BS Chapters 9-13

Chapter 9

They have finally moved into a flat in West Kensington : a small furnished 3-room flat. Charlie steals some of the pictures to sell, eva is sure she can transform the flat to make something great out of it.

Charlie ofeten came by and one night Karim decides to take him the Nashville, a fashion club. There they will be confronted to the brand new punk culture, a movement which according to Charlie kills the 60s.

Eva is seeing Shadwell regularly, using his contacts. She launches a party where many guests are indeed Shadwell's acquaintances rather than Karim or Haroon's. Changez and Jamila come as well as Shinko though, reconciliation takes place between the two men, sort of.

It is also the opportunity for Karim to properly meet Shadwell and talk about theatre : he gets an audition.

He rehearses a speech from the Mad Dog Blues. He is finally offered the role of Mowgli in Shadwell's adaptation of the Jungle Book.

Chapter 10

Charlie has become a punk star while Karim is working on his rôle as Mowgli. Margaret is also changing : she got her job back at the shoe shop, came back to her house and changed its decoration, started wearing trousers, and changed her hair cut. Karim started reading classics ( The red and black for instance) and rehearsing. The first problem occurred when he is given his costume: a loin-clothe and black-shit cream, the second when he has to imitate a Bengali accent. But he endured.

During this time, Eva was not unsuccessful at decoration houses.

Charlie has transformed his group into 'the Condemned', a punk group that was described by the media as a phenomena.

Karim and Eva attend one of their performance, and she appears very proud.

It's finally Karim's turn to be on stage as Mowgli. While his mother and Aunt jean appreciate his performance, his dad and Eva, as well as Jamila can only see how prejudiced his part has been introduced. However, the inexperienced actor gets the opportunity of meeting Pike thanks to this play and is offered a new part in a future play of this producer who has his own company whereas terry one of the actors of the play who was convinced to be noticed gets nothing.

Chapter 11

Spring. Rehearsing workshop with Pyke start, Karim meets Eleanore, middle class... He works on characters and decides to observe Princess Jeeta. In fact, it is also the opportunity for the narrative voice to comment on Anwar's behaviour: he is stubborn, believes he is always right. Karim also deals with his perception of the Muslim religion... finally he ends up presenting his character--Anwar, but Tracey, a black actress of the group finds that it is too prejudiced, too much like what white people expect from coloured people ( hunger strike/ arranged marriage...) Karim is angry but Pyke decides that he has to re think his part completely.

Chapter 12

Karim goes to see Changez to tell him he has decided to choose him as a character for the play. They talk about Jamila... Karim seems to be really in love with Eleanore. He also works hard on his character. The reader learns more about Pyke in this chapter: his wife Marlene is attracted by Karim. Eleanore's former boyfriend has committed suicide and she was broken down, that is why Pyke told her to go out with Karim. Pyke invites them for a supper on the following Saturday night.

When Karim tries to ask his relatives for advice he doesn't get any answer. He goes to the party but there is no account of the supper except that Pyke accompanies them back to the door, and they talk about being happy to see each other on the following day.

Chapter 13

Heater-- a man in love with Eleanore threatens Karim to take good care of her. Then Karim sees Terry, and he follows Eleanore to various parties. Finally he ends up at a party at Pyke's house. Other people were supposed to have been invited but Karim understands that Pyke lied to have both of them come to his house, so the four of them can have drugs and sex. Karim seems to be in another state during this time.