Mr Shah's Visit

The day of the visit by Mr Shah arrives. He is the father of the girls who George hopes will marry Tariq and Abdul. The family reluctantly prepare for his arrival, Meena has to wear traditional clothes, the children have a bath.

Mr Shah comes with pictures of his daughters, and then attempts to interview Tariq and Abdul, but George speaks for them, afraid they will let him down. Annie arrives and makes comments that leave George looking for answers from Ella.

The family’s facade is beginning to break down and Mr Shah becomes increasingly concerned about what he is experiencing in the Khan family home. He is condescending about the way they have raised their family and at last, Ella snaps. When Mr Shah insists that the boys must live at his house with him when they are married because the Khan’s home is substandard she can take no more. She banishes Mr Shah from the house and turns on George. He attacks her once again but this time the children intervene. Abdul pushes him against the wall, Sajid hits him with his parka. George seems broken and ashamed and upset he leaves.

The children discuss the future. Abdul vows things will be different. Finally, Sajid abandons his parka, emerging from it as a young man.