Captain Abu Raed (2007) Movie Script

How's Ziad today?
Like honey.
Good evening, Um Raed.
They're getting tired, these feet.
Shall we drink tea?
You hear me?
I'll damn the day you were born.
You stay out of this.
Come here. I'll teach you discipline.
- Please.
- I said stay out of this.
He's just a boy.
Just a boy?
I'll wipe the floor with him.
Nour.
Honey, socialize. Mingle.
I'm mingling.
We arranged all this for you.
- Hi, Salma. Can I borrow you?
- Hi, Auntie.
Nour, check him out.
He just winked at you.
Go talk to him.
You go talk to him.
Nour, love...
I want you to meet Mr. Bassam.
Enchanted.
Bassam has a pharmacy.
- Two pharmacies.
- Two pharmacies.
Bravo.
Talk to each other.
I'll leave you two alone.
- Hi.
- Hi. How are you?
Are you a pilot?
No.
- Then what's this on your head?
- A hat.
- That's a captain's hat.
- Yes.
Where'd you get it from?
What's your name?
- Tareq.
- Tareq, help me with these bags.
You drive an airplane?
Yeah, I drive an airplane.
It's the first time I've seen a captain
in our neighborhood.
Listen, I'm not a captain...
and I've been in this neighborhood
since before you were born.
- You fly to Kazakhstan?
- No.
- How long does it take you?
- Enough questions.
How big is your airplane?
Thank you, Mr. Tareq.
You're welcome, Captain.
Tell me.
- Tell you what?
- About your adventures.
My dear, I have no adventures.
You should go home.
Your mother will be worried.
You see, Um Raed?
He wants to hear about my adventures.
It's been so long
since we traveled together.
Where would you like to go tonight?
Greece? No?
India?
They like us in India. No?
Italy? Why not?
We'll go to Italy.
Why not.
Good night, my darling.
Good morning, Captain.
I told them.
- Told them what?
- That you're a captain.
Captain, tell us about your adventures.
Have you been to France?
Egypt?
Brazil?
I'm not a captain.
And I'm not sure who started this rumor.
Okay. Go to your homes.
God be with you.
When I was a little boy...
I had dreams.
Once upon a time...
...there was a man they called...
Captain Abu Raed.
...I ran and ran
until I reached the Tower Bridge...
...I stood at the top and looked left.
And through the clouds,
a giant clock stared back at me.
...so where is Big Ben?
In London.
There was a little boy...
He wanted to become a great pilot.
To soar in the sky like a bird.
He flew all over the world...
and made new friends
in every country.
Why? Because he had...
Wisdom!
Murad.
- What?
- What're you doing?
Nothing.
You left Mom home alone?
No.
Then go back home.
I want to play.
Go home before Dad beats you.
I'll play.
- You'll play with us?
- Why not?
- Cool. You're on my team.
- No fair! Why's he on your team?
- Play English. I'll keep goal.
- Okay.
You two, and you two.
What does the janitor tell you?
- Ali.
- What?
- What does the janitor tell you?
- Who?
Abu Raed.
He tells us about his adventures
around the world.
Throw the ball.
What?
You believe him?
How does he travel?
- He's a pilot.
- He's a janitor.
- What?
- A janitor.
Abu Raed?
Yes, he cleans toilets at the airport.
Why, did you ever speak to him?
Look at him.
Does he look like a pilot?
Yeah, he looks like a pilot.
Believe what you will,
but he's not a pilot.
People like us don't become pilots.
Take it easy on her.
All this nagging gets annoying.
She's too stubborn.
I'll talk to her.
I bring her good men
and she turns them down.
Nour. He upset you?
Mom, he doesn't get it.
- He means well.
- Okay, let him stop nagging.
I'm not getting married.
What's this nonsense?
Just leave her alone.
What do you mean?
This is my daughter.
I want her to be happy.
What's wrong with Bassam?
He's a good pharmacist,
from a good family.
Just leave her alone.
Come on, move it.
I want grandchildren to play with.
You're going to become a spinster.
Enough!
Nour. Take the other car.
I prefer Grandpa's car,
thank you.
Dear, your father doesn't know
how to express himself.
Sometimes he says silly things,
but he doesn't mean to upset you.
I know.
- He wants you to be happy.
- I know, I know.
So come on, cheer up.
I want to see your smile.
- Abu Raed.
- Yes, sir.
I want to introduce you to Sameh.
Abu Jamil's nephew.
He'll be your apprentice.
- I want you to show him the ropes.
- Yes, sir.
Excellent.
You remove it like this...
and put it here.
Then you take this one
and replace it here.
Difficult?
Sameh.
- You with me?
- Yes, yes. I'm with you.
- Good night, Abu Raed.
- Good night.
I'll damn the day you were born.
Come here.
- Move or I'll rip your face.
- He didn't do anything.
And I sat on the wall...
where great emperors and warriors sat...
2,000 years ago.
Captain, can you see the wall
from the moon?
Yes, from the moon.
- Have you been to the moon?
- No, not yet.
- I want to go to the moon.
- Me too. Me too.
Why not?
Captain, how do airplanes fly?
You know how the bird flies?
The bird's wing curves like this.
The airplane's wing curves the same way.
So when the captain
turns on the engines...
the force pushes the plane
faster and faster.
The pressure under the wing
lifts the plane higher up.
Understand?
Next time you're in a car...
put your hand out the window...
and watch how it lifts up.
Try it.
It lifts like this.
Okay, kids. I have to get going.
Because I'm a very busy man.
I had a nightmare last night, Abu Raed.
I met this girl at the airport,
and we got married.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Then the doctor said,
Congratulations, Sameh. You have a baby cat.
- A cat?
- Yeah, a cat. Freaked me out.
So I walk into the room,
and the monster jumps at my face.
He claws into my flesh
and I start bleeding everywhere...
gushing all over the floor,
nurses tripping in my blood...
I don't want to have cats, Abu Raed.
Whose bag is this?
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you is universal.
I don't know how to thank you
for finding my bag.
Your bag?
Yes, my bag.
I have no words.
You have no words?
You speak French?
I speak French.
You found my bag and you speak French!
You're incredible.
Thank you very much.
It's very important...
A question...
about France.
Where is France?
I don't understand.
You're looking for France?
Not France...
France... De Gaulle.
I'm not sure what you mean.
France of Camus... Sartre...
Pigalle... Ernest Hemingway.
You're feeling nostalgic...
for the '60s.
France of the '60s is long gone.
I have a little gift for you.
Like the Concorde... also made in the '60s.
Thank you to you.
What's up, Abu Raed?
You're speaking Chinese now?
No, man. That's French.
Whatever. You coming?
I'm heading out.
Let me change.
You heading down to Amman?
Why, is there any route but Amman?
- God bless you.
- No, bless you.
- My car broke down.
- Hop on, Captain.
You speak French?
You were speaking French with the man.
Just a few words.
What're you reading?
Season of Migration to the North.
By Tayeb Salih.
Yes.
I like books.
The book is my teacher.
Books. Nice.
I like books too.
- But you get to go.
- Where?
- You get to travel everywhere.
- It's just work.
- You go to France?
- Yes... I like Paris.
Want me to sing you the song?
- No, thanks. Don't trouble yourself.
- It's better that way.
- You go to New York?
- Of course.
Me too.
- You working tomorrow?
- Yes.
- Then I'll see you around.
- God willing.
Hello, boys.
- You believe me now?
- What?
You didn't ask the janitor?
You jealous?
Jealous of what?
I'm just worried you believe the liar.
- He's not a liar.
- Think about it.
If he's a pilot,
he wouldn't live in this neighborhood.
- He likes the neighborhood, stupid.
- He's not a pilot.
- Murad.
- What?
Your father beats you at night?
Keep living in your fantasy world.
There are three kinds
of women in the world.
- How so?
- I don't know.
I have to make a delivery.
Wanna go for a ride?
- Where to?
- West Amman.
Let's go.
- Give me a minute.
- Take your time.
Look.
Innocent and tender.
One day I'll find me a girl like that.
A mermaid.
What do you think?
She's pretty. Go talk to her.
Who, me?
No, not now. I'm not ready.
You know, Abu Raed,
you need to have money to get women.
It's up to you. You'll miss out.
You may never see her again,
and always wonder...
I wish I went and talked to her.
Do you like spinach?
Spinach?
Man, I've been craving spinach.
But nobody cooks it like my mom,
God rest her soul.
Buy wafer, any flavor.
Buy wafer. It's good. Try it.
Fine then. Your loss.
- Tareq.
- Captain.
- What're you doing?
- Nothing.
- Don't you have to be in school?
- My dad asked me to help.
- What about school?
- Don't worry about it.
Why are you dressed like this?
Where's your father?
My father? Who knows.
Okay, take this. It's all I have.
No, thanks.
We're taking you to school.
Welcome, Abu Raed.
- Is Abu Muhammad home?
- Yes, yes. Come in.
Welcome, Abu Raed. Come in.
- Have a seat.
- Thank you.
- Tea?
- Thank you.
Two cups of tea, Um Muhammad.
- How's everything? Good?
- Good, thank you.
What's all this Captain business?
Tareq calls you Captain Abu Raed.
Oh, it's nothing. You know.
I tell the kids stories. For fun.
I came to see you about a troubling matter.
What's that?
It's about Tareq.
Tareq?
I was in West Amman and saw him
selling candy on the streets.
Oh, no worries.
But all the other kids were in school.
Abu Raed, you came to my home to tell me
what to do with my kids?
No. No.
- The tea, Abu Muhammad.
- Thank you.
I got a speeding ticket.
A ticket yesterday and a ticket today.
They love me.
- Captain.
- How are you?
- I'm well.
- Want to walk?
- Sure.
- Excuse us.
- How are things?
- Good, thank God.
- And how's work?
- Couldn't be better.
- And how's the French?
- Good.
- I just got back from New York.
- Welcome back.
- You like New York?
- Yes, of course.
While I was there, I thought of you.
I said if I can't take you to New York...
then I could bring
a piece of New York to you.
Thank you.
So I jumped off the ship
and swam with all my might...
Liar. You lie to them.
You've never been a pilot.
You're an airport janitor.
You clean toilets and you're full of lies.
Murad, welcome.
Why don't you sit with us?
I brought you a gift, from America.
Do you want to see it?
With regards from Lady Liberty.
- Hello, Um Murad.
- Hello, Abu Raed.
Need a ride?
Captain, thank you for the gift.
You troubled yourself.
No trouble at all.
But you can stop calling me Captain.
Just call me Nour.
Are you ever afraid of flying?
I've loved it since I was little.
What about you?
Tell me something about you.
About me? Like what?
I don't know. Something special.
Something special.
I'm an old man and I grew my beard.
No, something else.
Something else.
I have a library of over 2,000 books.
Two thousand books.
About what?
Everything. Literature, science, politics,
art, languages... everything.
Wow. Nice.
- Can I ask you something?
- Go ahead.
All these books
and knowledge and wisdom...
why a janitor?
The saying goes
He who chooses the humble life...
has guidance in his heart.
Sometimes things happen in life...
that turn you down a different path.
- Thank you, Captain.
- You're welcome.
But didn't we agree
you'd call me Nour?
Oh, yeah. You're right.
- Hello, kids.
- Hello.
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have yelled at Abu Raed.
He's a good man,
and I know you love him.
- Wanna see what I found?
- What?
- Where'd you get it from?
- Not important.
We're going for a ride.
But I can only take three with me.
One... two...
three.
Where are we going?
You'll see.
They raise gas prices
and we take it without a complaint.
Who gets screwed in the end?
Us drivers.
What am I supposed to do?
Instead of driving 10 hours a day,
now we have to drive 13...
just to make up for our losses.
We can't keep up.
And now, they're going to
raise the price of bread.
Get your hands back in the car.
There goes your captain.
So?
Abu Raed's a liar.
He's a janitor at the airport.
- How come?
- He was lying to you.
Did you talk to him?
- We saw him with our own eyes.
- On his knees like a dog.
- When will you believe me?
- Find it.
I don't know where it is.
If I did I would tell you.
Find it or else...
My God...
Murad... go to your room.
I said go to your room.
- Come here.
- Leave him.
Get out of my way.
What?
I have to pee.
- Hold it.
- I can't.
- I didn't touch it.
- Liar... thief.
Why would I steal from you?
Then explain to me
where it disappeared.
- If I knew, I would tell you.
- Don't raise your voice, you understand?
Buy one. It's tasty.
- How much?
- 15 piasters.
- And the wafer?
- Keep it for yourself.
How's work?
God is generous.
What're you doing here?
I was just passing through.
So you're not a captain.
I was thinking.
I said to myself, I like wafers.
Why not go visit
my good friend, Tareq.
- It's your lucky day, Abu Raed.
- Really?
- How much?
- 15 piasters.
- And for the box?
- The whole box?
- Three dinars.
- Okay. Give it to me.
Can you get to school on time?
Nour. Come, sweetie.
Come, let me introduce you
to Dr. Zeid and his son, Samer.
Please sit.
Sweetie, we were just talking about you.
Sit with us.
We heard that you're a pilot.
I like pilots.
Nour has liked flying
since she was a little girl.
I like little girls.
I mean to have one.
I don't need boys.
I don't even like babies.
But if you want, we'll have some.
- Are you okay?
- Relax.
Nour dear,
Samer is an architect.
Really? Bravo. Excuse me.
I have to go shoot myself.
Welcome, welcome.
It's okay.
What're you doing here?
Come, come.
Her husband...
Come in, come in. Welcome.
I'll make you the best cup of tea.
Two thousand books.
- Sugar?
- Lots.
- Shall we go up to the terrace?
- You lead.
What a view of Amman from here.
When you fly, you see
the whole world below you.
Me, when I want to fly, I lay down.
I close my eyes
and experience the universe above me.
I'm in my 30s,
and next month is my birthday.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you.
I'm not a little girl anymore.
So?
When you're 22, people ask...
When are you getting married?
At first you ignore them.
But after five years,
they're still asking the same questions.
It's frustrating.
Everybody is worried about you.
How can you be 26 and not yet married?
But when you turn 30,
you start doubting yourself.
Like something's wrong with you.
All my friends are now married
and have kids.
You want to get married one day, no?
Yes, but I don't want to
live my life for other people.
- I agree with you.
- Really?
Of course.
Live the way you want,
not the way society wants you to.
They told us we couldn't have children.
We tried over the years,
but nothing worked.
Then one day,
Um Raed got sick...
and threw up on my hand.
Six months later,
we had a baby boy, Raed.
What a miracle.
One day we were at a family wedding.
We all went.
Raed was with us.
We were celebrating,
busy with each other.
And we forgot the boy.
I looked for Raed.
Couldn't find him.
Then I heard a sound... from above.
I looked up. He was standing
on the edge... the fourth floor.
Raed... get down.
And he did.
He jumped.
Gone.
I lost Raed.
Lost any sense of purpose.
Five years ago, Um Raed got sick.
She died.
Everything died with her.
Everything.
Wait, wait, wait. Come here.
What's this on your mouths?
Chocolate?
Go wash your faces
before your father gets here.
- Murad.
- What?
From now on, you have to respect me
and call me Uncle Hilal, okay?
You know, Uncle Hilal...
if you leave chocolate
on your face for an hour...
you'll never grow a mustache,
and you'll stay a boy your whole life.
Will you take me with you
to the airport next time?
Hello, boys.
- What're you cooking?
- Fried tomatoes.
Fried tomatoes. Good.
Where's the meat?
No meat?
- We don't have meat.
- Why don't we have meat?
What will the kids eat?
What am I going to eat?
- All day I work like an ass...
- Okay, okay.
Don't okay me.
- If we had meat, I'd have cooked it.
- When are you going to learn?
Move.
Here's your fried tomatoes
without meat.
Come on. Start your crying.
Let's hear it.
You're drunk.
What a shame.
What?
Shame on who?
Shame on who? Explain yourself.
Shame on me or shame on you?
I'll show you.
- Good evening, Abu Murad.
- Hello, Abu Raed.
I was cooking,
but I ran out of oil.
The shops are closed.
Can I borrow some olive oil?
- Olive oil.
- I've troubled you.
Okay.
Um Murad,
get some olive oil for Abu Raed.
Thank you.
I'll bring the glass back in just a bit.
- Don't worry. Just keep it.
- No, no. I have to return it.
Just keep it.
- Morning!
- Morning!
Two boxes?
My father said if I can sell one box,
I can sell two.
Okay. Give it to me.
I'll bring the rest later.
Tonight.
Tonight.
And the second box?
Okay, give it to me.
I'll figure something out.
Come up. The bus is coming.
- What're you reading?
- History.
Aren't you gonna change
this old jacket?
Why? You don't like it?
You always wear it.
Look at yourself.
What's the matter with you?
Just go to school.
I'll open up a coffee shop in West Amman
and sell a cup for 3 JD.
It wouldn't work.
The more expensive it is,
the more people like it.
It wouldn't work.
It would. I know how people think.
What's the matter, Abu Raed?
Be happy. You're gonna retire soon.
What's the matter?
Something bothering you?
Come in. Welcome.
How're you doing?
- Good.
- And school?
- Fine.
- And your grades?
- In the 90s.
- Bravo.
I got you the money.
My father says I'm smart.
He says I'm a good salesman.
Lovely.
Here.
He's putting me in charge
of my brother's kiosk.
Can I help you?
- What do you do?
- I make reservations.
Why, you traveling somewhere?
No. How's the pay?
- Who wants to know?
- Did you go to college to work here?
And who are you?
Nobody. Thanks.
You're my son,
and you know I love you.
You're no longer a little boy.
Your sins are in the past.
You're going to be a man.
See these?
Where's Mom?
She went to deliver something.
When I turned 13,
my father taught me a lesson for stealing.
Every man has a point that defines him.
- Come.
- No.
Open your hand.
Come.
What's the matter?
Come, come.
Go in. It's okay.
Show me in the light?
Have a seat. I'll be back.
Give me your hand.
This may hurt, but it's okay.
You're a champ.
Sorry.
- Where are your mother and brother?
- At home.
He keeps beating her.
I'm...
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Okay, Abu Raed.
Thank you. I'll look into it.
Thank you.
Go home. Get some rest.
Take care of yourself.
- Thank you, Officer.
- Good night, Abu Raed.
But when?
- We'll go tonight.
- Thank you.
- Good evening.
- Good evening.
- Are we bothering you?
- No, no.
Everything okay?
Okay.
Come in, come in.
The truth is...
we got a complaint about you.
A complaint?
What kind of complaint?
The old man said
you burned your son's hand.
Oh, Abu Raed.
Our neighbor.
He's an old man. What can you say?
Hilal. Come to Daddy.
Don't be afraid.
This is my son, Hilal.
He wants to be a cop when he grows up.
- How are you?
- Good.
- Can I see your hand, please?
- Show him, show him.
Coffee?
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- We bothered you.
- No, no. It was my pleasure.
Good night.
How's your hand?
It doesn't hurt anymore.
It doesn't?
Your father wasn't like this before.
I don't know what happened to him.
He tells my mother...
that he's going to kill her.
Where is he?
Out drunk somewhere, like always.
- Have you ever been on an airplane?
- Me?
No.
Me neither.
I have to go.
Why?
Shut up.
You want me to shut up?
How long is this going to go on,
Abu Murad?
It's better to end this now.
I have a problem.
So what do we do?
I don't know.
What if we took them
to a children's shelter?
No, no, no.
What?
He'll kill me.
He won't know where you're going.
Abu Raed, he'll kill you.
He turns into a monster.
Don't be afraid.
Um Murad, you have two choices.
Either you and your boys keep
living in fear, or you come with me.
I'm not asking you. I'm telling you.
Change this path.
Leave this house.
Look at yourself.
What gives him the right to beat you?
He doesn't own you.
Doesn't respect you...
he beats you and your boys.
How do you allow it?
He's frustrated at work.
Frustrated at work?
- He'll be here any minute.
- I'll get the car.
He'll kill you, Abu Raed.
Enough, enough.
Just leave it.
- What're you doing?
- Wait, wait.
Come on, come on.
It's okay.
Take care of your mother and brother.
Thank you.
Be careful.
What's going on, Abu Raed?
Nothing.
Go back inside.
What're you doing here?
What happened to you?
What?
Sit.
We need to talk.
Where are they?
Let me help you.
You have a problem.
Either you tell me where they are...
or we make this
the last day of your life.
You realize what you've done
to your wife and children?
Where are they?
What's your name?
Hilal.
What a name!
What grade, Hilal?
- Third.
- You'll be a doctor one day.
- You like football?
- Yes.
- What team?
- Brazil.
Brazil, the champions of the world...
Once upon a time...
not long ago...
there was a man they called...
Captain Abu Raed.