[Roni stands up and begins to punch and kick Keith. Hearing even
more commotion, Leo enters the Oval Office from the side door, and
Jed reenters from the front door, just as Roni was getting ready to
kick Keith one last time.]
RONI
That's for hitting me. And this is for….
JED
Okay, what the hell happened now?
KEITH
She hit me.
JED
Roni, is that true?
RONI
Yep.
JED
Good girl. Leo.
LEO
Why don't you come in my office, and we can get your injuries looked
at.
JED
Then I want you to get the hell out of my White House.
LEO
This way.
[Leo ushers Keith and Mary into his office. Jed goes over towards
Roni, and ushers her to the couch, where they both sit.]
JED
What happened in here?
RONI
He already told you, I hit him. Guess I decided not to let him push
me around anymore.
JED
I saw that.
RONI
Yes, well, I do what I have to.
JED
Remind me never to mess with you.
RONI
I really am just a sweet little angle.
JED
Yeah, sure you are kiddo.
RONI
What, you don't believe me?
JED
I didn't say that.
RONI
Maybe, but it sounded like you were implying it.
JED
I did not. You're putting words in my mouth.
RONI
Sorry.
JED
So what happened before, why did he hit you?
RONI
I walked into the room.
JED
And what?
RONI
Nothing. I walked into the room, he saw me and came over and hit me.
JED
You're kidding?!
RONI
Nope.
JED
I'm so sorry. So I couldn't help but notice, you popped him pretty
good.
RONI
Yeah.
JED
I bet he never thought you would use that karate stuff against him.
RONI
Probably not.
[Sam enters Toby's office, Toby is behind his computer at his desk.]
TOBY
What have you got for me?
SAM
I have some basic info, nothing too deep yet.
TOBY
That's okay, I'll take what I can get. Besides, if the US does get
more involved, we are likely to see Ed and Larry, and then they can
give us more info. Although that will probably happen after this
speech is delivered, and they will probably tell us that we can't use
whatever info they are able to gather, because it's inaccurate. That
said, What do you have for me?
SAM
The Taliban are a group of soldiers trained in Pakistani Islamic
Schools who profess to be soldiers of pure, fundamentalist Islam and
the saviors of all Muslims. The Taliban's brand of Islam has been
termed un-Islamic and condemned by most Muslim scholars and
countires. Though most countries do not recognize the Taliban because
of their human rights abuses, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia support the
Taliban with money and supplies.
TOBY
Is that it?
SAM
No, there's more. I have some basic info about what it is exactly
that the women are going through in Afghanistan at the hands of the
Taliban.
TOBY
Don't just stand there, tell me.
SAM
Women are not allowed to work outside of the home. Girls and women
are prohibited from attending schools and universities. Women are
forced to wear the burqa-a voluminous garment, which completely
shrouds the body under layers of fabric, leaving only a small mesh
opening through which to breathe and see. They cannot leave the
confines of their homes unless accompanied by a close male relative.
They must paint their windows to hide themselves from view. Male
doctors are not allowed to examine women. Women are forbidden to
wear white socks, and their shoes can not make noise when they walk.
Women and men are stoned to death on the suspicion that they may have
committed adultery.
TOBY
This is good.
SAM
I have more.
TOBY
Continue.
SAM
Women have been stoned to death for traveling with a man who was not
her relative. They have been beaten by the hundreds for not being
"properly" dressed. The ban on women working has thrown tens of
thousands of families into destitution, because many women in
Afghanistan are war widows and the sole source of support for their
families. Before the Taliban, 50% of the students and 60% of the
teachers at Kabul University were women, and 70% of school teachers,
50% of civilian government workers, and 40% of doctors in Kabul were
women. A small number of female medical staff is allowed to work,
but are continually harassed. Because male doctors cannot treat them,
Women are severely limited in their access to medical care. Women
have been shot at for leaving their homes without a male escort to
receive medical care.
TOBY
So is that it, or do you have more?
SAM
I 'm glad you asked. Cause I managed to get some info on other
Taliban offenses, ones that don't strictly apply to women.
TOBY
Let's have it.
SAM
Those convicted by the Taliban of stealing have their hands
amputated, and all punishments in the capital region, are carried out
at an outdoor soccer stadium in Kabul. Convicted killers are
executed by relatives of their victims, who also have the authority
under Islam to forgive the criminal and accept blood money instead.
Those convicted of homosexuality are placed in front of a brick wall
and it is sent crashing down using a tank. After 30 minutes, the
rubble is removed and anyone who survives is exonerated. And last,
but not least, those convicted of having relations with someone they
are not married to, are sentenced to 100 lashings in the public eye,
if not stoned to death first.
TOBY
This is good, I can write a speech with this.