Rabat Page #6

I'll come for 200 dirham.

- Are you crazy? That's too much.

Look. I'll give you 100 dirham.

No more, no less.

Will get there for 150...

Okay, 150 is fine.

Give me the money.

I have to see the mirror first.

I don't know. Crazy Karim.

What kind of name is that?

It's just Crazy Karim.

Everyone has a nickname.

You know how many Karims live here?

It's like in Holland. "All the best from Mo."

- "Mo, which Mo?"

"Mo from the square."

- "No, Mo the barber."

"Yes, that Mo."

Barber sounds better than Crazy though.

Would you let Mo cut your hair

if he was called Crazy Mo?

You have to turn right.

Get out.

What?

- A barber. We'll pick you up in 30 min.

Why?

You look as if you slept

in the car for three days.

Should I shave your head, face or both?

Only my face. I don't have much time.

- Okay.

You're not from here. You talk different.

I'm from Holland.

My father is from here.

I thought so. Why come to Rabat?

I'm with two friends and the car.

We just arrived.

But if a man comes to the most beautiful

city on earth, Rabat...

...and goes straight to the barber,

there can only be two reasons.

Either he's looking for a job,

or he's looking for a pretty girl.

But as they all leave here

looking for work...

...it must be a pretty girl that brings you.

That's right.

What's her name?

Yasmine.

A beautiful name. Her father

must be an intelligent man.

Don't be afraid. You see

that ugly man there?

I cut his hair for 40 years and

his wife still thinks he's attractive...

...so I'll make you look handsome too.

You'll drive the girl crazy.

What's he doing?

He won't get out.

Buy a car?

What's all this?

- Are you Karim?

What do you mean Karim?

- Crazy Karim!

Are you messing with me?

What do you want from Crazy Karim?

A mirror.

- Just a mirror?

Yes.

- Is that all you want?

A mirror!

Why do you talk so strangely?

Where are you from?

- We're from Holland, look!

Holland?

Bis-Bis!

Bis-Bis!

Hurry up!

You move like a cockroach on its back.

- Yes.

Next time I say "B", you have to come...

...before I say the "is"!

Yes, sir.

Never make me wait again.

Look at the mirror.

Look at the mirror, boy. You've seen it?

Go and steal one from Gnaoui's Garage.

And bring it straight back.

So you're from Holland?

So tell me... Holland...

They make cars there?

No, nothing.

This beauty queen...

How much do you want?

It's not for sale.

We only need a mirror.

I'll give you a million francs.

I'll give you 1.5 million!

- I said it's not for sale.

Christ. Take it easy.

How much for the mirror?

Why are you looking at their car?

You want a lift?

Get lost or I'll smash your face.

Here's the mirror.

Come on.

Check if it's any good.

How much?

- 400 dirham.

We have euros.

- That's nice.

- It's not the same.

It's not the same?

- No.

Okay, come on.

- How much?

Give me 40.

It's a real 50 euro note!

Beautiful, eh?

How about...

...a piece of hash.

Heavens above! A very special kind.

If you only sniff it, you fly like a sputnik.

I swear. But if you smoke it...

If you smoke it, you'll believe

in no time that you're that mirror.

You want some?

But listen... A nice piece of hash...

...and I'll throw in a T-shirt too.

Nice.

- Thanks.

Let's have a look...

You look fine.

Here.

Keep it. It suits you.

Really?

- Yes, man.

They'll know you wear expensive suits.

We'll be around the corner. By the cafe.

You sure you want to do it?

- Yes.

Okay.

Hey, get over here.

I'll miss you, man.

All right, hurry up.

Come here.

Hey...

Thanks.

Go on man, before you start crying.

Who's there?

- It's Nadir.

Welcome, welcome.

How are you? Everything okay?

I'm fine.

You're late.

- Sorry, I couldn't find the street.

What happened to your lip?

- I banged it.

Oh yes, the car.

It's a gift to you from my father.

Thank you.

One can't often give away

valuable things in life.

So if one does...

...he has to be sure to give it to the right

one.

Come in. You are welcome. Come.

I want to introduce you to Nadir.

He came from Holland to visit

and bring a gift from his father.

Welcome. Sit down.

I'll introduce you to the family.

This is my eldest son Anas.

This is his wife Nora.

They have a son Adil,

but he's outside.

This is my second son Naufal.

This is his wife.

They just got married. Samira.

This is my brother.

This is my sister. These are my parents.

This is my mother.

May God give her strength.

This is my father.

May God give him strength too.

This is my wife, Khadija.

And the blossom of my house, Yasmine.

Sit down. Come.

Khadija, pour him some tea!

Help yourself.

Congratulations. I hear you graduated.

Yes, I studied economics.

- Wonderful.

And? You liked it?

- Yes. Very much.

It's a study with great prospects

for the future.

I hear it's not easy to get a job

in Holland since the crisis.

What can I say...

- You have a plan?

A plan?

When I go back to Holland,

I'll work for my father's friend's company.

He imports Arabic products.

He has no son, so he teaches me.

So you'll take over the company?

- Maybe. No idea.

Have some food!

I heard you had a difficult journey.

Yes, I lost lots of time.

An accident happened, or something.

And I had police problems in Algeciras.

- Police?

What did the police want?

- They found my mother's food in the car.

They threw it on the ground

and left me without food.

They always do that to us!

Have you seen anything of the city?

No, I haven't seen the city yet.

If you like, I can send Yasmine

to show you around.

It's beautiful here.

- Yes, beautiful.

You have a very nice family.

- Thank you.

Your house is beautiful too.

You know what this reminds me of?

The Godfather.

There's a scene just like this.

When Michael Corleone

meets that girl in Sicily.

He takes her for a walk,

just the way we are walking.

I don't think I saw the film.

- You mean that?

It's a great film.

- That's nice.

Can I be honest with you?

What are we doing here?

I don't know you...

You don't know me.

I came here to please

my parents and yours.

I thought everything would fall

into place here. But the opposite is true.

Now I'm sure I don't want this.

And you? If you're honest..?

You're a good girl and you're clever.

You're only doing this

to please your parents, right?

What a relief.

How could I say I didn't want

to get engaged?

I have already registered to study

after the summer.

It's not that I don't like you.

You seem very nice.

You're not like the macho guys

who come here, showing their fast cars.

A nice guy?

I'm a great guy, you mean!

What shall we do now?

I don't know yet.

Let's pretend we're having

a serious conversation.

And later I'll find a way

how to explain it to your father.

Do you like Rabat?

- It's beautiful.

Indeed.

You should buy a house for the summer.

- If God wills.

You're a good kid.

Your father is very lucky.

My children are also good.

I never worry about them.

For instance Anas, he's my pride and joy.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes