The Breadwinner Page #3

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been weeping bitter tears

that he would get the bag

of seeds back before spring.

I will get the bag of seeds

back before spring!

But they laughed!

They laughed and laughed

because he was a child

and not a great warrior. Yet

the boy repeated his promise.

I will I get

the bag of seeds

back before spring!

And he left the village to the

sound of the elephant king's

roars ahead of him.

Mama-jan! Now that I'm a boy,

we can go to the prison

and find Baba!

No, Parvana. We can't do that.

- Why not?

- Shh!

It's not that simple, Parvana.

But we have to try!

- There's nothing we can do.

- That's not true!

Stop it, Parvana!

You're upsetting her!

Hey! Hey! I told you to stop!

Why do you keep running?!

You should have stopped

when we told you!

Where is your burqa?

Why are you dressed

like this outside your house?

- My husband took my burqa!

I needed to buy medicine!

Why did your husband

not get it for you?

- Because she's a girl! My baby is a girl!

- He should be punished for

letting you outside like this!

- Please, please, please! No!

You have to take

the punishment!

STAY INSIDE WHEREYOU BELONG!

Deliwar! DELIWAR!

Well, have you

remembered your name yet?

I don't think I can

go on like this.

Too bad. I could

use some help.

I saw something.

What do you want me to say?

- I should have helped.

- You'd have helped yourself

to a good whipping, that's all.

- But I'm not a boy!

- You're not a boy; you're not

a girl. Now, I need a helper

because this tray is too heavy.

Will you help?

Scratch my nose, quickly!

If I let go of the tray,

the strap will break!

That's better.

- Aatish.

- What?

I remembered my name.

It's Aatish.

- That's not really a name.

- It means fire.

I know what it means

but it's still not a name.

Then it suits me fine.

I'll call you Aatish then.

When you're a boy,

you can go anywhere you like,

Aatish Khan!

Where are we going?

You'll see.

What if someone sees us?

I usually just

pretend I work here.

If you look like you believe it,

then they will too.

See? We're cleaners.

What are you waiting for?

It's either ours

or the mice eat it.

I need to find

a way to see my baba.

You can have mine if you like.

I don't want him.

- My father was taken

to prison and we've

heard nothing of him since.

They won't let you

see him, Parvana.

- But I'm a boy now!

- It doesn't make a difference.

They'll keep him or let him go,

but there's nothing you can do

about it.

- You don't know that!

I'm sorry.

It's just the way it is.

There might be a way, but...

you'll need lots of money.

What for?

You can get a lot done

with bribes. A lot!

Anything written,

anything read.

Pashto and Dari.

Wonderful items for sale.

Anything written, anything read.

Anything written, anything read.

What happened to the man

who used to sit here?

It is a simple question.

Don't you know?

How should I know? Answer

the question. Where is he?

He left for Mazar-e-Sharif.

And what are you to him?

I'm his nephew.

Aatish.

- Do you know how to read?

- Do you have something to read?

I read Pashto and Dari.

- Read this.

Let's see if you're any good.

Come on. Take it

out of the envelope.

Dear Razaq...

Louder, or I will have

to take my business elsewhere!

Dear Razaq,

I hope this letter

reaches you in Kabul.

I'm writing to you

with sad news.

I am sorry to tell you

that Hala Begum died on the way

to her sister's wedding.

The bus she was traveling on

hit a land-mine.

Her injuries were

too great to bear

and she died

some hours afterward.

I know this must be

a great shock to you,

but please know

that when I last spoke to Hala,

she told me

of your kindness toward her.

May Allah bless you now,

guide your path

and give you courage.

I'm sorry.

Ah, there's

my sweet little girl!

Underneath all the dust

of Kabul.

Parvana,

what did you give Zaki?

- It's a piece of candy!

- A piece?!

Oh!

It's big enough to choke him!

Let him be, Soraya.

You're spoiling his fun!

OW!

Continue the story,

Parvana, for Zaki.

There was this young boy and...

he promised his people

to find the precious seeds.

Elephant? Elephant?

Yes, and the elephant.

At night,

the boy walked

through the pine trees

on his way to the mountain

to face the elephant king.

Something was following him

in the darkness

but he was too terrified

to turn around and face it.

He began to run and the thing

that chased him also ran.

The boy ran faster

and so did his pursuer.

He ran into the night,

chased by the unknown demons

until he could run no more.

He tumbled down a hill.

Down and...

down and...

down.

Dear Cousin,

it has been many years

since we have spoken

but I am writing to you now

to tell you that my husband

has been arrested

and we have no word

on when he will be released,

if at all.

My family is in

a desperate situation

and I need your help.

My eldest daughter is now

of age and I am asking

that you consider her as a bride

for your youngest son, Ajmal.

Please,

take us out of Kabul

so that we may

have a chance of survival.

We will not be a burden to you.

We are skilled and strong

and need little

by the way of means.

May the blessings ofAllah

be upon you,

Fattema.

Anything written,

anything read. Anything written,

anything read.

Anything written...

- How much for the dress?

- Salaam. It's handmade.

- How much?

- 3,000.

Don't be stupid.

I'll give you 300.

2,000. Handmade

in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Your daughter will be very happy

to wear such a beautiful dress!

She is my wife.

1,500.

See how it sparkles?

Here's 1,000.

How much did you make?

- 1,000.

- That might be enough

for a good bribe.

- Really?

Definitely! I'm saving up too.

Whatever money I can hide

from my father I keep,

and it's mounting up

to a nice little sum.

See?

I'm not going to stay here

forever, you know.

Have you ever been to the sea?

- No.

- Neither have I,

but I've heard

that the moon pulls

the water onto the shore

and then back out again.

I want to see that.

I want to put my feet

on the warm sand

and have them cooled

by the lapping water.

What about your father?

Doesn't he depend on you?

I am a good son...

but he is not a good father.

What will you do by the sea?

I'd... buy things

and sell things like I do here,

but for myself. There are people

who go to the edge of the water

to do nothing!

They just sit there

and they look at the sea

with their sunglasses on...

or swim about on floating tubes.

So I could sell them

those things.

That sounds nice, Deliwar.

Maybe I'll join you.

- Where are you going?

- Wish me luck.

Why are you back so early?

I brought some bread

and raisins for Zaki.

- What are you doing, Parvana?

- I'm going to find Baba.

- No, you're not.

- I'm going.

You won't make it home

before curfew!

I'm going! There's nothing

you can do to stop me!

Mama-jan has been

through enough

without you doing

something so stupid!

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