Original subtitles

(PANTING) Yeah.

(GRUNTING)

-(MUMBLING) Yeah. -(PANTING)

Trash.

-Cherifa! -You know what?

Please, Mama, I just wanna see her.

You just want to see her.

Well, a lot of people just want to see her.

A lot of people

who pay a lot of money just to see her.

You like rubbish, because you are rubbish.

Yes. (PANTING)

Come here. Come.

Come. You're nothing but trash.

MAMA ZORBA: Now you listen to me.

She is not for you.

Do you understand me?

Huh? Do you?

(MOANING)

Yeah?

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

I want to talk to Cherifa.

Please.

Cherifa!

-(GROANING) -Come on, come on. Finish.

-Get out, get out. -Cherifa! Cherifa!

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

♪ Little birds ♪

(HUMS)

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

♪ You're drivin' around in the great big car

♪ And ev'rything's a-lookin' all right so far

♪ But you can't-a pay the bill with a big cigar

♪ Who's a-gonna pay the check?

♪ You dance all the night and have a good time

♪ You're tellin' ev'rybody you're a friend of mine

♪ And then you order in the fancy wine

♪ Who's a-gonna pay the check?

(SPRAYING)

♪ That's all right I'm a-like you fine

♪ I'm a-like-a you for a friend of mine

♪ But a-put-a your money on the line ♪

Lucy. Turn it down.

Morning.

(ON RADIO) ♪ Hey, what's-a-matter you don't have any money, eh?

♪ The people come on over and they sit down ♪

(TURNS RADIO OFF)

Can I have some water, please?

Mmm.

Thank you.

SECRETARY: The man is an idiot.

ZEFZAF: That was my impression too.

SECRETARY: Or a genius disguising himself as an idiot.

You think it might be a trap?

Greetings from America.

(CHUCKLES)

What do the British want?

The same thing as the Americans.

Morocco for Moroccans.

They've no interest in destabilizing North Africa.

It's a private approach.

Could be.

But I don't even know what they're selling.

I'll do some digging.

Me too.

Mixing business with pleasure?

-(SPEAKING FRENCH) -(CHUCKLES)

LUCY: It's fine, Hugo.

It's just a lunch.

You're not meeting the girls at the Waldorf.

He's the head of the French protectorate. For God's sake.

(CHUCKLES) I think that you

are just jealous.

Concerned, Lucy.

Concerned is what I am.

About what?

Me making friends?

Of course not. Of course not.

He's an important man, that's all.

LUCY: Hmm.

I was actually in the middle of discussing something with him.

Really?

I think that's sweet.

What?

I mean, you didn't wanna go at all the other night.

And then you met someone you really like.

I was right. We should go to parties.

Can we promise to always go to parties, Hugo?

You're not understanding me.

There's a certain position we have to maintain.

I'm trying to be a decent husband.

Can you please behave like a wife?

(DOORBELL RINGS)

I have to finish dressing.

Like a wife.

Go tell him I'm coming, please.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Can I get you anything?

Thank you, no.

Nice to see you again.

(DOOR OPENS)

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Not at all. You look

exquisite.

Mmm, lovely.

ZEFZAF: Your car is waiting.

Wish me luck.

Good luck.

El Sirocco. One hour.

I'm sorry?

You heard me.

SECRETARY: Yes.

There has been an attack in Fez.

Fatalities?

A dozen or so. Mostly Moroccans and some children.

It seems to be the colons.

We should issue a statement.

-Have they claimed the attack? -FREDERIC: No.

It could have been the nationalists.

They already have denied that it was one of them.

Very well.

The murder of children is not condoned.

A little stronger condemnation might go some way to addressing the outrage.

That's the statement.

Hmm.

Sit down.

You're a pervert, aren't you?

Monsieur?

A pervert. Are you not?

Oh, come on.

There are few secrets in Tangier.

Let me phrase my question better. I know you are a pervert.

My question is what sort of pervert, exactly?

(LAUGHS)

What is it you choose from her menu?

Huh?

What keeps you going back to Cherifa?

(SIGHS)

Mama's tired.

-(WHIMPERING) -Mmm-hmm.

-WOMAN: No. -Yes.

-Yes. -No.

I don't think I can go on any longer.

Please.

-(WHIMPERS) -What did you say?

Huh? Huh?

-You want more. Yeah? -Mmm-hmm.

Yeah.

I can't hear what you're saying.

I can't hear what you're saying.

Enunciate!

-(GRUNTING) -(WOMAN GROANING)

LUCY: How long have you worked here?

ZEFZAF: For Vaney? Seven years.

LUCY: He likes to dance.

The other night at the party, he danced.

ZEFZAF: I've never seen him dance.

LUCY: You must not go to enough parties. (CHUCKLES)

(CHUCKLES)

Your guest, Secretary.

SECRETARY: Madame. LUCY: Monsieur.

Pierre, please.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

LUCY: Wow. What a place you have here.

It's borrowed.

LUCY: Oh, really? SECRETARY: Yes.

LUCY: From who?

SECRETARY: I thought you might like to try this.

LUCY: Oh, thank you.

It's from Algeria.

(SECRETARY SIGHS)

Sante, Lucy.

Sante, Pierre.

-That's lovely. -Not bad.

How does your husband feel about you visiting me?

He wished me luck.

(LAUGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

SECRETARY: He thought you'd need luck.

Mmm.

Where have you been?

We are so hot.

Maybe Leo wants to cool off.

(CHUCKLES) Get a little wet.

Fetch.

Fetch.

MAN: I was tilting back on a little tray chair, as I have always liked to do.

I was tilting back on a little tray chair,

as I have always liked to do.

And I was in perfect balance.

I had a drink in my left hand,

and my revolver in my right.

Don't you think it's about time we did our William Tell act?

Celebrate my return?

She put her glass nonchalantly on the top of her head.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, you're dripping.

Fetch.

SECRETARY: I am very good at reading people.

Interrogating people.

I prefer to think of it as a form of psychoanalysis.

Oh, how Freudian.

Do you want me to talk to you about my father?

Do you want to talk about your father?

He's a businessman.

Khalid.

Bring the birds.

Have you ever heard of ortolan?

No.

It is the French delicacy.

It requires an explanation.

The ortolan is a tiny song bird.

No bigger than this.

It could build its nest in the palm of your hand.

Oh. How sweet.

This little bird, she represents France.

Oh. So, she's like the bald American eagle?

Do you eat your eagles?

I think that would be considered unpatriotic.

Exactly.

You see,

the ortolan is so powerful a symbol,

it is sinful to eat one.

And so, one must consume it underneath a napkin,

so that no one, not even God, can see your shame.

(CHUCKLES)

SECRETARY: Those little birds migrate between Africa and Europe

and what the French don't know

is that here, they are more succulent.

LUCY: What is the recipe?

First, they are drowned alive in cognac.

Then cooked slowly and served head and all.

When you bite in,

the bones prick the inside of your mouth,

and your blood mixes with the flesh of the bird.

Oh, my...

I can't see my knife and fork.

Let me feed you then.

(CHUCKLES)

Open your mouth.

Wider.

Now bite.

LUCY: Hmm.

SECRETARY: It's indescribable, isn't it?

LUCY: Mmm-hmm.

SECRETARY: More?

Yes, please.

-(CRUNCHING) -LUCY: Hmm.

And?

(SIGHS)

I've never tasted anything like it.

SECRETARY: Was it delicious?

Mmm-hmm.

SECRETARY: Was it decadent?

(WHISPERS) Yes.

Does it feel like a sin?

I'm not French.

Did your papa teach you that?

Would you like to see something?

Of course.

(CHEERFUL ITALIAN SONG PLAYS)

Leave us.

You are not what I expected.

-May I? -Of course.

She's a pretty little thing, isn't she?

I suppose you know how to use it?

Please. Sit.

Head back for me.

Just like that.

Don't take it out.

SECRETARY: Is this some strange American custom?

LUCY: What would you know of American customs?

(SINGING) ♪ Dance le rock and roll

♪ You play le base-e-ball ♪

-(GUNSHOT) -(YELLS)

My father taught me to do that.

Our guest is leaving.

Please see her out.

LUCY: I never miss.

Merci.

(SOLDIER SHOUTING)

Au revoir, Lucy.

Another one?

Er, yes, please.

(BOTTLES CLATTER)

Hello.

I'll bring it over.

(IN LOW VOICE) So you tell me.

What would you like to know?

ZEFZAF: Specifications.

BILL: Sorry.

-Can I get you anything? -ZEFZAF: No, thank you.

-Erm, the specifications... -Yeah.

They're portable.

ZEFZAF: Hmm.

What's the weight?

Erm...

A man can carry it?

Yes. Man portable.

What's the range?

Yes, it, it has a range. Erm...

(SCOFFS) It has a range.

The target visually acquired?

-I'm not sure. -So, it's guided?

-Perhaps not. -(SIGHS)

Enough, Cavendish, enough.

You know, it's very clever, this persona.

But it is starting to bore me.

This is how it is.

You deal with me.

We see the goods. We decide.

Understand?

BILL: Friend of yours?

Er, acquaintance. Er, can I put that on my tab, please?

You don't have a tab.

Can I... Can I put it on Adham Abaza's?

Sure.

I'll take another one while you're at it.

(CHEERFUL ARABIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(HUMMING)

(SINGING IN ARABIC)

Abdel Halim, the king of emotions.

The dark-skinned nightingale.

No one calls him that any more.

He's the voice of the Arabs.

The son of the revolution.

-AZIZ: You know the song? -Mmm-hmm.

You're Egyptian too?

I am.

What's your name?

Adham Abaza.

Yes.

-(AZIZ SIGHS) -One of those.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

My prince.

HUGO: A husband.

It shouldn't make any difference really.

An enhancement, is what it should be.

-Yeah. -To myself.

And to your wife.

Of course, of course. And to her too.

It should be good for everybody.

Yes, it's good for everybody.

-You all benefit. -We all...

-My parents are very pleased. -BILL: Good.

It's... It's good for everyone.

I can be a good husband.

BILL: Yeah.

It's not rocket science, is it? People do it every day.

Don't expect a bed of roses.

Probably very wise.

(MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY)

My parents hardly speak. They seem very happy.

-There you go. -We speak.

Ahead of the game.

Yeah.

-I mean, she's very nice. -BILL: Yeah.

-What does she expect? -BILL: Pfft.

Rock Hudson? (SCOFFS) Chicks, they're...

You... You... You... You have to marry.

It's just something that has to be done.

People have to get married. It is...

-Yeah. -(MUMBLES)

It's for society. It's...

Certain things have to be

-perpetuated. -Right.

It's a... An institution.

An institution?

An institution.

Thank you. (TAPS ON TABLE)

Pleasure.

Where are you from, Aziz?

Cairo.

Iskanderiya.

What do you miss?

-From Egypt? -AZIZ: Mmm-hmm.

Nothing much.

Rabbit with melokheya?

Disgusting.

That soup has the texture of spit.

What's wrong with the texture of spit?

(DOOR OPENS)

I'm going to need that key back.

-I had to marry. -ADHAM: You don't have to go.

My friend is not staying.

How's your wife?

Honeymoon over, is it?

(SMACKS LIPS)

You know, I had to marry.

How was it?

What?

The...

I take it it's done. Not official without it.

How did you manage it?

Did you think of me?

Marriage is an institution that must be upheld.

And people do it for titles,

-reputation... -ADHAM: And for love, Hugo!

People do it for love.

When they are not being hypocrites.

I find these cries of hypocrisy a little rich coming from you.

Fasting during Ramadan

-and getting blotto every other night of the year. -Oh, no. Not the same thing.

I'm not hurting anyone but myself.

You lie to that girl.

I had to marry!

Do you know there is a town in Egypt

that recognizes love between men?

We could get married.

Right now.

We're not in Egypt.

No, we're not.

(SIGHS)

So European.

What?

So European. No one uses this here.

You know, I can't break it.

The money changers will think I stole it.

HUGO: (ON RECORDING) They're portable. ZEFZAF: Mmm-hmm.

What's the weight?

HUGO: (SMACKS LIPS) Erm...

ZEFZAF: What's the range?

HUGO: Yes. It... It... It has a range.

HUGO: Erm...

ZEFZAF: (SCOFFS) It has a range.

BILL: Savage.

MAN: (OVER PHONE) Savage?

Junior. A girl.

And her husband. Though...

I don't buy the marriage.

MAN: Takes all sorts.

Yeah. But these two are up to something.

These lovebirds.

MAN: Talking to who?

The French.

MAN: Hmm. Merde.

Mmm-hmm. Exactly.

Do me a favour.

Look into Savage, would you?

Tomahawk.

MAN: All right. You got it.

MASATO: After the war,

I knew an American photographer

who used to make every woman

he met wear the same thing.

He became obsessed with a photograph

he'd found of a Japanese woman

who had died in the bombing of Nagasaki.

She was very beautiful.

And in this photograph,

she was fully clothed

but for a triangle of flesh

and black hair where her

Venus mound was exposed.

One night,

he was with the lowest,

ugliest,

oldest whore in the brothel.

And then I asked him,

as he was an American with money,

why?

And he said,

"It doesn't matter to me who they are

"as long as they're Japanese."

So he didn't care as long as they were Japanese.

Hai.

(TIGHTENS ROPE)

And you don't care as long as there's silk and rope?

(WATER DRIPPING)

(WATER SPLASHING)

(EXHALES)

(SHIP HORN BLOWING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

PASSENGER: For your music, is it?

COURIER: What?

PASSENGER: That you are going to Tangier?

Business opportunity.

PASSENGER: I hear Tangier's beautiful.

COURIER: (IN IRISH ACCENT) Where'd you hear that?

PASSENGER: Just at dinner.

COURIER: I wouldn't eat the food.

On board?

In Tangier.

They eat all sorts.

Apparently, an invitation

to dinner at a private home

-can be a real high point of any trip. -Piss off.

ZEFZAF: It sounds like a powerful prototype.

Portable.

One person can use it.

For what?

Anti-tank, anti-aircraft.

And he's not official?

I think he's just a supplier.

I, uh...

I wouldn't encourage

any more discussions.

Let's see what he's got.

You want to deal with these kind of people?

SECRETARY: Why?

-Because they are idiots. -You will do the dealing.

If it's your orders, but with respect...

With respect,

these are exactly the kind of people

needing to be dealt with on Moroccan soil.

They sell to us, they sell to anybody.

Who else are they talking to?

This is exactly the kind of weapon the nationalists can use.

They are calmer.

It's practically certain that the King will return.

And France is...

Is tolerating that gossip on the street.

That is what France is doing.

And given the uncertainties,

it's as well to be prepared.

We will engage with them.

That way we know what's on the market.

What could end up being used against us.

Of course, Secretary.

Cherifa.

Cherifa, please let me explain.

I'm working.

I saw.

It's done.

LEO: Cherifa, please!

I am working!

-(THUDS) -(FREDERIC GASPS)

Come to a party, it says.

What was the swine thinking, huh?

-Cherifa, I... -Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

What was the pig thinking?

Hmm?

Why does it think it can get what it wants?

(FREDERIC BREATHING HEAVILY)

Down. Down!

-(FREDERIC MOANS) -CHERIFA: What does it want?

(FREDERIC MOANING)

Huh?

What does it want?

What does the swine want?

(EXHALES)

I'll show you what you get.

You're gonna want what you get.

Oh, yeah. (MOANS)

-Ah... -CHERIFA: Come on. Come on.

Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop...

Up you go. (SLAPS)

-Go! (CONTINUES SLAPPING) -(FREDERIC GROANS)

(FREDERIC BREATHING HEAVILY)

Little piggy...

(BOTH MOANING)

-(MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY) -Shut up.

You hurt me.

-I trusted you. -(MUFFLED)

Should've know better. Shut up!

You let them take you, those kharejin

that take everything that belongs to us.

You steal their stupid things and make pretty promises.

But it's all worthless when you're weak.

And you are weak.

All of you.

-(KISSES) -(FREDERIC GASPS)

CHERIFA: I go with them, too.

But I don't let them ridicule me while I do it, just like a toy.

I don't let them take my soul.

-(FREDERIC GASPS) -CHERIFA: Go!

(FREDERIC CHOKING)

Nothing is clean here.

Everything they touch breaks,

is ruined.

-FREDERIC: (WEAKLY) Cherifa... -(CHERIFA EXHALES)

Now you are dirty, too.

Traitor.

(GROANS)

I want you to know what you've done.

Say it yourself.

(PANTING)

(FREDERIC STOPS STRUGGLING)

I can't do this any more.

Monsieur?

Monsieur!

(CHERIFA GRUNTS)

(SIGHS)

(GRUNTS)

MAMA ZORBA: Cherifa?

What?

He wanted it too rough.

Is he dead?

(SPEAKING ARABIC)

Okay.

Omar and I will deal with this.

Should I keep working?

No, no, you have to go.

Go? Go where?

I don't know, go anywhere.

Just until this settles. Okay?

LUCY: Blue.

BILL: Sorry to hear that.

Oh, no, not me. You.

It's blue.

Dropped out of art school.

Came here for the light.

An artist abroad, huh?

An artist abroad.

Another one?

No.

No, it's time for me to get home.

BILL: You sure?

Yes.

Well, you know where to find me.

I do.

When I'm next feeling blue.

(SINGING IN FRENCH)

-What do you want? -Is she home?

No.

(CONTINUES SINGING)

One for the road?

On the house.

You have one with me?

One for the house on the road.

(CONTINUES SINGING)

(CORPSE THUDS)

(CONTINUES SINGING)

(MOANS)

(BOTH MOANING)

(CONTINUES SINGING)

LUCY: Hugo?

HUGO: Lucy? Lucy? LUCY: Hugo? Oh.

-LUCY: No. -It isn't what it seems...

Well, what is it, then?

-It's nothing, honestly. -Huh?

-LUCY: What? -ADHAM: I'm sorry, Lucy.

I thought that you liked me.

I do like you.

It has nothing to do with this.

Well, what does it have to do with, then?

You have to understand what is between us.

It's... It's... It's nothing.

It's just what they do here. It's just what these people do.

These people?

It's just what they do.

Adham...

(DOOR SLAMS)

Why did you marry me, Hugo?

We're married now. You're my wife.

It was for my money? For my inheritance?

Were you just gonna wait for it come in

and then you were gonna run off with him?

God, what an imagination.

Don't say that. It's not my imagination.

It's happening, right in front of me.

You were just gonna finish me off, the pair of you?

He paid me! He already paid me.

-Who? Adham? -Your father!

He paid me to marry you!

(SMACKS LIPS) My family's broke. I'm sorry.

He paid you?

(SMACKS LIPS, SIGHS)

We seemed to like each other.

(LUCY BREATHING HEAVILY)

(LUCY SIGHS)

Do you love Adham?

(BREATH TREMBLING)

Do you, Hugo?

Your father said we danced well together.

(STAMMERS)

He paid you to be my dance partner?

(LUCY WHIMPERS)

Do not follow me, Hugo.

(BREATH TREMBLING)

Please don't come in here. Hugo.

I need you to leave me alone.

-Lucy, please. -Do not look at me.

(CRYING)

Please. Please leave me.

(PILLS RATTLE)

Mmm. Okay. Mmm.

♪ I don't want to play in your yard

♪ I don't like you any more

♪ You'll be sorry

♪ When you see me

♪ Sliding down our cellar door

♪ You can't holler down our rain barrel

♪ You can't climb our apple tree

♪ I don't wanna play in your yard

♪ If you can't be good to me ♪

(LIVELY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

WOMAN: Whoo!

WOMAN: Yeah!

Whoo!

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

(WOMAN CHEERS)

Oh, yeah, baby!

(MUSIC FADES AWAY)

Hey.

I say...

ADHAM: Yes?

How much?

No. Thank you.

Hey, come on. Don't run off.

How much?

More than you can possibly afford.

Really?

Really. (SCOFFS)

And what kind of uppity talk is that?

Eh?

♪ You can't holler down our rain barrel

Coming from a bloody wog.

♪ You can't climb our apple tree

ADHAM: I'm not a wog.

♪ I don't wanna play in your yard

(ADHAM SCREAMS)

♪ If you can't be good to me ♪