The Secret of the Grain Page #3

I got here, Julia was upset.

I think Majid got in

about six or seven in the morning.

Julia found stuff in his jacket.

Condoms or girls' phone numbers.

I don't know.

You know your brother.

Let's go get dad.

Come on, get up!

I've had enough!

Leave me alone!

What the hell is this?

Get out before I go crazy!

Get out! Your mama's calling!

Stop yelling.

Look at her!

And I'm crazy!

You're crazy, yes!

Majid, there's a baby in the house.

A little respect.

- You just wait!

- Who do you think I am?

Get out! You're a pain in the ass!

Majid!

Garbage!

What? What's going on?

When your sister's here!

Big man!

Go downstairs

or I swear I'm going to lose it.

Mom's waiting.

You'll see tonight!

What will I see?

Shut the f*** up!

He went downstairs. It's over.

Put this off a day.

It's hard. Sorry.

Come downstairs, Julia.

Go change. Do it for me.

The marital fights are later.

This is not the time.

Lilia wants to see you.

She asked for Hakim.

Everyone's there.

It's good vibes, good times.

- Yeah, good times.

- Easy.

Everyone's waiting for you.

We're all happy. Come downstairs.

Don't worry, it'll be all right.

Please. Get up and change.

We'll see about this later.

Come on, Julia. Please.

OK, Karima. But only for you.

Fine, no problem.

Cause it's hard.

- I'll get dressed.

- Go ahead.

Serguei, come have dinner.

I'll come down with her.

I'll just change the baby.

OK, see you there.

Hakim, let's go.

Let's go eat Grandma's couscous.

Let's go.

All right, what is this crap?

It's nothing.

We all know about your bullshit.

What bullshit?

I went out for a drink.

- And all those girls?

- What girls?

What is this sh*t?

We all f***ing know!

- I'm talking here.

- You heard rumors?

You're too stupid to be discreet.

Get out. I didn't do anything.

I got in late one night.

Late one night?

Like I don't know

where you hang out?

- Get out.

- Like I don't know?

You got a kid. You're married.

You forget?

Now stop acting like a kid.

And get it straight

that you got a family.

- Hello Mrs. Jilali.

- Hi, kids.

Been to the market?

Not too crowded?

Not too bad.

And your health?

How's your mom?

Your dad?

Just fine.

- Say hello to them for me?

- I will.

Bye now. Take care.

You piss me off!

Want some onions?

Mom, one more place.

Serguei's coming.

Honey, give me the kids' plates.

Serve the kids first.

You're looking peaked!

Give me your plate.

You can bone the fish.

Everybody got some?

Did everyone get sauce?

And vegetables?

Enjoy your meal, everybody.

It's prepared with love.

Love. The couscous of love.

It's absolutely delicious.

The vegetables are just right.

Souad, you're talented for couscous.

Julia!

It's about time.

Sorry we're late. Sorry, Souad.

You go through midtown?

We've been waiting.

Hey, handsome. He's a little warm.

Yeah, his bottom's all red.

I can't settle him down.

I went through hell

when Thomas was a baby.

Want your mommy?

Azza honey, got everything?

Are they eating?

No worries.

Safia, listen to your auntie.

I thought it was Slimane.

Hi, everyone!

The most beautiful!

You OK?

It's a family day today.

Where is he?

Henri, the girls!

My fault. I had car trouble.

I needed his help.

Like I don't?

I completely forgot.

We'll talk later.

Where do I sit?

I'll get you a plate.

When you got nice cold ones,

you forget your woman.

And you turned your cell off.

Voice mail!

Now you're dead.

Souad, serve her. She's starving.

Just a little. I'm on a diet.

- Don't start with me today.

- I didn't say a word.

- Your couscous is great, Mom.

- Got that right.

- No peppers?

- I can't eat without that.

Go get them. They're in the pan.

Orange juice.

Here, Majid.

Majid's not talking.

Something wrong?

Yeah, today he's pretty silent.

All that partying last night.

See? He eats at Grandma's.

Here's Grandma's couscous.

All smiles, so happy.

See that?

Better than fish sticks.

Quit arguing.

Have some. Enough for everyone!

I don't want any.

I'll leave my share.

- Riadh special!

- Very nice!

Olfa, some bread!

- I love it.

- How do you do it?

I made the peppers

and helped with the couscous.

When she does something,

she says so. It's so rare!

She has helped her mom

all day long.

May I have some more grain?

With pleasure.

Weren't you on a diet?

Give her a break. Women and diets!

She said so.

Right away, "I'm on a diet."

Now she's changing.

Good. I'm getting fat,

but it's good.

No. When you start to eat,

you say Besmellah.

Gesmela!

Not a "G", a "B".

There. You got it.

Know any other Arabic words?

Barafemuk.

One of my first!

- That's all you taught him, Lilia?

- A few others.

We don't speak Arabic at home.

With your wife,

you must have learned some things.

Curse words!

You learned a few words.

You know, when...

- What?

- When we're alone.

Naturally.

When we make love.

Get out of here.

Don't believe him.

She often says...

Mezze, Mario...

- Often!

- It's not true.

- Don't believe it.

- He's shameless.

He's going wild.

But you do teach the kids?

- Not...

- Yes.

- More Thomas.

- The boys understand.

A little bit.

When does your mom speak Arabic?

When she's mad.

Then you understand, when she's mad?

What does she say? Remember?

She says lots of things.

Only when she's mad?

That true, Lilia?

They understand my mother.

- They're used to it.

- My aunts.

They're exposed to it.

Easier for them than for me.

When your mother was visiting...

they spoke Arabic all the time.

I couldn't stand it.

I kept saying, "What?"

Remember?

I didn't understand.

I had to constantly translate.

She made an effort.

She did, yes.

It's handy for secrets

with my friends.

So he doesn't understand.

Right. And I don't.

They're all there...

They're having tea.

It's true,

sometimes I feel uneasy.

It's like I get the feeling

they're talking about me, like...

they're making fun of me.

You never made the effort to learn.

I keep offering.

- True.

- You never did.

- I don't have the time.

- I taught you a few words.

What did you teach him?

"I love you," and "darling".

So?

Don't remember?

Close.

That it?

Listen to her say it.

He'll never get it right.

I'll get it.

Yeah, you can.

Maybe in 5 or 10 years...

- Can I have a plate for the kids?

- Of course.

One for the neighbor. I'll bring it.

Already did it.

I saw her before.

She says hi, asked for Dad.

There's a plate for your father.

Bring it later, boys.

I'll go with Riadh.

You two are going?

Least he's worth it. Not like some.

We miss him around here.

What do you want? That's life.

Love, love!

Love, huh?

That's not love.

Sure it is, Mom.

It's a gesture of love.

Then what is it?

- Love...

- It is love.

That's ichra.

It's stronger than love.

It's habit. It's all in there.

Love, friendship, everything.

Own your feelings.

You love him, that's all.

Souad, if I may,

from that plate,

I know there's still love.

There's a difference

between Dad's and the neighbor's.

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