Noces Page #2

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Well, that's tradition for you.

Right. Tradition is useful

when I feel like saying "no".

I'll be off then.

Thanks.

That made my night.

Good luck.

This one's a sort of

Pakistani Freddy Mercury.

Jeez, even the third one.

He's the worst of all.

Here.

- Why not buy some time?

- How?

Just do what they want.

What are they asking you to do?

Talk to all three,

get to know them.

Well, do it.

When do you talk to the first one?

Tonight or tomorrow.

You'll work it out.

- I don't know.

- But you can't marry one of those guys.

Drop it, Aurore.

What would you know?

- Don't chew me out.

- No, sorry.

- Did you know I spoke to Imran?

- Imran? Who's he?

My future husband,

for your information.

A cousin from back home,

in the photos.

- When did you talk to him?

- Last night on Skype.

Mum woke me up for it.

- And?

- And? It was horrible.

You don't like him?

No, I don't. Of course I don't.

- What do other girls do?

- I don't know.

And I don't give a damn.

You're the only one.

- Only you resist.

- Yes, I resist.

Of course I resist.

Did you see what Mum was like

when she heard you were pregnant?

And Dad, with his heart?

They're your family, Zahira.

God is watching you.

God is watching us all.

Look at Hina.

Does she seem unhappy?

Zahira? Is Hina unhappy?

Follow your sister's example.

You take after her

in every other way, but not this.

Is Hina weak?

Does she have no character?

You're the only one.

Only you.

Everything alright?

Fine.

Leave the phone alone, Amara.

Put it down.

I'm very happy.

The big moment has arrived.

I can finally give you this.

Go and try it on in your room.

Hello.

Hello.

How are you?

I don't know...

I don't know what to say.

You're very...

You're very pretty.

What do you like?

What do I like?

Yes. I like watching films.

Me too.

Just a moment.

There.

Can I just ask...

How come you speak French?

We lived with my uncle

in France, for fifteen years.

He still speaks French with me.

Do you speak Pakistani?

Yes, of course.

You are very beautiful.

I wanted to tell you...

I have to tell you...

It's important.

As soon as I saw your photo...

What photo?

Your mother sent me a photo of you.

When I saw it, I knew.

You knew what?

I knew that I love you.

I love you.

Just by touching the photo...

It's hard to say, but...

I know that I love you.

Mum's here.

- It's done. She's chosen Adnan.

- What?

I'm telling you,

Adnan is the one she has chosen.

- For sure?

- It's done, I'm telling you.

Thank you, God.

- Been there long?

- No.

You OK?

I can't come on Friday.

- OK, Saturday then.

- No, I can't.

- I don't want to.

- You don't want to what?

I don't want to.

What?

Have fun, hang out, see me?

Exactly. I don't want to see you.

You came to see me

to say you don't want to see me.

Right.

So, you're giving me the elbow?

Right.

That makes sense.

Yes, it does.

What's wrong?

We can't, Pierre.

It's too dangerous.

Dangerous?

- You could get killed.

- I see...

- You wouldn't understand.

- So now what?

We let it go because you're scared?

Yes?

Turn off the light and go to bed.

I have to wake you up earlier tomorrow.

- Earlier?

- So you can Skype with Adnan.

Now's the time to tell him.

Tell Adnan?

Yes.

He couldn't do it later.

He has to go to work.

What couldn't he do later?

Don't make me repeat myself.

You know what I mean.

But I haven't decided.

Adnan is the one you chose.

No. I don't like any of them.

None of them.

I don't understand.

You told me that

Adnan was very nice.

You said he was kind to you.

Yes, he's very nice.

He's the only one who speaks French.

What's your problem?

About the other two, you said:

"I hate them."

Don't take this lightly, Zahira.

Adnan is the one you have chosen.

Right?

Yes.

I'll say this one last time.

To be totally clear.

Imran was the first one you spoke to.

The second was Tanver.

The last one was Adnan.

The one who is nice.

The one who speaks French.

The one you like best.

Adnan's the one you like best.

Yes.

Perfect. Then Adnan it is.

Yes.

Tomorrow morning,

you will talk to him on Skype.

Is everything clear?

Crystal clear.

Good.

It's time to sleep.

- It's Zahira. She slept at Aurore's.

- Thank God.

I'll go get her.

- Is she coming home?

- Don't worry, I'll bring her back.

- What did she say?

- Dad, I'll handle this, OK?

I spoke to my father.

He'll be home later than expected.

He won't be here until Wednesday.

- Did you tell him?

- Of course.

Since my mother left,

we've got plenty of room.

I've got to thank you.

It's Amir.

I'll talk to him.

Well?

Well...

She's not coming home.

- What? What did she say?

- She said...

she'll come back

if we don't force her to marry.

And that she loves us.

Is that all?

Yes. She doesn't want to marry, Dad.

If we want her to marry,

she won't come home.

What's wrong?

Zahira's staying with Aurore.

She doesn't want to marry.

- What?

- You heard me.

She refuses to get married.

My God.

No.

This can't be.

Stop. Don't hurt yourself.

Stop, Dad.

What a shame.

Stop.

She'll be the death of us.

Stop.

She's the bane of our lives.

This is Zahira.

I can't answer right now...

Stop it.

This is Zahira.

I can't answer right now...

Stop it.

They slammed doors

as they returned,

laughing loudly in the hall.

They passed before you,

insolent and spineless,

smelling of wine.

Once, I hid behind a door.

It was early in the morning.

We had just got up

and they were returning.

Polynices saw me.

He was pale, his eyes shining,

so handsome in his evening clothes.

He said to me:
"Oh, you're here?"

He gave me a big paper flower

he had brought home.

And you kept that flower, didn't you?

Last night,

before you crept out,

you looked at it for a time

to give you courage, didn't you?

Did you know your brother?

I knew

you would speak ill of him.

Very good.

You can sit back down.

Now, you have one page

to answer this simple question:

In what ways

did this great tragic heroine

go beyond her time and place?

You have one hour.

Zahira.

- You must come home.

- Leave me alone.

Your mother hasn't eaten since you left.

Stop.

You must stop. You.

Aren't you ashamed?

Ashamed for us?

I'm telling you, Zahira.

Either you come home or you die.

Is that clear? Understand?

Let go of her.

Hey, calm down.

Get off her.

- What's going on here?

- Stop this. Sir, who are you?

- What got into him?

- Nothing.

- I'm going to call the police.

- No, please don't.

Please don't?

Are you joking, Miss Kazim?

- He won't do it again.

- Won't he? I don't give a damn.

He needs to know that

people don't fight in the street here.

If he does it again,

then call the police.

But just give him a chance.

- A chance?

- Yes, a chance.

You can't understand.

I know it seems incredible,

but you can't understand.

Please, don't.

You can go back to class.

Go back to class, Miss Kazim.

What are you going to do?

Go to class right now

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