- Brother! I found a book.
- Do we sell the book or burn it?
- Zahed, it’s getting late; they won’t let us in.
- Let’s go, Zahed it’s late.
- Come on guys. The poppy dog is here. There it is.
- Kill it.
- Quiet! The poppy belongs to foreigners. He can understand.
- Hello Poppy, where are you from?
- The poppy doesn’t belong to Americans. It belongs to the mother fucking British. He searches homes for Taliban. Kill him.
- Hello Poppy, where are you from?
- Zahed, let’s go it is late.
- This dog belongs to the Russians. He is after a nuclear bomb.
- Throw the fires!
- This same poppy was with the Americans who killed Zaher’s father.
- Go save the dog.
- Ok.
- This poppy dog is American and Americans killed our fathers.
- I don’t see the poppy in the ditch. He may be dead. Let’s go guys.
- Take the sacs I’ll go hide the poppy dog.
- Let’s go guys.
***
- I knocked. Nobody opens the door.
- I’ll knock. Nobody opens the door.
- Who are you?
- It’s us.
- It’s late now. Come back tomorrow.
- Please open the door.
- Visiting hours is over.
- We are not visitors. We’re night prisoners.
- We are night prisoners.
- What are you doing outside then?
- Guard Atef knows us.
- Wait here for clearance.
- Hi kids, how come you are so late? Here is prison. If you come late again we won’t let you in. What’s that you’re holding? Dogs are prohibited in the prison.
- For God’s sake let us bring the poppy in otherwise the kids will burn him. Would you like to see him dead?
- Ok, come in.
***
- Search them.
- What’s in the sac?
- Wood and paper.
- Hide the dog. Take it and leave.
- Take the kids.
***
- If we hadn’t brought the dog here the kids would have burned him to death.
- Death would have been better than being in this prison.
- Throw some wood in the fire.
- It’s quiet time, get to sleep.
- Be quiet, get to sleep.
- Did you go to Dad’s prison today?
- Yes.
- Did Gol Ghoti tell him what I told her?
- She said it all wrong.
- Dear, tell Dad exactly what I tell you.
- Ok.
- What will you tell Dad when you see him?
- I’ll tell him that when he lived with Mom he beat her too much and that’s why she didn’t like him.
- When you disappeared Mom married another man who didn’t beat her as much.
- No, no don’t say that or he will never forgive me and I’ll be in prison forever. You father disappeared for five years and we figured he was killed, right dear? Yes that was so. So you have to tell Dad: “When you disappeared for five years we thought you were killed. Mom couldn’t afford to raise us.” Tell him that Mom got married because you were hungry. If you say it like that Dad will forgive me and I’ll be freed from prison. Remember, for five years we thought Dad had been killed?
- Gol Ghoti.
- What?
- Don’t tell Dad that he beat Mom too much. Tell him her second husband beat her a lot. Just imagine I am Dad so rehearse with me.
- You…didn’t beat…Mom too much. Her second husband beat her a lot. Forgive Mom. Do you wish for her to die in prison?
- Dad loves you very much and he will accept your words. You must tell him what I told you, ok?
- Ok.
- It is quiet hours now, go to sleep.
- Feed your baby otherwise she’ll cry and won’t let the prisoners sleep.
- I don’t have any milk plus she is cold too.
- Have your mother take care of her.
- My mother can’t.
- It’s quiet time now. Get some sleep.
- Have her make a fire with this book. Her baby is freezing.
- Take this and burn it.
- Thank you.
***
- Come out.
- Gol Ghoti, tell Dad what you rehearsed. Tell him that he is a prisoner. Would he like to see me as a prisoner too? Tell him he had disappeared for five years. How were we supposed to get by alone? Tell him my second husband is now dead too. Tell him didn’t he beat me so much? Would he be happy to see me executed? Ok let me get executed. Don’t forgive me; let me get executed. Let me die in prison. Let me get executed.
- Why did you bring so few woods?
- Pay my sister for the woods.
- It’s meat, eat it. It smells like meat. Have some, it is meat. It smells like meat. You are hungry. It’s meat. You are hungry eat some.
- Pay my sister for the woods.
***
- They imprisoned our father. Wave your hands so they won’t jail us.
***
- Hello.
- Hello.
- How much is this rosary?
- 10 Afghanis.
- How much is that one?
- 5 Afghanis.
- How come this one is cheaper than that one?
- This one has fewer spiritual rewards than that one.
- Who do you want it for?
- For my father.
- Is your father used to have a rosary or does he pray to God?
- He prays.
- Does he pray a lot or little?
- He prays a lot.
- My father is a Talib and he is in prison. He prays all the time, day and night and vice versa.
- If he prays a lot, take this one that has many rewards.
- My father is a Talib.
- A Talib?
- Yes.
- Then take this one. It’s got more spiritual rewards.
- How much?
- 20 Afghanis.
- It’s too expensive.
- But it will render more rewards.
- 5 Afghanis.
- No.
- This one is good. Give me this one.
- This?
- Look how beautiful it is. I bought this for my father but I will give it to you, Poppy. Oh you look so pretty.
***
- What will you tell Dad?
- I’ll tell him that he had disappeared for 5 years and Mom thought he was dead. We had no one to take care of us. So Mom remarried. That he is in prison and so is Mom. What will we do if they kill Mom?
- What will you tell Dad?
- I’ll tell him he was lost for 5 years and Mom thought he was killed so she remarried. That he is a prisoner and so is Mom. Will he get happy if they kill Mom? So who will take care of us? I’ll ask him to forgive Mom for our sake.
- Mola Mohammad Rahman’s kids come forward.
- Today is not women’s turn. Come back tomorrow.
- So I can’t go visit my dad?
- No.
- I have to talk to my dad. Ok.
***
- Did you tell Dad what Mom said, Zahed?
- Did you tell Dad what Mom said, Zahed?
- Yes.
- Did he sympathize?
- He said that he went to war for God’s sake but Mom got married. Didn’t she love him?
- She did but she married because we were hungry. That man is dead now.
- Dad said: “Good that the other man died. If Mom dies too they can make love to each other in hell.”
- What does hell mean?
- Hell is where angels burn sinful people.
- But if he loves us he should forgive Mom.
- Dad said that if we love Mom we should go to the mosque and pray for her so God will forgive her.
- They won’t let the poppy in. You stay here. I’ll go pray.
***
- Do you understand me, Poppy? My brother went to pray so God will spare Mom from hell. Do you know what hell means?
- Hell is a big abyss where angels throw fire on sinful people. What do you know you poor poppy! Were you married twice too that the kids wanted to burn you?!
- I saved you from hell, remember? Do you understand me? Pray Poppy, pray for my Mom.
- Oh God the merciful that forgives great sins, I resort to you.
- Oh my God I resort to you.
***
- We are night time prisoners.
- What time prisoners?!
- Night prisoners.
- Who do you want to see?
- Guard Atef knows us.
- Wait a moment.
- Hello.
- Hello dear. Sorry but the warden won’t allow you in. If I let you in the prison I’ll be jailed myself. Please forgive me.
- But the warden is not here. Let us spend the night here with our mom. What are we supposed to do if you don’t let us in?
- Do you want us to sleep in the street? Please let us sleep with our mother tonight.
- I am really sorry but the warden has not permitted me. Good bye. Take care of yourself.
- Ok.
***
- Why didn’t you leave?
- Don’t give me that baby when her mother is prison. How am I supposed to feed her milk?
- Take her away. Get up, leave.
- What do I do with so many grandchildren? The father of these two was killed in one place and the other two’s father elsewhere. And his baby’s mother is prison. What do I do with so many of them?
***
- I am scared Zahed so is the poppy that’s barking.
- Cover your eyes if you are afraid and you won’t be so any more.
- I have to pee too, Zahed.
- Go over there and pee.
- I am afraid of going further.
- Do you want me to move over?
- I’ll still be afraid.
- Go there and pee. I’ll keep talking to you so you won’t get scared.
- Ok, hold the poppy.
- Poppy peed too, Gol Ghoti.
- Give it to me.
- The poppy peed too, Gol Ghoti.
***
- Are you outsmarting me? If you needed a place you should’ve knocked.
- We didn’t realize you were there. Let go, I am choking.
- We didn’t know this was your home. We came here to skip the cold. Let go of my brother. Let go of him.
- I didn’t know you were there. Let go of my throat, I am choking.
- So will your shelter shrink if we sleep in it for one night? Of course the space will.
- We had no idea you were there.
- Ok, go in.
- Can we go in?
- Stick your head out boy, so we can talk man to man.
- Who is the girl?
- She is my sister.
- It’s dangerous here. Just last night they kidnapped a girl from these carts. I don’t want to see your sister around here.
- We slept in jail every night with our mother but they refused to let us in today so we were forced to come here.
- I don’t like to see your sister around here.
- What are you afraid of? We are not thieves.
- Don’t blabber. Who’s afraid? I escaped from prison myself.
- Why were you in prison?
- My friend and I broke into a video club and the police caught us.
- Is your friend in prison now?
- Yes.
- I wish we were in prison too.
- It’s easy to get in jail. Just go steal something and you will go to prison.
***
- I had no work yesterday. I’ll pay you tomorrow, ok?
- I don’t want to see your sister here.
***
- You stay back let me knock and beg. May be they will let us in.
- Why are you here again?
- We want to be with our mother.
- What’s your mother’s name?
- Shabaneh.
- What’s her crime?
- My father was lost for 5 years and my mother thought he was dead so she remarried. My father had her jailed.
- She is a whore.
- Bastard, your own mother is a whore. You are a whore.
- Mother fucking bastard!
- Damn it your own mother is a whore.
- Come in you bastard.
- Come Gol Ghoti. Your own mother is a whore. Run Gol Ghoti, he’ll hit us.
- Bastard, damn your father! Stop! I’ll kill you if I catch you.
- Don’t hit my brother Mr. Guard. Please don’t hit him.
***
- Hey girl what happened to your grandmother?
- Hey girl, what happened to your grandmother?
- It was very cold last night.
***
- Come, Gol Ghoti.
- I’ll go watch TV. When the man comes out of the car I won’t run away so he’ll have us arrested.
- I am afraid he’ll beat us if he catches us.
- You stay here. I’ll go and when the man wants to take me to prison, come and weep. Tell him you are my sister so he takes you with me too.
- Come on, no one is here.
- He has detained the TV so nobody steals it. He will detain us too.
- Bastards, I went to pee and you guys occupied my house.
- Bastards, I went to pee and you guys occupied my house.
- If I go north to pee, America will occupy the south. If I go south to pee, Russia will occupy the north. You don’t give me a chance to live as long as taking a shit.
- Come down if you have to take a pee. The toilet is here. I’ve prepared the ewer for you. You threw bombs and killed my wife and daughter. Come and piss on my head you mother fucking plane!
- Mother fucking plane come down if you want to piss. The toilet is here. I’ll wash your ass with water.
- Have us arrested. We sneaked to watch your TV. It was very cold last night.
- Come down if you have to piss. Here is the airport. I’ll wash your shitty ass.
- Let’s go Zahed; he won’t put us in jail.
***
- Do you understand me, Poppy? I am talking to you. I’ll tell Dad to forgive Mom. If he doesn’t forgive her they will kill her. I will cry so much…and repent, repent.
- Mola Mohammad Rahman’s daughter, come forward.
- Dogs are not allowed in the prison.
- What about me?
- Free to go in.
- Thanks. Take the dog Zahed, he can’t go in.
- Thanks.
- Tell Dad what you have to say.
***
- Why are you crying Gol Ghoti? Did you tell Dad to forgive Mom? Why are you crying now? Did you tell him we slept in the street last night?
- Yes.
- What did he say?
- He said not to sleep in the street. That we go to his friend’s house and if he is not there, tell his wife that Dad is in prison and she will keep us.
***
- Is it here?
- No.
- Here?
- No…yes.
- Who is it?
- It’s us.
- Who is us?
- Zahed and Gol Ghoti?
- I don’t know you.
- We are Mola Mohammad Rahman’s children.
- Who did you want to see?
- Mola Mohammad Razagh.
- We have no such person.
- What do you mean? Open the door.
- Who are you?
- Zahed and Gol Ghoti, Mola Mohammad Rahman’s children. Our father sent us here. Open up for a second.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Come in.
***
- He wants to see Mola Mohammad Razagh. What should I tell him?
- Where is his brother?
- He is asking where his brother is.
- He is in the Americans’ prison.
- Where is his wife?
- She is dead.
- Can we stay here? Thanks.
***
_ They took Dad to Guantanamo Bay.
- Who is it?
- It’s us. We are here to ask for your forgiveness.
- We’ve come to be pardoned, dear Guard.
- What are you here for, you jack ass?
- For God’s sake please let us stay with our mother.
- But yesterday you said that my mother was a whore.
- Forgive me Mr. Guard but you also said the same about my mother.
- But my mother is not a whore but yours is a hundred percent whore.
- Bastard, your own mother is a whore. Damn your father!
- I’ll kill you fucking bastard. If you want to be in prison go steal something.
- Mr. Guard, if you have no mercy on me please have some on this poppy dog. Would you have wished to be a dog that the kids wanted to burn but the prison guard wouldn’t let you in? Would you want that?
- Don’t make my heart ache, girl. Would you have wished to be a guard with a one dollar a day pay with no permission to let two kids in the prison?
- Would you have wished to be so homeless like us and this dog and no one anywhere took you in? Would you want that?
- But the laws have changed dear. The warden doesn’t allow that and prison is not an orphanage either. It is prison here, get it?
- I got it.
- Let’s go Gol Ghoti, his mom is a whore.
- If you want to be in prison go steal.
- Let’s go Gol Ghoti.
- If you want to be jailed you have to steal, bastard.
- That woman is good.
- Don’t run away Zahed let her have us arrested.
- Don’t escape; let her send us to jail.
- Aren’t you ashamed of stealing? If you are hungry go beg. I begged for this bread for my own starved children. Don’t you fear God?
- If you have him arrested Ma’am, have me so too cause I was with him.
- Please send us to prison Ma’am. We are not beggars. We are thieves. We stole your bread. We are such thieves that we should repent. Why don’t you get it? What kind of people are you that you won’t have us arrested? We have done so much stealing but you don’t send us to jail.
***
- Eat, Poppy. You neither eat meat nor bread. What do you eat then?
- You’ll die. Do you want to die?
- Eat something, Poppy. Other dogs will come and eat. You’ll die if you don’t eat. Eat. You don’t eat bread or meat. What do you eat then? Do you want to die? Eat Son.
- Other dogs will eat the meat. They are coming. Eat quickly. You’ll starve to death. Why don’t you eat anything? We stole meat for your sake.
- Let’s run Zahed, we are under attack.
- Make a line.
- Quiet! Quiet!
- They ate our cow’s head but we didn’t go jail.
- Other dogs ate the cow’s head and didn’t pay for it. I’ll go fight for our right. You stay here.
- Your dogs ate our cow’s head. Pay us for the head.
- Fuck you!
- Come Zahed, the dogs will eat you. Come they will eat you.
- Get lost you naughty kid.
- Hitting me? Bastard! Mother fucker. Come on Gol Ghoti.
- Damn your father, motherfucker, hitting me? Do you want me to mess up your stuff?
***
Give these woods to my mother, Mr. Guard. Her cell is cold. Bring back the sac too.
***
- Hello.
- Hello.
- We stole but nobody sent us to prison.
- It’s not important just keep stealing.
- We stole a cow’s head for our dog. We stole bread. They beat us but didn’t send us to jail. We stole so much that we should repent.
- Go to the park’s cinema. There’s a movie about a clumsy thief who gets caught. Go learn from that film.
- Good bye.
- Good bye.
- I don’t want to see your sister again.
***
- We want to see a movie, Sir.
- This is an artistic film. You wouldn’t like it. If you don’t like it and leave half way through, I won’t refund your money.
- We won’t leave Sir. Just tell us about the story.
- It’s about stealing but there’s no action in it. It’s boring. If you want to see a good movie go the theatre where my brother is the ticket seller. Every night after I get off of this damned movie, I go there and watch a Hollywood film to get a good night’s rest.
- But we want to see this film.
- This little poppy doesn’t need a ticket. Dogs are free to watch artistic films.
- One person is in charge of everything in a cinema with few audiences.
- Watch the movie, poppy dog.
- Don’t bark Poppy. They will throw us out of the theatre.
- Thief, thief, bicycle thief.
- Thief, thief, bicycle thief.
- Thief, thief, bicycle thief.
- Thief, thief, bicycle thief.
- Did he steal something?
- Spread out.
- He stole a bicycle?
- She is my sister, Mr. Guard. Come, Gol Ghoti.
- I am a thief too. Put me in jail too.
***
But here’s not my mother’s prison. I want to go to my mother’s prison. Bastard, my sister will get lost in the streets. Mother fucker, put me in my mother’s prison. For God’s sake.
***
- Who is it?
- It’s me.
- Who are you?
- I am the bicycle thief’s sister.
