The Algerian (2014) Movie Script
[suspenseful music]
[muffled shouting]
[glass shattering]
[speaking in foreign language]
[explosion booms]
- Mama.
- [Airport Intercom] And
report any unattended bags
and suspicious behavior.
- [Driver] Where to?
- Downtown, please.
Thanks.
- [Radio Newsreader] Defense
Secretary, Leon Panetta,
stated there will
be no place to hide
for individuals or groups
who plan to attack
the United States.
Panetta said that, quote,
"Terrorists should be on notice
"that they will find no
sanctuary, no refuge,
"not in Algeria, not in
North Africa, not anywhere."
Repercussions from
the Arab Spring
continue to affect the
Middle East and beyond.
[gentle string music]
[water dripping]
[siren wailing]
[neighbors arguing
in foreign language]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
[muffled shouting]
[interposing voices gibbering]
[high-pitched ringing]
- [Father] Ali.
- Yes, Father,
everything is fine.
- How's the apartment?
- The apartment is clean, yes.
The flight was good.
- Be careful, Ali.
- Yes, I know, I will.
- Stay in touch.
- I'll call you soon, okay?
- Take care of yourself, okay?
- Okay.
[store bell tinkles]
Hi.
- Can I help you, sir?
- Yes, I'm looking for a good
bike I could ride everyday
but isn't too expensive.
- How much do you want to spend?
- The best bike
for the best price.
- Oh.
I have a bicycle inside.
I'll get it for you,
okay, just wait a minute.
This bicycle over here.
I fixed it for someone who
never came to pick it up,
so I'm stuck with it right now.
I'll sell it to you for cost.
- How much?
- $100 dollars.
- You have a deal.
- Oh, okay.
Okay.
Credit or cash?
- Cash.
- Cash?
- Yes.
- Okay.
So, where are you from, if
you don't mind me asking?
- Algeria.
- Ohh.
[speaking in foreign language]
Mohammed, but my
friends call me Mo.
- I'm Ali, but you
can call me Al.
- Oh, how long have you
been here in the States?
- I just got here.
- Oh, really?
You speak good English.
- Thank you.
- Welcome to America.
A young man like you
will love it over here.
- I hope so.
- Yes.
Funny, isn't it, huh?
- What's that?
- You move halfway across the
world to change everything,
and the first thing you
change is your name.
I did the same thing.
- Thanks for the deal.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Listen, you come by anytime
you want to drink coffee
and chat about the old world.
I like the company, okay?
I mean it.
- Me too.
- All right.
[speaking in foreign language]
[suspenseful exotic music]
[upbeat exotic music]
[knocking]
[ominous music]
- It wasn't until the
visionary Pope Urban II
gathered a council
at Clermont in 1095
that the fragmented
Medieval world of Europe
would finally find
internal stability
and unite under
a single purpose.
That purpose was to
launch a massive attack
on the Middle East
and capture the Holy City of
Jerusalem for Christianity.
The Pope re-focused that power
and built the largest
military machine
since the fall of Rome, and
thus was born the First Crusade.
[muffled shouting]
[somber instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[speaking in foreign language]
[soft instrumental music]
[muffled shouting]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
[upbeat exotic music]
- They told me you
speak excellent English.
- I studied at The American
University in Cairo.
- Do you know who
call me Father?
- Yes, those who
whisper your teaching
from Morocco to Afghanistan.
- My followers are
waiting for me,
a sign to start the revolution.
- That's why I'm here.
- They told me that
you are doing well.
- I'm studying engineering,
like my father.
- I knew your father.
I was a young man listening
to his teaching 20 years ago.
They killed him 'cause
he was a threat.
He wanted change.
Ali, what are your thoughts
about your Muslim brothers?
- I believe our Muslim
brothers should be united
under the band of [speaking
in foreign language].
Under one nation, we
can be even greater
than the United States,
given the right opportunity.
- I will provide that
opportunity, but,
are you ready to face the
path that lies ahead of you?
- I am ready.
- Your father was my teacher.
Now,
I will be your teacher and
you will get your revenge.
From this day forth,
you're no longer an orphan.
And you will call me Father.
- Thank you, Father.
- Go get some rest.
Tomorrow your
training will begin.
Brother will show
you to your room.
Brother is my greatest student.
I found him in Afghanistan.
- [Father] He was
an American soldier
but now he fights for me.
He will teach you
what you need to know.
[whacking]
[grunting]
[bus brakes screeching]
[muffled rap music]
[motorcycle engine rumbling]
- Come on, baby, you
know you want me.
- Go fuck yourself, dude.
- Clear the door.
- Hey!
Not here.
Keep it movin'.
- Don't be a bitch!
- Ahh!
- Hey, you're comin' with us.
- Fuck that.
No, she's not.
She ain't worth this.
- He's right, it's not worth it,
so why don't you just go home
and fuck your boyfriend and
we'll all be happier for it.
- Fuck you, bitch!
[crowd gasps]
[thudding]
Come on, what?
[whacking]
[thudding]
Motherfucker!
[grunting]
[banging]
- [laughs] Who's the bitch now?
- I got him.
- It's not our battle.
- That's what you
get for puttin'
your motherfuckin'
hands on a lady.
- Bitch, yeah.
- Are you okay?
- I'm okay.
- You two should get goin'.
Try as I might
[soft guitar music]
- [Ali] You okay?
- Mm-hm.
Why would a guy like
you help a girl like me?
- A man who hits a woman
is no better than an animal
where I come from.
- Where's that?
- Where's what?
- Where you're from.
- Algiers.
- Oh.
Is that in Europe or something?
- Close.
North Africa.
- Africa?
No, no, no, you don't,
you don't look like a
brother to me. [laughs]
- Africa is a big place.
- You have really sweet eyes.
- So do you.
[bell dings]
- Can I get another
iced tea please?
- Sure.
- I forgot to duck, yeah.
- Can I get you anything else?
- We're okay for now, thanks.
- Here's the check.
- Thank you.
You've been so amazing.
- Whenever you're ready.
- Yeah, really.
Ew.
I kinda hate her.
Sorry. [laughs]
- So where are you from?
LA?
- Do I look like
an LA girl to you?
- I wouldn't know.
I just got here
a few months ago.
- I'm from the Bronx.
- Is that far from here?
- Yes, it's on the other
fuckin' side of the country.
It's in New York.
You are new.
- I'm a fast learner.
- Mm-hm.
- So do you like it here?
- Not really.
- So if you don't like it here,
why don't you go back?
- Well, I just needed to
get away for a little while.
- How long have
you been away for?
- 10 years.
- Wow.
That's a long time.
- It was.
Is.
- So who was that guy
back there anyway?
Is he your boyfriend?
- No, he is not my boyfriend.
He is just some guy that
can't take no for an answer.
- Oh.
- That's all.
- I see.
- Okay, my turn, Superman.
Where'd you learn
to fight like that?
I mean, I've seen
a lot of tough guys
growing up from where I'm from,
and I've never seen
shit like that before.
- Just something I
picked up here and there.
- You just, you just
pick that kinda stuff up?
- Mm-hm.
- Hm.
I liked it.
- I gotta get up early
tomorrow morning.
- Okay.
- Let's go?
- Sure.
- All right.
[soft guitar music]
Hopelessly romantic
- Wait.
That's better.
- Thanks.
- Thanks.
And I won't complain
- Hey, the cops are
out looking for you.
[laughing]
- Taxi!
[soft piano and string music]
- You sure you don't
wanna share a cab?
- No, I live in the
opposite direction.
- Okay, so what are your digits?
- My what?
- Your phone number.
- Five, five, five.
- Five, five, five.
- Four, five, eight.
- Four, five, eight.
- Seven, seven, one, zero.
- Seven, seven...
Seven, seven--
- One, zero.
- One, zero.
Al, right?
- Mm-hm.
- Okay.
- Right.
- So that's me calling you.
[phone vibrates]
Call me whenever.
Dinner's on me next time.
- I like that.
But no fighting.
Promise?
- No fighting.
Thanks, Superman.
- [Driver] Where you headed?
- Um, Hollywood, please.
Bye.
[engine revving]
[suspenseful music]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
- [Suleyman] That
was very beautiful.
- Thanks.
- It's okay, you can pray here.
It's a free country. [laughs]
[speaks in foreign language]
Allah is truly
magnificent to create
such beauty for us.
- Yes, he is.
- I'm Suleyman.
- Al.
I mean, Ali.
Nice to meet you.
- Where you from, Ali?
It's okay, you don't
have to answer.
- It's not that, it's just,
I've never met an
American Muslim before.
- Lots of us, all
shapes, sizes, colors,
white, black,
yellow, you name it.
Allah loves diversity.
- Yes, he does.
To answer your question,
I'm from Algeria.
- North Africa?
You're a long way from home.
- Just got here
a few months ago,
for university.
- Oh, that's great.
Education is a divine gift.
What university?
- LAU.
- That's wonderful.
You must have prayed
at our mosque.
[speaking in foreign language]
I'm an Imam there.
It's just a few blocks
away from your school.
- I'm not going to
mosque right now.
I need some time for myself.
I pray alone.
- Oh, I see.
That could be a good
thing in a young man,
for a time.
But eventually,
he'll have to rejoin
his brothers in prayer.
- Thank you.
I'll try to come by one day.
- You know, when you
change your mind,
I'll be expecting you.
- Thanks, I have to go.
[speaking in foreign language]
[somber guitar music]
- Do you know why you are here?
Hiding in the desert
like scared children.
Do you know that the
Middle East population
have the highest growth
rate in the world?
In 20 years, there will be
close to 600 million of us.
50% of all Saudia Arabia
is under the age of 15.
In Iran, 65% is
under the age of 25.
And here in Algeria,
70% of our brothers and sisters,
they're under the age of 30.
Do you understand
what that means?
Already the youth have spoken
and the smell of freedom
is floating in the air
just like a desert rose,
spreading.
- Factors that led up to the
colliding worlds of Europe
and North Africa via
Rome and Carthage.
In the end, Rome was victorious
and the Carthaginians were
virtually erased from history.
- Excuse me, sir.
- Yes, go ahead.
- What about the Phoenicians?
- Phoenicians?
- What about them?
- You said the Carthaginians
were virtually
erased from history.
- Yes, and?
- Well, I think it's
important to note
that the Carthaginians
and thus the Berbers
are descendants of
the Phoenicians.
- Well, the Phoenician
connection to the Berbers
is still in somewhat of
a historical dispute.
- There is nothing
to dispute here, sir.
Berbers are descendants
of the Phoenicians.
- Well, young man, tell
me what makes you so sure.
- Because I'm Berber.
[speaks in foreign language]
That's the first thing
every Berber child
learns to say.
- Well, I'm sorry, I
don't speak Berber.
- Obviously.
[students chuckling]
[bell ringing]
- Hey, wait up.
'Scuse me.
Excuse me. [laughs]
Hey, uh, sorry, I just,
I just wanted to tell you
you were really
great back there.
- Oh, the Berber thing.
- Yeah.
God, that professor's
such a jerk, huh?
- I was just protecting
my people, that's all.
- That's really cool.
So, you're a history major?
- No, I'm studying engineering
but I always liked history.
- Well look, I'm not
sure if you're interested
but I'm looking
for a study partner
to partner up with, and I'm
hoping that you'd be interested.
- Well, I usually study alone.
- Oh, okay.
- You know what?
Sure, why not?
- All right, cool.
Well look, I'm gonna
be late for class
so I gotta go, but, um,
here's my number.
Go ahead, call me later
tonight, and we'll hook up.
I mean, [laughs] study.
- Okay.
- All right, cool.
- Study.
- Um, what was your name again?
- Al.
- Al.
What's that short for?
- Ali.
- Ali.
All right, cool, Ali.
I'm Sara.
- Nice to meet you, Sara.
- Nice to meet you.
I'll see you soon.
- See you soon.
[phone ringing]
[phone vibrating]
Hey Lana, how you doing?
- I'm good, I'm good.
I was just calling to see
what you were doing tonight.
- Actually, I'm
going to be studying
with a friend in a little bit.
- Hm, party pooper.
Well, what about later?
- I can't, I got a
class in the morning.
But Friday night would be good.
- Okay, so Friday it is then.
- Okay.
I'll call you later, all right?
- Okay, cool.
I'll see you later.
- Bye.
- I'm tired.
I need a coffee.
You wanna go to the Grind?
- Sure.
Do they serve
Arabic coffee there?
- I don't think so, but,
they make great lattes.
- What's a latte?
- You don't know
what a latte is?
Come on, I'll show you.
[upbeat guitar music]
- Enjoy.
- Thank you.
- See you tomorrow.
- Thank you so much.
Appreciate it.
- It's complicated, huh?
- Yeah.
Gosh, that's so true.
- Here are your two lattes.
- Thank you so much.
- Anything else?
- No, thank you.
- We're good, thanks.
Gosh, I love the way
you look at history.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, to most people
it's just a bunch
of names and dates,
but you have a way of
breathing life into it.
- That's because most of Algeria
and the Middle East
is trapped in history.
Everywhere you look in America,
you find new, shiny things,
buildings, cars, people.
Over there you can see
history all around you,
especially in the people.
- Well, I wouldn't
say the Middle East
is necessarily
trapped in history,
but it's more like a product
of history, you know?
I mean, the Middle East is home
to some of the world's oldest
and greatest civilizations.
- Yes, but it will
be a long time
before the Middle East can
stand on its own two feet.
- Well maybe the Arab revolution
will continue to
spread and Algeria
will finally get its freedom.
- Mm-hm.
- What are you
thinking about, Ali?
- The Arab revolution
hasn't changed anything.
It's like a mirage in a desert.
Eventually the West
will replace the rules
they put in power 30 years
ago, with new puppets.
True freedom for Muslim
has to come from...
- It has to come from what?
- [Ali] Freedom has to
come from somewhere else.
- 2,000 years ago, Rome
built cities like this
all over the Middle
East and held our people
by the throat.
80 years ago there
wasn't a single US base
anywhere in the Middle East.
Today they're embedded
like ticks everywhere.
- I am ready to do
whatever Father asks of me.
[somber string music]
- Engineer.
A bullet can kill a man,
but nothing can kill an idea.
[forceful breathing]
- That was great, man.
- Thanks.
It's not hard once you
get the hang of it.
It's all about timing.
Come on, jump in, you can do it.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
- All right.
[groans]
- That was pretty close.
- Not close enough.
- Yeah you're rushing it.
You need to take your time.
See?
Like this.
You have to go back and forth.
- Okay.
All right, I see.
It's a great spot, huh?
- Reminds me of back home.
- Where you from?
- Overseas.
- I'm Patrick.
- Al.
I should get going.
I'll see you around, all right?
- [Patrick] Yeah, yeah, man.
- Hey!
Ali, Ali, Ali.
[speaking in foreign language]
Hey, listen, I was hoping
you'd come by sometime.
My sister just sent me
some really good coffee
from Damascus.
- Damascus?
- Yes.
- They have the best
coffee in the world.
- Right.
Then you have to
try some with me.
Come in, let's go drink coffee.
So how are you?
[lively exotic music]
- So when I got the
scholarship to come here
to get my engineering degree,
my father sacrificed a lot
to get the money
to send me here.
And he said I would
never get another chance
like this again in my life.
- Yes, but listen, Ali,
your father is a
wise man, a good man.
A parent will do anything
for his children.
Anything.
- Yeah.
- Yes.
- Tell me about it.
- Yes.
- He would never
let a chance go by
without reminding me.
- [laughs] You know, Ali,
I came here for
similar reasons as you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- You see, I was about your age
when my wife was pregnant
with our first child.
I wake up in cold
sweat one night
and realized I'd be a father.
I wanted to raise my family
someplace where they
all have an education,
have opportunities I never had.
That's why I came to America,
for them, not for me.
But,
I still miss Damascus
all the time.
Especially with what's going
on with the Arab Spring.
[laughs]
You know, I did a
sacrifice for my children
that they will never understand.
- How many children do you have?
- I have two daughters,
actually, about your age.
The older is just
finishing law school
and the younger is applying
for medical school.
[speaks in foreign language]
Yes.
Can you imagine what
their life would be
right now in Syria?
- Well, I'm glad it worked
out for you, Mohammed.
I'm planning to go back home
once I finish with
school, to Algeria.
- [laughs] You're
a young man, Ali.
Anything can happen
in a few years.
Who knows?
You might go back
to visit Algeria
with your new American wife.
[Ali laughs]
And a baby.
- No, no, I don't think so.
- Yes.
- My father would kill me.
- Really?
- Yeah, he would kill
me, really. [laughing]
- Oh my god.
I'll be with you in a minute.
Okay.
Sorry, I have to--
- I understand.
Thanks for the
coffee, by the way.
It was amazing.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Ali, listen.
Please do not be a stranger.
You come by.
I wanna make coffee for
you a second time, okay?
- I will, I promise.
- Okay.
[speaking in foreign language]
[gentle piano music]
[patrons screaming]
- It's a beautiful night, huh?
- Look, I have a
confession to make.
Even though it's really sweet
that you won this for me,
I feel a little strange
carrying it around.
Do you mind if I give it away
to someone that might
really, really appreciate it?
- I won it for you.
You have to keep it.
My honor is at stake.
- Oh, your honor.
So you're a marksman sniper
clown-balloon assassin.
I just want you to know,
that 10-year-old back
there almost beat you.
- Come on, he cheated.
I guess it's kind
of funny looking.
You know what?
You can give it
away if you want.
- [Lana] Here you go.
- [gasps] Mommy, look!
- Did you say thank you?
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you so much.
- You're welcome.
I love little kids.
They're so innocent
and full of life.
- Yeah.
Kids are great.
My older brother has
four little boys.
They destroy everything
in their way.
- You makin' fun of me?
- No, I'm serious.
[laughing]
Kids are great.
- Okay.
[Lana shivers]
Oh.
You have a girlfriend?
- I'm sorry, I don't
mean to be rude.
I'm just not,
I'm just not used to this.
- Used to what?
- Being with a woman in public.
[gentle instrumental music]
- Oh, you're up.
Good morning.
- Good morning.
- You sleep okay?
- Yeah.
What's all this?
- I thought you might
like some coffee.
- Thanks.
- Um, do you like milk or sugar?
- Sugar.
I like it sweet.
- Well that's good,
because my roommate
drank all the milk, so.
- You have a roommate?
- Yeah, sort of, Kelly.
She's not really
here very often,
so I kind of have the
place to myself a lot
which is awesome,
because she's a bitch.
How is that?
- It's fine.
- You're a liar.
[laughs]
Um, I wanted to say
that I had a really
good time last night.
It's been a long time.
I mean, you know, since
I've been on a real date.
Thanks for being so nice to me.
- You're welcome.
It's easy being
nice to you, Lana.
- Oh yeah?
- I never met a woman
like you before.
Passionate,
strong, sweet,
and so beautiful.
What is it?
- I just haven't had a man
say things like that to me
or look at me like that
in a really long time.
- Like what?
- Like you really care about me.
- That was nice.
- Eat.
- Okay, Mom.
- [Lana] That's beautiful.
What does that mean?
- Inner strength, in Arabic.
- That's cool.
Why'd you get that?
- To remind me who I am
and where I come from.
I guess I'm not,
I'm not doing such a
good job right now.
- Why?
- I'm supposed to remain
pure in the eyes of God.
I'm not supposed to have
sex until I get married.
It sounds silly, huh?
- It's not silly.
I'm honored if I
could be your first.
- So, tell me about your tattoo,
I love New York.
Did you get it because
you're homesick?
- No.
Maybe.
Remember when you
asked me at the diner
why I left New York,
and I said I would
tell you sometime?
- It's okay.
You don't have to tell
me if you don't want--
- No, no, no, no.
I want to tell you.
I haven't told anybody
this in a long time.
[forceful exhaling]
[crying]
I left New York 10 years ago
because my mother,
because my mother worked
in the North tower
and, um,
on September 11th,
my whole world
crumbled that day, and,
I, I lost everything.
I had no family
and I had no money
and I was 15 years old.
[sobbing]
- It's okay.
It's okay, Lana, it's okay.
It's okay, don't cry.
[melancholy instrumental music]
- [Father] Where have you been?
You didn't call last week.
- I'm sorry, I've
been busy studying.
- Is everything okay?
- Yes.
- Good.
- Everything's going well.
- Stay focused.
- I will.
- [Father] And don't
forget to call next week.
- I won't.
[upbeat exotic music]
[gun firing]
- The American and the
whole Western world
will soon see our true might.
And their oppression
will cease forever.
We will have one Khalifa,
one single great leader
that will be running
all the Middle East
without division between us.
[children shouting]
And be great people
like once before.
[gun firing]
The flag of Islam will be flying
from Morocco to Malaysia.
But a sacrifice, the
martyrdom of few,
must bring the
salvation to the many.
This is my destiny.
[gun firing]
God has chosen me for this.
[wings flapping]
[guns firing]
[muffled praying in
foreign language]
[speech drowned out
by somber music]
- Ali!
[train rumbling]
[Patrick grunts]
[laughs]
- Good job, man.
- Thanks, Coach.
Oh man.
I'm gettin' there.
- Not bad.
- I'll tell you
somethin' right now,
I'll miss that when
I get back to base.
- Base?
What do you mean?
- Semper Fi, baby,
a marine base.
- Oh.
- Guess I didn't tell you, huh?
- Oh, no, you didn't.
- Yeah.
I try to keep this world and
that world separate, you know?
- So where are you going to?
- Afghanistan.
Stationed in the south,
along the Pakistani border.
Does that bother you, Al?
- No, just never met an
American soldier before.
I thought you guys
would be, different.
- People watch too many movies.
Just doin' a job,
like everybody else.
Well hey, I gotta jet.
Hot date for the
king of the rings.
I'll see you around, huh?
- [Reporter] Iranian
nuclear development
continues at a steady pace
while the Iranian president
insists his country's
uranium enrichment program
is for energy and not bombs.
The West views Iran's
nuclear proliferation
as a threat to the
region's political--
- Hey Kel.
- Hey Lana, what's up?
Do you have the rent yet?
- It's been kinda slow.
- What the fuck does that mean?
- What do you mean, what
the fuck does that mean?
It means that it's
been kinda slow.
That's what the fuck it means.
Don't be a bitch.
- You know what?
Calm the fuck down.
Are you on that shit again?
Have you been seeing Leroy?
- No, I'm clean.
I haven't seen Leroy in months.
I'm clean.
- Then what?
- What nothing, it's
just been kinda slow.
- Yeah.
Okay.
Look, I'm gonna head to
the White Tail tonight.
Some cash rolled in.
You need to join me, really.
- What time?
- Cab at 11:00.
I'm gonna take a disco nap
so I'll see you in a few hours.
[lawn mower humming]
[bell ringing]
- Hey Ali.
- Hey.
Hey Sara, how you doin'?
- Good.
Why weren't you in
class yesterday?
- I overslept.
- Well, you're in luck,
'cause I made you
a copy of my notes.
- Cool.
- So you don't fall behind.
- Thanks, you're so sweet.
- [giggles] I wouldn't
want my study partner
slipping up now.
Midterms are next week.
Speaking of which, are we
meeting up tonight to study?
- Yeah, sure.
Nine o'clock at the library?
- Sounds perfect.
- I'll see you then, all right?
- All right, cool.
- Be safe.
- See ya later.
- Bye.
- Bye.
[bell chiming]
[soft instrumental music]
- [Man] Let Jesus
into your life.
Purify the sins of your soul.
[speaks in foreign language]
- Brother.
[speaks in foreign language]
I saw you yesterday
outside the mosque.
I was hoping you'd come in.
- I didn't have time.
- One has to make
time for Allah.
You know, Ali,
it is perfectly natural
for a young man to
struggle with his faith.
There's nothing wrong with that.
I struggled myself
when I was younger.
You'll find the right path.
- I never said I was searching.
- Ah, you don't have to.
It's written all over your face.
- Why do you come
here every day?
- To speak to Allah.
To remind myself how great
he is, how small I am.
You know, once you
can see yourself
from a true
perspective, it's easier
to be honest with
those around you.
- I am honest.
- A man with a weight
on his shoulders,
especially a man
with the gravity
of the weight you
carry on yours,
cannot possibly be
honest with himself.
And if he is not
honest with himself,
he can't be honest
with those around him.
Here.
Look.
This is you, at the
center of the world,
of the universe.
Unless you're completely
honest with you,
you can't be honest
with your first circle,
your parents.
Then, your second circle,
your siblings, your relatives.
Then your third
circle, a good woman,
mother of your
children, your wife.
Then your fourth
circle, your friends,
and your fifth circle,
your community,
your mosque, and
so on and so on.
See, if your center is
not completely solid,
the rest collapses.
You understand?
- Yes, I do.
So,
how can I find the center?
- You don't.
Allah finds it for you.
All you have to
do is let him in.
He'll do the rest.
You think life is tough now?
Wait till you get married.
[gentle string and piano music]
- Hey.
[Lana gasps]
You ready?
Not tonight.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
[sniffing]
[dramatic techno music]
[laughing]
- You know, he's
one of my favorite.
- She'll take good care of you.
- She always does.
- The usual?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- [mumbles] These are the two
girls I was telling you about.
- Good evening, ladies.
- Hi, honey.
- I haven't seen
you two here before.
- We come and go.
You must have missed us.
- Well, I'm glad I
didn't miss you tonight.
- You like that?
- Yeah, I do.
So, are you gals
three-hole courses?
- Mister, wherever you can
stick that dick of yours,
we can take it.
- Sounds like we have a deal.
- [Kelly] We come as a
pair, two grand a piece.
- [Business Man] Wouldn't
have it any other way.
- [Kelly] Perfect.
[sobering instrumental music]
- [Business Man]
Undress each other.
- Lana, don't fuck
this up for us.
- Now, get down on your knees
and crawl over here.
- [Kelly] Who is it?
- Hey, Lana, it's me, Al.
[banging]
- She's not home.
- Oh, you're her roommate.
- Yeah.
- Look, I'm sorry to bother you,
but I haven't heard
from her in a week.
Her phone goes
straight to voicemail.
I just want to make
sure she's okay.
- She's fine.
How do you know where she lives?
- Excuse me?
- Who are you?
- I'm her friend, Al.
- Look, she's got lots
of friends, Al, okay?
She's out of town
for a few days.
Don't worry about her.
- Look, I just want to make
sure she's all right, okay?
- She's okay, all right?
- Just tell her Al came by.
- Sure, I'll tell
her you came by, Al.
- Thank...
[door slams]
[melancholy instrumental music]
- Hey, he's gone.
I sent him away.
- Thanks.
[crying]
[speaking in foreign language]
- I need to talk to you
about something I did.
And you're the only
one I can talk to.
My father wouldn't understand.
I slept with a woman.
- Allah designed us to
be attracted to women.
That's natural.
But the attraction to
women can be very powerful,
especially at your age.
If you have feelings for
this woman, you respect her,
you wanna build a
relationship with her
that is fitting between
a man and a woman,
then you should
think about marriage.
But just to be with her
for physical pleasure,
that's not good
for either of you.
That's not Allah's way.
- I know, I know.
I'll try to be good.
- [laughs] There is
none good but Allah.
You know, men your age should
be thinking about marriage.
Startin' a family.
Otherwise you'll be an old man
raising a teenager,
and trust me,
you won't have
the energy for it.
- Thank you for
listening, Sheik.
- Not at all.
Will you join us at the
mosque for Friday prayers?
- Yes, I will.
Promise.
[speaking in foreign language]
[soft string music]
I missed you so much.
- I'm sorry, I was away.
- It's okay.
I'm just glad to
be here with you.
What's wrong?
- When I'm with you, I,
I feel amazing.
- I love you.
- Don't say that.
- But I do love you.
I think about you all the time.
- Don't.
There's something
I have to tell you.
- What is it?
- I haven't,
I haven't lied to you
but I haven't been totally
honest with you either.
In the beginning it
didn't really matter
because you were
just some guy I met,
and now everything's
kinda changed, and,
I'm starting to have
real feelings for you.
Look, I know you're a
little younger than I am
and I'm the first woman
you've ever been with,
so I think I know
what you're feeling.
And it's not love.
- But I do love you.
I can feel it, I do--
- Just listen to me.
I just need to finish this.
It's really important.
That first night I met
you, and you saved me,
I already had a really
strong feeling for you.
And you're already
such a good man
and I can see that
when you look at me
and I can feel that
when you touch me.
And, you're probably like
one of the first guys
who's ever really given
a damn about me, but,
like, I could be falling
in love with you.
- So why are you crying?
- Because I'm going
to tell you something
that's probably
gonna make you leave.
- I won't leave you.
Whatever it is, I
won't leave you.
[somber piano music]
- Okay.
Up until a few days
ago, I was an escort.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, I survived
by having sex
with men for money.
Do you understand?
- What did you,
what did you say to me?
- I said...
Look, I'm not
ashamed of who I was
because it's all behind me now
and it's in the
past and it's over.
You don't understand.
When my mother
died, I was raised
in foster home to foster home,
and I was raped so many times
that I just...
Look at me!
[sobbing] I will be
a good woman for you.
I've changed, Al.
I love you.
- How could you know
what love is, huh?
You're a fucking whore!
- Don't leave me.
Don't go!
[sobbing]
[dramatic instrumental music]
Oh god, god!
[exotic string music]
- It's a nuclear warhead.
- From the cradle
of civilization
comes the destroyer
of civilization.
I need your help, engineer,
to make sure it's
detonated properly.
- [Ali] Where is it?
- It's being kept hidden on
the other side of the world.
It will be delivered
when we're ready.
- Ready for what?
- Ready to free millions
of Muslims from slavery.
- [Sara] There you are.
- Hey.
- How have you been?
- Just exhausted.
- Oh, totally.
- I mean, how do you say?
Cram for midterms.
- Yeah, no, me too.
So, did you get your
results back yet?
- Yep.
- And?
- Straight A's.
- No way!
Oh my god, that's amazing, Ali.
I mean, you get all A's on
exams in another language.
I could hardly pull off all B's.
Guess it's the blonde in me.
- I just got lucky, I guess.
- No, you didn't just get lucky.
You're really smart, Ali.
Hey, I'm having a little
after-exam dinner party
at my house tonight.
You wanna come?
- Yeah, sure.
- Cool, eight o'clock.
- Okay.
- I'll text you my address.
- Okay, see you then.
- I will see you then.
[knocking]
Come in.
Taking the time to find out
If it's all just a game
- Hey, Ali!
[squeals]
- You look so beautiful.
- Thank you, you
look very handsome.
So, dinner's almost ready.
Did you want a glass of wine?
- No, thanks, I don't drink.
- Well, guess I'll have
to drink for us both.
- I thought you were
having a dinner party.
- I am.
It's a party for two.
I hope you like mushrooms.
- I love mushrooms.
Smells good.
- Thank you, Ali.
I, um, I wanted to make
you something special.
[upbeat rock music]
Through the skies
Through the skies
Well it's just like
you to run away
- What is it, Ali?
What's wrong?
- You're Jewish.
- You didn't know I was Jewish?
- No.
- Well, what's wrong with that?
Ali?
- I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
- Ali?
[muffled sirens wailing]
- Wow.
You're good.
- Old man was a pool shark,
so it's in my blood, you know?
- All right.
- Come on, baby.
Shit!
Playing with scrap.
[mumbles] playing games.
You all good?
You seem stressed out.
You okay?
[balls thudding]
- Just adjusting to LA, I guess.
- Adjusting to LA, okay.
Sounds like lady troubles to me.
What's her name?
- It's more like two names.
- Okay. [laughing]
Al, I didn't think
you had it in you,
but you know what?
I'm impressed.
- It's not like that.
There were two and now...
- And now what?
Hell, you know what?
Let me tell you
something right now.
I'm not one to be
dispensing advice on women.
The longest
relationship I ever had
was six months with a
CO named Shirley Johnson
on my first tour in Iraq.
Good god, she was good.
But she was batshit crazy,
I'll tell ya that right now.
[laughs]
She pulled a gun on
me 'cause she thought
I was cheatin' on her.
I mean, can you imagine that?
I go to war, I come back,
my goddamn girlfriend
almost blows my head off.
Now that'd be a
modern-day tragedy.
- Tragedy.
100,000 Iraqi children
died from your war.
Now that's tragedy.
- Come on, Al, don't
tell me about that.
That's a bunch of bullshit.
You know that just
as well as I do.
- You're out there
attacking innocent people.
But I guess Arab blood
doesn't count, does it?
- We're out there
saving innocent people.
Iraq now has a constitution,
and America did that.
Saddam Hussein was
a fuckin' lunatic
that tortured and killed
his own people for 30 years.
Everybody knows that.
That's fact.
- Torture?
Did you fuckin' forget Abugraid?
America made a fuckin' career
out of torturing Muslim.
- A bunch of fuckin' terrorists
hijack planes and crash
'em into our buildings,
you goddamn right we're gonna do
whatever it takes to stop
that from happening again.
- You do realize that
none of the 19 hijackers
were Iraqi citizens, right?
- Iraq was the linchpin
to terrorist sympathizers
all across the region.
You cannot stand there
in good conscience
and tell me that what we did
had nothin' to do
with the Arab Spring.
Tell me that.
We had every right
to invade Iraq, Al.
- You should hear yourself.
What gives America
the right, huh?
[stick clattering]
And why are you always in
someone else's country?
- Hey Pat, everything
all right here?
- Yeah, Mike, everything's okay.
We're just talkin'.
- Sounds like trash
talkin' to me.
You should teach your
friend here some manners.
- Mike.
We're just talkin', Mike.
- Talkin's over.
- Al, you should go.
Just go.
- I thought this
was a free country.
- What was that?
- Mike.
Al, just go.
It's not worth it, Al, just go.
Go.
Please.
- I was just leaving.
[dramatic music]
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Father?
It's me.
- What's wrong?
Your voice doesn't sound right.
- I'm fine, we're just
having a bad connection.
- [Father] How were your exams?
- Good, straight As.
- [Father] You
don't sound right.
You don't sound focused.
I'm focused, I'm just a
little tired, that's all.
- [Father] Ali.
- Father, hello?
- I'm here, Ali.
- Hello?
- [Father] I wanted to go
see your brother in Europe.
He has important news for
you about your sister.
- What, what is it?
Is everything okay?
- [Father] He'll
tell you in person.
Call me when you
get to New York.
- Father, hello?
- [Operator] If you'd
like to make a call,
please hang up and try again.
- Hello?
Hello?
[phone banging]
[exotic string music]
- And remember, stay
away from mosques
and don't get
involved with women.
- I won't.
I will make you proud,
Brother, I promise.
- The whole Muslim world
will be proud of you.
[bell chiming]
- Hey Sara.
Can I sit?
- Sure, it's a free country.
- I don't know what
to say, really.
- It's okay, Ali, I understand.
- I don't have anything
against the Jewish people.
I have a problem with
the Israeli state,
what they have done
to the Palestinians.
You and I, we're
practically cousins.
[laughs]
- What do you mean?
- Our father is Abraham, right?
- Right. [laughs]
- I'm really sorry
about the other night.
- Thank you.
So, cuz, you wanna take a ride
up the coast with me?
- Mm-hm.
- Cool, let's do it.
- Let's go.
- Come on.
[lively piano and string music]
[moving to ominous music]
[car honking]
[indistinct chatter]
- [speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
- Engineer.
You're late.
- I was being cautious.
- Father is not happy.
- He said it had
to do with sister.
- It does.
He wants you to go see her.
- Already?
It's too soon.
I thought he wanted it--
- Don't think, Engineer.
Do.
Father moved up the time.
- When?
- I don't know.
Doesn't matter.
- Have you prepared
everything here?
- Yeah, I'm ready.
The question is, are you ready?
- Never doubt me, Brother.
I spent my entire life
leading to our
victory over this.
- You will seek out Sister.
You'll find her in
the black pyramid.
She's waiting for you.
- Okay.
- Prepare yourself.
[ominous music]
- Who is it?
- It's me, Al.
- Come inside and
close the door.
Turn on the lights.
Make a move and you die.
- What is this?
Father sent me.
- Shut your mouth.
Move over to the bed, now.
[suspenseful music]
Take your shirt off.
Do it.
[gun clicks]
I won't ask again.
Turn to the side.
[speaking in foreign
language] Engineer.
- [speaks in foreign
language] Sister.
What was that all about?
- The Mossad are always
one step behind us.
They intercepted a
cell and replaced him
with one of their
own in Buenos Aires.
- What happened?
- One less Mossad.
You will return to Los Angeles
and wait for Brother
and I to join you.
- Los Angeles?
What about New York?
It's the better target.
- It's also the more
difficult target.
Security is too high.
Los Angeles is weaker.
The device is already there.
You will contact our
transporter tomorrow.
Is there a problem?
- No.
It's just that the
device is more effective
in a tighter area like New York.
Los Angeles is so spread out.
- It will be effective enough.
Millions will die.
[banging]
The warhead has a 300
kilo ton capacity.
Hiroshima was only 15 kilo tons.
[truck beeping]
[suspenseful music]
[speaking in foreign language]
- Father sent word
that you'd be coming.
Is it time?
- Soon.
- You know what to do?
- Yes.
The cargo is ready.
When and where do you
want it delivered?
- I'll call you the
day before the wedding,
with the exact time and place.
[phone beeping]
[phone ringing]
- [Father] Ali, meet us at the
rooftop of the Palace Hotel
tomorrow at sunset.
- Okay.
[suspenseful music]
[somber exotic music]
- Now that you are all here,
let the clock begin.
In a few days, all
this will be gone.
- Hey Al.
I haven't seen you
around in a while.
- I just got back from
New York a few days ago.
- You have fun?
- Not really.
Family stuff.
But it's all good now.
- Yeah.
- So you're gonna
leave us, then?
- You know, my parents
were immigrants, Al.
Came to this country
to start a new life,
live the American dream.
My service to my
country is my way
of keeping that dream alive.
Al, I know a soldier
when I see one.
I knew the first day we met
you were training
to do what I do.
- And what's that?
- To kill.
The question is,
which side are you on?
- Soldiers always fight
on the same side, brother.
Right versus wrong.
[somber music]
- Hey, I love this country, Al.
And so do you.
You just don't know it yet.
[speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
[speaks in foreign language]
- Okay, you remember
how I told you
how I always wanted
to study abroad?
Well, I just found
out I got accepted
to the American
University of Rome.
[laughs]
- That's great, Sara.
- Eh.
- I'm happy for you.
- Yeah, but I'm not
sure I'm gonna go.
- Why not?
- 'Cause you know how
I feel about you, Ali.
I mean, if staying here
would bring us closer,
then I'd stay.
- No, no, no.
Don't stay here for me.
You should go.
- Okay.
Then I'll go.
[speaking in foreign language]
- What do you want from me, huh?
I told you, I didn't
do anything wrong!
- You have information we need.
- What do you want from me?
I don't have any information.
I didn't do anything wrong.
- Sir--
- I love this country.
- Do not resist, sir.
- Please cooperate.
- Make sure you
read him his rights.
- Do not resist, sir!
Put your hands behind your back.
- But I'm innocent!
- You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say can
be held against you
in the court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney.
- I'm a good
citizen, a good man.
- If you cannot
afford an attorney,
one will be appointed to you.
[suspenseful music]
[engine igniting]
[police radio
chattering indistinctly]
[siren wailing]
- Brother, it's me.
Tell Father we need to
move up the wedding day.
- When?
- Tomorrow.
- Understood.
[phone beeps]
[sizzling]
[beeping]
[somber instrumental music]
[speaking in foreign language]
- Is Suleyman here?
- No, he's not, brother.
Is your name Ali?
- Yes.
I've been looking
for him for days.
Where is he?
- I'm sorry to tell you,
but he's actually at the
hospital about a week now.
He's been quite ill.
- What hospital?
- It's down the street.
It's called the Vermont
Cancer Hospital.
- I have to go see him.
- Okay.
[speaking in foreign language]
[phone ringing]
- [Man] Vermont Cancer
Clinic, please hold.
- [Automated Voice] Third Floor.
- He's ready to see you now.
- Thank you.
[gentle string music]
[beeping]
[speaking in foreign language]
- I knew you'd come.
- Why didn't you tell
me you were sick?
- We always have such nice
conversations about life.
I didn't wanna speak of death.
I had a dream last night.
You were in the mosque.
You began the call to prayer.
- Can I get you something?
Some water?
- Yes, please.
[labored breathing]
- Sheik, please
continue the dream.
- Ah, the dream.
- Yes.
- You began the call to prayer.
It was so beautiful.
Angels came down from heaven.
In the night sky, you could
see it written in the stars,
God is great.
- I feel something
important is coming.
And it scares me.
- Nothing ever happens to us
except what Allah
has ordained for us.
- Can I call the doctor?
- No.
No, pray for me.
[praying in foreign language]
[ominous music]
[interposing voices gibbering]
- What are you doing here?
- Can I come in for a minute?
- Come on up.
[kettle whistling]
You want something?
- No.
- You're freaking me out.
What's going on?
- Lana, I need to say
something to you before I go.
- Where are you going?
- I can't tell you, but
please listen to me.
I do love you in my own way,
but we can never be together.
You gotta find somebody
who can love you
for who you are,
not what you were.
- Where is this all coming from?
What do you want from me?
- Lana, I want you to leave LA.
- What?
- Just for a few days.
Here, take it.
Buy a plane ticket, bus ticket.
Just leave, all right?
- Why, what the
fuck is going on?
- Promise me you'll
leave tonight.
Promise me!
- I'll promise, fine, I'll go.
- I love you.
- Wait.
I'm pregnant.
- Don't tell me that just
to stop me from going.
- I'm not.
Look, I found out this morning
and I wasn't going to tell you.
But you know, I didn't
think you loved me then
and now I'm thinking
we could be together--
- There's no we.
There's no us.
Please, just, just
go, all right?
Just go.
[door slams]
- [Reporter] The
president returned
from the Middle East
Peace Summit today
and said the United States
will consider to pursue
its interest in the region,
mainly preventing the
spread of nuclear weapons,
counter terrorist groups
such as Al-Qaeda and Isis,
and encouraging Arab
Israeli peace talks.
He warned that no one benefits
from a nuclear arms race
in such a volatile region,
especially after the Arab
Springs collateral chaos
in countries like Libya,
Egypt, and especially Syria,
whose civil war has spilled into
it's neighboring countries
of Turkey, Lebanon,
Israel, and Iraq,
fueling the rise
of dangerous terrorist
groups like Isis
who are responsible
for kidnappings,
beheadings, and bombings.
[ominous music]
[interposing voices gibbering]
[truck beeping]
[gun clicking]
[engine humming]
[praying in foreign language]
- These are for you.
- Father.
This wasn't part of the plan.
- If anything goes wrong
and we cannot get to the device.
We will kill as many of
our enemies as possible.
Hm?
- We are all wearing one.
[praying in foreign language]
[ominous music]
- 10 minutes.
- It's time to engage the vests.
[interposing voices gibbering]
[praying in foreign language]
[sirens wailing]
[phone ringing]
- [Man] Father, the
package is ready.
- Excellent.
[phone beeps]
[gun clicks]
- [Man] Two blocks
away from target.
[laughing]
- Baby, a baby, yeah?
- You have a way of
breathing life into it.
- [speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
- There is none good but Allah.
- [Lana] I'm pregnant.
[praying in foreign language]
- No!
[speaks in foreign language]
- No!
- Traitor!
[explosion booms]
- [Reporter] A van exploded
in Los Angeles today,
killing four people
believed to be members
of a terrorist cell.
[somber vocalizing]
[string music]
[dramatic instrumental music]
[vocalizing]
[muffled shouting]
[glass shattering]
[speaking in foreign language]
[explosion booms]
- Mama.
- [Airport Intercom] And
report any unattended bags
and suspicious behavior.
- [Driver] Where to?
- Downtown, please.
Thanks.
- [Radio Newsreader] Defense
Secretary, Leon Panetta,
stated there will
be no place to hide
for individuals or groups
who plan to attack
the United States.
Panetta said that, quote,
"Terrorists should be on notice
"that they will find no
sanctuary, no refuge,
"not in Algeria, not in
North Africa, not anywhere."
Repercussions from
the Arab Spring
continue to affect the
Middle East and beyond.
[gentle string music]
[water dripping]
[siren wailing]
[neighbors arguing
in foreign language]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
[muffled shouting]
[interposing voices gibbering]
[high-pitched ringing]
- [Father] Ali.
- Yes, Father,
everything is fine.
- How's the apartment?
- The apartment is clean, yes.
The flight was good.
- Be careful, Ali.
- Yes, I know, I will.
- Stay in touch.
- I'll call you soon, okay?
- Take care of yourself, okay?
- Okay.
[store bell tinkles]
Hi.
- Can I help you, sir?
- Yes, I'm looking for a good
bike I could ride everyday
but isn't too expensive.
- How much do you want to spend?
- The best bike
for the best price.
- Oh.
I have a bicycle inside.
I'll get it for you,
okay, just wait a minute.
This bicycle over here.
I fixed it for someone who
never came to pick it up,
so I'm stuck with it right now.
I'll sell it to you for cost.
- How much?
- $100 dollars.
- You have a deal.
- Oh, okay.
Okay.
Credit or cash?
- Cash.
- Cash?
- Yes.
- Okay.
So, where are you from, if
you don't mind me asking?
- Algeria.
- Ohh.
[speaking in foreign language]
Mohammed, but my
friends call me Mo.
- I'm Ali, but you
can call me Al.
- Oh, how long have you
been here in the States?
- I just got here.
- Oh, really?
You speak good English.
- Thank you.
- Welcome to America.
A young man like you
will love it over here.
- I hope so.
- Yes.
Funny, isn't it, huh?
- What's that?
- You move halfway across the
world to change everything,
and the first thing you
change is your name.
I did the same thing.
- Thanks for the deal.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Listen, you come by anytime
you want to drink coffee
and chat about the old world.
I like the company, okay?
I mean it.
- Me too.
- All right.
[speaking in foreign language]
[suspenseful exotic music]
[upbeat exotic music]
[knocking]
[ominous music]
- It wasn't until the
visionary Pope Urban II
gathered a council
at Clermont in 1095
that the fragmented
Medieval world of Europe
would finally find
internal stability
and unite under
a single purpose.
That purpose was to
launch a massive attack
on the Middle East
and capture the Holy City of
Jerusalem for Christianity.
The Pope re-focused that power
and built the largest
military machine
since the fall of Rome, and
thus was born the First Crusade.
[muffled shouting]
[somber instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[speaking in foreign language]
[soft instrumental music]
[muffled shouting]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
[upbeat exotic music]
- They told me you
speak excellent English.
- I studied at The American
University in Cairo.
- Do you know who
call me Father?
- Yes, those who
whisper your teaching
from Morocco to Afghanistan.
- My followers are
waiting for me,
a sign to start the revolution.
- That's why I'm here.
- They told me that
you are doing well.
- I'm studying engineering,
like my father.
- I knew your father.
I was a young man listening
to his teaching 20 years ago.
They killed him 'cause
he was a threat.
He wanted change.
Ali, what are your thoughts
about your Muslim brothers?
- I believe our Muslim
brothers should be united
under the band of [speaking
in foreign language].
Under one nation, we
can be even greater
than the United States,
given the right opportunity.
- I will provide that
opportunity, but,
are you ready to face the
path that lies ahead of you?
- I am ready.
- Your father was my teacher.
Now,
I will be your teacher and
you will get your revenge.
From this day forth,
you're no longer an orphan.
And you will call me Father.
- Thank you, Father.
- Go get some rest.
Tomorrow your
training will begin.
Brother will show
you to your room.
Brother is my greatest student.
I found him in Afghanistan.
- [Father] He was
an American soldier
but now he fights for me.
He will teach you
what you need to know.
[whacking]
[grunting]
[bus brakes screeching]
[muffled rap music]
[motorcycle engine rumbling]
- Come on, baby, you
know you want me.
- Go fuck yourself, dude.
- Clear the door.
- Hey!
Not here.
Keep it movin'.
- Don't be a bitch!
- Ahh!
- Hey, you're comin' with us.
- Fuck that.
No, she's not.
She ain't worth this.
- He's right, it's not worth it,
so why don't you just go home
and fuck your boyfriend and
we'll all be happier for it.
- Fuck you, bitch!
[crowd gasps]
[thudding]
Come on, what?
[whacking]
[thudding]
Motherfucker!
[grunting]
[banging]
- [laughs] Who's the bitch now?
- I got him.
- It's not our battle.
- That's what you
get for puttin'
your motherfuckin'
hands on a lady.
- Bitch, yeah.
- Are you okay?
- I'm okay.
- You two should get goin'.
Try as I might
[soft guitar music]
- [Ali] You okay?
- Mm-hm.
Why would a guy like
you help a girl like me?
- A man who hits a woman
is no better than an animal
where I come from.
- Where's that?
- Where's what?
- Where you're from.
- Algiers.
- Oh.
Is that in Europe or something?
- Close.
North Africa.
- Africa?
No, no, no, you don't,
you don't look like a
brother to me. [laughs]
- Africa is a big place.
- You have really sweet eyes.
- So do you.
[bell dings]
- Can I get another
iced tea please?
- Sure.
- I forgot to duck, yeah.
- Can I get you anything else?
- We're okay for now, thanks.
- Here's the check.
- Thank you.
You've been so amazing.
- Whenever you're ready.
- Yeah, really.
Ew.
I kinda hate her.
Sorry. [laughs]
- So where are you from?
LA?
- Do I look like
an LA girl to you?
- I wouldn't know.
I just got here
a few months ago.
- I'm from the Bronx.
- Is that far from here?
- Yes, it's on the other
fuckin' side of the country.
It's in New York.
You are new.
- I'm a fast learner.
- Mm-hm.
- So do you like it here?
- Not really.
- So if you don't like it here,
why don't you go back?
- Well, I just needed to
get away for a little while.
- How long have
you been away for?
- 10 years.
- Wow.
That's a long time.
- It was.
Is.
- So who was that guy
back there anyway?
Is he your boyfriend?
- No, he is not my boyfriend.
He is just some guy that
can't take no for an answer.
- Oh.
- That's all.
- I see.
- Okay, my turn, Superman.
Where'd you learn
to fight like that?
I mean, I've seen
a lot of tough guys
growing up from where I'm from,
and I've never seen
shit like that before.
- Just something I
picked up here and there.
- You just, you just
pick that kinda stuff up?
- Mm-hm.
- Hm.
I liked it.
- I gotta get up early
tomorrow morning.
- Okay.
- Let's go?
- Sure.
- All right.
[soft guitar music]
Hopelessly romantic
- Wait.
That's better.
- Thanks.
- Thanks.
And I won't complain
- Hey, the cops are
out looking for you.
[laughing]
- Taxi!
[soft piano and string music]
- You sure you don't
wanna share a cab?
- No, I live in the
opposite direction.
- Okay, so what are your digits?
- My what?
- Your phone number.
- Five, five, five.
- Five, five, five.
- Four, five, eight.
- Four, five, eight.
- Seven, seven, one, zero.
- Seven, seven...
Seven, seven--
- One, zero.
- One, zero.
Al, right?
- Mm-hm.
- Okay.
- Right.
- So that's me calling you.
[phone vibrates]
Call me whenever.
Dinner's on me next time.
- I like that.
But no fighting.
Promise?
- No fighting.
Thanks, Superman.
- [Driver] Where you headed?
- Um, Hollywood, please.
Bye.
[engine revving]
[suspenseful music]
[huffing]
[praying in foreign language]
- [Suleyman] That
was very beautiful.
- Thanks.
- It's okay, you can pray here.
It's a free country. [laughs]
[speaks in foreign language]
Allah is truly
magnificent to create
such beauty for us.
- Yes, he is.
- I'm Suleyman.
- Al.
I mean, Ali.
Nice to meet you.
- Where you from, Ali?
It's okay, you don't
have to answer.
- It's not that, it's just,
I've never met an
American Muslim before.
- Lots of us, all
shapes, sizes, colors,
white, black,
yellow, you name it.
Allah loves diversity.
- Yes, he does.
To answer your question,
I'm from Algeria.
- North Africa?
You're a long way from home.
- Just got here
a few months ago,
for university.
- Oh, that's great.
Education is a divine gift.
What university?
- LAU.
- That's wonderful.
You must have prayed
at our mosque.
[speaking in foreign language]
I'm an Imam there.
It's just a few blocks
away from your school.
- I'm not going to
mosque right now.
I need some time for myself.
I pray alone.
- Oh, I see.
That could be a good
thing in a young man,
for a time.
But eventually,
he'll have to rejoin
his brothers in prayer.
- Thank you.
I'll try to come by one day.
- You know, when you
change your mind,
I'll be expecting you.
- Thanks, I have to go.
[speaking in foreign language]
[somber guitar music]
- Do you know why you are here?
Hiding in the desert
like scared children.
Do you know that the
Middle East population
have the highest growth
rate in the world?
In 20 years, there will be
close to 600 million of us.
50% of all Saudia Arabia
is under the age of 15.
In Iran, 65% is
under the age of 25.
And here in Algeria,
70% of our brothers and sisters,
they're under the age of 30.
Do you understand
what that means?
Already the youth have spoken
and the smell of freedom
is floating in the air
just like a desert rose,
spreading.
- Factors that led up to the
colliding worlds of Europe
and North Africa via
Rome and Carthage.
In the end, Rome was victorious
and the Carthaginians were
virtually erased from history.
- Excuse me, sir.
- Yes, go ahead.
- What about the Phoenicians?
- Phoenicians?
- What about them?
- You said the Carthaginians
were virtually
erased from history.
- Yes, and?
- Well, I think it's
important to note
that the Carthaginians
and thus the Berbers
are descendants of
the Phoenicians.
- Well, the Phoenician
connection to the Berbers
is still in somewhat of
a historical dispute.
- There is nothing
to dispute here, sir.
Berbers are descendants
of the Phoenicians.
- Well, young man, tell
me what makes you so sure.
- Because I'm Berber.
[speaks in foreign language]
That's the first thing
every Berber child
learns to say.
- Well, I'm sorry, I
don't speak Berber.
- Obviously.
[students chuckling]
[bell ringing]
- Hey, wait up.
'Scuse me.
Excuse me. [laughs]
Hey, uh, sorry, I just,
I just wanted to tell you
you were really
great back there.
- Oh, the Berber thing.
- Yeah.
God, that professor's
such a jerk, huh?
- I was just protecting
my people, that's all.
- That's really cool.
So, you're a history major?
- No, I'm studying engineering
but I always liked history.
- Well look, I'm not
sure if you're interested
but I'm looking
for a study partner
to partner up with, and I'm
hoping that you'd be interested.
- Well, I usually study alone.
- Oh, okay.
- You know what?
Sure, why not?
- All right, cool.
Well look, I'm gonna
be late for class
so I gotta go, but, um,
here's my number.
Go ahead, call me later
tonight, and we'll hook up.
I mean, [laughs] study.
- Okay.
- All right, cool.
- Study.
- Um, what was your name again?
- Al.
- Al.
What's that short for?
- Ali.
- Ali.
All right, cool, Ali.
I'm Sara.
- Nice to meet you, Sara.
- Nice to meet you.
I'll see you soon.
- See you soon.
[phone ringing]
[phone vibrating]
Hey Lana, how you doing?
- I'm good, I'm good.
I was just calling to see
what you were doing tonight.
- Actually, I'm
going to be studying
with a friend in a little bit.
- Hm, party pooper.
Well, what about later?
- I can't, I got a
class in the morning.
But Friday night would be good.
- Okay, so Friday it is then.
- Okay.
I'll call you later, all right?
- Okay, cool.
I'll see you later.
- Bye.
- I'm tired.
I need a coffee.
You wanna go to the Grind?
- Sure.
Do they serve
Arabic coffee there?
- I don't think so, but,
they make great lattes.
- What's a latte?
- You don't know
what a latte is?
Come on, I'll show you.
[upbeat guitar music]
- Enjoy.
- Thank you.
- See you tomorrow.
- Thank you so much.
Appreciate it.
- It's complicated, huh?
- Yeah.
Gosh, that's so true.
- Here are your two lattes.
- Thank you so much.
- Anything else?
- No, thank you.
- We're good, thanks.
Gosh, I love the way
you look at history.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, to most people
it's just a bunch
of names and dates,
but you have a way of
breathing life into it.
- That's because most of Algeria
and the Middle East
is trapped in history.
Everywhere you look in America,
you find new, shiny things,
buildings, cars, people.
Over there you can see
history all around you,
especially in the people.
- Well, I wouldn't
say the Middle East
is necessarily
trapped in history,
but it's more like a product
of history, you know?
I mean, the Middle East is home
to some of the world's oldest
and greatest civilizations.
- Yes, but it will
be a long time
before the Middle East can
stand on its own two feet.
- Well maybe the Arab revolution
will continue to
spread and Algeria
will finally get its freedom.
- Mm-hm.
- What are you
thinking about, Ali?
- The Arab revolution
hasn't changed anything.
It's like a mirage in a desert.
Eventually the West
will replace the rules
they put in power 30 years
ago, with new puppets.
True freedom for Muslim
has to come from...
- It has to come from what?
- [Ali] Freedom has to
come from somewhere else.
- 2,000 years ago, Rome
built cities like this
all over the Middle
East and held our people
by the throat.
80 years ago there
wasn't a single US base
anywhere in the Middle East.
Today they're embedded
like ticks everywhere.
- I am ready to do
whatever Father asks of me.
[somber string music]
- Engineer.
A bullet can kill a man,
but nothing can kill an idea.
[forceful breathing]
- That was great, man.
- Thanks.
It's not hard once you
get the hang of it.
It's all about timing.
Come on, jump in, you can do it.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
- All right.
[groans]
- That was pretty close.
- Not close enough.
- Yeah you're rushing it.
You need to take your time.
See?
Like this.
You have to go back and forth.
- Okay.
All right, I see.
It's a great spot, huh?
- Reminds me of back home.
- Where you from?
- Overseas.
- I'm Patrick.
- Al.
I should get going.
I'll see you around, all right?
- [Patrick] Yeah, yeah, man.
- Hey!
Ali, Ali, Ali.
[speaking in foreign language]
Hey, listen, I was hoping
you'd come by sometime.
My sister just sent me
some really good coffee
from Damascus.
- Damascus?
- Yes.
- They have the best
coffee in the world.
- Right.
Then you have to
try some with me.
Come in, let's go drink coffee.
So how are you?
[lively exotic music]
- So when I got the
scholarship to come here
to get my engineering degree,
my father sacrificed a lot
to get the money
to send me here.
And he said I would
never get another chance
like this again in my life.
- Yes, but listen, Ali,
your father is a
wise man, a good man.
A parent will do anything
for his children.
Anything.
- Yeah.
- Yes.
- Tell me about it.
- Yes.
- He would never
let a chance go by
without reminding me.
- [laughs] You know, Ali,
I came here for
similar reasons as you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- You see, I was about your age
when my wife was pregnant
with our first child.
I wake up in cold
sweat one night
and realized I'd be a father.
I wanted to raise my family
someplace where they
all have an education,
have opportunities I never had.
That's why I came to America,
for them, not for me.
But,
I still miss Damascus
all the time.
Especially with what's going
on with the Arab Spring.
[laughs]
You know, I did a
sacrifice for my children
that they will never understand.
- How many children do you have?
- I have two daughters,
actually, about your age.
The older is just
finishing law school
and the younger is applying
for medical school.
[speaks in foreign language]
Yes.
Can you imagine what
their life would be
right now in Syria?
- Well, I'm glad it worked
out for you, Mohammed.
I'm planning to go back home
once I finish with
school, to Algeria.
- [laughs] You're
a young man, Ali.
Anything can happen
in a few years.
Who knows?
You might go back
to visit Algeria
with your new American wife.
[Ali laughs]
And a baby.
- No, no, I don't think so.
- Yes.
- My father would kill me.
- Really?
- Yeah, he would kill
me, really. [laughing]
- Oh my god.
I'll be with you in a minute.
Okay.
Sorry, I have to--
- I understand.
Thanks for the
coffee, by the way.
It was amazing.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Ali, listen.
Please do not be a stranger.
You come by.
I wanna make coffee for
you a second time, okay?
- I will, I promise.
- Okay.
[speaking in foreign language]
[gentle piano music]
[patrons screaming]
- It's a beautiful night, huh?
- Look, I have a
confession to make.
Even though it's really sweet
that you won this for me,
I feel a little strange
carrying it around.
Do you mind if I give it away
to someone that might
really, really appreciate it?
- I won it for you.
You have to keep it.
My honor is at stake.
- Oh, your honor.
So you're a marksman sniper
clown-balloon assassin.
I just want you to know,
that 10-year-old back
there almost beat you.
- Come on, he cheated.
I guess it's kind
of funny looking.
You know what?
You can give it
away if you want.
- [Lana] Here you go.
- [gasps] Mommy, look!
- Did you say thank you?
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you so much.
- You're welcome.
I love little kids.
They're so innocent
and full of life.
- Yeah.
Kids are great.
My older brother has
four little boys.
They destroy everything
in their way.
- You makin' fun of me?
- No, I'm serious.
[laughing]
Kids are great.
- Okay.
[Lana shivers]
Oh.
You have a girlfriend?
- I'm sorry, I don't
mean to be rude.
I'm just not,
I'm just not used to this.
- Used to what?
- Being with a woman in public.
[gentle instrumental music]
- Oh, you're up.
Good morning.
- Good morning.
- You sleep okay?
- Yeah.
What's all this?
- I thought you might
like some coffee.
- Thanks.
- Um, do you like milk or sugar?
- Sugar.
I like it sweet.
- Well that's good,
because my roommate
drank all the milk, so.
- You have a roommate?
- Yeah, sort of, Kelly.
She's not really
here very often,
so I kind of have the
place to myself a lot
which is awesome,
because she's a bitch.
How is that?
- It's fine.
- You're a liar.
[laughs]
Um, I wanted to say
that I had a really
good time last night.
It's been a long time.
I mean, you know, since
I've been on a real date.
Thanks for being so nice to me.
- You're welcome.
It's easy being
nice to you, Lana.
- Oh yeah?
- I never met a woman
like you before.
Passionate,
strong, sweet,
and so beautiful.
What is it?
- I just haven't had a man
say things like that to me
or look at me like that
in a really long time.
- Like what?
- Like you really care about me.
- That was nice.
- Eat.
- Okay, Mom.
- [Lana] That's beautiful.
What does that mean?
- Inner strength, in Arabic.
- That's cool.
Why'd you get that?
- To remind me who I am
and where I come from.
I guess I'm not,
I'm not doing such a
good job right now.
- Why?
- I'm supposed to remain
pure in the eyes of God.
I'm not supposed to have
sex until I get married.
It sounds silly, huh?
- It's not silly.
I'm honored if I
could be your first.
- So, tell me about your tattoo,
I love New York.
Did you get it because
you're homesick?
- No.
Maybe.
Remember when you
asked me at the diner
why I left New York,
and I said I would
tell you sometime?
- It's okay.
You don't have to tell
me if you don't want--
- No, no, no, no.
I want to tell you.
I haven't told anybody
this in a long time.
[forceful exhaling]
[crying]
I left New York 10 years ago
because my mother,
because my mother worked
in the North tower
and, um,
on September 11th,
my whole world
crumbled that day, and,
I, I lost everything.
I had no family
and I had no money
and I was 15 years old.
[sobbing]
- It's okay.
It's okay, Lana, it's okay.
It's okay, don't cry.
[melancholy instrumental music]
- [Father] Where have you been?
You didn't call last week.
- I'm sorry, I've
been busy studying.
- Is everything okay?
- Yes.
- Good.
- Everything's going well.
- Stay focused.
- I will.
- [Father] And don't
forget to call next week.
- I won't.
[upbeat exotic music]
[gun firing]
- The American and the
whole Western world
will soon see our true might.
And their oppression
will cease forever.
We will have one Khalifa,
one single great leader
that will be running
all the Middle East
without division between us.
[children shouting]
And be great people
like once before.
[gun firing]
The flag of Islam will be flying
from Morocco to Malaysia.
But a sacrifice, the
martyrdom of few,
must bring the
salvation to the many.
This is my destiny.
[gun firing]
God has chosen me for this.
[wings flapping]
[guns firing]
[muffled praying in
foreign language]
[speech drowned out
by somber music]
- Ali!
[train rumbling]
[Patrick grunts]
[laughs]
- Good job, man.
- Thanks, Coach.
Oh man.
I'm gettin' there.
- Not bad.
- I'll tell you
somethin' right now,
I'll miss that when
I get back to base.
- Base?
What do you mean?
- Semper Fi, baby,
a marine base.
- Oh.
- Guess I didn't tell you, huh?
- Oh, no, you didn't.
- Yeah.
I try to keep this world and
that world separate, you know?
- So where are you going to?
- Afghanistan.
Stationed in the south,
along the Pakistani border.
Does that bother you, Al?
- No, just never met an
American soldier before.
I thought you guys
would be, different.
- People watch too many movies.
Just doin' a job,
like everybody else.
Well hey, I gotta jet.
Hot date for the
king of the rings.
I'll see you around, huh?
- [Reporter] Iranian
nuclear development
continues at a steady pace
while the Iranian president
insists his country's
uranium enrichment program
is for energy and not bombs.
The West views Iran's
nuclear proliferation
as a threat to the
region's political--
- Hey Kel.
- Hey Lana, what's up?
Do you have the rent yet?
- It's been kinda slow.
- What the fuck does that mean?
- What do you mean, what
the fuck does that mean?
It means that it's
been kinda slow.
That's what the fuck it means.
Don't be a bitch.
- You know what?
Calm the fuck down.
Are you on that shit again?
Have you been seeing Leroy?
- No, I'm clean.
I haven't seen Leroy in months.
I'm clean.
- Then what?
- What nothing, it's
just been kinda slow.
- Yeah.
Okay.
Look, I'm gonna head to
the White Tail tonight.
Some cash rolled in.
You need to join me, really.
- What time?
- Cab at 11:00.
I'm gonna take a disco nap
so I'll see you in a few hours.
[lawn mower humming]
[bell ringing]
- Hey Ali.
- Hey.
Hey Sara, how you doin'?
- Good.
Why weren't you in
class yesterday?
- I overslept.
- Well, you're in luck,
'cause I made you
a copy of my notes.
- Cool.
- So you don't fall behind.
- Thanks, you're so sweet.
- [giggles] I wouldn't
want my study partner
slipping up now.
Midterms are next week.
Speaking of which, are we
meeting up tonight to study?
- Yeah, sure.
Nine o'clock at the library?
- Sounds perfect.
- I'll see you then, all right?
- All right, cool.
- Be safe.
- See ya later.
- Bye.
- Bye.
[bell chiming]
[soft instrumental music]
- [Man] Let Jesus
into your life.
Purify the sins of your soul.
[speaks in foreign language]
- Brother.
[speaks in foreign language]
I saw you yesterday
outside the mosque.
I was hoping you'd come in.
- I didn't have time.
- One has to make
time for Allah.
You know, Ali,
it is perfectly natural
for a young man to
struggle with his faith.
There's nothing wrong with that.
I struggled myself
when I was younger.
You'll find the right path.
- I never said I was searching.
- Ah, you don't have to.
It's written all over your face.
- Why do you come
here every day?
- To speak to Allah.
To remind myself how great
he is, how small I am.
You know, once you
can see yourself
from a true
perspective, it's easier
to be honest with
those around you.
- I am honest.
- A man with a weight
on his shoulders,
especially a man
with the gravity
of the weight you
carry on yours,
cannot possibly be
honest with himself.
And if he is not
honest with himself,
he can't be honest
with those around him.
Here.
Look.
This is you, at the
center of the world,
of the universe.
Unless you're completely
honest with you,
you can't be honest
with your first circle,
your parents.
Then, your second circle,
your siblings, your relatives.
Then your third
circle, a good woman,
mother of your
children, your wife.
Then your fourth
circle, your friends,
and your fifth circle,
your community,
your mosque, and
so on and so on.
See, if your center is
not completely solid,
the rest collapses.
You understand?
- Yes, I do.
So,
how can I find the center?
- You don't.
Allah finds it for you.
All you have to
do is let him in.
He'll do the rest.
You think life is tough now?
Wait till you get married.
[gentle string and piano music]
- Hey.
[Lana gasps]
You ready?
Not tonight.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
[sniffing]
[dramatic techno music]
[laughing]
- You know, he's
one of my favorite.
- She'll take good care of you.
- She always does.
- The usual?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- [mumbles] These are the two
girls I was telling you about.
- Good evening, ladies.
- Hi, honey.
- I haven't seen
you two here before.
- We come and go.
You must have missed us.
- Well, I'm glad I
didn't miss you tonight.
- You like that?
- Yeah, I do.
So, are you gals
three-hole courses?
- Mister, wherever you can
stick that dick of yours,
we can take it.
- Sounds like we have a deal.
- [Kelly] We come as a
pair, two grand a piece.
- [Business Man] Wouldn't
have it any other way.
- [Kelly] Perfect.
[sobering instrumental music]
- [Business Man]
Undress each other.
- Lana, don't fuck
this up for us.
- Now, get down on your knees
and crawl over here.
- [Kelly] Who is it?
- Hey, Lana, it's me, Al.
[banging]
- She's not home.
- Oh, you're her roommate.
- Yeah.
- Look, I'm sorry to bother you,
but I haven't heard
from her in a week.
Her phone goes
straight to voicemail.
I just want to make
sure she's okay.
- She's fine.
How do you know where she lives?
- Excuse me?
- Who are you?
- I'm her friend, Al.
- Look, she's got lots
of friends, Al, okay?
She's out of town
for a few days.
Don't worry about her.
- Look, I just want to make
sure she's all right, okay?
- She's okay, all right?
- Just tell her Al came by.
- Sure, I'll tell
her you came by, Al.
- Thank...
[door slams]
[melancholy instrumental music]
- Hey, he's gone.
I sent him away.
- Thanks.
[crying]
[speaking in foreign language]
- I need to talk to you
about something I did.
And you're the only
one I can talk to.
My father wouldn't understand.
I slept with a woman.
- Allah designed us to
be attracted to women.
That's natural.
But the attraction to
women can be very powerful,
especially at your age.
If you have feelings for
this woman, you respect her,
you wanna build a
relationship with her
that is fitting between
a man and a woman,
then you should
think about marriage.
But just to be with her
for physical pleasure,
that's not good
for either of you.
That's not Allah's way.
- I know, I know.
I'll try to be good.
- [laughs] There is
none good but Allah.
You know, men your age should
be thinking about marriage.
Startin' a family.
Otherwise you'll be an old man
raising a teenager,
and trust me,
you won't have
the energy for it.
- Thank you for
listening, Sheik.
- Not at all.
Will you join us at the
mosque for Friday prayers?
- Yes, I will.
Promise.
[speaking in foreign language]
[soft string music]
I missed you so much.
- I'm sorry, I was away.
- It's okay.
I'm just glad to
be here with you.
What's wrong?
- When I'm with you, I,
I feel amazing.
- I love you.
- Don't say that.
- But I do love you.
I think about you all the time.
- Don't.
There's something
I have to tell you.
- What is it?
- I haven't,
I haven't lied to you
but I haven't been totally
honest with you either.
In the beginning it
didn't really matter
because you were
just some guy I met,
and now everything's
kinda changed, and,
I'm starting to have
real feelings for you.
Look, I know you're a
little younger than I am
and I'm the first woman
you've ever been with,
so I think I know
what you're feeling.
And it's not love.
- But I do love you.
I can feel it, I do--
- Just listen to me.
I just need to finish this.
It's really important.
That first night I met
you, and you saved me,
I already had a really
strong feeling for you.
And you're already
such a good man
and I can see that
when you look at me
and I can feel that
when you touch me.
And, you're probably like
one of the first guys
who's ever really given
a damn about me, but,
like, I could be falling
in love with you.
- So why are you crying?
- Because I'm going
to tell you something
that's probably
gonna make you leave.
- I won't leave you.
Whatever it is, I
won't leave you.
[somber piano music]
- Okay.
Up until a few days
ago, I was an escort.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, I survived
by having sex
with men for money.
Do you understand?
- What did you,
what did you say to me?
- I said...
Look, I'm not
ashamed of who I was
because it's all behind me now
and it's in the
past and it's over.
You don't understand.
When my mother
died, I was raised
in foster home to foster home,
and I was raped so many times
that I just...
Look at me!
[sobbing] I will be
a good woman for you.
I've changed, Al.
I love you.
- How could you know
what love is, huh?
You're a fucking whore!
- Don't leave me.
Don't go!
[sobbing]
[dramatic instrumental music]
Oh god, god!
[exotic string music]
- It's a nuclear warhead.
- From the cradle
of civilization
comes the destroyer
of civilization.
I need your help, engineer,
to make sure it's
detonated properly.
- [Ali] Where is it?
- It's being kept hidden on
the other side of the world.
It will be delivered
when we're ready.
- Ready for what?
- Ready to free millions
of Muslims from slavery.
- [Sara] There you are.
- Hey.
- How have you been?
- Just exhausted.
- Oh, totally.
- I mean, how do you say?
Cram for midterms.
- Yeah, no, me too.
So, did you get your
results back yet?
- Yep.
- And?
- Straight A's.
- No way!
Oh my god, that's amazing, Ali.
I mean, you get all A's on
exams in another language.
I could hardly pull off all B's.
Guess it's the blonde in me.
- I just got lucky, I guess.
- No, you didn't just get lucky.
You're really smart, Ali.
Hey, I'm having a little
after-exam dinner party
at my house tonight.
You wanna come?
- Yeah, sure.
- Cool, eight o'clock.
- Okay.
- I'll text you my address.
- Okay, see you then.
- I will see you then.
[knocking]
Come in.
Taking the time to find out
If it's all just a game
- Hey, Ali!
[squeals]
- You look so beautiful.
- Thank you, you
look very handsome.
So, dinner's almost ready.
Did you want a glass of wine?
- No, thanks, I don't drink.
- Well, guess I'll have
to drink for us both.
- I thought you were
having a dinner party.
- I am.
It's a party for two.
I hope you like mushrooms.
- I love mushrooms.
Smells good.
- Thank you, Ali.
I, um, I wanted to make
you something special.
[upbeat rock music]
Through the skies
Through the skies
Well it's just like
you to run away
- What is it, Ali?
What's wrong?
- You're Jewish.
- You didn't know I was Jewish?
- No.
- Well, what's wrong with that?
Ali?
- I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
- Ali?
[muffled sirens wailing]
- Wow.
You're good.
- Old man was a pool shark,
so it's in my blood, you know?
- All right.
- Come on, baby.
Shit!
Playing with scrap.
[mumbles] playing games.
You all good?
You seem stressed out.
You okay?
[balls thudding]
- Just adjusting to LA, I guess.
- Adjusting to LA, okay.
Sounds like lady troubles to me.
What's her name?
- It's more like two names.
- Okay. [laughing]
Al, I didn't think
you had it in you,
but you know what?
I'm impressed.
- It's not like that.
There were two and now...
- And now what?
Hell, you know what?
Let me tell you
something right now.
I'm not one to be
dispensing advice on women.
The longest
relationship I ever had
was six months with a
CO named Shirley Johnson
on my first tour in Iraq.
Good god, she was good.
But she was batshit crazy,
I'll tell ya that right now.
[laughs]
She pulled a gun on
me 'cause she thought
I was cheatin' on her.
I mean, can you imagine that?
I go to war, I come back,
my goddamn girlfriend
almost blows my head off.
Now that'd be a
modern-day tragedy.
- Tragedy.
100,000 Iraqi children
died from your war.
Now that's tragedy.
- Come on, Al, don't
tell me about that.
That's a bunch of bullshit.
You know that just
as well as I do.
- You're out there
attacking innocent people.
But I guess Arab blood
doesn't count, does it?
- We're out there
saving innocent people.
Iraq now has a constitution,
and America did that.
Saddam Hussein was
a fuckin' lunatic
that tortured and killed
his own people for 30 years.
Everybody knows that.
That's fact.
- Torture?
Did you fuckin' forget Abugraid?
America made a fuckin' career
out of torturing Muslim.
- A bunch of fuckin' terrorists
hijack planes and crash
'em into our buildings,
you goddamn right we're gonna do
whatever it takes to stop
that from happening again.
- You do realize that
none of the 19 hijackers
were Iraqi citizens, right?
- Iraq was the linchpin
to terrorist sympathizers
all across the region.
You cannot stand there
in good conscience
and tell me that what we did
had nothin' to do
with the Arab Spring.
Tell me that.
We had every right
to invade Iraq, Al.
- You should hear yourself.
What gives America
the right, huh?
[stick clattering]
And why are you always in
someone else's country?
- Hey Pat, everything
all right here?
- Yeah, Mike, everything's okay.
We're just talkin'.
- Sounds like trash
talkin' to me.
You should teach your
friend here some manners.
- Mike.
We're just talkin', Mike.
- Talkin's over.
- Al, you should go.
Just go.
- I thought this
was a free country.
- What was that?
- Mike.
Al, just go.
It's not worth it, Al, just go.
Go.
Please.
- I was just leaving.
[dramatic music]
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Father?
It's me.
- What's wrong?
Your voice doesn't sound right.
- I'm fine, we're just
having a bad connection.
- [Father] How were your exams?
- Good, straight As.
- [Father] You
don't sound right.
You don't sound focused.
I'm focused, I'm just a
little tired, that's all.
- [Father] Ali.
- Father, hello?
- I'm here, Ali.
- Hello?
- [Father] I wanted to go
see your brother in Europe.
He has important news for
you about your sister.
- What, what is it?
Is everything okay?
- [Father] He'll
tell you in person.
Call me when you
get to New York.
- Father, hello?
- [Operator] If you'd
like to make a call,
please hang up and try again.
- Hello?
Hello?
[phone banging]
[exotic string music]
- And remember, stay
away from mosques
and don't get
involved with women.
- I won't.
I will make you proud,
Brother, I promise.
- The whole Muslim world
will be proud of you.
[bell chiming]
- Hey Sara.
Can I sit?
- Sure, it's a free country.
- I don't know what
to say, really.
- It's okay, Ali, I understand.
- I don't have anything
against the Jewish people.
I have a problem with
the Israeli state,
what they have done
to the Palestinians.
You and I, we're
practically cousins.
[laughs]
- What do you mean?
- Our father is Abraham, right?
- Right. [laughs]
- I'm really sorry
about the other night.
- Thank you.
So, cuz, you wanna take a ride
up the coast with me?
- Mm-hm.
- Cool, let's do it.
- Let's go.
- Come on.
[lively piano and string music]
[moving to ominous music]
[car honking]
[indistinct chatter]
- [speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
- Engineer.
You're late.
- I was being cautious.
- Father is not happy.
- He said it had
to do with sister.
- It does.
He wants you to go see her.
- Already?
It's too soon.
I thought he wanted it--
- Don't think, Engineer.
Do.
Father moved up the time.
- When?
- I don't know.
Doesn't matter.
- Have you prepared
everything here?
- Yeah, I'm ready.
The question is, are you ready?
- Never doubt me, Brother.
I spent my entire life
leading to our
victory over this.
- You will seek out Sister.
You'll find her in
the black pyramid.
She's waiting for you.
- Okay.
- Prepare yourself.
[ominous music]
- Who is it?
- It's me, Al.
- Come inside and
close the door.
Turn on the lights.
Make a move and you die.
- What is this?
Father sent me.
- Shut your mouth.
Move over to the bed, now.
[suspenseful music]
Take your shirt off.
Do it.
[gun clicks]
I won't ask again.
Turn to the side.
[speaking in foreign
language] Engineer.
- [speaks in foreign
language] Sister.
What was that all about?
- The Mossad are always
one step behind us.
They intercepted a
cell and replaced him
with one of their
own in Buenos Aires.
- What happened?
- One less Mossad.
You will return to Los Angeles
and wait for Brother
and I to join you.
- Los Angeles?
What about New York?
It's the better target.
- It's also the more
difficult target.
Security is too high.
Los Angeles is weaker.
The device is already there.
You will contact our
transporter tomorrow.
Is there a problem?
- No.
It's just that the
device is more effective
in a tighter area like New York.
Los Angeles is so spread out.
- It will be effective enough.
Millions will die.
[banging]
The warhead has a 300
kilo ton capacity.
Hiroshima was only 15 kilo tons.
[truck beeping]
[suspenseful music]
[speaking in foreign language]
- Father sent word
that you'd be coming.
Is it time?
- Soon.
- You know what to do?
- Yes.
The cargo is ready.
When and where do you
want it delivered?
- I'll call you the
day before the wedding,
with the exact time and place.
[phone beeping]
[phone ringing]
- [Father] Ali, meet us at the
rooftop of the Palace Hotel
tomorrow at sunset.
- Okay.
[suspenseful music]
[somber exotic music]
- Now that you are all here,
let the clock begin.
In a few days, all
this will be gone.
- Hey Al.
I haven't seen you
around in a while.
- I just got back from
New York a few days ago.
- You have fun?
- Not really.
Family stuff.
But it's all good now.
- Yeah.
- So you're gonna
leave us, then?
- You know, my parents
were immigrants, Al.
Came to this country
to start a new life,
live the American dream.
My service to my
country is my way
of keeping that dream alive.
Al, I know a soldier
when I see one.
I knew the first day we met
you were training
to do what I do.
- And what's that?
- To kill.
The question is,
which side are you on?
- Soldiers always fight
on the same side, brother.
Right versus wrong.
[somber music]
- Hey, I love this country, Al.
And so do you.
You just don't know it yet.
[speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
[speaks in foreign language]
- Okay, you remember
how I told you
how I always wanted
to study abroad?
Well, I just found
out I got accepted
to the American
University of Rome.
[laughs]
- That's great, Sara.
- Eh.
- I'm happy for you.
- Yeah, but I'm not
sure I'm gonna go.
- Why not?
- 'Cause you know how
I feel about you, Ali.
I mean, if staying here
would bring us closer,
then I'd stay.
- No, no, no.
Don't stay here for me.
You should go.
- Okay.
Then I'll go.
[speaking in foreign language]
- What do you want from me, huh?
I told you, I didn't
do anything wrong!
- You have information we need.
- What do you want from me?
I don't have any information.
I didn't do anything wrong.
- Sir--
- I love this country.
- Do not resist, sir.
- Please cooperate.
- Make sure you
read him his rights.
- Do not resist, sir!
Put your hands behind your back.
- But I'm innocent!
- You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say can
be held against you
in the court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney.
- I'm a good
citizen, a good man.
- If you cannot
afford an attorney,
one will be appointed to you.
[suspenseful music]
[engine igniting]
[police radio
chattering indistinctly]
[siren wailing]
- Brother, it's me.
Tell Father we need to
move up the wedding day.
- When?
- Tomorrow.
- Understood.
[phone beeps]
[sizzling]
[beeping]
[somber instrumental music]
[speaking in foreign language]
- Is Suleyman here?
- No, he's not, brother.
Is your name Ali?
- Yes.
I've been looking
for him for days.
Where is he?
- I'm sorry to tell you,
but he's actually at the
hospital about a week now.
He's been quite ill.
- What hospital?
- It's down the street.
It's called the Vermont
Cancer Hospital.
- I have to go see him.
- Okay.
[speaking in foreign language]
[phone ringing]
- [Man] Vermont Cancer
Clinic, please hold.
- [Automated Voice] Third Floor.
- He's ready to see you now.
- Thank you.
[gentle string music]
[beeping]
[speaking in foreign language]
- I knew you'd come.
- Why didn't you tell
me you were sick?
- We always have such nice
conversations about life.
I didn't wanna speak of death.
I had a dream last night.
You were in the mosque.
You began the call to prayer.
- Can I get you something?
Some water?
- Yes, please.
[labored breathing]
- Sheik, please
continue the dream.
- Ah, the dream.
- Yes.
- You began the call to prayer.
It was so beautiful.
Angels came down from heaven.
In the night sky, you could
see it written in the stars,
God is great.
- I feel something
important is coming.
And it scares me.
- Nothing ever happens to us
except what Allah
has ordained for us.
- Can I call the doctor?
- No.
No, pray for me.
[praying in foreign language]
[ominous music]
[interposing voices gibbering]
- What are you doing here?
- Can I come in for a minute?
- Come on up.
[kettle whistling]
You want something?
- No.
- You're freaking me out.
What's going on?
- Lana, I need to say
something to you before I go.
- Where are you going?
- I can't tell you, but
please listen to me.
I do love you in my own way,
but we can never be together.
You gotta find somebody
who can love you
for who you are,
not what you were.
- Where is this all coming from?
What do you want from me?
- Lana, I want you to leave LA.
- What?
- Just for a few days.
Here, take it.
Buy a plane ticket, bus ticket.
Just leave, all right?
- Why, what the
fuck is going on?
- Promise me you'll
leave tonight.
Promise me!
- I'll promise, fine, I'll go.
- I love you.
- Wait.
I'm pregnant.
- Don't tell me that just
to stop me from going.
- I'm not.
Look, I found out this morning
and I wasn't going to tell you.
But you know, I didn't
think you loved me then
and now I'm thinking
we could be together--
- There's no we.
There's no us.
Please, just, just
go, all right?
Just go.
[door slams]
- [Reporter] The
president returned
from the Middle East
Peace Summit today
and said the United States
will consider to pursue
its interest in the region,
mainly preventing the
spread of nuclear weapons,
counter terrorist groups
such as Al-Qaeda and Isis,
and encouraging Arab
Israeli peace talks.
He warned that no one benefits
from a nuclear arms race
in such a volatile region,
especially after the Arab
Springs collateral chaos
in countries like Libya,
Egypt, and especially Syria,
whose civil war has spilled into
it's neighboring countries
of Turkey, Lebanon,
Israel, and Iraq,
fueling the rise
of dangerous terrorist
groups like Isis
who are responsible
for kidnappings,
beheadings, and bombings.
[ominous music]
[interposing voices gibbering]
[truck beeping]
[gun clicking]
[engine humming]
[praying in foreign language]
- These are for you.
- Father.
This wasn't part of the plan.
- If anything goes wrong
and we cannot get to the device.
We will kill as many of
our enemies as possible.
Hm?
- We are all wearing one.
[praying in foreign language]
[ominous music]
- 10 minutes.
- It's time to engage the vests.
[interposing voices gibbering]
[praying in foreign language]
[sirens wailing]
[phone ringing]
- [Man] Father, the
package is ready.
- Excellent.
[phone beeps]
[gun clicks]
- [Man] Two blocks
away from target.
[laughing]
- Baby, a baby, yeah?
- You have a way of
breathing life into it.
- [speaks in foreign
language] Brother.
- There is none good but Allah.
- [Lana] I'm pregnant.
[praying in foreign language]
- No!
[speaks in foreign language]
- No!
- Traitor!
[explosion booms]
- [Reporter] A van exploded
in Los Angeles today,
killing four people
believed to be members
of a terrorist cell.
[somber vocalizing]
[string music]
[dramatic instrumental music]
[vocalizing]