"We're crossing the fishing port." "Starboard is a tuna boat with its heap of nets in the back and the skiff on the poop deck." "The skiff holds one end of the net as the boat circles a tuna shoal." "Most tuna boats are at sea now." "The make 3-month excursions off the coasts of Liba, Malta, Cprus," "Turke and the Balearic Islands." "There, on the right, those are trawlers." "Those boats over there." "On either side of the seine are grids to hold the nets open horizontall when it's dredging behind the boat." "The go out on da trips, Monda through Frida , from 2 in the morning to mid-afternoon, until the boss sas the have enough." "That's the fish crier's compartment." "It got its name because there once was a man elling what fish the had, and the price." "Now that's all over." "Everything's on computer." "THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN" "That's the scrap area." "That's where scrapiron is stored, before being shipped to Turke." "There used to be ovens in France." "We lost the matches." "Unless it's a manpower problem." "Marie, take over a minute !" "God damn !" "Over there, concrete blocks are piled, forming a breakwater." "This is crazy, Madeleine." "Stop !" "What's crazy ?" "This ?" "I'm working." "This is no time." "It's exciting !" "Hurt me." "It's not the time." "If ou look behind ou, on the left ou can see boats pulled ashore for repair." "This is called the harbor careening area." "That's where repairs are made to the boat's underside, meaning every part which is immersed." "Rudders, paint, propellers, etc." "Slimane !" "What is it ?" "So a schedule is toilet paper ?" "What schedule ?" "I made one up." "You weren't on it this morning." "You talk schedules and deadlines." "How can I finish ?" "You donþt finish the job !" "This project is stagnating." "We've been at it 3 das !" " Exactl !" "It's been 3 das !" " Talk about schedules." "3 das is too much." "I can't wait." "That's the problem." "This project's going nowhere." "If ou can't move these jobs, what do I tell the others ?" "ose, quit it." "I'm talking to Slimane." "It's not our business." "Keep out of it." "Everyone stops." "When does the job get done ?" "You pla me for a fool !" "What's the idea ?" "What's up with this job ?" "It should be done !" "You read the schedules now." "Don't ask questions and things will be simple." "You're making m life difficult." "I'll read that schedule..." "I had to cut our hours." "It's earl." "Things are still slow." "I don't get it." "Look on the bright side." "You'll have time with our grandkids." "To go fishing." "Who asked ou ?" "I got m orders." "We're over quota for man hours." "Listen, we're trying to stave off the worst." "Anbod who's not happ..." "Don't give me that stare." "I said don't !" "You want me out, is that it ?" "I onl said it's slow now." "Can't pa ou to loaf." "I work." "I know." " I do m job." " I know." "I've worked 35 ears." "35 ears." "In salt." "Between the sea and the ard." "So what ?" "You're not profitable anmore." "You're tired and ou're tiresome." "That's the truth." "You had 2 das to finish that boat." "Two das is two das." "Not 2 1/2, not 3." "Know what ou're costing me ?" "There's work to be done on that boat." "I don't know." "I'm not a businessman anwa." "You don't know what work that boat needed." "You don't." "I'm sorry for ou, Slimane." "I don't get ou." "René made ou a good offer." "You said no." "René !" "I've been on the ard since '69." "René sas I got 16 ears in." "Not even half of the truth." "Not our fault ou were off the books." "We took over in '90." "What happened before..." " I don't get it." " You don't ?" "I don't." "Tell me." "You know, but ou won't sa it." "How long have I been on the ard ?" "You have to choose." "You want to go on working, ou accept flexible hours." " Otherwise..." " What ?" "You know our conditions." "How man times do I have to tell ou ?" "All right, I got it." "You got it." "I hope ou got it." "How are ou ?" "Guess what happened to us ?" "What ?" "Got stopped in the no fishing zone." "Reall hurt us." "The fat gu who used to be a crier." " Right, Henri ?" " He hates us." "Bastard." "He had a field da." "Smiling, from ear to ear." "I said, "Come on, be reasonable." "I got overhead."" "2,000 euros fine and banned for a week." "Stubborn ass." "We all got a job." "We fish." "He gives out fines." "You better be careful." "There's no more work." "Now I've got work trouble." "I told ou, the want us out." "I told ou to get out." "Either get out, or the'll throw ou out." "Anwa , till ou get fed up..." "He , that's how life is." "Life is not all ros." "What did Michel sa last night ?" "He needs help to break up that old boat, La Source." " Lots of work." " An old freighter." "3 or 4 gus, a week's work." "Yeah, I'd sa two weeks." "Honest boss, he'll pa ou." "You got no worries." "I worked for him." "He's straight up." "Give him some fish." "I'll just sort it and I will." "Aziz, pass me the crate." "Pass me the fish, please." "erem , sort a while so I can serve Slimane." "Not a lot." "That OK ?" "ust 2 or 3 mullet and that's fine." "I'll clean them." "Give him more." "I give him the crate ?" "I'm not kidding." "That's all I needed." "I got to pa the diesel bill." "Riadh !" "Out of the bathroom !" "Turn that shower off !" "I just got in !" "You don't pa the phone, the water, the electric !" "End of the month, nobod helps me." "Shoes !" "Smells like fish." "No, it doesn't." "It's fresh." "It smells like the sea." "The sea..." "Then I clean it and I smell like the sea." "It's cleaned, don't worry." "Clean or not, it won't pa the bills." "You never eat fish here ?" "We do." "You think we're cats ?" "All da long, fish and more fish." "What good is bringing me fish ?" "Bring caviar while ou're at it." "You missed two alimon paments !" "All selfish !" "Everyone around me is selfish !" "What am I supposed to do ?" "I am not happ !" "Don't look at me like that." "You know what ou did." "I said, "Pee ?" You said, "No"." "Ask for the pott." "Bad girl." "Sit on the pott." "Go !" "Sit down !" "Sit, or I'll get mad." "Hi, Dad." "She didn't ask for the pott." "So here we go again." " She's little." " No !" "She knows what she did." "Hi, hone." "Got a kiss for Grandpa ?" " Come." " She stas on the pot !" "Leave her alone." "What's done is done." "Don't ou move !" "Let her be." "It's nothing." "Don't ell." "She gets on m nerves." "I keep telling her." "Want to sta in diapers forever ?" "Dad !" "Let her be." "Let me wash the dirt girl." "I didn't wash her !" "Let her be." "Bad girl." "Lucky she didn't get spanked toda." "Prett girl." "She's not prett , she's bad." "A very bad girl." "She knows she's off the hook." "Look !" "You're disgusting." "Little pigg." "You lucked out." "You'll see next time." " Hi, Grandpa !" " Hi, hon." "Give Grandpa a kiss." "Finish eating." "Sit down here." "Did ou eat ?" "This isn't over !" "I'm not too hungry." "No more peeing in diapers !" "A little coffee." "Answer me." "It's over." "Now it's the pott." "See that ?" "When she's in our arms..." "And she knows it !" "You lucked out." "We'll see later." "Mom, leave m sister alone." "She still pees in diapers, at her age !" "You were out of diapers." "Wait, Dad." "Eat first." "Wh the coffee ?" "I'm not hungry." "You ate before ?" "What did the cowbo want ?" "Come on, eat." "You keep talking and ou're not done." "What did he want ?" "The made schedules." "I'm on half-time." "You asked for it ?" "Tell them no." "Anwa , the're reviewing personnel." "The want no Frenchmen." "The old gus are out." "No, the French." "Rather have migrants." "That wa , no hassles." "Sugar ?" "Dad, the doctor..." "I had sugar." "Dad, ou put sugar in it." "He didn't, I did." "Wh'd ou put sugar out ?" "I've worked there since ose was born." "Did the give me a contract ?" "The could have." "The don't want Frenchmen." " It has been a while." " What can I do ?" "You got to act." "It's like ou're afraid." " Afraid of what ?" " Exactl !" "What should I sa ?" " You sa nothing." "You sta..." " What ?" "You could keep this up 10 ears." "Till our hair turns white." "Then the'll fire ou." "Great." "At the cannery..." "Safia, enough !" "Want to go pott again ?" "Want to go pott ?" "It's all right." "No, ou sta here or ou go pott." "So, at the cannery, we get bonuses." "The tried to eliminate them." "The gu the sent, the VP, said the'd lost American markets." "ust like that, one da the sa , ou lose this cause we lost that." "So just like that, we organized." "Everyone in the cafeteria." "We made signs." "We went on strike, stopped working." "When the saw the line stopped, the needed us, the all came out of the woodwork." "The watched how the spoke to us." "We were all there, read to go the limit." "We said if we have to set a fire, we'll set a fire." "But our bonuses don't go." "Don't even try it." "Considering what we get paid..." "So when the came..." "We'd elected... what's her name ?" " Your co-worker's wife." " Lionel ?" "His wife." "I don't know her very well." "Melanie ?" "Melanie was our spokesperson." "She went to them and said, no one goes back to work until we get our bonuses." "I swear, quick as lightning, we got our bonuses." "The got scared." " The can't just do anything." " Yes, the can." " Ask our father." " No wa." "The're tired of benefits and withholding." "The outsource." "Somewhere gus get 10 bucks a week." " Anbod in there ?" " Yes !" "The take advantage of people who are making a pittance." "The're the best." "The do that very well." "And the keep lining their pockets." "So every ear, ou hear the same line." "On TV, that's all ou hear." " You watch too much TV." " People are too passive." "No, it comes down from above." "It's shameful." "That's how it is." "Half as man boats in 10 ears." "Then one da , no more boats." "ust a marina." "No more fishing boats." "No more ard." "Onl tourists." "For them:" "less hassle, more mone." "The take advantage of people." "I brought some fish." "Again ?" "You just brought us some." "That's a lot." "It's good for the kids." "Not even a thank ou." "Thanks." "But I get some at the cannery." "Not the same." "This is fresh, for the kids." "That's true, ou're right." "Don't look at me like that, ou little pigg !" "She'll remember this da." "I'm running late." "Dad, can ou drop me off ?" " We'll go together." " Fine." "Don't want a bite first ?" "No." "Tonight I..." "Give Grandpa a hug." "Hug Grandpa and I won't be mad anmore." "I'll hug him, too." "Good thing I have ou, Dad." "Don't worry." "It'll work out." "The can't change our life." "You too, give Mom a hug." "Oh, ou're a sweetheart." "And Grandpa." "M kids adore ou !" "ose, come here." "Show them Grandpa's nice fish." "He thinks of us." "Careful, don't fall." " Can I touch ?" " Are our hands clean ?" "I'm going." "Nice, right ?" "Don't touch too much." "Look at the fish." "Show her the fish." "In water, he moves this." "Look at that fish." "See that ?" "It's Nemo." "The got big teeth." "Hi." "How are ou ?" "I brought fish." "Sure ou're OK ?" " Hi, Slimane." " Hello, Rm." "You OK ?" " Some fish." " Let me see." "Haven't had an in a long time." "Mullet." "The ellow kind !" "That is super cool." "Thanks." " Make it tonight ?" " No problem." "How are ou ?" "Mom see this ?" "What did she sa ?" "Coming back down ?" "Come, let's go to sleep." "I don't get it." "It doesn't matter." "I didn't reall want to either." "Come and sleep." "What are ou doing ?" "I'm going back to m room." "What's the matter ?" "What's going on ?" "Not in our room." "I don't feel right." "How long do we go on this wa ?" "The guests..." "That's our place." "Then I come here..." "It's just that the bed is bigger." "You know, I'm just a guest." "Stop." "You're independent." "You're oung." "You like life, ou like freedom." "I've done nothing, left nothing to ou and Rm, to m children." "Wh are ou saing this ?" "It's not moist enough." "I put it in alread." "I can't take it out now." "Like this ?" "A little less." "Another potato peeler headed for the trash." "Can't go an faster ?" "Mom, she's not great at dishes." " I'll get it." " Go." "Don't forget, shoes off." "What took so long ?" "Scared ou ?" " Shoes !" " I took them off." "Hi, hone." "Wow, lots of work." "How are ou ?" " Eas on the harissa." " We know." "And the kids ?" "On the balcon." "Go ahead." "Thanks." "Nice change from fish." "Hi, hone." "He , sweetie." " What are ou drinking ?" " I'll have..." "Olfa !" "Bring a glass and a beer." "Give him the big plate." "That's the plate." " She's prett !" " Prett , right ?" " Hi, Henri." " Hi, Lilia." " Your daughter's prett." " Thanks." "How old is she now ?" "Almost two." "Time sure does fl." "Tell Auntie how old ou are." "Show her." "Two. ust two fingers." "Five ?" "She's so smart." "Incredible." "And still in diapers ?" "I can't get rid of them." "And I work at it every da." " Try the pott ?" " Sure." "I put her on it." "She won't go on the pott." "ust to sit her down on it, she has a fit." "Soon as I take her off, then she goes." "Cause she ells at her." "I don't ell." "It's not her fault." "It's the diaper companies." "The new diapers absorb a whole quart." "Kids get used to it." "The don't get it." "Even wet, the feel dry." "See what I mean ?" "The're shock absorbers." "The fall, get right back up." "It's true." "That's wh the do it." "Take one out, throw it awa." "Take another..." "See the price at the supermarket ?" "She uses 5 a da." "How long does one pack last ?" "Not even a week !" " How much is it ?" " 15 euros." "Olfa, the calculator !" "Fifteen is a lot." "That's not even a week !" "Thirt to a pack..." "Here comes the details." "This will take all afternoon." "The diaper budget !" "Six times three..." "Math and me..." "Wait." "Six a da." "A pack is five das." "That makes 6 packs a month." "600 F. Times twelve." " 6,200." " 7,200." "7,200 !" "Imagine in 2 ears." "7,200 F a ear !" "Look at the face he's making !" "OK, everybod !" "Let's go." "Hurry up." "ulia, go get dressed." "Please." "Everyone's downstairs." "The made couscous." "What the hell is this ?" "ulia !" "Serguei !" "Serguei, tell our sister or I'll get crazy." "All right." "Stop talking in Russian." "Look in m ees, go get dressed." "I said no !" "That's French !" "I'm not coming !" " Wh are ou elling ?" " You don't listen !" "Come back to earth." "Go down to our mother's !" "Go eat !" "You wait for our brother to pull this shit ?" "Hi, Serguei." " What's going on ?" " The're manic." "I just got here." "It's crazy." "What set it off ?" "I don't know." "I got here, ulla was upset." "I think Majid got in about six or seven in the morning." "ulia found stuff in his jacket." "Condoms or girls' phone numbers." "I don't know." "You know our brother." "Let's go get dad." "Come on, get up !" "I've had enough !" "Leave me alone !" "What the hell is this ?" "Get out before I go crazy !" "Get out !" "Your mama's calling !" "Stop elling." "Look at her !" "And I'm crazy !" "You're crazy, es !" "Majid, there's a bab in the house." "A little respect." " You just wait !" " Who do ou think I am ?" "Get out !" "You're a pain in the ass !" "Majid !" "Garbage !" "What ?" "What's going on ?" "When our sister's here !" "Big man !" "Go downstairs or I swear I'm going to lose it." "Mom's waiting." "You'll see tonight !" "What will I see ?" "Shut the fuck up !" "He went downstairs." "It's over." "Put this off a da." "It's hard." "Sorry." "Come downstairs, ulla." "Go change." "Do it for me." "The marital fights are later." "This is not the time." "Lilia wants to see ou." "She asked for Hakim." "Everyone's there." "It's good vibes, good times." " Yeah, good times." " Eas." "Everyone's waiting for ou." "We're all happ." "Come downstairs." "Don't worry, it'll be all right." "Please." "Get up and change." "We'll see about this later." "Come on, ulla." "Please." "OK, Karima." "But onl for ou." "Fine, no problem." "Cause it's hard." " I'll get dressed." " Go ahead." "Serguei, come have dinner." "I'll come down with her." "I'll just change the bab." "OK, see ou there." "Hakim, let's go." "Let's go eat Grandma's couscous." "Let's go." "All right, what is this crap ?" "It's nothing." "We all know about our bullshit." "What bullshit ?" "I went out for a drink." " And all those girls ?" " What girls ?" "What is this shit ?" "We all fucking know !" " I'm talking here." " You heard rumors ?" "You're too stupid to be discreet." "Get out." "I didn't do anything." "I got in late one night." "Late one night ?" "Like I don't know where ou hang out ?" " Get out." " Like I don't know ?" "You got a kid." "You're married." "You forget ?" "Now stop acting like a kid." "And get it straight that ou got a famil." " Hello Mrs. ilali." " Hi, kids." "Been to the market ?" "Not too crowded ?" "Not too bad." "And our health ?" "How's our mom ?" "Your dad ?" "ust fine." " Sa hello to them for me ?" " I will." "Be now." "Take care." "You piss me off !" "Want some onions ?" "Mom, one more place." "Serguei's coming." "Hone , give me the kids' plates." "Serve the kids first." "You're looking peaked !" "Give me our plate." "You can bone the fish." "Everybod got some ?" "Did everyone get sauce ?" "And vegetables ?" "Enjo our meal, everybod." "It's prepared with love." "Love." "The couscous of love." "It's absolutel delicious." "The vegetables are just right." "Souad, ou're talented for couscous." "ulia !" "It's about time." "Sorry we're late." "Sorry, Souad." "You go through midtown ?" "We've been waiting." "He , handsome." "He's a little warm." "Yeah, his bottom's all red." "I can't settle him down." "I went through hell when Thomas was a bab." "Want our momm ?" "Azza hone , got everything ?" "Are the eating ?" "No worries." "Safia, listen to our auntie." "I thought it was Slimane." "Hi, everyone !" "The most beautiful !" "You OK ?" "It's a famil da toda." "Where is he ?" "Henri, the girls !" "M fault." "I had car trouble." "I needed his help." "Like I don't ?" "I completel forgot." "We'll talk later." "Where do I sit ?" "I'll get ou a plate." "When ou got nice cold ones, ou forget our woman." "And ou turned our cell off." "Voice mail !" "Now ou're dead." "Souad, serve her." "She's starving." "ust a little." "I'm on a diet." " Don't start with me toda." " I didn't sa a word." " Your couscous is great, Mom." " Got that right." " No peppers ?" " I can't eat without that." "Go get them." "The're in the pan." "Orange juice." "Here, Majid." "Majid's not talking." "Something wrong ?" "Yeah, toda he's prett silent." "All that parting last night." "See ?" "He eats at Grandma's." "Here's Grandma's couscous." "All smiles, so happ." "See that ?" "Better than fish sticks." "Quit arguing." "Have some." "Enough for everyone !" "I don't want an." "I'll leave m share." " Riadh special !" " Very nice !" "Olfa, some bread !" " I love it." " How do ou do it ?" "I made the peppers and helped with the couscous." "When she does something, she sas so." "It's so rare !" "She has helped her mom all da long." "Ma I have some more grain ?" "With pleasure." "Weren't ou on a diet ?" "Give her a break." "Women and diets !" "She said so." "Right awa , "I'm on a diet."" "Now she's changing." "Good." "I'm getting fat, but it's good." "No." "When ou start to eat, ou sa Besmellah." "Gesmela !" "Not a "G", a "B"." "There." "You got it." "Know an other Arabic words ?" "Barafemuk." "One of m first !" " That's all ou taught him, Lilia ?" " A few others." "We don't speak Arabic at home." "With our wife, ou must have learned some things." "Curse words !" "You learned a few words." "You know, when..." " What ?" " When we're alone." "Naturall." "When we make love." "Get out of here." "Don't believe him." "She often sas..." "Mezze, Mario..." " Often !" " It's not true." " Don't believe it." " He's shameless." "He's going wild." "But ou do teach the kids ?" " Not..." " Yes." " More Thomas." " The bos understand." "A little bit." "When does our mom speak Arabic ?" "When she's mad." "Then ou understand, when she's mad ?" "What does she sa ?" "Remember ?" "She sas lots of things." "Onl when she's mad ?" "That true, Lilia ?" "The understand m mother." " The're used to it." " M aunts." "The're exposed to it." "Easier for them than for me." "When our mother was visiting... the spoke Arabic all the time." "I couldn't stand it." "I kept saing, "What ?" Remember ?" "I didn't understand." "I had to constantl translate." "She made an effort." "She did, es." "It's hand for secrets with m friends." "So he doesn't understand." "Right." "And I don't." "The're all there..." "The're having tea." "It's true, sometimes I feel uneas." "It's like I get the feeling the're talking about me, like... the're making fun of me." "You never made the effort to learn." "I keep offering." " True." " You never did." " I don't have the time." " I taught ou a few words." "What did ou teach him ?" ""I love ou," and "darling"." "So ?" "Don't remember ?" "Close." "That it ?" "Listen to her sa it." "He'll never get it right." "I'll get it." "Yeah, ou can." "Mabe in 5 or 10 ears..." " Can I have a plate for the kids ?" " Of course." "One for the neighbor." "I'll bring it." "Alread did it." "I saw her before." "She sas hi, asked for Dad." "There's a plate for our father." "Bring it later, bos." "I'll go with Riadh." "You two are going ?" "Least he's worth it." "Not like some." "We miss him around here." "What do ou want ?" "That's life." "Love, love !" "Love, huh ?" "That's not love." "Sure it is, Mom." "It's a gesture of love." "Then what is it ?" " Love..." " It is love." "That's ichra." "It's stronger than love." "It's habit." "It's all in there." "Love, friendship, everything." "Own our feelings." "You love him, that's all." "Souad, if I ma , from that plate, I know there's still love." "There's a difference between Dad's and the neighbor's." " It was made with love." " You can tell." "I make the couscous with love." "Love... takes everyda maintenance." "It's getting along." "But... ou have to earn it." "Dad's a good man." "He deserves better." "Isn't he ?" "He worked 35 ears for his famil." " What else ou want ?" " It's not a mzia if it's a dut." "But he did his dut." "We never wanted for anything when we were little." "He was alwas there." "Now I can get b on m own, but..." "He was around !" "Listen, all of ou." "Either ou quit messing around or I get the laundry list out !" "Every Sunda , laundry list." "Every Sunda , she tells the same story." "Enough." " Don't fight now." " We're not." "I love Dad and Mom." "Majid, get those peppers awa from her." "A husband like that, I would never let him go." "Take him !" "Look, Mom's jealous." "You're jealous." "You still love him !" "How's the couscous ?" "Mom did good." "We sure loved it." "I had two plates full." "Yeah, it was good." "The're a fucking drag." "I don't know how ou live in this dump." "How can ou sta here ?" "Go back to the old country." "Majid's right, Dad." "You got nothing here." "It's all there." " Sunshine, friends." " And the house." "Yeah, Mom said she'd leave ou the house." "Go whenever ou want." "You just leave it for her when she comes." "Don't need it." "You'll feel good there now." "It'll be great." "You'll be super health , I know it." "You live in a dump." "Even Karima said ou'd be better off there." "She'll bring the kids on vacation." "I'll bring Hakim." "We'll sta together." "Put in some time." "I'll think it over." "Yeah, think." " He , Rm." " Leave me some ?" "I did." "Come in." " I won't interrupt." " Come in." " No, I'm OK." " Come in." "Not long." "How are ou ?" "How ou doing ?" "Sit down." "I could smell it downstairs." "How are ou, Majid ?" "Good." "I saw our son, with our wife." " He's bigger." " Yeah." "How old is he ?" " 10 months." " Alread ?" "Time flies." " He's beautiful." " Thanks." " Your wife looked a little tired." " A little." " She lost weight." " Yeah, she did." "Worries, huh ?" "Delicious." "Haven't had couscous like this in a while." "Sorry." "When there's couscous the world disappears for me !" "Eat the fish." "Here, some peppers." "The're good." "Reall nice." "Super good." " Have some squash." " Give me." "Not talking ?" "Lost our tongues ?" "Dad." "Think about what I said." "Nothing's keeping ou here." "You should go back home." "You could start a business, with the severance pa." "Severance talk going around town alread ?" "I swear I didn't sa anything." "People talk." "People love to talk." "The sa the ard's over." "That ou got severance, like severance paments ?" "Good ?" "Great." "Never had one so good." "Tell our mother." "No problem." "I could eat this every da." "I've done that." "I could explode." "I'll sleep good." "Your sons are reall hard." "Especiall Majid." "Wh ?" "The want ou to go back home." "What does that mean ?" "The want to get rid of ou ?" "Are the messing with ou ?" "Like ou need them to tell ou what to do." " Like it's for our own good." " I let them talk." "Yeah, ou do." "I noticed ou let them talk." "I swear !" "No respect." "You're home." "This is our room." "And we're our famil." "You're like m father, I mean it." "What's that ?" ""Nothing's keeping ou here."" "The gall." "Right in front of me." "People have no respect." "Who does he think he is ?" "Don't pa him an mind." "I can't accept that." "No wa." "What's France, a whore house ?" "Let him go back." "Good riddance." "He thinks France is a whore house." "I'd have told him, but out of respect for ou and the couscous..." "Onl because he's our son." "He reall got on m nerves." "Reall !" "You like Riadh ?" "He's OK." "Gets on m nerves !" "Don't mind what he sas." "Wh'd ou sa ou'd think it over ?" "Because I don't mind what he sas." "He thinks that means es." "Let him talk." "Sa nothing, let him talk." "You'll see what happens." "He gets confident, talks about it again." "Don't let him, OK ?" "Make some more coffee." "Yeah, but just b letting him..." "You have to talk." "You just sit there." "Bastard." "He gets me crazy." " Wh doesn't he sing ?" " I don't know." "Sing." "Remember how he used to sing ?" "He almost never does now." "I don't know." "What's wrong with him ?" "Look, he's eating couscous." "I didn't leave ou much." "People !" "See how children are ?" "Acting big." "That's not right." "Such a traitor." "Funn seeing him here." "Most Sundas he's with his whores." "I know stuff about him I don't tell ou." "Lots of talk I heard." "He should go hide back home." "Don't be mad, it's nothing." "He's lost it." "Your son's got a problem." "It's nothing." "Forget all that." "Sas m hotel is a dump." "Like his face isn't ?" "Don't tell our mother." "If Mom heard that... we'd be in deep shit." "Worked all her life to bu this." "She's a woman." "Not a man." "All he knows how to do is talk." "Least we got a hotel." "You making the coffee ?" "There's the boat, m child." "Want to board ?" "Lots of work." "Come in." "Hello, Mr. Beji, Miss..." "Please sit down." "Well ?" "What brings ou here ?" "I'm here to ask for a loan." "M father wants to open a restaurant on a boat he's just acquired." "We prepared a dossier to present our project." "Congratulations." "Let's have a look." "There are some mistakes." "I see that." "Is that all ?" "We onl just started working." "You realize it's a little light." "Especiall in view of the sum ou request." "45,000 euros, that's a nice chunk." "We need it for the renovation." "That sum will onl cover the renovation costs ?" "No." "It also covers equipment, kitchen, decor, tables, chairs." "All that." "How about operating costs ?" "How will ou cover that ?" "Have ou thought about start-up funds ?" "No, but we can work it out." "It's no problem." "M stepfather worked on the ard." "All his co-workers will pitch in." "And when it comes to personnel, we'll have free labor." "It's all famil." "So we'll save a lot of mone , right ?" "Yes, but ou must understand, I can't put that on paper." "I have to satisf m superiors." "If I go in saing," ""Mr. Beji and all his friends and famil will do it all,"" "it won't fl." "I need a projected budget, with much more detail, with estimates from established and serious professionals." "How did ou come to these figures anwa ?" "Did ou do an market studies ?" "No, we just got the application from the Chamber of Commerce." "Mr. Beji, if I recall correctl , ou're now unemploed." "You were laid off ?" "Yes, but I got m severance pa." "And I get unemploment." "Right." "You want to change careers." "Very commendable." "But let me ask ou a few questions." "Your chosen business, restaurants, is a very difficult one right now." "First of all, where would it be located ?" "Actuall , we'd like it to be located on the Quai de la République, if possible." "Have ou asked for an authorization ?" "It's pending." "Sure there's a spot open ?" "But the tuna boat gus told me there's a spot open." "The said so." "Perhaps, but ou need the permission of local authorities." "There are man restaurants alread." "Yes, but none that makes fish couscous." "That's true." "So I want to try m luck." "It is an original idea." "Is that the onl specialt ?" "For now, fish couscous is the house exclusive." "But, of course, we'll make up a full menu, with various combinations." "And we'll rent it out for parties, baptisms, circumcisions, weddings." "And we had another idea." "During Ramadan, we'll turn it into a warm meeting place for our communit to gather share ideas, our culture, and to eat." "Because... the don't have much in this cit." "We've got ideas." "Of course, even people outside our communit are welcome." "I see." "How old are ou, Mr. Beji ?" "Sixt-one." "Look, this all seems a little fresh." "Though our project doesn't seem uninteresting at all !" "It just needs fleshing out." "So I suggest ou come back to me with a complete work-up." "With a detailed projected budget, with professional estimates, including operating expenses, personnel ou wish to hire, a target number for meals served, and how man meals per da will put ou in the black." "And have a CPA sign off on it." "And of course the additional paperwork we spoke about." "The customs license, the docking authorization, and the collateral ou can put up." "The collateral is the boat." "That's all." "That's it." "I'm afraid that won't be enough." "It's in bad shape." "I saw the photo." "How much is it worth ?" "10,000 euros." "Seriousl." "That's not enough." "Ten thousand." "Compared to the sum ou want to borrow, that's nothing." "It'll be worth much more, once we renovate." "Perhaps, Miss." "Mabe I lack imagination to speculate on such a project but I can guarantee ou, with this plan, 5,000 is the most ou can hope for." "Mabe !" "Those folders are great." "We can print them." " What is it ?" " Hello." "Tell them OK." "Forget the rest." " Are ou Mr. Dorner ?" " Yes." "We have an appointment." "An appointment ?" "With me ?" "Yes, the do." "OK, what about ?" "For an authorization." "An authorization ?" "For what ?" "I have... a boat." "Let me explain." "We want to open a restaurant on a boat." "Turn a boat into a restaurant." "So we came to see ou to obtain the authorization." " I heard about that." "That the file ?" " Yes, here." "And this boat-restaurant, where is it now ?" "At the G-0 dock." ""The Source"." "Got some work to do." "Where do ou want to put it ?" "Quai de la République." "That's not eas." "Quai de la République." "Everyone wants to be there." "I don't know if there's room." "Did ou inquire ?" "Yes." "The tuna boat gus said there was a spot." "Yes, there's a spot open." "Might be one for a tuna boat." "But a restaurant ?" "A couscous place at that." "Not eas." "Might be a spot, but ou have to ask the port authorit." "The tuna boatmen don't decide." "We'll verif that." "And the customs license ?" "We see them next week." " I need that license." " We'll bring it." "And ou're getting a bank loan ?" "Did ou get it et, or not ?" "The bank is waiting for the cit to grant authorization." "The want the cit's opinion ?" "Right." "The cit wants financing before granting authorization." "Look, we at the cit will stud the feasibilit , to see if it's viable." "If it is, we'll transfer it over to the police authorit." "But right now I can't tell ou anything more." "Check back with m secretary." "Get what's missing to her." "Sorry I didn't have more time, but I'm running late toda." " Have a nice da." " See ou soon." "Make sure the get everything I requested." "From the bank." "The'll be back." "A letter stating the've applied." "Without the loan, where are the going with this ?" "What's keeping ou ?" "I'm done." "I don't have much time for lunch." "I've got oga toda." " Ever run a restaurant ?" " No, ma'am." "And our kitchens are up to safet standards ?" "French law is very strict about that." "We're renovating." "Renovating or not, I'm warning ou :" "To be licensed, and to keep that license, ou need the Health Dept. certificate." "That's how it works in France." "You're going into a business with very strict rules on hgiene." "In France anwa." "Anything concerning a new restaurant opening, the kitchens must be up to code." "We..." "I can give ou the license in one da." "I can deliver it to ou right now." "But if ou have an inspection, and if the inspector judges that our kitchen's not up to code, ou can get permanentl shut down." "And m hands will be tied." "You understand what I'm saing ?" "So, ou have to go back to the bank and explain what I just told ou, that ou came to see us, and since ou're putting up the boat," "I don't see wh the wouldn't finance our plan." "Especiall since ou have propert." "In an case, as for us, it's French law and there are no exceptions." "That's it." "Do ou understand ?" "He , Riadh." "He , how are ou ?" "Good." " Making progress." " Little at a time." " Not too rough ?" " It's all right." "Come and eat." "Yeah, thanks." "How are ou, Slimane ?" "Kitchen's looking mean." "Real nice." "You like the blue ?" "Gorgeous." "Reall nice." " Not too tired ?" " I'm all right." "The paint works wonders." "Looks great." "Come sit down and eat, two minutes." "Oh, I saw Rabah, the grocer." "He said if ou want to shop on his card, it's tomorrow." " Riadh !" " I told him." "Call him." "No, let it go." "I called him." " Riadh !" " Coming !" "Come and eat." "I bet ou didn't eat at all." "That's no good." "Cigarette, coffee..." "You work hard." "You have to eat." " You like it ?" " Gorgeous." "Totall." "Reall ?" "It's clean now." "There's a little tiding up to do." "But that'll go quick." "I'll sleep here tonight." "Mom won't like that." " She gave me lip." " I know." "You don't care." "You're above that." "Don't mess everything up, OK ?" "Tell her." " I got a head full of worries." " I know." "I'm not sure I can get the authorization, the loan and all." "I keep explaining." "Yeah, I know." "Your mother's got to understand." "She does." "She's pretending." "Look, ou got all this work to do." "Don't get caught up in all this stuff." "Who cares ?" "So ou'll come home after, OK ?" " We'll see." " Stop." "Do it for me." "Who cares about her ?" "We don't care." "What good is it ?" "I get back, she looks at me crooked." "We'll look crooked right back at her." "Come on." "Please come home tonight." " We'll see." " Please." "That sandwich an good ?" "Oh eah, it's good." "You made it ?" "Then it's good." "Thanks." "You OK, Dad ?" "Fine." " Finished up there ?" " Yeah, almost." "Then ou come down." "We'll finish the kitchen tonight." "Yeah, it'll be quick." "Don't forget to close everything up." "If no one's watching, turn the TV off !" "What's with her ?" "She's pitching another fit." "A fit ?" "Pitching a fit ?" "You're not in her shoes." "She's got reasons." "You know, since this restaurant thing..." "What restaurant ?" "You know Slimane's opening a restaurant on a boat ?" "That's wh she's like that." "He bought a boat ?" "What do ou mean, bought ?" "He picked up a wreck read to be junked." "That boat, still in the same place." " Falling apart." " Right." "At the end of the dock ?" "That's the one." "That's right." "Make a restaurant out of that boat ?" "What's he got, a screw loose ?" "Seriousl." "A couscous place, he said." "Couscous on a boat ?" "It's an old idea of his." "He's right." "Life is tough." "It's a good idea." "Hang on, hang on." "Fixing up that boat takes dough." "That's not eas." "You need a lot." "It's not free." "He got something on his laoff." "Not much." "His age, he wants to take a shot at a restaurant ?" "Hostesses, kitchens, hours..." "Not eas." "It's complicated." "Yeah, but he does have his two kids." "Those two !" " The're lazy !" " We know them." "Counting on them..." "Of course he's counting on them." "And what's more, his ex-wife is doing the cooking." "I get it now." "Souad !" "That's wh Latifa is..." "Now ou see ?" "I've seen them." "The had an all-out." "She broke the place up." "All over the place." "He was going to leave." "The girl stopped him." "Yeah, for her it's a humiliation." "He betraed her." "He humiliated her." "Right." "ust imagine." "Because when he lost his job, she thought, mabe with the severance he gets, he could help her fix up the hotel and all." "No." "Now she sees him, he wants to open a restaurant on a boat, put his kids to work." "It's a revolution." "Wait." "With his ex-wife's couscous !" "Imagine the situation." "She's like a crazy person." "She's like crazy." "But ou got to understand him." "You know Slimane and his pride." "He doesn't want to be a kept man, or look like a pimp." "See what I mean ?" "This situation is very serious." "It's no good for one, no good for the other." "It's a reall weird situation." "It's not eas." "ust between us..." "You know one time I tasted Latifa's couscous." "It was inedible." "Terrible." "We ate it anwa , out of friendship." "But I mean it was awful." "Totall tasteless." "But Latifa's nice." "I like her." "She's nice but she can't make couscous." "She's very nice." "Did his wife sa es ?" "She's no picnic either." "Yeah, but how he put it to her." "For the good of the kids..." "Yeah, because he's got no mone , no authorization." "In the bargain !" "Tough." "Starting with nothing." "That's tough." "He's putting together like a part , to raise mone." "He invited some big shots." "Like a test." "To show he can do it." "See ?" "When's his part going to be ?" "That I don't know." "The girl must know." "I'll ask." "Rm ?" " Come here a second." " Coming." "What is it ?" "Tell me, have ou seen Slimane around ?" "You know when his restaurant part is going to be ?" "When he's done renovating." "It's tough." "Onl Riadh's helping." "He's no pro." "Slimane has to be there, tell him what to do." "Right." "Tell him we'll help." "He's a friend." "Tell him we're here." "He didn't dare." " No, reall." " I'll tell him." "We'll all help." "What is this test evening ?" "No, he means the big part." "It's not a test." "The turned him down." "The bank, the customs, the mone , the authorization." "So he decided to give this big, big dinner part." "And invite all the inside people, the big shots." "He'll present his project right, show them it's a good idea." "So the'll invest." " See ?" " That's good." "Good idea." "He can't give up." "Got to go for it." "It's like us, when we audition for gigs ?" "Right, sort of." "I get it." "Does he want musicians for his audition ?" "He didn't sa." "I could ask him." "I think he wants pros." "You are professionals." "We are professionals." "Wh go looking ?" "Here we are." " Wh go elsewhere ?" " Don't be hurt." "He listen, if he wants this part , how about doing it free ?" "Wh not ?" "All ou talk is mone." "He , he's a friend." "Forget mone." "What's that ?" "I'm just asking." "Mone." "When he gets some he'll pa ou." "Now he's got nothing." " Debts up to here." " Can't talk to ou." "We're just talking here." "Quiet down." "Who doesn't have mone ?" "If he's got mone , great." "Otherwise, we'll eat a good couscous and that's that." "I'll shake on that." "You said it." "I respect ou." "Reall." " The cit liked his project." " How do ou know ?" " Good news." " M cousin works sanitation." "I hope it's true." "For those people, as long as it isn't a mosque, the plan will go through." "You sa a praer." "ulia, come with me." "The vegetables in these 4 things." " There ?" " Yeah." "Want to teach me to make fish ?" "I don't know." "I never made it for 100 people." "Well, at m sister's wedding." " About 30 ?" " I don't know." "Three." "Four." "Five." "Souad, the carrots are done." "Still got the potatoes." "You sure about this ?" "You made too much." "It's too much." "There's 100 people or more." "I think it's too much." "It's 35 pounds." "That's 12 oz. a head." " It's a waste." " No." "For a wedding, it's 100, even 200 pounds." "For a wedding." "There will be leftovers." "There will be leftovers." "If there's an left, there's alwas the poor." "Alwas got charit." "That's good." "God knows how man poor there are !" "That'll keep the ain awa from our famil." "Stop talking curses." "It's true." " What do ou mean ?" " The ain exists." "You keep talking about it." "A car that breaks down, it's the evil ee." "A door slams - the evil ee." "And that's not all." "Alwas happens at the wrong time." "Majid !" "Majid's not here." "It's not Karima." "It's not Olfa." "It's not logical." "It must be the evil ee." "That's just life." "Lots of illogical stuff happens." "At the wrong time." "Right." "It's superstition." "Who's calling ?" "Soussou ?" "Soraa." "Want to leave a message ?" "Souad, the evil ee exists, right ?" "I don't know." "All I know is, a little charit is good." "I'll tell him." "You're both superstitious." "It's not superstition." "This is different." "You're confused." "What do ou call it ?" "The ain, whatever." "Not superstition." "Who was that ?" "It is superstition." "A wrong number." "Wrong number ?" "I'm sick of that phone." "Alwas ringing." "It's the ain." "Even a phone call is the ain." "See what I mean ?" "If that's not superstition, what is it ?" "Finish the fish." "That's all." "Let's get the fish done." "Hurry up, night has fallen." " Got to finish." " Almost done." " You're done ?" " Almost." " I'm done." "Got the ees out." " Come on, quick !" " Saha, that suit !" " Thanks." "Glad ou're here." " What ?" " Come here." " What is it ?" " I'm having trouble." "The bow tie." "Don't strangle me." "Don't be a child." "Stop moving." "There ou go." "You look good !" "You like it ?" "Yeah, it's class." "No kidding around." "What else ?" "What about ou ?" "Go get dressed !" "I'm not going." "What do ou mean ?" "She's not going." "If she's not, I can't." "Hurts deep." "I understand." "You can't go if she doesn't." "And Slimane ?" "Thought about him ?" "I know, but what can ou do ?" "You know wh he's doing all this ?" "It's for ou, for his children." "It's not for himself." "He couldn't care less." "All that's behind us now." "We're old now." "We try to hang on, bust it a little more." "For ou." "If it was onl about us, a few olives and a hunk of bread would be plent." "But when we see ou, happ and all, that's fantastic for us." "We live again." "You see ?" "Solitude, exile, humiliation..." "All that's behind us." "We think at least we didn't, we aren't just..." "We didn't immigrate for nothing." "See m point ?" "What can ou sa ?" "You know..." "Slimane sees no difference between ou and his daughters." "He doesn't, but do the ?" "The what ?" "The see a difference." "That's what ou sa." "The do." "I know what I'm saing." " What did the do ?" " Nothing." "The never did anything to me !" "Some things don't lie." "Sometimes it's in our head." "Slimane will be disappointed." "What can ou do ?" "Try to convince her." "I know ou." "She's hard-headed." "It's rough." " It'll be rough." " Try." "Try to find the words." "That's all I'm asking." "Let's go." "Pass me m cigarettes." "Kader's here." "How are ou, handsome ?" "Looking good." " Getting married ?" " See that ?" "Quit it." "Don't start." "Look at him, a real gentleman." "I'm alwas a gentleman." "What do ou think ?" "Wh don't the open ?" "We are not going to keep waiting like this..." "Lots of people !" "Thank ou for the invitation." " How are ou ?" " Fine, and ou ?" " Very nice place." " Thank ou." "Good luck." "How are ou, Olfa ?" "It's nice." "It's m father mostl." "Like it ?" " Lovel." " Very nicel done." "It's super." "With those palms." "Great." "Azza !" " Azza !" " Coming." "The children's plate." " Mind the bones for them." " I know." " That's the poor man's plate." " Whose ?" " A poor man." "Go out and find someone." " No, it takes too long." " All the wa into town." " Find someone outside." "No, I'm not going." "You go." "All right, I know ou." " Took the garbage out ?" " Yes." "Get out of here." "I'll manage." "Go ahead, sit down." "You go over there." "Nadia, serve there." "I'm here ?" "Some people haven't been served et." "M daughter." "Oh, she's our daughter." "Nice to meet ou." " Welcome." " Thank ou." "Should I seat them ?" " Have a nice evening." " Thank ou, see ou later." "I put ou at that table in the back." "Olfa !" "Go get the couscous." "Majid !" "Mom !" "What is it ?" "What are ou doing ?" "What's the matter, Mom ?" "Come on, let's go." "Please." "Me, go there ?" "That'll be the da." "Come on." "Wh do ou do this ?" "There's lots of people there." "Come on, please." "What is it ?" "What is it ?" "Tell me." "What is it ?" "He had to put it there ?" "Couldn't find another dock ?" "He wanted Quai de la République." "Think he wanted this crapp place ?" "That's all the'd give him." "It's just one evening." "Then he's going." "You think it was to upset ou ?" "It was just chance." "To humiliate me." "Humiliate ou ?" "He wouldn't." "Stop thinking everyone's against ou, that the wish ou ill." "People don't just think about ou." "You're a joke." "Fuck, I swear." "We'll go bad if ou keep this up." "Disgusting." "People will sa ou got dumped." "Fingers will point at us again." "When I think about that Souad." "She's so annoing." "She'll get ideas again." "I heard the girls alread." "The said stuff." "It's just gossip." "That's wh we should go." "Or the'll get in Slimane's head." "The'll sa , "Dad, onl our children are here."" "She's nothing." "She's never there for ou." "Alwas moping, acting important." "She's never happ." "You'll see." "Let them talk." "Who cares ?" "Right, cause Slimane doesn't care." "Wait till he starts wondering." "How will that feel ?" "Weird ?" "I don't care." "How can ou let them ?" "Wh do ou let them talk ?" "If I were ou, frankl..." "Not just cause ou're m mother, ou're gorgeous." "Young, prett." "You got it all." "In our place, to get them jealous," "I'd put a mean dress on, some make-up," "I'll brush out our hair." "Put on some jewelry." "You go there, look them in the ee." "You walk in there, and ou act like a star." "Like a hpocrite." "You know how the act." "Asking how ou are, all that." "Do the same." "You don't care about anone." "At least ou'll screw them." " ust do that." " No." "Do it for real." "Wh not ?" "You're not a woman ?" "Fuck them." "ust to get on their nerves." "Show who ou are." "You're gorgeous, compared to them." "No comparison." "Night and da." "Did ou see her face ?" "All fat, doesn't know how to dress." "She's disgusting." "She wears flea market stuff." "She disgusts me, reall." "She's so ugl , with that hair." "You got nice hair." "All she can do is criticize people." "She wags her tongue and she can cook." "That's it." "I'd rather be the gorgeous one than know how to cook." "I mean it." "Am I right ?" "Everybod's expecting ou." "I saw Hamid, Kader." "The all asked for ou." "And Slimane !" "That reall pains me." "He'll be crushed." " You go." " Crushed." "His kids will be happ as shit !" "He'll be crushed." "You go, ou earned it." "I won't go if ou don't." "You invested in it." "No." "I invested with the heart." "I don't give a fuck about parties." "You don't go, I don't go." "You'll represent me." "It's fine." " I won't." " It's the same thing." "No, it doesn't work like that." "The most important da of his life, ou drop him like a dog." "What are ou, ashamed of something ?" "He doesn't care." "He does so." "He asked me before, if ou were coming." "He did not." "I swear." "He said, "Is she coming ?"" "I said, don't worry, I'll try to convince her." "I shouldn't even tell ou that." "You disgust me." "Damn it !" "There's lots of people." "Shit." "We never go out." "I'm sick of being all cooped up." "You go." "Go, ou're not even dressed." "I go, then ou sa I ditched ou." "I know ou." "Come on, Rm." "Enough." "It's no big deal." "It's nothing." "You go." "Me or ou is the same." "So just go." "You'll have fun, get off m case." "You're so selfish." "It's disgusting." "All ou think of is ourself, and our shitt hotel." "What would it cost ou ?" "Will ou die if ou go ?" "Explain it to me." "What ?" "It's not for me to go, that's all." "Disgusting." "That woman..." "With all those people there." "Everybod served ?" "You all right, Dad ?" " What's in this ?" " Tuna." "Tuna." "Those are Fatma's fingers." "Fatma's fingers." " Not bad." " Yeah, it's good." "Like egg rolls." "He , Mom." " Going OK ?" " Yes." "How's the couscous ?" "The sauce, vegetables, fish, and the grain." "It's reall good." "If this fish couscous catches on..." "We've got worries." "Unfortunatel , we'll find out, in our restaurant business, we'll have less clientele." "People will come here." "And I heard their pricing will be very, let's sa , reasonable." "We wouldn't be able to do that sort of thing." "Follow his lead." "Stop, he's not from here." "I won't follow a gu who's not from around here." " Got it ?" " Yeah." "It's heavy." "Riadh !" "Come help us unload !" "We're late." "Well, let's have a toast." "Mr. Beji !" " He's the owner ?" " Right." "Do ou know Mr. Dorner ?" "Yes, we met at Cit Hall." "A little hurriedl." "Right." "Congratulations." "It's lovel." "Mr. Dorner is deput maor." "Future maor !" "No, deput is hard enough." "A stepping stone !" "I know what I'm saing." "Sa ou don't want to." "It would be good." "Municipal advisor, cultural affairs, owner of our largest vineard." "Which ou manage admirabl." "Honorary member of the "Give A Net" Foundation, which is managed, just as admirabl , b Madeleine Dorner." "Flattery !" "Whatever it takes." "Get a grip." "You're melting on the ground." "Speaking of humanitarians, Mr. Beji here is a fine example of merit and perseverance." "A fine human adventure." "Exactl." "A fine human adventure, I must sa." "When ou came that first da , with our daughter, or our friend's daughter, ou had our plan in our head." "You knew what ou wanted." "But ou had nothing to invest in it." "A very thin application." "Personall , I would not have bet on it." "But when I see the result, all the effort ou put into it," "I am bowled over !" "Congratulations." "To our success !" "Inch 'Allah, as the sa." "That how ou sa it ?" "Very hip, Madeleine !" "How's m accent ?" "To our success !" "I'm fucked." "Seen ulia ?" "No." " You seen her or not ?" " I said no." "Anbod asks, sa I left." "A friend got a flat on the highwa." "What ?" "A friend is in trouble." "I'll be back in an hour or two, or three." "Give them the message ?" "What a mess." "Those shoes in the stairwa !" "Hurting ?" "Got it, Olfa ?" " Look at those vegetables." " And I'm hungry." " I tasted it, it's good." " Waiting tables makes me hungry." "Smell it." "She alwas cooked for us." "Now it's for them." "We'll eat later." "I'm jealous." "Look at that." "I don't want to give them an." " The don't deserve it." " That's good mullet." "She said to broil it one more time." "She onl pre-cooked it." "So it wouldn't be crumbl." "I see." "Wait for the last minute." "She said at the very last minute." "OK." "I'll heat the sauce meanwhile." "Olfa, help me." "This will break m back." "Careful." "One, two, up." "Up !" " You're crazy !" " We spilled it !" " M shoes !" " I better clean it or it will stain." "M God." "And we're in a rush." "That's all we needed." "I'm laughing m head off." "First second with the sauce !" "Try to keep the same height as me." " Wait, let me help." " Naturall , if our side's higher..." "We better clean up." "No big deal." "It's nothing." "Over there." "That's good." "We put it in the platters ?" "What a mess." " Should we... ?" " Get the plates out." "I'll put this underneath." "We'll put it in the fridge." "Let me wipe the table." "Don't lean over too much." "Or else we'll get absorbed b our breasts, too !" "Did ou see when ou were serving ?" "The were hungry !" "One calls me "darling" now !" " Reall ?" " Serious ?" " Yeah, he got brave." " For real ?" "For real !" "He was asking questions about Lilia's breasts." " He asked if the were real." " He did ?" "Yeah !" "I was ding." "His wife was right there." "He was asking me, I swear." "You said the were." "I said mabe ou're used to silicone, but those are real !" " Totall natural !" " Right." "That's how we are." "I'm telling ou." "Starting right in !" "Unbelievable." "And the grain ?" "Do we heat it ?" "Mom heated it enough." "With the sauce, it'll be fine." "What do we put out ?" "The couscous !" "Where's the couscous ?" "Look under the table." "Riadh brought it down." "Look underneath." " Who got it ?" " Riadh." "These plates don't match." "Did ou put it in the fridge ?" "No, can't be." "I mean it's grain." "Although, with them..." "Look below." "Can't have put it there." "Do we mix it ?" "And we'll put sauce on each table." "Riadh !" "Riadh, come down !" "Come down, please." "Thinks he's here for the music." " Where's the couscous pot ?" " The couscous pot ?" " Over there." " Get it, we're serving !" "Find it, hurry up !" "That's not it ?" "That's not couscous." "Where is it ?" " What's that ?" " The sauce !" " I brought everything down." " Apparentl not !" "I looked." "That's the vegetables !" " Underneath ?" " Vegetables !" "I got it all." "Riadh, ou're in the wa." " I brought it all down !" " I got sauce, vegetables." " What's missing ?" " I got it all." "You must've left it up there." "You left the couscous pot." "Go get it, hurry up." "Come on, we're read here." "I put it all here, Karima." "Then show me." "Go ahead, I'm waiting." "I don't know." "Go get it." "There are people waiting." "Go get it." "Mabe ou left it in the car." " People are waiting." " It's not here ?" "No !" "Stop looking for nothing." " Want me to get angry ?" " Move over !" "It's not here !" "Move it !" "You want me to ell ?" "You OK, girls ?" " Fine." " Let's go." "I'm waiting for the grain." "It's not here." "I brought it all down." "That can't be." " What's going on ?" " I don't know." "I told him to look in the car, he just stands there." "Did ou get it from Mom's ?" "Yes, I'm sure of that." "I put it in the back of the trunk." "The vegetables and sauce in front, and the mullet on the back seat." "I'm positive." "So go get it." "Come on." "I'm talking to ou." "Wake up !" "The car's not here." "Where's the car ?" " Majid left." " Where'd he go ?" " On the highwa." " What highwa ?" "What highwa ?" "He went to help a friend." " What friend ?" " He broke down." "He told ou that ?" "I can't believe this." "What's going on ?" "He drove off with the grain." "Shit." "Call him, quick." "He left the grain in the car." "He went to help a friend who broke down on the highwa." "What did he sa exactl , Riadh ?" "No signal." "Be right back." "He went to get his friend who had a flat." "What is this ?" "Not again." "Did ou believe him ?" "I don't know." "How man times has he used that story ?" "Unbelievable." "Where did Majid go ?" "To help a friend who got a flat." "But the grain is in the car !" "I don't know." "Did he leave alone ?" "Did ou see ?" "Where the fuck is he ?" "What is it with him ?" "He's a fucking moron !" "You sure ?" "You sure that grain was loaded in the car ?" "I trust Olfa." "She said she got it from Mom's." "Has to be true." "M mother wouldn't let them forget." "Well ?" " Voice mail." " There." "See ?" "I knew it was bullshit." "I left a message." "He must have shut it off." "I kept calling, same thing." "Now what do we do ?" " Sure ou got the grain ?" " Positive." "I saw the couscous pot in the trunk." "I know I did." "A couscous pot is enormous." "It's prett obvious." "You didn't see it ?" "You couldn't miss it." "Wh did Majid go ?" "Where was he going ?" "How long to make another grain ?" "An hour, eas." "An hour ?" "That's optimistic." "There's 100 people." "A little longer." " Much longer." " Longer." "He'll be back." "He has to come back." "He'll see the grain is in the trunk." "Call our mother, tell her to make more." "I'm on m wa." "Are ou serious ?" "Make another one ?" "She'll scream." "She'll go wild !" "What can I do ?" "You have another idea ?" "All we needed !" "And call that idiot." "That idiot Majid !" "No use." "He turned it off." "Doesn't even ring." "Voice mail." "Olfa, call our mother." "Your father's telling ou." "Here comes the couscous !" "All those people waiting." "Now m mother's going to ell." "The're going to fight." "She'll blame him, he'll blame her." "It's the ain." "Get out of here." "Turn the stove off." "It's no use." "What now ?" "Serve drinks." "I saw liquor there." "Let's serve drinks." "Onl wa." "What choice do we have ?" "You know, alcohol is nourishing." "Especiall for the French." "Give them drinks, the forget their wives." "I know." " It's in the car ?" " We'll do it quick." " Have ou called him ?" " Voice mail." "What a fucking idiot !" "Hello, Latifa." "How are ou ?" "Thanks." "Karima, we've got people here." " Change these glasses ?" " No problem." " Welcome." " Thanks." "You both look gorgeous." "M father will be happ." "That's nice." " How are ou ?" " Fine, and ou ?" "Good." "Prett good right now." "We're a little..." "It's crowded, but we can handle it." "It's beautiful." " You like it ?" " Great." "That's Slimane." "Where is he ?" "He had to go run an errand." "Won't be long." "We're waiting." "Not long." "Where's our mom ?" "M mother's not coming." "She's discreet." "She doesn't like big crowds." "Too bad." "Must be tired." "Right." "I mean, she did it all, from start to finish." "Now it's our turn." "It's up to us." "Want help ?" "If I need ou, I'll let ou know." "You're part of our part , so let's find ou a spot." "Riadh, want to seat them ?" "I got stuff to take care of." "See ou later." "Bitches, I can't stand them." "You see her strut ?" "She thinks she's the bride." "Reall." "Lilia, I swear..." "It's nothing." "Who's that ?" "Your dad's friend and his daughter." "That's the daughter ?" "Like his daughter." "That's insulting to Mom." "Olfa, please." "The're embarrassing us." "Want to go against our father ?" "That's all !" " The're here, it's done." " Keep serving." "Olfa, what ou're doing isn't good at all." "Think of our father." "Don't give them the satisfaction." "Take a bottle and serve." "And smile." "Smile, Olfa." "Hi, some date liqueur ?" " The grain's in the trunk." " What ?" "He left with the grain." "Shit." "You know where he is ?" "M father went looking for him." "Shit." "The said it's read." "The're heating it up now, ma'am." "The want fig liqueur." "Beji comes to see me." "For one night." "We're not animals." "Give him a shot." "He won't leave." "Put a wolf in the henhouse, he stas." "I completel agree." "Completel." "It's not something that can last." "It can't hold." "This structure can't hold up." "Let's be honest." "If in 3 months it doesn't work, it's his problem." "He needs a permanent spot." "We can't give him permanent." "Onl temporary spots." "Authorizations for one to three das." "You know those gus like I do." "If he gets the permits he needs in 3 das, we'll find him a place near the station, no problem." "Less heat on it." "We can put him there eas." "Preference alwas goes to an commercial boat." "You know that very well." "In four das, the Belem puts in." "The Belem is docking in this spot." "That boat in, the clear out." "Nothing to be done." "Everything all right ?" " Is m wife here ?" " No." "What is it ?" "What ?" "Did something happen to Souad ?" "Something happen to m wife ?" "Talk !" "Talk !" "ulia called me this morning at the ard." "She said, "Come quick." I find her like this." "Toda , she was at our wife's house, helping with the couscous." "Again, some tramp calls Majid to make a date." " Which means..." " ulia picked up the phone." "Majid gets calls at his famil's house." "Calls from his mistresses, he takes them at Souad's." "She's encouraging him to do this, protecting him." "She takes their numbers." "She knows her !" "His sisters know." "Riadh, too." "You, too !" "Everyone !" "What am I ?" "Is that a famil man ?" "Never there for his kid." "Constant elling and problems." "She knows it !" "Your Souad downstairs knows." "And she acts like it's nothing." "I'm the one who has to swallow m pride." "Now ou've trampled me." "What am I ?" "I'm a piece of shit." "Souad..." "I'm not surprised." "I don't know what she has against me." "I'm not surprised." "But our daughter." "Karima comes here..." "The don't respect ulia." "Hang on, calm things down, instead of inflaming." "I'm not inflaming." "All da long," "I clean house, waiting for m husband like an idiot !" "She's alwas like this." "He tells me he's got to work late." "Even she... she threw him out..." "She said he..." "At six in the morning, as usual !" "Know what time he gets home ?" "When I'm asleep !" "You're not breathing." "Calm down." "The kid." "I have to shut up, go down and sa , "Yeah, I'm fine."" "Souad talks to the neighbor, with her big mouth." "She sas it's me." "That I make no effort, never go out." "Like I'm the problem ?" "It's never him." "Never !" "You never look at ourselves ?" "Eas." "The kid's here." "Eas." "The kid's used to it !" "It's not me." "I'm a human being." " I can't take it !" " We'll leave, that's all." "How man Sundas downstairs going, "And how are ou ?"" ""Yeah, I'm fine."" "It's not fine !" "I can't be like ou." " I'm not a hpocrite." " He's a momma's bo." "You know Majid." "You know how he is." "You know what our son is like ?" "He's not a man." "He's a madman." "He's not a father to his child." "He never sees him." "M child never sees his father." "When he sees his kid, he's drunk !" "And he's not a husband." "And not a friend either." "He's a stranger when he comes here." "And I have to shut up because he pas the bills." "The so-called man of the house." "He's got the mone." "I'm not a whore." "I am not a whore, see ?" "I have a kid to raise." "I have a home." "I need love, I need respect." "That's not famil." "What is that ?" "He's a father, he's never there." "That whore who called is across the wa !" "He's all over town." "She sees me." "She must laugh when she sees me suffer." "Alone, in front of the TV." "Like a poor wretch." "Like I'm useless." "You're downstairs." "And there's talk, talk." "You don't like us." "You wouldn't do this if ou..." "If Souad had an self-respect..." "Calm down, ulla." "How can I calm down ?" "How ?" "With this stuff ?" "Is that right ?" "That m husband's mistress knows m sister-in-law, and m other sister-in-law ?" "And m mother-in-law ?" "Calls her up ?" "She calls her house !" "She takes messages, helps him cheat !" "Every time he does it, working late, home at 6, he's with that whore !" "I see her at her window !" "I won't calm down." "I can't." "Of course I'm elling !" "What the fuck else ?" "It's been eating at me !" "But that's it." "Now it's..." "You know." "This couscous, our project, I thought it would help a little," "I thought I was part of the famil." "I reall thought so, but I was wrong." "All that for our part , and now look." "I was with ou." "But now, forget it." "I'm out of the famil." "Look at the kid, might be our last." "You'll see." "Look at him." "You'll see." "Breathe." "It's not a life for a kid." "I don't drink turpentine." "I onl drink champagne." "It's coming, don't worry." "I can't resist a little champagne." "Didn't drink the boura?" ""Slight dela" !" "We've been waiting all this time." " So long." " Your business is starting badl." "Be right back." "Stop smoking !" "For our health !" "Stop !" "Run !" "Come catch us !" "Come on, run !" "Look, he's running." "He looks like a marionette." "He's going 2 MPH." "Get some Gatorade !" "You hit the accelerator." "You're gonna kill him." "Children !" "That's enough now !" " I'm not in our shoes." " I understand, and I'm sorry." "I've come once, but I won't be back." "I guarantee it." "I'll never eat couscous again, ever !" "Don't sa that." "Give me some explanation." "I told ou." "The fish came late." "The trawlers came back late." " Where'd it come from ?" " From the boats." "It's fresh." " The boat was late." " That's not right." "You should have changed the time." "Wh not invite us an hour later ?" "We just found out !" "I was told 9, I get here at 9." "And I'm waiting." "I know, I'm sorry." "Eas to be sorry." "It's going to get sticky." "On opening night, making us wait two hours for a fish couscous." "She knows what's going on back there." " It's too long." " Reall too long." "Bad weather." "Intimate ambiance." "Good evening." "What a surprise." "Where were ou ?" "I've been looking all over." "I changed places." "What have ou brought me ?" "Couscous." "Haven't had an in a long time." " It looks delicious." " Eat while it's hot." "Thank ou." "For m father For Mustafa Adouani For Francis Arnaud" "Subtitles b Michael Katims" "Subtitling:" "L.V.T." " Paris"