
Gannin’ alang Chemin des Dunes, and back across the border!
Listen to me, you stingy twats, if you want to help refugees,
I’ll tell ya lot, all honesty, exactly what they do need,
Send them Adidas, Nike, iPhones, Samsungs, sim cards, cash and iPods,
And for pity’s sake, you thoughtless prats, don’t send them in a shoe box!
Oh, me lads, step up before it’s all gone,
Pans from Pembroke, pots from Perth and gloves down from Glamorgan.
Hats from Hampshire, scarves from Shropshire, dungarees from Dorset,
Gannin’ alang Chemin des Dunes, and back across the border!
And, I’m not kidding, someone actually sent a box of dildos down from Durham. So that’s Paula sorted. For this year. Optimistic, to say the least. But then again, why the fuck not?
He bursts into tears.
Christmas is about being good to each other! Appreciating how fucking happy you really are. It’s about loving your family. It’s about holding your daughter and not letting go! It’s about Lottie! I miss you to high heaven, baby.
How many of you are away from your bairns and all? Your mums and dads? Your brothers and sisters? Bet that makes the fucking lot of us.
There. That’s it. That’s Christmas. Now bugger off. I’m going to call Lottie. Oh, and Theresa May? Open the border, you heartless bitch. Don’t you know there are children here?
Merry fucking Christmas!
Derek, Safi and Mohammed in a tent, late on Christmas night. Derek is very drunk.
Derek The paradox at the heart of the Jungle is that the refugees are running in one direction and the volunteers are running in another. We have met here, in this middle ground, but we are running towards the same thing! We’re building an image of Britain that doesn’t exist! That’s never existed! Certainly not in Britain. It exists in our dreams only. But I see the beginnings of it in this place. With time, it could exist here.
Mohammed In Calais?
Derek This is not Calais. This is not France. It has changed hands so many times in the last thousand years, you wouldn’t believe. There are so many claims to this land, it is claimless. So why can’t we claim it?
Mohammed It is a very funny idea.
Derek They gave us this land. I know it sounds mad, but every place started somewhere, at some time.
Mohammed We could have our own currency.
Derek Jerusalem. Athens. Alexandria. London.
Mohammed Start taxing people!
Derek They were places like this once. A group of people, waiting by a river, a coast. A moment came when the waiting stopped.
Mohammed Passports and borders!
Derek This is real.
Mohammed Jungle army. We must defend ourselves!
Derek Of course, there are challenges. But we are facing them together. We can solve them. Is it really so mad?
Mohammed It is not mad to believe you can create a fair society. But remember, Derek, no one wants to stay here. We all want to get to UK. Let’s get you to bed.
A CRS Officer in full riot gear enters and pins a piece of paper to a wall. Only Safi seems to notice.
Derek No, no, no. There will soon come a time when everything is threatened. When the whole idea might be destroyed. When they come –
Mohammed Come on.
Derek And they will come. We have to know what we are defending. What we stand for. Safi!
Safi I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.
Mohammed takes Derek off.
It’s one thing ending a year in the Jungle. It’s another starting a new one.
Omar enters.
Omar My friend.
Safi What?
Omar Your coat.
Safi I don’t have anything else.
Omar I think I die tonight.
Safi stares blankly. He takes his coat off and gives it to Omar. He stands in the freezing cold in nothing but a T-shirt.
Outside Norullah’s tent.
Norullah (Pashto) I can see a big road. With tall houses made of bricks. Grey, with shiny front doors painted black. Cars driving past. It’s noisy. There are lots
of lights. Lots of people. Men and women, yes. Everyone is wearing a hat … And … Wait. (To Okot.) Okot!
What?
Norullah What is in London?
Okot Big Ben …
Norullah (Pashto) I can see Big Ben. Wait. (To Okot, in English.) What does it look like?
Okot It’s big.
Norullah (Pashto) It’s big. Wait. (To Okot, in English.) How big?
Okot I don’t know. Big!
Norullah (Pashto) I don’t know how big! (To Okot, in English.) What does it look like?
Okot What do you mean? It’s a fucking clock. Who are you talking to?
Norullah (Pashto) It’s a clock. Yeah, big clock. (To Okot, in English.) More things from UK.
Okot London Eye?
Norullah (Pashto) London Eye. (To Okot, in English.) What the fuck is that?
Okot Big wheel to see the city … I don’t know!
Norullah Fucking big clock and big wheel? That all?
Okot Chelsea Football, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge.
Norullah (Pashto.) Chelsea Football. Buckingham Palace. London Bridge. Yes, I can see it all out my window.
Okot Who are you talking to?
Norullah (Pashto) That’s my friend. I am living with him. He’s called Okot.
Okot Who is it?
Norullah Shhh. My mother.
Okot You’re talking to your mother?
Norullah (Pashto) Yes, Mother, he is a very nice English boy.
Okot What are you saying?
Norullah (Pashto) Good parents, yes.
Okot Norullah!
Norullah Shhh. I tell her I am in UK.
Okot What?!
Norullah Otherwise she is worry about me!
Okot Oh, fuck, man. No, you need to tell her the truth.
He goes to get the phone.
Norullah (Pashto) Mum, I’ve got to go. Okot is calling for me. Yes, I love you. Love my aunties, love my cousins, I love you, I miss you, I call you.
He puts the phone down.
Okot What the fuck?
Norullah Is mothers, man! She fucking calling all day, ask me all time: I am safe? I am safe?
Okot You can’t lie to her like that.
Norullah But she just go crazy if she know I am in Jungle. Yes, my mother! I am so safe! I say I am with my friend, best friend, UK friend! We is look after each other. She is saying, you eat food, you warm, you live house –
Okot She’ll find out.
Norullah I send photos from website and say is my house, is Queen of UK house from my phone. She cannot believe! Oh, Mother, London so fucking big. I love London fucking so much, Mother.
Okot How long have you been saying that?
Norullah Fucking months, man. What you say to yours?
Okot I haven’t spoken to her.
Norullah Mothers going crazy for us, I think! I am in school! I am in house! I am in family! I am in new life, Mother! Don’t cry, Mother! Don’t cry, Mother! I love you too, Mother! I love you too!
Pause. Suddenly he breaks down in tears.
I miss my mother.
Okot comforts him, Norullah cannot control himself.
I want to see my mother! I want my mother.
Okot cradles him.
Okot You will see her one day.
Norullah What if I don’t?
Okot You will. It won’t be long … Hey, listen to this …
He sings Sudanese song, still holding Norullah.
Norullah What is this?
Okot My mother used to sing to me.
Norullah What it mean?
Okot It means, I love you. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be OK.
Okot finishes the song.
OK, I have an idea. We’re going to go and try.
Norullah Salar says no try.
Okot Fuck Salar. We try. Come on.
They leave.
Beth Safi? Safi.
Ali’s caravan.
Ali Why are you here, Beth?
Beth He’s called Okot.
Ali In the Jungle.
Beth I don’t really have time –
Ali I like to know people I’m going to work with.
Safi Beth runs the school.
Ali I’ve heard about the school. You are a charity person then.
Beth No.
Ali No?
Beth It’s not charity.
Ali What is it?
Beth It’s not anything. It’s not a choice. It’s just what I’m doing.
Ali You didn’t think, ‘I’ll build a school’?
Beth I didn’t think I would come here at all.
Ali How long have you been here?
Safi Five months.
Ali Months!
Beth Not as long as Okot.
Ali Do you know how many people I see come for one day? You have moved in. You have become a refugee. We are very similar.
Beth You’re a smuggler.
Safi Beth, you can’t –
Ali No, Safi, it’s fine. You British always use this word. Like we are in the business of moving tobacco.
Beth What are you?
Ali I am freedom fighter. Peshmerga, the Army of Kurdistan. You know what this word means? Those who face death. Everyone here has lost their home, but we have never had one. This is our fight, and we find no help from your governments. You are happy to see refugees die as long as he is wearing new shoes. I help them find a home. I fight for real freedom.
He looks into her eyes.
You would do the same.
Beth And take their money.
Ali You are very suspicious of me.
Beth I think this whole situation is because of you.
Ali Smugglers? I am one man, helps some rich families. I make money, yes, but most of it goes back to Erbil for the fight against Daesh. Yes. Once I was the only way a man could ever dream of arriving on your shore. Now, he opens the map on his phone, zooms out, and thinks, ‘It’s not too far. It’s close to enough to walk.’ And he sets off on the journey of his life. It is not about this border. It’s the border in here – (Taps his head.) It is gone now. Tell me about Okot.
Beth What do you want to know?
Ali Black boy?
Beth Sudanese.
Ali Child?
Beth Seventeen.
Ali Why him?
Beth Do I need a reason?
Ali There are many boys in the Jungle.
Beth He doesn’t have anyone else. Are you going to help or not?
Ali This doesn’t happen, a British volunteer coming to me. For a friend of Safi’s … €1,000.
Safi A good price.
Beth Thank you.
Ali Thank me when I have helped him.
Ali hands his phone to her. She types her number in.
I’ll call you. One week, maybe, one month, maybe.
Beth What will happen?
Ali We give him an onion. We put him in a box. And I’ll shut the door myself. How does that sound?
Beth An onion?
Ali For the guard dogs. The smell keeps them away. I like you, Beth. You are trying to understand. But you can’t. The world is different now. It will never be the same. I will give your friend his freedom.
Beth Let’s go.
Safi I’ll stay.
Beth OK.
She exits.
Ali Impressive girl.
Safi Is that true about the onion?
Ali Safi, I’m expensive for a reason.
Safi You will help her, won’t you?
Ali Where is your coat?
Safi I left it …
Ali You gave it away.
Safi I didn’t.
Ali You will freeze to death. When are you going to stop this?
Safi Stop what?
Ali This act. The man who helps.
Safi I don’t know what you are talking about.
Ali Yes, you do. How are you, Safi?
Safi How am I? My feet are changing colour.
He laughs, almost hysterica
lly.
I feel …
Ali Go on.
Safi Things have changed here. People are mad, all the time. Problems, questions. A man pulled a knife on me because I wouldn’t get him a house!
Ali You look tired.
Safi I feel angry.
Ali You should.
Safi I am fleeing too. I have horrors. They have no idea of the pictures in my mind.
Ali No one cares about you. Don’t you think it might be time?
Pause.
You are the only person who would find this decision difficult.
Pause.
Safi I have to leave.
Safi I will kill myself by staying.
Ali No guilt.
Safi No.
Ali You have been a good man.
Safi Oh fuck, no.
Ali And now it is your time.
Safi I can’t begin another year here, Ali. You understand that. Don’t you?
Okot and Norullah sit on a bridge over the motorway. Lorries speed past beneath them.
Okot This is the game. You watch for lorry coming. You see it drive. It comes close to bridge, then jump. We don’t need dugar. We don’t need smuggler. We don’t need Beth. We do it together.
Norullah It’s really far.
Okot You are big man.
Norullah I’m not.
Okot You are not bambino.
Norullah No …
Okot You can do it.
Norullah But what if we miss?
Okot We won’t.
Norullah Then we die!
Okot I’ve done this before. I know it can work.
Norullah Okot, I think I no want to –
Okot Your mother thinks you’re in UK, yes?
Norullah Yes.
Okot She tell you to go UK.
Norullah Yes.
Okot Only UK.
Norullah Yes.
Okot So let’s go!
The Jungle Page 7