Ali and Nino Page #2

any need to rush into it.

Everyone says it will be over by Christmas.

But how do you know?

Nobody knows how long it's going to last.

I thought it would be good for you

to have some thinking time.

Why do I need thinking time?

You'd rather just join

his harem without thinking?

But he said he's not gonna

take any other wives.

Nino, don't be so naive.

Once they get what they want,

men don't always remember their promises.

A Georgian, an Azerbaijani,

and an Armenian...

three great Caucasian people.

Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.

My wife will tell it to you every minute.

- Gregor, you're bad.

- Tell him. Recite one now.

Recite one of your poems now.

We have the same face.

Really? Oh, I don't think so.

What's happening in the war?

The Germans have occupied Poland.

Russians are advancing on Baghdad.

It's all the same to us.

Well, better than school, anyway.

We have horses. We have guns.

Can't you volunteer for the front?

They won't take Muslim officers at the front

in case we refuse to fire on other Muslims.

And they're right.

I don't want to kill my Turkish brothers.

Courtesy of the officers.

Pork chops for the boys.

You see the kind of thing

we have to deal with?

You were so right not to join up.

Hello!

- I'm gonna go.

- Okay.

Bye.

Salaam alaikum.

Is Malik making any progress?

He's certainly trying hard enough.

But my mother still calls you a wild Muslim.

I don't think anyone's ever

called me wild before.

I quite like that.

I don't think she meant it as a compliment.

I know your friends

are serving in the army, Ali.

But between you and me,

I'm sorry the Russians are doing so well.

- Does it matter to us?

- It does.

Because unless the Russians are defeated,

we have no chance to achieve

what our country most needs.

And what is that?

Our independence.

My father thinks we have

no chance of independence.

I think he is wrong.

Left, left, one, two, three!

Ali, it's me.

Any news?

Malik's here.

He's telling them that in this region,

he thinks mixed marriages

are the only way forward.

- Is that so?

- Yes.

And I think, after the war,

maybe, even more...

All right. Maybe we can see each other later.

More...

complicated, yeah.

So I'll see you after the opera.

I think it's time for us to go.

- See you later.

- Nino? Are you coming?

Bye.

If Russia takes Turkey and Persia,

the czar has said he will close

our mosques and schools

and abolish our languages.

And yet the czar asks us for money.

Why should we collaborate

in the destruction of our own culture?

All we can be sure of is that after the war,

everything will be quite different.

All the great powers

will be weak and exhausted,

but we will still have our strength,

our money, and our oil.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could become

the first democratic Muslim nation?

I don't like the way

he's trying to portray the czar.

I agree with Fatali Khan.

We should liberate ourselves.

And I don't mean go back a hundred years ago

to the way it was before the Russians came.

I mean we should create a modern

progressive country and run it ourselves.

Thank you so much for agreeing

to accompany me, Mr. Nakhararyan.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

It's my pleasure.

As-salaam alaikum.

Amir, you have to talk to the young people.

They listen to you.

It was a wonderful evening.

Thank you.

Wait. Wait.

I like you.

I really like you.

Wha... what are you doing?

We can leave the country together.

- We will get married in Moscow.

- No.

Yeah. And then we'll go to London.

No, no, no. Malik. What are you doing?

Let me out. Stop the car! Malik!

Let me out!

Let me go! Let me go!

Stop the car, Malik!

Good to have your support.

Thank you for inviting me, sir.

Thank you, Fatali Khan.

You conducted yourself very well, my son.

Ali!

Ali.

Nakhararyan has kidnapped Nino.

No, they were just going to the opera.

No. He was trying to kiss her.

Then he drove off with her.

- What do you think you're doing?

- Let me go!

You're gonna stay with me. Do you understand?

- Let me go! You can't do this!

- No! You can't go. You're mine now.

I'm not gonna say it again.

They were heading for the coast road.

Maybe it's for the best.

What are you doing?

No, Ali.

Ali.

What happened?

I thought...

You thought what?

I mean,

did he...

Did he what?

No, he didn't.

He's dead.

I have 40 men guarding the house.

- You have to leave tonight.

- Why?

The Nakhararyans, they have

put a price on your head.

They are going to come looking for you.

I am going to send you

to our people in the mountains.

How long do I have to stay away?

A very long time.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

Would you like to sit?

In the circumstances, Khan...

I'm convinced...

the only honorable solution

is for them to marry.

- It cannot be done, Prince.

- Yes.

It could be done tonight.

Where is he?

I believe he's gone to his uncle's in Persia.

They have to marry.

I'm sure you'll be able

to find her some suitable husband.

We both know that no one will marry her now.

Thank you for coming.

- What's this?

- Hashish.

It's good for the pain.

And for the conscience.

Ali.

Kasi Mullah?

This is Ali Khan Shirvanshir.

He needs your protection.

Follow me, Your Honor.

Ali Khan. Ali Khan.

I'm afraid he's very ill.

No one is ill for long in Dagestan.

I'm sorry.

Really, I don't understand

what you're saying.

Prince Kipiani,

out of respect for the Nakhararyan family,

our community feels obliged

to ask that your daughter

refrain from attending Mass

for the foreseeable future.

I don't know what else I can do.

Well, you'd better think of something.

Look at her.

Look at you.

We can't go on like this.

I don't want to go to Moscow.

I'm afraid, on this occasion,

we are not asking your opinion.

- I refuse...

- The arrangements have already been made.

- Father, please.

- No!

It's quite obvious

there's no future for you here.

There is no future for me in Moscow.

There is a chance not everyone there

will have heard what happened.

My parents are sending me to Moscow tomorrow.

Then it's your duty to obey them.

Is it not?

If you won't take me, I'll go on my own.

Nino?

Yeah.

Nino.

How did you get here?

Seyid Mustafa brought me.

I've missed you so much.

Seyid.

Go fetch the mullah and tell him

I need to get married immediately.

We don't need a mullah.

I know how to conduct a marriage.

I just need to prepare the papers.

Good. In an hour's time, then.

You really want to do this?

Do you?

Are you prepared to marry a fallen woman?

Are you prepared to stay here?

This hut? Won't you be bored?

No.

What is your name?

Ali Khan Shirvanshir. Son of Safar Khan.

Your religion?

Shia Muslim.

What's your wish?

To take this woman as my wife.

What is your name?

Princess Nino Kipiani.

Your religion?

Georgian Orthodox.

What is your wish?

To be this man's wife.

Do you wish to retain your religion?

Yes, I do.

Please, sign here.

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