1.
BIKE
By
Yusuf Gillani
ext. outside sayeed’s house - morning
A long gritty street of terraced houses showing small groups of teenagers hanging around within their own race. Asian children are playing cricket on the pavement while the white children are kicking a football on the road.At the end of the road an 11 year old Asian boy SAYEED is hopping off his bike to give to 14 year old AMIR. Amir gets on the bike and rides off.
sayeed
How long you going to be!?
Amir continues riding the bike towards the end of the street and goes round the corner.
eXT. OUTSIDE SAYEED’S HOUSE - afternoon
Sayeed is walking up and down outside his house waiting for Amir. He hears the sound of a bicycle riding coming round the corner. He looks towards the sound of the bike and sees an old man riding a bike. A few seconds after Sayeed sees Amir walking towards him. He jogs up to Amir.
SAYEED
Where is my bike!?
AMIR
Shit man, I got jacked by some white boy.
SAYEEd
What? Where?
Sayeed stares at Amir for a brief moment and then starts to mildly cry.
AMIR
In the park…he just knocked me off the bike.
Sayeed looks away from Amir for a few seconds and then bursts out in tears. He turns to look at Amir again.
sayeed
I want my bike back!
Amir watches as Sayeed cries. Amir puts his arm round Sayeed’s shoulder and takes him round the corner.
EXT. BACK ALLEYWAY - AFTERNOON
Sayeed is still crying as Amir walks him to the park.
Amir
You’ve been jacked loads of times and you never cried like this.
sayeed
My Dad bought me that bike. He saved up for three months to get that bike.
Sayeed is stuttering as he speaks and starts to cry more.
sayeed
(Continued)
He said...He said I would be in serious trouble if I lost that bike.
Sayeed puts his head on Amir’s shoulder as they walk. Amir starts to walk faster dragging Sayeed along to the park.
ext.park - afternoon
Sayeed and Amir walk into the park. Amir looks around the park to find the boy who stole Sayeed’s bike. He finds the boy MARTIN a tall white guy roughly around 16 - 18 years old along with four other teenagers with him. Sayeed runs to his bike and grabs on to the handle while Martin is still sitting on it.
Martin
Hey what the fuck you doing?
Sayeed
This is my bike! Give it back!
The teenager pushes Sayeed back making him fall on the floor. Amir comes running behind him.
amir
Hey man, give his bike back.
Sayeed is on the floor with his hands covering his face constantly wiping his nose with his sleeve.
martin
Who you chatting to man, I’ll fucking kill him the next time he touches this bike!
amir
Why you doing this. He’s just a kid. Allow him this time.
A girl from the group of teenagers approaches Martin.
girl
Give it back to him. He’s just a kid man.
martin
Fuck him! I like this bike.
girl
You’re so rude…the bike is too small for you anyway you look like a prick riding it!
The teenagers start to laugh. Sayeed takes a peak through his hands to look at his bike.
martin
Fuck you!This is none of your business.
The Girl walks away from Martin.
girl
Whatever!
Martin turns to look at Sayeed. Sayeed lifts his head up and stops crying. They both look at each other for a brief moment.
martin
Alright little man. You can have your bike back.
Martin rides up to a big bush and throws the bike on top of the bush. He walks away with the rest of the teenagers. Sayeed struggles to get his bike out of the bush and then rides awayleaving Amir behind.
ext. outside Sayeed’s house - afternoon
Sayeed rides in front of his house. His eyes are red from the constant crying and his wiping nose with his sleeve. He climbs off his bike and walks in the house.Sayeed parks his bike in the corridor and runs in the living room.
int. sayeed’s house, living room - afternoon
Sayeed’s Mum is sitting on the sofa organising her jewellery. Sayeed comes running in the living room and hugs his Mum
Mum
What’s the matter?
Sayeed places his head on top of his Mum’s shoulder.
Sayeed
My…bike…they broke my bike
mum
Who broke your bike?
Sayeed
Some boy…he threw it in the bush.
mum
What? Where?
Sayeed
In the park.
Mum
What were you doing at the park? I told you not to go there. Nothing but trouble in that park.
Sayeed looks at his Mum.
sayeed
I’m sorry
mum
You never listen to me. What do you think Dad is going to do when he finds out about the bike?
sayeed
I’m sorry...I won’t go there again
Sayeed’s mum holds sayeed closer to her. She strokes Sayeed’s hair to calm him down.
mum
Go down to the bike shop tomorrow. I will give you money to fix the bike...but don’t tell you’re Dad!
Sayeed’s Mum kisses Sayeed on the forehead.
(Continued)
Go and hide the bike in the closet and come to eat. Go on quickly the rice is nearly done.
Sayeeds mum gets up and runs to the kitchen. Sayeed stands up and walks in the corridor and puts his bike in the closet.
ext. outside sayeed’s house - night
Amir knocks on Sayeed’s door. Sayeed opens the door just enough to see the side of his head.
amir
Hey, you alright?
Sayeed
I’m fine.
amir
I’m sorry man the guy just came out of nowhere.
sayeed
It doesn’t matter I’ll get the bike fixed tomorrow.
Sayeed slowly closes the door but is suddenly stopped from Amir’s feet.
amir
Wait...let me make it up to you. I’ll get my crew to sort him out.
Sayeed looks at Amir and then looks behind him to see if anyone is around him. He looks back at Amir.
sayeed
Can you really get him back for me?
amir
Of course man. I’ll just tell them that one of our Asian brothers got beaten up by him.
Sayeed looks behind him again and then looks back at Amir. A tiny smile appears from Sayeed as he leans his head towards Amir.
sayeed
Fine...do it.
amir
Alright safe.
Sayeed closes the door. Amir runs down the street round the corner. Sayeed leans back on the front door biting his finger nails.
int. bike shop - morning
Sayeed walks in the bike shop carrying his bike. He parks it near the front door and walks up to the counter.
worker
Can I help you sir?
sayeed
I need someone to look at my bike.
Sayeed points towards his bike. The Worker walks to the bike and has a look at it. Sayeed looks around the shop to spot a white boy around the same age as him, GEORGE and a worker fixing his broken bike.
GEORGE
What happened to your bike?
Sayeed looks behind to check if George is talking to someone else. He then looks back at George.
sayeed
Oh…crashed it against a wall.
George nods his head slowly.
sayeed
What happened to your bike?
george
A bunch of guys threw it against a tree.
sayeed
Really? Whereabouts?
george
At the park. Bunch of wankers. I’m going to get my older brother on them.
sayeed
Yeah. I fucking hate those guys… Where do you live?
george
Just opposite the park. You know willow vale road?
sayeed
Yeah. You live on the road next to mine.
george
That’s good. We should probably ride home together. I’m worriedthose guys might show up again.
sayeed
Yeah you’re right.
The worker is finished looking at Sayeed’s bike.
worker
Alright you’re going to need to change the front tire and replace the hand brakes.
sayeed
Ok.
Sayeed looks at George.
sayeed
Wait for me ok?
george
Yeah cool.
ext. outside bike shop - day
George is waiting for Sayeed to ride his bike out. As Sayeed rides his bike out they both cycle down the street.
EXT. outside sayeed’s house - day
Sayeed and George park outside the house.
sayeed
So what time do you want to come over?
george
Probably around five?
sayeed
Alright cool let me just write my phone number.
Sayeed puts his bike in the corridor of his house and then walks in the living room. A few minutes later he comes back with a pen and paper. Sayeed writes his number on the paper.
george
I’ll call you as soon as I leave.
George takes the paper and puts it in his pocket.
sayeed
Alright. By the way what’s your name?
george
George. What’s yours?
sayeed
Sayeed.
george
Sayeed…ok see you later Sayeed.
George rides his bike round the corner of the street.Sayeed closes his front door.
int. sayeed’s house, living room - afternoon
Sayeed is lying down on the sofa with his head on his mums lap. They are both watching TV.
sayeed
I made a friend today.
mum
Who?
sayeed
His name is George. He’s my age.
mum
Is he white?
sayeed
Yes mum.
mum.
Good I don’t want you hanging around with those Asian idiots. They are nothing but trouble.
(Beat)
They have the nerve to still call themselves Muslims after they beat up people.
sayeed
They don’t beat up just anyone. They just defend themselves from those white boys.
mum
I saw them last night. Beating up a white boy in the park.
sayeed.
Who?
mum
Those Asian friends of yours. They were picking on this little boy.
Sayeed looks away from his mum. He becomes doubtful after what his mum just said. The phone rings. Sayeed gets up and runs to the phone.
sayeed
Hello.
george (O.S.)
Hey going to come round now. Be there in 5 minutes.
sayeed
Alright. Don’t forget to bring your games.
george (O.S.)
Yeah sure. I’m bringing my brother just in case I run into those guys again.
sayeed
Yeah alright. See you soon.
george (O.S.)
Bye.
Sayeed puts the phone down and looks at his mum.
sayeed
George is coming over.
mum
Alright I’ll make some chips for both of you.
Sayeed’s mum gets up and walks to the kitchen. Sayeed walks out of the living room and outside the house.
EXT. OUTSIDE SAYEED’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON
Sayeed is waiting for George.
amir
Sayeed!
Sayeed turns around to spot Amir running towards him.
amir
Hey did you hear what happened last night?
sayeed
No what happened?
Amir is about to speak but then is interrupted by what he sees at the end of the street.
George walks round the corner and see’s Amir’s face and the back of Sayeed’s head. Just behind him is George’s big brother Martin.
george
Hey…that’s the guy who broke my bike.
Martin looks down the street and spots Amir.
martin
You’re fucking kidding…What about the other boy next to him.
george
I can’t see his face. He is probably one of them.
martin
That fucking prick!
Wait here, I’ll sort this out.
Martin sprints down towards Sayeed and Amir. Sayeed looks behind him to see Martin
Sayeed
Oh shit!!
Sayeed turns his head to see Amir sprinting away. Martin sprints past Sayeed and quickly grabs Amir. He throws Amir on the floor and continuously kicks him. George runs up to Martin and then looks at Sayeed.
George
Sayeed?
amir
Please stop! It wasn’t my idea. He told me to do it!
Amir points his finger at Sayeed. Sayeed looks at Martin and then looks at George.
Martinwalks to Sayeed and pins him down on the floor pulling his hair back.
martin
So it was you that fucked up my brother’s bike.
sayeed
No wait…
Martin pulls his hair back even harder making him cry out.
martin
I don’t want to see you anywhere near my brother again! Do you understand!
(Beat)
I said do you understand!
SAYEED
Yes! Yes!
MARTIN
Good…You fucking paki.
Martin walks away. George and Sayeedlook at each other for a moment and then George walks away with Martin. Amir and Sayeed are left on the floor. Sayeed eventually gets up from the floor and slowly walks towards his house.
amir
Sayeed!
Sayeed ignores Amir and continues to walk in his house. He looks down the street to see Martin and George walking away. He looks at them for a brief moment wipes his tears and then walks in his house. He closes the front door.
THE END