The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes

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Book: Read The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes for Free Online
Authors: Hassan Blasim, Rashid Razaq
Two and a half hours to Baghdad. That’s… (Counts on his fingers.) We should be there by…
    KEVIN looks at his watch and counts on his fingers. This goes on for several moments .
    KEVIN: Tomorrow. When we get there.
    CARLOS: Why are you taking me to Iraq?
    KEVIN: Ya really don’t remember nothin’? I should get some a them pills for me missus. She doesn’t forget nowt that one. She’s like the Million Dollar Man. Bionic memory. (Slowly.) You’re getting deported. You’re getting sent back to where you come from. I’m taking you home.
    CARLOS: This is my home. I’m a British citizen.
    KEVIN laughs .
    CARLOS: I’m British.
    KEVIN: Nah. You were a guest. But ya didn’t behave yeself. The judge said you should be deported back to Iraq after you completed your prison sentence.
    CARLOS: Prison?
    KEVIN: Jesus, Salim! You attacked ya wife! Your wife? Remember?
    CARLOS struggles to remember .
    CARLOS: There must be a mistake. My name is Carlos Fuentes. Look. Let me show you. Where is my wallet? If you could take the handcuffs off so I can show you some ID.
    KEVIN: Aye. Aye.
    CARLOS: I’m telling you. There’s been a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.
    KEVIN: I shouldn’t be here either. Today was meant to be me day off.
    CARLOS: No. Look. You’ve got the wrong guy. I’m Carlos Fuentes.
    KEVIN laughs .
    KEVIN: You’re Carlos Fuentes are ya?
    CARLOS: Yes.
    KEVIN: Carlos Fuentes? That’s ya real name is it?
    CARLOS: Yes. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m innocent.
    KEVIN: What haven’t you done?
    CARLOS: I… (Struggles to remember.) I don’t know.
    KEVIN: So how d’ya knaa you’re innocent? Maybe you did something you cannat remember and now it’s caught up with ya. Maybe it’s karma.
    CARLOS: I don’t believe in karma.
    KEVIN: You don’t do ya? What do ya believe in?
    CARLOS: I… I don’t know.
    KEVIN laughs .
    CARLOS: Please. Just let me call someone.
    KEVIN: Who ya gonna call?
    CARLOS: I…the…police?
    KEVIN laughs .
    KEVIN: Like Judge Dredd said. I am the law.
    CARLOS: You’re a policeman?
    KEVIN: Well. Nah. Not technically. I’m a security guard. The Home Office don’t do this kinda donkey work themselves. They contract it out to private companies like mine. The good news is. I get six hours downtime in Baghdad after I’ve dropped you off. Now I checked the weather forecast on me phone. 41 degrees celsius in the shade. I’ve got me sun cream and me hat but still. It’s gonna be roasting.
    CARLOS: I want to go home.
    KEVIN: I’m taking you home.
    CARLOS: No. My home in London. I want to go home. I don’t want to go to Iraq.
    KEVIN: I’m afraid that’s not possible.
    CARLOS: I want to go home. Forty…forty-one Regent’s Road. Forty-one Regent’s Road… Primrose Hill. London. London NW1… NW1…four…4QD. 4QD. London 4QD!
    KEVIN: You’re not going home.
    CARLOS: I want to go home. TAKE ME HOME!
    KEVIN punches CARLOS on the side of his head. The punch is hard, but not hard enough to seriously injure or knock him over. CARLOS is more stunned by the sudden violence than hurt. He puts his hands up instinctively to protect his head .
    Beat .
    CARLOS lowers his hands slightly and opens his eyes .
    Beat .
    KEVIN sits back down in his seat. CARLOS lowers his hands. CARLOS looks at his left hand. He realises his ring is missing .
    CARLOS looks at KEVIN .
    KEVIN: Ya got somethin’ to say?
    CARLOS: Where is my ring?
    KEVIN: What ring?
    CARLOS: My wedding ring.
    KEVIN shrugs .
    KEVIN: Cannat help ya.
    CARLOS: It’s silver with a red stone. A bright red stone.
    KEVIN: Haven’t seen it.
    CARLOS: Did you take it?
    KEVIN: I’d be careful going round making accusations. It’s a long flight. (Beat.) Now…
    TANNOY: Lufthansa flight LU67 now boarding at gate thirty-four. Gate thirty-four.
    KEVIN: Now what I need from you. Is some advice on what to see while I’m in Baghdad. I’ve only got a few hours before me flight home…
    CARLOS: What’s going to happen to me in Iraq?
    KEVIN: I divn’t

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