The Visitor

This programme contains very strong language.

VEHICLE APPROACHES

DOORBELL RINGS

-Mr Vale?

-Yes.

-I'm Barbara Watson.

-Yes. Come in.

Thank you.

Uh, may I take your coat?

-No, thank you.

-Well...

Would you like something to drink?

No.

Shall we get started?

OK.

Let's try it again.

The same thing?

Yes.

And remember, fingers curved, like a tunnel.

OK.

PLAYS SLOWLY

Don't flatten.

Make room for the train.

STOPS PLAYING What?

It's something I tell my kids.

If the fingers are curved like this,

then there's room for the train to pass through the tunnel.

Thank you.

Next Tuesday then, same time?

No.

I don't think I'm going to continue with our lessons.

Oh, no.

You're giving up?

No.

Oh.

OK.

Well, goodbye.

Goodbye.

Uh, Mr Vale?

May I ask, how many teachers have you had before me?

Four.

Well, for what it's worth,

learning an instrument at your age is difficult,

especially if you don't possess a natural gift for it.

I'm not saying this to be mean.

But if you do decide to give up...

..I'd really like to buy your piano.

OK.

East Asia's experience is really the exception to the rule,

because the conditions there

that made trade liberalisation for the Middle East successful

weren't present in the developing countries...

KNOCK AT DOOR Yes?

-Hi.

-Come in.

My paper. Sorry it's late.

Why is it late?

I had some personal issues to deal with.

I'm sorry but I can't accept it now.

I mean, I really had a...

I'm sorry.

Hey, you know, you still haven't given us the syllabus yet?

I know.

KNOCK AT DOOR

KNOCK AT DOOR Yeah.

Hello, Walter.

-Hi, Charles.

-You got a sec?

Sure.

Walter, Shelley can't make it

down to the NYU conference to present your paper.

-I'm going to need you to cover for her.

-Why can't she go?

She's been put on bed rest till she has the baby.

I wish I could but now's not a good time, Charles.

Well, I understand but you co-authored the paper

and the Dean wants it presented.

He wants to keep Shelley on track for tenure.

I just don't think I can, with the start of classes and my book.

You're only teaching one class, Walter.

So I can stay focused on my book.

Charles, I would really rather not go.

Well, I'm sorry but there really isn't another option at this point.

Charles, the truth is this is really Shelley's paper.

I just agreed to co-author it because she asked me to.

I'm not really prepared to present it.

Look, Walter, you can take it up with the Dean if you want

but, as your friend, I wouldn't advise it.

Not with that argument.

CLASSICAL PIANO PIECE PLAYS

PLAYS HESITANTLY

STOPS PLAYING

HORN HONKS OUTSIDE

Hello?

GET OUT!

Sorry. I'm sorry.

You stay away from me!

You leave me alone!

-It's OK. I-I...

-My boyfriend is coming home!

-I'm not going to hurt you.

-Who are you?

-What are you doing here?!

-This is my apartment.

This apartment does not belong to you. How did you get in?

My name is Walter Vale. I have keys. This is my apartment.

-What the fuck?!

-Ow! Ow!

-Zainab?

-I'm in here. He's crazy.

-No, no! Stop it!

-Shut up!

OK, OK, OK. OK.

-Who are you?!

-What the fuck?

BOTH SPEAK FRENCH

-Did you touch her?!

-What?

-Motherfucker, did you touch her?!

-No! No! No!

SPEAKS FRENCH

Do you have keys?

Yes, of course I have keys. This is my apartment.

-ZAINAB SPEAKS FRENCH

-Show me your keys.

All right. Here. I've had this apartment for 25 years.

-So, why haven't you been here?

-I live in Connecticut.

I haven't been down here in a very long time.

Are you friends with Ivan?

Ivan? I don't know. Who's Ivan?

SPEAKS FRENCH

I'm sure he's called the police.

-Did you call the police?

-No.

-You did not call the police?

-No.

And you don't know Ivan?

No. Who is he?

-He rented us this place.

-I don't know him.

He said it belonged to his friend who was out of town.

I don't know who he is. This is my apartment. I assure you.

Shit!

SPEAKS FRENCH

REPLIES IN FRENCH

Shit.

OK, look...

..we don't want any trouble.

We will get out of your apartment.

Here, take your keys.

This is all a mistake. I'm sorry.

OK.

-We will leave, OK?

-Yeah, OK.

SPEAKS FRENCH

SPEAKS FRENCH

How long have you lived here?

Two months. We will pay you if you want.

OK, so, um, we'll go.

I'm sorry again. Thank you for understanding.

ZAINAB SPEAKS FRENCH

OK, OK.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

-Tarek? Tarek?

-What?

Uh, you left this in the apartment.

Thanks.

So, you know where you're staying tonight?

Yeah, sure. We're calling some friends.

You like classical music, huh?

Yes.

Me too. Do you play the piano?

No.

Do you?

Me? No.

I play the djembe.

OK, good night.

And thanks again for letting us stay.

You saved me a lot of trouble, if you know what I mean.

We'll be out of your way in a couple of days, OK?

Good night.

DOG BARKS

Good morning.

Morning.

I made some coffee.

Thank you.

And...

have a good day.

Goodbye.

That will be on the last day of the conference.

I hope you can all attend.

And now I'd like to welcome

my distinguished colleague and the winner of John Bates Clark Award,

Professor Stephen Kriegman.

Thank you.

Thank you, Shiva.

Thank you.

-Excuse me?

-Yes?

-Mr Vale?

-Yes.

Oh, my goodness. How are you?

It's me - Jacob Konigsberg.

-Do you remember me?

-I'm sorry.

I used to live on the third floor with my mother.

Your wife used to give me piano lessons.

-Oh. Right, right.

-How are you?

Oh, my goodness! I haven't seen you in so long.

I thought that you sold the place.

You haven't met Sprinkles. This is Sprinkles. Say hello. Hello.

How is your wife?

Oh, my wife passed away.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm very sorry.

My condolences to you. She was a lovely woman.

Honestly, I could listen to her play piano for hours.

How is your mother?

My mother is fine, thank you very much. Thank you for asking.

She's in Florida. So I'm living alone now.

And it's nice but I tell you,

there are so many new people in this building,

and Mr Sprinkles and I come down...

Nice to see you again, Jacob.

It's good to see you.

Good to see you. Welcome home.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

DOOR CLOSES

TAREK AND ZAINAB TALK AND LAUGH

We find that, under these circumstances,

financial globalisation can be beneficial.

Empirically, it's good institutions and quality of government

that will allow third-world countries

to benefit and harvest the fruits of globalisation.

DRUMMING

Great stuff, huh?

We should have them come play inside.

Uh, are you coming?

In a minute. I gotta make a call.

-See you inside.

-OK.

DRUMMING

Hey, Walter. Welcome home.

Hi.

How was the conference?

It was fine.

Sorry about the pants.

I've been practising like this since I was a kid.

You...you don't have to stop practising.

Really? It won't bother you?

-No. It's fine.

-Great. Thanks.

I'll keep my pants on.

TAREK LAUGHS

Hey, Zainab's going to make dinner, if you want to eat with us later.

OK. Thank you.

TAREK DRUMS

TAREK SPEAKS ARABIC

I'm sorry. That was my mother in Michigan.

If I don't call her every day, she thinks something happened to me.

Yeah. I'll have a bit. Thanks.

-Are you sure you won't have some?

-I don't drink.

She's a good Muslim.

I'm a bad one.

-Are you finished?

-Yes. Uh, can I help you?

No, please, it's the least I can do.

Well, thank you for dinner. It was very good.

-You're welcome.

-Thank you.

So, what's the conference about?

Economic growth in developing nations.

That's us. Syria. Senegal.

So have you written some books?

Three, and I'm working on a fourth.

Four books?

Wow. That's great.

My father was a writer. A journalist.

Is he still writing?

No. He died before we left Syria.

-Almost nine years ago.

-I'm sorry.

Me too.

-Tarek?

-Mm.

It's 8:30.

Mm. We have to go.

I have a gig.

Walter, you can come if you want.

Uh, no, I've got some work I have to get done - thank you.

-OK, well, maybe another time.

-OK.

-Bye.

-Bye.

You know you are very sexy when you're mad at me.

Hello.

If you don't mind, I think I will come.

Cool.

Let me get my coat.

BAND PLAYS JAZZ MUSIC

He's very good.

Yes.

The whole band is very good.

Yes.

I'm sorry, guys.

Yallah. Let's go.

-Very good.

-Really? You liked it?

Yeah, it was very good.

I was not sure. I thought it was too loud and, you know...

Tarek?

DRUMMING

Oh.

Hi.

It sounded good, Walter.

-I'm sorry. I...

-No. Don't be sorry.

That's what it's there for.

I was lying on my bed, listening to my music and then I was like,

"What's that crazy rhythm I'm hearing?"

WALTER CHUCKLES

Sit. Come on.

I'll show you.

Just put your feet flat on the ground.

Now take the drum between your legs, like this.

Now, you want to take the inside edge off the ground

with your ankles, like this.

-HE LAUGHS

-Great.

Feel OK?

OK. Yeah.

OK.

Now, Walter, I know you're a very smart man

but with the drum you have to remember not to think.

Thinking just screws it up.

-OK?

-OK.

Now, give it a couple of bangs.

Not so hard. You're not angry at it.

OK. I'm sorry.

OK.

Better. Did you think?

-No.

-Good.

Now, one more thing, Walter.

You listen to classical music so you think in fours.

One, two, three, four.

Da, da, da, da.

This is an African drum, so we're going to be playing in threes.

Tak, tak, tak. You have to forget your classical. Leave it behind.

Tak, tak, tak. One, two, three.

Come on. Follow me.

Tak, tak, tak. Tak, tak, tak.

One, two, three.

MISSES BEAT

Don't worry. Start again. Good.

Don't worry.

Again.

Good.

You got it.

-Come on.

-I'm sorry. STUMBLES

-Don't worry.

-I'm sorry.

Don't worry. Go again.

Good.

That's it. Now keep it going and I'll do this.

PLAYS DIFFERENT RHYTHM

There you go.

One. One.

One.

Oh!

Hello.

Hi.

-Is Tarek home?

-No.

He went to look at another apartment.

-WALTER CATCHES BREATH

-Are you OK?

Yes.

Tarek's been giving me drum lessons and I was just practising.

Don't worry, I'll keep my pants on.

What?

Nothing.

It's just that earlier, uh...

No, nothing.

SINGS IN ARABIC

..due in large part to the delay in adequate infrastructure

and a slowdown on steel imports.

CLEARS THROAT

Hey, Walter!

How did the presentation go?

-Oh, fine. Thanks.

-Cool.

-You ready?

-Yeah.

-Let's go. Can you grab this drum?

-Yeah.

OK.

You might want to take off your name tag.

Oh. OK.

-Are you hungry?

-Yeah. I'm starving.

Do you like shawarmas?

-Yeah. I like sharmas.

-Shawarmas.

Here. This is for you. For letting us stay.

Thank you.

-It's Fela Kuti. You know him?

-No.

-You don't know Fela?

-No.

Oh, man! Walter, you are in for a treat.

He started the whole Afro-Beat movement.

And his drummer, Tony Allen, was just scary, man.

You want to play drums, you have to listen to this.

OK. I will.

Ooh.

Did you make these?

Yes, I made it.

-Ooh! How much?

-Which one?

Hmm.

This one.

That's 35.

Will you take 30?

-No. 35.

-OK.

My daughter will think this is very cool.

Where are you from?

Senegal.

Oh. I was in Cape Town two summers ago.

It is so beautiful!

Thank you very much.

What's your name?

Uh, Zainab.

Zainab. So pretty.

-Thank you.

-Your change.

How far is Senegal from Cape Town?

About 8,000 kilometres.

I told this guy yesterday I was from Israel

and he asked if I ever visited the Holy Land.

Hey, look who it is.

-Zev.

-What's up, Tarek?

-How are you, man?

-Good, man.

Hey, honey.

Hi. Hi, Walter.

Hi.

-Her stuff is great, right?

-Beautiful.

She made me this?

It's very nice.

So, Walter and I are going up to the park to play for a little bit. OK?

Tarek, remember, I told you we have to pick up my new table today.

He said he would only hold it for today.

I know. I know. No problem.

Tarek, you always say, "No problem" and then you are late or you forget.

I know. I will not be long.

We will go up and play and I will come back to help you.

I promise, habibti.

It's always "habibti" when you want your way, huh?

Goodbye.

Bye.

It closes at 5pm, Tarek. Not Arab time.

No. Not Arab time. Real time, habibti.

Don't "habibti" me, man.

-What does "habibti" mean?

-Habibti?

It means "beloved one".

Does she know that?

TAREK LAUGHS

I always wanted to play down here.

It's supposed to be good money.

Why haven't you?

Maybe we could do it together. Split the profits.

DRUMMING

What do you think?

I think I'll just watch.

Come on, Walter. It's easy. You just wait until you feel it.

Yallah. Let's go.

DRUMMING CONTINUES IN BACKGROUND

-That was fun, right?

-Oh, yeah.

-How are your hands?

-Ah, they hurt.

BOTH LAUGH

Oh, shit! We have to get home.

Zainab is going to kill me.

I'm on Arab time again.

What is Arab time?

It means I'm late by an hour.

All Arabs are late by an hour. It's genetic. We can't help it.

-I think that's our train!

-I'm going to need a token.

I got you. I got you. I will swipe it. Come.

Here, I got you.

I'm stuck, man. Here, take it.

-This way, please.

-What are you doing?

NYPD. Step this way, please.

Police? What do you want?

You jumped a turnstile, man.

-I did not jump it! I paid.

-Sir, he paid his fare.

-Please.

-But he paid his...

Sir, stand over there.

You got anything else, Tarek?

-No.

-Where are you from?

Syria. Why?

This is my drum.

BOTH SPEAK INDISTINCTLY

Put these back in your pocket, please, sir.

-Step over here.

-Why? I'm sorry...

-Step over here, please.

-What did I do?

Oh, come on. Come on!

I don't think that's necessary.

We do. You can come down the station and make a statement if you...

-But he didn't...

-Sir, that's all I'm saying.

Now, step back or we're going to take you in too.

Where are you taking him?

10th Precinct.

Walter, take the drum.

Tell Zainab what happened but don't let her come.

I will call you.

Don't let her come!

DOOR OPENS

Where's Tarek?

HE SIGHS He was arrested.

What?

Yes.

In the subway.

-Arrested?

-It was just a misunderstanding.

They said he'd be released later tonight.

How could this happen? He knows better!

He wouldn't do anything wrong.

No, he didn't. He didn't.

I'm sure it'll be OK.

No, it won't be OK.

I went down to the precinct and made a statement.

That doesn't matter!

We are illegal.

We are not citizens.

And when they find out, they are going to...

Excuse me.

-Well?

-They moved him.

-To where?

-To a detention centre in Queens.

He was turned over to Immigration.

They said we can see him tomorrow night.

Visiting hours are from 5:00 to 10:00.

I cannot visit that place or I'll end up there too.

Zainab?

Yes?

I brought some Chinese food home, if you'd like to eat.

Oh, no, thank you. I'm not hungry.

OK, well, if you change your mind, I'll leave some in the fridge.

Thank you.

Have you heard from Tarek?

No. Not yet.

Oh, well, I made an appointment

with an immigration attorney for tomorrow morning at 11:00.

We can't afford that.

That's OK.

Thank you, Walter.

Walter?

I was in detention, when I first arrived,

for...five months.

How did you get out?

They...closed the facility and released some of the women.

They didn't release any of the men.

We'll get him out.

Good night.

Good night.

MAN: OK.

Sir, that detainee has been moved.

He was here yesterday.

Well, he's not here now. That's all I know.

You can call I.C.E. The number's on the wall.

-Where?

-On the wall.

By the phone, near the water fountain.

Next?

Sir, step aside, please.

Hi. I'm here to see Tarek Khalil.

-Have you been here before?

-No, sir.

Can I see your driver's licence, please?

MAN SPEAKS SLAVIC LANGUAGE

BUZZ

DOOR WHIRRS

DOOR WHIRRS

BUZZ

Walter, thank you for coming.

Of course.

How is Zainab?

She's upset.

I have a...a letter from her.

Oh, you can't give it to me.

It has to be sent to me by mail.

Oh.

But you can put it up to the glass.

Go ahead - open it up and place it up to the glass so I can read it.

It's OK. It's allowed.

WOMAN: Want to say hello to Papa?

BABY SQUEALS AND GIGGLES

Thank you, Walter.

So, how are they treating you?

It's...very depressing here.

There is no privacy. The lights are always on.

-Do you need anything?

-No.

I just want to get out of here.

Well, Zainab and I met with a lawyer today.

Yes? What did he say?

He's going to stop by tomorrow and see you.

Tarek, Zainab said that you were denied asylum.

You mean when we came here? Yeah.

Did you go to your deportation hearing?

-Yeah.

-In Michigan?

Yeah. We did everything they told us to.

OK.

Let's go, now. You gotta get up.

I have to go. They have to do a bed count.

Usually, I can visit for one hour.

-Could you come tomorrow?

-I will, yeah.

Good.

-Goodbye, my friend.

-Goodbye.

ZAINAB: Walter, I'm going to leave now.

I have a cousin who lives in the Bronx.

I'm going to go stay with him for now.

You don't have to go. You can stay here.

I think it's better I leave.

You know how to reach me if you need to.

Is it OK if I leave Tarek's things here for now?

My cousin's place is not very big.

-Yes, of course.

-Thank you.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Oh, hi, Charles.

Oh. Wait. I'm sorry. What?

Yeah. The conference went very well.

Yes.

No, actually, I'm still in New York. I'm doing some research for my book.

Why?

HE SIGHS When's the meeting?

Well...

Oh, I ca...

Right, I-I'll, um...

I'll leave first thing tomorrow.

Yeah, I'll see you at 3:00. Bye.

MAN SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE

BUZZ

But I thought you said you went to the hearing.

We did. I remember it.

Well, then, why is there a final order out on you?

He didn't know yet.

He just said that unless he can find a way to reopen the case quickly,

they're going to deport me.

I don't even understand it.

Walter, there are guys who have been in here for years!

I can't do that, Walter. I'll go crazy.

He's trying to deal with the case as quickly as possible.

I know. I know. It's...

It's just...

HE SIGHS

Look, maybe we should call your mother.

No. No. I don't want her to worry.

Yeah.

Tarek, um...I have to go back to Connecticut.

-When?

-Tomorrow.

But I'll be reachable by phone if you need anything.

And I'll be back to visit. It's not far.

OK.

Just, please, don't forget about me in here.

I won't.

So, have you been practising?

Yes.

You should go back to the drum circle.

No.

-HE LAUGHS

-OK.

But listen to that Fela CD. That will help you, I promise.

I will. I will.

So, show me what you've been working on.

What?

Show me. On that.

Here?

Come on. I need some music, man. Don't worry. They can't arrest you.

At least not yet.

Come on.

Good.

Oh, no, an elbow.

KNOCK AT DOOR

KNOCK AT DOOR

Hello.

I'm sorry. I must have got the wrong apartment.

-Can I help you?

-I'm looking for my son. Excuse me.

Are you...are you Tarek's mother?

Yes.

Well, this is Tarek's apartment.

I...share the apartment with him.

He didn't mention that he lived with someone.

Well, I'm not here very often. I live in Connecticut.

Is Tarek here?

No. He's not here now.

But come in. Please.

Please.

Thank you.

Oh, my name is Walter. Walter Vale.

I'm Mouna Khalil.

I'm sorry to show up unannounced.

My son hasn't called me for five days.

I keep trying his cell phone but he doesn't answer.

-Would you like to sit down?

-Thank you.

Mr Vale, is my son all right?

Yes.

He's been arrested.

He's being held in a detention centre.

-Where?

-In Queens.

They're trying to deport him.

How did this happen?

He was stopped in a subway station.

He didn't do anything wrong.

I'd like to go there. To Queens.

OK.

But, Mrs Khalil, the lawyer met...

I just don't think it's possible for you...

Mr Vale, I know I cannot visit Tarek.

I just want to see the place where they're holding him.

OK. I can take you there.

-Thank you.

-WALTER SIGHS

Could we go now?

So, have you been to New York before, Mrs Khalil?

No.

Tarek wanted to come to New York to play music.

I did not want him to go.

Do you have any children, Mr Vale?

A son. He lives in London.

-And your wife?

-My wife passed away.

I'm sorry.

That's it.

-This is where the prison is?

-Mm-hm.

It doesn't look like a prison.

I think that's the point.

How many people are in there?

Tarek said about 300.

There's a coffee shop on that corner.

-It's not very nice...

-I'll wait there.

Walter, I thought you were leaving.

I was.

Tarek, your mother is here.

What? My mother?!

-Where?

-She's waiting outside.

-When did she arrive?

-Today.

Oh, man. Why did she come? She can do nothing for me.

She said she hadn't heard from you.

Walter, listen to me. She can't stay here.

She doesn't know anyone in New York.

I'm sorry but you must get her to go back to Michigan.

OK.

OK, I'll try.

Thank you, Walter.

I have a note from her.

Need anything else?

No, thank you.

Hello, sir.

Hi.

-How is he?

-He's good.

He's good, but he's very concerned about you being here.

I will not leave.

Mrs Khalil, I don't think your being in New York will do any good.

We have a very good lawyer working on Tarek's case...

Mr Vale, I will not go back to Michigan

knowing that my son is in that building.

Even if I can't see him, I will stay.

Shall we go?

Madam.

Bye.

Mr Vale?

I'm leaving now. Thank you for your help.

Where are you going?

I'll find a hotel.

You can stay here. You can use Tarek's room.

Thank you for your offer, but I cannot accept it.

I don't want to impose on you.

You're not imposing. Please. I would like you to stay.

Thank you. But I will manage.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

Uh, Mrs Khalil?

Please.

I was with Tarek when he was arrested.

He was in the subway in the first place because of me.

So...

Please.

Even if it's just for one night.

Um, the bathroom is across the hall.

Thank you, Mr Vale.

Call me Walter.

And I'm Mouna.

So, do you need anything else?

-No, thank you.

-Well, good night.

Good night.

MOUNA SPEAKS ARABIC

Oh, good morning.

Good morning.

Tarek says hello.

How is he?

I can't really tell.

He wants me to leave. But I am not leaving.

Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need to.

Thank you. That's very generous of you.

Thank you for the paper.

You're welcome.

Do you spend a lot of time in the city?

No. No. Not really.

I'm just here, presenting a paper at a conference.

You wrote it?

-Mm-hm.

-Congratulations.

I co-authored it, really.

And what happened after the hearing?

We appealed. It took two years.

And your appeal was denied?

Yes.

And did they send you your bag-and-baggage letter?

-No.

-What's that?

It basically tells you where to show up and be deported.

But you didn't receive it?

No. I would remember this.

-Did you move?

-Eventually we had to.

But we had our mail advanced.

Is it possible that it just never got there?

Yeah, it's happened before.

And pre-9/11 it wasn't much of a priority, tracking people down.

But if you got it and just ignored it, there's nothing I can do.

So, you can help him?

I'm going to try.

But you should know, it's still a long shot.

The Government's approach has changed radically.

It's very black-and-white now. Either you belong or you don't.

Tarek's lucky. Most of them don't even have lawyers.

Lucky?

-Relatively speaking.

-PHONE RINGS

We just have to move quickly to get an emergency stay

and we'll stick with a motion to reopen

pending his green card application.

-PHONE RINGS

-Yeah?

OK.

Can you explain what that means, please?

Actually, I don't have the time right now. I'm sorry.

-I have to be in court very shortly.

-How long will he be in detention?

I can't predict that. I am sorry but I am going to have to wrap this up.

Do you have any children, Mr Shah?

Yeah. Two kids.

And for what it's worth, my uncle was deported

after raising a family here for 23 years.

If I can get your son out, I will.

Thank you.

Where are you from?

Queens.

-MOUNA: Which one is she?

-WALTER: The one closest to us.

-The black woman?

-Mm-hm.

-That is Zainab?

-Mm-hm.

She's very black.

Zainab?

Oh! Hi, Walter.

Uh, Zainab, this is Mouna Khalil. Tarek's mother.

-Oh!

-Hello, Zainab.

Oh, I...

It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Khalil.

You too.

I...

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were coming.

Neither did I.

-Your jewellery is very nice.

-Oh! Oh, thank you.

LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

Do you think we can go out for a cup of tea some time?

Oh. We could go right now.

I... I...

I'm just watching Zev's table but, um...

I just need to find someone to...

-Hey.

-Hi.

-WOMAN: Is that a necklace?

-WOMAN 2: I think so.

I like that one in the front.

It's all handmade.

Ooh.

I've lived here for two years,

and I was in France for a year before that.

Do you miss home?

Yes, sometimes.

But I don't want to live there.

Do you miss Syria?

Sometimes, too.

I miss Damascus - the smell.

But this is my home now.

When did you meet Walter?

Walter? Uh...about ten days ago.

Ten days? That's all?

Mm.

How did you meet him?

Uh...

through Tarek's friend, Ivan.

That's how we ended up living there.

You lived there too?

Just for a little while.

So, have you spoken to Tarek?

Yes. He called me this morning.

He sounded in a good spirit.

I was so afraid this was going to happen.

Tarek used to tease me that I worry too much but now...

I just don't know what to do.

I miss him so much.

I'm sorry.

Zainab, I'd like you to do something for me.

I'd like you to show me something you and Tarek liked to do -

somewhere you liked to go.

Like what?

Whatever you like.

OK. OK.

MOUNA: So what is in Staten Island?

I don't know.

We would just go there and then come back. We never got off.

Why?

It was free. It felt like we were going somewhere.

Oh. That's where the Twin Towers were.

I never saw them but Tarek did.

Oh, and...there's the statue.

And behind that is Ellis Island.

Sometimes Tarek would point at the statue and jump up and down

like we are arriving in New York for the first time.

It was very funny.

Can you go up in the statue?

Oh, yeah.

I think so.

-You haven't been there?

-No.

Never?

No.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Excuse me.

Hello?

Hey, Charles.

What's that?

Um, yeah. I'm still in New York.

I'm sorry, Charles. I couldn't make it back yesterday.

I said I couldn't make it back.

Well, I'm on a boat.

A boat!

Listen, Charles, I'll explain it to you when I see you

but I have to go now, so I'll call you back.

Goodbye.

-TAREK:

-You went on the ferry?

-Yes.

-No!

-My mother too?

-She liked it.

TAREK LAUGHS

You know that they don't even have an outside space here.

They just have a room with its roof cut out.

-Really?

-It's some crazy stuff, man.

And they seemed to get along? Zainab and my mother?

Yes. I think your mother likes her very much.

My mother's not going home, is she?

I don't think so.

I know she's thinking about my father.

Why?

He spent seven years in jail in Syria

because of something he wrote in the newspaper.

By the time they released him, he was very sick.

'He died two months later.

'That's why we moved here.'

Would you like a glass of wine?

No, thank you.

Mouna?

Um, I need to go back to Connecticut tomorrow for work.

I told Tarek.

How long will you be gone?

I don't know yet.

I'll try to get back and visit him as soon as I can.

Walter, you don't have to keep visiting him.

I'm sure you are busy.

I'll see what I can do.

Dinner will be ready soon.

Oh, OK.

Walter, do you go to Broadway?

No, not really.

Tarek sent me the CD for The Phantom Of The Opera

for my birthday.

I think I know every word.

Tarek is teaching me the drum.

Really? How is that going?

Well, I sound a lot better when he's playing with me.

How is your teaching?

-My teaching?

-Yes.

It's fine.

How many classes do you have?

Well...I have a lighter schedule so I can focus on my book.

Your book? What is it about?

Well, it covers quite a bit, so it's hard to explain.

You're almost finished?

I'm close.

You don't like to talk about your work?

Mm.

It's just not a process that's easy to talk about

with somebody who's not a writer.

Oh.

I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.

It's OK.

Thanks.

Well, um, you have my number if you need anything.

Thank you. I'll be fine.

-Here.

-Thank you.

Have a safe trip.

Thanks.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

Good afternoon.

Hi, Mouna. It's Walter.

Uh, no. I was just checking in to make sure everything was OK.

OK.

I'm good.

Uh, you know, working.

OK. So...good.

Good night.

MUSIC: "Je'nwi Temi (Don't Gag Me)" by Fela Kuti

DRUMS WITH FELA KUTI SONG

FELA KUTI SONG CONTINUES

PIANO SONATA PLAYS

Walter.

Hello.

I didn't expect you so soon.

I just was cleaning a bit.

I love this CD.

Is that your wife?

Yes.

She was beautiful.

Thank you.

These are different glasses?

-Mm-hm.

-Are they new?

They are, yeah.

They're nice.

Thank you.

I was going to cook some lunch. Are you hungry?

Yes. That would be nice.

OK.

-Mouna?

-Yes?

I was wondering - um, Thursday night, do you have any plans?

No, Walter, I have no plans.

OK, well, then, I thought... maybe we might do something.

OK.

OK.

-TAREK:

-They keep moving people.

-WALTER: To where?

I don't know. I think to other detention centres.

Two Moroccan guys were just moved.

They had no idea. Suddenly they were just gone.

Has anyone said anything to you?

No. No-one in here knows anything.

This is not fair.

I am not a criminal. I have committed no crime.

What do they think? I'm a terrorist?

There are no terrorists in here.

The terrorists have money. They have support.

This is just not fair!

-I know.

-How do you know?! You're out there!

I'm sorry. I...

TAREK SNIFFS

I sit in here at night and...

I keep thinking about Zainab.

I just want to live my life and play my music.

What's so wrong about that?

WALTER: OK.

OK. Please do. Yeah. Thank you.

OK. Bye.

What did he say?

That he'd make some calls

but they can move him to another facility at their discretion.

What facility? Where?

He said it could be anywhere.

Upstate. Pennsylvania.

There's even one in Louisiana.

Louisiana? Where they had the floods?

-Mm.

-But that's too far.

Yeah.

Did the lawyer say anything else?

No, he didn't know anything else.

It feels like Syria.

MOUNA SPEAKS ARABIC

OK. Bye, habibi. Bye.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

That's OK. How is he?

He says hello.

He wants to make sure you are practising your drum.

I am.

You look very nice.

Thank you. You too.

Thank you.

WALTER: OK. That's good.

-DRIVER:

-Thank you, sir.

You ready?

For what?

Well, uh, I thought we'd go see this.

-Really?

-Yep.

-Now?

-Yeah. Is that OK?

Yes. That's wonderful.

Thank you.

I'm so excited.

OK.

Don't move.

You know, I think that show was really kind of scary.

It was a little scary. Yeah.

Are you finished?

-Yes. Thank you.

-How is everything?

-Great.

-Very good.

Actually, I think I would like a glass of wine, please.

I'm sorry. I didn't even think to ask.

It's OK. It's not every night that you see The Phantom.

I'll have a cabernet.

-Cabernet.

-Two, please.

Thanks.

I haven't been to the theatre in a long time.

Me neither.

There's a place in Syria called Maaloula.

It's a very big outdoor theatre.

It's beautiful.

We used to take Tarek there to see concerts.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

Well...cheers.

SHE SPEAKS ARABIC

Mmm!

Mouna, um...

I'm taking a leave of absence for the rest of the semester.

Really? Why?

Well, I thought I might spend some more time in New York.

Walter, you don't have to do this. You're busy.

I want to.

But you have to be in Connecticut. You have your teaching, your books.

No, it's fine, really.

This is not your problem, Walter. It's OK that you're busy.

I'm not busy.

Not at all.

The truth is I haven't done any real work in a very long time.

But you just presented your paper at the conference.

No, no.

I didn't even write it. I just read it.

I've been teaching the same course for 20 years

and it doesn't mean anything to me.

None of it does.

I pretend.

I pretend that I'm busy - that I'm working, that I'm writing.

I'm not doing anything.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

I really appreciate you telling me this.

Walter, what would you do if you didn't teach?

I don't know.

It's kind of exciting not to know.

-What time is it?

-12.30.

My God! Is it?

Well, I think that happens a lot in New York. It's...

Thank you, Walter. It was a lovely evening.

It's the most fun I've had in a long time.

Yeah, I told Tarek that I was taking you tonight.

I think he was happy about it.

Thank you.

SHE KISSES HIM

-Good night.

-Good night.

BUZZING

There's a message from Tarek. Something's wrong.

What did he say?

He said they were moving him. He didn't know what it meant.

We should go.

OK. When do you expect him?

All right. When he gets in, could you have him call me as soon as possible?

Please. It's an emergency.

Thank you. He's still in court.

Come on. Come on. Can you hurry?

-DRIVER:

-Sorry, sir.

-I hate this feeling.

I'm here for bed 38. Tarek Khalil.

Visiting hours start at 5pm.

-What? I'm sorry. Excuse me?

-Visiting hours are 5pm...

Uh, I understand, but this is extremely urgent.

Could you please check for me?

Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.

He is no longer with us.

Wh...wh...what does that mean?

I'm not sure.

What do you mean you're not...?

I mean, was he moved to another facility? Another state? What?

I don't know.

I just know that that detainee is no longer at the facility.

Well, could you please find someone who does know?

I would appreciate it.

-Hold on.

-Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Yes. Khalil - 38.

OK.

Yes.

-HANGS UP PHONE

-Sir?

-Yes?

-Did you find him?

-He's been removed.

-Removed to where?

Deported.

Deported?

When?

He was deported this morning.

How can that be?

No, he...

Um, sir, is, uh...

Is there any way that I could contact him?

I don't think so.

You don't think so? What kind of an answer is that?!

I'm sorry, sir. That's all the information that I have.

Now, please, step away from the window.

You can contact ICE if you have any further questions.

The number is on the wall.

Sir?

Step away from the window, please.

Sir, for the last time,

step away from the window.

You can't just take people away like that!

Do you hear me?!

He was a good man. A good person!

It's not fair!

We are not just helpless children!

He had a life!

Do you hear me?! I mean, do you hear me?!

What's the matter with you?

-MOUNA:

-Walter.

-What?!

Let's go.

Let's go. There is nothing we can do.

Let's go, please.

He did nothing wrong.

INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION

SIREN WAILS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Are you OK?

Yeah.

Walter, I need to go back to Syria. I should be there for Tarek.

-When are you going?

-Tomorrow.

It's best for me to be there as soon as possible.

You won't be able to come back.

I know.

Good night.

Mouna?

I'm sorry.

I am so sorry.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Yes?

It's my fault, what happened to Tarek.

We did receive the letter telling us to leave.

I threw it away.

I never told him.

We were here for three years before the letter arrived.

I had found a job.

Tarek was in school.

Everybody told me not to worry - the government didn't care.

And it appeared to be true.

And then, after time,

you forget.

You think that you really belong.

It's not your fault.

It's not your fault.

It's not.

Zainab and I picked it out especially for you.

Thank you.

Oh.

It's very nice.

Let me see.

-I like it.

-So do I.

You look cool.

Cool?

Yes.

You're very cool, Walter.

WOMAN MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT OVER PA

Thank you, Walter. Thank you for everything.

I don't want you to go.

I don't want to go, habibi.

JET ENGINE ROARS

HORN HONKS

SUBWAY TRAIN CLATTERS

PLAYS WITH INCREASING FERVOUR

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd