"Adel Imam" "Yussra" "Hind Sabri" "Khaled Elsawi" "Ahmad Ratib" "Khaled Saleh" "Basem Elsamra" "Tamer Abelmeneim" "Abbas Abulhassan" "The role of Dawlat was played by lsa'ad Younis ln 1937, the chief Armenian in Egypt, Hagoub Yacoubian, built... a residential building and named it after his name" "The style was European and the architect was Italian" "And the Armenian gentleman was so fond of it.. ." "that he wrote his name in Latin on the inside of the entrance" "When the building was still new, it had residents such as... ministers, high ranking Pashas and foreigners there were even Jews, two of them were from the Nosseir family" "The building's roof was vast, it had a room for the doorman.. ." "and a room for each apartment for laundry and storage.. ." "and related things" "Everything was beautiful the country looked beautiful and the building was beautiful" "The revolution broke out, ending the era of the Pashas and the 1 956 war was the beginning of the end for foreigners and Jews" "Apartments that became vacant after their owners left the country were taken by high ranking officers in the army. .." "whose wives never forgot their passion for raising poultry and it was OK for the rooms to be residence for the maids and of course, the whole makeup of the residents changed" "Along with the openness system, the streets started to change" "Stores changed their type of business and people changed as well" "Just as the officers' moving into the building ruined it... their leaving it totally destroyed it" "They'd become rich and had moved to Mohandessin and Nassr City and the building became available to anyone with money and of course, the whole makeup of the residents changed" "The roof became full, each room had a whole family in it lt wasn't just the building that changed, but the country too" "Nour Elsherif" "Ahmad Bedeir" "Sumaiah Elkhashab" "Tala'at Zakaria" "Mohamad Eldafrawi" "The new actor:" "Mohamad Imam playing Taha Elshathly" ""The Ya'acoubian Building"" "Based on the novel by:" "Doctor Ala'a Elaswany" "Artistic producer Nabil Sobhi" "Executive producer Kareem Shaker" "Distribution in Egypt and World Arab Company for Production" "Clothes Designer Nahed Nassrallah" "Technical Supervision and Decor Fawzi Ela'awamri" "Music Khaled Hammad" "Editing Khaled Mar'ee" "Head of photography Sameh Seleem" "Supervision:" "Adel Adeeb, Sameh Jubran" "Script Waheed Hamed" "Directed by..." "Marwan Hamed I told you a million times that this place is respectable lf you want to stay here, you have to be well-mannered" "A lot of people drink here, but they're respectable" "Give me 3 Brandys" " Cheers" " Cheers, Hamama" "Sit somewhere else, No'man, the Pasha is waiting for his friend" "Would you like another beer or some fresh peanuts?" "No, beer causes flatulence" " and makes me urinate a lot" " Why don't you order whiskey?" "Whiskey?" "If I drink whiskey I'll stay here and I'll go out and find it dark, and it'll stay dark" "You're very funny, Pasha, why not go to the hotel bars?" "I mean 5 star bars, you can afford it" "Listen, lt's not the alcohol I'm after" " and you know that - l'm still thinking about it lt doesn't need thinking, we'll have a couple of drinks together" "That's all?" "That's all ln that case, I should come by your office, right?" " When?" " Whenever I'm in the mood" "Tomorrow.. ." "Go get me the check" "At your service" "Send 6 crates, but more beer because it's in demand" "Yes, but don't be late" "The check for table 9" " What's with that table 9?" " Make up you mind... if I'm straight with customers, you tell me to be nicer with them" "He's respectable and generous, what's wrong with talking to him?" "Listen, I don't like anything to happen behind my back" "That goes here only, but on the outside, I'm free I'll go give him his check" "OK, go" "What is it, Taha?" "Are you stupid like your father?" "No one washes the stairs at this hour" "Mr Aouny, the stairs should only be washed at night... when there are very few people going up and down" "OK, are you going to chat with me?" " Dry up a spot for us to walk on" " At your service, Pasha" "Out of the way" "Did you finish high school, Taha?" " Yes" " What college will you apply to?" "Thank God, my average can get me into a respectable college but I applied to the police academy" "You want to become a police officer, Taha?" "Put the mat back in front of the door after you're done" " Good night, Buthaina" " You, too, uncle Hamed" " Don't leave the TV on" " Don't worry" "What is it, man?" "I've already gone to sleep" "You can get up, woman" "I will pray to God, God the greatest..." "No, I've done it before" " What is it, Khamees?" " This is not the place to talk" "Isn't it late enough?" "Or are you waiting for the loved one?" " Don't you have work early?" " l quit" " When?" " Today" "Why did you quit?" " l want to watch the movie now" " What damned movie?" "Am I destined to live in anguish day and night?" "Get up, get up and tell me what happened" "Come in, your father left me a burden more than I can handle" "Why'd you quit your job?" " The store owner grabs everything" " No one steals his money" " No, he laid his hands on me" " He hit you?" " No" " Well then.. ." " how did he lay his hand on you?" " He caressed" "You know what caress means, or don't you?" "I'm going to look for a new job tomorrow morning" "A friend of mine will take me to clothes store owned by a Syrian... she says he's married to a beautiful woman and is satisfied" "What?" "I told you that Fifi the daughter of Salama the ironer. .." " will take me to a good job" " What's the use... if you can't stay in one job for long?" " Should I lose my virginity?" " No body said that but you should think of your brothers and our tight situation" "A smart girl knows how to protect her virginity. .." "without upsetting anyone or quitting her job I said that the guy I work for unzipped his pants" "Everyone is free with his clothes as long as you keep yours on" "God is the greatest l testify that there is no God but Allah I beg forgiveness of God the greatest l testify that there is no God but Allah I intend to purge myself of all sins" "God is greatest" "Good morning, Dawlat" "What are you getting all dressed up for?" "How strange you are, sister, I've always been like this I wish I could know where you go every day" "Thank God you're my sister and not my wife lt's daytime, so where am I going to go?" "To the office" " You look like you want something" " Of course.. ." "While you're walking around like always, checking out women..." "Enough, Dawlat I'm your sister, Zaki your sister, I know exactly what you do every day" " What do you want?" " My diamond ring.. ." "is being fixed by Papazian the jeweler, go pick it up" "OK, the first thing I do today will be to get the ring. .." "and I'll pay for it, too" " How are you, Mondy?" " Good morning, Zaki Pasha" " Zaki Pasha" " Hello, Hassouna, what's wrong?" " My affairs aren't quite right" " What affairs?" "THE affairs, and you know everything, Pasha I've been married for one month, but I feel like I'm not quite right" "At your age?" "There must be something wrong?" "Any problems?" "No one doesn't have problems I'm talking about your problems, forget other people's problems I'm in debt to some annoying people who don't stop asking and my boss fired me, and I don't know hwy" "in addition to my mother-in-law who's staying with us and my sister is divorced with 3 kids" "All these problems and you want to be OK with your wife?" " No way, that's impossible - l was thinking if you.. ." "had one of those pills, they told me that it..." "What?" "Using pills at your age is certain suicide" "Listen, all the pills and creams in the world won't help you" "This has to be in a good mood" "As long as this is OK, everything will be OK" "Go, get rid of your problems and you'll be fine" "OK, Pasha" "Move it out, driver" "What is it, sergeant?" "Mr Hatem is due down now" " Good morning, Nabil" " Good morning, Mr Hatem" "Good day, Hajj" " come in for a second" " How's the market?" "We're at the end of this month, it's OK" " But in general - ln general, we're number one" " and we have the highest sales" " May God bless I wish you'd come in for a couple of minutes I'll come down and drink tea with you another time" " Good bye" " Good bye" "No, I won't be able to come down" "Why, Hajj?" "You're a blessing to us" " Anyway, how's work?" " Excellent" "May God bless, Tell everyone I said hi" " l will, Hajj. .." "Good bye" " Drive on, driver" " l hope he's a good man - ln what sense?" " That he's not a dirty old man" " All men are like that" "All men stare at women, and their bluntness is by the kilogram" " like potatoes - l've quit several jobs. .." " because of men's lechery" " You're stupid that way you'll never get a job, you have to get along" " What do you mean?" " l mean that there are limits.. ." "a girl can allow, and there are things that are off limits... and that's how a smart girl does things" "And I thought that life was going to smile upon me" "Why should it?" "You're pretty?" "There are prettier girls" "You're a high school graduate?" "They're a dime a dozen" "Your article has caused a commotion" "Such article should be translated and published in Arabic magazines" "We're done with yesterday's issue" "Let's concentrate on what's at hand What about the next issue?" "I think the main subject is the arrest of the terrorists... who tried to kill our great novelist Nageeb Mahfouth" "Exactly, I want complete details of their arrest i want their pictures, and I want to know who they are" " l want the whole story - lt will be ready before printing" "OK, who's willing to write about the late Lita Gallad?" "Lita Gallad... the founder of Journal D'Egypte since we're a French newspaper and we should honor her" " l, sir" " OK" "We have to write about the police efforts in upper Egypt" "We've to reinstate trust in tourism we don't want Egypt to look.. ." "like it's at war, where's the normal life?" "We can talk about tourism in Sharm and Hurgada" "The activity there is not bad, and there are no troubles I have a very good subject a new trainee wrote it he's written a great article about homosexuality in Egypt" "What's this nonsense?" "What homosexuality?" "How will that interest our readers who are mostly foreigners?" "Take ,for example, in the investigative section... the article about the relics in Tal Elamarnah it's a new subject with nice pictures that's what's called an important subject" " What about sports?" " What sports?" "Write about anything, Soccer..." "Hello, Le Caire newspaper... yes... lt's the office of the French ambassador" "Janmy, How are you?" "We had a good time last night, right?" "The Islamic Philanthropic" Society"" "What is it, Hajj?" "You don't usually come this early" " lt's a necessity, Sheikh Salman" " What is it?" "Listen Sheikh Salman, I've been.. ." "I don't know what to say" "Talk, man, I'm your confidant, have faith in God" "Until now, when I sleep.. ." " l see nice things" " This is a gift from God" "Can you imagine that at my age.. ." "I have wet dreams!" "and once or twice a week" "Twice!" "How great, so God has given you strength" "These things are not related to age, this is a natural outlet" "God bestows it onto his good worshipers... who don't take the way of vice" "But the question is where's your wife?" "The Hajja is with me but you can say that she doesn't desire that anymore and every time I go near her, she tells me I should be ashamed because my sons are grown men with moustaches" "Even if she agrees, she's my age and time has taken it's toll on her" "This is very simple, get married and God bless you" " That's what I'm afraid of" " Afraid of what?" "What will people say about a man my age getting married?" "When it comes to God's law, what people say has no importance" "What's with you, Hajj?" "You can marry 4, it's God's law" "And the kids, Fawzi and Kadri?" "or Hamdy the district attorney?" "Hajj Azzam, what God allows no one can oppose not a district attorney, nor anyone else" "What's with you, Hajj?" "It's God's law" ""The Engineering Office For Construction"" "I told you a 1 00 times the sign needs cleaning" " l swear by Christ, I just did" " And why is it stuffy?" ".. ." " open the windows - l'm afraid of flies" "What flies?" "Open the windows" " Do you have a meeting?" " Yes, there's a meeting" " Shall I prepare things?" " Prepare things" ""l quit loving you" "and you don't love me"" " OK.. ." "Fifi..." " Yes, sir" "Take her and show her how we do things here" " and train her yourself" " Yes, sir" "Thank you very much, God willing, I'll live up to your expectations" " Who shall I say it is?" " Rabab, he's expecting me" "Welcome" "How beautiful !" "Come in, whoever comes in here becomes a member of the house" " ls this a house?" " A house. .. or an office. .." "It's a safe place, comfortable and cozy I was afraid you wouldn't come I always keep my promises" " And who is this?" " My father, rest his soul" " He looks like a real Pasha" " Of course, what did you think?" "That I was a fake Pasha?" "This picture is of my dad in the hall of the regal palace. .." "after taking the oath in front of the king..." "Ice?" "It was the first time he heads the Ministry of Public Works" "That's why I agreed to come, to have something I can be proud of I can say I knew a real Pasha instead of the misery I'm in, you see the people at the bar" "You're so cute" "But I've no luck, Pasha" "Where's the toilette?" "Oh, when you go out, it'll be on your right" "Excuse me" "Everything is set, I'll go out for a couple of hours I'll meet my brother Malak, there's something we're taking care of" "Take your time" "Was the door just opened and shut?" "Yes, this is it exactly, I like a practical woman" "Listen, I've known many women, from princesses to maids... but I swear I've never seen one like you" " l was talking about the door" " What door?" "It's Fanouss. .. and he left" "He'll be late" "Good ls this office for accounting or import and export, or law practice?" "Does it matter if it's for accounting or law practice?" "It's an engineering office, I'm an engineer" "But I don't see any engineering going on I set up this office after I got my degree from France" " So, you know French, then" " Of course I know French" "You'll see for yourself just how good I am at French" "Oh, Pasha!" "Why'd you quit engineering?" "The country doesn't need engineers these days it needs hoodlums... thieves" " Where are we going to sleep?" " ln the conference room" " Did the man get there?" " He got to the club 20 minutes ago" "Oh, Mary, mother of grace.. ." "Malak.. ." "Whatever happens between me and this man, you stay out of it I understand, brother, does he know we're going to meet him?" "He set up the appointment, and left word at the gate so they let us in" "So?" " Did you bring the money?" " Of course, Pasha we keep our promises and Christ will bear witness on judgment day I brought my brother Malak especially... so you'd see for yourself how respectable he is" "Listen, Fanouss. .." "I'm not required to conduct a police check for everyone. .." " who wants to live on the roof" " He won't live there, Pasha the room on the roof has been shut since it's owner died and my brother Malak, as you know, is a tailor... so, he'll work in it all day and then go home at night" "he has a family and kids, and a heavy burden" "Whatever.. ." " You got the money?" " Not all of it" "A true Copt never lies" "And a true Copt keeps his end of the deal I said 6 thousand, Shall I write up a contract to that effect?" "4 thousand, Mr Fekry" "By Christ, we're sure that you'll embrace us with your kindness" "You've done a lot of good to all people and you've taken so many cases without asking for retainer think of us as one of your cases and he has children, and the church gives him charity and as you see, I'm handicapped and I can't help him" "and you do a lot of good, the priest at the church told us" " we belong to the same church" " What are you doing?" "OK, leave the money and have one of you come tonight to get the contract" "May God reimburse you for your love" "Of course, we have all the colors you can imagine but, delivery will be after 3 months" " ls there a problem, dad?" " No, son, it's nothing" " You don't look right" " My mind is preoccupied but don't worry what's on my mind has nothing to do with work" " You want some marijuana?" " Oh yes, perfect timing" "Fawzi, Shekh Salman wants to see you and your brothers and I want you to listen to him carefully" " What is it, Hajj?" " When you see him you'll find out" "Enjoy it, Hajj" " Tell me" " What?" "How are things going with the Japanese?" "Excellent" " Consider it ours" " God bless" "May God keep the vultures away" "By the way, I forgot to tell you" "Selim Za'atar the customs agent has a new big office and he insists that you attend the opening" "He deserves it, I'll go" "Fifi got me a new job at a clothing store" "Where's this job?" " For a man called Talal Elshamy" " What's wrong with you, Buthaina?" "You couldn't find anyone other than Talal Elshamy to work for?" " What's wrong with Talal?" " He has a very bad reputation" "What do you know about him?" "Did you work for him?" "Listen, I know the whole area very well and I know the people, I was born and raised here" "Anyway, he didn't do anything bad to me" " He will" " When he does, I'll deal with it but it's 250 pounds a month, and for us to live... we need 4 times that amount, my mother works as a maid for 300 a month and is exhausted, my father died while indebted" "Some of the creditors waivered their rights, but others didn't and we have to pay off his debt or he won't go to heaven you're telling me Talal has a bad reputation, well, who doesn't?" "or do you just like to talk?" "And listen here... you can have your silver engagement ring back I won't let you police my life starting now" "Hey, Pasha..." "Zaki Pasha.. ." "Pasha..." "Are you tired?" "Are you ill?" " Shall I call a doctor?" " No" "What time is it?" "Seven thirty" "Where's my watch?" "is there a problem, Pasha?" "My wallet, there were 900 pounds in it I was robbed, Fanouss" "that girl took everything she took my sister Dawlat's ring" "and took a set of gold plated pens what will a prostitute do with gold plated pens?" "She'll either sell it or give it to her lover, let's call the police" "What police?" "Are you stupid?" "What am I going to tell them?" "I don't care about the money the problem is Dawlat's ring, I have to get it back" ""Oh my love, I'm full of confusion... and fire"" "Good evening, Pasha, at your service" " Send me Rabab" " Won't I do?" "You'll do, but I want Rabab for something private" "She's off today, and I'm at your service" " OK, get me the manager" " The manager?" " won't you drink anything?" " Get me the manager" " There they are, count them" " You're right... you had 6 beers, but you also ordered 9 Brandys with them because you were mixing beer with brandy" "There is no Brandy" "Will you pay here, or would you rather go to the bathroom..." " What do you want, Pasha?" " and we'll make you pay. .." " l want Rabab" " Wasn't she with you today?" " you miss her already?" " You know everything, then" "Anyone who has my job has to know every little thing" " Rabab robbed me" " You asked for it" "You cheated" "Pasha, you tricked me and the owner of the bar.. ." "and the customers" "This place is respectable, we only offer drinks... nothing else, we are respectable people that's why I fired Rabab and you're fired, too and don't even let me see you pass in front of the bar" "Do you want to leave on your feet or on a stretcher, lover boy?" "Get up before I beat you up in front of the bar trash" "How did I miss that?" "How did I miss that you're a pimp?" " Good evening" " Good evening" " Where's Hoda Sha'rawy street?" " l don't know" "Are you a stranger here?" "No, but sometimes a person gets disoriented I don't know anything about all these streets we stand where they tell us to" "You mean you stay standing all night?" " lt's our destiny" " You can't sit?" "Oh God, if they catch me sitting or sleeping, I'll get punished" " But you can walk around - ln the area of my watch" "You look like an excellent young man" "Thank you, sir" "Walk with me for a few meters" " l told you, sir. .." " Come on" " Here" " No, I can't we're not allowed to take anything from anyone" " What's your name?" " Abd Rabbu Abdelbary, sir" "Nice to meet you" "Listen, Abd Rabbu, first of all, I'm not just anyone secondly, no one can see us, here, don't upset me" "But this is a lot, no one does anything like this I do this I like to make people happy" "May God bring you happiness, sir" "When you know me better, you'll be sure" "God bless you, sir" "Where have you been, Pasha?" " Good evening, Dawlat - "Good evening, Dawlat"!" "What is it with you?" "Do you think you live in a hotel?" "Wait and talk to me" " Yes, Dawlat?" " Do you know what time it is?" "I've been sitting here worried about you for 4 hours" " Do you think I'm a little boy?" " Am I going to worry about you. .." " or about the diseases l have?" " l'm tired and I want to rest" "You're tired, Pasha?" "Tired from what?" "From running after cheap women in the streets and dirty bars?" "At least think about your age, you shameless man" "You have one foot in the grave, Zaki" "Think about God in your last days and you'll be crazy if you think that there is one woman. .." "who can actually like you, you dirty old lecher" "Open the door, don't let me break it on your head" "You've dirtied your family history and ruined your father's reputation" "Open up, I want my diamond ring" " What are you doing here so early?" " l'm waiting for you I was wrong, Taha but you have to understand" "The world around me is like a trap, I don't know what I'm saying" "Give me the engagement ring" "No" "Give me the ring, I know you have it" "Give it to me, don't make like Abdelhalim Hafeth" "What can I do with your craziness?" "I have to be patient but it's almost over" " Did you look in the mirror?" " A little bit..." "You look great" " Pray that I get lucky today" " God willing, you'll be lucky" "You look like an officer already, better even then an officer I should go, I want to catch the busses while they're still empty or else the crowds might mess up the suit" "No, take a taxi so that you can stay calm and say this prayer in front of the exam committee" "Say..." "God, help me overcome all their hurdles and don't forget the two verses seeking refuge in the Lord" " Bye" " Good bye" "Come in, Hajj" "Look, Hajj A'azam, ministers and other higher ranking officials.. ." "attend openings of new institutes, come in, Hajj" "Thanks to God and you and people like you I've become a huge institute but I thought Hajj A'azam must bless it himself" "You're very dear to me, Za'atar, and I'm happy for you and the children too, may God add to your wealth" " What would you like to drink?" " We can only drink coffee" "What coffee?" "We can drink coffee anytime" "Suad..." " Yes, Mr Selim" " Get Hajj A'azam some juice" " Yes, sir" " Bring it yourself, Suad" "Of course, Mr Selim ln the name of God" " ls this your daughter?" " My daughter!" "She's an employee, my daughter is still in prep school ln the name of God, she must be your secretary" "We don't have secretaries and all that, Hajj" " Mrs Suad is very energetic" " She's a Mrs?" "And she has a boy about 6 or 7 years old her husband went to work in Iraq, He died there" " God rest his soul - l've no idea how he died" "= Here you go, Hajj A'azam" " Thank you very much I'll go make your coffee myself" " But with very little sugar" " At your service" "What is it, Hajj?" "There are pretty faces that give you a feeling of comfort" "She looks decent" "You have a high average," "Why'd you choose the police academy over other colleges?" " To serve my country, sir" " Even the engineering graduate..." " can serve his country" " Of course, sir but if everyone serves in his field, his service will be better" "Good, what are the characteristics of a good police officer?" "Discipline, a sense of justice, determination, honor and above all, he must be humane in all his actions" "What does your father do?" "He's an employee, sir" " An employee or a doorman?" " Well, sir..." " the doorman is an employee" " Thank you, Taha, dismissed" "Next" " Where were you?" " With Mr Talal in the storeroom" " Doing what?" " He was doing an inventory to see what items are low so he can order more" "Why is everyone looking at both of you like that?" "Everyone knows we were messing around" "Relax, it's messing around with our clothes on" " With your clothes on?" " Yes, with our clothes on he keeps rubbing against me until he starts to shake and shiver and that's all there is to it, and he looks like a duck in heat and he pays ten pounds, is that bad?" "we're all in the same boat, and your turn will come I don't know why each woman doesn't take a look at herself" "Saddam Hussein killed many Egyptians lt's very possible that he killed the husband of this cute employee I don't like to talk to her about that" "Why hasn't she gotten married till now?" "Who's going to marry a poor woman raising a child... and just barely making a living" "Also, women are all over the place" "Who's going to marry a widow with a high school degree... and a child to raise?" "Me" "But that's Shameful, she's a nobody" "She's nothing next to you, you're much bigger than that" "Listen, I know God's commandments to be short. .." "I want a woman to sleep with not a woman I'd inherit or take her salary every month ln that case, she'd be very lucky" "But I have conditions, if they agree to them, we'll do it" "You lost my diamond ring, you drunken pervert?" "And then you lie and say that you haven't been to the jeweler's?" " Have some respect, Dawlat" " Which of us should have respect?" "Where's the ring?" "To which piece of trash did you give it?" "You've disgraced the name of the noblest family in Egypt" " Get out of my house?" " What do you mean your house?" "This is my house, the house of Dosouki Pasha" "Dosouki Pasha whose name you've disgraced" "You're worse than me" "At least I did it outside the house but you did it here" "The number of men who have come here to sleep with you.. ." "is more than the members of both the old and new Wafd parties" "You've totally lost your mind" "You don't belong here, you belong in the mental hospital" "Then where do you belong?" "in the dirty bars, of course, with the punks you've become one of or go stay in the streets, go go after the woman you look for, leave my house" "Again?" "This is my house and you're the guest an annoying guest, I can't stand you anymore neither can I, come on, leave I'll make an example of you in front of the tenants" "Go out" "What is it?" "There's nothing serious, a brother and sister quarreling and you know Dwalat, she was always crazy" "When he takes me in his arms and talks to me softly I see the world through rose colored glasses" "He tells me words of love words that live forever and that made me important" "He entered into my heart as a part of happiness and I know the reason why lt's him for me and me for him, in this life" "He said that to me and swore" "When he takes me in his arms and speaks to me softly I see life through rose colored glasses" "He tells me words of love words that live forever and that made me important" "He entered into my heart as a part of happiness and I know the reason why lt's him for me and me for him, in life" "He said that to me and swore" "When he takes me in his arms" "Christine, my love the most precious thing in my life" "Zaki, you don't look well, what's wrong?" "You always know what I'm feeling without me saying anything" "You're open just like the television" "There's a sad show inside of you" "There's sadness, but without the show lt's your destiny, as you say" "Come, let's sit at the table" "I had a fight with Dawlat" "That's not new, you always fight" "She kicked me out of the house" "She's crazy, but kind" "Did you make a big mistake this time?" "I lost her ring, I'm willing to get her a better ring" "No, Zaki, that's shameful" "A woman can forget her lover, her husband, her father but her jewelry, never" "What if I told you that she's been plotting to kick me out?" " To do what with the apartment?" " She'll take it for herself" " Then what'll she do with it?" " She'll give it to her children but when I die, Dawlat will inherit everything" " She's my only heiress" " She's older than you she can die first and you'll inherit her ln that case, her kids will inherit her share I don't know why she's doing that?" "I don't see things that way at all" "She's probably calmed down by now, I'll call her. .." "and everything will be fine" "Don't trouble yourself, I know her well" "Shall we bet a bottle of "Black Horse"?" "I'll talk to her lt's over Mrs Christine.. ." "that subject is over any discussions will not change what happened" "Yes, but it's his house just as it is yours" "No, you must understand" "Zaki, will never enter this apartment again.. ." "as long as I live, and even after I die" "OK, just relax and listen" " l don't want to hear anything" " Please, for my sake" "What?" "Who do you think you are?" "You're just one of his lovers" "Don't think that you're something important" "What?" "I'm Christine, What are you saying?" "No, listen.. . instead of wasting your time with me.. ." "go see to your clients, maybe one of them needs something" "Zaki, you win the bet" " Didn't I tell you?" " l thought she was only crazy but she's a vulgar bitch and God willing, she'll die before you" "Good evening" "Welcome, Mr Hatem, you've lit up the place" "You've really lit it up with a thousand watt lamp You're a sun and a moon, welcome" "Aziz, let them bring us everything you think is nice" " And the drinks?" " Whiskey" " And the gentleman?" " Whiskey, also" " This is my friend Abd Rabbu" " Hello, Mr Abd Rabbu" " Hello, Pasha" " Welcome" "Aziz, please send me a shot, quickly" "At your service" "Come on, we're breaking bread together, eat and drink up" "You shouldn't have, Pasha I want you to be happy, Abdu, very happy" "God bless you, Pasha" "Drink up" "It doesn't taste good, but it's nice lt's nice, sir" "You know, Abdu... after you have another glass... you'll feel like you want to do nice things very nice things, the nicest thing in the world I know it, sir, but my wife is in our hometown" "all the way in upper Egypt" "Does it have to be with your wife?" "By the way.. ." "most women are not very nice" " Take your hand off, sir" " Calm down" "Calm down, people are watching us" "Be normal" "Abd Rabbu" " Abd Rabbu" " What?" "Are you stupid?" "You want to make a scandal?" "You know that I can hurt you but hurting people is not in me" " Where are you going now?" " l'm going to hell!" "Damn!" "What your asking me to do is shameful and forbidden" " lt shakes heaven and earth" " OK, enough" "Just come and spend the night... and leave in the morning" "Come on" "What's wrong with the tenants?" "There are no more manners.. ." "and people are not responsible" "Why doesn't everyone make sure he closes the lift door?" "This is disgusting" "Hello, Mr Hatem. .. these tenants are unbelievable" "Someone went up in the lift and left the door open" "Who's this?" "Zaki Pasha, irresponsibility is normal these days I know. .. who's this?" " He's with me" " Oh, he's with you but he's strong. .." "he's with you" "Why don't you go up and bring the lift down?" " When Mr Hatem tells me to" " Oh, when he tells you to" "Tell him to go bring the lift down" "Don't worry, nothing will happen to him" "Enough, Pasha" " Go up, Abd Rabbu" " Go up, Abd Rabbu" "Wow!" "Did you see him?" "He went up so fast, He ran up" "He's like a tiger" "He's very strong" "You're a decent guy and you deserve good things" "You'll have a nice night, Mr Hatem" "That's how nights are, they are nice to some people. .." "and crappy to others" "Come in" "Are you shy?" "is that man a real Pasha or a fake one?" "No, his father was a real Pasha and became minister a couple of times in the past" " What does he do?" " Nothing" "He lives off of some properties he inherited, always been a loser" "A relic, like you just saw" "He's a drunken freak and a lecher" "He's not a relic, he's a piece of junk" "OK, make yourself at home, I won't be late" "Come in" "Thank you, sir" "You can't sleep in those clothes" "Here" "I'm not used to sleeping early but if you want to, go ahead, there's another room inside" "No need, after you go to bed, I'll sleep here on the floor I'm used to that" " Drink up, Abdu - ls this "carcareh"?" "What, "carcareh"?" "Try it and you'll know" "it's not "carcareh"" "it's the same color as "carcareh"" "You said you'll finish your duty after 2 months, right?" "Yes, sir" " What will you do afterwards?" " l'll go back to my hometown lt's the first time I see someone come to Cairo. .." "and then go back to his hometown" "What can I do?" "In order to get a job here..." " l need someone with clout - l'm that someone" "May God bring you happiness" "But like I told you... I live alone, as you see" "Abdu, I have taken an oath to make others happy but who's the person who deserves that?" "Drink up" "Drink up" "You want to watch something nice on TV?" "Something intense" "TV is not fun at night" "Oh Lord!" "What's this, sir?" " lt's very intense, right?" " Very" "You said you were married, right?" " Abdu" " Yes, sir, I'm married" "But my wife is plain, not like these" " Do you sleep with her a lot?" " Why this embarrassing question?" "There's no embarrassment" "When I go on home leave, I do it 2 or 3 times a day" " until my leave is over - 2 or 3 times a day, and you... say she's plain?" "!" "You're vicious" "To tell you the truth, sometimes she refuses... or she might feel tired, but I make her do it" "Thank you" "Thanks" "Thanks" "Tamer, go inside and watch the TV show" "Go on, son" "This marriage will conform to the laws of our religion lt's not common law or anything else, God forbid" "No, we know that you are a pious and religious man" "Thank God, Suad will live with me by herself in Cairo and the boy will remain here, and she'll see him whenever possible and don't worry, I'll take care of his expenses" "What do you say, Suad?" " Whatever you say, chief Hamidu" " OK, then... the wedding gift will be 1 0 thousand, the dowry 20 thousand and the differed dowry 5 thousand, and I'll take her as she is" "God bless" "Anything else, Hajj?" "This marriage will remain secret lf my wife finds out, I'll divorce you right away" "What if she finds out from someone else, why blame me?" "No secret ever gets past me lf an ant enters my home, it won't find an exit ln that case, I agree" " Any other requests, Hajj?" " The most important one" "God has bestowed both of us with children so, I don't want any children or any pregnancies and this is not negotiable" "Let's hear your agreeing" " Yes, of course - l'll setup the house in a week and come to register the marriage and take you with me" "Let's hear some trilling" "Congratulations, Hajj" "Fanouss" "Fanouss" " Hope you slept well, Pasha" " What are these bags?" "Your sister sent them" " Make me a cup of coffee" " Ok" "Your sister changed the apartment lock and installed extra locks the guy who brought the bags said that" "Yes, Dawlat... we're brother and sister, Dawlat things can't get to this sorry state between us" "Dawlat..." "Why are you sitting so far?" "We're both alike, and our poverty shows, it's best to stay alone" "No, I was sitting with them but I didn't like what they were saying, so I moved away" " What were they talking about?" " About their dads and moms" "One's dad is an under secretary, another's is a judge or an engineer and another's mother is an expert in the United Nations" "To be honest, I was afraid they might ask about my dad's job" "That's why I came and sat with you" "What does your father do?" "A building guard. .." "a doorman, and yours?" "a shoemaker" "We have a small shoe store lf they'd known that the coordination office... would put the sons of the doorman and the shoemaker with them they would have blown up the coordination office I don't know how we'll be able to go on with such people" "we'll find people like us" "Allah the most gracious" "Teacher of the Quran" "Creator of the human beings, He taught them how to distinguish" "The sun and the moon are perfectly calculated" "The stars and the trees prostrate" "He constructed the sky and established the law" "You shall not transgress the law" "God, forgive me and open heaven's gates to me" " May you pray in Mecca, sir" " May we pray together" "God has bestowed on you a beautiful voice and piety" "Thanks be to God" "Piety to god is the best of gifts" "Are you always in the mosque?" " Thanks be to God" " Thank God, what's your name?" " Taha Elshathly" " Are you in first year?" " Yes - l'm Khaled Abdelrahim I'm in third year, and as you can see, I'm from upper Egypt but it's obvious you're a city boy" " l live here in Cairo" " Where do you live?" " Downtown" " So, you're high class" "Exactly, if you're talking about the roof being high" "Brother Khaled, I live on the roof of a downtown building" "Downtown roofs are better than roofs in low income neighborhoods" "Thank God for what you have" "Thanks to God is always present in the heart and soul and at all times, be they good times or hard times ln the name of God, you are pious... you are devout by nature" " Where do you pray on Friday?" " ln a small "zawiyah"" " close to where l live" " No, that won't do?" "Friday prayer cannot be held in a small "zawiyah"" "plus prayer in a mosque even if it's far from home..." " there's great reward in that" " Tell me what mosque you pray in even if it's at the ends of the earth..." "And I'll come pray all prayers with you" "Listen, brother Taha, your zeal to perform prayer... shows the depth of your faith that's why I'll do you a good deed. .." "and take you to goodness, God willing I'm with you" "I'm late, right?" "Forgive me" "Come, don't be afraid" " Mr Talal" " Yes I need 20 pounds. .." "even if you deduct them from my salary" "Ten pounds are enough" "Stay till your clothes dry up, then come to the store" "Turn the lock five times, OK?" "1 0 pounds you son of a bitch !" "Here, Pasha" " What's this?" " Mr Hatem's newspaper" " He sends us a copy now - put it here" "What's all this banging upstairs?" "What's this chaos?" "Hajj A'azam is redecorating his apartment" " l wish you'd talk to him" " Talk to whom?" " A'azam Pasha" " A'azam Pasha?" "When did A'azam become a Pasha?" "I saw him shining shoes in front of El-Amrecain" "Can that be?" "He owns half of Seliman Pasha street" " You don't believe me?" " No, I believe you... but how can a shoe shine boy own all these stores..." " and all that money?" " l'd tell you if I knew and you would have quit being a maid and become like him" "You go tell him that I said stop this banging" " and get the door" " OK" "A'azam Pasha!" " lsn't this Zaki Dosouki's place?" " Zaki Pasha" "OK, don't get upset, Zaki Pasha I'm a process server and I have a notice for your Pasha would you like to take it or let the Pasha come get it?" "I've become crazy and a squanderer" "Whoever says that about you. .." "he himself is crazy and a lunatic" "Dawlat has filed an incompetence case against me she claims I'm a squanderer and I'm crazy" "Since it's your sister. .." "I can't be impolite" "Dawlat is not only tyrannous she's tyrannous and crazy" "Aren't you afraid to walk by yourself like that?" " How are you, Taha?" " Fine, What's wrong?" "Nothing, I'm tired, I've been standing since morning a soon as I get to the room I just drop dead I just wanted to make sure you were OK" "Tell me about yourself How are you doing in college?" "I feel like a stranger there" "This is not our country anymore" "People like us have become like strangers in it" "There's something behind your words" "Listen to me. .." "and be patient until you finish the college you're in and take your degree and go to the Gulf area" " l can, but on one condition" " What?" "That you come with me" "Who knows?" "Who knows what tomorrow is hiding I feel that you're feelings for me have changed I didn't change, lt's life that is changing around us l can barely talk" "Hello" "What is it, darling?" "Abdu, what is it?" "I'm afraid, sir" "Afraid of what?" "Of God" "Why?" "Are you doing something wrong?" "What are you?" "All I'm doing is wrong" "Alcohol day and night, lechery with you, I've quit praying I heard the sheikh talk about God's punishment of homosexuals we are rocking heaven and earth, that means an earthquake, sir" "You're from upper Egypt and you're not very smart" "You think only you and me do this?" "no, there's a lot of us here, in Europe and in America and in the Gulf, all over the world" "An earthquake!" "What's wrong with a man loving another?" "What's wrong with that?" "God is very great, and He's very gracious" " l want to put your mind at ease" " How?" "Do you know what is truly forbidden?" "and this is not open to argument lt's adultery sleeping with a strange woman, to prevent the mixing of posterity to get pregnant by her lover and saying her husband is the father or getting an abortion and that is forbidden, of course" "but a man loving another man, what's wrong with that?" "What's wrong with that?" "What's wrong with that?" "What do you mean?" "Men don't get pregnant, Abdu" "Put this cloth roll here" "Put this cloth roll here" "Watch it, don't drop the scissors" "Put this merchandise down" "Everything is fine" "And you..." "Hello, cutest of girls" "How are you, Miss Buthaina?" "Won't you greet me with..." ""Good evening, uncle Malak"" " How are you, chief Malak?" " That's better I have a job for you which will open doors for both of us" " What kind of job?" " Talk to Talal on my behalf... and convince him to buy shirts from me" "My work is excellent and you'll get your commission" "What are you saying?" "Who am I to speak on your behalf?" "I'm just a sales girl, nothing else" "Business discussions shouldn't be dry like this.. ." "wait just a second" "This is a gift for you lt's your size I don't take gifts from anyone, why would I take a gift from you?" "Because of the business that will be between us" "Forget it, Talal gets his merchandise from large workshops lf you talk to him, he'll listen to you" " Why would he listen to me?" " Miss Buthaina. .." "I've been in this business since I was six years old and I've lived in this area all my life so, I know what Talal does and where he does it and you certainly have some effect on him" "a beautiful young girl like a fresh apple" "Talal will never refuse anything you tell him" "You're not respectable and impolite ls it impolite to say the truth?" "OK, look me in the eye" "Have you never gone to Talal at the storeroom?" "You're a cheap rascal" "This means you've gone to him" "We'll talk again" "Enough, Hajj" "I won't take much of your time I know you're very busy" "And I'm at your service I don't want you to be upset with me because of the past 2 weeks I didn't have any free time to see you I understand, Pasha" "What do you want, Hajj?" "I'm sure you checked me out when you heard I wanted to meet you and all I found out is good, you're a stand up man" "Thanks be to God" "Everything comes from God" "Listen, Pasha... I want to contribute to the service of the country and the service of the people where l have my businesses and where there are people I've lived amongst and loved" "We're all like you, Hajj but as they say, to each his way of doing things I've prayed and consulted God almighty and I thought I'd nominate myself to the parliament... for the Kassr Elnile district" " Kassr Elnile?" " Yes, they're my people" "Do you know what we call that district in the parliament?" "The piece of cake" "Could you explain to me?" "Explain what?" "I said "the piece of cake"" "meaning that it's sweet lt has no problems, no low income neighborhoods no one to keep asking for things or the young people asking for apartments or jobs... until they make you hate your life and get hypertension" " Where did you say you were from?" " From upper Egypt" "Why don't you look for a sweet district in upper Egypt?" "I haven't been there for a long time, and no one knows me there" " but in Kassr Elnile.. ." " Listen. .." "there are people who have asked for that district they've only asked, which means there's room for negotiations" " Give me some time to think" " Good deeds should be expedited" "It's a million, Kamal Pasha, right?" "Yes, but what do you think of the drawing?" "The drawing is very beautiful but it's a lot of money this money is not for me it goes to several people as for me, well, I have enough money I know, Pasha I want you to know who was asking for that district" " Who?" " Abu Rihab, you know him?" " Owner of Rida Welnour stores?" " Right" "He's with the Moslem Brotherhood, and you know that and you're not on good terms with them, how will you accept him?" "When he runs for parliament, no one can say no to him that's democracy" " and we're a democratic country" " Yes" "But if he runs he might win he's blowing the market, selling for half the price, and less he has so money he can buy votes" "Nomination is easy" "Anyone who wants to run, let him run, no one will stop him but how he can win?" "That's our game not by forgery, God forbid but you can say we've studied the psyche of the Egyptians the people are holding on to the government. .." "as if it were their mother even if this government does whatever it wants this is our job I know, but this the first time we do business together forget the million, for my sake, make it half a million" "Listen, Hajj.. ." "I only know how to draw two things either a million.. ." "or a billion what do you say?" "I agree, let's recite the "Opening"" "In the name of God most gracious Praise be to God..." "Master of the day of Judgment You alone we worship. .." "The money has to be here next week, in cash of those whom You blessed, not of those who have deserved wrath..." " Amen" " Congratulations, Hajj" "Why is this wine white and that other one red, Hatem?" "When we eat fish, we drink white wine" "Then, the red one is for meat" "How smart you are!" "Bravo" " But why is all of this?" " We're celebrating" "Celebrating what?" "Everyone who finishes his tour of duty goes home quietly" "No, we're celebrating your working full-time" "also, the second surprise... is that you won't go back to your hometown" "How?" "What about my son and my wife?" "They'll come live with you here I found you an apartment, and in the same building there's a room on the roof whose owner left and went home and I rented it right away, for your wife and son..." "Cheers" " What?" " Cheers" "Cheers" " Cheers" " Cheers" "Cheers, Hatouma lt's not like you think, Zaki Pasha I mean, the reciprocal cases.. ." "between you and your sister, won't be solved quickly she's filed an incompetence case against you... and that will take years to be over and you've filed a case to prove your right in the apartment" "and this might take a year or two" "Could that be, Mr Fekry?" "Mrs Christine... this is our country and we know it well" " What can I do, then, counselor?" " l'll tell you but don't say that I suggested this some hoodlums some hoodlums who can break into the apartment in any way either by breaking down the door or a wall the point is they should occupy it. .." "and then you go in... and live in it normally of course, she'll file a lawsuit which will take the courts forever to come to a ruling she could die before they ever rule on it" " ls there no other solution?" " That's the only solution" " l can't do that" " But your sister is evil she is very evil" "We are the siblings of Abdela'al Pasha, we don't that to each other" "But you're the victim" "Even if I am the victim" "Dawlat is my sister and I have to put up with her and anyway, I'm not out on the street" " Where's my coat?" " Where to, Zaki Pasha?" "Zaki" "Zaki" "Zaki, I've never seen you like this and I've never seen you neglect yourself like this, what is it?" "Why didn't I get married?" "I could have had children and they would have definitely changed my life of course, you'll say that you were available to me but what can say about stupidity?" "I was afraid I'd marry you and then cheat on you I'm weak in front of any whim and then you would have hated me and that's the one thing I could never bear" "No, I would have forgiven you" "That's what you think" "My problem is that there were important things in front of me and I didn't see them" "or I saw them after it was too late" " l'm going to go - l'll take you I've never hurt anyone I've only hurt myself even the women I slept with, they were all consenting" "they used to come into my house and then leave very happy that's why God will be very merciful with me" "He'll give me the greatest discount... 30" "%" "You are forgiving.. ." "and merciful" " How are you, Buthaina?" " What's up?" "A great day, God willing... and by the blessing of the Virgin Mary full of grace" " What's your problem, man?" " ls that how you greet people?" "There's no need to frown, your secret is safe" " l have no secrets" " OK, you have no secrets but I owe you a favor for the sake of being neighbors and your nice mother" "What do you want?" " How much does Talal pay a month?" " 250 pounds" "Because you're stupid, I swear what I'm saying is no joke I have a job for you for 600 a month a very respectable job and if it's not, you'll make it respectable" "Our leaders claim.. ." "that they rule us by the laws of Islamic Shari'a.. ." "and that they implement democracy and God knows that they're lying on both counts Islamic Shari'a is suspended in our afflicted country and the government earns from gambling.. ." "and selling alcohol... and fornicating tourists and what's worse... is that the government turns this money into employee salaries and thus feeding its people from illicit money... and makes them perpetrators of the proscribed and then the curse of the proscribed plagues us" "I'm saying it clearly and directly... and without any ambiguity we don't want our nation to be democratic... nor secular nor socialist we want it to be Islamic Islamic.. ." "Islamic Islamic.. ." "Islamic Islamic.. ." "Islamic Islamic.. ." "Islamic Islamic.. ." "Islamic" " Peace be upon you - and you" "How are you, Buthaina?" "As you can see, I'm hanging the laundry" " Where were you?" " l was praying Friday" "Friday prayer has been over for 2 hours, maybe more I pray at a far mosque, and I like to walk plus the fact that the Imam's speech runs long" "Religion facilitates affairs look for a mosque near by" " What are these books?" " One of them is for you" " A gift?" " God willing" " Are you going to grow your beard?" " God willing, I'll never shave it after today" "Here's your book" "Keep it, my hands are wet or, you read it, I'm not too crazy about reading" " l don't like your affairs" " You're not my guardian..." " to like them or dislike them" " Be reasonable" "Leave my hand or I'll call out to all the people here" " Has it come to that?" " Listen, Taha I'll get to the point, our story is over ln English, it's the "end" they write at the end of a movie each of us chose a path, you've grown your beard" "I wear short skirts and I like it, so we don't fit together" "He brought me a gift!" "The veil before the check" "I wish you'd spend one night here so I can feel like I'm you wife, like other married women" "Smarten up, Suad, ours is not common law marriage I married you according to Islamic law also, spending the night is not important it's not the proof of love" " What are you doing?" " Shining your shoe" "No, shining shoes is a science let me..." "look.. ." "O Lord!" "It's like you're a real shoe shine boy" "Yes, I like shining shoes and it puts me in a good mood" " Thank you" " But I've noticed that you.. ." "whenever you go to the other house, you're dressed up" "The other one is the origin, and you've nothing to do with it" "So, this house is the fake one?" "There it's 24 carat gold, and here it's fake?" "Why ruin our mood?" "The 24 carat gold is here" "But there it's the house of the mother of my children they're not children, they're grown up men" "Then you should pick the words you use" "Forgive me I wanted to ask you for a favor" "Ask away, my love" " l want to go to Alexandria" " Why?" "Did you forget that I have a son I haven't seen for months?" "And I miss my family, I'd like to go smell the sea air I'm staying in a huge apartment alone, between the kitchen..." " and the TV and the bedroom" " You will not go alone" " l must be with you" " So, come with me I can't leave Cairo for one second these days" "We can go in the afternoon and come back at night... as if you're resting here, or let me go by myself" "Neither this or that, and don't forget that we have an agreement" " l have another solution" " Let me hear it" "My brother can bring my son so I can play with him a little that's not part of the agreement either and why don't you play with me?" "Seriously, playing with me.. ." "is there anything better than it?" "Bye" "Thank you very much" "Listen, Taha, love is neither shameful nor forbidden" "Real love... un-proscribed love is allowed" "The prophet, peace be upon him, loved A'aisha and you say you love this girl, real love I've known her since she was a kid playing on the roof we grew up together and dreamed together" "and felt happiness and sadness together I swear, among all the women that God created... I've never seen another, or desired another" "God knows how I feel towards you I don't like to see you in a bad way and I'd like to tell you that the believer is always optimistic and God willing, adversity will be followed by comfort" "She closed the door with every key there is" "Then comfort could be with another" "This girl is not all the women in the world" "Forget about her" "Don't be upset" "Which is better, loving a woman or loving Jihad?" "Loving God or loving a woman?" "God bless you, you've instilled comfort into my heart" "Let's talk about what's important" "Tomorrow, the university will not be like it is every day and I want you to have a leading role, Taha" "Islamic... neither eastern nor western Islamic... neither eastern nor western Islamic... neither eastern not western Islamic... neither eastern nor western Islamic... neither eastern nor western Islamic... neither eastern nor western Islamic... neither eastern nor western" "Islamic... neither eastern nor western" " Steady" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" "God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " Gos is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" "God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" "God is great" " Say God is great" " God is great" "Your excellency..." "Miss Buthaina Elsayed.. ." "daughter of the late Elsayed A'antar, they live on the roof" "Say hi to the Pasha, Miss" " Good evening, Pasha" " Hello starting today, the office will be your responsibility" " What's going on?" " Who are these people?" "What do they want from us?" "What do you want from us?" "Why'd you take my son?" "God suffices me, He is the best protector" "His name is Taha Mohamad Elshathly and this is his file and we found these books in his house" "Bring him down" "Taha, I promise no one will touch you again and that you'll go out of here right away but you have to talk. .. to which group do you belong?" "I don't have a group" "We found the books that all groups were based on... why was it at your house?" "It's not illegal to own books also, this is culture" "You shouldn't lie to someone who is trying to help you and this is an insult to my intelligence, I don't appreciate it I was only participating in the demonstration" "The building where your father works as a doorman... a lot of high-class people live in it" "Whom among them do you know?" "I know all of them" "So, you must know Mr Hatem Rashid" "Of course, Pasha" "What do you know about him?" "He's a respectable journalist and the editor of Le Caire newspaper" "What else?" "That's all, Pasha" "You see how you lie?" "We know everything about every body" "We know what you don't know about your mother or your father" "Do you know that your mother was married before she met your father?" "That's the first time I hear of that, pasha" "Ask her when you get out and see what she'll say let's concentrate on Hatem Rashid" "He's.. . excuse my language..." " he's a homosexual" " Good what does homosexual mean?" "Pasha, you just... you just said you know everything about everyone" "OK, Taha.. ." "we'll do to you what they do to Hatem Rashid and we have people who do this very well" "what do you say?" " Take his clothes off" " No!" "No!" "O God !" " Hello, Pasha" " You're opening the door?" " Where's Fanouss?" " He went up to see his brother" "The smell of the apartment has changed since you came" " Thank you, Pasha" " What's up?" "I paid the electric bill, and Christine called and your barber wants to know when to stop by and Fekry Abdelshahid the lawyer called and said... that he attended the court session and got a postponement and said he'll tell you everything when he sees you" "is someone suing you, Pasha?" "It's something trivial, my sister Dawlat is suing me" "These are dark times when a sister sues her brother you're her support" "She'll go back to her senses" "May God show her the right way" " Do You want anything from me?" " No, Buthaina, you can leave" " l'll see you later" " Good bye" "Buthaina. .." "you're an excellent girl and I feel comfortable with you I wish you'd be with me all the time I'll be with you as long as you're happy with me and you pay me well, and you treat me very well" "Buthaina, don't misunderstand me" "God created beauty... for people to see... and to love and respect" " What do you mean, Pasha?" " l mean you're beautiful beautiful, but you need the touch of an artist would you put yourself in my hands?" "I took an oath never to refuse you anything" "May I change your hairdo?" "How do you want it to look?" "Look at yourself in the mirror" "It's the taste of Pashas" "Go on, you're late" ""Groppi"" "Thank God for your safe return, son" "Thank you I was worried about you you've been out for a while" "Ever since I came out, I went into my room.. ." "and I only left it to come meet you" "Thank God you got the message" "What did you tell them?" "If I had told them anything, I wouldn't have come out" " and you would have gone in" " God bless you, son" "Yes, but. .." " you don't know what happened - l can imagine everything" " lt surpasses imagination - lnfidels can do anything, son" "Even infidels wouldn't do what they did to me" " Calm down" " Good evening, sir" " What would you like to drink?" " Bring me tea" " Two teas" " At your service I want you to go back to college and study well" "What College and what studies?" "That is all over I want you to be true to me as I was to you and just as you had requests which I carried out... I have requests I want you to help me carry out" "We'll help you if we can" " l want revenge" " Did they torture you that badly?" " They raped me" " Lower your voice" "Calm down" "Don't say that to anyone else, control yourself people are looking at us" "What's that you're wearing, Abu Wa'el?" "A gift form the mister, may God reward him" "Since when do you wear see through underwear?" "I took it because I shouldn't turn him down after all, he's given us a lot and he likes us" "Why are you quiet?" "Answer me, or am I talking to myself?" "I don't feel good about this man" " He helps us live a good life" " The hell with his good life" " Also, this is not your scent" " Hell !" "Are you going to smell me?" "You're going to be like that?" "Smell me as I am, then" "Shut up" "Shut up" "This area is not known to them" "No one knows anything about it" "You haven't come in a long time, Sheikh Shaker I come when there is an absolute need" "Our son Taha Elshathly, the one I told you about" "God willing, he'll be comfortable here" "Sheikh Bilal, the Ameer of the camp and he's responsible for preparation and execution" "God willing, you'll be his charge... until he prepares you for the mission" "Hello" " Hello, Mr minister" " How are you, Hajj?" " Fawzi, my eldest son" " Yes, of course..." " how are you, Fawzi?" " How are you, sir?" " How are you, Fawzi?" " lf you please, Pasha..." " could you move to another table?" " Sure.. ." " Come, A'azam" " What is it, Pasha?" "He says that table is not well protected they'll get us another one. .." "you know how security is your inquest at the parliament yesterday was great it was good, I told the TV people to air it so, watch yourself" "What, Pasha?" "Give it to your uncle" " OK, I'm fine" " Give him Kofta, it's not heavy" " Here you go - l forgot to congratulate you" "Thank you, but for what?" " For the car dealership" " From your lips to God's ears lt's still just talks, the Japanese are completing their inquiries" " See how you're father is?" " l swear to God.. ." " we haven't signed a single paper" " What is it, boy?" "What's wrong, Hajj A'azam?" "I'm Kamal Elfoly, nothing in this country gets past me" " This is well known, sir" " May God keep us on good terms" " Here you go" " May God help seal the deal this contract will get you 200 million a year, at least and this is too big for you, hajj you could choke on it" "Can you explain?" "We want one quarter" " One quarter of what?" " Of the profits" "Shouldn't I know exactly who "you" are?" "What's the matter, Hajj?" "I've always said you had street smarts" "What do you mean?" "I'm not alone, Hajj A'azam there are many people with me but you can say they like to keep a low profile think of me as a delegate" "A respectable people who do not accept impoliteness..." "A respectable people who do not accept impoliteness..." "What do you like about the bull this man is saying?" "Wait, let's see time's fiasco the worst fiasco" "Cheap naked girls... I don't know where they got them from. .." "and now there's a TV in every home and in every home, there are our daughters and wives.. ." " So, we must. .." " You're still young this esteemed representative used to shine shoes at the corner" "You drink a lot and way too early" " People usually drink at night" " Just passing time, you want some?" " No, Pasha" " You never drank before?" "Never, and I've learned from the films I see on TV" " You want me to drink something?" " l'll give you an idea.. ." "at the beginning, it's sour but then it makes you very happy I don't care what you say" " What a waste - lt's not a waste I mean the difference between us and foreigners foreigners appreciate alcohol and they like it here, we appreciate hash" " There's a big difference" " Zaki Pasha.. ." "I don't like either, you just live like foreigners do, sir" "Listen, if you care about me. .." "Stop saying "sir", it's true, I'm an old man... but you don't have to keep reminding me" " call me Zaki - l'll say Zaki Pasha" "OK, what I want to say. .." "is that living the life of the foreigners is not strange I was one of them, I lived and studied in Paris" "Paris I know it like I know Cairo" " They say Paris is beautiful" " Of course.. ." " Paris is the whole world" " Why'd you leave it?" "You should have stayed there I'm stupid" "You can say it was stupidity, or destiny" " You look like you want to travel - l wish" " Where would you like to go?" " Anywhere.. ." "away from this forsaken place" "Do you hate your country?" "It never did me anything good to make me like it" "Buthaina.. . it's true you're poor but poverty has nothing to do with patriotism" "What patriotism?" "Am I the only one who wants to leave?" "Everybody wants to leave" "You know if life was like it was a very long time ago... before they came up with passports and visas... the whole population would have left lf you're not good to your country you won't be good to anyone" "That's because you live in it as a Pasha" "What are your problems?" "Your sister is quarreling with you" "So what?" "the problem is with people who can't eat or feed their families people who keep looking for jobs and no one cares about them people who put up with humiliation whether they're sitting or walking you only walk in Seliman street, try to go somewhere else" "and see what goes on, Egypt has become very hard on its people that's why every body wants to leave not because they hate it, but they can't bear its injustice" "Why did you stand up?" "So I can get things off my chest" "You couldn't have done that sitting down?" "Anyway, I'm to blame for this bad mood. .." "because I opened up this touchy subject" "Listen, I'm going to get you out of this mood" "You'll listen to the most beautiful voice in the world a French singer called Edith Piaf" "Have you heard of her?" "I don't know French" "You don't have to know French you just need to feel the beauty of the voice" "and the beauty of the performance" "and the lovely tune" "This song reminds me of nice days and happy memories" "This song talks about a girl standing in the middle of a crowd and the crowd kept pushing her away until she found herself in front of a man she didn't know but she had nice feelings towards him" "she felt that she wanted to live with him forever live with him forever then the crowd wave came back.. ." "and pushed her away from him and she started feeling lonely again" "What a shame" "Come here" "Your eyes are very beautiful" "This is the first time someone really sees my eyes" "Mind you, we have to stay friends" "Of course, friends" "You know, Houda.. ." "I'm beginning to like the smell of cigarettes" "But not all cigarettes smell nice I know these are filled with hashish" " Doesn't religion forbid them?" " You think I'd do that?" "If the were forbidden I wouldn't have touched them I guess this is not good stuff because you're not in a good mood" "No, I'm in a good mood. .." "but I'm preoccupied with work, and work is not all good it has a lot of problems, too" "What if I tell you something that will make you happy.. ." "and just float up high, what would you do for me?" "Talk, maybe you'll ease my mind" "I'm. .." "I'm. .." " l'm 2 months pregnant" " What?" "God damn you and your parents!" "I don't need this?" "Didn't we have an agreement?" "What's this got to do with agreements?" "It's God's will" "Can anyone say to God's will that there was an agreement?" "I'll say it once, you have to have an abortion, I don't need it" " and you don't need it either - l do need it it's a piece of me, do you want to cut out a piece of me?" "If you don't have an abortion then I'll divorce you" "Divorce me, and God's law will rule between us" " Thank God for your safe return" " What's wrong with you?" "Do you see me coming back from my job in the Gulf?" " Where are you coming back from?" " From work" "But it's nice work, the nicest work" " Didn't we have an agreement?" " Yes, and I'm committed to it" "You said I'd have to repay your favor, so what's the agreement?" "Come inside and I'll tell you exactly what I want from you" ""Contract of partnership"" " Have you lost your mind?" " Listen here, girl... this is work, not fooling around that hunk of junk called Zaki Pasha is over he's already got one foot in the grave when he dies the apartment will belong to Fekry Abdelshahid" "this is a contract of partnership between me and the Pasha when he dies, the apartment will be mine so I can go in and never have to leave it I want his signature on every paper in the contract" "and this is a simple job for you make him sing when he's drunk or when you're sleeping together" " l don't care" " You're nothing like your name you're not a Copt, you're a devil hiding among the Copts I'll give you 5 thousand pounds" "you'll get them when you bring me the Pasha's signature I don't think there's another man as straight as me whether I was Coptic or Jewish or Moslem" "think of your mother and brothers and sisters you need the money" "You might die before Zaki ln that case I will have at least tried take the contract" "Assuming that I'll get the signature of Zaki Dosouki..." " how do I guarantee you'll pay?" " We'll exchange.. ." " no money no contract" " Malak Armanious... never goes back on his word I'll give you the money before you give me the contract" "Who is it?" "Quick, your son is burning with fever and throwing up... and I don't know what to do" "What are you waiting for?" "Your son's condition is serious tell the Mr to call an ambulance, if he really cares for you" "Go get the boy and meet me downstairs quickly" "Why are you still here?" "Go" " lt's a catastrophe" " God willing, it'll be fine don't worry, your son will get the best of care don't worry" "What's wrong with him?" "Be strong, and may God grant you patience" "They took my boy away!" "My boy, Abd Rabbu!" "My boy!" "Oh, fruit of my womb!" "They took my son" "Abd Rabbu, they took my son away!" "My son !" "My son !" "Did you talk to your sister?" " Yes, Hajj" " Did you convince her?" "Listen, Hajj.. ." "you're a regular guy and you like to do what's right true, I can talk to her, but not when it comes to God's law" "And the agreement between us?" "Any agreement which negates God's law becomes void" " This is you have to say?" " lt's all she has to say" "Thank you, you did what you could, chief Hamidu I think you can just about catch the train" "chief Hamidu... shouldn't you take some time and rethink things.. ." "and do what's good?" "Personal relations should be respected l don't need to think, you're the one who needs to think we don't go against God's laws, and God is on our side" "But keep in mind... no one knows where God's will might lead him" "Leave me, you bitches!" "Smother her with it" "After this, we'll get another one that's bigger" "Hello, mister minister" " How are you, congratulations" " Thank you, Mr Kamal" "A picture, Kamal Pasha I want to talk to you urgently" "Set the time and place you like" " Now, find a place to sit in" " Come this way" " You've made a mistake, Hajj - l ask God's forgiveness" " l always keep my word" " You're stalling" "You've had the contract for 2 months, what's going on?" "This is a contract for one quarter, the Japanese must be told ot they'll think I'm cheating and they'll take away the dealership" "What's wrong?" "Do you think I run a furniture store?" "You're talking to a man who can move the whole country" "Everybody knows who you are and what you can do" "No, wait... we have a saying that goes... whoever carried the donkey up the stairs. .." "is the only one who can take it down" "The donkey?" "What does that mean?" "It means that I can get you out of the parliament..." " and with a scandal - ls this a threat?" "I'm not a nobody so that you or someone else can threaten me" "Well, well..." " you've become quite strong" " You started I hope you're not counting on the parliament immunity or you'd be very naive a couple of sessions in parliament can make you lose it" " and people with skeletons..." " No, I've no skeletons" "You have skeletons everywhere I'll tell you about a small skeleton" "What did you do about the mandatory draft?" "Nothing in your file proves that you performed military service" "So what if I leave the parliament?" "The parliament benefited from me, I didn't benefit from it" "Without the Parliament you'd be naked in a crowded street I told you before, I'm not alone I'm just a delegate and I'm the nicest one in the group" " Don't be stubborn" " Tell you what, Mr Kamal..." " why don't we sit and talk" " Who's "we"?" "You and me and the ones you say you represent give me a chance to explain to them and they might understand" "No, there no use" "Mr Kamal... I went into parliament with my money and even if I leave it... I'll just think of it as merchandise that got burnt" "Dad, the Japanese guy looks like he wants to leave lsn't he going to listen to the singer?" "Join us, Mr Kamal" "No, I'll leave you to your singer" " Good night" " Good night" " What is it, dad?" " Everything has a limit and your father knows when to say "no"" "I swear you must have known this Mrs Christine lt's like she's singing just for you" "She's singing for both of us" "No woman forgets the man she loved" "You're right but Christine and I dealt with each other like foreigners do the love that was between us turned into friendship it's difficult for two people in love to become enemies even if they leave each other" "You know, Zaki Pasha. .." "if I find someone like you, but younger... I'd marry him right away" "You'll never find a younger version of me, my beauty we are the last of the respectable men" "Don't ask me to sing again I can listen to you all night" "Christine. .." "you are all the happy memories in my life" " You've had a lot to drink" " That's true..." "Please, Madame, for my sake, take the bottle away" " Only you can handle him" " She's from the roof" "Welcome back, Mr Hatem you don't usually stay late at work like this" "Thank you, Shathly, I just got back from Alexandria l was invited to a party which the prime minister was at" " ls there a problem, Shathly?" " Yes, sir" "Here you go, sir" " What are these?" " The keys to the Nassr City kiosk and this is the key for the room on the roof" "Abd Rabbu took his wife and left the building" "That dog !" "That Dog!" "May God show you the right way" "God suffices us, He is the best protector" "Mister lssam" "Madame Rashid" "Professor Rashid" "Mister lssam, your wife is with the French Consul" " Hatem, go out" " Hatem, go out" "Typical Parisian prostitute" "You've nothing to do with ldrees, you never loved me like ldrees" "Father" "Father" "A half hour a week..." " l'm very busy - lt's not a half hour... you've never played with me" "Idrees, what are you doing?" "You left me for the servants to play with me" "What do you want?" "Why are you upset?" "why're you looking this way?" "Thank you" "Thank you very much" "you bastard..." "You asked me once and said.. ." "why didn't you... why didn't you stay in Paris?" "and I said it was destiny the truth was something else" "This country was better than Paris" "The latest fashions started here before they hit Paris the streets were very clean they used to wash it every day, and the stores were fancy and the people were polite" "Let's talk upstairs, people are staring at us" "Why do they stare at us?" "Let them stare at the country that went to hell. .." "at the buildings that were better than European buildings. .." "and now have become garbage dumps on top... and an abomination at the bottom" "We live in the time of abomination" "I'm the oldest tenant in this building the oldest one I lived the best days of my life in it and the best people live in it with me from the first princesses... till you, my princess" "Zaki Pasha, let's go upstairs and then you can say all you want" " Let's go - l'm the oldest tenant the oldest one" "I want a favor from you, Pasha" "You can ask me for anything ask for the whole of Seliman Pasha street I'm the oldest tenant in the building" "I applied at the bank for a loan for 5 thousand pounds but they said I need a guarantor" "I'd guarantee you with my life lf l don't guarantee you... then who will?" "I have the papers would you sign them?" "No, this way" "Yes, I got the. .." "the pen" "What is it, Pasha?" " What is it?" " l want to go to the bathroom" "Are you OK, Pasha?" "I hope you're OK, come with me" "Come with me, I hope you're OK, Pasha I hope you're OK, Pasha" "Come" " l hope you're OK, Pasha - l'm well" "Zaki Pasha" "Get up" " What's wrong, Madame?" " Where am I?" "Thank God for your safety, you suffered a bad hemorrhage" "A hemorrhage, you bastards!" "They aborted me by force I'm going to take you all to hell" "Save me, Hamidu" "They aborted me by force, Hamidu" "They killed my son" "They did their evil deed" "Mrs Suad, everything is destined" "Hajj A'azam never went against the agreement, but you did and everyone should bear the consequences of his mistakes" "May God take revenge on you and your father and your family you infidels, you disbelievers I will not put up with any impoliteness" "You suffered a hemorrhage and we took you the best hospital" "The Hajj knows God's commandments very well and he has never gone against his laws" "Hajj A'azam has divorced you" "And you'll get all your legal rights, and more" "You brother has a cheque for 20 thousand pounds and he hospital bill has been paid in full and anything of yours in the apartment, no matter how small will be sent to your house in Alexandria" "What's this?" "What's going on?" "I apologize, Hajj, our job is always annoying l'm major Hamdy Sha'aban from the drug enforcement agency" " What do we have to do with drugs?" " Ask your father" " You know I have immunity" " We know that very well..." "Mister representative, but why are you so worried?" "The men might not find anything" "What are you photographing?" "No, they'll find something" "May I use the phone?" "As you wish, sir" "Yes, Pasha. .." "Thank you very much, Mr Armanios" "Malak, Mrs.. ." "Malak Armanios" "Mr Malak.. ." "this is a small sum for your gallantry" "Mrs Dawlat, you don't know me well l own a workshop I informed of this... to save the reputation of a respectable and noble family" "But I still need you for the more important favor" "And I'm at your service" "Brother Taha, the Amir wants you now" "I wish I'd met you a long time ago lt wouldn't have worked out" "Why not?" "I was just a kid a baby" "You're still a baby a baby full of femininity and caring and compassion and gallantry" "I wish I would live long so I could live with you the longest time possible" "May God let you live long l'm 65 years old" "You could live till 1 00 I heard someone on TV.. ." "say that when you love life, life love you back" "That's possible" "Zaki Pasha.. ." "I've fallen in love with you because you respected me" "and protected me you were never lecherous" "Let's travel somewhere" "After a week or two. .." "I'll get the revenue from the land and we can travel" " To Paris" " To Paris" "Paris and you can look at the restaurants and stores. .." "and theatres and museums and the forests just outside of Paris we can chase each other around" "I'm still a virgin" "Come in feel at home. .." "anyway, the last time.. ." "Enough adultery!" "Enough filth !" "What is it?" "How can you come into people's homes without permission?" " We're the police" " Do you have a court order?" "Are you going to teach me my job?" "The Mrs is your sister and filed a report that you practice adultery in her home" "My sister filed the report?" "This is not her home this is my office and she doesn't live with me" "She opened the door with her own key and you can say whatever you want at the station" " lt's a case of flagrante delicto" " Yes, flagrante delicto I'll show you !" "You're violating the sanctity of my home" "The sanctity of the home or the prostitute next to you?" "Prostitute?" "She's more honorable than you, you bitch" "You see, officer?" "He's calling me names and hitting me" "This is another crime, add it to the report" "Calm down, Madame, everything will be in the report" "Bring him and the girl to the station, as they are" "Get off me I won't leave naked, and neither will she even if you kill us, Don't you come close!" "Come close... I need you" "Idriss. .." "I'm so lonely" "Sit, A'azam" "Major Hamdy said you came clean before they found the drugs" "Because they were going to find it" "Just so you know that we know everything about you" "Neither car dealerships nor shoe stores. .." "make all this money we know everything about you from the beginning" "Your file is full, everything is in it" "What are you going to do?" "I'm ready to sign the contract" "Some articles have been altered I agree to them, of course I saw you photographs, what the hell.. ." "Whenever the drug enforcement people are sure of something" " they take journalists with them - l don't need a scandal" "No, everything is fine since you talked to me" "What are we going to do to get out of this dilemma?" "It's already over after they checked the heroine canisters... they turned out to be full of car shining powder" "50%%%, A'azam" "Go to my son's office to sign the contract" "Mr Kamal..." " Congratulations on the company" " Thank you we're partners in everything... right?" "It's true what they say.. ." "Do whatever the monkey wants on it's turf" "There's nothing wrong with a monkey obeying another monkey" ""Today's journalism"" "The coast is clear" "You'll be next to the building, on the other sidewalk" "You'll find the guards, once he comes out, get away because he'll be in the line our fire" " How will I recognize him?" " Once he comes out of the building I'll blow the horn, depend on God" " Good evening" " Good evening" " Where's Dewan street?" " Where'd they tell you it was?" " Here, in Garden City" " Where in Garden City?" " Close to Mamal Elsukar street" " Mamal Elsukar is the next left" " Yes, sir, the car is coming - l see it" " Get the car" " Do you know Dewan street?" "I don't know" "Help!" "Taha!" "Abdelshafee, cover me and I'll get Taha" "Taha!" "I believe I have the right to use the phone" "Quiet, lover boy" "A man like you should be ashamed of himself" "He looks like the guy on the tea packages" "There's a book called The elder regresses to his youth" "This is the elder" "There is law in this country, Mr Zaki and what's going on is a crime I have to talk to the assistant minister of the interior so he can come see what the junior officers..." " do to respectable people" " And who are you?" "I'm Fekry Abdelshahid the lawyer have you heard of me?" "These people insulted me, and insulted this poor girl" "Very good, let's fill out report of cursing and slander... by the police officers..." "what's with you, Dawlat?" "What did your brother do to deserve all these insults?" "Anyway, the law will give Mr Zaki his rights" "Buthaina. .." "what we went through tonight is the best of the worst there are much worse problems" "What's all this evil that's inside Dwalat?" "And where did she get the key from?" "I don't understand" "We have to forget what happened to us tonight" "We have to forget the insults or we'll die from grief" "I've always been unlucky I have no luck" "Come in" "Over there" "Good evening" " Congratulations, bride" " Thank you" " Sing "La vie en rose", Christine" " Just for you" "When he holds me in his arms and talks to me softly I see life through rose colored glasses" "He tells me words of love words that live forever and that makes me feel important" "He entered into my heart as part of my happiness and I know why. .."