Scene Two
Alem wakes he gets out of bed. He tries the door of the bedroom. It is locked. He asks for his father in Amharic, âFatherâ. Alem is tired. He looks out of the window. In Amharic, âFatherâ. He checks the door. In Amharic, âFatherâ. Itâs still locked. He puts his ear to the wall, to the floor. He tries the door again. His panic grows. In Amharic, âFatherâ. He goes to the window again and shouts in Amharic, âFather, Father, Fatherâ. The door bangs. Bang! Bang! Bang! A muffled noise comes from outside the room. Alem is silent. Bang! Bang! Bang! Silence. The sound of a door unlocking. Alem backs away. The door swings open.
Mr Hardwick Right. Whatâs going on here then. Weâll have no noise in here.
Alem (in Amharic) Abaten yet alleh / Where is my father?
Mr Hardwick Whereâs Mr Kelo then? And where did he put that elephant? In the bathroom? Mr Kelo?
Alem (in Amharic) Abaten yet alleh / Where is my father?
Mr Hardwick Do. You. Know. Where. Mr Kelo. Is.
Alem (in Amharic) Abaten neh feligalloh / I want my father.
Mr Hardwick Where is Mr Kelo? Mr Kelo? Mr Kelo?
Alem screams.
Mr Hardwick No no no no no. Shhh Shhh . . . Shhhhh. Iâm not going to hurt. Iâm not going to hurt you.
Mr Hardwick sees letter on mirror of bed table and picks it up. Where is he?
Mr Hardwick reads.
Mr Hardwick Oh. Oh, I see.
Alem (in Amharic) Tamalehsoh yimahtal / Heâs coming back.
Mr Hardwick Iâll call the people and weâll get this sorted.
Alem (in Amharic) Tamalehsoh yimahtal / Heâs coming back.
Anteh washahenye / You lie to me.
Tamalehsoh yimahtal / heâs coming back.
Anteh washahenye / You lie to me.
Mr Hardwick Just calm down a minute, son.
Alem (in Amharic) Enee liggeh EYEdelahun / I am not your son.
Mr Hardwick Calm down.
Alem Enee liggeh EYEdelahun / Iâm not your son.
(in Amharic) Men kat alehbinyih / I have to wake up.
Men kat alehbinyih / I have to wake up.
Men kat alehbinyih / I have to wake up.
Mr Hardwick Shhhhh Shhhhh, youâll wake the whole bloominâ house up, carrying on like that . . .
Mr Hardwick moves. Alem backs off.
Come on.
Mr Hardwick moves.
Alem (in Amharic) Wake up, wake up, wake up.
Mr Hardwick holds out letter.
Mr Hardwick Ey . . . itâs from him. From Mr Kelo.
Alem moves back stares.
Mr Hardwick For you, lad.
Mr Hardwick moves towards Alem like heâs snared a tiger.
Mr Hardwick Itâs okay. Iâm not going to hurt you. Do you hear me? Iâm not going to hurt you. Iâve a son myself. Just like you. Not like you. But you know. Like you. Here . . .
Mr Hardwick places the letter on the ground and leaves.
Mr Kelo appears.
Mr Kelo My dearest son,
You have seen all the trouble that we have been going through back home â
Alem Until fighting stops and our persecution is over,
Mr Kelo Until the fighting stops and our persecution is over, your mother and I think that it would be best if you stay in England.
Alem Your mother and I think that it would be best if you stay in England.
We just cannot afford to risk another attack.
Mr Kelo On you; we value your life more than anything.
Alem We may be joining you soon.
Mr Kelo If things get better, you will be joining us. Remember to love your neighbours because peace is better than war, wherever you live. Your loving Father.
Alem Your loving FATHER.
Alem speaks from sadness to defiant anger.
. . . No No No No No No.