The Breadwinner Page #2

---

We can't go outside

without Baba!

Soraya is writing a letter for

the prison governor to protest

Nurullah's arrest and ask

for his release.

At least

I can give them that.

Mama-jan, it's not allowed!

We might be all right

if we don't draw attention

to ourselves.

- But we can't...

Come on, Parvana. And bring

Baba's walking stick.

We have to get going.

Mama!

Hey!

Hey, you!

Salaam. Can you tell me

the way to Pul-e-Charkhi?

Salaam.

It's east. Past the river.

But it's a long way.

- Thank you, sir.

- Listen, go through

the old town

or you will be caught.

Why are you out here by

yourself? Where is your husband?

- I... I have no choice!

- It's not permitted to be

out here without your

husband or your brother.

I am sorry, I know...

- Do you understand?

- I am bringing a letter

protesting my husband's arrest...

- Just go home!

- No!

- What do you mean, "no"?

- This is Nurullah Alisai,

my husband. He was arrested

last night with no charges...

- Photographs are forbidden!

- What are you doing,

showing me a photograph?

Out here, by yourself?!

- There is no one in my house

except for children! I need to...

- You have no business out here!

Do you understand?

- ...find out about my husband!

Just go home! Immediately!

You're looking for trouble now!

You are insulting your husband!

You are an insult to your race!

I need to find out

what happened to him!

I need to find...

- SHUT UP!

Going to the prison

will change nothing.

If you make trouble like this,

your husband will be punished

severely for your insolence.

And if I find you out here

again by yourself,

I will arrest you.

Now go.

Mama-jan?

Take me home.

Shh! Go get water, Parvana.

We have none left.

Come on!

What are you up to?!

Get out of here!

They'll see you!

Hey, stop!

Through here!

Stop!

Where did that boy go?

Did you see? Did you see?!

Hey, you! Girl!

Hey! Come on!

- Forget about her!

Parvana, this is only

half a bucket.

Couldn't you fill them up

all the way?

- Mama-jan!

- Zaki! Shh!

- Don't wake her.

- Hush, Zaki!

- Soothe him, Parvana!

- Mama-jan...

- Tell him a story.

- Mama...

One time, in the distant past,

there was a little village

at the foot

of the Hindu Kush mountains.

- I want Mama-jan...

- Shh! Listen! The villagers

had just managed

to gather precious seeds

and so there was dancing

and singing and laughing

and eating.

Everyone was happy!

Especially for one boy

who danced and sang and laughed

and ate more than anyone else.

While the villagers

were dancing and singing

and laughing and eating,

monsters were coming.

The monsters

frightened the donkeys

and ate the trees.

They stole

the most precious thing

in the whole village,

the seeds for next year's crop.

And they ran back

to the Hindu Kush mountains

where their master lived,

the dreadful Elephant King

with spikes for tusks!

GROAR! GROAR!

GROAR!

GROAR!

GROAR!

Mama-jan!

Ooh, Zaki! Ooh!

Please eat, Mama-jan.

You'll feel better

when your belly is full.

There's hardly any food left.

I'll go to the market.

- Salaam.

- Salaam. 12 oranges, please.

100 afghani.

Thank you.

Salaam. How much

for six apples, please?

Salaam, child.

I can't serve you.

But sir... can I

please have six apples?

Get your father

to buy food for you.

My father's been taken.

I'm sorry.

Maybe come back later.

- ...literally stolen.

- But, you know...

Salaam! Can I have

a kilo of rice, please?

Salaam!

- Hey, you!

Girl! Hey, stop!

Stop when I tell you!

GO!

GO HOME!

I dropped the bag.

- Hush.

- I lost the money.

- Keep your head back.

- I can get the water, though.

Shh. Don't worry

about that now.

I saved you a piece of naan.

I'll heat it up for you

so it's nice and fresh.

All right?

What are we

going to do?

- I don't know.

- Maybe if I go out early,

before it's crowded?

- It won't work, Parvana.

Market sellers won't

risk getting in trouble

for serving you.

Mama-jan has cousins

in Mazar-e-Sharif.

I could write to them for help.

But we've never even met them.

How do you know they will help?

We need food now.

These were

your brothers' clothes.

They will be big,

but we can take them up a bit.

Do I look like a boy?

You look like Sulayman.

So much like him.

- Mama-jan.

He was such a good boy.

Not much older

than you are now...

Shh.

It's all right, Mama-jan.

Parvana is going to the market

for food and water.

It's the only way, Mama-jan.

We have nothing left.

All these juices are warm!

I don't want warm juice...

Buy some bracelets!

That's what I said!

But you know...

- Salaam!

- What is this?

Salaam! Excuse me! Salaam!

Salaam! Salaam!

Come inside, boy!

I'm not going to deliver, am I?

But you know how it goes, right?

Well then, let's hear it!

I need a kilo of rice,

half kilo lentils

and a small amount of raisins.

A small amount?

Ha ha! Should I

go by my imagination?

- Yes.

- Not very bright,

this one! Ha ha ha ha!

Poor iron won't

make a sharp sword!

Ha ha ha ha!

Look at him smiling!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Little guy doesn't even know

when he's being made fun of!

Thank you!

Thank you very, very much.

You're spilling the tea.

Oh. Sorry, Uncle.

- AH!

- Who are you and why were

you staring at me?

- I...

- What is your name?

- My name?

- I know you from somewhere!

- No! I wasn't...

- "Wasn't" what?

- I... you don't know me!

- I do know you.

- No!

- I do know you! You're Parvana!

- I'm not!

- I am Shauzia!

Remember? From school?

Shauzia?

- I had long hair then,

but... so did you.

- Deliwar?

- Don't tell anyone.

Here's your cap.

You need to get a boy's name

so you don't hesitate

next time somebody asks you.

- Deliwar!

- I am Deliwar now.

It means brave.

- Where are you?

- I... I have to run.

It was good to see you!

Deliwar...

Mama-jan, please sit down.

It will be curfew soon.

What if she's not back by then?

She's fine, I'm...

Who's hungry?!

Parvana!

Praise Allah!

He has returned you to me!

Mama-jan, you're

squashing the naan!

It smells delicious, Parvana.

Zaki...

It's me. See?

I bought them

especially for you.

Parvana?

If you run out and

get some water, he'll get used

to you by the time

you come back.

But I'm tired.

Hurry on, Parvana.

It's almost curfew.

You look so much like him.

Go change Sulayman's clothes

or you'll get them dirty.

They are already dirty.

Elephant!

What?

He wants you to continue

your story about the elephant.

Elephant!

Well, um...

...in the village,

under the Hindu Kush mountains,

the poor villagers

cried bitter tears.

They did not know

what they would do without

their precious bag of seeds.

They would have nothing to sow

come next spring,

and nothing to eat

come next winter.

But the boy, he did not

cry bitter tears.

He looked toward the mountain

and he shouted...

I am not afraid of you,

big, spiky, bad Elephant King!

Well...

maybe he was

a little bit afraid.

He told the villagers who had

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes