babel - 17.
LUKE
Well, now you’ve got two. I could probably get you a job with us. We lost our last
translator - well, he kinda up and disappeared actually. Been hard to find a
replacement - all the good ones are too scared to say “yes” and the rest can barely
translate a simple “Fuck off.” Hours are long, pay’s OK, but you get to hang out with
me and my buds. Whattaya think?
ISSA
Yes, of course. Yes! That would be great. Amazing. I could start soon - tomorrow right now even!
LUKE
Hey slow down, man, slow down. I don’t make the decision - most I can do is give
the base your name. You just gotta impress them at the interview. Don’t think
that’ll be a problem for you.
ISSA
You are very different from the other soldiers.
How you figure?
LUKE
ISSA
You are not angry like all of them. No look of power in your eyes. And you listen. It’s
good.
LUKE
Yeah, well - lucky we stumbled across each other then, Issa.
LUKE extends his hand - ISSA shakes.
Yes - lucky.
ISSA
Blackout. Aerosmith’s “Same Old Song and
Dance” plays. LUKE and ISSA break and exit.
BREAKING BREAD - BRICKS OF RED
At lights the song shifts to coming out of the
stereo in ISSA’s room. HAYAT is bringing food
to the table, clearly annoyed. LUKE and ISSA
are seated.
You shoulda seen him - like a pro.
LUKE
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 18.
I just talked.
Just talked?
ISSA
LUKE
HAYAT
Can you turn off that music, please?
I like this song.
ISSA
LUKE
You saved our asses is what you did.
Language.
Tell her.
Another time.
HAYAT
LUKE
ISSA
LUKE
All these village leaders were real angry. Yelling at us in their broke-ass English:
“You go! Amreekahns go now!” (laughing) “Amreekahns”
HAYAT pauses to throw him a dirty look.
LUKE
And this one manages to calm them all down and convince them we were there to
help.
I was only doing my job.
ISSA
LUKE
Five days and they already want to promote him to training the other translators.
HAYAT
I didn’t plan any side dishes to go with your gun.
Want me to move it?
LUKE
HAYAT
No - I like a little gunpowder with my meals.
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 19.
She disappears into the kitchen.
Touchy touchy.
Let’s change subjects.
LUKE
(setting up the gun up against the wall
next to the front door)
ISSA
(whispering)
HAYAT re-enters and sees them.
What’s she so pissed about?
Food.
LUKE
(whispering back)
HAYAT
She brings the plate down hard on the table.
LUKE sits. She goes to ISSA’s room and turns
off the stereo. She comes back and sits. HAYAT
and ISSA put their together hands in prayer.
LUKE starts to eat.
Excuse me.
Huh?
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
I know you think you are in some Godless country full of heathens, but in this
house we like to say grace before we eat.
Ok.
So put the fork down.
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
(doing so and folding his hands)
Thought this only happened in movies.
He bows his head.
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 20.
HAYAT
For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.
ISSA
Amen.
Amen.
LUKE
(delayed)
They start to eat. It’s quiet.
LUKE
This is good. What is this?
HAYAT
Khoresht.
A little help.
LUKE
(to ISSA)
A stew. With rice.
Ah. Gotcha. Like pot roast.
ISSA
LUKE
HAYAT
No. It is not “pot roast” - it is khoresht.
Got it. Khoresht. [he butchers it]
LUKE
HAYAT
Layshoor bajeneh veef ahmer neh reh nimyam wen-neer?
(Why is it necessary for him to be eating with us?)
What now?
LUKE
ISSA
Ergom ahm cheererell anukhear lemeh nov neem ahter doolahr.
(Because he got me a job which means we have more
money.)
White person in the room.
LUKE
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 21.
ISSA
Osh neem eteros wit-hal ahmer sikharabem.
(So we are showing him some appreciation.)
Can’t understand you.
LUKE
HAYAT
Ahm-eh neh cheerereen neer bakhnoo reh indoo.
(He is going to get us in trouble being here.)
Guessing you’re talking about me?
Sen khezem bah nyom.
(You worry too much.)
Goobley gobbley blah blah.
Sen nill khezem nuhan.
(You never worry enough.)
Yo!
Why are you here?
What now?
In our house.
You invited me to dinner.
I didn’t. He did.
Ok - he invited me to dinner.
LUKE
ISSA
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
Shouldn’t you be out breaking down doors and arresting people?
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 22.
That’s not what I do.
This is very good rice.
LUKE
ISSA
HAYAT
No, you bring violence to neighborhoods.
Actually, I bring protection.
Ha!
Isn’t this good rice, Luke?
"Ha" is the best you got?
LUKE
HAYAT
ISSA
LUKE
HAYAT
What do you see when you go to all these “broken-ass English” villages?
They are just like / us, actually.
Not you. Him. What do you see?
This a trick question?
No.
ISSA
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
Alright. Sometimes scared people. Mostly a bunch of angry ones.
HAYAT
And why do you think they’re so scared and angry?
LUKE
(with obviousness)
Because you’re country is overrun with terrorists.
Try capitalists.
HAYAT
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 23.
LUKE
(childishly)
That’s a dig at Americans, right?
What do you think?
HAYAT
(mocking him)
I would like to say something.
Stay out of this.
ISSA
HAYAT/LUKE
LUKE
We’re here because you asked for our help.
HAYAT
No we didn’t. My people took action to reclaim our country. And you intruded like a
bunch of cowboys coming in to save the disorganized natives.
Your people were dying.
And they’re not now?
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
You guys were being ruled by some asshole dictator. You barely had any rights.
HAYAT
Your country never gives people the benefit of the doubt. If we can manage to
overthrow the government you don’t think we can take care of establishing our
freedom? Where were you before? When the secret police were rounding up
families? When the president lived off caviar and we fought for bread?
We're here now.
After we did all the hard work.
You want us to pack up and leave?
Yesterday.
LUKE
HAYAT
LUKE
HAYAT
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 24.
LUKE
Do you have any idea what would happen if we left? These fucking insurgents
would run free doing whatever they wanted.
HAYAT
Your presence only antagonizes them more.
LUKE
And they take it out on YOUR people.
HAYAT
And you don’t seem to care about that otherwise you would just LEAVE.
Issa help me out here, man.
LUKE
HAYAT
He doesn’t have a say in this. He’s always been blinded by his love for America. But
I know there is more to your country than the people hanging on his walls.
I choose to see the good in people.
I see the truth in them.
ISSA
HAYAT
LUKE
This is a war. Casualties are expected.
HAYAT
Oh my god - you sound like the perfect diplomat.
We’ve lost people too, you know.
LUKE
HAYAT
Oh yes: Young people who should be at home working to better their own country.
You expect us to listen to your models of democracy and you can’t even run your
own country successfully.
LUKE
We’re bringing positive changes. Women can vote now!
HAYAT
My people invented batteries when yours were walking around in loincloths with
stone axes.
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 25.
LUKE
Then why is it you don’t even have access to YouTube? This one is still watching reruns of Baywatch!
It’s a good show.
ISSA
HAYAT
Let me ask you something: What do you think is going to happen to us?
Us who?
LUKE
HAYAT
Me. And him. Since your squad came into our city no one can walk around
breathing easy. We all know this is going to bring the wrong set of eyes on us. And
what do you think your being in this house is going to do to me and him? You don’t
think people see you walking in and out? You don’t think people ask me where he
goes when he leaves the house?
IS S A
What? Who is asking you these things?
It doesn’t matter.
It concerns me - so it does.
Gimme their names.
I took care of it.
Took care - how?
LUKE
That’s not possible.
HAYAT
ISSA
LUKE
HAYAT
ISSA
LUKE
He’s in no danger. He walks far enough outside of the town before we pick him up.
His face is covered everywhere we go. There’s no way anyone knows it’s him.
HAYAT
We are not that stupid in this country. There aren’t many ways to add 1 plus 1.
LUKE
Jesus if you don’t want me around why even extend the dinner invite?
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 26.
To show “appreciation.”
HAYAT
(to ISSA)
LUKE
You got a damn interesting way of showing it.
HAYAT
Oh, I’m sorry, maybe I should cover my head and sit on a stool in the corner
waiting on you. Maybe I can rub your feet while you eat? Or better yet, why don’t
you ask your government to write a brochure for how we should behave.
LUKE
Are we back on this again?
HAYAT
Yes! Because you can’t even defend what they do!
LUKE
Look! I don’t know what the government does. Ok? And I don’t care. I don’t.
Because what matters to me is doing my job and making sure my ass gets back
home in one piece and See? I told/ you that he was -
HAYAT
LUKE
AND making sure that none of your people die in the process. You may not think
we care, and fine, there are a lot of soldiers who don’t. But not all of them. I’ve seen
soldiers take bullets for women and children. I’ve watched guys give away their
food packs and money to people they can’t even talk to. I watched a buddy get his
legs fucking blown off trying to protect an old man from a car bomb. So how about
you give us a little credit for that? How about a little A brick flies through the window. Various
response of “shit” “get down” and “oh my god.”
LUKE runs for his gun and surveys out the
window before opening the front door and
running out.
Are you alright?
ISSA
(going to HAYAT)
HAYAT
(brushing him off)
Do I get to say “I told you so” now?
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 27.
ISSA
Probably just some neighborhood kids playing.
HAYAT
(showing him the brick)
Interesting new way to play futbol.
ISSA
I’m sure it was an accident.
HAYAT
You are so naive sometimes. The longer you are with them the worse this is going
to become for us.
LUKE comes running back in.
LUKE
You guys alright?
ISSA
Yes.
Too dark. Couldn’t see anybody.
LUKE
HAYAT
Watch where you’re stepping. There’s glass all over the place.
Fuck.
LUKE
He bends down to pick up some pieces.
HAYAT
Leave it alone before you cut yourself. Issa get the broom from the kitchen.
ISSA exits. HAYAT looks at LUKE.
1 plus 1.
HAYAT
(handing him the brick)
Blackout. A plaintiff traditional Middle Eastern
piece plays. A rebab, or Oud. Iraqi, Persian,
Afghani.
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 28.
TIE MY HANDS
The lights come up on the living room.
You ready to try again?
Yes.
LUKE
ISSA
LUKE
You sure? Coz you keep messing up the second verse.
ISSA
You just taught it to me today - give me a break, man.
LUKE
Coz you learn this and the other guys are gonna be real impressed.
Yes, I know.
ISSA
LUKE
I mean you can’t be letting Lil’ Wayne down.
I know I know.
ISSA
LUKE
You already earned your translator stripes, but the guys WILL bust your balls if
you don’t I KNOW.
ISSA
LUKE
Alright take it easy there champ. Ready? 1 - 2 Wait wait wait wait.
I knew it.
ISSA
LUKE
ISSA
No no - I can do this. Just start it with me.
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 29.
Aight funkmaster Eess. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
LUKE
ISSA & LUKE
(LUKE eventually drops out)
Yeah, some say tragedy is hard to get over
But sometime that tragedy means it's over, soulja
From the academy league of rollers
I deny bein’ down, though they seem to hold us.
My shoulders are strong, I prove them wrong
I ain't doin’ nothin’ but movin’ on, let the truth be known
But they talk that freedom matters
And didn't even leave a ladder, damn.
I knock on the door, hope isn't home
Fate’s not around, the luck’s all gone
Don't ask me what’s wrong,/ask me what’s right
The phone rings.
Nooo!
You almost got it that time.
ISSA
LUKE
ISSA picks it up.
Damn phone. Hello?
ISSA
Nothing.
Hello?
Who is it?
ISSA
LUKE
(whispering)
ISSA
(shrugging his shoulders)
Maybe a bad connection. Hello who is there?
LUKE
You know they have these things called cell phones now, right?
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014
babel - 30.
ISSA
Find a cell tower that hasn’t been bombed first and then ISSA’s face changes. He hears something. It’s
not good. He hangs up. He backs away.
LUKE
What was that?
ISSA
Nothing.
Sure don’t look like “nothing.”
LUKE
ISSA
Just a wrong number. Let’s, uh, let’s try again.
Sure.
LUKE
(skeptical)
Blackout. Sounds of a tense daf and tombak.
THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Banging on the front door blends with the
drums until only the knocking is heard.
Issa?
LUKE (O.S.)
The banging and beating continue as the lights
come up. There is a wooden board over the hole
in the window.
Issa! Open up!
LUKE (O.S.)
LUKE kicks the door open and runs in gun
drawn.
Issa? Hayat?
LUKE
Sevan K. Greene ~ Jan. 11, 2014