That’s as hard as you’re going to get. Canadian dollars.
SADIQ:
Is no good to me.
MERCER:
Why the fuck not?
SADIQ:
Salim, my boss, he say everything must be American dollars. When I start, I sell cigar to skinny black soldier for Bangladeshi dollar, Salim just laugh. Make me pay.
MERCER:
Well, Canada’s not fucking Bangladesh, pal.
SADIQ:
Very big price—from Cuba.
MERCER:
I’ll give you forty. It’s worth like thirty-five US.
SADIQ:
Now we talk turkey.
MERCER:
Right on, brother.
SADIQ:
You want more? Different? I have cigar, cigarettes. Marlboro. American Camel.
MERCER:
Don’t smoke.
SADIQ:
Radio? I have radio.
MERCER:
Got one.
SADIQ:
CD. Michael Jackson.
MERCER:
No.
SADIQ:
Tape for video—Madonna. “Like a Virgin”. Nice shirt, blue jean from Guess, what you want, I can get.
MERCER:
I got everything I need on the base.
SADIQ:
Canada Dry One.
MERCER:
How’d you know that?
SADIQ:
I know many things.
MERCER:
Right. You staying here?
SADIQ:
No, I go to Kansas.
MERCER:
I mean here, the beach. You staying?
SADIQ:
You want I should stay?
MERCER:
No, I want you should go.
SADIQ:
This beach private of GI Vancouver?
MERCER:
Look, nothing personal. I’m just getting a little bored. This is my time off.
SADIQ:
Is OK, I have work to do. You want more picture you know where to find.
Scene Two
SADIQ:
Welcome back, Canada Dry One.
MERCER:
How’s it going?
SADIQ:
Special today—(holds up perfume bottle) Obsession. Very nice for send to girlfriend.
MERCER:
No, thanks …
SADIQ:
Yes, you very smart. Not real Obsession, is only from Cairo.
Pause.
You want more picture? Very expensive. More than before.
MERCER:
Right.
SADIQ:
For you, I get real good. Best price.
MERCER:
Yeah? Let’s see.
SADIQ pulls out photographs. MERCER studies them intently as SADIQ shows him each one.
No. No. No. Yes. No. No. Yes. (Beat)
This woman—she looks dead.
SADIQ:
Pretend. Acting.
MERCER:
How do you know?
SADIQ:
Salim, my boss, he say no one gets hurt.
MERCER:
Better than the real thing, eh?
SADIQ:
I do not understand.
MERCER:
Just a joke, kid. How much for the three?
SADIQ:
One hundred US dollars.
MERCER:
Forget it, man.
SADIQ:
What you say, boss. (he begins to put photographs away)
MERCER:
I’ll give you fifty. Canadian.
SADIQ:
Purple fish? For beg and steal from Salim? Then I never go to Kansas.
MERCER:
Seventy-five.
SADIQ:
Ho, for you, OK. Seven five.
MERCER:
Special offer, huh?
SADIQ:
What?
