Midnight's Children Page #4

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You see this man?

This man brought

civilization to savages.

And he commanded respect.

How?.

With his...?

Sword, sir?

- correct!

So, today's subject

- Human Geography.

Sinai?

Sir?

This is what, Sinai?

Sir, I don't know, sir.

Ah, you don't know, my friend!

come with me.

So, I ask again...

Ah!

Do you know what is Human Geography?

Oh! Sir, please! Sir, please, sir!

Regard, please, the hideous

face of this primitive creature.

It reminds you of...?

- Sir, the devil, sir!

Sir, a vegetable, sir!

A cousin of mine, sir!

I don't know which one-

Silence, sons of baboons!

This object here is human geography.

How, sir? Where, sir?

In the face of this ugly ape, you

don't see the whole map of India?

No, sir!

See, the Deccan

peninsula hanging down?

And the stains!

These stains are Pakistan.

The birthmark on the

right is East Pakistan,

and this horrible stain is where...?

Tell me what you are!

An animal, sir?

Tell me what you are!

Er, accidents will happen,

Mrs Sinai.

What's wrong with you, Mr crusoe?

I'm here because

one of your teachers...

...pulled out a clump

of hair from my son's scalp...

and this is what

you have to say to me?

Just shoo!

Go!

Let's have a look, shall we?

This won't hurt a bit.

We've a given him a mild sedative.

It'll make him a little groggy,

but it'll help him get better.

You'll be fine soon, okay?

By the way...

Your blood type,

A and O - you're sure?

Yes.

Why do you ask?

I... Excuse me.

You see...

...he's neither one nor the other.

You're sure he's your son?

Not adopted?

Yes, of course he's our son, Doctor.

Excuse me.

I don't understand.

What is there not to understand?

He's neither one nor the other.

Somebody else's blood is involved.

What?!

You see he's neither

one nor the other.

Abba...

Look at his face.

Where am I in the face?

That bloody nose.

I should have known.

I will not let you

say such things about me!

I'll kill myself!

Baba?

Baba?

I will make you all the

green chutney in the world.

Excuse me, sir, would you

like to have something? Ma'am?

No, thanks.

Excuse me,

would you like to have something?

My blood was wrong. My wrong blood

turned my father's love to hate.

And though it caused

my mother much pain,

I was sent away.

Ah, Saleem. Right-o.

Let me be clear.

My sister asked me to take you in,

I can't refuse...

...whatever my own personal

inclinations may be.

Welcome.

Thank you, Emerald aunty.

Your cousin Zia will

show you the ropes.

Zia?

What did you do to get kicked out?

I hear you still wet your pants.

Watch it, snotty!

Everything ready, Em?

Yes, darling.

The time is close now.

Very well.

Discretion is the watchword.

Of course, darling.

Dad, what's going on?

Quiet!

And you, boy. Here on sufferance.

Don't act smart. Understood?

And forget everything

you've just heard.

Yes, Uncle Zulfi.

Yes, sir, General Zulfikar.

Yes, sir, General Zulfikar.

"Uncle" is hardly appropriate...

...given the circs.

Are you there?

All of you, are you there?

Yes!

Hi, Parvati.

Hello, Saleem.

Any new tricks?

Abracadabra!

Wow!

I was born seven

seconds after midnight.

This is too good!

We've got to organize ourselves.

Gangs need bosses, rich kid.

I've been running a gang for years.

It's me that's bringing

you all together in my head.

Yaar...

...everyone does what I say.

Let Saleem be!

Shut up. Hm!

How are you doing all of this?

It's somehow because of this.

One thousand and one.

But...

...four hundred and

twenty are already dead.

And everyone else?

Do you know what they can do?

In Orissa, there is a girl,

...and whoever sees

her falls in love with her.

And you, from Goa!

You can multiply fish!

And you, from Kerala!

You can step through mirrors...

...and reappear through

them wherever you want!

And you...

...a werewolf from Nilgiri Hills!

And you from the Vindhyas...

...you can make yourself

bigger and smaller.

And you can fly.

So if we have these gifts, then...

...we must ask why?

There must be a reason, na?

I think we should figure

it out and dedicate-

What's the reason that

you're rich and I'm poor?

What's the reason I'm starving, man?

I'll tell you.

You gotta get what you can,

do what you can with it,

and then you gotta die.

That's the reason, rich kid!

And everything else

is mother-sleeping wind.

Stop it Shiva.

- Shut up, slut.

I'm gonna take this

gang of freaks over.

Not without me. Without me, they

won't even be able to listen to you.

Just try and stop me.

Good evening. Please...

Sir!

Mr commander-in-chief,

be welcome in our home.

come, Emerald,

no need for such formalities.

Please...

You shouldn't be watching.

Neither should you.

Wow! If he's here,

then this is something really big.

Shh!

What is the meaning of this?

Perhaps they should

be permitted to attend.

It's their future that

we're making after all. come on.

come on, boys.

Gentlemen, here, in our Pakistan,

our Land of the Pure...

...there is impurity on every side.

Tonight, therefore on my command,

we assume control of the State.

Hear! Hear!

Martial Law is imposed

with immediate effect.

The constitution is abrogated.

All political parties are abolished.

General Zulfikar!

- Sir!

Kindly map out the procedures.

Sir.

Zia! come here.

You, Saleem. come up here and help.

Excuse me.

At this moment...

...the national radio

station has been surrounded...

...by hand-picked units.

Loyal armoured units...

...are simultaneously seizing

control of the airport.

Key points in the city...

...are now secure.

And finally...

...crack troops...

...have taken charge...

...of the Presidential palace.

Gentlemen...

...the day is ours!

Pakistan!

Zindabad!

Well done, young man.

Mr President...

You're a lucky man.

It's only exile for you.

"Only exile...?!" In exile,

I learned about power.

After all, I had helped

to overthrow a government.

Also I learned about loneliness.

Years with no friends...

...except for Midnight's children.

Aaah!

That dream again.

come, please. All of you.

Now what, cucumber-nose?

come on, Shiva. It's time

for the conference, everyone.

Hi!

Yaar not that story again.

Haven't you worked out

that it's the same every time?

"We must be here for a reason.

We're all here for a higher purpose.

Maybe...

maybe we should just use

our powers to help our parents. "

"No!"

"We must keep it a secret... shh... "

"If they find us,

they will come after us

and they will kill us!"

Huh? What do you suggest,

Mister "I'm very strong?"

Parvati.

What's your bloody plan?

Don't kill me with your broom.

- No, stop!

Parvati.

We all have to stay together, na?

Isn't that right?

I mean, don't you all see

everything else is breaking apart?

Languages, religions, countries...

We can show people

a new way of being.

Get up.

Shiva!

Now listen to me.

Nobody can stop us. Hm?

We can blind people. Make gold. Fly.

Read minds. Dojaadu.

How will they fight us?

Get off...

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