The Jungle

by Joe Robertson

  Norullah But this is crazy!

  Okot It’s not crazy.

  Norullah I know what is crazy, and this is fucking crazy.

  Okot Listen to me, Norullah. You don’t want to be left on your own here, OK? You need to get out of Jungle.

  Norullah We should talk to Miss Beth.

  Okot She is not going to help you! You have to help yourself! There, that lorry coming now. Are you ready?

  Norullah I don’t know …

  Okot We do this!

  Norullah Okot …

  Okot For UK. For dream.

  Norullah No …

  Okot Three …

  Norullah Please…

  Okot Two …

  Norullah Oh, fucking shit…

  Okot One …

  A lorry speeds by below. The rain stops.

  SEVEN

  THE GREAT MOVE

  A crisis meeting in Salar’s restaurant.

  Derek ‘The regular incursions of migrants on to the road is posing a threat to public safety.’ We need translators. Where is Safi?

  Sam The notice gives police the authority to clear a hundred-metre strip of land around the entire perimeter of the Jungle.

  Salar They are evicting us.

  Sam It’s a partial relocation, if we want it to be.

  Mohammed What is in the eviction zone?

  Sam (showing them a map) Eight hundred houses. Two thousand people.

  Ali The Kurdish church.

  Paula The family area.

  Mohammed When?

  Sam Friday.

  Boxer It’s Monday!

  Mohammed Is it legal?

  Sam Under state of emergency law, yes.

  Paula Fuck’s sake!

  Derek We have a choice. Co-operate with the authorities, relocate everyone before Friday. Or resist. You have to decide. We will support the choice you make.

  Salar has been studying the map.

  Salar My restaurant! They destroy my restaurant!

  Sam (to Henri) Why didn’t you tell me?

  Henri I told you what I could.

  Sam Two thousand people! What am I supposed to do?

  Henri Relocate them before the police do it.

  Sam In three days? Where? The camp is full. There’s talk of resisting.

  Henri Resist the CRS?

  Sam They are sick of being moved!

  Henri What do you want me to say?

  Sam I need to know this won’t happen again in two weeks’ time.

  Henri It won’t.

  Sam There are no more evictions planned.

  Henri No.

  Sam Promise me.

  Henri There are no more evictions planned.

  Norullah (to Okot) Jungle finished.

  He pulls up a huge dead bird. It’s beautiful. A snow crane. Long, thin, orange legs. Its neck dangles down almost touching the mud.

  Okot What’s that?

  Norullah Bird.

  Okot What bird?

  Norullah I don’t know. We have in Afghanistan.

  Okot What’s it doing here?

  Norullah Lost. Dunno.

  Okot You found it?

  Norullah I killed it.

  Okot How?

  Norullah You want to see?

  He takes out a gun.

  Okot Shit. Put it away, put it away.

  Norullah puts it away, as Okot checks that no one is around.

  Let me see. Where did you get it?

  Norullah Bought it. Wanna try?

  Mohammed (to the meeting) Sudan want to relocate.

  Helene Eritrea.

  Yasin Iraq.

  Omid Iran.

  Derek We will do everything we can to help.

  Salar No. The Afghan people wish to resist.

  Mohammed Think about this, Salar.

  Salar I have.

  Ali If Afghanistan resists, then so does Kurdistan. We stand with you, Salar.

  Mohammed We have escaped war. We do not need more!

  Sam takes Derek aside.

  Sam We have to stop this!

  Derek We can’t force them.

  Sam We can. And we should.

  Derek How can you know what is right for them?

  Sam We know what the CRS do!

  Derek They have every right to resist the destruction of their home.

  Sam Their houses won’t be destroyed if we move them!

  Derek Their home, Sam! Not houses! This is bigger than houses, bigger than the Jungle. I’m sorry to say it, but you don’t understand that, and you don’t know what it means to resist.

  Sam Because I’m young.

  Derek Because nothing you hold dear has ever been threatened.

  Sam Fuck you, Derek.

  Derek These people have lost everything.

  Sam And we have a duty to keep them safe.

  Derek Some fights are greater than individual safety.

  Sam This is not a good place, Derek! It isn’t something to be preserved.

  Derek The Diggers, the Chartists, the Suffragettes, Greenham Common.

  Sam Oh, come on.

  Derek You stand on the shoulders of giants, and you don’t even know who they are. These people are the strangers of the world. Bombed, abused, humiliated.

  Sam I hadn’t noticed.

  Derek This might be their time.

  Henri (to Sam) Sam, you’re running out of time.

  Sam (to the meeting) The area will be cleared. That’s not a choice. The choice is by who. You can let the police do it. They’d like nothing more. They’ll come in with batons and tear gas. They’ll destroy everything. Or we do it ourselves. No one gets hurt. We decide.

  Mohammed Let’s take a moment for thought.

  On the beach, Okot holds the gun.

  Norullah Both hands. Hold it steady. Point. Don’t press.

  Okot It’s really heavy.

  Norullah That’s why it cost a lot of money.

  Okot What should I shoot?

  Norullah What do you want to shoot?

  Okot I don’t want to shoot a bird.

  Norullah Shoot a stone. Shoot the sea.

  Okot I’m going to shoot UK. You see the white cliffs. Fuck you, UK.

  Okot shoots, recoils.

  Safi Shit.

  Norullah Give me, give me. (Shooting until it’s out of bullets.) FUCK YOU, UK!

  Safi Give me the gun.

  Norullah WHY MY MOTHER SAY GO UK?

  Safi Norullah, give me the gun.

  Norullah WHY I AM HERE?

  Safi Give me the gun!

  Norullah WHY YOU NOT WANT ME?

  Okot Do you think they reach?

  Norullah Definitely.

  Sam (to Salar) I can move your restaurant, Salar. Tomorrow. Wherever you want. It will be exactly the same, I promise you.

  Salar I will not move.

  Sam If you resist, people will die.

  Salar It is their will.

  Sam So persuade them otherwise.

  Salar I cannot force them.

  Sam You are their leader!

  Salar Just as you cannot force me.

  Sam How much have you told them?

  Salar Are you accusing me of lying to my people?

  Sam They will lose!

  Salar 1839. 1888. 2001.

  Sam What?

  Salar Karz. My village in Afghanistan.

  Sam Please.

  Salar You know nothing of our struggle, Sam. For you, this is a good chance. For us, it is our life.

  Salar You know nothing of our struggle. For you, this is a good chance. For us, it is our life.

  Sam I know I can leave when I want. I know I could be at home with my family. I know I could be anywhere but the fucking Jungle. I know that, but I’m not. I am here. I’m still here. I’m still here.

  Salar I built this restaurant with my hands. Every piece of wood, everything you see, I found. It has been a roof over our heads through rain, wind and fire. It has been our safety and refuge. It is our home. It is our heart. I will no
t move.

  Mohammed takes his hands.

  Mohammed We looked into each other’s eyes on the day we arrived and made a promise.

  Salar No, Mohammed –

  Mohammed Look at me. We promised to stand together. Your restaurant is not this land or this wood. It is us. You are my friend, and I love you. We must stand together now.

  Sam Salar, I think I can persuade the authorities to protect your restaurant. If I can do this, will you support me with the relocation of houses? (To Henri.) We begin tomorrow morning. I still don’t know if I can relocate everyone in three days.

  Henri If we see evidence of co-operation, the police will hold back.

  Sam The restaurant, the Afghan Flag. You have to promise me it won’t be touched. It’s the only way I can persuade them to move.

  Henri I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.

  Safi Wednesday.

  Sam (to everyone) We’re moving Eritreans north of the women and children’s centre. Boxer’s been up all night in the digger clearing land. Well done, Boxer.

  Boxer Wired as a ferret on Ritalin but I got another three days in me. Right, you need nine people to pick up a shelter. Four on corners, four on sides, one person spotting and guiding.

  Mohammed Derek will be leading community liaison.

  Derek Everyone is going to have new neighbours. If there are problems, speak to me.

  Paula The centre’s open twenty-four hours. Special attention to the kids, please. This will be hugely traumatic for them.

  Helene The church serves food and drink for everyone who needs it.

  Mohammed We stand together.

  Salar God grant us great fortune.

  All Inshallah.

  Sam We have three days. This is our time. Let’s show them how we do things here.

  The Great Move begins.

  Okot (to Norullah) Why did you buy it?

  Norullah Defence. France police destroy my house? Bang. Salar makes me go shop? Bang.

  Okot Salar is not a good man.

  Norullah No good man here. Bang. Bang. Bang. Fucking police! Fucking Jungle! Fucking fence! Fucking France! Fucking Afghanistan! Fucking rain! Fucking cold! Fucking rats! Fucking mud! Fucking sick! Sick of being bambino.

  Okot We’ll be in UK soon.

  Norullah Fucking UK! No chance! They hate us. We’re going to die here.

  Safi Thursday.

  Sam (to everyone) Afghans west of the dome. (To Henri.) You can see we’re moving.

  Henri I’ll speak with my superiors.

  Sam They have to delay.

  Henri I’ll speak with them.

  Salar (to Sam) My restaurant?

  Sam (to Henri) And the restaurant?

  Henri It can stay.

  Sam (to Salar) I have assurances. The restaurant won’t be touched.

  Ali (to Beth) Tomorrow night. A lorry park near Guînes. Eight p.m. Don’t be late.

  Beth We won’t.

  Ali One more thing. The price is up.

  Beth We had an agreement.

  Ali The border has changed. There are more police. €500.

  Beth You say you aren’t a smuggler.

  Ali Eight p.m. Don’t be late.

  Beth leaves.

  Eight p.m., Safi.

  Safi Friday.

  Sam (to everyone) Kurdistan. Families to the north, men by the lake. (To Henri.) I’m nearly done. Tell me the police won’t come in at dawn.

  Henri They’re happy with your co-operation. They are not monsters, Sam.

  Okot (to Norullah) I have to go.

  Norullah Where?

  Pause.

  Where are you going?

  Okot I don’t know.

  Norullah You leave me?

  Okot I don’t know.

  Norullah What the fuck?

  Okot I don’t know!

  Norullah What about me?

  Okot I don’t know what’s happening! I didn’t ask her to do anything!

  Norullah You can’t leave me here! Don’t leave me in the Jungle! Please.

  Okot I won’t leave you!

  Norullah starts screaming, and runs.

  Norullah!

  The roof of the restaurant is stripped back, revealing the huge claws of a bulldozer descending. Sam runs underneath it.

  Sam No! Stop!

  Salar joins him. Mohammed, Paula, Derek, Boxer, and Helene, who holds a huge crucifix high in the air, shouting ‘Lord Have Mercy’.

  All the residents and volunteers join, their bodies a shield.

  You cannot touch the restaurant!

  CRS Officer We have orders.

  Sam Your orders are wrong.

  CRS Officer Don’t understand you, boy! This is France, you speak French.

  Sam Look at yourselves! This is not France!

  Henri (to Sam) I know! I’m sorry! The message did not get through –

  Sam You promised me!

  Henri Let me make a call –

  Sam The restaurant cannot be touched.

  Henri It is a mistake, that’s all.

  Sam Will there be another eviction?

  Henri I have told you. No.

  Safi This is when my mind becomes muddy. There was a deal, an agreement, that a church could remain. Or was it a mosque? I know it wasn’t a restaurant.

  There were two churches.

  The first one the authorities tried to destroy, we worked together to move it. A whole church in one hour. I will never forget the sight of the pastor holding an almighty crucifix in the air, wailing as his congregation wept on the floor beside him.

  We saved it. Only for a while, but we saved it.

  Or the second church, the other time the authorities tried to demolish, it was the Eritrean church, this time the congregation came outside with all the iconography and art and they prayed together, loudly, defiantly, into the mouth of the bulldozer.

  These were places of worship.

  This restaurant. Where we are sat. It was really many restaurants. Cafés, shops, places. Each of them a Jungle. And in this story, in my head, this restaurant is saved. It is a story of great hope because it has to be. Looking back, there is no other way. This restaurant, in this moment, is Afghanistan. And the people inside it, us, from Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Britain, Germany, American, and some from France, yes, held hands to defend it. They believed in it.

  Great is the hope that makes man cross borders. Great is the hope that keeps us alive.

  Beth finds Okot.

  Beth Quick, or we’ll be late.

  Okot Norullah is gone!

  Beth We have to go now. You’ll be in the UK tonight. Can you believe it?

  Okot I can’t leave him here.

  Beth Don’t worry about Norullah. I’ll find him. This is your only chance.

  The lorry park.

  Safi My story of the Jungle ends with an onion.

  Beth gives Ali money, which he counts.

  Beth (to Okot) Here’s a bag. There are two phones. A torch, hat, gloves, I don’t know how cold it will get.

  Safi If he takes you to a refrigerated lorry do not get inside.

  Beth Listen to Safi. Plenty of water, some biscuits, money. First thing you do when you arrive is find a police station. Tell them your story, exactly what you told me. Tell them you’re a child. Tell them you want to claim asylum.

  She holds him tight and doesn’t let go.

  You’re going to start a new life, Okot. All of this will be finished. It won’t be you.

  Okot It will never leave.

  Beth Yes, it will. Everything is new now. This is the hope.

  Ali We have to go.

  Beth can’t let him go.

  Safi He’ll be fine.

  She leaves.

  Ali Quick.

  Okot goes to Ali. Safi goes to follow.

  Not you, Safi. (To Okot.) Wait down there.

  He directs Okot off in one direction.

  Safi What’s going on?

  Ali I only have one.
>
  Safi What do you mean?

  Ali I only have one onion.

  He holds it out. Safi considers, walks towards him.

  Safi I’m sorry.

  He takes the onion.

  Ali No guilt.

  Ali leaves.

  Safi I felt every vibration as the lorry travelled over every bump and hole in the road. I heard every noise. I panicked every time the lorry stopped and thought it must be the end.

  For eighteen hours I stayed quiet, with my onion, hardly breathing. Then the doors opened. I will never forget the face of the man who opened the box. ‘Quickly, mate. You’re in England.’

  I came to a place called Maidstone and found a police station. My name is Safi Al-Hussain. I have fled Syria. I would like to claim asylum in UK. And then I handed her my onion.

  Salar’s restaurant.

  Salar They wanted a fight! They wanted to come with their batons and bulldozers. They wanted to destroy the Afghan Flag. But we showed them who we are!

  Sam Two thousand people. Three days. And we have a promise from the authorities there will be no more evictions.

  Derek Yes, yes, it’s all very exciting. But we have a lot to get through. First on the agenda, Paula, I know you have some more good news. Translations, please.

  Paula The Home Office lost in court … We won. The first child under Dublin III arrives at London St Pancras tomorrow. We are going to get every child to safety.

  Derek Alright, very good. Let’s plough on. What’s next?

  Sam We’re creating a new area by the lake. Quadrant 7. Building begins tomorrow.

  Derek Helene?

  Helene The church is open. We have mass at ten a.m.! Thanks God!

  Derek Boxer.

  Boxer Running a carpentry workshop. We’re making house numbers and street signs, name your own street. We’re going to make this place look pretty.

  Derek The school, Beth?

  Beth English lessons tomorrow morning. Arts and crafts in the afternoon. If anyone sees Norullah, please let me know.

  Salar Tell him I need a hundred chickens and six sacks of rice! The restaurant is open. Any problems with building, we have sleeping places.

  Derek OK, good, good. What’s next?

  Safi The southern half of the camp was evicted four weeks later.

  In October, the north.