My Beautiful Laundrette

This film contains prolonged violent scenes, strong language,

and scenes of a sexual nature.

-I'm ill.

-We're moving house.

-We gotta fight.

-Too early in the morning.

All right.

Get out of it. Come on!

< Come here, come here.

I'm fixing you up with a job.

With your uncle.

Work now till you go back to college.

If your face gets any longer here, you'll overbalance.

Or I'll commit suicide.

Kasa hoi? >

Khariat hai naa?

And Bilquis?

Good. >

And Tania and the other girls?

I say...

can't you give Omar some work in your garage for a few weeks?

Come on, Yaar. The bugger is your nephew!

He's on dole. >

Like everyone else in England.

He sweeps the dust from one place to another. He squeezes shirts, and he heats soup!

That hardly stretches him. Though his food stretches me.

I'll send him to college in the autumn. >

Oh, one thing more. Fix him up with a nice girl.

I'm not sure his penis is in full working order.

Yes, we've got one parking space. £25 a week. >

This afternoon, we're offering a special on-the-premises, clean-the-car service.

New thing.

HEY!

Is that your car? >

Why are you feeling it up? Come here! >

And this bastard who almost beat you up is Salim.

I've heard great things about your father.

I'd see him if I had the time.

You're too busy keeping this country in the black.

Your papa got thrown out of that clerk's job I fixed up, huh?

Pissed, was he?

Can you wash a car?

Have you washed a car before?

He can't pay much, but you'll be able to buy a decent shirt.

And you won't be on a dole queue.

And Mrs Thatcher will be happy with me.

It's easy to wash a car.

You just wet a rag and rub.

You know how to rub, don't you?

Do this one first - carefully.

As if you were restoring a Renaissance painting.

It's my car.

Hi, baby.

My love.

What do you think I am? Your trampoline?

Yes, yes, yes! Je t'aime, mon trampoline.

Speak my language, damn it!

I do nothing else, Nasser.

Do you think we'll ever part?

Not at the moment.

I'm serious.

Just keep moving. Oh, just there!

Oh, I love you!

Christ, you move like a liner!

I love you, too. Can we go away?

Yes, I'm taking you.

Where?

Kempton Park, Saturday.

Can we take the boy? >

I've got big plans for the boy. >

Rachel's an old friend.

Hello.

How's Auntie Bilquis?

She's at home.

Papa sends his love. Uncle, if I picked Papa up...

Have you ever been to a high-class place like this before?

If I picked Papa up, Uncle...

He's underprivileged.

..and squeezed Papa out like that...

I often imagine I'd get...

Two fat slaps.

..two bottles of vodka and a flap of skin. Like a French letter.

What are you talking, madman? I love my brother like I love you.

How can you love me?

Because you're such a prick.

-You can't be sure that I am!

-Nasser.

She's right.

Don't egg me on to laugh at you

when I've brought you here to tell you one essential thing.

Move closer.

Get up!

In this damn country which we hate and love...

you can get anything you want.

It's all available.

That's why I believe in England.

You have to know how to squeeze the tits of the system.

He's saying he wants to help you.

What d'you want to do with me?

What am I going to do with you?

Turn you into something damn good.

Your father can't do it, can he?

Here, you damn fool.

Take it.

You're like a son to me.

To both of us.

You like the work?

Come on, for Christ's sake.

Help me with my accounts.

Kiss Rachel.

I said a kiss, not a shower!

I'll finish your paperwork tonight.

Such a good worker.

-I'm going to promote him.

-What to?

Come to my house and I'll tell you.

How will he get there?

I'll give him that car over there. The keys are in the office.

I've a real challenge lined up for him.

You must be getting married. Why else are you dressed like an undertaker?

I'm going to Uncle's house. He's given me a car.

Brakes must be faulty.

Tell me one thing.

There's something I don't get, though it must be my fault.

How is it that scrubbing cars can make you look so ecstatic? >

It gets me out of the house.

Don't get too involved with that crook.

You've got to go to college.

HE RINGS DOORBELL

This is my nephew, Omar.

Auntie Fozia.

Auntie Fereda.

Auntie Salmar.

And this is Cherry, Salim's wife.

You remember our three naughty daughters.

He has his family's cheekbones. I know all your family in Karachi.

You've been there?

You stupid! What a stupid.

It's my home.

How could anyone call this silly island of Europe their home?

Every day in Karachi your other uncles and cousins are at our house for bridge, booze and VCR.

Cherry, my little nephew knows nothing of that life there.

God, I'm sick of hearing about these in-betweens.

People should make up their minds where they are.

Your uncle's next door.

Can you see me later? I'm so bored with these people.

Games room, OK?

< I presumed my brother, the boy's papa, was out screwing some barmaid.

< So when these tappings went on...

I got out of bed and went to the balcony.

And there was my brother standing outside with some woman.

LAUGHTER

They were completely without clothes.

Blue with cold. Like two bars of soap.

This I refer to as my brother's blue period.

What happened to the woman?

He married her!

Come along, come along.

Your father is a good man.

So this is Hussein's son.

< The exact bastard.

My blue brother was also a famous journalist in Bombay. And a great drinker.

He was to the bottle what Louis Armstrong is to the trumpet.

But you are to the bookies what Mother Teresa is to the children.

Your brother was a clever one. You used to carry his typewriter.

Isn't he coming tonight?

Whatever happened to him? >

Papa's lying down. >

I meant his career. >

That's lying down also. >

What chance would an Englishman give a communist Pakistani? >

Socialist!

Socialist.

< What chance would an Englishman give a communist socialist?

What chance the racist Englishman has given us... >

that we haven't taken it from him with our hands? >

Let's face it.

Zaki, you need a stiff drink for making that good point. >

< Please, God!

I'm on the verge already.

Can I make you a drink?

< Make him a man first.

Give him a drink, Zaki. I like him.

He's our future.

It's been years.

You're looking really good now.

I think we understand each other, eh?

Were they being cruel to you in their typical men's way?

You don't mind?

I think I should harden myself.

Wow! What are you into?

Your father's done well.

Has he? >

He adores you.

I expect he wants you to take over the businesses.

He wouldn't think of asking me.

But he is too vicious to people in his work.

Does he want you to manage that shitty laundrette?

What's wrong with it?

And he has a mistress.

Rachel. Yes.

I can tell from your face. Does he love her? Yes.

Please, Tania, can you come and help me?

Families! I hate families.

Take care of him.

Goodnight, Uncle.

Take my advice. There's money in muck.

What is it that the gora Englishman always needs?

Clean clothes!

Pick it up.

Drive us back, will you? Salim's not feeling very well.

Hello? Oh, what!

'Ello, darlin'!

Fucking nice bit. What's this?

ABUSIVE SHOUTS

Get off the car, will you!

Get off the fucking car! >

It's me!

I know who it is.

How are you? All right? Working?

What are you doing now?

This kind of thing.

Omar, come back!

Are you a chauffeur?

No. I'm onto something.

Oh?

What?

I'll let you know.

Living at the same place?

No, I don't get on with me mum and dad.

You?

My mother died last year.

Jumped onto the railway lines.

Yeah, I heard.

All the trains stopped.

I'm still there.

Got me number?

Like me friends?

Ring us, then.

I will.

Leave 'em there.

We can do something now.

Just us.

Can't.

TRAIN RATTLES BY

What are you doing?

I want to pee.

Can't you wait for me to take you?

My tool will drop off before you show up these days.

You know who I met? Johnny. Johnny!

The boy who came here dressed as a fascist?

< He was a friend once.

< For years.

There were times when he didn't deserve your admiration so much.

I've known him since I was five!

He went too far.

They hate us in England.

All you can do is to kiss their arses.

And think of yourself as a little Britisher.

I'm being promoted.

To Uncle's laundrette.

Illustrate your washing methods.

It's nothing but a toilet and a youth club.

A constant boil on my bum.

How's your foot, then?

Oh, good.

Fancy coming for a walk? >

< Where did you get those?

Church.

You little...! That's how machines get buggered!

< I'll come round, then, shall I? All right. See you in a minute.

Right, get started.

There's the broom. Move it.

I don't only want to sweep up.

What are you - Labour Party?

I want to be manager of this place. I think I can do it.

Please let me.

I was thinking how to tell your father four punks drowned you in a washing machine.

Some water on the brain might clear your thoughts.

OK, I'll charge you basic rent. Above that, you keep.

< But you're everything to me.

< Course I prefer you to Janice.

Oi!

Get up.

Salim, I don't know how to make this place work. I think I've made a fool of myself.

Your uncle's given you a dead duck.

That's why I've decided to help you financially.

Go to this address.

Pick up some video cassettes and bring them straight back to my flat.

That's all.

Salim!

Go and sit down.

You OK? No problems?

No.

It's one of the best collections of modern Indian paintings, Omar. I patronise many painters.

Right.

I won't be a minute. Make yourself comfortable.

< Watch something if you like. You're one of us now, Omar.

Hello. Can I speak to Johnny, please?

Right, well, do you know where he's staying?

Are you sure?

No, I just wanted to help him.

If you see him, ask him to ring Omo.

Is that the tape playing? What are you doing?

Just watching something. >

Not these. Who gave you permission to touch these?

It's just a tape. What are you doing?

What business, Salim?

< Nasser tells me you're ambitious, but you failed your exams twice.

< You've done nothing with the laundrette and now you're trying to screw me up.

You'll become like those white arseholes who call us wog.

The family, rich and powerful back home, is being let down by you.

Go on. Fuck off.

Seen Johnny?

Piss off back to the jungle, wog boy.

These people, they're too tough for you.

I'll tell Nasser you're through with them.

Hello?

Why do that?

Useless fool!

-PHONE RINGS

-Aaargh!

Hello.

Now, look!

What?

Bloody arse!

What?

You've amputated my entire fucking foot!

What?

I said you should've been a doctor!

Hello?

Johnny!

Yeah. See you then, Johnny boy.

I'll throw you out of this flat if you ever bring that bum here!

I'm dead impressed by all this.

You were the one at school. The one they liked.

All the Pakis liked me.

I've been through all that, with my parents and that.

And with people like you.

But now I've got some big ideas.

I need to raise money to make this place good.

And I want you to help me with that.

I want you to work here with me.

What kind of work is it?

A variety.

Variety of menial things.

Cleaning windows kind of thing?

< Yeah, sure.

And you can start by cleaning those bastards out.

Now? >

< I want everything done now. That's the way to do anything big.

Christ!

Omar, sorry what happened before. Too much to drink.

Just go on another little errand for me. Same as before.

For 50 quid.

You little bastard.

All right.

MAN MUMBLES IN URDU

# Da da da da da dah! #

Come on!

I've sussed Salim's game. This is gonna finance our future. Cut 'em out.

You know where to sell this stuff, yeah? Don't you?

I'm working for you now, not being a bad boy.

This means more. Real work. Expansion.

Salim will kill us.

We'll re-sell it fast tonight.

I couldn't be doing any of this without you.

Excuse me a moment.

Let's have a private chat.

You can go.

You haven't paid me.

I'm not in the mood.

Nothing happened to you on the way here?

No.

Well...

something may happen to you on the way back.

DISCO MUSIC PLAYS

She's nice.

Tell me about the beach in Bombay, Uncle. >

Or the house in Lahore where Auntie Nina put the garden hose in Father's bedroom window.

And Papa's bed started to float.

Papa.

You look beautiful.

What about my laundrette? Never mind the stories.

What are you doing, boy?

What am I doing?

It'll be going into profit soon.

Partly because I've hired a bloke of astounding competence

and strength of body and mind.

Yasmin, fiddle with my toes.

What bloke?

He's called Johnny.

How are you going to pay him?

Adab arz hai, mian.

Everything is good, good. Everything.

Aap janta hai mai dil ka mareez hoo.

Speak in English for Omar.

Doesn't he understand Urdu?

Not only that, I've given him that pain-in-the-arse laundrette to run.

But he has hired someone else to do the work.

Typically English, if I can say that.

Don't fuck your uncle's laundrette.

Don't talk to him like that.

Why, is he royalty?

No. I don't like it.

She's a hot girl.

In my opinion, much good can come of fucking.

Your mouth has become very big lately.

Well?

All right, all right. Let's all take it easy.

Who is it sitting in the drive? It's bothering me.

Some friend of yours?

Zaki, go and see who it is.

It's only Johnny. >

My friend. He works for me.

No-one works without my permission.

Tania, bring him in.

How much good would come of us fucking later tonight?

You put up with them because there's so much you want.

You're greedy, like my father.

< He's a great man.

Johnny!

Why did you leave him out here?

He won't come in without being asked.

Unless he's doing a burglary.

My father wants to see you.

How's Salim today?

Wearing too much perfume.

Eyelash.

< So I said, "In this street I am the law. I create the work."

Tania.

You like Tania?

Oh, yeah.

I'll see what I can do.

< And now to business.

I've been to see the laundrette. You boys will make a beautiful job of it.

You need nothing more there. But in exchange I want you to do something.

You look like a tough chap.

I've got some bastard tenants

in one of my houses that I cannot get rid of.

No. I don't do nothing rough no more.

I'm not looking for a mass murderer, you bloody fool!

What does it involve, please?

Unscrewing.

Your favourite subject, Salim.

For Christ's sake!

What's this unscrewing?

Getting into some family business.

What else is there left for you in this country now?

< Send him to the garage.

And ask Tania to bring some champagne. We'll drink to Thatcher and your beautiful laundrette.

Do they go together?

Like dal and chapattis.

-To us!

-Cheers!

Timber's coming tomorrow morning. Getting it cheap.

I've had a vision of how our place can be.

People don't like laundrettes because they're like toilets.

This could be a Ritz among laundrettes.

A laundrette as big as the Ritz.

Oh, yes.

< DISTURBANCE

Pick it up!

Leave it out!

Why are you working for these people? Pakis!

It's work, that's why.

I want to do some work. Are you jealous?

No, I'm angry, Johnny.

I don't like to see one of our blokes grovelling to Pakis.

They came over here to work for us. That's why we brought them over.

Don't cut yourself off from your own people.

There's no-one else who really wants you.

Everyone has to belong.

I can't ask you in.

You better get back to your father.

I didn't think you'd ever mention him.

He helped me, didn't he, when I was at school?

Yeah.

And what did you do but hurt him?

I want to forget all of them things.

I passed by the laundrette. So you gave them money to do it up?

Where did they get it from?

Government grant.

Omar's just like us. Pure bloody family.

So, like you, God knows what he does for money.

Come on in.

That joker's a bad influence on Omar.

There's some things between them I'm looking into.

So they let you out of prison? Too crowded?

Unscrew.

Ghabrao mat, yar.

Mai is harami ko sirf kaam de rahaa huun.

Ye harami kyaa kaam karega?

Arre, iske chutadon pe mai joota jo rakhunga.

Arre, gandu, tumhara joota hii nikal jaayega.

HE LAUGHS

He's changed the lock. You'd better take off the whole door.

He's only a poet with no money.

I ain't hurting nobody, OK?

That door you've just taken off - hang it back.

I'm just a poor man. This is my room. Let's leave it that way!

Thievin' Uncle Tom parasite!

I will kill you!

Throw that bugger out!

Filthy imperialist swine!

Enemy of the Third World!

You and your kind, your days are numbered.

Don't look good - Pakis doing this.

Why not?

What would your enemies say about this?

Ain't exactly integration, is it?

I'm a professional businessman, not a professional Pakistani.

And there is no question of race in the new enterprise culture.

I'll forward your mail.

You like the room?

Omar says you have nowhere to live. I won't charge.

Why not?

You can unscrew.

That's confirmed beautifully. But can you unblock?

And can you keep this zoo under control?

I wish Salim could see this.

Why?

He's onto us. He's just biding his time, then he'll get us.

Moose, make yourself useful.

If you don't pay the rent at Nasser's place you'll have to chuck yourself out of the window.

Moose!

Let's open. The whole world's waiting. >

I've invited Nasser and Papa. >

Papa hasn't been out for months. We can't move till he arrives. >

What time did they say they'd be here?

An hour ago.

They ain't gonna come.

Follow me.

Shall I open the champagne?

Didn't I predict this?

You did, man. You did.

This whole area's begging for clean trousers.

This place will be the jewel in the jacksie of South London.

Jesus Christ!

Do you want to open the place up?

Not till Papa comes, remember?

< Your father?

He went out of his way with you.

And with all my friends. >

He did, didn't he? >

Omo, what you on about?

About how years later he saw the same boys. And what were they doing?

What?

Marching.

Marching through Lewisham.

It was bricks and bottles and Union Jacks.

It was immigrants out - kill us.

People we knew. >

And it was you. He saw you marching and you saw him watching you. Don't deny it.

We were there when you went past.

Papa hated himself and he hated his job.

He was afraid on the streets for me.

So he took it out on her and she couldn't bear it.

Such failure.

Such emptiness.

Hurry up. We're waiting. >

There ain't nothing I can say to make it up to you.

There's only things I can do to show you that...

that I am with you.

Isn't it a beautiful thing they've done with it? And with music, too.

It's like a wonderful ship. I'd no idea.

He's a marvellous boy.

You don't have to tell me.

But I tell you everything five times.

At least.

Am I a bad man?

You are sometimes...careless.

Yes.

Dance with me.

We are learning.

But where are those two buggers?

MUSIC: "Skaters' Waltz" by Strauss

Of course,

Johnny did all the physical work.

You're fond of that boy.

I wish I could help all the other deadbeats like him.

You're tired of work.

It's time I became a holy man.

A sadhu of South London.

Yes.

But first we must marry Omar off.

-Shit!

-Typical.

What the hell are you doing? Sunbathing?

Asleep, Uncle. We were shagged out.

Where's Papa?

Would you do us the honour, madam?

Love to.

OK.

MUSIC: "Fanfare For The Common Man"

We thought we'd do the bloody area a favour.

Lift up the place a bit.

Hello. Welcome.

Enjoying your wash?

Lovely.

Laundrettes are impossible. I've got two laundrettes, two ulcers, plus piles.

< What's your surname?

Braithwaite.

That's it. I know your mother.

I thought Papa might just make it today, Uncle.

He said he never visits laundrettes.

Angela, be reasonable.

You can always buy some new ones.

< Oh, good, it's Tania.

I've never met her.

But she has a beautiful face.

Who invited Tania?

I did, Uncle. >

Do you two know each other?

At last. After so long in my family's life.

Bring Tania over here.

I do feel that I know you.

But you don't.

Marry her.

What's wrong with her? >

When I say marry her, you damn well do it.

I don't mind my father having a mistress.

Oh, good. I'm so grateful.

I don't mind my father spending our money on you.

Why don't you mind?

Please be nice to her. Get the pressure off my head!

Or my father being with you instead of with our mother. >

Your penis works, doesn't it?

I don't like women who live off men.

Get going!

That's a pretty disgusting, parasitical thing, isn't it?

Tania, come and look at the spin-dryers. They're fluff drying.

But tell me, who do you live off?

And you must understand.. we're of different generations...

different classes.

Everything is waiting for you.

The only thing that has ever waited for me...

is your father.

We'd better get going.

No, I am not drunk, Angela.

I'm not gonna see her again.

I didn't ask her to come! >

Rachel, I'll explain to you! >

Why should I love you?

Darling, listen!

Please, listen to me.

I didn't ask her to come.

Then who did?

The boys!

That's what you say!

-You made me look stupid.

-Can we go to the club?

No! We're not going anywhere.

Darling, please!

Rachel?

Goodbye, Omar.

Bye-bye.

I want to leave home.

I need to break away.

You'll have to help me. Financially.

As well as everything else, why don't you go to the Palace no more?

Palace ain't my team. Millwall, me.

I'm drunk.

Will you marry me?

I bet you don't even support England any more.

Palace give you a trial.

Yeah.

Told me mum Palace wanted me for a sweeper.

She said she reckoned that was about my level.

If you can get me some money.

Omo's getting married.

You owe me an awful lot of money. >

The beard, remember?

Good, you remember. I'd better have my money back.

Haven't got money like that now.

It's all in the laundrette?

Then I'd better have a down-payment. About half.

By the time Nasser has his annual party.

Or I'll instruct him to get rid of the laundrette.

It took you a while to get onto us.

Wanted to see what you'd do. How's your papa?

So many books written and read. Politicians sought him out.

Bhutto was his close friend. But we're nothing in England without money.

< I told you already.

< Come on, Angela.

< That's stupid.

< No, of course I won't.

< Who told you that?

Johnny!

JOHNNY!

MUSIC THUMPS LOUDLY

Didn't I tell you? Didn't I tell you about the noise last night?

Where did you go? You just disappeared.

I went drinking.

With me old mates.

It ain't illegal.

Laundrettes are a big commitment. Why aren't you at work?

You'll be locking the place up soon...

and coming to bed.

No, it never closes. That way we begin to make money.

You're getting greedy. >

I want big money. I'm not gonna be beat down by this country.

At school you and your friends kicked me around and what are you doing now?

Washing my floor. That's how I like it.

< Now get to work.

Get to work or else you're fired.

What about you? >

I don't want to see you for a while.

I got some big thinking to do.

But today...

It's been the best day.

Yeah.

Almost the best day.

MUSIC STOPS

THEY SHOUT ABUSE

MUSIC: "One Fine Day" from Madame Butterfly

MUSIC STOPS

I recognise you, at least.

We was expecting you today.

Well?

I've come.

The invitation was for 3 o'clock, Mr Ali.

It's only ten past now.

You know...

I thought I'd come to the wrong place,

that I'd suddenly found myself in a ladies' hairdressing salon in Pinner.

Where one might get a pink rinse.

Do you do a good pink rinse, Johnny?

Or are you still a fascist?

You used to give us a lot of good advice, sir. When I was little.

When you were little!

What's it made of you?

Are you a politician? >

Journalist? >

Trade unionist? >

No.

You are an underpants cleaner.

Oh, dear. >

The working class are such a great disappointment to me.

< I ain't made much of myself.

You'd better get on and do something.

Help me.

I don't want my son in this...

underpants cleaning condition.

I want him...

reading in college.

You tell him.

You go to college.

He must have knowledge. We all must now.

If we're to see clearly what is being done and to whom in this country.

Right?

It depends on what he wants.

No!

You use your influence.

Not a bad dump you've got here.

What you make me come all this way for?

Us taraf hai, dekh na zara.

What's going on?

It's heavy, man.

Bilquis is making magic potions from leaves, bird beaks and stuff.

< She's putting them on Rachel.

< Is it working?

< The furniture's shaking. Her trousers are walking by themselves.

< Rachel's come out in a rash.

Nasser's all over the place.

I'm out.

Salim's got to have money. Soon. A lot of money. He's threatened me.

This city's chock-full of money.

When I used to want money...

You'd steal it.

Yeah.

Decide now if you want it to be like that again.

Tania's writing to her sister for her.

Bilquis is thinking of returning to Pakistan after she's hospitalised Rachel with that potion.

Nasser's on a marathon sulk. He's going for the world record.

We'll just have to do a job to get the money.

I don't want you going back to all that.

Just to get us through, Omo.

If we're gonna go on.

You want that, don't you?

Yeah. I want you.

What's she doing with that mouse?

< SHOUTING

THEY ARGUE IN URDU

Does your uncle reckon he's some kind of Gatsby geezer?

Maybe this just ain't my world.

Still getting married?

Can't get out of it.

If you wriggle fast enough you can.

Now Cherry's pregnant, I will buy a house. I'm going to have many children.

Zaki, here is Omar.

Talk to him about your laundrette. He and Johnny will run it.

Omar, my boy!

I got these two damn laundrettes in your area.

I need big advice on them.

I won't advise you.

If the laundrettes are giving you trouble, I'll pay you rent for them plus a percentage of the profits.

Please can you take charge of the music?

I've got it.

The instalment.

It's hefty, Salim.

Don't ever offer me money.

It was an educational test I put on you to make you see you did a wrong thing.

Don't bite the family hand when you can eat out of it.

If you need money, just ask me.

Years ago your uncles lifted me up and I will do the same thing.

Tania!

All right. He's no-one!

Bitch! What's going on here?

Can't you control your people?

What do you mean?

Kabu mein nahi rakh sakte?

Kabu mein kisko rakhun?

You gambled your money down the toilet.

That smooth suppository owns us. Our education, your businesses, Rachel's stockings. It's his.

I thought you were getting married.

Yes, any day now.

I'd rather drink my own urine.

I hear it's quite tasty with a slice of lemon.

You, get out of my sight!

I'm going further than that.

Let's get out of here.

Take me.

Salim'll give us a lift.

What?

I need him for something I've got in mind.

I want to take over both of Zaki's laundrettes. He's got no idea.

None.

Do 'em up - with this money.

Oh, yeah?

Is it enough?

I thought you'd come in with me. Financially.

Yeah. I could do with some straight outlets.

You're a smart bastard.

Look at them. What a waste of life.

< They're filthy and ignorant. They don't respect people. Especially our people, Omar.

What this scum needs is a taste of their own piss.

Right, I think I can do something with this.

Me and my partner.

Take it.

I trust you and your family.

Salim?

I'd happily put money into it, Omar.

Right.

Wait a minute.

Want to come in and look at this place?

Think we could do something with it?

Can't tell without seeing it.

Come on, then.

Not if that scum Salim's there.

I'm going.

Where?

Away.

BALL HITS WINDOW

< HE BANGS ON WINDOW

< I'm going.

You can come.

No good jobs like this around.

Omar just runs you around everywhere...like a servant.

I'll stay here with me friend.

And fight it out.

My family...

Salim and all...

..they'll swallow you up like a little kebab.

I couldn't leave him.

Not now.

Don't ask me to.

You ever touched him?

< So today is the saddest day for us, Nasser.

< I've thought...

I'm taking you too much away from your family.

Love...

money...

you.

It's not possible to enjoy being hated so much.

Your wife is a brilliant woman.

< Oh, my God.

And what's worse, my furniture keeps moving about the room.

The council's been around.

But we've had a time.

A short time.

A nice time.

I want to talk to Omo.

About business.

Dunno where he is.

Is it worth waiting?

In my experience, it's always worth waiting for Omo.

Nayar?

Nasser!

< Paki!

This damn country has done us in.

That's why I'm like this.

We should be there.

Home.

But that country's been sodomised by religion.

It's beginning to interfere with the making of money.

Compared with everywhere...

it's a little heaven here.

You are planning an armada of laundrettes?

What about dry cleaners?

They're the past.

But then, they are the present also.

Mostly they're the past.

He'll die! >

Salim, get out of here!

Listen to me, Genghis!

I don't want to fight.

Tough!

That's enough, Genghis.

That's enough, man.

Why are you so unhappy?

Rachel's left me.

And I don't know what I'm going to do.

SIRENS WAIL

You fucking bastards!

You still look after me.

But I'm finished.

Only Omar matters.

I'll make sure he's fixed up with a good business future.

And marriage?

I'm working on it.

Is Tania a possibility?

Tania? >

TANIA! >

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?

Eh?

What?

I think I'd better go.

I think I had, yeah.

You were always going at school. Always running about.

Christ, your hand is bad!

I couldn't pin you down then.

Now I'm going again. Give us me hand back.

You're dirty.

You're beautiful.

Don't keep touching me!