4 Abdi is here
Zack: Abdi! Thanks for coming in on such short notice…! Look, we need your help with a small problem… More of a situation really…
Noor: Cut the bullshit Zack… Mr Hussein, we've got bomb-threats on over a hundred locations… There's a time-bomb set for midnight in the bathroom of this store… And the bomber wants to speak to you…
Abdi: What…? Why me?
Noor: You represented the us to make some arrangements some years ago… August 2016…
Abdi: But that was years ago…!
Noor: Yes, but some people don't move on from these things… Mr Hussein…? Is there something wrong…?
Abdi: (Collapsing into chair) He went to hiding…
Noor: Yes… You remember…?
Zack: Look Abdi, we really need you to make a call for us…
Noor: Hang on a minute Zack… What's wrong Mr Hussein…? Is there something we need to know…? (moves to get a cup of water for Abdi from water dispenser)
Abdi: It was me… That's why he went to hiding…
Noor: You mean you threatened him…? Is that what this is about…?
Abdi: No, you don't understand… He threw a dead body in my pool…
Noor: Oh… hmmm… Do you want some water…? (Abdi reaches for pills as Noor places dispenser cup on the desk in front of him)
Zack: Look mate, I know this is a bit of a shock but we're on company time here…
Noor: Zack… If you want to make yourself useful you can start organising the cash… We're going to need all of it… He won't have time to count it, but it has to look like a million dollars…
Zack: But we haven't even spoken to him yet…!
Noor: I've spoken to him, Gary, and the son of a bitch threatened my kid… I want him to die by midnight tonight… And if we want to catch a fish then we'll need some bait… (Holds his hands out in askance of whether he understands the enormity of the problem)
Zack: (pause) I'll get right onto it… (Exits)
Noor: Take as much time as you need Mr Hussein…
Abdi: (Gesturing towards the phone but unable to speak)
Noor: You want to make the call…? Now…? (Hands Abdi the phone somewhat doubtfully)
Abdi: (Dials the number on the note- Noor presses loudspeaker button- dial tone rings loudly then connects- silent pause) Hello… Tom…?
Caller: Abdi! Long-time no-see! How are you…? And how much money are they offering me…?
Abdi: You're going to get your self killed. Your sick bastard…
Caller: No! I'm not actually! Been there, done that… and survived… I think that makes us about even don't you think…?
Abdi: You won't get a red cent out of this Tom… You won't get anything but a bullet in your brain…! (Noor frantically signalling the negative)
Caller: Well I may as well hang up then…
Noor: No! Don't hang up! We'll get you the money! Wait! Please…!
Caller: I almost died Abdi, that's what the justice is all about… in the crime world, I thought you knew that…? It is your job after all… to help diss criminals to survive.
Abdi: I'm going to get you put in the deepest, darkest hole there is…
Caller: Abdi! This isn't about you! This is about Noor and the money he owes me… It was wrong to put that dead bodies in your swimming pool… I know that now… But the fact remains that I worked as an unskilled labourer for two years… When I was supposed to be being trained as a dealer… Not that is takes much to that… It's the principle, you know…? But I don't expect you have any trouble sleeping… Do you Abdi…?
Abdi: You ignorant prick! You're not even fit for that shit-kicking job you had at all…!
Caller: It's not about you Abdi… I told you that…
Noor: How much do you want? We can get four hundred thousand dollars… We'll have it this afternoon…
Caller: It's not enough…
Noor: But…
Caller: It's not enough. You already owed me thirty thousand dollars for two years of shit… And I didn't get paid at all… Then there's the legal costs, mental anguish, family breakdown…
Noor: It's all we can get…
Caller: I don't think it is… How much do you think an explosion in aisle three will cost you Noor? You seem to have forgotten the urgency of the situation…
Noor: No! No I haven't! Believe me, I haven't… Hello…? Are you there…? Don't hang up! Are you there…? TOM…? (Abdi places the handset back on the phone- Noor grabs it and pushes the redial button- phone rings out) You…! You're not doing your job! We're not paying you for this! There's a bomb in my store for God's sake…! Are you crazy…?!
Abdi: He ruined my life… (quiet/ staring vacantly)
Noor: (Pause) Well wouldn't you like to see him dead…?
Abdi: I have to phone my wife… Could you excuse me for a minute…?
Noor: Aaah… Okay… I'll wait outside then shall I…? (Waits a moment then moves to doorway- turns to speak but thinks better of it and exits)
