Original subtitles

Once upon a time, there was a girl called Aliaa.

A man fell in love with her and they got married.

But as time went by, he caused her pain.

He hurt her. He broke her.

May God never let a young girl suffer as she did.

Or a grown one.

She was desperate for anyone to believe her,

but no one did.

She went looking for a solution, but no one would listen to her.

Not even her own family.

She sought a solution to her problem.

For someone to listen.

Suddenly, there was an ear in the middle of the desert

that heard her.

An ear with strange features.

An ear that could understand her problem,

and solve it.

That ear promised to give her a servant who would obey her.

So it gave her Siba.

The one we used to hear about from our grandmothers.

Siba The Hidden One.

She cleansed the sins of her man,

and he came back a new person.

From that day on, she was content,

and started thinking about others like her.

The hidden ring belonged to Siba.

She revealed herself,

and punished all men for her and for every other woman.

Reema!

Reema?

Reem!

Reema?

- You blinked! You blinked! - I didn't! A fly flew into my eye.

- I saw you blink! - Something flew into my eye.

I saw you blink!

You always beat me at this game.

Hello, Tarek.

Hi. -I left your dinner on the stove.

Sorry. We ate without you, 'cause you're late.

That's all right. -Why does Daddy work so late all the time?

He has a lot of work, sweetie.

More than you do?

Not more than your mom.

But I work in IT, baby. I'm always the last one out.

Mama, what's IT?

Well, it's…

You know when the system at school won't let you log in?

The people you call are IT.

But who said "IT"? Was it me or her?

Hey, it's all right. It's just a question.

And I'm trying to answer her.

Mama knows everything.

Sweetie, your dad knows everything. He can tell you.

Did you do your homework? -Yes.

Good. Come on, put away your things. It's bedtime.

Come on in.

Which floor?

Second floor.

There's a difference between a male and a man.

There's a lot of males out there these days, but men? Not a lot.

So what do you mean when you say "a man"?

Being in charge.

Being in charge is a woman's job as well.

She's in charge. She comes back home and she feeds the kids.

On top of that, she has to work...

Different kinds of responsibilities.

- She has to do all this. - No, no, no.

Hello? Hello?

Hi, Tarek.

Hello.

Where are you? Will you be home soon?

- I'm at work. - It's already so late.

I know it is, but I still have stuff to do.

We ate without you. Want me to leave you a plate?

- Sure. - When will you be home?

I'll finish up and head home.

- Okay, bye. - Bye.

Is it his job to take care of the kids? Or stay at home?

Throughout history...

He has to help raise the kids.

Okay, but, Salma, use a smaller font and fewer words.

And as a rule of thumb,

whenever you're addressing one of our subsidiaries,

never use the words "would you kindly."

Your tone has to be direct.

- "You are required to." - Okay.

That's it.

Good.

Good job. Excellent work.

I don't even smoke.

I heard a noise, so I came down.

It sounded like a seagull.

Have you ever heard one?

So how's work?

Gross.

Watch out for Abu Mouath.

How come?

He's a harasser.

I know.

That he's a harasser?

Mm-hm.

I'll be all right.

Tarek, how's Abu Mouath's request coming along?

I'm printing out the invoices. I'll give them to Salma.

But Salma resigned today.

INVITATION TO ABU MOUATH

Do you feel lonely?

That no one cares about you, and you haven't yet found your calling?

Well, I have the answer to your problem. I have what you need.

A magical place,

an amazing landscape,

with a partner who can appreciate and transform you.

Your marriage will be finalized within 24 hours,

with total protection of your privacy.

Register now. No one will ever know.

You haven't booked a hotel yet?

So, dear listener, you've got to take a different direction.

We've been talking for years about changing and taking a new direction.

I think, basically, that it's about making the decision.

To every man listening right now, be bold.

Get out. Go.

If an idea scares you, you need to go for it.

As a man, you need to seek adventure and take risks.

You can stay at home when you're an old man with gray hair.

Put yourself where you wanna be.

Hello there. Uh, I have a reservation...

First of all,

I'd like to inform you, sir,

that you will receive a new outfit for you to wear while you're here.

Secondly,

once the activities are over, guests must stay in their rooms, no matter what.

For your safety, of course.

And lastly, if you need anything at all,

just dial the number zero from your room's telephone

and we're more than glad to help.

Who are those men there?

Like you,

they're guests.

Uh, how do I get to my room?

A bellboy will be here soon to escort you there. Have a pleasant stay.

- Thank you. - Of course.

This is a special outfit for you.

There's also a headscarf

so that guests may hide their faces.

Why hide them?

To protect privacy.

Good evening, dear guest.

If you would please come with me.

Where are we going?

You'll find out soon. If you would please come with me.

Hello there. We're so glad you came.

Likewise.

So how was your trip?

A bit exhausting.

And what do you think about our little place?

I just got here, so I don't know.

But, uh, I can already say that this place is, uh, impressive, genuine.

Genuine.

I love that word.

Indeed.

Our tradition is very genuine.

And because you're genuine, we accepted your application.

And hopefully, you'll be pleased.

How's your family doing?

They're just fine.

You didn't bring your kids along?

I'm kidding.

I could see you were tense and I thought I'd try a joke.

Okay, so you visited our website, looked at our services,

and most importantly, you saw the complete secrecy we operate with.

The marriage ceremonies that we do here

are done with a sense of community.

So you'll be attending other weddings,

and therefore, other guests will attend yours.

Unless, of course, you have a problem with that. We would completely understand.

Mm, I have no problem with that.

Excellent.

Open it. Go on.

Put it on.

It looks great on you.

Thank you for the ring.

Could I at least see the girl that was selected?

Hm.

You will. Later.

Just get some rest for now, and everything will come in time.

Saad, see that he's well rested. He's come such a long way.

WE'RE PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO TONIGHT'S WEDDING

BE READY AT 8:30 PM SO WE CAN ESCORT YOU

- Is this your first time? - Huh?

Is it your first time here?

Yes, it is.

You're lucky, you know?

And you? Your first time?

Yeah. You'll have a great time.

- How do you know? - Be patient. Just wait.

- You know how it works around here? - No one knows how things work around here.

That's exactly what you want.

- What do you mean? - It's a different world.

It's not like back at home. I regret that I never knew about it before.

Don't you have an image in your head of your own ideal woman?

Hm, I never thought about it. Never crossed my mind.

Come on now.

Hm, I guess you just have something you won't admit.

What does that have to do with it?

It has to do with you wanting to stay here for the rest of your life.

What makes you so sure about that?

Because all my friends who got in,

well, not one ever came back.

Did you see how happy the groom was, pulling the camel?

Here's hoping.

You're right.

It was our pleasure.

Thank you for the lovely evening. -It was our pleasure.

You're forbidden from leaving your room.

I thought I heard something.

Everything is under control. Please return to your room now.

Salma!

Salma!

Salma?

Tell me, son,

have you seen Salma?

Do you know where she is? Where'd they take her?

- I'll ask someone. - No, don't bother. I already did.

I couldn't find her.

Gone for two days now.

How do you know Salma?

Salma's my daughter.

I came here for her.

I… believe she'd never leave me that long.

You're her father?

Yes. I'm her father.

She said someone had proposed to her. Someone from her work.

And she wanted us to meet.

You see, son, we want her to marry.

Please, son. I'm begging you.

Go find her. If you do, bring her back.

I'll take your glass. Get some rest.

Where'd you get that?

They gave it to me when I got here.

Listen to me, son.

I'll tell you where to go. Where to look for her.

I beg you, son. You have to.

Swear to me.

I swear.

Listen to me, son. Don't let anyone see you going out.

You can't trust anybody in here.

Just head to the main gate, and don't flinch.

Just show your ring.

Then, keep going straight until you get out of this place.

You'll have the hotel to the south,

and the farmlands to the north.

To the right, you'll have the desert, and to your left will be your way out.

Keep going straight ahead until you reach the farmlands.

Once you get past the farmlands, you'll see a long passage ahead.

To the left and to the right, you'll see mud houses.

Once you get there, keep going right into the first farm you see.

You'll find a well to the left.

Once you reach the well, that's it, you're there.

Behind the well, you'll see the wilderness.

Go there, and you'll see the lights of the house from that point.

Please, son, I'm begging you.

Bring Salma back to me.

Who are you, and why are you here?

Are you looking for Salma?

Do you know her?

Yeah. But I'm thirsty. I really want some water first.

Why don't you get it?

You know everything.

Now everyone goes to live there.

They say it's a land of riches and abundance.

She's way too far from home.

Poor Aliaa.

She was left all alone out there.

Now everyone goes to live there.

They say it's a land of riches and abundance.

She's way too far from home.

Poor Aliaa.

She was left all alone out there.

Now everyone goes to live there.

They say it's a land of riches and abundance.

She's way too far from home.

Poor Aliaa.

She was left all alone out there.

Now everyone goes to live there.

They say it's a land of riches and abundance.

She's way too far from home.

Poor Aliaa.

She was left all alone out there.

Now everyone goes to live there.

It's a land of riches and abundance.

She's way too far from home.

Poor Aliaa.

She was left all alone out there.

No!

This place is strange.

Everything about it is.

I don't know.

Maybe I saw something I wasn't supposed to see.

What do you mean?

I went out last night. I heard a noise.

I went out there thinking it was a fight or something.

There was nothing at all.

It was quiet.

Then I saw that woman.

You know her.

She was with her assistant. The creepy one.

They were standing outside a room,

but I couldn't see inside.

Then the matchmaker gave me that look.

That scary look, you know?

So I ran back to my room.

I had nightmares.

Each one stranger than the one before.

I couldn't sleep.

But it's almost done.

My flight is tomorrow. I am leaving this place for good.

Tomorrow? What do you mean, man? We have to leave today.

Tomorrow might never come.

I've been seeing strange things. Nightmares and weird dreams.

I don't even know if I'm actually talking to you for real. I don't.

So what are you thinking?

I think we should get out of this whatever it is we've gotten into

and just go home.

No!

No! Did you forget about my wedding?

That's right. Tonight's my wedding. Besides, what goes on here, stays here.

You won't find your Mona. I'll never find Salma.

Let's leave before it gets even worse.

But Mona?

Did you see her? Are you sure she even exists?

Listen to me. This place is dangerous.

There's a million Monas out there.

Okay.

Fine. Let's meet in the lobby in an hour.

Hold on. What happened to your hand?

Like I said, strange things keep happening.

I'll see you in the lobby.

I hope you work that day.

But I know you can't handle it.

Thank God you're okay.

Hey, hey! Oh, man, it's great to see you.

Really. Seriously. How are you?

Hi. What's taking so long?

- I've been waiting. - Waiting for me?

We agreed to go.

You misunderstood. You totally misunderstood.

I was trying to scare the ones who run this place so I could get what I want.

And I did. I threatened them.

"Unless you give me what I came for, I'm gone."

So they did!

They brought me Mona.

Yeah, that's her in there. Mona!

Wait a second. Hold on.

Here's your invitation. The wedding is tonight.

Take it!

Well, hi there, sir.

Are you leaving?

Am I leaving? Yeah, I'm getting out of here.

May I ask how come?

Is that all right?

Is this a hotel or a prison?

I'd like to leave now, all right?

As you wish.

A car will be here shortly.

This place is strange.

Everything about it is.

And the nightmares…

Please, son, I'm begging you.

Bring Salma back to me.

What is it? Are you okay?

I want to go home.

I just want to go.

What did I tell you when you first got here?

But you wanted to rush everything, you fool.

Just wait.

You'll get what you want.

Curse you to hell!

Are you stupid?

Why are you even here?

Answer me!

I came for you.

I curse the day I first saw you.

How dare you?

You ruined everything.

You ruined my life.

I ruined your life?

Oh, really?

Did you even have one?

Why have you been so different lately?

Your silence is suspicious.

I feel pain.

Pain that I've never felt before.

I don't know what it is. But I do know that I'm not happy at all.

Many years back…

Many. In another lifetime.

When I was your age.

The only thing I ever did was pretend I was someone I was not.

I mean, can you imagine? Every day, you're you, but you're not.

And all of that for what?

To please everyone else.

I used to watch my glow fade away day after day.

So don't talk to me about pain.

What's the purpose?

None of the women here chose this position for herself.

I know that you have suffered.

But we can choose happiness.

What is that?

Really, what is that?

That is just a fairy tale. You know that.

I believe in your concept.

But there is no mercy in this place anymore.

Look at your arms.

Is that the mercy you're talking about?

Do you see mercy?

Where was mercy when they were doing that to us?

So what's the plan now? Will they stay here as slaves?

What about the wife who awaits her husband's return?

A husband who would just make the same mistake?

You never know. We could change them. We could...

No pain, no gain.

I really feel sorry for you.

An ear in the middle of the desert offered a different solution.

I hope you'll understand why I did what I did.

And I hope you won't be mad at me.

Your wise teachings are still there, and your lessons are still being learned,

but with a different approach.

An approach I had to adopt to see your dream become a reality.

Don't hate me.

I'm still the same girl who came to you completely lost and disoriented.

That girl who became strong because of you, and only you.

I know that you'll thank me in time.

- You blinked! - I didn't!

Reema, I saw you with my own eyes! What do you mean, you didn't?

You blinked before I did anyway. You're the loser, not me.

I'm not. I might have lost last time, but this time...

I want to play too.