dinner in hotel restaurant. Souad clean room. They save all their money, buy house in bad part of city. Then they rent to black people. Make more money and buy more house. Keep going until Maher, he is Mike, rich guy in Kansas. Salim, he promise I make enough selling to soldiers during the war, he will send me to Uncle in America. He will make sure.
MERCER:
Sadiq.
SADIQ’s turns to face MERCER. MERCER takes photograph.
SADIQ:
You have camera.
MERCER:
I do.
SADIQ:
Why?
MERCER:
To take pictures. You know.
SADIQ:
Of?
MERCER:
Everything. The desert.
SADIQ:
You have flash build in?
MERCER:
No.
SADIQ:
Is no good. Salim, my boss—
MERCER:
I know he’s your boss, you say that every time you say his fucking name.
SADIQ:
Salim, he have small camera, like this. Excellent picture. Flash build in. Motor for film. All automatic.
MERCER:
Those are just for snap shots. They’re toys.
SADIQ:
Take good picture. I see them. Good colours bright. Flash for inside.
MERCER:
This camera lets me control everything. Shutter speed, aperture. Those little ones—say you’re backlit right? You’re in front of a window and there’s a lot of light streaming in. Well, with those little ones the camera gets confused and underexposes your face. It comes out in shadow.
SADIQ:
No, he have flash build in.
MERCER:
Right.
SADIQ:
Is good camera. Take good pictures.
MERCER:
Well, this one takes better pictures. Trust me.
SADIQ:
OK. I trust you.
Here. Take picture of me.
SADIQ begins to pose; MERCER takes photographs. SADIQ’s poses are based on magazine images, impersonating models, movie stars etc. He takes off his shirt for the last pose or two.
MERCER:
I should get going.
SADIQ:
You go back to base?
MERCER:
Yeah. So …
SADIQ:
Here. (gives MERCER envelope)
MERCER:
Great. And this for you. (pays him) All right, I’m outta here. See you in a week.
SADIQ:
Wait, Mercer.
You must go back now?
MERCER:
Yeah, I got work to do. I’m not on holiday, you know.
SADIQ:
For you. (offers MERCER another envelope)
MERCER:
What? What’s this?
SADIQ:
For you. Extra.
MERCER:
I haven’t got any more money.
SADIQ:
No. Just for you. Free. A gift. Today, I do very good, sell much. I make you a gift.
MERCER:
You sure?
SADIQ:
Yes.
MERCER:
What’s the catch?
SADIQ:
I do not understand.
MERCER:
What do you want in return? What’s the catch?
SADIQ:
No. Gift. To you. From Sadiq.
MERCER:
Why?
SADIQ:
What why? You understand gift Vancouver?
MERCER:
Yes. I know what a gift is.
SADIQ:
OK.
MERCER:
Why?
SADIQ:
Why not?
MERCER:
(accepts second envelope) All right.
SADIQ:
Stay a little.
MERCER:
And do what?
SADIQ:
Tell me of America.
MERCER:
I gotta go. I’ll see you in a week.
Scene
