Cairo Time (2009) - full transcript

In Cairo on her own as she waits for her husband, Juliette finds herself caught in a whirlwind romance with his friend Tareq, a retired cop. As Tareq escorts Juliette around the city, they find themselves in the middle of a brief affair that catches them both unawares.

[Soft piano melody]

[Background chatter]

[Airplane roaring]

[Ruffling papers]

Reason for visit?

I'm here to see my husband.

[Stamping]

[Background chatter]

- Taxi! Taxi!
- No, thank you.

Ms. Juliette?

Oh.



Unfortunately your husband
has been delayed in Gaza.

I'm Tareq.

His security officer
at the United Nations.

Oh yes, yes, of course! Tareq.

Oh, it's a pleasure to finally meet you.

It's a pleasure to meet you, too. May I?

- Oh, thank you.
- Thank you.

Mark said he would call you
when you got to the hotel.

- Mark is all right?
- Mark is fine. Please.

I've heard so much about you.

As I have about you. This way.

[Traffic]

Tareq! Tareq!

[Woman speaking in Arabic]



Excuse me.

[Motorist honking]

Please.

We would love to welcome you
to the wedding in Alexandria.

Oh, excuse me. This is
a very old friend of mine.

And her daughter.
This is Ms. Juliette.

Um, I worked for her husband.

For her husband.

Juliette. Like
Juliette and Romeo?

- Yes.
- How beautiful.

- Thank you.
- I am Yasmeen.

Oh, Yasmeen. It's a beautiful name.

- Shukran.
- We've been invited to her wedding.

Oh! Uh, well thank you,
and congratulations.

[Exchanging goodbyes in Arabic]

[Background chatter]
Thank you.

[Middle-Eastern music
on the radio]

Oh no, I haven't
had a cigarette

since I was a teenager.

- Do you mind if I...
- No.

[Channel changed to pop music]
Oh, no. I liked the one before.

- you're familiar with Arabic music?
- No, not at all.

[Switching to previous channel]
- It is Umm Kulthum - mother of Egypt.

She has a beautiful voice.

Yes.

The heat is remarkable.

It is at its worst at this hour.

It's November.

It's the first thing tourists notice.

How can anyone complain about the
heat when women are dressed like that?

They're accustomed to it.

How is your, uh, work?

The, uh, magazine, isn't it?

Yes. Um, busy.

Always busy.
I'm happy to get away.

[Song in Arabic]

How long do you think the
flare-up at the camp will last?

I don't know.

But Mark is okay.

Oh, congratulations on your retirement.

Thank you.

Do you miss it, the UN?

No. I took my father's coffee shop.

- I heard about that.
- It occupies me.

Yeah. Mark says it's the best
coffee he's ever tasted.

Naturally I would have
to agree with him.

He also says it's not
the same without you.

He has a good heart.

[Middle-Eastern song]

How are your children?

Oh, they're good. Thank you.

Um, they're gone.

Out into the world.

Finally.
[Sarcastic laugh]

Must be nice to have
more time to yourself now.

My son is on his honeymoon

and Emily just
finished university.

She's having difficulty
though finding a job.

- What is her specialty?
- Creative writing.

What?
How will she make a living?

Well, she's doing
something she loves.

[Middle-Eastern song]

[Traffic]

I'm so glad

I finally came
to the Middle East.

I never understood
this "Middle East." Middle...

Middle of where?

Cairo.

Cairo it is.

- [Man]: Here's your passport.
- Thank you.

And your key.

[Clinking]

Any messages?

No, I'm afraid not.

Oh, there is this one
envelope waiting for you.

Oh.

Everything's fine.

If there is anything
you should need, please.

Uh, how do you say
thank you in Arabic?

Shukran. Shukran.

Shukran.

you'll be fluent in no time.

[Background chatter]

[Soft music]

[Traffic outside]

[Motorist honking]

[Phone ringing]

[Picking up the phone]

Hel- hello?

Oh, Mark!

Where are you? Hi.

[Clearing her throat]
No.

Oh, I'm fine. I'm fine.

Oh, I can barely hear you.

Um, how long do you think?

Huh?

How is it now, hmm?

Oh, Tareq is lovely.

Yes. I thought
he would be older.

We ran into a woman
named Yasmeen?

Oh, really?
[Laughing softly]

I thought so. Yeah.

No, I can't.

I can't stay inside that long.
I'll go crazy.

you know me. Hmm.

Oh, we have your embassy event.

Do you think you'll be back?

I don't want to be stuck
with the Petroleum Wives.

[Laughing softly]

Oh, I hope so too.
[Laughing again]

Oh... Oh, I miss you.

Yeah, I love you. Mm-hmm.

[Middle-Eastern music
in the background]

Hello?

Hello?

[Call to prayer in Arabic
from loudspeakers outside]

[Traffic]

[Call to prayer from afar]

[Diffuse chanting]

[Traffic and background chatter]

Big family!

No. Just work.

[Traffic]

[Background chatter]

[Motorists honking]

[Speaking in Arabic]
Shukran.

[Motorists honking]

[Background chatter]

[Kids screaming excitedly]

[Speaking in Arabic]

Ah, you're beautiful.

Fuck me.

[Amused background chatter]

[Speaking calmly in Arabic]

[Middle-Eastern song]

[Background chatter]

Oh! I'm sorry.

Oh, no. That- it's all right.

It's okay.

- There is no sign.
- It's all right.

It's okay. Would- Do- Do you-
Do you have the time?

Do you know what time it is?

Time? 2pm.

[Background chatter and music]

Excuse me.

Oh, um...

I'm sorry. I'm disturbing you.

No, not at all. Not at all.
This is Ms. Juliette.

Hello. Hello.

Coffee? Uh, tea? Uh, juice?

No, thank you.

Cigarette?

I'm going crazy.

Is there something the matter?

Oh, uh...

No, I'm... I'm fine, I...

you know, Mark warned me about
wandering the streets alone.

Men keep following me.

- you're a very beautiful woman.
- Hmm...

It's been years since, uh,

men, young men, have, have...

you find that hard to believe?

[Bubbling sound]

Why don't I take you
to the Pyramids?

Oh, uh, Mark and I

made a promise
we'd see them together.

Of course. Of course.

Then, uh, let us walk.

Okay.

- Bye-bye.
- This way.

Why is everyone staring?

This café is for men.

- What do the women do?
- Oh, other things.

No one said anything.

No, that would be rude.

Right.

I like your dress.

[Piano playing
in the background]

- This is a galabia.
- Hmm.

Thank you.



[Middle-Eastern song]

[Background chatter]



- They're quite something, aren't they?

I promised Mark,

my husband, I would
see them with him.

Mark Laroche?

That was silly.

Why?

He could be held up for weeks.

Then weeks it'll be.

I'm Kathryn.

- Juliette.
- Pretty name.

Thank you.

Juliette! We've been
looking all over for you!

- Hello.
- How are you?

you look absolutely
gorgeous. Cairo suits you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, I'm sorry.

It's just hell there.
Mark couldn't get away.

- He's fine?
- Yeah, of course.

We'll see you at
the luncheon tomorrow.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

[Background chatter]

[Middle-Eastern music
and cries of admiration]

- I've been here for 6 months now

and have yet to see the real thing.

your husband works for the UN?

Boyfriend. And yes.

It's been a bit of a
nightmare, actually.

He's been recalled four times.

Hasn't had a break in a year.

Four times.

you must be looking forward
to going back home.

Sure.

They are ridiculous.

[Man singing in Arabic]

[Kathryn laughing]

- Cairo is such a mess.
- So dirty. you'd think they'd clean it up for the tourists.

I'm going back early. It's too
much for my nervous system.

I hear Helen's daughter
graduated from Swarthmore.

Well, she's quite intelligent.
She's marrying the Dolbys' son

this autumn.

How's that gorgeous
husband of yours doing?

- Oh, sorry. Wh--
- your husband. How's he doing?

- Oh, good. Thank you.
- I hear it's terrible over there at the moment.

There's been some kind of
outburst in one of the camps.

It's not that bad.

Well, Helen says it'll take
weeks to diffuse the situation.

If the so-called ceasefire holds.

Excuse me.

you okay?

Oh...

Yes, I'm fine.

I just, uh...

wish I could get
a hold of him, of Mark.

He's all right. you know that.

you read Arabic?

I should be better at it.

I had an Arab lover for years.

Hey, up for an adventure?

Sure.

[Goat bleating, rooster crowing]
- Shukran.

[Bells tinkling
and camel braying]

[Commands in Arabic]

[Bleating]

Juliette! Come!

We're being invited for lunch!

[Goats bleating]

[Speaking in a foreign language]

Look, this is my friend
Juliette. Suha.

[Exchange of hellos]

- Wait, what's her name?
- Suha.

- Suha.
- This is like my family here.

- Oh.
[Conversation in Arabic]

[Laughter]

Shukran.

Oh, it's hot! Ooh!

you wouldn't think hot tea would do the
trick in heat, but you'd be wrong.

[Speaking in Arabic]

Oh! Tell her, uh, it's--
[Woman still speaking]

It's delicious.
It's delicious.

Ah! It's so beautiful!

Is this, um,
where you sleep?

- Yes.
- Over here?

Yes.
[Girl speaking in Arabic]

Oh! Uh, my barrette?

Do you want this?
[Replying in Arabic]

Ah, this?

That? Oh, wait here.

Turn around. Turn.

If I put it up there...

[Soft piano music]



Come, have a seat.

- A little house?
- Yes.

The sun...

Oh!

I first came
here with Ali.

We had lunch with
Bedouins. It was great.

I fell in love with him

when we first
came here years ago.

I almost left John for him.

Really?

Why didn't you?

He became very
possessive and demanding.

They always do.

They start out great and then,

you know, it always comes out.

But he was a great lover.

you have been always with
your husband, haven't you?

Yes.

Well...

you seem happy.

That's all that matters.

[Soft piano music]

Tareq?

Ms. Juliette.
How are you?

Oh, it's so good to see you.

It's good to see you.

Have- have you been
sitting here long?

Oh, not long. About an hour. But now I understand
why you're so desperate for good coffee.

- You've caught the sun?
- I went to the White Desert.
- Ah, you've been busy.

- Yes.
- Well, Mark has been held up.

So I decided to find
out how you were.

Oh, you spoke to him?

Not directly. But he sent
someone to contact me.

Well, I'm fine.

Thank you.

So, what would you like to do?

Oh! Uh...

Explore.

Okay. Explore.

This is the best
time of day to ride.

Yalla!

[Camera beeping]

Mark gave me this last
year when I retired.

Can I see?

Of course.

I like it.

- I'll save a copy for Mark.
- May I have one? Thank you.

Normally I don't like
these new modern things

but I took a photo of my mother
when she was just waking up

and now I love to take
surprise photos of people.

The water makes you uneasy?

I can't swim.

Really?

But I thought everyone
in the West

had a swimming pool
in their home.

- And everyone here has 4 wives.
- No, just 3 for me.

- Are you married?
- No, I never married.

- Really? No children?
- No.

How long have you known Yasmeen?

I was a student in
Aleppo and we met there.

Oh, really? I've always
wanted to go there.

- It's a beautiful city.
- The center for Oriental music.

- you know this. Yes.
- Of course.

I studied composition
and she was a student, uh,

but I didn't take it any further.

- Why not?
- I was not very good.

[Juliette laughing]

- Yasmeen is beautiful.
- Yes, she is.

It was a childhood...

Crush?

Crush.

They say that once you have
drunk the water of the Nile,

you will always come back.

Here's to coming back.

It is made with
sesame seed and honey.

It is very delicious.
It's very good.

[Soft piano music]

[Background chatter and traffic]

[Man selling
his wares in Arabic]

[Engine roaring
and horn sounding]

I am so sorry.

No.
[Uneasy laugh]

I like Cairo the way it was.

This was a wonderful afternoon.

Thank you. For saving me.
[Tareq laughing]

Would you like to join
me on the terrace?

Thank you.

[Middle-Eastern music]

- Thank you.
- For what?

[Background chatter and music]

I always wanted to try that.

What do you think
they're smoking?

[Word in Arabic]
you don't need to.

No, no, no. Um...
[Coins clinking]

I need bobby pins. Shukran.

Maybe I'll, um,
do an article

on Egyptian
street children.

What was the name
of your magazine again?

[Waiter speaking in Arabic]
Oh, shukran.

Vous.
Vous?

Vous.

Vous.

Yes, we...

we deal with, uh, social issues,

women's issues, that sort of thing.

And you think your
readers would be interested

in the plight of
Egyptian street children?

Of course, yes. Why not?

Many of these children are

left to fend for themselves

and no one seems to care.

you don't live here.
It's complicated.

[Middle-Eastern song]

Please.

Oh, it's apple.

Sure, it's very good.

That's enough.

[Middle-Eastern song]

[Phone ringing]

Hello? Hey.

No, I just...
[Clearing her throat]

I wish you'd called sooner.
I was worried.

Oh, you did? Oh!

Oh, no.

I- I was out.

With Tareq.

Yes.
[Clearing her throat]

We went on a Nile ride. Yes.

Oh, it was...

It was stunning.

[Short laugh]

Yes, I went on the water.

[Laughing]

Oh, it was...

It was incredible.
you can... Mark...

you can see the Pyramids
all over the city. It's...

I'll keep them for you.
I promise.

I mean...
Wh- when are you coming?

It's been...

It's been--
you were supposed to be...

Okay, okay.

Okay.

[Traffic outside]

Love you too. Bye.

[Man speaking from
the loudspeakers outside]

[Man still speaking and another
addressing the bus passengers]

Bus to Gaza, 5 minutes!

Five minutes for
the bus to Gaza!

Shukran.

Excuse me.
Do you have the time?

Yes. It's 2:30.

Thank you.

I like your bracelet.

Thank you.
My son gave it to me years ago.

He must be enjoying Egypt with you.

Oh, no. He didn't come.
He's on his honeymoon in Spain.

I miss Cairo already.

Were you visiting?

I was studying at the university
and staying with my aunt.

- Oh, what were you studying?
- Tour guide.

your English is excellent. Really.

Thank you. Everyone here has
a degree in English and Tourism.

- Two degrees?
- Yeah.

- you can do a lot with that.
- you can't, really.

I won't graduate anyway.

Why not?

Are you alone in Cairo?

I was supposed to be
on vacation with my husband.

He's help up in Gaza.

I'm hoping to see him.
He works for the UN.

Oh, I find them a bit useless.

- He thinks so too, sometimes.
- And what does he do?

Uh, he organizes

a refugee camp in Gaza.

Oh, he speaks Arabic, then.

He's become quite good, actually.

I'm very surprised you
haven't visited Cairo earlier.

you know,

we talked about,
actually planned for it,

but something always came up.

Children, work...

Do you have a photo?

Of my children? Yes.

They're pretty.

Thank you.

She's about your
age, I think.

She should have come.

Ah, she's busy.

She's traveling across
country. She just graduated.

She doesn't live with you?

- Oh, no.
- She's married?

- She's single at the moment.
- And you still talk to her?

- Of course.
- She's lucky.

[Whispering]: What's happening?

you'll be fine.

Oh...

I needed to give something
to a friend of mine.

He has no idea I have left.
Please, it's very personal and "complicate."

What- what is it you want me to give him?
[Man speaking in Arabic]

Please, please! Please
take this to him. Please!

[Man speaking in Arabic]

Passport.

Passport.

What are you doing here?

Uh, my husband
works for the UN.

What's his name?

Mark Laroche.

[Speaking in Arabic]

Ms. Grant, why are you here?

My husband works
for the UN in Gaza.

Yes, we know. We have already informed
his people that you are in our possession.

- Is he coming?
- No.

This bus isn't going anywhere.

you got to call somebody
to pick you up.

you want to stay?

[Soft melody]

[Traffic]

- Thank you.
- you're welcome.

- Tareq...
- you should go to your room.

Mark will be trying to contact you.

[Traffic]

- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Anything?

There is an envelope that
came for you yesterday.

- Yesterday?
- Yeah, here it is.

- Yesterday?
- Yesterday.

Shukran.

[Ambulance siren
sounding from afar]

[Call to prayer from afar]

[Phone ringing]

[Call to prayer]

Hey. Mm-hmm.

No, I'm fine.

I'm- I'm fine. Yeah.

No, I know.

I'm sorry.

I just- I wanted to
see you. I thought...

It's all right.
I understand.

Mark...

I understand, Mark.
I understand.

[Call to prayer]

So...

you don't know when
you're coming. Okay.

[Sighing]

[Call to prayer outside]

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Okay, I guess
I'll talk to you...

soon.

I- I have to- I have to go.

I- I have to go. Bye.

[Sighing]

[Gasping]

- Oh!
- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Oh, no, no. No, it's okay.
It's okay.

- Are you all right?
- Yes, oh yes. Yes.

Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.

Shukran. No, I'm fine.

your hi- hijab is-

it's- it's very beautiful.

Oh, shukran.

It's...

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Soft Middle-Eastern music]

[Call to prayer from afar]

[Praying silently]

[Call to prayer]

[Call to prayer
still resonating]

[Background chatter]

[Middle-Eastern music
in the background]

Ahlan, Ms. Juliette.

Ahlan. Uh, I'm here to see Tareq.

- Uh-huh. Welcome.
- Shukran.
- Welcome.

Hello.

Hello.
[Word in Arabic]

- Please.
- Oh.

- Sit down.
- Thank you.

- Hello.
- Hello.

I trust, uh, you are well.

Uh, yes.

Thank you.

- Will you take some coffee?
- Oh, coffee I've heard so much about.

[Tareq laughing]

Is- is it okay?

Sure. Why not.

Oh, uh,

I've interrupted
your game.

I was teaching Abu Hamedi how
to play. But he doesn't like it.

- I hate.
- He hates it.

Um, well, uh...

I'd love to play.

Hmm...

Should I be worried?

Uh, is this the queen?

[Abu Hamedi laughing]

[General laughter]

This is delicious.

you are my guest.

Please, go first.

[Soft Middle-Eastern music]

Check.
[Men laughing]

[Speaking in Arabic]

What did they say?

They agree things
look bad for me, okay?

[Men still laughing]

Thank you.

I need your help with something.

- It's a sensitive matter.
- Of course.

Uh, on the bus,
I sat next to a young woman

who urged me to, uh,

deliver this letter

to her lover.

Her lover?

Women's intuition.

It is addressed to a man.

- What are you doing?
- I'm going to read it.

- No, it's private.
- you must understand that this letter could incriminate us.

- I- She's a young student, Tareq--
- Juliette, Juliette...

I sat next- I talked
to her for quite a while--

Underneath the facade, Cairo
is still a dangerous city.

We are not- I am not reading
the letter. I'm not reading it.

A few weeks ago, two Americans
were murdered right outside that hotel.

Why were they murdered?

Because they're American.

She's pregnant.

Yes, I know.

- Hi.
- Hi. Welcome.

Hello.

Do they ever go to school?

School here costs money.

They need to save
for their weddings.

The eldest couldn't
be more than 13.

Maybe.

[Background chatter]

Thank you very much
for the tour and don't
forget to visit us again.

Thank you.
[Background chatter]

- Magdy.
- Yes?
[Both exchanging hellos]

Um...
[Ruffling papers]

Jameelah wanted
you to have this.

- Jameelah? Where is she?
- Shh. Read the letter.

That's her brother. Don't
tell him anything about her.

[Traffic]

I hope Jameelah is all right.

This is none of our business.

I'm going to have
Mark look into it.

Between you and your husband, you
may yet save the entire Middle East.

We've delivered the letter. Let
them take care of their problems.

There's nothing
you can do to help.

I hope you're sleeping better.

you're changing the subject.

- I'm not sleeping better.
- I'm sorry to hear this.

I'm beginning to like it, actually.

I'm- I'm thinking about all
the work I'm going to get done

when I get back home by
not wasting time sleeping.

I remember the ungodly
long hours you work,

the strange commutes you all do.

No, I don't do them.
I live in the city.

Yes, yes, I know, but
how many hours do you work?

Eight.

Okay...

Twelve.

Sometimes longer,
if I have deadlines.

This does not sound
like a good life.

- A good life?
- Here, we work until 3.

We go home, relax,
maybe meet with family,

and organize the
evening's activities.

Well, those girls certainly
don't get off at 3

and certainly don't look like
they're living the good life.

- This is different.
- What is the difference?

- This is different.
- How?

They're not educated.

So, the carpet school

doesn't offer a Ph.D.

How many carpets do you have?

in your home?

How many do your friends have?

Look, Juliette, I know,
I'm not blind. Any--

Coffee?

That'll help me sleep.

It might.

[Background chatter]

you know,

tomorrow I will
take the day off.

When did you decide this?

- Just now.
- you can do that?

Yes. Of course.

But your café...

It will survive without me.

[Soft music]

[Phone ringing
in the background]

Hi.

I did not do

so well on this, uh, quiz.

Oh.

Well, this may be
the lowest score ever.

This is very upsetting.

- Where did you find this?
- In a British bookshop.

Well...
[Laughing]

It says here that, uh,

not only are you
not marriage material

but even owning a goldfish
is too much responsibility.

I'm curious, um, whether or not

the article on Egyptian
children should come before

"How to keep your
lipstick on all day long"

or after "How to take your sex
life to the next level."

This is- this is a... very old issue.

The magazine has grown.

Let's go.

[Laughing]

[Middle-Eastern song
and background chatter]

[Song still playing outside]

She really does
have a lovely voice.

you have a good ear.

I always wanted to sing.

What stopped you?

My voice.
[Laughing softly]

I would happily go to hell

if I knew that Umm Kulthum
was singing there.

Why would you go to hell?

Some Muslims believe
that a woman's voice

should be forbidden
in public spaces.

Sounds like something

a crazy husband thought up.

A crazy husband who
hates his wife's voice.

[Umm Kulthum recording
still playing in the background]

Thank you.

I read it never rains in Cairo.

It never snows, either.

Actually, I quite like the rain.

It used to rain quite
a bit in Damascus, in winter.

Do you miss Damascus?

Sometimes.

Sometimes.

you know, these trees,
they have a privilege

to live alongside their ancestors.

Some of them are 500 years old.

And Yasmeen?

Yasmeen?

I told Mark we ran
into her at the airport.

I see.

I didn't know she was
the love of your life.

Mark exaggerates.

you should have kept
in touch with her.

Absolutely not.
She was married.

She used to send you letters.

Mark... Traitor!

And you never responded.

It's important to
matter to someone.

- I agree.
- Well?

Well, I matter to my mother,
my sisters, my employees.

- No, no.
- No?

- It's not the same.
- I hate agreeing with you.

Mm-hmm.

She's single now.

She's a widow. It would be
disrespectful to her daughter.

I'm sure her daughter
wants her to be happy.

- She's happy!
- Happier.

Juliette, here we believe in fate.

What is your fate, Tareq?

What?

I like the way you
say my name, Tareq.

"Hi, Tareq."
[Juliette laughing]

She broke my heart.

What happened?

She married. It's nothing.

She seemed very happy to see you.

She is Christian Armenian.

I am Muslim.

- It is totally forbidden.
- Let's go to the wedding.

I love weddings and I've always
wanted to visit Alexandria.

- you know the library burned down?
- Really?

you'd be surprised how
many people ask me this.

[Middle-Eastern song]

[Music fading]

Good night.

Good night.

Oh.
[Ding!]

[Soft piano music]

[Background chatter and music]

This is nice.

It seems like you are getting
used to the way of life here.

Maybe I'll stay.

Stay.

Rent an apartment.
Buy a water pipe.

We have created a monster!

[Tareq laughing]

I was watching
television last night

and they said this phrase,
and it made me laugh!

I can't imagine you watching TV.

Oh, I do. Late, at night.

If I can't sleep.

What?

I'm trying to imagine

what I'd do on my first day

of living in Cairo.

And?

Open a female-only café.

[Both laughing]

Yasmeen!
[Speaking in Arabic]

[Yasmeen replying in Arabic]
Welcome, Juliette.

Mahabba.
Mahabba.

When Hanan told me you were
coming, I couldn't believe it.

Wallah.
- you look lovely.

- Ah, shukran.
- And this is beautiful.

[Replying in Arabic]

Let's get out of
the scorching sun.

Please, come inside.

Thank you.

Tareq...

do you still like dates?

- Of course.
- Wallah.
- Wallah.

My daughter picked this dress for me.

I wanted something more casual
but she wouldn't even...

- she wouldn't even...
- Consider it.

Oh, my English is so bad!

- No. No, it's not. It's not.
- Oh, you're really nice.

- Please, sit down.
- Oh, thank you.

I've been thinking so much

since my daughter
became engaged.

My son was first to marry.

He eloped.

Eloped?

He married without
telling his mother.

Did you disown him?

Oh, I wanted to. I...

Oh, no. No, no,
no. No, no, no, no.

Of course not. No, no.

You must really have been upset.

I remember feeling very strange.

Like he didn't belong
to me anymore.

[Middle-Eastern percussions
and crowd clapping to the beat]

[Woman doing the "wedding wail"]

[Woman doing the "wedding wail"]

[Cheering]

[Background music and chatter]

I was beginning to
wonder where you were.

I was congratulating
the young bride.

Yes.

She looks very much in love.

[Middle-Eastern song
in the background]

I never... thought my trip
would turn out like this.

Yeah, absolutely.
Mark has had such difficulty.

I'm going to miss you
when I go back home.

And since I know you're not
fond of writing back...

I'm terrible at writing
letters and e-mails

and texts.

But in your case,
I may make an--

And I'm bad with phones.
I hate talking on the phone.

So I suppose we are destined to, uh,

never see each other again.

Yes, I... I guess so.

Well then, I will miss you.

I'll miss you.

[Middle-Eastern music and
people clapping to the beat]

[A new melody starts]

Here we go.

you know, a
wedding in Egypt

is not a wedding
without dancing.

Well, it's the reason
I wanted to come.





[Soft piano music]

Would you like to come
upstairs for some tea?

Yes.



[Whispering]: Let's go.





[Music stopping]

[Background chatter]

[Juliette laughing]

Mark!

- When did you arrive?
- About an hour ago.

[Mark laughing softly]

Tareq. How can I ever thank you?

It was an honor.

How are your sisters, your
mother? I miss their cooking.

They are well, thank you.
And they miss you.

It's good to see you again.
Hasn't been the same.

Indeed.

[Mark sighing and laughing]

Tareq.

Join us for coffee
on the terrace.

I fear the terrace is closed.

And my rebellious employees
are in need of me.

But please, come around
anytime for coffee.

Ms. Juliette.

It was a pleasure.

Thank you.

[Soft piano melody]



[Middle-Eastern music
on the radio]

I don't know if we can
go to all three of them.

Maybe. Maybe we ought
to go to only one of them.

Can you, uh, turn that up, please?

Uh, up? Uh...

[Changing channels to an
old rock song in English]

Uh, no. Shukran.

♪ Never had you on my mind ♪

♪ Now you're there
All the time ♪

♪ Never knew what I missed ♪

♪ Until I kissed ya ♪
I really missed you.

♪ Uh-huh, I kissed ya ♪
I missed you too.

♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ Things have really changed
Since I kissed ya ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ My life's not the same ♪

♪ Now that I kissed ya ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

Got a cartouche?

Is it my name?

♪ Never knew what I missed ♪

♪ Until I kissed ya ♪

♪ Uh-huh, I kissed ya ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ you don't realize ♪

♪ What you do to me ♪

♪ And I ♪

♪ Didn't realize ♪

♪ What a kiss could be ♪

[Mark]: Oh, it's fantastic!

♪ Mmm, you got
A way about ya ♪

♪ Now I can't live without ya ♪

♪ Never knew what I missed ♪

♪ Until I kissed ya ♪

♪ Uh-huh, I kissed ya ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ you don't realize ♪

♪ What you do to me ♪

♪ And I ♪
I'm happy I waited.

♪ Didn't realize
What a kiss could be ♪

♪ Mmm, you got a way about ya ♪

♪ Now I can't live without ya ♪