Basmati Blues

---

1

[steam hissing]

[rumbling]

[woman vocalizing]

Somewhere

There's another sun S

Somewhere

There's another moon a'

Somewhere

In this cloud of dust a'

When you stare

Into the stars r

Wondering

Where on earth you are I

Remember don't give up a'

Rise a'

And breathe a'

Again a'

Close your eyes

And take a step a'

You will find

What happens next a'

Will set you on your way a'

All you need

Is in your heart a'

It will guide you

In the dark r

To the crossroads of the day I'

[woman vocalizes]

Rise a'

And breathe a'

Again a'

[song plays on radio]

A' When you see

The road behind you a'

Disappear

It will remind you a'

There's a time

For letting go a'

[computer beeping]

Morning, Dad.

Oh, hi, honey.

I got a surprise.

Oh, I don't like surprises.

In honor of launching Rice Nine

in India,

Mogil is doubling our staff

and our research budget.

That's a good face.

I have so many ideas, Dad.

Your mother would be very proud.

Well, uh, time to go.

I'll see you at the lab.

[laughs] Bye.

[sighs]

We're gonna do it, Mom.

-[beeps]

-[percolating]

-[siren in distance]

-[horn honks]

'[beeping]

'[Clinks]

[siren continues]

[horn honks]

[musical clinking]

[dings]

It's got to be the start

Of something epic r

Kicking off

A picture perfect day a'

Positively first rate

Copacetic a'

A-OK A'

Stylin' in my lab coat

Like it's Prada r

Not a lot of time

For pumps and pearls a'

Doing what a science hero's

Gotta do r

To try and save the world r

She has some doubts

If she can rise I'

To the occasion of success a'

But all signs point to a'

Yes, yes, yes I

I know there's no guarantee 4'

For worldwide happiness a'

But all signs point to yes a'

It seems naive

But I really do believe a'

There's hope for change 4'

To say it's all

A waste of time a'

So maybe I'm deluded

Or deranged r

Can one girl make the world

A better place r

The evidence suggests I'

That all signs point to a'

Yes, yes, yes I

I know there's no guarantee 4'

And time will be the test a'

But all signs point to yes a'

I'm thinking that science

Is a new art a'

And I'm feeling like

I'm off to a great start a'

I'm working on a masterpiece a'

I got vision and precision

And expertise r

And all signs point to I'

Yes, yes, yes I

Can anyone do any good a'

It's anybody's guess a'

But all signs point to a'

All signs point to a'

YES.

[Linda] Dad, look at this.

The ribosome is resistant

to the MD mosaic virus.

[older woman] Rice Nine.

Resistance to drought, flood,

pestilence and blight.

Nine percent more protein.

As many nutrients

in a single cup

as a steak dinner,

and salad and baked potato.

With or without sour cream?

With sour cream.

As promised,

the father-daughter team

behind Rice Nine.

One cup of Rice Nine

has as much calcium

as a 30-gram dollop

of sour cream.

Would you guys like to take

a look in the microscope?

-[reporter] Oh, yes.

- Dr. Linda Watt.

And don't let her youth

fool you.

[wind blowing]

Movie time, gentlemen.

[mm]

a' It's Mogil movie time a'

It's Mogil movie time a'

[Gurgon] India.

Five hundred million farmers,

1.1 billion rice eaters,

all of them potential customers.

[beeps]

Bilari, the birthplace

of Basmati rice.

How did you figure that out?

It's not a fact,

it's an article of faith

with our marketing department.

Who say that launching Rice Nine

in the hallowed cradle

of Basmati rice

will be an auspicious event.

We need the Indians to trust us.

And at the moment, they don't.

[beeps]

Berg, you said Jeffries

would be perfect

as Mogil's friendly face

in India.

Turns out his face

was a little too friendly.

He got caught

with a governor's wife.

- I--

- Shut up, Berg.

We could lose India

because of that.

And we cannot lose India.

No, we cannot.

We need someone who can

make them forget Jeffries.

We need someone

they can believe in.

With the power to melt

hardened hearts.

Someone with delicacy.

[woman] Hearts and minds.

Trust.

That someone works inside Mogil.

Let's think outside the box.

[all murmuring]

[Gurgon] Hmm. Too passive.

A long shot.

Talk to me. Talk to me.

[Gurgon] Fire that fellow.

And breathe a'

Again a'

[Gurgon] Young Dr. Watt.

- Dr. Watt, a question.

Isn't it true you created this

just so Meg can patent

and own it?

No, we created it to help

farmers all over the world.

Rice Nine produces 22%

more rice per acre.

And the patents pay for the lab.

-[man 2] But she's a scientist.

-[beeps]

A seed that could feed

the world.

And I'm... proud.

[Gurgon] Doctors Watt.

Mr. Gurgon. What a surprise.

[Gurgon] Well, well.

The creators of Rice Nine.

I've got some good news for you.

We're sending you

to India tomorrow.

- Me?

- What?

I don't even like leaving

my own neighborhood.

[laughs] I mean, who does?

Jeffries screwed the pooch.

And we don't have a sales rep

who can help us.

I don't even have a passport.

It's just three weeks.

In and out.

This is too important.

I'm not

a public relations person.

She's practically

running the lab now.

- That's where you want her.

- Absolutely, of course. Yes.

But there won't be a lab

if we lose India.

[jet engine]

[crowd chatters]

-[horns honking]

-[whistle blowing]

[Linda] Train station.

[driver shouts]

This street.

-[whistle blows]

-[Linda] No, I got it. Or not.

Cw!

[man chanting]

[scoffs] I'm sorry.

Please take it.

No, you take it.

What? You have to try this tea.

It's from the Northeast.

It's delicious.

[steam hisses]

[Rajit]

India's destiny's at stake.

It's a tragedy to let

such a mind go to waste.

And you know, my professor said

I was best in class.

A blend of natural brilliance

and dedication.

I'm paraphrasing,

but only slightly.

I was studying

at a great college.

First in my family.

Now my talents go to waste

because I can't afford

my tuition.

Here, auntie, let me help you.

You know, yesterday

I was working

towards my country's future,

and by dinner time I'll be

in the fifth century.

How are the crickets?

You know, the ones in the lab

that eat at night and the ones

in the apartment

-that eat during the day.

-[Watt] They're good.

But they, um... they won't touch

the manicotti.

No. No. [laughs]

The frozen manicotti

is actually for you.

I know that it says two minutes

on high, but... blech!

It's actually two minutes,

44 seconds works the best.

How are you doing?

- Should I be worried?

- No, it's not so bad.

It's actually kind of like

Penn Station.

-[goat bleats]

-[chuckles]

I hate to say it,

but I think I have to go.

- I love you. Ooh!

-[bleats]

[train whistle blows]

Don't worry yourself, Ma.

I've thoroughly prepared myself

to ferry this old man around

while he takes less note of me

than a stray dog.

You're as important

as you make yourself.

- Uh...

-[Linda grunts]

Um...

Pardon me,

you're Dr. Watt's assistant?

Oh, you mean the old guy?

Tweedy coat, glasses.

Um...

I'm him. Or I'm me.

- Oh...

- I'm Dr. Linda Watt.

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