Tangier Tattoo

Libretto by Stephen Plaice (E)

Major roles: M,B/Bar; Minor roles: 3S,2M,3T,3Bar,2B/Bar, 6 non-singing roles; SATB chorus
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Contemporary Tangier, Morocco

Nick, an English student on his gap year, and Nadine, a young American apparently travelling alone, become embroiled with drug-dealers from the kif plantations when they make away with a briefcase full of dollars after a shootout in a Tangier café. Holed up in a hotel room, Nadine reveals to Nick a tattoo she has had done in Tangier, the female half of a symbol which means ‘perfect love’. The next morning, Nadine has disappeared with the money, but Nick is still anxious to acquire the other male half of the tattoo, and he visits the Tattooist who claims he can hardly remember Nadine. But when we meet Nadine again, it is at the Tattooist’s. They are clearly in business together, trafficking drugs into Europe.

Nick has a narrow escape from the drug-dealers. Nadine returns and explains they are local jihadists who have taken over the kif trade and want to recover their money. Nick wants to leave Tangier immediately with Nadine but he discovers she has been lying about her identity. The Tattooist has been tipped off that Nadine is working undercover for the American Government to starve the jihadists of finance. He is able to turn the tables when she draws a gun on him, but Nick arrives in time to rescue her.

Nadine is revealed as part of a counter-terrorist cell but is commanded to eliminate Nick. If he talks, he can blow the Americans’ entire North African operation. Torn between love and duty, Nadine can’t bring herself to kill Nick, so she shops him as the European end of the drug operation. Nick removes the bandage from his Tangier Tattoo. It’s not the symbol of perfect love, it’s Donald Duck.
Stephen Plaice

Dramatic, Romantic