INT.

CAR AT NIGHT
DENA is being driven home in a tow truck after her car
breaks down. She is wearing a hijab and has had a
long, stressful day. DRIVER attempts small talk.
DRIVER
So, what do you do?
DENA
Uh, I'm a grad student. I'm going into law school.
DRIVER
That's cool. A woman lawyer. I'm sure that's a first for your
family, yeah?
DENA
I'll be the first person who's a lawyer in my family, yeah.
DRIVER
Nice, nice. And you get to drive, hm? Very progressive.
DENA
I think you're thinking about Saudi Arabia. And women can
drive there now.
DRIVER
No shit? Congrats.
DENA
Is there a problem?
DRIVER
Nah. All I'm saying is if you'd stayed back in your homeland,
you would have been too busy getting your clit sawed off to
do any of this law stuff, right?
DENA doesn't respond.
I'm just making conversation, I'm not blaming you. But you
know it's true. Are you gonna act like they don't cut clits
off where you're from?
DENA
In Jersey? No, they don't. I don't know about South Jersey
though, you tell me.
 2.

DRIVER
Hey look, I get it. But you don't have to be wearing that
thing, it's a symbol of oppression.
DENA
You don't know what you're talking about.
DRIVER
What I'm saying is you can be you. We're in America, it's-
it's the melting pot, so fucking melt! Come on, why are you
wearing that shit?
DENA
I'm losing my hair.
DRIVER
What?
DENA
I'm fucking losing my hair! I put this on to pray, and then I
just- I left it to hide my hair. I don't know, I'm a fucking
coward. I don't know what I believe. And I don't- I don't
know why people cut clits off, or why this country enslaves
people in jails, and puts kids in cages! The world is fucked
up.
Beat.
DRIVER
So are you, like, balding underneath?
DENA
What? Yeah, you know what? I'm bald. I'm gonna look like my
dad one day. You wanna see it?
DRIVER
Oh, no, I-
DENA
No no, let me show it to you! Let me show it to you! I'm
fucking cursed. Here it is.
DENA takes off the scarf and shows him.
Here, since you're so obsessed with headscarves! This is
what's underneath.
DRIVER
I mean, it's not- you can barely see it-
DENA
No, just let me out! Pull over and let me out!
She gets out of the car.
And don't fuck with my car, just drop it off!