Waris!
Old Man!
Wars!
Mom says, we have to move on.
Her name is Fattuma. You can't call a sheep like Allah's daughter.
Says who?
Waris, I don't want anything to separate us.
I'll never leave you alone! I Promise!
LONDON, YEARS LATER
Charming that is!
Shop lifting is useless
Excuse me! miss
Right...I'm getting security
If you're interested in saving 10% to-day you can take out a student card
Aragh!.........Jesus, fucking Nora!
I'm calling the police, it's not allowed yea!
I'm funny am I!
Well watch me dial 999, and see how funny that is!
Get out of here now
never come back, and forget were we saw each other
You out!
I hide here
I have nowhere else to go! I can't go back to Somalia!
Oh yea!
Oh yea, Somalia, yea I know
How many years, you in London
Do you understand me?
Oh! 6 years and you still don't speak English
To day is your lucky day
Is it?
Good riddence
See yea!........See yea!.....Oop!
How are you?
Mummbles
Security
Look your out of there now yea..............OK.
Try and get yourself a homeless shelter or summink
Homeless shelter yea!
You bloody little stalker
Stop looking at me with those big puppy dog eyes, right!
Look I'm not saying you will be able to stay the night allright
Can you tell the audience your name?
Marylin McKeen and yours........Waris
Marylin
One night, yea!
It's fine she's my sister
and who am I your flaming aunt?
See yea!
Found her on the toilet at work
give over
She's just follwed me here
Forget it
This is a business I'm running not some charity centre for drop out's
Right well that's just made my day has'nt it
Royal Academy of Dance don't think I'm suitable for their tuition
so does Royal Ballet School
English National won't see me for an audition
and they won't even take my calls at the Rembrant
The Rebbie, the Rabbie
The R...what ever it's fucking called
supi fucking name any way
Therefore I suck, so
Sod 'em, there's plenty of other ballet schools
you're a fantastic dancer
plus you can
.....bend in places I don't even posses
yea well can I get rid of these
There lovely
...or this......it's nice
A ballerina's body is born not made
So what am I meant to do with her then?
Today 's weather sunny, showers
What are you the BBC?
Ah, I'm really sorry I just forget something
Your ....sister
can stay for one night only
Great....which room?..I'll show her up
Your room' your floor
and no peeing on the carpet, or other trampy behaviour
or you lose your deposit
Oh! cheers Pushpa, you really know how to cheer a girl up
Hey....hey, no familiarites
and you.............. Wolf girl
You clean the room before you go and leave it exactly as you found it, allright
Rember only death is completly free
Mama
Oh shit! the bloody alarm
never bloody goes off
bloody hell
What you doing with
I've never seen the floor before
Cheers
Not bad
You've done this before
Hold on
I'll write down an address for you
Some where you can go, yea
Wait!
OK. try this place, first they always need staff , that's where I first worked.....yea
Work.....You ....Work
Alright ....... alright
Yep that's right
Sorry, but I can't walk you to the bus stop
Neil! My radiator is still leaking .
yea, so you're not going to introduce us then?
I'm m m Neil
so nice to meet you
Ah get off 'er
Why !
because I'm just a caretaker
I've got a degree you know
What have you got ?
Here yea, take this
You'll freeze otherwise
Watch it !
When you're doing the mopping
you've got to put down the yellow sign
otherwise people could slip, right. Its dangerous
Now give me this, if you can do the tables up there
Remember to smile
Oh!......S,sorry,....sorry
err!
I don't know if you err speak any English
but err
look I'm
I do a bit of photography and err
I'm always looking for new faces and err
take my card please and err
If you feel like it just give us a call
Thank you
Oh! you might want to hold on to that actually
[indistinct chattering ]
alright ............ alright
Alright darlin'?
come here often ?
nice jacket
Very good quality, made in China, 35 pounds.
Just look at this face, do I look stupid, no I'll give you twenty, what about these ?
For you special price
Naw
Twenty five
but
Twenty five! It's a bloody flip flop
Very, very good flip flop........Might be a
I would come again if you bought something.
What about my family? My vital operation?
You're not even married
Oh! I see you've brought your little friend back then
nothing here for you Wolf girl
Me money, money
No room at the Inn
Sorry
She can share with me. Just move in an extra bed.
Oh! where are you going to sleep, the window ledge.
One night
here
One night
Please, Mama, please
No one calls me Mama
Clothes on
Marylin.................Marylin
Open up
Marylin
Bed delivery
Yep
Do you want me to come in and fix it
Just leave it there
I cook excellent
They'll be here in a minute, you better get a shifty on.
I cannot I have homework.
Don't argue with me, put this on for a change.
No!
Week after week learning, working, sleeping
We'll have some fun tonight methinks
I have to fill form okay
Okay
Put
last
name
first
which name?
Waris is your first name
Dirie is your family name
[speaks Somali]
Englsh................please
thank you
Date of
birth
I don't know
Day....month
year
Friend,..... sister
Um!
do you think you could bloody bovver to knock
You what, you deaf?
So err, what's for dinner
Pasta with spinach and sardine
I don't
Go on
ergh
There you are that's for you
No worries, maybe one day I could cook for you.
So do you like bacon and eggs
I make a wonderful
yea thanks Neil your contributions are greatly appreciated Thank you
What,................ what, what is wrong what
It's another rejection, I'll never be a dancer,
I'll be a bloody shop girl all my bloody life
How you know it's a rejection
Because an acceptance come in a big thick envelope
[knocking on door ]
What!
erm you got some visitors
I can't, send them away
leave me alone
er what am I your bloody butler?
Get out
We dance tonight
Hi!..
I'm Harold
Harold is your first name?
yea
What is your last name?
Jackson
Harold Jackson
yea I like the way you say it
What's yours?
[says name in Somali]
Parents couldn't figure out what to name you hu!
First name Waris, last name Dirie
Dirie!
So I should call you?
Waris
Where are you from?
Are you cold, with that err balloon jacket on?
You want to dance?
What does Harold Jackson make?
What?
In Somalia all names have a meaning
So what does Waris mean?
Desert Flower
You're not African?
No
I'm from New York
Waris
Hmm
I'm only here for a few weeks
Alright
Let's dance
There you go
You're a good dancer
Gotcha!
Wait!
Okay, I'm sorry
I feel guilty
A respectable woman does not do that
A respectable woman
can have fun and still be respectable
No a respectable woman
does not do that
Doesn't do what?
Hey Waris
you can say it you know
Sex! .......... Okay
It's nothing to be ashamed of, what's so bad about it?
Only a cut woman is a good woman
Sorry, What a cut
okay, now you're going to have to teach some English
This is how she stays a virgin, yes?
until her wedding night
then her man opens her.
That's the way, isn't it?
Waris I don't know what you're talking about
You're not cut?
What'cha mean?
Did they cut something away from you?
Can you show me?
Maybe I can understand
They cut
They cut everything away and then sowed it up
When did this happen?
When I was
three years old
Same with my sisters
Notfarma was eight, because they could not find anybody to do it earlier
Women who cut
Waris can you feel anything?
What do you mean?
Is that why you take time in the bathroom?
That's what it is to be women
No!
I'm a women
It's not like that for me
Do you remember what you looked like before?
like this?
They did, they did not do it to you
You're mother?
They don't do it to anyone here
Hey
I knew you wouldn't call me
Ah! it's alright ... it's alright
in fact I think I might have been disappointed if you had
I tell you
you handle that broom exactly like my old mum used to
err, you're right ......you're right...... you're right
you shouldn't let strange men chat you up
You know your lucky, you really have no idea
how beautiful you are
Oh! have you em
have you still got that card I gave you? hm
Oh!
good
Why eat goat food?
I've got three months, yea!
really crucial audition coming up, it's my last chance
its the only bloody place that hasn't turned me down
Jesus! where did you get this from?
"Terry Donaldson"
The Terry Donaldson!
What do you mean?
He's only famous
the fashion photographer
he did Diana
Aunt Maryon said pictures are vice
What she know
Who'd want to take her plcture anyway
He's right you're gorgeous
You can earn a bloody fortune
Oo
talking of gorgeous
that hot Harold from the other night
When you did your Cinderella trick
wanted you to have that
in-caae you're ever passing through New York
His address
"Harod Jackson"
Call him
He sees I'm different .................and then?
Who done it?
Fuck!
My watch
Shit what's the time? I must get back to work
Ten minutes
Waris
I don't have any money
What you talking about money for, you don't need any money
I'll get you help
Go to work,...Go to work
What you talking about work, I'm not going to work
I'm getting you help, Stay there
Is there nurses in this place?
Anyone!
Can I help you?
yea it's my friend she's really ill
Can you tell me where it hurts?
It hurts
Here I think
We're get some help, what's your name?
Waris
Okay we're going to get you some help, don't worry
Alright
Can you help her yea?
yea, let me just fetch someone okay
Stay with her
Thank you
See
Please try and relax
Now if you can just lift your feet into these
Come on luvee
or doctor can't help you
Here we go
there we go
I can't give you back what's been taken away
but at least I can make sure it doesn't hurt, okay
Can you get nurse Fatlma doesn't she speak Somali?
Put....legs.....down now
Fatima's off today but Omar said he'll do it
Can you tell this young lady she was stitched up far to tightly a
a real botch up I have to say
can you say I want to operate as soon as possible
Aren't you ashamed? Showing this white man your body ?
Our tradition is of no concern to them.
Tell her she's doing the right thing
It's amazing she's put up with this for so long
she must be in absolute constant torment, but
She musn't worry we can fix it
Sure
If you change what you are, then you are betraying your parents,
your people and your heritage.
Does your mother know what you are about to do? Shame on you!
She'll think about it
Mommy, I am bleeding down there.
Good, it means
you are a woman now!
It's terribly painful.
All pain will pass.
okay
Waris, this is Galool Mohammed.
Come closer my dear, come closer.
Do you like my watch?
Waris, You will marry him
to be his fourth wife.
I arranged the wedding for tomorrow.
Mom, I will not marry him!
Galool Mohammed paid a lot for you. You can't say no.
Where are you going? - To grandmother.
Mogadishu! It's far away! I come with you!
No! They need you here, little brother!
Don't worry! In the city I earn lots of money
and then I come back to get you!
Mommy.
Mogadishu?
Yes. Hurry up.
Shut up!
Mommy!
I said shut up!
Where is the mosque?
Over there.
Mother, see what comes of living with goats and sheep!
We can't afford to keep her. She has to go back home!
A girl who dares the long journey through the desert has a good reason.
She blamed our family! - Enough! Go back to work!
A miracle you survived!
It was Allah's will.
You have the same lips as your mother. I always called her Afyareh.
Grandma, why have we never seen you?
Because your mother ran away through the desert to marry your father.
A man we did not approve because he was nothing but a nomad.
I wonder if it made her happy. All that pain must be worth something.
Waris
hey
naa
Quite comfy these beds, arn't they
Aargh I have had such a day
God
been on me feet all day
Hello
do come in
You don't look famous
Fame
yea....... right
It's alright for getting you through passport control without any hassle , I suppose
but grave yards are full of people
You forgot
Oh!
You've kept it all this time
Thank you
So how much you pay to take my picture
[he laughs]
well
I'm usually the one who gets paid for the picture
[sniffs]
So you really are interested in being a model
I am in ........ interested in better life
Try and look up
thanks
yea
okay
Ready
how we doing?
Good .... I've finished
Ah! good
okay
here we go
Just sit on the stool
Change it back, will yea
that's it just sit yourself down
Thank you
if you just swivel, ah that's
just turn yourself round this way
this way
right
just face that white thing there
that's it okay
Just do some err
tests yea
yup!
Okay
I don't know your name?
Waris
Oki doke Waris here we go
Okay and
chin up a little bit
It's not working is it
I'm sorry I waste your time
No no don't worry, please sit down
please sit down
face that way
it's fine
Okay
So Waris!
do you think about home a lot?
your mum and dad?
hmm
brothers and sisters?
no
A typical Donaldson, he's only interested in your profile
mind you he does say you have the most beautiful profile he's ever seen
look at the wall
hmmmm
Oki dokie So..... A straw!
Why do we want to be a model then?
and don't say the money
because I'm telling you now
very few girls get rich or famous.
The ones that do are the exception.
Being model is better than being cleaning lady
hm
Can you walk?
Trevor
Yes I walk a long way to Mogadishu
No
no
Can ..... You Walk
This the new girl I take it ?
You trained her?
Yes
Oh no
Oh who knew ... bye bye Lucinda take care
Bye bye darling
A sloucher
and what a shame
Nicole you're having a baby
You look great
Well done
So walk to the couch
Come on come on come on
[sighs]
No no no that's hideous hideous hideous, take them off
Oh god what are you hiding under that tent
fat!
cellulite!
can't send them bubble wrap, they'll never book one of my girls again
lift your dress
lift your dress!
You have a casting session in half an hour from now, if you don't want it to be you're last one lift your dress!
[sniffs]
You work in a burger bar or something/
you did
Oh!
you have a bum
right you'll have to get rid of that
Oh! my
gosh what have you done to your feet?
Oh!
Marcel!
are they
scars?
We'll have to do something to hide
Oh god!
Well
Okay
good job Donaldson is salivating for you
here's the address
take a taxi
I cannot take taxi
Darling!
there isn't going to be a limousine to pick you up, us ordinary mortals have to take cabs
No I mean have no money
I walk?
Bertrand
I want that back
[speaking French]
Okay, now..... umm
[speaking French]
Waris?
you're next
Spot!
No
I go
Now hold on
so you're Donaldson's girl?
Yes
er hang on, come back
Yes
Relax turn around
Waris my darling you are going to travel the globe
I have booked you into all the big shows
Everywhere
from the deserts of Africa to the catwalks of the world, I'm a genius
So
first stop Paris
you're going to travel with Naomi and Christina
[speaks French]
Then you are going to meet all the French photographers
introduced by moi (me) of course
and then
my darling, thanks to my brilliance
we've got two major campaigns in America
That's where the big money is darling
In America
So hand over your passport
Mary called again
Yup
yes
This is the third time she's called
To bad!
Fresh water
C'mon ..... give it to me
otherwise how can I organise all those visas
Oh my god, a Somali relic
Marcel!
Gonna cost us a fortune in visa fees
but you're worth it
you look amazing by the way
you having sex?
What!
Next please
You didn't get into it?
They all look like their better than me
I don't care
that's my move, it happens
What
For you
to say thank you
This fall off the back of a lorry or what!
you can't afford this
They want me to go to the big fashion shows it's lots of money
[gasps]
yea!
But you need to teach me to walk
Waris!
Wari!
sorry
I wasn't
I wasn't watching
there's a
lady
downstairs to see yea
You are fired!
you have made me look like a complete idiot
Oi! easy
I have spent days getting you bookings all over the globe
and then I discover your illegal
This pathetic little passport of yours is a historic document
it is six years out of date
You're going to get yourself deported back to you're dreary little desert
and I'm going to lose every penny I've invested in your skinny little arse
What do you mean she's getting deported
Err! excuse me m'lady, could you mind those stilettos on my floor
you make any marks and I'll bill you for the damage
I have got a car waiting
Alright
Marry me
Oh! get up Neil. We haven't got time for your love sick tomfoolery
I mean it
You know
we....we just get married on paper
Waris gets a passport job done
I don't have time for this
we fly out on Tuesday
Children children can we just use a bit of lateral thinking here
Do you know somebody?
Might do
How much?
Three thousand
Two
Two 'n half
Better be good?
He is
No, no, no I have no money
Take this back then
No no Waris
my people have caused yours so much suffering and
subjugation over the years
just
seems the least I can do
er! thank you darling
we won't be needing any noble sacrifices
very sweet
take these?
Prefer cash
Oh please
Alright ten 'n half percent surcharge
Make the call
Don't worry they'll fix it. It's fine
Okay , now listen up everybody
We get to Paris and Jean Luke from Claude management
will take us to a darling little hotel in Saint Germaine
From there it's straight to the Vogue party at the Ritz
qui j'adore [which I love]
Then you sleep for six and a quarter hours
Tomorrow it is fittings
Givenchy in the morning and Chanel and Dior in the afternoon
and I don't want to see any alcohol and I do not want to see any drugs
Do you understand me girls ?
Okay
Thursdays Donatellas birthday party
and rumour has it that Johnny Depp is going to be there
Monday Madonna is opening Gaultier
so I've booked you all for that
go on qqq quick
there we go
and you are now my darling
Waris O'sullivan
sweet ....... off you go .....come
Thank you
Who's Johnny Depp?
Mrs Waris O'sullivan we have to ask you to come with us
No,no,no there's a mistake
there's some mistake here
excuse me she's a legitimate UK citizen
she's a legitimate UK citizen
Get up get up, I'm calling my lawyea
I'm calling my lawyea
Your father beats your mother, because she let you go.
But mothers never stop loving their daughters.
Your father will never forgive you. But you can't stay with us.
I can't go back home, grandmother.
Marium, a sister of your mother,
is the wife of the Somali ambassador in London.
She s looking for a maid.
It's Allah's will that you move on.
There will be war in Somalia. In Europe you are safe.
Don't come back.
They will try to change you there.
Never forget where you come from.
Here is your passport.
It tells people who you are. Without it you are no one.
May Allah protect you, Afyareh.
Go in peace.
There s a Coup d'Etat in Somalia!
[indistinct talking in Somali]
[on television] Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to
this is your lucky day
Today
is
your lucky
day
[indistinct talking in Somali]
The president is deposed.
The embassy staff has been recalled! Waris, pack your belongings!
I can't go back!
You've got some good friends, they've just paid your bail
you're free to go
After your Embassy closed down there was a six month period
during which you were automatically granted asylum
as a political refugee
all you had to do was extend your passport
one stamp
that's all it would have taken
I didn't know
We're granting you a limited permit to remain in the UK
you must report to immigration once a week
any infringements and you will be deported
and do you know why you're still sitting there?
and not back with you're camels in some miserable hut without water or broadband
'cause I hired the best lawyea in town
which I should have done in the first place
instead of trusting that your low life associates could organise a piss up in a brewery
You've cost me thousands my darling
thousands
and I will have it back
every penny
You will do every job I send you're way
and you will not complain and you will do it before the immigration authorities send you back!
So you are indebted
Marcel
£10,745.23p
that is the lawyea
that's the travel costs and that is what
you owe her in lost commission for all the jobs you didn't get to do
Hurry up .....here you go
What about the bail that you paid?
I don't need that back
I should have double checked that dodgy passport
I mean I'm the one that knows about this stuff not you
This is erm
my fault
You were just trying to help
So what are you going to do then?
I need a work permit
Oh no! Waris you cannot be serious?
No
What?
I'm so sorry
I had a right nightmare
first bus wouldn't let me on, it was full
had to get some flowers
here
Thank you
You are sure you want to do this?
remember I have no money
I don't want your money
And you can't touch her
What! I've got a girlfriend actually
Oh!...yea
She's Polish blonde beautiful
Where is she then?
Marylin that would be strange
yea
Right shall we do this?
c'me on
See there's only one way to fox 'em
and that's if we live together as man and wife
so
Oh!
Whoa! tradition
O
Okay
there
What about your girlfriend?
She'll be fine
She works for Amnesty International
here
smile
What are you doing?
Well we have to take photographs
err
proof of our love
here ...... right ...... so
Would you prefer to sleep?
on the left
or on the right
'cause I'm easy
I don't mind
On the sofa
yea
see
thing is
the immigration boys
they'll be popping round for surprise inspections
We need to keep one step ahead of them
you know?
it has to look real
yea
okay
yea sorry about that
maids day off
That's okay
Neil thank you
for everything
really
[doorbell rings]
Ah!
okay
best behaviour
no officers of the law sweeping in to make arrests
£2000 yes?
You betcha! straight into my bank account
So! everybody, may I present Waris Dirie
Where are the car tyres?
Car tyres?
Oh! [laughs]
Ah!
Pirelli is a calender darling
run along to make up
Where is Donaldson? isn't he talking the pictures?
You don't need a leader
So what do you think? Okay
Is he here yet?
Oh!
you know Terry
So! did we do the body , yea, and the feet
She doesn't need anything
Afternoon, hello, hello, hello, hello Lucinda
Maestro
Hello darling .......... hello
Sorry I'm late
apologies Waris I picked my daughter up from school
Look I found this look
I thought you might like it?
Thank you
How are you
Oh! great yea hm hm
She'll be fine with me
Thank you
Oh! okay could you leave please
thank you
there off
it's a duck feather look
ringing on it
quack quack
We all set Spike
Yes boss
Here's your mark my love
that's it now
Hey!
don't think about the money
they never made anybody more gorgeous
Right, let's do err a polish err Spike
right
I'm just gonna do the one
Ah! Spike
guess I'll have a cup of tea now yea
Waris
You're gonna have to take your clothes off
Waris you're a lovely person you know
the inside as much as much on the outside
if we get this right
it'a change your life
so its all got to come off
right?
You are aloud to breathe you know
right here we go
right chin up
No not at once,ah, that's it
lovely
okay
chin up again
mouth
that's it
up to your right, that is lovely
Okay just turn to the right side a bit
open your mouth a bit
bit more
no not that much, close it, that's it, that's it
that's lovely
that's good
it's great
its good
I made chicken soup
you like that, no?
So
where have you been?
hell I was worried about yea
you know London can be a dangerous place
I need my wife to be safe
No I'm not your wife
Do you know what?
it's exactly what you are
and you better not be cheating on me
But you have a friend called Anishka
You certainly nag me like a wife don't yea
do you know what a nag is?
You said you would introduce me to her
it's a waste of water
Don't you tell me what to do in my own flat yea
I helped you out
you're not in the desert now
grow up
I'm sorry
sorry look we shouldn't
get at each other like this, should we
I don't want to fight either
They all desire you, don't they
but I have yea
and your a bloody 'orrible cook
[door buzzer]
[knocking on door]
Home office
open the door please
[door buzzer]
[knocking on door]
it's a raid
[door buzzer]
Mrs. Waris Phillon
yes
Home office
bathroom
lounge
You do know it's five in the morning?
this is out of order
Mr. Phillon
well down child
would you like some tea?
No thank you
Can you confirm this is the marital bed?
Yes
Utised by both of you?
Yes
Why
Wanna know what we do in it?
That won't be necessary sir
We're not ashamed you know
Oih
Yes alright love birds
You'll be seeing us again
no doubt
Excuse me
Yep
Do you have these in a five?
I let them deport me
Shit
One minute, sorry
What are you talking about?
Waris
Miss my mother
miss my brother, I want to go home
Hey no
Your marriage only has to last a year, you haven't long to go
and then you can get divorced
and then you never have to see that plonker again
listen
Waris
Oh! Neil please
I love you
Why can't you give it time?
you will grow to love me
What about your Polish girlfriend?
There is no girlfriend
how could there be any woman but you?
I'm sorry
No
You just don't know what it's like?
to be crazy about a woman
Please
No
Please
I'm not a saint
every night I'm in bed with the most beautiful woman in the world
she won't let me touch her
Yea
it's no different with you primitive race's is it?
Indefinite leave
to remain
Thank you
This is my sister
isn't she nice?
that's my sister
true it is
ain't she good
my sister
could be your lucky day, discovered her on the loo
honestly
Harold Jackson
yea
I'm sorry I
London
Down jacket
you look great, what, what are you doing here?
erm I err
Hey
err
coincidence
my err
friend lives on the same floor yea
Open the door
I can't remember her name
She's pretty
Well she's outrageous
she's just dropped everything and gone back to bloody Africa
The wretched BBC
are making some film about her
the day that changed my life or something
I mean I'm the one who changed her life darling they should be making a film about me
Waris
so good to see you
you look great
what are you wearing?
Err Um do you want something to drink
coffee, tea, water, still, sparkling, coke?
Water please
err another water please
Yes mam
So
I err watched the BBC fim
thought it was amazing
so tell me how do you err, feel about seeing your mother?
you haven't seen her in how long?
20 years
Wow!
20 years
god
I would love not to see my mother for 20 years
you really are a nomad girl
now look at you
you're
you're a top model
everybody adores
so
erm tell me erm
how you got discovered?
tell me about the day that changed your life
You just walked into a fast food restaurant and there was this photographer, right
That's not the day that changed my life
What!
Well
What do you mean
I don't want to do any more of this, nomad girl to top model stories
Well that's what we arranged, that's what our readers want
If I tell you a story
you guarantee me it will be published?
Look I, I can't guarantee you anything
you know, we're
we're one of the top magazines
we've got readers all over the world
Okay
okay
tell me
tell me about the day that
changed your life
I was 3 years old
and the night before I was
given an extra portion of rice
didn't know why
[speaking Somali]
I am one of twelve children so my mother had to get back to the others
my wound became infected and
I developed a high fever
the clitoris is removed
and the inner and outer lips of the vulva are cut away
and the wound is sown up
only scaring remains where the genitals once were
The medkhan left a hole the size of a match head
I went back to the rocks once
everything was gone
it was eaten by the birds
[sniffling]
[weeping]
So I'm headed home, and she shows up out of no where
She sees my room mate freaks out, runs away.
No phone number, no address
I don't even remember her name
Sounds like a great story, man
Tom
Will you get some better magazines man!
I've been asking you that since I started coming here.
Hey could someone bring some sugar to the front and err, get over to table number six and see what they want.
Oh!
This is her, Desert Flower, this
This is the girl,
this is this girl I'm talking about
This is the girl I just met
Yea!
what about the other girl, the other cover, the other magazine
No! I'm serious
okay
UN HEADQUARTER, NEW YORK
It's time!
[knocking on door]
Darlin'
Waris!
Christ!
Don't think about doing this cinderella trick,
'cause I have every exit covered
Missy!
You know take your time
I mean people have only flown half way across the world to hear you speak
but you know that
You ready?
Yes err umm,
Yes I'm ready, I've been sat there for
half an hour
I was begining to think you had done something
Thinking of calling security
Security [mimics Warisa]
You'se look great, is this how your waking now, is it?
Thinking of showing me up in there? or something
I mean I teach you everything I know.
Do you remember?
I missed you
Happy your here
[tannoy] Ladies and Gentleman please take your seats. Our speaker today will be Ms Waris Dirie from Somalia
[audience applause]
I love my mother
I love my family
and I love Africa
For Over three thousand years
the family truly believes
that a daughter who is not circumcised
is not clean
because what exists between our legs is unclean.
So it must be removed
and sealed up,
as proof of viginity and virtue
and in the wedding night
the husband takes a blade or a knife
and cuts it open
before he forces himself into his bride
An uncircumcised girl cannot marry
consequently she is expelled from her village
and put on the same level
as a whore.
This practice continues even though it is not written in the Koran.
It is accepted that
as a result of this mutilation,
woman are sick, mentally and physically, for the rest of their lives,
The same women who are the back bone of Africa
I survived,
but my two sisters didn't.
Sofia bled to death
after being mutilated
and Armina died
in child birth with the baby in her belly.
How much stronger would our continent be
if this senseless ritual were abolished.
There is a proverb in my country,
The last camel in line
walks as quickly as the first
What ever happens to least of us,
has an effect on all of us.
When I was a child,
I said I did not want to be a woman
why? when it is so painful
nd so unhappy,
but now that I am grown
I am proud to be who I am
but for the sake of all of us
let us try and change what that means
to be a woman
130 million girls and women worldwide suffer from the impact of circumcision. Aso in Europe and the USA immigrants continue this cruel tradition.
Waris Dirie was the first woman to bring the practice of female genitital mutilation to world public attention.
In 1977 she was appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to be the ambassador in the fight against this terrible ritual.
Since then female genital mutilation is officially forbidden in many countries.
Never the less six thousand girls are maimed daily.