The Promise

---

- Is it serious?

- No, the fan just got disconnected.

It's working now.

You just need to add some water.

What do I owe you?

It was nothing.

No, you can't work for nothing.

No, really, ma'am.

I can't find my wallet.

I don't understand.

I just picked up my pension

at the post office.

Maybe you left it there.

No, I had it later

when I was shopping.

Maybe you dropped it there,

or in the parking lot.

Yes, maybe I did,

as I loaded my bags in --

Better hurry back.

There are lots of thieves around there.

- Come watch me solder this.

- Right after I pee.

Watch.

You stay half an inch away.

You don't touch it.

When the two edges

are bright red... zap!

One quick touch.

Here.

No, the other way.

- I gotta go.

- No, finish this first.

I have to go.

Listen, tell him this is the last time

you leave during work hours.

Yes, sir.

See you tomorrow.

Thanks for the tail pipe.

Move it!

The boss gave me this

for the go-kart.

Fine. Get in.

Put some of this stuff

in my ear.

Belgium beautiful country.

The Meuse river. Big factories.

Much money.

Cigarette?

I'll be back in two minutes.

Excuse me. My son's been

in a motorcycle accident.

I gotta get to the hospital.

Sorry. Excuse me.

Could I go ahead? My son's been

in a motorcycle accident.

What about all of us?

WELFARE OFFICE:

Hello.

Assita!

Your wife's passport

for her residence certificate.

Your passport.

Hamidou, come here a minute.

The passports. Thanks.

You got the money?

Not all of it yet.

How much is the rent?

Five thousand francs. $150.

You puttin' me on?

This wasn't our agreement.

It cost me

to bring your wife here.

They say it smells like sh*t here

and 5,000 is too much.

It's the sewer drain.

I'm gonna fix it.

That's all I have.

Then I'll take 10,000

out of your monthly wages, okay?

Okay. Thanks a lot.

He won't turn over his passport.

What's wrong?

He's from the mountains.

He doesn't understand. He's afraid.

He wants you to lower the rent.

He says it stinks here.

- Did you tell them I'll fix it?

- Yes, I told them.

I'll charge half rent

for three months

if they help me finish work

on the white house.

Roger!

Heating okay? Warm? Cold?

- Okay.

Nabil.

Nabil, it still stinks

like sh*t downstairs.

We gotta do something.

It's no use just clearing the pipe.

It's too small.

There's a bigger pipe in the shed.

Okay.

Hamidou only gave me $600

for his wife's trip.

You think he's bluffing?

He had money last night.

Maybe he was gambling.

- Try to find out.

- Okay.

- Anything else up?

- No. I mean, yes.

The Romanian

has four others with him now.

- Since when?

- Sunday.

There've been five guys

in Nicolae's room since Sunday.

Maria, give me five minutes.

Antwerp... Wednesday...

boat... America.

What kind of money they got?

Belgian?

Fifty dollars each until Wednesday.

- Is a lot.

- They can go somewhere else.

They agree?

I'll be back.

It's Igor.

- No problem with the heat?

- No.

- Your residence permit.

- How much?

Like we agreed on.

Plus 400 francs for the gas.

Four. Here.

The dollars.

Come on.

Fifty, and 5,000 francs rent.

My residence permit.

Hello.

We said 10,000

to have clients here.

He's not a client.

He's a friend.

I'm not an idiot.

That's another 5,000.

It's fair. A room for that

in town costs 20,000.

My permit.

Have a good screw.

- What do you want?

- A canister of gas.

Four hundred francs.

Can I pay

at the end of the month?

I can't just let them be cold.

Four hundred's not much.

Yeah, but I lost yesterday.

It's not my problem

if you always lose.

Just stop gambling.

Here.

Thanks.

Hello. Is Mr. Mller in?

That's not much time.

What are they?

Turks and Ghanians.

Will you hold on?

The press is hounding

the mayor about foreigners.

He wants the police

to do something.

I might be able to round up four.

Four more.

Don't look. Close your eyes.

What's going on?

Look.

You painted it. So?

Look right there.

The jaguars.

I'll swipe one more for here.

Then we'll each have one.

- Igor?

- What?

- Come here!

- We're working on the go-kart.

Let's go!

I'll be right back.

Roger... van... Antwerp... early.

Then you take boat...

toot toot... America.

Five dollars each.

Yes, five each person.

We leave in five minutes, okay?

Drinks on me.

Beer.

Coca-Cola. America!

I'm gonna go pee.

Police. Papers, please.

Your papers, sir.

You like it?

Just like mine.

Thanks, Dad.

The name's Roger.

Wanna drive?

Come on.

Okay, let's roll!

I'm over by 6,300 francs.

It's the Romanians' dollars.

I completely forgot.

Where you going?

- Back to the go-kart.

- What about the papers?

- I'll do them tomorrow.

No, I promised to give

their passports back tonight.

Come on.

Another 120,000

and the house is ours.

- Thanks.

- Thanks who?

Roger.

If anyone asks,

I'm at Mller's, okay?

See ya in a while.

Be right back.

Watch the hot rod.

Hey, you got a cigarette?

No, I won! You cheated!

- There are no cheats here.

- You're cheats!

You're the cheat!

Here's your passport.

I've got her passport

and residence certificate.

Set 'em down there. Thanks.

- What's she doing?

- What?

What's she doing?

He must be protected

against evil spirits in his new home.

- There are no evil spirits here.

- Yes, there are.

We don't see them,

but they see us.

See you later.

Listen, who do you think you are?

You signed a contract

to apprentice here.

It's not my fault, sir.

I had to help my father.

I don't give a damn

about your father.

You work here.

You come on time.

Your job is to come on time. Got that?

- Yes, sir.

- What's that?

- What?

On your arm.

A tattoo.

- Who did that?

- Roger. My father.

Why's he draw on your arm

instead of on paper?

Paper's not just

for wiping your ass.

Hello?

Yeah.

Listen, this is his work place.

I'll put him on.

I have to go.

Listen, you want to become

a good mechanic?

Then stay here...

or never set foot

in my garage again.

The labor inspectors are here!

Out the back!

The inspectors are here!

Ibrahim, labor inspectors!

Where's Hamidou?

- Up there.

Hamidou, scram!

The inspectors are here!

Turn the music off.

Hamidou, you okay?

You're not gonna die, Hamidou.

You're gonna be all right.

My wife... my child...

look after them.

Say you will.

I promise.

Igor? Where are you?

Where are you, Igor?

Right here.

You believe me now?

I've been yelling for you

for five minutes.

I couldn't hear anything

up there over the music.

Can I see your ID?

- What's going on?

- Looking for illegals.

You should be in school.

I'm an apprentice.

Here's my contract.

- Why aren't you there?

- I did some overtime,

so the boss gave me a day off.

- Who was on the mixer?

- Me. I was --

He asked the boy.

He was.

Why wasn't he near the mixer

when we got here?

I don't know.

I can't see from up there.

I told you.

I was making a phone call.

Very well.

Good-bye.

I'll show you out.

Hamidou, you all right?

- What's wrong?

- He fell off the scaffold.

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