The Promise Page #3

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She'll come back.

I said that's my problem.

What?

He's not in Cologne.

- Where is he?

- I don't know. Let me drive.

- Stop!

- Watch it!

- I said stop!

- In a minute.

Stop!

Okay, okay.

Tell me where my husband is.

Not in Cologne.

That's all I know.

Roger meant to sell you

as a whore.

- As a what?

- As a whore.

Are you telling the truth?

What about the telegram?

Roger sent it.

Take me to the police station.

My father's wrong,

but I'm no snitch.

To hell with your father.

I want to find my husband!

Take me to the police!

- They'll say he was here illegally.

Take me there.

He couldn't have left a week ago.

- He's been gone a week.

- It's true.

He came back illegally,

and illegal entries

aren't reflected in our records.

Do you have a picture of him?

Age?

Forty-two.

- Height?

- Normal.

Brown eyes.

Hair?

Frizzy black hair?

No, gray.

Skin color -- black.

Distinguishing marks?

Any distinguishing marks

on his face or body?

Any scars?

- He's missing three toes.

- Which foot?

The left. Some marble

fell on it in the quarry.

You know where he was going

when he left?

- To work.

- He was working?

No, he was just

helping us fix a wall.

Who's "us"?

My father and me.

- Then you saw him after this lady did?

- Yes.

What time?

I don't know. Around 11 :00.

Where?

Rue Ferrer. Near her place.

That's 215 francs, please.

There are lots of shits

like Roger in your country.

- They broke the statuette.

- Leave it alone.

Give me that. Don't touch it.

Pour some water on my hair.

That's enough.

Go on.

He sleeps here

except for weekends,

when he's at his wife's place

in the country.

You have any family besides in Africa?

People you know?

- The baby's uncle is in Carrara.

- Where?

Carrara.

There's a marble quarry there,

like at home.

It's in Italy.

You should go there.

Where in Italy?

I don't know.

I'll look in the dictionary.

I know he keeps one here

for crossword puzzles.

It might be a small town

that's not in here.

- Is there any cold water?

- Yes. Why?

For the baby.

Is he sick?

Yes, he has a fever.

Tomorrow I'll see

if there's a train for Italy.

What do you mean?

- I'm not going to Italy.

Why? You have family there.

You'll be safe.

- His father is my family.

- You can't stay here!

You have to go!

The chicken says he's here,

and I'm staying.

To hell with the chicken!

Get out! I want to sleep.

You'll end up a whore,

and I'll get a beating.

- Out!

- I should never have helped you!

Out!

What's wrong with you?

Let go of me.

Hello.

Igor, where are you?

I know it's you.

Did you tell her anything?

Igor, answer.

Igor, for God's sake!

Come back, Igor.

I won't hit you.

Tell me where to come get you.

The van's on rue Cockerill.

The keys are in the bumper.

Assita?

Hospital!

What's wrong?

Crawl back

into your mother's womb!

You gave my baby a disease!

Get away!

Hospital!

I'll get a car from the garage

and drive you.

Not you! Go away!

You want my baby to die.

You gave him a disease. Go away!

You all want him to die, don't you?

You, your father, all of you!

All you white people!

Go away!

You okay?

Assita, you okay?

- Yes.

We have to get him to the hospital.

He's dying.

My baby's dying.

We have to get to the hospital.

I'll get a car from the garage

and come right back.

Wait.

I have to know.

My husband isn't dead, is he?

Tell me.

I have to know.

No, he's not dead.

Does she have an address here?

- Yes, she has a residence certificate.

- May I see it?

She needs

your residence certificate.

What's wrong with him?

He has a fever.

No insurance?

You'll have to pay the whole sum.

- How much?

- It's 1,350 francs.

- This is all I've got.

- And the rest?

- Can I bring it tomorrow?

- No.

- How much does he need?

- Four hundred fifty francs.

Inside your son

is an ancestor protesting in rage,

causing these bouts of fever.

Until that ancestor obtains justice,

fever will shake your child

like a fish out of water,

flapping its gills.

Here.

When you sense

the fever coming on...

soak those roots in water,

have him take a few swallows,

and wash him with the rest.

Tell me what's on your mind.

Is his father with the ancestors?

You know better than I do.

Do you want to know

if your husband is still alive?

Very well.

Bring the sand up to your lips

and blow on it.

Concentrate on your desire to know

what's happened to your husband.

Pour the sand here.

I don't see a grave for him

in the ancestors' cemetery.

It's the heat.

If there's no grave for a man

in the ancestors' cemetery,

he'll die on foreign soil,

far from his native land.

Is he alive?

I see nothing

to indicate that he's dead.

Is the child's uncle in Belgium too?

- No, in Italy.

- Go to him as soon as you can.

Tell him to protect the child.

What about my husband?

You're leaving to protect his son.

You're not abandoning

your husband.

The problem is her papers.

You're not legal?

I know a guy who might help,

but he'll want money.

May I, ma'am?

My name's Rosalie.

- Are you legal?

- Yes, I have dual citizenship.

You could lend her your papers.

No, she doesn't look

like me at all.

Sure she does!

Give her your scarf.

Look, it works.

You look the same.

Watch this.

Excuse me, sir.

Whose ID is this?

Hers or hers?

The one in the turban.

- See? It works.

- If you say so.

That's 7,500.

- No more?

- No, that's today's rate.

All right.

- What's that for?

- A little rough play at the game.

You going?

Where you going?

I don't know.

Back to your babe?

What babe?

Your dad came to our place.

He thought you two

were hiding out there.

How old is she?

- My age.

Are you done with the go-kart

now that you've got a girl?

When will you be back?

- Soon.

Here. The key.

We can ride it without you?

- Watch the brakes.

- Okay. See ya.

There's a train this afternoon.

I got French and Italian money.

There's some soup here.

I found a can in the cupboard.

- Thanks.

- If you want, I could fix the statuette.

- Okay.

- Why are you putting him back in?

- He's still warm.

You believe what the seer said?

Why shouldn't I?

- Even the ancestor thing?

- Yes.

Can you hold him a minute?

When my husband comes back,

tell him I'm in Carrara.

Tell my husband I'm in Carrara.

If he doesn't come back,

go to the police.

- Why?

- To find out what happened.

I couldn't contact you anyway.

You have no address.

I'll send it to Rosalie

with her ID card.

I'll fix the statuette.

We gotta get going.

Thanks for your help.

Where is she?

We have to tell her the truth.

Come on. Let's tell her.

Stay here!

He's chained up.

He can't move.

You sure?

I'll get the bags

and be right back.

Igor, let me loose!

In God's name, let me loose!

Come here!

Come here and let me loose!

Tell her I have money

for her to go home. All she wants.

Wait! I'm begging you.

I swear

I was gonna give her this.

She can go anywhere she wants.

Just let me loose.

Why do you want to tell her?

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