Not Without My Daughter Page #6

Tell her you're going to see him.

Tell her now.

Mom? Moody says we can come home.

- I'm sorry about your father.

- Thank you.

Will you be able to come home with us?

No, I can't go.

I'd lose my job at the hospital.

- But it's all right for Mahtob to come?

- No. You'll have to go on your own.

- I can't go without Mahtob.

- Why not?

You'll see your father.

What's the problem?

I won't go without her.

Betty...

You'll leave as soon as possible.

You'll see your father

and liquidate all our assets in the States.

It's my money and I want it!

Don't do it, Betty.

You'll never see your daughter again.

- He won't allow you back in the country.

- My father is dying.

I don't think he'd want you to

if it meant losing your daughter.

Why can't I go now, come back

and later try to get out?

You can't leave Mahtob here,

not with Moody's family.

They're from the provinces,

more fanatical than most.

This regime encourages them.

Some people here consider a girl

ready for marriage at nine years of age.

Child brides are not unknown.

If you want to be free, with Mahtob,

you've got to leave on the 29th

as we agreed.

But he may send me out before,

maybe tomorrow. He hasn't said.

For the war.

They take them younger and younger.

They give them plastic keys to paradise,

made in Taiwan,

and tell them they'll go

straight to heaven if they die.

They use them sometimes

to clear minefields.

They run across the field

and get blown to pieces.

OK.

We've only a week to go.

He's got to get your passport validated.

He can't do it in the time. It's impossible.

He trusts you now.

Try and do anything you can to delay him.

- Where were you?

- Moody. I went to the market.

I wanted to buy my father some gifts

but I couldn't find anything.

The one day I come home early.

I've let you go. I've given you freedom.

OK. Listen to me.

If you don't do as I say, I'll lock you up

and you'll never see Mahtob again.

On the 26th

you get on that plane to America.

You send everything back here

and then you return.

In the meantime, do not touch the phone

or set foot out of the house. Is that clear?

Yes.

Moody?

- You booked for the 26th?

- What do you mean? Of course I booked.

You got the validation?

Remember last time?

Zia knows people. It's all been done.

I hope your father gets well.

I'm sorry we can't see you off tomorrow.

Please come back to us. We love you.

They want me to go back to the hospital.

I gotta go.

I have to go to the market.

There's a few things that I need.

It'll take me about 20 minutes.

- I'll go.

- No, no. It's all right.

I need some fresh air.

I'd like to buy some gifts for my father.

There's been no time.

Honey? Mahtob,

get your scarf and your jacket.

Houssein.

Houssein.

Houssein, I have her with me.

This is the last chance I have.

We have to leave now.

Betty. Come.

My brother wants you

to call your husband and delay him.

First I must call Houssein

and tell him you're safe.

- I forgot Toby Bunny.

- What?

I forgot Toby Bunny.

Honey... Honey, do you want

to go home to America?

Mahtob, stop crying.

Stop crying.

Listen now.

If we go back for Toby Bunny,

we have to stay with Daddy.

Do you want that?

But when will I see my daddy again?

I don't know.

Stop crying now.

I love you.

I love you. You be my big, brave girl.

All right.

- Moody, I'm not gonna get on that plane.

- Why not? What are you planning?

Nothing. I'm not planning anything.

- I'll call the police.

- Go ahead and call the police.

- There are things I'd like to tell them.

- Like what?

Like I know the clinic isn't legal.

You don't have an operating permit.

I found out. I sit there all day long.

You think I wouldn't notice?!

I'm only trying to be good to you.

- Yes.

- We don't need the police.

I agree. That won't be necessary.

So we can get together

and talk about this, Betty. Betty?

I'll have to think about it.

You'd better.

I don't believe a word you say any more.

How could you take Mahtob away?

You're stealing my child.

No. I'm not gonna

promise you anything, Betty.

You're my wife. Get your ass back here!

Hello, Betty. This is Zia.

Zia. I want you to tell Moody

that I have a lawyer.

Tell Moody I won't meet with him alone.

If he wants to talk with me, I'll be there

between 11 and 12 tomorrow morning

and six and eight tomorrow afternoon.

You tell him that.

We're ready. We must go. They'll

find you if you stay any longer in Tehran.

OK. Let me get my things.

We've had no time to organise paperwork,

so you may have difficulty in Turkey,

but they won't send you back.

Get to the US Embassy

when you get to Ankara.

We'll drive you to the Zagros Mountains.

Tribesmen will take you across.

They're Kurdish. Most are friendly.

They know how to avoid the checkpoints.

Do not let anybody know

you're American.

First you must be careful

of the checkpoint outside Tehran.

Betty...

Very soon I hope you will be strolling

again in your own garden at home.

In America.

Hurry.

What?

What are you doing?

Oh, God, what are you doing?

No.

Please.

Please.

- Mommy? Mommy. Mommy, wake up!

- No.

- Mommy!

- No, get off me! Get off me!

Get off me!

- Mommy.

- No, it's OK. It's OK.

Turkey! Turkey!

We're home, baby.

- We're home.

- Mommy.

BETTY AND MAHTOB WERE RE-UNITED WITH

THEIR FAMILY ON FEBRUARY 9TH 1986

MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. BETTY IS NOW A SUCCESSFUL

WRITER AND LECTURER DEDICATED TO HELPING THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

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